bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Zygomaticus activation through facial neuromuscular electric stimulation (fNMES) induces happiness perception in ambiguous facial expressions and affects neural correlates of face processing
Authors: Efthimiou Themis Nikolas , Baker Joshua , Clarke Alasdair D F , Elsenaar Arthur , Mehu Marc , Korb Sebastian
Published: October 2023

The recognition of emotional facial expressions is crucial for social communication, but different views exist on whether facial feedback is a significant factor in this decoding process. Previous studies have manipulated the degree of activation of facial muscles through various techniques, such as voluntary posing of facial expressions, holding a pen in the mouth, or botulinum toxin injections. These methods, however, are limited in their control over which muscles are (de)activated when and to what degree. To overcome these limitations, we used computer-controlled facial neuromuscular electrical stimulation (fNMES) to generate 500ms of weak contractions of bilateral Zygomaticus Major muscle (ZM) at the onset of faces shown on the screen. Ambiguous facial expressions were categorised as happy or sad by 47 participants. In half of the trials, weak smiling was induced through fNMES, as verified with automatic FACS coding. EEG was recorded throughout. The likelihood of categorising ambiguous facial expressions as happy was significantly increased with fNMES, as shown with frequentist and Bayesian linear mixed models. Further, fNMES resulted in a reduction of P1, N170 and LPP amplitudes. These findings suggest that fNMES-induced facial feedback can bias facial emotion recognition and modulate the neural correlates of face processing. We conclude that fNMES has potential as a tool for studying the effects of facial feedback.
The integration and disintegration of newly learned meaningful words through retrieval-induced forgetting.
Authors: Crowley Rebecca , Tamminen Jakke , Javadi Amir-Homayoun
Published: October 2023

Little is known about how discrete elements of newly learned words, such as written form and multiple aspects of meaning, become integrated with each other and whether the elements break apart across forgetting. Taking inspiration from research into multi-element event memories (e.g., Horner & Burgess, 2013), we examined whether there is an association between retrieval successes of different elements of the same new word (i.e., retrieval dependency) and whether this statistical association remains one week later after some words are forgotten. Across five pre-registered experiments, participants encoded new words made from an orthographic word form (e.g., flimir) presented alongside pictorial (e.g., picture of a balloon) and auditory (e.g., sound of a baby crying) elements representing word meaning inferred from context. Retrieval dependency was present immediately after learning showing that the discrete elements become rapidly bound together. The manner in which they are forgotten however was subject to retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF). The word elements remained bound together one week later when no immediate retrieval test occurred after learning. However, when half of the words were tested post-learning, the non-tested half later fragmented (i.e., no dependency observed at delayed test). This fragmentation was prevented when learning of non-tested words occurred after retrieval of tested words. We suggest that RIF may extend to the nature of forgetting for new words, and call for an update of word learning theories which account for forgetting.
Order effects on the rubber hand illusion expectancy: A replication and extension of Lush (2020)
Authors: Tsuji Nanami , Imaizumi Shu
Published: October 2023

The rubber hand illusion (RHI) is an illusion where the synchronized stroking of a rubber hand, placed in front of a participant, along with their concealed real hand results in a sense of ownership over the rubber hand. The questionnaire used to subjectively measure the RHI incorporated control and illusion statements to address demand characteristics. However, Lush (2020) demonstrated participants expected the illusion upon viewing a video of the RHI procedure despite the absence of tactile stimuli, indicating a lack of control over demand characteristics. In our study, Experiment 1, conducted with a Japanese sample (n = 27), was a preliminary direct replication of Lush (2020). Experiment 2, involving a larger sample (n = 185), also directly replicated Lush’s study and further investigated the influence of condition order on expectancies for the RHI. In both experiments, participants showed stronger agreement with the illusion statement expectancies in the synchronous condition compared to the asynchronous condition. However, this difference was not observed in the control statement expectancies, thereby replicating the outcomes of the original study. In Experiment 2, the group exposed to the asynchronous condition first showed stronger agreement with the illusion statement expectancies in that condition than those exposed to the synchronous condition first. As the RHI has been defined as the difference in direct and indirect measures between synchronous and asynchronous conditions, our results suggest that the methods in the RHI paradigm insufficiently control demand characteristics and order effects; thus, findings based on these methods are confounded by these effects.
The role of visualizations in adults’ learning about genetic inheritance
Authors: Menendez David , Donovan Andrea Marquardt , Mathiaparanam Olympia N. , Klapper Rebecca E. , Yoo Seung Heon , Rosengren Karl S. , Alibali Martha W.
Published: October 2023

Prior work has shown that young children have difficulty understanding how genetic inheritance works, for example thinking that offspring have to be identical (or very similar) to the parents. These misconceptions are still present in many undergraduate students, even after they take genetics courses. Visualizations, such as pedigree diagrams, are commonly used in genetics instruction, and they help students quickly visualize the phenotypes of multiple generations. In Study 1, we examined whether presenting pedigree diagrams in a rich and realistic manner (i.e., with rich perceptual images that resemble real animals) or in an abstract manner (i.e., with circles and squares representing animals) would help undergraduates learn and generalize from a short genetics lesson. Counter to our hypothesis, we found that students generalized more with the rich diagram. In Study 2, we compared the rich diagram (from Study 1) to a perceptually bland diagram (i.e., with color and textural features removed). We found no differences in students’ learning or generalization between the diagrams. These results suggest that realistic elements that are attention grabbing and easily interpretable by students can be beneficial for generalization in online lessons.
Revisiting the Structure of DSM-5 Section II Personality Disorder Criteria Using Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis
Authors: Müller Steffen , Schroeders Ulrich , Bachrach Nathan , Benecke Cord , Cuevas Lara , Doering Stephan , Elklit Ask , Gutiérrez Fernando , Hengartner Michael P. , Hogue Todd , Hopwood Christopher James , Mihura Joni L , Oltmanns Thomas , Paap Muirne , Pedersen Geir , Renn Daniela , Ringwald Whitney R. , Rossi Gina , Samuels Jack , Sharp Carla , Simonsen Erik , Skodol Andrew E. , Wright Aidan G.C. , Zimmerman Mark , Zimmermann Johannes
Published: October 2023

The factor structure of Personality Disorder (PD) criteria has long been debated, but due to previous heterogenous findings, a common structure to represent covariation among DSM-IV/DSM-5 Section II PD criteria remains an open question. This study integrated a total of N = 30,545 PD assessments from 25 samples to conduct an individual participant meta-analytic factor analysis on the structure of PD criteria. Measurement invariance testing across gender, clinical status, and assessment methods indicated substantial structural differences between interview-based and self-reported measures. In interviews, a confirmatory ten-factor model with factors representing specific DSM-5 PDs showed misfit, which could be addressed by allowing for secondary loadings (using exploratory factor analysis with target rotation). In self-reports, a confirmatory ten-factor model showed stronger misfit than in interviews and exploratory solutions were less clear and suggested that a simpler model may be preferable. Factors showed some resemblance to maladaptive trait domains such as Negative Affectivity and Disinhibition when extracting five factors, but there were substantial differences in factor content between interviews and self-reports. In bifactor rotated models, a general factor showed higher explained variance in self-reports, while the content of general factors was similar across both assessment methods. Our results suggest that interview and self-reported measures of PD criteria are not structurally equivalent. To advance research on the structure of PD, it might be useful to consequently focus on the shared variance of multiple methods. For this purpose, future multimethod studies should combine interviews and self-reports with further assessment methods such as informant-reports.
Assessing dissociation: a systematic review and evaluation of existing measures
Authors: Wainipitapong Sorawit , Millman L. S. Merritt , Wieder Lillian , Terhune Devin B , Pick Susannah
Published: October 2023

Dissociation is a phenomenon characterised by a disconnection or detachment from one’s thoughts, identity, consciousness, or surroundings, and can manifest in various psychiatric disorders. Existing measures of dissociation vary considerably in quality and psychometric properties. A comprehensive systematic review of these measures is lacking. This review aimed to assess the psychometric properties and methodological quality of existing dissociation measures. MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO were searched in May 2023 using comprehensive search terms for ‘dissociation’ combined with terms for ‘measurement’ and ‘psychometric properties’. The review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023423485) and followed PRISMA and COSMIN guidelines. We assessed content validity, structural validity, cross-cultural validity, and different indices of reliability comprising 1) reliability (test-retest, inter-rater, intra-rater), 2) internal consistency, and 3) measurement error. Of 7564 studies, 164 were eligible, revealing 42 measures of dissociation (90% trait dissociation, 10% state dissociation) and their 12 adapted versions. None of the measures met all COSMIN criteria for good psychometric properties and high methodological quality. Overall, methodological quality was rated as follows: ‘doubtful’ for content validity, ‘adequate’ for measurement error and cross-cultural validity, and ‘very good’ for structural validity and internal consistency. Most included studies did not assess the reliability of investigated measures. The Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), adolescent DES, Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire, Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire-20, and Cambridge Depersonalisation Scale demonstrated strong evidence for measuring general, child/adolescent, trauma-related (state) or somatoform dissociation, and depersonalisation, respectively. Future research should refine or develop dissociation measures following COSMIN guidelines to ensure robust methodology and psychometric properties.
Sex Differences in the Prospective Association of Excessively Long Reaction Times and Hazardous Cannabis Use at Six Months
Authors: Yan Xu , Bedillion Margaret , Claus Eric , Huang-Pollock Cynthia , Ansell Emily
Published: October 2023

Objective: The neurocognitive risk mechanisms predicting divergent outcomes likely differ between men and women who use cannabis recreationally. Increasingly, the use of descriptive distributions including the ex-Gaussian has been applied to draw stronger inferences about neurocognitive health in clinical populations. The current project examines whether the long tail of reaction times (RTs) in a distribution, as characterized by the ex-Gaussian parameter tau which may represent difficulty with the regulation of arousal, predicts problematic cannabis use 6 months later in those who use cannabis recreationally, and whether sex moderates these prospective associations. Method: Young adults (ages 18-30, mean age 20.5 years, N =159, 57.2% women, 69.2% Caucasian) who recreationally used cannabis either occasionally (at least once per month) or frequently (three times or more per week) completed the Stroop Color-Word Task at baseline. Ex-Gaussian parameter tau was estimated for each participant. Self-report of hazardous cannabis use (CUDIT-R) and dysregulation of negative (DERS) and positive emotions (DERS-Positive) were obtained at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Results: For those with larger tau at baseline, being a man (but not a woman) was associated with increased difficulty regulating positive emotions concurrently (b = -0.01, F (1,159) = 5.48, p = 0.02), and with hazardous cannabis use six months later (b = -0.007, F (1,159) = 4.42, p = 0.037) after controlling for baseline hazardous cannabis use. Conclusions: Excessively long RTs during cognitive performance may help characterize men at risk for increased hazardous use, which contributes to understanding between-sex heterogeneity in pathways towards cannabis use disorders.
Boys and girls can play: Efficacy of a counter-stereotypical intervention based on narratives in young children
Authors: Segura Nebot Rocío , de Lemus Soledad , Baltar Andrea , muro pilar montañés
Published: October 2023

From an early age, boys and girls assimilate gender stereotypes and roles. The aim of this paper is to test the effectiveness of an intervention based on counter-stereotypical narratives for the reduction of gender stereotyping and its consequences in two developmental stages, one before the period of gender stereotypical rigidity (before 5-6 years old), and one after (older than 6 years old). Through four studies, three of them exploratory (N1 = 101, N2 = 126, N3 = 77) and one confirmatory (N4 = 232), we found evidence that the counter-stereotypical intervention can be an effective tool in the reduction of gender stereotyping in terms of gender attributions for toys and professional roles. These effects are maintained over time (two weeks after the intervention; Study 4). At ages prior to the period of stereotypical rigidity, the intervention is also successful in reducing gender-based exclusion at play (Study 1).
Visual experience shapes bodily representation of emotion
Authors: Lettieri Giada , calce Roberta , Giraudet Eléonore , Collignon Olivier
Published: October 2023

Philosophers and experimentalists have long debated whether bodily representation of emotion is grounded in our sensory experience. Indeed, we are used to observe emotional reactions expressed through the bodies of others, yet it is still unknown whether this observation influence how we experience affective states in our own bodies. To delve into this question, we developed a naturalistic haptic task and asked a group of early (n=20) and late (n=20) blind, as well as sighted individuals (n=20) to indicate where in the body they perceive changes associated with affective states. Our results show that visual experience shape bodily representation of emotion. Blind and sighted individuals attribute different importance to body regions in relation to specific emotional states, as sighted people focus more on visceral sensations, while blind report as more relevant the mouth and the hand areas. We also observe differences in the coherence of bodily maps of specific emotions, such as aggressiveness, for which early and late blind are homogenous in reporting the mouth, while sighted subjects demonstrate a scattered pattern of activation across the body. Finally, our findings show that blind people rely on a different organization of affect, as only sighted categorize bodily maps of emotion through the valence and arousal dimensions. In summary, we demonstrate that sensory experience impacts the bodily representation of affect by modulating the relevance that different body parts have in emotional reactions, by modifying the weights attributed to interoceptive and exteroceptive signals, and by changing how emotions are conceptualized in the body.
“What will you do after?”: Lessons from Academia and the World Beyond
Authors: Madan Christopher R
Published: October 2023

Determining post-PhD career options is a challenge for many Psychology PhD graduates. Here I provide a comprehensive overview of the diverse career trajectories available to graduates. Drawing from interviews with 53 PhD graduates conducted as part of the two-volume Academia and the World Beyond book series. Specifically, a hierarchical qualitative classification was conducted to categorise and characterise potential career paths. The findings reveal a spectrum of opportunities, from traditional academic roles to “academic adjacent” and “skill-transfer” careers. This work underscores the versatility of Psychology doctoral training, providing skills that can support a wide array of career possibilities. The results serve as a guide for current and prospective PhD students–and their mentors, emphasising the variety of professional contexts where doctoral training is beneficial.
Analyzing Death-related Content in John Keats's Works: Applying Artificial Intelligence as an Approach
Authors: Cao Hongguang , Zhao Eric
Published: October 2023

This study explores the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in analyzing death-related content in the works of the renowned Romantic poet, John Keats. Traditional literary critiques have long recognized Keats's preoccupation with death, a theme that has intrigued scholars for centuries. By employing a deep learning-based model, specifically a Recurrent Neural Network with Long Short-Term Memory units, this research quantitatively and qualitatively assesses the frequency, distribution, and context of death-related references across Keats's oeuvre. The findings reveal a total of 1,237 references to death, with a notable increase in mentions during the latter years of Keats's life. The AI-driven analysis corroborates traditional interpretations while also uncovering lesser-known works that engage deeply with the theme of death. The study not only enriches our understanding of Keats's poetic contemplations of mortality but also underscores the transformative potential of AI in literary studies. Future research avenues include refining the AI model, broadening the thematic analysis, and fostering collaborative approaches between computational methods and traditional literary analysis.
Whistle Polishing: A Strategy for Guerrilla Government
Authors: Reed David S.
Published: October 2023

"Whistle polishing" is a strategy of guerrilla government in which a public sector worker acts to raise a superior’s perceived risk that the superior’s improper action could have adverse consequences for themself. The purpose is to dissuade the superior from continuing the improper action. The worker does not “blow the whistle” but raises the superior’s concern that the whistle could be blown by the worker or by someone else.
Competition under agnostic rules
Authors: Getty Gordon , Trivers Robert
Published: October 2023

Allele frequencies may fluctuate in density-dependent response to current conditions. There exists for each allele a currently adaptive frequency, typically not yet revealed, at which its selective advantage and expected duration in the gene pool are maximized. Conspecifics compete to maximize frequencies by investing in themselves and close kin, as predicted in Hamilton’s rule, but under agonistic rules selected to maximize probabilities that outcomes will shift frequencies of alleles of contestants collectively toward their currently adaptive values, and reveal or approach them in consequence. Meanwhile alleles might survive indefinitely at lowfrequencies in demes where the traits they encode remain adaptive as a norm.
On sex, drugs, and alcohol: A mixed-method analysis of youth posts on social media in the United States
Authors: Stevens Robin , Bonett Stephen , Kenyatta Kahaari , Chittamuru Deepti , Bleakley Amy , Xu Jackie Jingyi , Wang Yunwen , Bush Nicole
Published: October 2023

In the digital neighborhood, Black and Hispanic youth communicate about issues they face, including sex and substance use. This population of young people is also disproportionately burdened by negative consequences associated with sex and substance use behaviors even when their behavior is less risky. Given the increased likelihood of negative outcomes, we investigated how young people communicate about these behaviors in their digital social networks. This mixed methods study integrates a behavioral survey with a machine learning supported, qualitative content analysis of one year of Facebook and Twitter posts from 50 Black and Hispanic youth, with feedback from a youth advisory board. Participants who had previously had sex or drank alcohol were more likely to post about sex or alcohol, respectively. Moreover, compared to male youth , female youth posted significantly more about sex in general and about STIs, HIV, and pregnancy . Posts about sexual behavior often discussed trust in sexual partners and gendered views of sex. Posts linked alcohol and marijuana with stress relief and coping with grief, community violence, and distress. Understanding how youth think and communicate about sexual risk and substance use can inform the design of effective prevention efforts.
The Lexical Divide: Propositive Modes and Non-Agentic Attitudes Define the Progressive Left in Chile
Authors: Raveau Maria Paz , Couyoumdjian Juan Pablo , Bravo Claudio Fuentes , Rodriguez-Sickert Carlos , Candia Cristian
Published: October 2023

Internal factors–such as psychological traits or individual attitudes–relate to and explain political cleavages. Yet, little is known about how locus of control, agency, and modal attitudes impact political ideology. Utilizing textual analysis within the Chilean 2015 constituent process context, we go beyond traditional survey methods to explore community clusters in ``Values" and ``Rights" networks built upon 106,000 people's deliberation. Our findings reveal distinct attitudinal patterns across political orientations: the progressive left generally exhibits a more propositive and non-agentic attitude, the traditional left adopts an evaluative stance towards values, and the right-wing community leans towards a factual attitude but shifts to an evaluative stance when discussing rights. These results underscore the role of psychological constructs in shaping political ideologies and introduce textual analysis as a robust tool for psychological and political inquiry. The study offers a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of political behavior and provides a new lens through which to examine the psychology of political ideology.
Christian Religious Identity and Sexual Behaviour in Canada Today
Authors: Fetner Tina , Andrejek Nicole , Bird Meghan , Werger Megan
Published: October 2023

Christianity has been an important social institution in governing sexual behaviour. However, like many postindustrial nations, Canada’s attachment to Christianity has been in decline since the 1960s. The proportion of the population affiliated with Christian churches has diminished, and the relationship between church and state has loosened. In addition, more variation has emerged within Christian religious organizations relating to sexual morality, creating greater possibilities for acceptance of more expansive sexualities in some denominations. While scholars have long found that religious affiliation and religiosity are important determinants of sexual morality, sociological approaches to sexuality would suggest that the shifting social contexts of the past 60 years in Canada might loosen constraints on sexual behaviour, perhaps even among those who retain ties to Christian churches. To assess the relationship between Christian religious affiliation and self-reports of sexual activity, we analyze data from an original survey of sexual behaviour (N=2,289). We focus on two sexual activities that have been deemed immoral in some Christian teachings: masturbation and performing oral sex on a partner. We use ordinal logistic regression to compare the recency of participation in these sexual behaviours among those with several types of Christian affiliation, comparing each group with those who have no affiliation. We find that Catholics and mainline Protestants—the largest religious communities in Canada—do not significantly differ from those with no religious affiliation in how recently they engaged in these behaviours. However, we find that those with affiliations to Evangelical and Orthodox Christian religions are significantly less likely to report that they engaged in these behaviours recently. We argue that, in the current cultural context of dechristianization, some Christian communities engage in sexual activity in measurably different ways than others.
Challenges and policy implications of Buy-Now-Pay Later in the UK: A multidisciplinary framework to map digital vulnerabilities
Authors: Cervi Lucia , Appleyard Lindsey , Syed Tahir Abbas , Briggs Jo , Padmanabhan Deepak , Sinha Gauri
Published: October 2023

This paper is concerned with the current and emerging digital vulnerabilities in unsecured consumer credit markets, and particularly focuses on Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) platforms in the UK. The exponential growth of the BNPL sector across the UK and beyond has extended digital vulnerabilities in what remains thus far a largely unregulated space. The risks and algorithmic applications associated with the BNPL process are obfuscated, and the interactions of people and processes with the digital are giving rise to new and emerging vulnerabilities that are intersecting and nuanced. Consumers using BNPL platforms often do not realise how their data is used while the credit products are offered for free, effectively obfuscating the price that is being paid. This paper reviews current debates in management, law, AI and machine learning, design and Human Computer Interaction (HCI), and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability in order to reframe current understandings of digital vulnerability. We propose a multidisciplinary framework highlighting how digital vulnerabilities emerge and intersect within Financial, Algorithmic, Regulatory, and Ethical (FARE) domains. The framework provides a roadmap for policy makers to identify and address digital vulnerabilities in digital platforms. The paper invites further research on how digital vulnerabilities emerge and can be mitigated in digital platforms.
Generational Differences in Abortion Attitudes in the United States: Will Dobbs v. Jackson Become Starkly Counter-Majoritarian?
Authors: Rainey Carlisle , Jackson Robert
Published: October 2023

The Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) has reinvigorated interest in public opinion regarding abortion rights. With recent cross-sections of polling data revealing that young adults are strongly pro-choice and markedly more pro-choice than older adults, it is tempting to conclude that, in time, the Court’s decision will become starkly counter-majoritarian. However, this projection is naïve and could be misleading. Cross-sectional dominant data are incapable of distinguishing between age (A), period (P), and cohort (C) effects—the notorious identification problem: C=P-A. Analyzing five decades of General Social Survey (GSS) data, we use Bayesian hierarchical models to estimate the differences in respondents’ attitudes toward the legal right to an abortion in the United States across ages, survey years, and generations. We find large differences in attitudes across ages and especially survey years, but only small differences across generations. This finding calls into question the projection that the Court’s ruling will become increasingly counter-majoritarian. Beginning at about the age of 40, Americans have followed a consistent trajectory of increasingly conservative abortion attitudes. Finally, the large differences across survey years indicate that American public opinion toward abortion is malleable in the near term—with the data revealing contemporaneous, directional shifts in attitudes across society.
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, Are current measures of Emotional Regulation adequate for NAS children?
Authors: Bradley Ellise
Published: October 2023

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is where a child in utero is exposed to various substances, ranging from nicotine and alcohol to prescribed medications and illegal substances. The study was conducted to research the ways in which scales may represent children who have NAS and the implications of current scale representations.
When Black Movements Matter: Controlling Images and Black Lives Matter Protests in Media Attention to U.S. Police Killings
Authors: Lu Todd Jiajin
Published: October 2023

This study investigates how the portrayal of Black criminality influences Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests and media attention to police-related deaths of Black individuals. While prior work examined how media norms, political contexts, and movement infrastructure influence media attention, little research has questioned whether perceived worthiness of movement claims shapes the capacity of protests to direct attention. Applying scholarship of controlling images, I test how victim's armed status moderates the effect of BLM protests on media attention to Black policing deaths. Negative binomial regression analysis on coverage of 678 Black Americans killed by police from 2014-2016 in over three hundred print media indicates local protests directly increased attention to nearby Black Americans but were moderated by armed status. Neither political contexts nor organizational presence influenced attention, suggesting BLM relied on the discursive power of protests. Findings highlight how controlling images and racialized threats influence movements along a matrix of domination.
Reassessing the Economy-Environment Tradeoff: Do Industry Sectors, Green Jobs Opportunities, and Regulatory Threats Affect Environmental Concerns?
Authors: Lu Todd Jiajin
Published: October 2023

Economic effects on environmental concerns assess macroeconomic pressures or microeconomic status differences but overlook environmental and labor scholarly attention to industry contexts. I test whether employed industry, green jobs opportunities, and regulatory threats influence five environmental concern indexes using cross-sectional U.S. General Social Surveys from 2000, 2010, and 2021 and federal administrative data. Findings indicate individuals employed in resource extraction, construction, and manufacturing express less environmental concerns than service sector individuals but vary across dimensions. Resource extraction individuals express less concern for environmental protections and pollution harms. Manufacturing, construction, and utilities individuals are less willing to sacrifice for the environment. Green jobs sub-industry employment is positively associated with more willingness to sacrifice and empowerment to act for the environment. Surprisingly, employment in Environmental Protection Agency regulated sub-industries is positively associated with more willingness to sacrifice for the environment. Findings underscore future research on how industry-based economic contexts shape environmental concerns.
EXPLORING THE FACTORS AND STRATEGIES FOR ENSURING EDUCATIONAL STABILITY IN KWAZULU-NATAL: A FOCUS ON MITIGATING SCHOOL VIOLENCE AND PROMOTING A FAVORABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Ngogi Emmanuel Mahaye  , Oluwatoyin Ayodele Ajani
Published: October 2023

Achieving educational objectives within the school system is contingent upon a conducive environment (Ajani, 2022). In the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province, the alarming rise in school violence has disrupted academic activities, sparking concerns among education stakeholders. Numerous incidents of violence, resulting in fatalities and property damage, have been well-documented (Mahaye et al., 2022). The recurring nature of these incidents has led to a lack of stability within schools, hindering effective teaching and learning. This study investigates the factors contributing to educational instability in KwaZulu-Natal, drawing from published literature and the authors' direct experience as education administrators. The research reveals that crime and violence are the primary causes of school instability, stemming from internal factors involving learners and staff and external influences from the local community. The study identifies multiple strategies to mitigate school violence, creating a secure and conducive educational environment. Additionally, it proposes measures to ensure school stability in the KwaZulu-Natal province, including moral guidance, heightened security protocols, the cultivation of emotional intelligence, instruction in African philosophy (Ubuntu), and improved teacher welfare packages.
Естественно-исторические предпосылки промысла сайгаков в Казахстане
Authors: Сапанов М.К. , Ахмеденов К.М.
Published: October 2023

Численность сайгаков казахстанской уральской группировки, обитающей в Волго-Уральском междуречье, в 2022 году возросла до рекордных 801 тыс. экземпляров. Местные фермеры утверждают о сильнейших потравах этими животными сельскохозяйственных полей и пастбищ и требуют искусственного сокращения поголовья. В то же время природоохранные организации предлагают их дальнейшую охрану. В работе проведен анализ литературных материалов и полученных ранее собственных результатов по сопряженному изучению динамики численности сайгаков и их весенней массовой гибели с особенностями изменения природно-климатических условий региона. Промышленный промысел уральской группировки сайгаков начался в 1954 году и с перерывами продолжался до 1994 года. Иными словами, добыча сайгаков представляла собой в это время обычное регуляторное мероприятие. Затем наступил долговременный период депрессии их численности, который связали с неумеренным отстрелом и браконьерством. Показано, что волнообразная динамика численности популяции сайгаков полностью зависит от продуктивности травостоя и обводненности мест их обитания. Глубокая и продолжительная депрессия в численности животных в 2000-х годах возникла в результате сильного сокращения мест водопоя, так как в этот период из-за 14-летнего отсутствия поверхностного стока весенних талых вод в местную гидрографическую сеть произошло повсеместное высыхание прудов и сор, обмеление озер и рек. Лишь в 2010–2011 годах началось новое пополнение открытых водоемов талыми водами, и с тех пор до 2022 года они никогда не пересыхали. Именно в это время началось интенсивное приращение численности поголовья сайгаков. Проанализированы причины весенней периодической массовой избирательной гибели сайгаков. Показано, что причиной этого явления может быть незаразная болезнь — тимпания, которая идентифицируется скоротечностью заболевания, что объясняет ее избирательный характер (гибнут, в основном, малоподвижные родившие самки). Тимпания, по-видимому, может служить триггерным механизмом запуска других второстепенных болезней в организмах животных, в том числе контагиозного пастереллеза, который постоянно регистрируют у погибших животных. Поголовье животных после массового весеннего падежа сайгаков восстанавливается через несколько лет до прежнего уровня из-за высокой плодовитости как в периоды депрессии, так и высокой численности. Поэтому нет никаких оснований для отмены промысла столь ценного самовозобновляемого ресурса с учетом динамики его численности под влиянием природно-климатических условий.
Сравнительное анатомическое исследование анатомических показателей листа сосны обыкновенной разного географического происхождения
Authors: Тулешова К. , Қали А.К.
Published: October 2023

Биоиндикация на основании состояния морфолого-анатомических показателей листьев растений является удобным способом для оценки состояния окружающей среды. Центральный Казахстан, включающий Карагандинскую и Улытаускую области, является регионом со значительными промышленными выбросами. Цель настоящего исследования — провести сравнительное исследование анатомических показателей листьев Pinus sylvestris, произрастающих в населенных пунктах Центрального Казахстана. Результаты показали, что максимальные показатели длины и ширины листа, толщины мезофилла обнаружены для г. Сатпаева, толщины эпидермиса листа — для г. Жезказгана, диаметра вместилищ — для г. Балхаша, длины проводящего пучка — для г. Караганды, ширины проводящего пучка — для г. Балхаша. Большая часть признаков варьировала на низком и среднем уровне, высокий коэффициент вариации был отмечен только для диаметра вместилищ (смоляных ходов) хвои сосны. Отмечено, что минимальные показатели анатомических структур хвои Pinus sylvestris обнаружены для промышленных населенных пунктов Центрального Казахстана: Караганды, Балхаша, Темиртау и Жезказгана, тогда как для с. Улытау и г. Сатпаева все значения были на среднем и высоком уровне. Полученные данные можно применять для биоиндикации с использованием зеленых насаждений.
Molecular mechanisms of radiation-induced aging
Authors: Bulgakova O.V. , Rezhepova N.B.
Published: October 2023

Radiation-induced aging is a complex process that involves multiple molecular mechanisms. One of the primary mechanisms underlying radiation-induced aging is oxidative stress. Exposure to radiation can lead to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can cause damage to DNA, proteins, and other cellular components. In addition to these mechanisms, radiation-induced aging can also involve alterations in gene expression, cellular metabolism, and epigenetic modifications. These changes can affect the function of various cellular pathways and contribute to the aging process. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of radiation-induced aging is critical for developing strategies to mitigate its effects. Potential interventions include targeting oxidative stress, promoting DNA repair, altering the epigenetic landscape and modulating cellular metabolism. However, further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex molecular pathways involved in radiation-induced aging and identify effective therapeutic approaches. In general, the molecular mechanisms of radiation's impact on aging discussed in this review provide a new perspective on radiation-induced aging and identify new targets for intervention.
Biomorphological and phytochemical parameters of Chelidonium majus L. in the conditions of Kungei-Alatau
Authors: Dostemessova A.B. , Ametov A.A. , Kurmanbayeva M.S. , Izbastina K.S.
Published: October 2023

In the pharmaceutical industry, the stability of the relationship between synthetic drugs and natural drugs has changed recently. This is because drugs made from natural plants are more in demand than chemically prepared drugs. The advantages of herbal medicines are their low toxicity, a significant complex of biologically active compounds, the versatility of pharmacotherapeutic effects, and the possibility of long-term use without obvious adverse reactions. In addition to the therapeutic effect of the biologically active substances contained in the medicinal products, the preventive effect is also effective. Therefore, it is important to analyze the composition of natural medicinal raw materials of plant origin. The aim of the work is to study macrodiagnostic features and composition of active natural compounds of medicinal plant Chelidónium majús L. C. majús plant collected in the Kungei Alatau region and medical, cosmetic and hygienic dry kits prepared on the basis of C. majús sold in pharmacies were used as the research object. Pharmacognosy, macroscopic and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) methods were used in the research. The results of the macroscopic analysis confirmed the conformity of the composition and characteristics of the finished raw materials in the samples. C. majús plant samples showed stable component composition of sufficient biologically active substances. All samples contained 3,7,11,15-Tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol, Phytol, Ethyl Oleate, 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid, ethyl ester, 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid, ethyl ester, (Z, Z, Z), Methyl 19-methyl-eicosanoate, Protopine compounds were determined. Conducting clinical trials to evaluate the therapeutic potential of the plant and its efficacy and safety in pharmaceutics is the basis for future research. The obtained results allow an objective assessment of the quality standards of pharmacopoeial medicinal plant C. majús materials.
Новый подвид Eumerus aristatus Peck, 1969 (Diptera, Syrphidae) из гор Карабас (Восточный Казахстан)
Authors: Златанов Б.В.
Published: October 2023

В 2022 г. в ходе работы по изучению энтомофауны Государственного национального природного парка «Тарбагатай» в южном отроге хребта Тарбагатай горах Карабас было отловлено несколько мух-журчалок (Syrphidae) рода Eumerus с апикально ланцетовидно расширенной аристой, которые в настоящей работе описаны как новый подвид Eumerus aristatus Peck, 1969. Самец описываемого подвида отличается от E. aristatus наличием налета и цветом волосков на голове, расположением глазкового треугольника, формой и цветом усиков, цветом отлива окраски тела.
Ғылыми зерттеулер негізіндегі мұнай қалдықтарының улы газдары мен органикалық қосылыстарының адам ағзасына әсері
Authors: Алшынбаева М.А. , Ешмагамбетова А.Б.
Published: October 2023

Мұнай-газ өнеркәсібінің дамуына байланысты адам іс-әрекеті нәтижесінде атмосфералық ауаның ластануы қазіргі уақытта өзекті болып саналады. Мұнай өнеркәсіп орындарындағы қоршаған ортаны ластаушы компоненттер қатарына көмірсутектер, меркаптандар және күкіртсутегі жатады. Аталған сипаттағы уытты қалдықтармен ауаны ластау адам денсаулығына нақты қауіп төндіреді. Бензин, мазут, ацетон, бензол секілді органикалық еріткіштердің қолданылуы салдарынан түзілген газдармен аймақтың ластануын ерекше айтуға болады. Гигиеналық тұрғыдан күкіртсутектің атмосфералық химиясы үлкен қызығушылық тудырады. Атмосфералық ауаға түскенде, бұл газ оттегі мен озонмен әрекеттесіп, күкірт газын құрайды. Бұл газ сумен біріктірілсе күкірт қышқылын түзеді, үнемі тотығады, күкірт қышқылына айналады. Ауада күкіртсутектің тотығуы кезінде күкірт газы, суда тотығу кезінде қарапайым күкірт түзіледі. Мұнай тасымалданатын мекемелердің жұмыскерлеріне де мұнай қалдықтарынан тікелей төнетін қауіп жоғары. Демек, өндіріс орындарының жанында тұратын халықта қатердің жоғарғы деңгейінде тұр. Тұрғылықты халықтарға таралған зиянды көрсеткіштер бірден әсерін тигізбесе де, созылмалы улану нәтижесінде ағзаға айтарлықтай зиянын тигізеді. Зерттеулер көрсеткендей, аталған уытты заттар аз мөлшерде алайда ұзақ мерзімде әсер етуінен адамның жүйке, жүрек, иммундық, асқазан-ішек және басқа да дене жүйелері жұмысының бұзылуына әкеледі. Барлық ұшпа органикалық еріткіштер адам ағзасына өкпесі, терісі, ас қорыту мүшелері арқылы еніп, жүйке және май тініндерінде жинақталады. Химиялық құрылысына сәйкес уыттылық, ағзадағы таралу коэффициенті әртүрлі болады.
Обзор фауны тлей (Hemiptera, Aphidomorpha) казахстанской части хребта Кунгей Алатау (Северный Тянь-Шань)
Authors: Кадырбеков Р.Х. , Колов С.В.
Published: October 2023

В казахстанской части хребта Кунгей Алатау на данный момент выявлено 111 видов тлей из 55 родов, представленных семействами Adelgidae (1 вид, 0,8 % от общего числа выявленных видов) и Aphididae (110 видов, 99,2 %). Семейство Aphididae представлено 8 подсемействами: Anoeciinae (1 вид, 0,9 %), Thelaxinae (2, 1,8 %), Eriosomatinae (8, 7,3 %), Lachninae (4, 3,6 %), Callaphidinae (6, 5,5 %), Macropodaphidinae (1, 0,9 %), Saltusaphidinae (1, 0,9 %), Chaitophorinae (7, 6,4 %), Aphidinae (80 видов, 72,7 %). Больше всего видов выявлено в родах Aphis (24), Chaitophorus, Macrosiphoniella (по 7), Brachycaudus (5), Acyrthosiphon, Uroleucon (по 4), Cinara, Pterocomma, Forda (по 3). В остальных 46 родах отмечено по 1–2 вида. Впервые для казахстанской части хребта Кунгей Алатау указано 17 видов: Pemphigus birimatus, Trama rara, Betulaphis brevipilosa, B. quadrituberculata, Therioaphis trifolii, Macropodaphis rechingeri, Saltusaphis scirpus, Chaitophorus horii beuthani, Aphis cisticola, A. salviae, A. taraxacicola, Aphidura alatavica, Rhopalomyzus codonopsidis, Acyrthosiphon cyparissiae turkestanicum, Uroleucon pseudobscurum, Uroleucon jaceae reticulatum, Macrosiphoniella antennata antennata. Betulaphis quadrituberculata впервые приводится также для Казахстана и Северного Тянь-Шаня. Chaitophorus horii beuthani впервые найден также и в Северном Тянь-Шане. Рассмотрены также вертикально-биотопическое распределение, особенности трофической специализации, относительная численность выявленных видов тлей. Сделан зоогеографический анализ.
Hospital cost differences between open and endoscopic lumbar spine decompression surgery
Authors: Findlay Matthew C. , Hamrick Forrest A. , Kim Robert B. , Twitchell Spencer , Mahan Mark A.
Published: October 2023

OBJECTIVE

In recent years, fully endoscopic decompression surgery for degenerative spine disease has become increasingly popular in the US. Although an endoscopic approach has demonstrated some benefits compared with open procedures in randomized controlled trials, the cost of advanced technologies remains contested. The authors evaluated the differences in costs and cost drivers between open and endoscopic decompression surgical procedures performed at a single institution.

METHODS

Using associated Current Procedural Terminology codes, the authors identified all open and endoscopic decompression lumbar surgical procedures performed from January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2022. Preoperative comorbidities, surgical characteristics, and postoperative outcomes were captured. The costs of index surgery–related readmission for revision, washout, or other complications were included in the index surgery expenses. Associated in-hospital costs were collected; these were reported in comparative percentages with open surgical procedures as the baseline because of an institutional agreement. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The retrospective search identified 633 open surgical procedures and 195 endoscopic surgical procedures for inclusion. The two patient cohorts were similar, with clinically nonrelevant but statistically significant differences in mean age (open 55.7 years vs endoscopic 59.4 years, p = 0.01) and mean American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status class (open 2.3 vs endoscopic 2.4, p = 0.03). Postoperatively, patients who underwent open surgical procedures had significantly longer mean hospital stays (open 1.4 days vs endoscopic 0.7, p < 0.01) and more perioperative complications (open 7.9% of patients vs endoscopic 3.1%, p = 0.02), and they required washout surgical procedures in some cases (open 1.3% vs endoscopic 0%, p = 0.12). The largest cost difference between open and endoscopic surgical procedures was the significantly greater cost of disposable supplies for endoscopic cases (10.1% vs 31.7% of the total cost of open procedures, p < 0.01), and open surgical procedures were generally less costly in total (100.0% vs 115.1%, p < 0.01). In multivariate linear regression, endoscopic surgery was independently associated with greater total costs (standardized beta 15.9%, p < 0.01), although length of hospital stay (standardized beta 34.0%) and readmissions (standardized beta 30.0%, p < 0.01) had larger effects on cost.

CONCLUSIONS

The endoscopic approach was associated with greater total in-hospital costs compared with open procedures. The findings of further cost evaluations, including those of patient-reported outcomes, social cost, and capital costs per procedure type, need to be included in operational and clinical decisions.