Human Social Functioning Research Articles

Prospects for gamification: analysis of students’ perception of the game’s image

Game is one of the most multifaceted phenomena in human life. It comes in many forms, uses a variety of capabilities, and can serve as a tool to achieve a variety of goals. Thus, the games can be used to solve problems in many areas: from pedagogy to business, from science to art. Each type of game requires players to have a certain level of proficiency in various skills. This contributes to the development of human cognitive and social functions and has certain characteristics. The popularity of gaming technologies in education continues to rise. The introduction of online formats has also contributed to the growth and use of interactive multimedia technologies. Gamification in education is an approach that uses game elements and mechanics to increase student motivation and engagement in learning. This scientific article reviews the concept of a game and analyzes the perception of the image of a game by students and schoolchildren in the context of learning. The study shows that gamification can significantly increase student engagement and motivation. This, in turn, has a positive impact on the quality of learning. The results of focus groups conducted using drawing techniques demonstrate that the image of the game is well perceived by schoolchildren and students and creates a favorable environment for active participation in the learning process. Based on this, the authors of the article propose to use gamification as an effective learning tool that helps increase motivation, self-organization and self-regulation of students. Analysis of the perception of the image of the game by students indicates the promise of using gamification in education. This approach can be an effective tool for the modern educational process, promoting the active involvement of students, increasing their motivation and achieving better educational results.

Possible roles of deep cortical neurons and oligodendrocytes in the neural basis of human sociality.

Sociality is an instinctive property of organisms that live in relation to others and is a complex characteristic of higher order brain functions. However, the evolution of the human brain to acquire higher order brain functions, such as sociality, and the neural basis for executing these functions and their control mechanisms are largely unknown. Several studies have attempted to evaluate how human sociality was acquired during the course of evolution and the mechanisms controlling sociality from a neurodevelopment viewpoint. This review discusses these findings in the context of human brain evolution and the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Comparative genomic studies of postmortem primate brains have demonstrated human-specific regulatory mechanisms underlying higher order brain functions, providing evidence for the contribution of oligodendrocytes to human brain function. Functional analyses of the causative genes of ASD in animal models have demonstrated that the neural basis of social behavior is associated with layer 6 (L6) of the neocortex and oligodendrocytes. These findings demonstrate that both neurons and oligodendrocytes contribute to the neural basis and molecular mechanisms underlying human brain evolution and social functioning. This review provides novel insights into sociability and the corresponding neural bases of brain disorders and evolution.

Preliminary Insight on Neural Correlates of Quranic Impacts on Cognition: A Review

Perception and synchronization of rhythms are vital for human health and social functioning, and cognition, which calls for rhythmic acoustic stimulation as a potential therapy. Quranic sound contains high energy and rhythmic structure of sound signal which has a soothing effect, comfort human feeling and evokes the limbic and reward systems. However, less is known about how the neural interaction between brain rhythms and sound rhythms. Here we review the Quranic listening effects on human cognition from the neuronal correlates perspective. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) was used to review articles from no earlier than 2000 for scientific reports in the English language. Navigation terms used were ‘Quran and cognition’, ‘Quran and memory’ and ‘Quran and attention’. Nine papers were fulfilled our criteria and assessed. We discussed issues related to the neural correlations regarding Quranic impacts on cognition. Three main factors contribute to the effects of the Quranic listening on human cognition: linguistic rhythms, physical aspect, and neuroscientific aspect. The neuroscientific aspect delineated the brain activation due to brainwave entrainment, event-related desynchronization and synaptic plasticity, which were associated with attention, memory and speech fluency. Quranic recitation contains rhythmical sound and physical characteristics that interact with the human’s auditory system, producing changes in the brain oscillations and improving cognitive performance such as attention, memory and speech fluency. Instead of a conclusion, it is hoped that this review entices other researchers to explore further scientific and health benefits of the Holy Quran.

1 Applying a dimensional framework to the study of developmental neurotoxicity

Objective:In recent decades, a large body of evidence has linked prenatal exposure to environmental neurotoxins to adverse intellectual, neurodevelopmental, and psychiatric outcomes in offspring. This evidence has clearly highlighted the widespread impact of neurotoxin exposure on the developing brain; however, it is unclear how and why these exposures alter brain development in a way that appears to increase risk for multiple, seemingly disparate outcomes.Participants and Methods:Shifting our focus from describing links between neurotoxin exposure and symptoms of offspring mental/cognitive problems considered categorically, to investigating how neurotoxins adversely affect domains of functioning known to cut across risk for multiple problems in offspring may be critical to answering these questions. This presentation will discuss how combining research in developmental neurotoxicology with novel systems that take dimensional approaches to understanding emotions, cognition, and behaviour (i.e., the NIHM Research Domain Criteria (RDoC)) may provide a fruitful future research direction for the field. The RDoC framework aims to understand neuropsychological outcomes (i.e., mental health, mental illness, IQ) across major domains of human emotion, cognition, behaviour, and social functioning, rather than within distinct diagnostic categories.Results:Using lead exposure as an example, this presentation will outline a framework for how researchers can use this dimensional approach to develop more specific hypotheses that can reveal how and why neurotoxin exposure increases risk for multiple adverse outcomes and elucidate the mechanisms that may underly these links.Conclusions:Additionally, given that adverse development within domains of functioning can be detected prior to the onset of full-blown diagnoses, this research could enable us to develop more precise, targeted prevention and risk reduction campaigns. Adopting a dimensional framework will provide a more complete picture of the overall impact of prenatal exposure to neurotoxins - critical for informing public health policy.

Blocking D2/D3 dopamine receptors in male participants increases volatility of beliefs when learning to trust others

The ability to learn about other people is crucial for human social functioning. Dopamine has been proposed to regulate the precision of beliefs, but direct behavioural evidence of this is lacking. In this study, we investigate how a high dose of the D2/D3 dopamine receptor antagonist sulpiride impacts learning about other people’s prosocial attitudes in a repeated Trust game. Using a Bayesian model of belief updating, we show that in a sample of 76 male participants sulpiride increases the volatility of beliefs, which leads to higher precision weights on prediction errors. This effect is driven by participants with genetically conferred higher dopamine availability (Taq1a polymorphism) and remains even after controlling for working memory performance. Higher precision weights are reflected in higher reciprocal behaviour in the repeated Trust game but not in single-round Trust games. Our data provide evidence that the D2 receptors are pivotal in regulating prediction error-driven belief updating in a social context.

Concerns over the declining human Y-chromosome and social functioning

In humans, like other mammals, females have two X chromosomes and males have one X and one Y chromosome. The Y chromosome contains a sex-determining gene SRY that kick-starts male development in the embryo and activates other genes that regulate the testicular development. Researchers have found that the Y chromosome seems to be disappearing, as seen in many other mammals, including rodents. The male eastern Europe vole and the spiny rats of Japan have completely lost their Y chromosomes and the Sry gene. However, the SOX9 protein plays a key role there in determining their sex. The new finding so support the possibility that humans too, may evolve a new sex determining mechanism. The sex chromosome genes act within cells to cause differences in phenotypes of XX and XY cells throughout the body. In the gonad, they determine the type of gonad, leading to differences in secretion of testicular vs. ovarian hormones, which cause further sex differences in tissue function. The human brains, as shown by neuroimaging, demonstrate variation in different areas of the brain that are associated with both differences in gonadal hormones, and in the number of X and Y chromosomes. In humans, males and females are different because of innate biological differences, and also they have different social and physical environments. Biologists tend to emphasize the importance of biological variables, and sociologists tend to emphasize the role of gendered environments. The Sry and the other Y-linked genes not only determine the differences in gonad development, they are also linked to maintaining gender balance (biologically) and various functions in the brain, including appropriate social responses by supporting behavioral flexibility, attention and emotion. In this article, we have reviewed the function of the Y chromosome and the Sry gene and their possible alternatives in case of their future extinction.

Этические аспекты качества жизни больных атеросклерозом

The concept of quality of life is an integral characteristic of human physical, psychological, emotional, and social functioning. The disorders associated with atherosclerosis reduce the patients’ quality of life. Surgical treatment improves physical health of patients with atherosclerosis affecting primarily precranial arteries. The decrease in the indicators of physical functioning, role-playing, and bodily pain in patients with atherosclerosis mostly affecting the arteries of lower extremities persists in the late postoperative period. Comprehensive analysis of the broad spectrum of factors, such as clinical and demographic, anatomic, laboratory and instrumental, medical and social, and psychological factors, is the key to successful revascularization associated with the lowest risk of possible adverse events that makes it possible to implement the personalized approach to treatment and rehabilitation of patients. Ethical regulation of the quality of life assessment by the patient, his/her relatives and medical professionals is required. Reconciling the positions of the parties on the issue requires bioethical expertise in studying indicators of the quality of life.

Género discursivo como eje de propuestas didácticas para las clases de lenguas

Teaching from discursive genres presupposes considering that utterances incorporate language and society, and are always located in a context. On the other hand, focusing on the discourse does not mean neglecting the linguistic-textual materiality, but rather examining it in an articulated way to an analysis of the field of human activity, social function, interlocutors, time and space of production, circulation and reception of the texts. This article presents a set of procedures for the elaboration of teaching materials for additional languages, taking into consideration the discursive genres and the text as an object. The article is organized into two sections. In the first, a discussion is developed about linguistic education, according to the conception of language of the Bakhtin Circle (BAJTÍN, 1999; VOLOSHINOV, 2009), in special, about discursive genres and the use of this concept in additional language classes. In the second, taking the collection Sentidos en lengua española (FREITAS; COSTA, 2016) as an example, the exposure of the steps for planning a didactic proposal in which the language skills (reading, listening, writing and speaking) are exploited from the discursive genres, with an emphasis on its components (compositional structure, style and thematic content). In addition, the place occupied by linguistic knowledge in an effective discursive theoretical-methodological perspective is demonstrated.

GIS-Based Review for Monitoring the Spatial Distribution of Covid-19: A Case Study of Haryana

Abstract: Worldwide COVID-19 cases were noticed from its first variant to new variant very fast which is becoming threatening to human health, social function, production and supply of goods, and international relations. In Haryana, cases are increasing rapidly. GIS techniques contribute to controlling the epidemic by mapping of visualizing epidemic data, spatial visualization of protected and risk zones, spatial tracking of spreading, and route networking to fulfill demanded supply. These types of big spatial data can support taking decisions, formulating measurements, and effectiveness to control and prevent COVID-19. In the study area, total cases, daily reported cases, active cases, recovered cases, and fatalities were mapped. Based on daily reported cases, a high to less affected zone map was prepared by using the IDW technique. Results showed that the NCR region was highly affected and the rest of the part was less affected. Mapping of spreading epidemics on spatial distribution and variability of corona can provide the most useful insights to the authorities for decision making. Keywords: COVID-19, GIS, Spatial Distribution, IDW, Haryana

GIS-Based Review for Monitoring the Spatial Distribution of Covid-19: A Case Study of Haryana

Abstract: Worldwide COVID-19 cases were noticed from its first variant to new variant very fast which is becoming threatening to human health, social function, production and supply of goods, and international relations. In Haryana, cases are increasing rapidly. GIS techniques contribute to controlling the epidemic by mapping of visualizing epidemic data, spatial visualization of protected and risk zones, spatial tracking of spreading, and route networking to fulfill demanded supply. These types of big spatial data can support taking decisions, formulating measurements, and effectiveness to control and prevent COVID-19. In the study area, total cases, daily reported cases, active cases, recovered cases, and fatalities were mapped. Based on daily reported cases, a high to less affected zone map was prepared by using the IDW technique. Results showed that the NCR region was highly affected and the rest of the part was less affected. Mapping of spreading epidemics on spatial distribution and variability of corona can provide the most useful insights to the authorities for decision making. Keywords: COVID-19, GIS, Spatial Distribution, IDW, Haryana

Comparative Analysis of the Quality of Life Scales Parameters in Patients with Combination of Stable Ischemic Heart Disease and Metabolic Syndrome

Modern epidemiological studies confirm that comorbid diseases and conditions can have significant impact on diagnostic and treatment of the underlying disease. The problem of the comorbidy of stable coronary heart disease (SCHD) and metabolic syndrome (MS) has high medical and social significance, need high costs for diagnosis and treatment, and leads to decreased of quality of life (QOL). QOL is an important indicator of the health status of patients, which comprehensively characterizes human physical, psychological, emotional and social functioning. The objective: to conduct a comparative analysis of the QOL of patients with combination of SCAD and MS versus patients with isolated SCHD. Materials and methods. The study included 102 patients: 52 people with MS in combination with SCAD and 50 patients with SCHD only. There were 42 (51.2%) men (mean age 49.8 ± 5.3 years), and 40 (48.8%) women (mean age 51.6 ± 6.7 years). The QoL score was assessed by general medical questionnaire – the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item (SF-36), in which all scales form two indicators: mental and physical health and a specialized questionnaire for patient with stable angina pectoris – SAQ (Seattle Angina Questionnaire). The diagnosis of SCHD with functional class (FC) assessment was performed by European Society of Cardiology criteria. MS was established if three out of five diagnostic criteria were met. Results. Patients with comorbid MS and SCHD demonstrated significantly lower QoL scores, both in psychological and physical components of health (according to the SF-36 questionnaire) compared to patients with SCHD alone (p <0.05). An analysis of the SAQ questionnaire data also showed significantly lower points in group of patients with NAS and SCHD combination compared to the group of patients with isolated SCHD (in total, by 8.76%; p <0.05). Conclusion. Patients with metabolic syndrome in combination with stable coronary heart disease (SCHD) had a statistically significantly lower level of quality of life according to the evaluation by both SF-36 nonspecific questionnaire and the SAQ specific questionnaire comparing to group of patients with isolated SCAD.

Social pedagogy and social work from the perspective of the research areas and practical activities – selected contexts

The theoretical and practical development of social pedagogy was influenced by many social, economic and cultural factors (e.g. industrial and cultural revolutions), which took place in Europe and America in the 19th century. In turn, in 1908 Helena Radlińska created the scientific bases of social pedagogy in Poland and initiated its disciplinary development. In her activities, the researcher emphasized the role of a human in the transformation of reality in which they live. Her concept had a lot in common with the theses of the then German and French philosophical and pedagogical thought, among others Paul Bergman, Jean-Marie Guyau, Paul Natorp, Gabriel Séailles (Theiss, 2018, p. 13). The key moment in the initial phase of the development of so-called Helena Radlińska’s school of social pedagogy was the creation of The Social-Educational Work Study of Free Polish University in 1925. It was the first university in Poland to educate, at the academic level, future social and educational workers and educators in the area of adult education, mother and child care , and organization of social life. Social pedagogy as a science of human education, upbringing, and social functioning is a discipline of humanistic and social science. It has an interdisciplinary character shaped on the basis of the knowledge of various sciences, that includes: philosophy of human life, psychology (experimental, social, clinical), general pedagogy, sociology of education, ethics, social policy, family and guardianship law, theory of environmental education (Kamiński, 1974).

Attentional gaze dynamics in group interactions

ABSTRACT Group interactions influence human social and cognitive function. However, the non-verbal vehicles of that influence remain poorly understood. To address this question, here we present a taxonomy of interactive non-verbal attentional gaze behaviours – social referencing, participation, and mutual engagement – which we captured and characterized during live three-person interactions. Experiment 1 measured how each of these non-verbal indices predicted both the groups’ social dynamic (in terms of leadership perception) and later individual group member’s behaviour (in terms of gaze following magnitudes). The data indicated that the three attentional gaze behaviours (i) reliably reflected the groups’ nonverbal dynamics, (ii) predicted the groups’ social dynamics, and (iii) connected meaningfully with individual members’ behaviour. Experiment 2 confirmed that these group-to-individual links were dependent on individuals participating in a prior group interaction. Thus, our taxonomy of nonverbal attentional gaze behaviours characterizes both group and individual function well, and as such provides a methodological foundation for future investigations of non-verbal group dynamics and their links with individual behaviour.

Famari (Penghinaan Berujung Pada Tradisi Yang Mampu Menyebabkan Sanksi/Denda Adat, Tradisi Pada Masyarakat Misool Barat, Kepulauan Raja Ampat)

One of the traditions that exist in the people of the West Misool islands is the Famari tradition. This tradition is usually carried out when someone from another village humiliates people from another village. This tradition is a tradition from generation to generation, but is only an oral story and has never been written into a written story. This study aims to determine the implementation model of the Famari tradition in communities in West Misool District, Raja Ampat Islands, and the methods used by indigenous peoples to maintain the Famari tradition in West Misool District, Raja Ampat Islands. This research is a qualitative descriptive study using a social phenomenological paradigm. Sources of data for analyzing research problems were obtained from two sources, namely: primary data and secondary data. The results show that the origin of the Famari tradition was created by the ancestors of the West Misool community in creating order, in which there are universal values such as the principle of mutual cooperation, human social function and property in society, consent as a general power, the principle of representation and deliberation. What causes the emergence of the Famari tradition is that in restoring moral balance, it creates collective awareness from community groups to neutralize differences. The Famari tradition does not see the time when it must be carried out, the form of fines in the Famari tradition is determined based on an agreement, the number of people who follow the tradition has no clear limit. Customary fines payment techniques in the Famari tradition are carried out after the party. Without an official invitation, residents came and got involved, to take part in Famari activities. The Famari tradition was created to avoid degrading other social groups, where there are sanctions as punishment for those who are guilty and restore moral balance in society.

Rupture and Repair in Mentalization-Based Group Psychotherapy

ABSTRACT The article explores ideas about the role of group mentalizing—the experience of joint attention and shared intentionality—as a process that can support the emergence of more collaborative and salutogenic social functioning. This is based on developmental and evolutionary thinking about the importance of joint attention in human social cognitive development and functioning. The importance of experiencing rupture and repair as part of the process of thinking together—while also working with the separate nature of our thoughts—is described, emphasizing that it is through an understanding of the complex and inevitably uneven and challenging nature of joint attention and social cooperation that such cooperation is itself made possible.

Czas w percepcji młodych użytkowników sieci globalnej

The Internet has become a medium which significantly influences human life and social functioning. It has a special place in the lives of the youth. For young people the Internet is a place of forming social relations, studying, entertainment and fun. Contemporary teenagers are the first generation raised during the era of general availability of this medium. The paper addresses the subject of perceiving time on the Internet by young global network users. It presents fragments of the research on the opinions of e-environment among the youth, and refers to linearity and tripartite time on the Internet. The presented results were obtained in surveys and interviews that exhibit the young respondents’ perception of the topic which is the subject matter of the study.

COVID-19: Challenges to GIS with Big Data

The outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has caused more than 100,000 people infected and thousands of deaths. Currently, the number of infections and deaths is still increasing rapidly. COVID-19 seriously threatens human health, production, life, social functioning and international relations. In the fight against COVID-19, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and big data technologies have played an important role in many aspects, including the rapid aggregation of multi-source big data, rapid visualization of epidemic information, spatial tracking of confirmed cases, prediction of regional transmission, spatial segmentation of the epidemic risk and prevention level, balancing and management of the supply and demand of material resources, and social-emotional guidance and panic elimination, which provided solid spatial information support for decision-making, measures formulation, and effectiveness assessment of COVID-19 prevention and control. GIS has developed and matured relatively quickly and has a complete technological route for data preparation, platform construction, model construction, and map production. However, for the struggle against the widespread epidemic, the main challenge is finding strategies to adjust traditional technical methods and improve speed and accuracy of information provision for social management. At the data level, in the era of big data, data no longer come mainly from the government but are gathered from more diverse enterprises. As a result, the use of GIS faces difficulties in data acquisition and the integration of heterogeneous data, which requires governments, businesses, and academic institutions to jointly promote the formulation of relevant policies. At the technical level, spatial analysis methods for big data are in the ascendancy. Currently and for a long time in the future, the development of GIS should be strengthened to form a data-driven system for rapid knowledge acquisition, which signifies that GIS should be used to reinforce the social operation parameterization of models and methods, especially when providing support for social management.

Monitoring and epidemiological trends of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) around the world

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has struck fear into populaces all through the world and shocked the worldwide restorative community, with the World Health Organization pronouncing it a widespread as it were approximately 3 months after the flare-up of the infection. A new different virus (primarily called “novel coronavirus 2019 [nCoV]”) causing severe acute respiratory syndrome (COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, in December 2019 and rapidly spread to other parts of China and other countries around the world. The outbreak of the nCoV disease (COVID-19) has caused more than 850,000 people infected and approx. 40,000 of deaths in more than 190 countries up to March 2020, extremely affecting economic and social development. Presently, the number of infections and deaths is still increasing rapidly. COVID-19 seriously threatens human health, production, life, social functioning, and international relations. In the fight against COVID-19, geographic information systems (GIS) and big data technologies have played an important role in many aspects. This article describes the usage of practical GIS and mapping dashboards and applications for monitoring the coronavirus epidemic and related activities as they spread around the world. At the fact level, in the generation of massive data, information no longer come on the whole from the authorities but are gathered from greater diverse enterprises. As of now and for a long time in future, the improvement of GIS should be fortified to create a data-driven framework for fast information securing, which implies that GIS ought to be utilized to fortify the social operation parameterization of models and methods, particularly when giving back for social administration.

Funkcjonowanie społeczne dziecka z mutyzmem wybiórczym jako obszar specjalnych potrzeb rozwojowych i edukacyjnych

The aim of this study is to focus on the special educational and developmental needs of a child with selective mutism. Selective mutism is important for human social functioning and is a serious threat to the mental health and well-being of students. Unfortunately, not many teachers are aware of this fact.The first part of the study discusses the diagnostic specifiers of selective mutism in the context of ICD-10 and DSM-5. The next section discusses the special educational and development needs of children/ students who experience symptoms of selective mutism. Then the author presents a description of the social functioning of children with selective mutism in the context of ICF-CY (The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for Children and Youth). In the last paragraph of this study, the author discusses selected techniques that enable the effective inclusion of a child into a peer group and create an environment that favors the learning of a child with selective mutism. Next the author describes the range of psychological and pedagogical assistance for students with selective mutism in the kindergarten / school.

Utilizing digital traces of mobile phones for understanding social dynamics in urban areas

Understanding land use in urban areas, from the perspective of social function, is beneficial for a variety of fields, including urban and highway planning, advertising, and business. However, big cities with complex social dynamics and rapid development complicate the task of understanding these social functions. In this paper, we analyze and interpret human social function in urban areas as reflected in cellular communication usage patterns. We base our analysis on digital traces left by mobile phone users, and from this raw data, we derive a varied collection of features that illuminate the social behavior of each land use. We divide space and time into basic spatiotemporal units and classify them according to their land use. We categorize land uses with a leveled hierarchy of semantic categories that include different levels of detail resolution. We apply the above methodology to a dataset consisting of 62 days of cellular data recorded in nine cities in the Tel Aviv district. The methodology proved beneficial with an accuracy rate ranging from 84 to 91%, dependent on land use label resolution. In addition, analyzing the results sheds light on some of the limitations of relying solely on cellular communication as a data resource. We discuss some of these problems and offer applicable solutions.