Close Associates Research Articles

An Approach to Qualitative Analysis in the Understanding of Cosplay and Crossplayer

The term "crossplay" is used to describe an individual who engages in role-play (costume and play) by assuming a character of a different gender than their own in the context of cosplay. This discrepancy in identity frequently gives rise to the labelling and negative perceptions of crossplayers within society. The objective of this research is to gain insight into the self-identity of crossplayers. This research employs a qualitative methodology with a phenomenological approach. The data collection techniques employed were interviews and observation. The subjects of this research were two primary sources and four secondary sources from Yogyakarta. The research employs an interactive model analysis. The findings indicate that each crossplayer has a distinct etiology and motive for engaging in crossplay. However, both groups seek to express themselves freely through crossplay, in conjunction with their closest associates. Crossplay provides a forum for resource persons to explore in order to develop their self-identity

Social associations are predicted by nest proximity but not kinship in a free-living social parrot

Abstract Social associations among conspecifics are typically non-random, often being a function of relatedness, familiarity, or spatial distributions. The aim of this study was to combine field observations with molecular genetic techniques and social network analysis to investigate the predictors of social associations in free-living monk parakeets, Myiopsitta monachus. Monk parakeets are non-territorial parrots whose nests are often aggregated, with relatives clustered in kin neighbourhoods and within cooperatively breeding groups. First, we characterized social associations when away from the nest, showing that individuals typically had a few strong social ties. Second, we investigated whether these social associations were related to nest proximity or genetic relatedness. The strength of association decreased with increasing inter-nest distance, but there was negligible influence of relatedness on the strength of associations. These patterns did not differ between same-sex and opposite-sex dyads. Finally, we investigated whether members of breeding pairs were close social associates, finding that in most cases the closest associate of an individual was their mate, although social bonds also existed outside of the pair; members of breeding groups also associated closely when foraging. Social associations are poorly known in parrots owing to methodological challenges, hence our results add to the limited knowledge of sociality in this taxon.

Illegal Church Document from the Era of Persecution (1920–1930 of the 20th Century)

The research of the history of the Russian Orthodox Church of the 20th century is largely based on the study of documents of that era drawn up in the church milieu. Since all kinds of church publications were prohibited, the reproduction of documents in private — by copying or retyping — gained ground in Russia of the 1920s and 1930s. These documents played the role of the church press — they introduced the events of church life, expressed beliefs in the rightness of the author or a group of like-minded people, unmasked ideological opponents, and also served to communicate with foreign church figures. The reproduction of such documents, in case of their discovery by authorities, could endanger not only the authors thereof and the persons mentioned therein, but also ordinary copyists and put them all to punitive measures such as purge. Thanks to the ascetics who preserved them, these documents remain the most important information sources in the field of history of the Russian Orthodox Church in the era of persecution. The article lists the documents that were taken abroad — letters of Bishop Damaskin (Cedric), the collection of church documents “The Case of Metropolitan Sergius”. Moreover, it analyzes documents both originating from the clerical office of Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky) and generated by church figures opposed to Deputy Patriarchal Locum Tenens. A large number of documents was drawn up by Mikhail Novosyolov himself and the circle of his close associates. Also, the most important documents of that era are the letters of Metropolitan Kirill (Smirnov) and replies of Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky). The article pays special attention to the transfer abroad of the collection of church documents entitled “The Case of Metropolitan Sergius”, the role of the journalist Mikhail Brоndsted (pseudonym: Mikhail Artemyev), who left abroad in 1930, and his articles published abroad on underground literature in the Soviet Union. The problem of the authorship of anonymous sources, the authenticity of documents distributed in the church milieu is also raised here. The Joint State Political Directorate of the Soviet Union actively used church documents found during arrests to persecute believers. Fragments of these documents often became the basis for indictments, as evidence of the accused’s anti-Soviet activity. The article also mentions the role of collectors of church documents during the persecution against the Church — Archpresbyter Michael Polsky, Mikhail Gubonin, Metropolitan Manuel (Lemeshevsky).

Tra Alessandro e gli Antigonidi: la carriera di Medio di Larisa

Abstract From Alexander to the Antigonids: the career of Medeios of Larissa The contribution reviews the career of a Thessalian, Medeios from Larisa, who, after participating in the expedition of Alexander the Great, militated in the service of the Antigonids, becoming a close associate of Antigonos and remaining loyal to the dynasty even after his death. It is precisely this militancy in the service of the Antigonids, it is argued here, that could be the basis of a tradition according to which Medeios was an associate in the alleged conspiracy of which Alexander was a victim: indeed, it is likely that this tradition arose in the context of the propaganda war that broke out between the successors after the king’s death.

Образы Китая в наследии Э.Э. Ухтомского

The article analyzes what was created in the works of a prominent public figure in Russia at the turn of the 19th–20th centuries, close associate of Tsar Nicholas II, Prince E.E. Ukhtomsky’s image of China. The Qing Empire in Ukhtomsky’s views seems dual: on the one hand, it is experiencing stagnation, is in a state of economic back-wardness, poverty, and is experiencing colonial oppression, and on the other hand, the author admires the ex-otic culture of China, its centuries-old achievements, internal power and spiritual wealth. Ukhtomsky’s field of vision includes everyday life, cuisine, art, religion, and traditions of the Chinese people. The image of the Ce-lestial Empire, presented by the prince based on the results of his trips to the East, corresponded to the concept of Orientalism, which was topical at the end of the 19th century and which asserted both the kinship of Russian and Asian peoples and the superiority of Russia over the countries of the East, in connection with which it was assigned a special mission in relation to them, consisting in mediation between Europe and Asia. Designed by E.E. Ukhtomsky’s image of China reflects the events that took place in the social thought of Russia in the 19th and 20th centuries search for national identity.

Understanding the Escalation статьи in U.S.-Russian Relations during the D. Trump Era: Unpacking the “Split Subject” Phenomenon

Donald Trump’s victory in the 2016 presidential election intensifi ed the divide within American society and the political climate in Washington, causing a signifi cant impact on the relationship between Moscow and Washington. Despite the US political system overcoming the challenges faced during Trump’s presidency, there was also a surge in tensions between the US and Russia. The deterioration of bilateral relations can be attributed to the dysfunctional interagency communication channels and the tightening of sanctions through the CAATSA law. Moscow ultimately shifted its stance from aspiring to normalization to recognizing the likelihood of military-political confrontation. This article presents a hypothesis that comprehensively explains the factors contributing to this shift. The hypothesis underscores the lack of coherence among American political leaders, as four unique interest groups – President Trump, Republican hawks, oppositional bureaucrats, and Democratic Congress members – all contribute to shaping US policy toward Russia. Each group advances its specifi c objectives, sometimes joining forces to bypass the president’s policies. Consequently, a “split subject” phenomenon emerges in US-Russian aff airs. The author concludes that the lack of constructive dialogue with Washington during Trump’s presidency was due to the “split subject.” The victory of J. Biden in the 2020 elections and the alignment of American bipartisan elites amid the Russian-Ukrainian confl ict temporarily shifted this phenomenon to the background. Nevertheless, the author raises the question of whether this “cleavage” might reemerge if Trump or his close associates win the 2024 US presidential election.

TWO ‘ALSO-RANS’, 132–129 b.c.e.

AbstractThe electoral scene in the period from 133 to 129 b.c.e. was doubtless unpredictable, even in the centuriate assembly, and any prosopographical modelling based on the available data would be adventurous. The report that Appius Claudius Pulcher (cos. 143 and bitter opponent to Scipio Aemilianus) ran in 133 for a second consulship is not implausible, and the possibility of a thwarted candidature, whatever its duration and the reason for its termination, should be registered. The successful candidates were P. Popillius Laenas and P. Rupilius, the latter a close associate of Scipio. The unsuccessful consular candidacy of Rupilius’ brother Lucius should be dated to 132, 131 or 130. The elimination of the first of those options by F.X. Ryan (CQ 45 [1995], 263–5) is challenged.

1384. Verbal Autopsy as a Tool to Identify Probable Cause of Death in People with Acute Febrile Illness in Zambia — January 2020-December 2022

Abstract Background Acute febrile illness (AFI) surveillance improves a country’s understanding of what diseases are circulating. However, fever as an entry point for patient identification casts a wide net that will likely capture non-infectious causes of AFI. We used mortality surveillance data to examine probable causes of death (CoD) potentially associated with AFI to expand our understanding of febrile illness in Zambia. Methods The Zambian Ministry of Health provided verbal autopsy (VA) data from 27 (of 117) districts representing ∼50% of Zambia’s population. The World Health Organization’s standardized tool for VA was used by hospital staff to interview relatives or close associates of deceased persons of all ages on clinical presentation and circumstances prior to death. The InterVA-5 validated computer algorithm provided a CoD. Using questionnaire data, we applied an AFI case definition based on common global AFI surveillance criteria: a febrile person with a fever duration of < 1-14 days and a mild, moderate, or severe fever classification (in lieu of a temperature cutoff). We analyzed the CoDs and SARS-CoV-2 infections among those that met our AFI case definition in R. Results From January 2020 to December 2022, 51,751 VAs were conducted on people over 28 days old–14,503 (28%) reported fever prior to death, of which 12,071 (23%) met our AFI case definition. Broadly, we found that 64% of those that met our AFI case definition had an infectious CoD, 32% had a non-communicable CoD, and 4% had other CoDs. Specifically, the most reported CoDs were acute respiratory infection (14%), diarrheal disease (11%), and HIV/AIDS (10%). A positive SARS-CoV-2 test was reported in 965 (8%) persons with AFI versus 1,876 (5%) without AFI (p< 0.001). Conclusion AFI-associated deaths were primarily attributable to infectious disease, as identified through VA. AFI is one approach for multi-pathogen surveillance that provides valuable insight into circulating diseases, including SARS-CoV-2, but findings are limited by which pathogens are targeted for testing. Mortality surveillance is a valuable supplementary data source when attempting to understand inconclusive findings in AFI surveillance and aids in a country’s understanding of common causes of febrile illness not captured through AFI surveillance diagnostics. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

A Lightweight Algorithm for Detecting Fake Multimedia Contents on Social Media

The significant growth of the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) coupled with the widespread adoption of social media across the world has initiated new challenges that deserve the attention of researchers and industry leaders especially in detecting and preventing fake multimedia contents on social media. The forging of multimedia contents like videos and images for malicious activities is gradually becoming very rampant and this has serious psychological, health, political and economic consequences on the targeted individuals or close associates of the victims. The application of deepfake algorithms to make manipulated videos and images has contributed in making it very difficult to identify fake videos and images from the real multimedia contents. The availability of the internet and social media has made the spread of deepfake videos and images very fast and at an alarming rate. This research work understanding the dire need to detect deepfake videos and images (multimedia contents) proposes a lightweight algorithm to detect deepfake videos and images on social media platforms. The need for a lightweight algorithm is essential to enable low computational devices to be able to apply the algorithm without computational challenges and overheads. The proposed model has demonstrated a significant reduction in the computational and time complexities. The research work also presented a comparative analysis of some selected deep learning models with emphasis on the datasets used, their features and challenges identified.

Honest agreement or behind-the-scenes political games? New contributions to the research of Milošević-Tuđman talks in Karađorđevo and Tikveš in 1991.

During the 1980s of 20th century, socialist Yugoslavia faced various social problems, which disintegrated the fragile tissue of Tito's state-political legacy. In the early 1990s, when the unstoppable phase of dissolution of this country began, national-chauvinist quasi-elites surfaced, with the aim of realizing their great-nation ambitions in a period of general unrest. Although in this whirlwind of social events the possibility of military intervention by the JNA was used as an indispensable threat factor, the behind-the-scenes political agreements of republican leaders were often much more effective in achieving certain goals. Sometimes conducted in public, and sometimes secretly, such negotiations violated the authority of state bodies and made their existence meaningless. In this context, one can certainly observe the most famous separate negotiations from the beginning of the 1990s on the territory of the disintegrating Yugoslavia, conducted between Slobodan Milosevic and Franjo Tudjman. Although due to the lack of transcripts we have no insight into the details of these talks, many close associates of the Serbian and Croatian presidents, as well as participants in various political sessions, clearly indicate the presence of a high degree of mutual agreement on the division of Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, today, three decades after Karadjordjev and Tikves, there is a reasonable suspicion that it was just a double political game of Slobodan Milosevic, who entered into such talks with Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, not to divide Bosnia and Herzegovina with him but to confront him with the Bosniaks and thus weaken the front against Serbian hegemony in Yugoslavia. In this paper, the author sought to shed light on these events through statements by Tudjman and Milosevic, and addresses by their close associates and participants in numerous political talks, and thus help to take a more relevant view of Bosnia and Herzegovina's positioning in Serbian and Croatian politics in the early 1990s. year of the 20th century.

Mediating Influence of General Process Management Competency on the relationship between Task Inattentiveness and Self-Efficacy for Teamwork among Management Students

Purpose: This research study examines the mediating influence of general process management competency (GPMC) on the relationship between task inattentiveness (TIA) and self-efficacy for teamwork (SETW). Design/methodology/approach: One hundred and sixty-four graduate management students completed self-assessment measures of TIA and SETW, and identified a close associate who completed an observer version of a general process management competency measure. Product moment correlations were used to examine the hypothesized relationships between SETW and both TIA and GPMC, and both the Hayes process and the Sobel test were used to test the hypothesis that GPMC mediates the relationship between TIA and SETW. Findings: SETW was significantly correlated with both TIA (r = -0.24, p < 0.01) and GPMC (r = 0.44, p < 0.01). TIA was significantly correlated with GPMC (r = -0.33, p < 0.01). Both the Hayes process and Sobel test (Z = -3.49, p < 0.00) confirmed that GPMC fully mediated the relationship between TA and SETW. Practical implications: Business and management educators need to be aware of the influence of task inattentiveness and general process management competency on self-efficacy for teamwork. Teaching strategies and other developmental resources that address task inattentiveness and promote general process management competency in an integrated manner may help improve self confidence in teamwork, which is a key contributor to team member effectiveness. Originality/value: This is the first study to examine the relationships between TIA, GPMC and SETW. The results of this study highlight the importance of developing teaching strategies and developmental resources that enhance both task attentiveness and general process management competency in an integrated manner to promote greater confidence in ability to work in teams.

SHADOW OF ARMY ON POLITICS AND “ABOVE-PARTY” GOVERNMENTS, 1971-1973

1971 was a turbulent year, with many serious internal difficulties left unresolved. There was loss of confidence in the Government and partial collapse of public security, especially in the universities. The armed forces demanded and obtained Demirel’s resignation. He was replaced by Dr. Erim and an “above-party” Government, with a majority of technocrats from outside Parliament with a programme of radical, left-wing, reforms. Martial Law was needed to restore security. The Constitution was amended, meaning more power for the Government. In 1972 Turkey suffered from weak administration, intermittent terrorism, and repressive martial law, but Parliamentary democracy survived. The armed forces did not maintain their resolve to force reforms through Parliament. Dr. Erim’s above-party Government resigned, and was replaced by Melen’s, which was more acceptable to the Conservatives in Parliament. 1973 was a momentous year in which the republic founded by Atatürk celebrated its 50th anniversary. His last surviving close associate İnönü had died at 89, martial law was lifted, the armed forces failed to impose their candidate for President and Parliamentary democracy prevailed. An honest general election was held but there was no follow-through to a new Government, over which the armed forces remained patient with the politicians.

Does Cooperative Conflict Management mediate the relationship between Diversity Appreciation and Self-Efficacy for Teamwork with Dissimilar Team-mates?

This research study examines the mediating influence of a problem-solving conflict style (PSCMS) on the relationship between diversity appreciation (DA) and self-efficacy for teamwork with team-mates who are perceived as dissimilar (SEDT). One hundred and ninety-six undergraduate business management students completed self-assessment measures of DA and SEDT, and identified a close associate who completed an observer version of the Dutch conflict management style scale. Product moment correlations were used to examine the hypothesized relationships between SEDT and both DA and PSCMS, and both the Hayes process and the Sobel test were used to test the hypothesis that PSCMS mediates the relationship between DA and SEDT. SEDT was significantly correlated with both DA (r = 0.34, p < 0.01) and PSCMS (r = 0.43, p < 0.01). DA was significantly correlated with PSCMS (r = 0.37, p < 0.01). Both the Hayes process and Sobel test (Z = 3.91, p < 0.001) confirmed that PSCMS partially mediated the relationship between DA and SEDT. Educators and practitioners need to be aware of the influence of DA and PSCMS on SEDT. Development activities that promote both diversity appreciation and use of a problem-solving conflict management style should help improve team member confidence in their ability to work with team-mates who they perceive as significantly different from themselves. This is the first study to examine the relationships between DA, PSCMS and SEDT. The results of this study highlight the importance of promoting both diversity appreciation and a problem-solving conflict management style as part of the process of helping team members develop confidence in their ability to successfully work with team-mates who they perceive as dissimilar.

When a close person suddenly changes their behavior – dementia in young people. A case report

The aim of our study is to present a case report of a young patient with rapidly progressive behavioral changes. A 39-year-old well functioning man in a short period of time began to show symptoms like agressive towards his family members, binge eating, apathy, difficulties with social interactions, reduced verbal fluency and poverty of speech, disorders in executive functions and restlessness and anxiety. This behavioral changes appeared in a short period of time (6 months). The concerned family, alarmed by this unusual behavior not previously observed, sought medical help. The patient was disoriented, not receptive to arguments about his atypical behavior, and unaware of the existing problem. A comprehensive diagnostic evaluation (including laboratory, imaging, and neuropsychological assessments) was conducted during the hospital stay. MRI scan showed substantial cortical atrophy in frontal and temporal lobes. Based on the clinical status, typical MRI and neuropsychological examination, the patient was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). 
 The patient received a diagnosis in a very short period of time, which is not typical in establishing a diagnosis for this particular medical condition. The symptoms are often nonspecific, which delays the diagnosis or leads to an incorrect preliminary diagnosis of another medical condition. Difficulties in diagnosing also arise from the non-specific symptoms, which are often overlooked by the patient themselves. It is important to emphasize the crucial role of family members and close associates in recognizing the initial symptoms and making attempts to diagnose the disease. It is also important to provide support and care for the patient's family, for whom the diagnosis of FTD becomes challenging and burdening.

Telerehabilitation in the Finnish Outpatient Rehabilitation Setting from the Perspective of the Socio-Technical Systems Theory.

In the development of effective telerehabilitation (TR) interventions, understanding the various characteristics affecting its practice is essential. Remote connection creates a new technically shaped environment for therapy and, therefore, previous therapy methods do not work the same way as before. The objective of this survey was to describe the practice of TR through the socio-technical theory approach. The 629 respondents to the online questionnaire included music therapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, and neuropsychologists. The materials consisted of five open-ended questions. The analysis combined data-based and theory-based analysis. In the data-based content analysis, we identified three main categories and eight generic categories, whereas in the theory-based, we categorised the main results according to the Fit Between Individuals, Tasks, Technology, and Environment (FITTE) framework dimensions. TR is everyday-life based, it requires shared participation, and the approach has to include coaching and collaboration with the client and their close associates. The everyday-life environment is one of the main dimensions that affect all the other dimensions. TR can be seen as technology-mediated home-based rehabilitation, as it can integrate rehabilitation into the client's everyday life. In TR, therapy becomes multilateral and it creates a new kind of shared partnership into outpatient therapy.

The stalwart - Carl gustav jung

ABSTRACT Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist who pioneered in analytical psychology. His fundamental work on the unconscious human mind, association tests, archetypes, anima and animus, the self, the persona, introverted, extroverted, synchronicity, psyche, complexes, and individuation has an influential impact on psychology, for which he became the father of analytical psychology also known as Jungian psychology. His works in literature, art, philosophy, religion, and spirituality are inspirational. In World War I, he worked under Eugen Bleuler as a psychiatrist at Zurich University. He was a close associate of Sigmund Freud but it did not last long. “Psychology of the Unconscious” is one of his exceptional works.

Specific issues of the legal status of denunciators

Purpose. The purpose of the work is to analyze the current legislation regarding the legal status of denunciators and determine the extent to which the legal positions of various legislative acts coincide on this matter. Methodology. The methodology includes a comprehensive analysis and generalization of the existing scientific and theoretical material, as well as the formulation of relevant conclusions and recommendations. The following methods of scientific knowledge were used during the research: terminological, logical-semantic, functional, systemic-structural, and logical-normative. Results. In the process of the research, it was determined that denunciators, as participants in criminal proceedings, emerged in the national legal field due to amendments to anti-corruption legislation. These changes affected the conceptual apparatus, denunciators’ ways and means of informing about possible facts of corruption or corruption-related offenses were identified, denunciators’ guarantees of the legal status were introduced, specific measures for the protection of both denunciators and their close associates were implemented, and the powers of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention regarding cooperation with denunciators and the protection of their interests were expanded. However, certain provisions of anti-corruption legislation, particularly the Law of Ukraine On Prevention of Corruption regarding the legal status of denunciators, and specific provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine regarding the procedural status of denunciators as participants in criminal proceedings, require coordination and improvement. Scientific novelty. In the process of research, it was established that the concept of a denunciator provided by the Law of Ukraine On Prevention of Corruption is somewhat narrower than the analogous concept provided by the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, that in certain cases, may hinder the usage of the full range of protection measures and guarantees for denunciators stipulated by the current legislation. Additionally, it was established that the procedural statuses of a denunciator and a witness in criminal proceedings may not be fully reconciled due to certain inconsistencies between the scope of rights of denunciators regulated by the Law of Ukraine On Prevention of Corruption and the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, respectively. Practical significance. The results of the research can be used in law-making and law-enforcement activities during pre-trial investigations of corruption offenses and offenses related to corruption.

Is Ecumenopolis Materializing? The Role of Transportation and Communication Networks

Of the many theories put forward for the future of urbanism and urbanization, the concepts of Eperopolis (the continent city) and Ecumenopolis (the universal city) that were put forward by the late architect planner Constantinos Doxiadis and his Ekistics theory in the 1950s and ‘60s, stand out as the most impressive and visionary. Panayis Psomopoulos, Doxiadis’ close associate and well-known architect planner of the Ekistics group, continued and developed further these concepts and publicized strongly through the Ekistics Journal which he managed as editor-in-chief until his passing away in 2017. This paper – conceived and written as a tribute to Panayis Psomopoulos - looks at the global trends of urbanization today and considers the role of transport and communication networks in its future development. It also tries to assess the degree to which the visions of Eperopolis and Ecumenopolis are materializing in the face of modern megacities and urban sprawl in all continents and how transport, communications and supply chain networks affect this process. Its findings support the view that Eperopolises are already materializing in some continents, most notably in Europe in the face of the central European urban cluster between Paris, London, Amsterdam and the Rhine/Ruhr area. Transport and communications networks provide “global connectivity” that acts both as the context (within which urban form develops) as well as the catalyst that plays a key role in limiting the further physical expansion of megacity clusters and braking the connection between urban development and space expansion. By providing efficient global “connectivity”, the future Transport and communication networks are seen as the main catalyst that will bring about materialization of the “universal city”, Ecumenopolis, through the virtual linking of all socio-economic activities in today’s mega-urban areas in all continents.

Examination of the Relationships Between Diversity Appreciation, Self-Monitoring and Cooperative Conflict Management

This research study examines the mediating influence of self-monitoring (SM) on the relationship between diversity appreciation (DA) and cooperative conflict management (CCM). Two hundred and twenty-one undergraduate business students completed self-assessment measures of DA and SM, and identified a close associate who completed an observer version of the problem-solving component of the Dutch conflict management style scale. Product moment correlations were used to examine the hypothesized relationships between CCM and both DA and SM, and the Hayes process and the Sobel test were used to test the hypothesis that SM mediates the relationship between DA and CCM. CCM was significantly correlated with both DA (r = 0.30, p < 0.01) and SM (r = 0.37, p < 0.01). DA was significantly correlated with SM (r = 0.31, p < 0.01). Both the Hayes process and Sobel test (Z = 3.29, p < 0.001) confirmed that SM partially mediated the relationship between DA and CCM. Educators and practitioners need to be aware of the influence of DA and SM on CCM. Development activities that integrate diversity appreciation, sensitive responses toward the expressed behavior of others, and appropriate modification of self-presentation are likely to promote a cooperative approach to conflict management. This is the first study to examine the interrelationships between DA, SM and CCM. The results highlight the importance of promoting both diversity appreciation and self-monitoring as part of the process of encouraging more cooperative conflict management and strengthening the link between diversity and performance.

Brain Connectivity-Based Prediction of Combining Remote Semantic Associates for Creative Thinking

ABSTRACT Associative thinking plays a major role in creativity, as it involves the ability to link distant concepts. Yet, the neural mechanisms allowing to combine distant associates in creative thinking tasks remain poorly understood. We investigated the whole-brain functional connectivity patterns related to combining remote associations for creative thinking. Using a connectome predictive modeling approach, we examined whole-brain functional connectivity patterns related to connecting close and distant remote associates in the Combination Association Task (CAT). Brain connectivity networks predicting CAT performance showed contributions from brain functional connectivity mostly related to the Default Mode Network, likely related to associative processes required in all trials of the task. Besides, the functional connectivity pattern of associative remoteness linked to CAT trials also largely involved the Executive Control Network, Dorsal Attention Network and Somatomotor networks, suggesting that more controlled processes played an important role in trials with higher associative remoteness. Critically, the functional connectivity patterns related to higher creative demands of the task share similarities with functional connectivity patterns previously found to predict divergent thinking. Thus, our work potentially offers insights into neural mechanisms that play a role in both convergent and divergent remote thinking.