Human Experience Research Articles

SOME ASPECTS OF THE FORMATION OF A NEW BEHAVIORAL MODEL OF YOUTH IN AN ERA OF GROWING INTERNATIONAL CONTRADICTIONS

The article examines some aspects of the complex and controversial development process of the world, which increasingly affect the interests of the younger generation and determine the prospects for its future in the system of new emerging social relations. Transformations serve as an indicator of a change in society and forming a system of social relations. The author made attempts to analyze the impact of socio-political transformations, complex and contradictory international relations on the state of the youth environment and the formation of new elements of the behavioral model in it. These trends reflect the objective need to consider the special role of the identity of a new type of person and the components of behavior inherent in such a subject in the system of emerging social relations. Is the new generation able to create a stable and safe environment of human existence, adequate to complex challenges and crisis phenomena? In this regard, it is proposed to expand the scope of this very relevant topic in modern discourse.

Thrilling Encounters in Social Settings: A Retelling of The Eyes of Darkness by Dean Koontz

This study analyzes the social situations depicted in the novel "The Eyes of Darkness" by Dean Koontz, focusing on themes such as abuse, thriller elements, tragedy, mental health, and the virus. Using a descriptive-qualitative approach, we delve into the novel's narrative to uncover how these themes are portrayed and their implications on the characters and broader societal reflections. The analysis reveals that the novel intricately weaves these social situations to create a compelling story that resonates with real-world issues. Abuse is depicted through the misuse of power and its devastating consequences, while thriller elements introduce suspense and supernatural occurrences that challenge characters' perceptions of reality. Tragedies highlight the unpredictability of life and the resilience needed to overcome adversity. The exploration of mental health, particularly through the character of Tina, emphasizes the impact of grief and trauma and the journey towards healing. Lastly, the portrayal of the virus, notably the Wuhan-400, offers a chillingly prescient reflection of global pandemics, underscoring the ethical considerations in scientific research. This study highlights the novel's relevance in addressing complex human experiences and societal issues, offering valuable insights into the interplay between fiction and reality.

Thrilling Encounters in Social Settings: A Retelling of The Eyes of Darkness by Dean Koontz

This study analyzes the social situations depicted in the novel "The Eyes of Darkness" by Dean Koontz, focusing on themes such as abuse, thriller elements, tragedy, mental health, and the virus. Using a descriptive-qualitative approach, we delve into the novel's narrative to uncover how these themes are portrayed and their implications on the characters and broader societal reflections. The analysis reveals that the novel intricately weaves these social situations to create a compelling story that resonates with real-world issues. Abuse is depicted through the misuse of power and its devastating consequences, while thriller elements introduce suspense and supernatural occurrences that challenge characters' perceptions of reality. Tragedies highlight the unpredictability of life and the resilience needed to overcome adversity. The exploration of mental health, particularly through the character of Tina, emphasizes the impact of grief and trauma and the journey towards healing. Lastly, the portrayal of the virus, notably the Wuhan-400, offers a chillingly prescient reflection of global pandemics, underscoring the ethical considerations in scientific research. This study highlights the novel's relevance in addressing complex human experiences and societal issues, offering valuable insights into the interplay between fiction and reality.

The Impact of Contemporary International Wars on International Security - A Case Russia's War on Ukraine and Israel's War on Gaza

The conflict between states since the dawn of history is natural because of the existence of scruples and motives in the structure of human existence. The methods of this conflict evolve with the development of technologies, political systems and the nature of interests. Therefore, the wars directly and indirectly affect various aspects of life, especially peace and community security, regionally the internationally. This happens in particular in light of the globalization of the world and mutual relations and common interests, and the development in the means of communication and technology. Thus, distant parties suffer from the effects and consequences of wars and conflicts in other regions because relations and the need for waterways or economic aspects may be affected by conflict or wars. From here the international interest in the issue of security and peace from the countries arose. Especially the Security Council and the United Nations worked to prevent conflicts on the one hand, stop them or minimize their effects. Many conflicts and wars have erupted in the region, some of which have lasted for years, and others return in each period to arise under what justification. Many wars affected in another way on energy sources, and on the national security of countries and the interests of countries, but some countries have ambitions, strategies and rules, and this study. It deals with examples of wars that posed a threat and caused effects on the international security system, which is the Russian war - Ukrainian, and the Israeli war on Gaza in 2023. This study seeks to show the impact of contemporary wars on international security, societal stability, the development process and building a global peace and security and identifying motives and effects and ways to address them.

A hovering ghost from the future: the posthuman gothic landscape of Bangalore in Appupen’s ‘Bangaloids’

ABSTRACT The academic discussion surrounding the Gothic is dominated by British and American traditions. The globalgothic, concerned with gothic discourses outside the canonical traditions, is a developing arena, and gothic voices from other parts of the globe need to be studied. Appupen’s ‘Bangaloids’ is a dystopian short story that represents the gothic voice from India. Part of Bangalore: A Graphic Novel (2017), a city-centric graphic storytelling initiative, the story responds to the social trauma caused by fast-paced urbanism and questions some of the deepest fears about the human condition. This paper argues that ‘Bangaloids’ presents Bangalore’s fictitious posthuman gothic landscape to make readers contemplate a dystopian future. It analyses the gothic matrix of the metropolis; theories on modern gothic are used to comprehend Bangalore’s gothic character. It also studies the formal qualities of the graphic medium that highlight the gothic themes and facilitate storytelling.

Signatures of individuation across objects and events.

The physical world provides humans with continuous streams of experience in both space and time. The human mind, however, can parse and organize this continuous input into discrete, individual units. In the current work, we characterize the representational signatures of basic units of human experience across the spatial (object) and temporal (event) domains. We propose that there are three shared, abstract signatures of individuation underlying the basic units of representation across the two domains. Specifically, individuated entities in both the spatial domain (objects) and temporal domain (bounded events) resist restructuring, have distinct parts, and do not tolerate breaks; unindividuated entities in both the spatial domain (substances) and the temporal domain (unbounded events) lack these features. In three experiments, we confirm these principles and discuss their significance for cognitive and linguistic theories of objects and events. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Examining behavioral settings and affordative space for the case of autism spectrum conditions in embodied cognition

ABSTRACT The aim of the paper is to deepen into a theoretical account on the role of behavioral settings and relational affordative space and how this perspective can be used to reconceptualize various human cognitive developmental trajectories and conditions. In the course of this theoretical work, we want to contribute in rethinking developmental trajectories based on the role of behavioral settings and relational affordances from an embodied perspective. Behavioral settings emerge from joint actions in conjunction with the affordances available. These affordances will have multiple levels and kinds of meanings for the organism which is why we need to distinguish between the general affordances for a form of life and the particular affordances for particular agents that are generated through sensorimotor interactions. We propose to apply this theoretical frame in different developmental conditions, taking as a leading example the Autistic Spectrum, extending it to other lived experiences of other groups marginalized by “normative behavioral settings” – and the ensuing ethical concerns.

THE TRAGIC END OF THE MODERN GREEK POET KOSTAS KARYOTAKIS (1896-1928)

Abstract: Kostas Karyotakis (1896-1928) is one of the most important poets of the 1920s generation. He opposed too harsh society, strongly criticized everyday life and conveyed his existential anguish in his poetry until the end. His poetry and his life were inextricable as his poetry portrayed his life. He committed suicide driven by frustration in Preveza on July 21 1928, leaving behind the tragedy of human existence that he himself could no longer tolerate. How tragic is it that so gifted individuals choose to kill themselves, what is happening inside their souls? Their intellect, their high sensitivity, the fact that they are different from the rest of the society, all together lead them to isolation and pessimism. Kostas Karyotakis committed suicide very young, but his poetic work was able to overcome the ravages of time and be particularly cherished and instructive even today. Key Words: Artistic intellect, frustration, existential emptiness, suicide, impasse.

Judith Butler's theoretical perspectives within a nursing context-a scoping review.

Philosopher Judith Butler has influenced how people talk about vulnerable bodies and sees vulnerability as universal, existential, and relational. Being vulnerable is part of the human condition. The main theoretical areas that run across Butler's work; power, knowledge and subjectivity, performativity, and ethics-are of particular relevance to nursing practice. This review aims to explore how Butler's theoretical work is reflected in research literature within a nursing context. We conducted a scoping review guided by Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework. A systematic literature search of CINAHL (EBSCOhost), MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), and Web of Science identified 15 papers. Butler's theoretical work was applied at an individual and social level in research literature within a nursing context. Nurses need to reflect on their clinical practice and role as health professionals in relation to power and performativity in encounters with patients who are marginalized. Nurses' working conditions, recognition, and understanding are strongly influenced by society, and calling nurses heroes undermines their capacity to challenge and resist the hero identity. The healthcare system's impact on patient-nurse encounters challenges patients' and nurses' subjectivity, performativity, and power relations. The review allowed us to describe how Butler's theoretical work can facilitate a reflection on nursing practice which is a prerequisite for caring, ethical relationships, and working conditions within a nursing context. Butler's concepts can provide useful perspectives on how nurses understand, communicate with, and care for patients, as well as a nuanced understanding of the nursing role and power relations and structures.

An ethical assessment of professional opinions on concerns, chances, and limitations of the implementation of an artificial intelligence-based technology into the geriatric patient treatment and continuity of care.

With the introduction of an artificial intelligence-based dashboard into the clinic, the project SURGE-Ahead responds to the importance of improving perioperative geriatric patient treatment and continuity of care. The use of artificial intelligence to process and analyze data automatically, aims at an evidence-based evaluation of the patient's health condition and recommending treatment options. However, its development and introduction raise ethical questions. To ascertain professional perspectives on the clinical use of the dashboard, we have conducted 19 semi-structured qualitative interviews with head physicians, computer scientists, jurists, and ethicists. The application of a qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis enabled the detection of main ethical concerns, chances, and limitations. These ethical considerations were categorized: changes of the patient-physician relationship and the current social reality are expected, causing de-skilling and an active participation of the artificial intelligence. The interviewees anticipated a redistribution of human resources, time, knowledge, and experiences as well as expenses and financing. Concerns of privacy, accuracy, transparency, and explainability were stated, and an insufficient data basis, an intensifying of existing inequalities and systematic discrimination considering a fair access emphasized. Concluding, the patient-physician relationship, social reality, redistribution of resources, fair access, as well as data-related aspects of the artificial intelligence-based system could conflict with the ethical principles of autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, and social justice. To respond to these ethical concerns, a responsible use of the dashboard and a critical verification of therapy suggestions is mandatory, and the application limited by questions at the end of life and taking life-changing decisions.

Neurophysiological and Autonomic Dynamics of Threat Processing During Sustained Social Fear Generalization.

Survival in dynamic environments requires that organisms learn to predict danger from situational cues. One key facet of threat prediction is generalization from a predictive cue to similar cues, ensuring that a cue-outcome contingency is applied beyond the original learning environment. Generalization has been observed in laboratory studies of aversive conditioning: behavioral and physiological processes generalize responses from a stimulus paired with threat (the CS+) to unpaired stimuli, with response magnitudes varying with CS+ similarity. In contrast, work focusing on sensory responses in visual cortex has found a sharpening pattern, in which responses to stimuli closely resembling the CS+ are maximally suppressed, potentially reflecting lateral inhibitory interactions with the CS+ representation. Originally demonstrated with simple visual cues, changes in visuocortical tuning have also been observed in threat generalization learning across facial identities. It is unclear to what extent these visuocortical changes represent transient or sustained effects and if generalization learning requires prior conditioning to the CS+. The present study addressed these questions using EEG and pupillometry in an aversive generalization paradigm involving hundreds of trials using a gradient of facial identities. Visuocortical ssVEP sharpening occurred after dozens of trials of generalization learning without prior differential conditioning, but diminished as learning continued. By contrast, generalization of alpha power suppression, pupil dilation, and self-reported valence and arousal was seen throughout the experiment. Findings are consistent with threat processing models emphasizing the role of changing visucocortical and attentional dynamics when forming, curating, and shaping fear memories as observers continue learning about stimulus-outcome contingencies.

Designing Inclusive Environments Across Generations: A Multidimensional Approach

In contemporary society, the design of built environments holds significant sway over the experiences and interactions of individuals across various age groups. This paper delves into the multifaceted dimensions of design interventions tailored to meet the diverse needs of the elderly, adolescents, and children. Through a comprehensive examination of key factors such as accessibility, emotional connection, community inclusivity, and developmental support, the paper elucidates strategies aimed at fostering well-being and social cohesion across generations. From the implementation of accessibility features catering to the physical and cognitive challenges faced by the elderly to the seamless integration of technology to engage adolescents and the promotion of playfulness to stimulate the development of children, designers wield a profound influence in shaping inclusive spaces that accommodate diverse needs and abilities. Central to this discourse is the recognition of the pivotal role played by a holistic approach to designone that embraces the richness of human experiences and endeavors to cultivate a sense of belonging and empowerment for individuals of all ages. By championing inclusivity and harnessing the transformative potential of design, this paper underscores the importance of creating environments that not only accommodate but celebrate the diversity of human experience across generations.

A survey of isatin hybrids and their biological properties.

The emergence of diverse infections worldwide, which is a serious global threat to human existence, necessitates the urgent development of novel therapeutic candidates that can combat these diseases with efficacy. Molecular hybridization has been established as an efficient technique in designing bioactive molecules capable of fighting infections. Isatin, a core nucleus of an array of compounds with diverse biological properties can be modified at different positions leading to the creation of novel drug targets, is an active area of medicinal chemistry. This review containing published articles from 2005 to 2022 highlights isatin hybrids which have been synthesized and reported in the literature alongside a discussion on their biological properties. The enriched structure-activity relationship studies discussed provides insights for the rational design of novel isatin hybrids with tailored biological properties as effective therapeutic candidates inspired by nature.

The synthesis of the Gospel and life as a goal of evangelization

The article presents selected examples of the synthesis of the Gospel and life, which is the goal of contemporary evangelization. In implementing the prophetic purpose, it was emphasized that the proclamation of the Word of God is to illuminate and transform human existence. In implementing the priestly function, the focus was on celebrating the Eucharist, revealing it as a source of human strength and energy, a school of sacramental perception of life and appreciation of matter, as well as a space for forming a new man. In the implementation of the priestly function, however, attention was paid to the presence of the Church in the world and the Christian lifestyle, which is closely related to the promotion of man and the quality of his life. The study emphasizes that the existential orientation of evangelization establishes the proper relationship of the Church with the world. It involves accepting the world, dialogue with it, and transforming it in the spirit of the Gospel.

Is everyone traumatized? Perspectives from an Indonesian convent

AbstractWhat if we took trauma to be a fundamental aspect of human existence? Prominent in some strands of popular psychology, this is also the stance taken by an eastern Indonesian order of Catholic nuns who “dig up” their hearts as part of a continual process of self‐formation. Set against a backdrop of Christian theologies of discernment, state concerns for human development, and local resonances of ritual sacrifice, nuns learn to interpret their childhoods as harmed by emotional trauma sustained in the company of kin. Once excavated, this trauma must be addressed in the convent through conscious efforts of mutual care, making trauma a moral category that creates new forms of subjectivity. Through acts of acknowledgment and support, the idiom of trauma makes the company surrounding a nun directly responsible for her self‐formation. This article is about the ways Indonesian Catholic nuns conceptualize trauma as something that all humans sustain, how it grounds self‐becoming, and how its causes—and cures—are rooted in the company of other people. I suggest that their experiences highlight the sociality of trauma more broadly and argue that trauma is one articulation of how people become themselves in the company of others.

Human Transformation (HX) in the Age of AI and the Challenges of Education through the Post-Human Debate

Concerning a posthuman perspective, this paper attempts to provide a new perspective on future changes in teaching and learning in the age of artificial intelligence. With the development of technological civilisation, humans have adapted to the environmental world while at the same time attempting to remould it using technology and tools. Humans have survived by acquiring new skills and abilities to manipulate technology and tools. Human Transformation (HX), updated to respond to technological innovations, is now upcoming human intellectual activities through AI technology. What are the challenges of HX in the age of AI, and what perspectives will be critical in this process? This paper traces back to how machines with computational intelligence or reasoning functions were named ‘artificial intelligence’ that can reproduce human intellectual activities. It examines the wide-ranging social impact of the naming of AI and the growing phenomenon of expectations and anxieties about AI. It then notes two sources behind the posthuman debate. The first is the trend towards an upgraded stage of human intelligence over the current human by enhancing it through medical and even AI-based technology. The second trend seeks a new direction for post-humanity by focusing on its diversity, such as society and culture, through a critical examination of the view that uniformly evaluates all human conditions through a universal model of human beings. Navigating them is an excellent educational challenge. Focusing on the similarities and differences between human intelligence and artificial intelligence, the paper examines the challenges of education to develop the unique characteristics of human intelligence further and achieve freedom from AI technology, considering the legal, ethical and social issues (ELSI) of making wise use of AI.

Thematic Analysis of Non-Violence in the Select Excerpts of Svetlana Alexievich and Thiruvalluvar

The universal prominence attained by English language has paved way for translation and thereby, offers access to world literature and comparative studies. India has witnessed a growth in the field of comparative studies since it received an impetus from Rabindranath Tagore's lecture delivered on the subject when he was invited by National Council of Education in 1907. Tamil Literature has endorsed stalwarts like Thiruvalluvar whose couplets focus on valuable topics that have not only stood the test of time but also has its influence across cultural, political, ethical and topographical diversity. His magnum opus titled Thirukkural is a masterpiece of human thought, equivalent to the Bible, Milton’s Paradise Lost and works of Plato. Svetlana Alexievich is a Belarusian writer who writes in Russian language. He works have been translated into 35 languages and more that 20 documentary films have been produced based on her testimonies collected from victims, survivors, and firsthand witnesses of war and disaster. Alexievich received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2015, for her polyphonic writing skill which fetched her veneration in the 21st century. This research article aims to compare and contrast how two literary stalwarts belonging to two different centuries and completely dissimilar ethnicities have unified thoughts on human existence. Thiruvalluvar’s views about ‘war’ and ‘killing’ and Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich’s perception of the futility of war are analyzed in a novel attempt to corroborate that peace and harmony are themes validated since the origin of species and will continue to be valued as long as human civilization exists.

Appraising the impact of climate change on construction activities: Are the Nigerian practitioners prepared?

Rapid global warming and continuous climate change threaten the construction industry and human existence, especially in developing countries. Many developed countries are engaging their professional stakeholders on innovation and technology to mitigate climate change on humanity. Studies concerning inclusive efforts by developing countries’ stakeholders, including Nigeria, are scarce. Thus, this study investigates the construction industry’s practitioners’ preparedness to mitigate climate change through pre- and post-planning. Also, the study appraises climate change’s impact on construction activities and proffered measures to mitigate them. The research employed face-to-face data collection via a qualitative approach. The researchers engaged 33 knowledgeable participants. The study covered Abuja, Benin City, Owerri, and Lagos and achieved saturation at the 30th participant. The research employed a thematic approach to analyse the collected data. Findings reveal that Nigerian construction practitioners cannot cope with climate change impacts because of lax planning and inadequate technology to mitigate the issues. Also, the government’s attitude towards climate change has not helped matters. Also, the study suggested measures to mitigate the impact of climate change on construction activities in Nigeria. Therefore, as part of the research contributions, all-inclusive and integrated regulatory policies and programmes should be tailored toward mitigating climate change. This includes integrated stakeholder sensitisation, investment in infrastructure that supports anti-climate change, prioritising practices in the industry to achieve sustainable project transformation, and integration of climate change interventions into pre- and post-contract administration.

Nociceptors are functionally male or female: from mouse to monkey to man.

The prevalence of many pain conditions often differs between sexes. In addition to such quantitative distinctions, sexual dimorphism may also be qualitative reflecting differences in mechanisms that promote pain in men and women. A major factor that influences the likelihood of pain perception is the threshold for activation of nociceptors. Peripheral nociceptor sensitization has been demonstrated to be clinically relevant in many pain conditions. Whether peripheral nociceptor sensitization can occur in a sexually dimorphic fashion, however, has not been extensively studied. To address this fundamental knowledge gap, we used patch clamp electrophysiology to evaluate the excitability of dorsal root ganglion neurones from male or female rodents, non-human primates, and humans following exposure to putative sensitizing agents. Previous studies from our laboratory, and others, have shown that prolactin promotes female-selective pain responses in rodents. Consistent with these observations, dorsal root ganglion neurones from female, but not male, mice were selectively sensitized by exposure to prolactin. The sensitizing action of prolactin was also confirmed in dorsal root ganglion neurones from a female macaque monkey. Critically, neurones recovered from female, but not male, human donors were also selectively sensitized by prolactin. In the course of studies of sleep and pain, we unexpectedly observed that an orexin antagonist could normalize pain responses in male animals. We found that orexin B produced sensitization of male, but not female, mouse, macaque, and human dorsal root ganglion neurones. Consistent with functional responses, increased prolactin receptor and orexin receptor 2 expression was observed in female and male mouse dorsal root ganglia, respectively. Immunohistochemical interrogation of cultured human sensory neurones and whole dorsal root ganglia also suggested increased prolactin receptor expression in females and orexin receptor 2 expression in males. These data reveal a functional double dissociation of nociceptor sensitization by sex, which is conserved across species and is likely directly relevant to human pain conditions. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of functional sexual dimorphism in human sensory neurones. Patient sex is currently not a common consideration for the choice of pain therapy. Precision medicine, based on patient sex could improve therapeutic outcomes by selectively targeting mechanisms promoting pain in women or men. Additional implications of these findings are that the design of clinical trials for pain therapies should consider the proportions of male or female patients enrolled. Lastly, re-examination of selected past failed clinical trials with subgroup analysis by sex may be warranted.

Space Weather Effects on Heart Rate Variations: Sex Dependence

The effects of solar activity and the accompanying space weather events on human pathological conditions, physiological parameters and other psycho-physiological disturbances have been analyzed in numerous recent investigations. Moreover, many of these studies have particularly focused on the different physical reactions humans have, according to their sex, during variations in the physical environment. In the framework of the above, this work analyses heart rate data obtained from volunteers (687 men and 534 women) from three different regions (Athens, Piraeus and Heraklion) of Greece in relation to the geophysical activity and variations of environmental factors. Dst index and Ap index data, along with cosmic ray intensity data derived from the Athens Neutron Monitor Station (A.Ne.Mo.S.), were used. The study expands from April 2011 to January 2018, covering solar cycle 24. The ANalysis Of Variance (ANOVA) and the superimposed epochs methods were used in order to examine heart rate variations depending on sex. Results revealed that women tend to be more sensitive to physical environmental changes. Statistically significant results are related to the geomagnetic activity but were not obtained for cosmic ray variations.