Group Identity Research Articles

Effects of laser ablation of olivine on chamber optical window transmission loss and its recovery

Optical windows play a crucial role in laser ablation systems by protecting delicate components inside the chamber while allowing the transmission of laser energy. However, material buildup during the laser ablation process can lead to a significant loss of optical transmission over time. In this work, material deposition on the optical window by laser ablation of olivine using two laser systems operating at 30 kHz, 1 mJ pulse energy, and 20 Hz, 9.6 mJ pulse energy was performed and its impact on the window’s transmission properties, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) signal, and window recovery is presented. Ablation at 30 kHz with 1 mJ pulses for 10 min resulted in substantial particle deposition on the window, causing a significant drop in transmission. Transmission of clean window dropped abruptly from 90% to nearly 0% (in the UV region from 200 to 300 nm) and 35% (at 600 nm) affecting the LIBS signal. In contrast, ablation at 20 Hz with 9.6 mJ pulses for 5 min showed no material deposition or transmission loss. Additionally, the study demonstrated that the same laser system used for ablation could be employed to remove the deposited material from the window, facilitating its recovery. Laser cleaning of the window at 30 kHz and 12 W average power restored the transmission values from 39% to 62% at 400 nm in the UV region, with potential for further improvement through parameter optimization. In addition, the identification of the hydroxyl group in olivine, which is relevant to NASA’s terahertz heterodyne spectrometer for in situ resource utilization project for the validation of water molecules is presented.

Coming back for more: individual participation patterns in the physical activity initiative parkrun in Australia.

Most physical activity (PA) maintenance research has concerned adherence to small-scale interventions or infrequent observation in cohort studies. We analysed individual attendance trajectories and their drivers in a large-scale 'real-world' community-based weekly PA event (parkrun) cohort in Australia. Data were weekly attendance (walking/running) of 223 224 unique parkrun participants over their first 3 years of participation. An unweighted moving average of participation in the preceding 12 weeks from the 12th week since the first participation to the 156th week was calculated and submitted to a cluster analysis of attendance patterns. Association of individual- (demographic, personal parkrun performance) and site-level (aggregated site-level participant characteristics and area-level measures) covariates with cluster membership was estimated with multinomial logistic regression models. We identified four groups: Few-Timers (76.4%), Decliners (12.4%), Low Maintainers (6.9%) and High Maintainers (4.3%). In the first 12 weeks, attendances averaged 2, 6, 5 and 7.5 times for each cluster, respectively, and by 52 weeks, they were 0.17, 1.9, 3.4 and 7.6 times, respectively. Continuing participation (vs Few-Timers) was strongly associated with faster personal finish times, but slower performance at the site level. Higher running club/group membership at a participant's parkrun predicted higher odds of being a High Maintainer. Our identification of a Low Maintainer group shows a community-based initiative may sustain interest, despite not requiring continuous or near-continuous attendance. Where someone is placed 'in the pack' locally and degree of identification with others in the group may be bidirectionally associated with attendance, underscoring the importance of considering social environment of PA maintenance.

Microbiota transfer early after birth modulates genetic susceptibility to chronic arthritis in mice

Genetics is central to the susceptibility or resistance to autoimmunity, and mounting evidence indicates that the intestinal microbiota also plays an essential role. In murine arthritis models, short-chain fat acid supplementation reduces disease severity by modulating tryptophan-metabolizing bacteria. Common microbiota transfer methods modulate arthritis severity, however, they are not practical for chronic models such as pristane-induced arthritis (PIA). PIA-resistant (HIII) and PIA-susceptible (LIII) mice harbor diverse intestinal microbiomes, which might be implicated in their divergent susceptibility. To investigate this hypothesis, we used cross-fostering to stably transfer the microbiota. In this study, we show that extreme susceptibility to arthritis can be modulated by early microbiota transfer, with long-lasting effects. HIII and LIII pups were cross-fostered and injected with pristane after weaning. PIA severity in cross-fostered LIII mice was significantly reduced in the chronic phase. Metagenomic analyses showed that HIII and LIII microbiomes were partly shifted by cross-fostering. Microbial groups whose abundance was associated with either HIII or LIII mice presented similar composition in cross-fostered mice of the opposite strains, suggesting a role in PIA susceptibility. Identification of bacterial groups that modulate chronic arthritis will contribute novel insights on the pathogenesis of human rheumatoid arthritis and targets for replication and functional studies.

From Body Narratives to Cultural Identity: A Study of Ritualised Representations in Modern Sound Media

For modern people who have been under the hegemony of visual picture for a long time, the sensory balance in the Internet era is the key to releasing body appeals and getting rid of individual heterogeneity. The unique sense of imagination, immersion and companionship created by modern sound media to the audience can directly arouse emotional resonance, so as to achieve the group identity of sound field culture. Based on the perspective of ritual view of media, this paper analyzes the ritualized representation mode of modern sound media from two dimensions: the morphological evolution of body narrative of sound media and the deep aggregation of auditory culture, and thus corresponds to the dual aspects of ritualized representation: the embodied presentation and landscape modeling of sound media. By clarifying the subject’s holistic and differentiated identity cognitive thinking in media practice and the social auditory cultural aggregation phenomenon, the ritualized signs of modern sound media are deeply investigated in order to provide a theoretical perspective for the cultural research of modern sound media.

Mental contrasting promotes effective self-regulation for the benefits of groups.

Self-regulation is essential for maintaining harmonious social connections and sustaining groups, yet little research has examined how individuals regulate their actions for the benefits of groups and which self-regulatory strategies promote effective self-regulation (active engagement and disengagement) in group contexts. In three experiments, focusing on identity groups (family and friends in Study1) and two distinct functional groups (workplace teams in Study 2; sports teams in Study 3), we investigated whether mental contrasting of a desired future with the obstacle of reality, compared to indulging in the desired future, facilitates expectancy-dependent contributions for the benefits of groups. We assessed participants' expectancies of successfully contributing to their groups and varied the mode of thought (mental contrasting vs. indulging). Contributions to groups were measured 1 week (Studies 1 and 2) and 3 weeks later (Study 3). Results showed that mental contrasting guided people to align their actions with expectancy levels; the higher their expectancy, the more people contributed to their groups. In contrast, indulging resulted in insensitivity to expectancy levels. Our findings suggest the potential applicability of the mental contrasting strategy for promoting effective self-regulation in various group settings and provide insights into designing interventions to enhance individuals' engagement in groups.

Teaching discrimination in introductory economics: An approach incorporating stratification economics

The authors of this article describe how instructors can incorporate stratification economics (SE) into coverage of discrimination in introductory economics. SE is an economics subfield that provides a framework for understanding how collective action to maintain relative group position can create and sustain economic inequality. They illustrate how to modify Becker’s employer discrimination model to incorporate collective action by identity groups and demonstrate the use of game theory to help students understand the formation and maintenance of group identity. Finally, they show how instructors can use discussion of the racial wealth gap as an opportunity for students to apply elements of the SE framework. Introducing a more relatable and relevant discussion of discrimination and inequality can deepen students’ appreciation for and understanding of economic theory.

AN ANALYSIS OF CODE-MIXING AND CODE-SWITCHING USED BY RICH BRIAN AND NIKI IN NAJWA SHIHAB’S APA ADANYA RICH BRIAN & NIKI YOUTUBE VIDEO

The objectives of this research were to find out the types and reasons of code mixing and switching used by Rich Brian and NIKI in Najwa Shihab’s Apa Adanya Rich Brian NIKI YouTube Video. This research was conducted by using descriptive qualitative method. The utterances were analyzed and categorized into the framework developed by Hoffman who proposed types of code-switching and mixing. The results showed that intrasentential code switching appeared most often with a total of 46 times (42.9%). Meanwhile the rest were intrasentential mixing 34 times (31.7%), intrasentential switching 22 times (20.1%), intralexical mixing 4 times (3.7%), and the lowest frequency is tag switching 1 time (0.9%). The researcher found that there were only six reasons. Those were intention of clarifying the speech for interlocutor 66 times (61.6%), talking about a particular topic 29 times (27.1%), expressing group identity 4 times (3.7%), interjection and repetition used for clarification 3 times (2.8%), and last being emphatic about something 2 times (1.8%). The findings demonstrate that Rich Brian and NIKI purposefully mix and switch their language to make sure that the message is as clear as possible to the interlocuter.

Collective pronouns, collective health actions: Predicting pandemic precautionary measures through online first-person plural pronoun usage across U.S. states

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the role of group identification in shaping collective health behaviors. Using the novel Pronoun-Influenced Collective Health Model — an integrated framework combining elements from health and social psychology theories — we investigated the relationship between online first-person plural pronoun usage and adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures across the United States. Analyzing weekly Google Trends data on English (Study 1) and Spanish (Study 2) first-person pronoun searches, alongside data on adherence to pandemic precautionary measures from early 2020 to late 2022, we found significant positive associations between relative first-person plural pronoun search volumes and adherence to social distancing, stay-at-home orders, vaccination rates, and proactive disease prevention information seeking. These associations remained robust after adjusting for potential confounding factors. A mini meta-analysis (Study 3) confirmed the consistency of our findings, revealing no significant moderation effects by language context or ecological-socio-cultural factors, suggesting broad generalizability. The implications of this research highlight the potential for tracking online collective language as a valuable indicator of and proxy for societal-level health engagement during crises. This novel digital linguistics approach, synergistically combining applied health and social psychology with big data from digital platforms such as Google, offers powerful tools for monitoring collective health actions across linguistic and cultural boundaries during large-scale health crises.

Why did Taiwanese Youth Protest in 2014? Emergence of protests from the Perspective of Mobilization Structures and Shared Grievances

The purpose of the paper is to restudy the reasons for youth activism in Taiwan in 2014, which led to the so-called Sunflower Movement. The study is based on desk research and semi-structured interviews and expert interviews conducted by the authors, and in the framework of the Daybreak Project. Additionally the analysis on the social media posts during the movement was conducted. Data were analyzed through the Bert Klandermans’ model on reasons for collective mobilization. The supply side of mobilization was divided into the role of mobilizing structures and the appeal. The demand side was analyzed through: sociopolitical characteristics of the participants; social embeddedness; shared grievances and shared emotions; group identification. The paper assumes that participation in the protests was a result of mobilizational structures – student discussion groups and the sense that the authorities were violating procedural justice principles – mainly in connection with the processing of the CSSTA.

Risk factors for Gleason score upgrade from prostate biopsy to radical prostatectomy.

Accurate identification of prostate cancer Gleason grade group remains an important component of the initial management of clinically localized disease. However, Gleason score upgrading (GSU) from biopsy to radical prostatectomy can occur in up to a third of patients treated with surgery. Concern for disease undergrading remains a source of diagnostic uncertainty, contributing to both over-treatment of low-risk disease as well as under-treatment of higher-risk prostate cancer. This review examines the published literature concerning risk factors for GSU from time of biopsy to prostatectomy final pathology. Risk factors identified for Gleason upgrading include patient demographic and clinical factors including age, body mass index, race, prostate volume, and biomarker based assays, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density, and testosterone values. In addition, prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings have also been associated with GSU. Biopsy-specific characteristics associated with GSU include lower number of biopsy cores and lack of targeted methodology, and possibly increasing percent biopsy core positivity. Recognition of risk factors for disease undergrading may prompt confirmatory testing including repeat sampling or imaging. Continued refinements in imaging guided biopsy techniques may also reduce sampling error contributing to undergrading.

Representations of Rap Music in Cinema: Forms of Resistance and Reconciliation in Casablanca Beats

Cinema is an art connected to social reality, interacting with groups that are actors of societal transformation. Groups that cannot make their voices heard within dominant cultures can develop a resistance against the dominant culture or find a path of reconciliation with it through subcultures, thereby creating an alternative space for themselves. Therefore, although subcultures are often perceived as a form of resistance, they can sometimes be functional in the path towards reconciliation with society. As an alternative form of expression, subcultures can find an opportunity of representation in recent films produced in many different countries. This study examines how rap subculture is represented in cinema. With this aim in mind, the film Casablanca Beats (Ayouch, 2021), which is one of the noteworthy examples of Moroccan cinema in recent years, has been selected as an example. Casablanca Beats (Ayouch, 2021) addresses the emergence of a dynamic rap subculture among young characters, and how through this path, they create a lifeline for themselves by forming a resistance against normative values. In this study, the reflection of rap music subcultural practices in Casablanca Beats (Ayouch, 2021) is examined using the Descriptive Analysis method guided by Raymond Williams' framework of the “dominant”, “residual”, and “emerging” cultures. The results of the study reveal that in the film, young characters find a space of autonomous expression through subcultural practices, form group identities, challenge societal determinants, but on the other hand, they are also observed to engage in efforts to reconcile with the dominant culture by transforming it.

Differential manifestations of anhedonia in people with social anhedonia and subsyndromal depression

Empirical findings suggested that anhedonia, a reduced capability to access pleasure and a core symptom in both schizophrenia and the major depressive disorder, can be present in people with high levels of social anhedonia and people with subsyndromal depression. Few studies have adopted a multidimensional framework to investigate anhedonia in these subclinical samples. We recruited 35 participants with high social anhedonia (SA), 53 participants with subsyndromal depression (SD), 20 participants with co-occurrence of both traits (CO), and 47 participants with low levels of both traits (CN) to complete a self-report questionnaire capturing the pleasure experience, and the Monetary Incentives Delay (MID) Task and the Social Incentives Delay (SID) Task capturing the motivation of reward. Results indicated that people with SA, SD and CO exhibited lower abstract anticipatory pleasure compared to CN. Moreover, people with SD and CO exhibited specific impairment in response to social incentives. Together, our findings characterized the multidimensional features of anhedonia performances of subclinical samples with SA, SD and CO, which may contribute to the formulation of early identification of at-risk groups.

Age as a determinant of demand in the financial market

Aim. To determine the factors of age influence on the demand for financial products.Objectives. Establishment of age groups with distinction characteristics of demand for financial products; identification of groups of financial products characteristic for each age group; determination of the nature of the influence of age on demand in relation to certain financial products.Methods. The author applied a review and comparative analysis of Russian and international publications, quantitative analysis of the results of the All-Russian household survey.Results. Age groups with distinctive characteristics of demand for financial products were identified, and the selection of groups of financial products characteristic for each age group was carried out. In addition, the influence of age on demand for a number of financial products was analyzed.Conclusions. The formation of demand for financial products depends on age, which is a key demographic variable that determines the list of financial market products relevant for a particular age group, as well as quantitative and qualitative indicators of demand for financial products. Age as a determinant influences consumer choice of financial market products and consumer activity in these markets.

THE ANALYSIS OF CODE-MIXING FOUND IN PRETTY LITTLE LIARS INDONESIA SERIES

The study is concerned with the phenomenon of mixing two or more languages called code-mixing that are found in the Pretty Little Liars Indonesia Series. This study aims at finding out the types of code mixing and the reason of code mixing found from the conversations of the characters in Pretty Little Liars Indonesia Series. Observation method was used in collecting the data. The method used in analyzing the data was descriptive qualitative method by applying the theory by Hoffman (1991). This result of this research reveals that code mixing occurs when speakers mix two or more languages in one utterance. This study shows that all types of code-mixing are found, such as; intra-sentential code-mixing, intra-lexical code-mixing, and involving a change of pronunciation. Meanwhile, the top three for the reason of code-mixing that were found are talking about particular topic (84.21%). interjection (13.16%), and intention of clarifying the speech content for interlocutor (2.63%). Some of the reasons were not found in the data, namely; quoting someone’s word, expressing feeling about something, repetition used for clarification, and expressing group identity, because in the dialogue the characters never have related to the reason of code-mixing.

The role of community identity in changing online gamers’ behavior

The purpose of this research is to determine the role of community identity on the behavior of online gamers. This research was conducted on the online gaming community X, which consists of students. The method used is qualitative phenomenology with interview data collection techniques. The research results show that the identity behavior of online gamers is determined by their community identity role. This community forms its own norms and values that are mutually agreed upon. The community also motivates the formation of gaming behavior and the intentions of each member’s behavior. The rational individual of action (gamer) is formed by a group of actions based on a community of utility, not an individual utility. Community members must force themselves to gain recognition of their group identity through many irrational acts of conformity.

Social Group Membership, Social Identities, and Mental Health Experiences in Urban Poor Communities in Ghana: A Critical Social Psychology Inquiry.

Social groups and identities significantly influence mental health outcomes, yet their impact in resource-poor communities remains understudied. We explored the role of social group memberships and identities in shaping mental health experiences in two urban poor communities in Ghana. Data from 77 participants were analyzed thematically, revealing widespread engagement in social groups that provide access to both material and symbolic resources. However, these groups also serve as sources of tension and contribute to the stigmatization and marginalization of vulnerable members. Those affected include individuals with severe mental disorders, men experiencing depression, young men involved in substance abuse, family caregivers, migrant and tenant households, and otherwise healthy individuals with recurring psychosocial challenges. The groups exacerbate mental health challenges and restrict access to care among marginalized populations. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions aimed at enhancing mental health support and reducing stigma in resource-poor settings.

An ethnographic study of Vietnamese-Ukrainian identity

ABSTRACT Vietnamese Ukrainians are a largely unstudied identity group that has recently attracted attention due to the impacts of the Russo-Ukrainian War. Our study examines Vietnamese-Ukrainian bicultural identity as experienced by 10 university student refugees of the war in 2022–23. Researchers conducted semi-structured ethnographic interviews in which each participant examined identity formation experiences as second-generation Vietnamese Ukrainians. Participants also reflected upon the impacts to ethnic identity self-awareness that resulted from their unexpected return migration to Vietnam as student refugees of war. The cohort of study participants created a tight-knit Vietnamese-Ukrainian return diaspora in an environment conducive to self-reflection and exploration of their ongoing ethnic identity journeys. In our study, we argue that the ethnic identity formation of young Vietnamese Ukrainians relies on the active construction of intercultural personhood as an adaptation to transnational mobility and change.

Interactions among neighborhood conditions, sleep quality, and episodic memory across the adult lifespan

ABSTRACT Objectives On average, adults racialized as non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic sleep more poorly than adults racialized as non-Hispanic White (hereafter, Black, Hispanic, White), but associations between factors that may moderate sleep-memory associations in these groups, such as neighborhood conditions, are unclear. Poorer neighborhood conditions (e.g. lower neighborhood cohesion) may be negatively associated with sleep quality and multiplicatively influence sleep-memory associations. We hypothesized lower ratings of neighborhood conditions would be associated with poorer sleep quality and moderate the association between sleep quality and episodic memory, especially in Black and Hispanic adults, who are disproportionately situated in poor neighborhood conditions. Design Seven-hundred-thirty-six adults across the adult lifespan (27-89 years) were recruited from the northern Manhattan community as a part of the Offspring Study of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Alzheimer’s disease. Sleep quality was assessed using a modified version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and episodic memory was evaluated with the Buschke Selective Reminding Test. With multiple regression models, we measured associations between perceived neighborhood conditions and sleep quality and the interaction between sleep quality and neighborhood conditions on episodic memory stratified by racial/ethnic and gender identity groups. Results Overall, poorer neighborhood conditions were associated with poorer sleep quality. In Black and Hispanic women, the sleep-memory association was moderated by neighborhood conditions. With more favorable neighborhood conditions, Black women showed an association between higher sleep quality and higher memory performance, and Hispanic women showed a protective effect of neighborhood (higher memory even when sleep quality was poor). Conclusion Poorer neighborhood experiences may contribute to poorer sleep quality across groups. In Black and Hispanic women, the association between sleep quality and episodic memory performance was dependent upon neighborhood conditions. These findings may inform tailored, structural level sleep interventions, aimed to improve neighborhood experiences and thereby sleep quality and episodic memory.

Linguistic means of identity construction in media texts (comparative analysis of political interviews)

he study aimed to determine and explain the influence of discourse of political interviews on audience identity construction and their understanding of social and political processes. Methods of cross-cultural analysis, Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), the method of linguistic analysis of identity markers in media text, and the method of linguistic analysis of identity markers were used in the study. The reliability of the methods was checked with Cronbach's alpha. The increase in the importance of media and social networks in identity construction indicates reorientation of the modern society towards digital platforms as a key factor of public position determination. Increased individualization was fixed in identity formation, where personal choices and clarity are important factors affecting the self-determination process. The study confirms that identity formation in media texts is a complex and multifaceted process, which includes the interaction of different aspects as individual, group, cultural and political identities. Further research perspectives are the study of the role of new technologies, including artificial intelligence and large data analysis in identity construction and interaction with the audience in the digital environment.

INTENT EXTRACTION FROM TEXT BY USING GLOBAL FEATURE MATRIX TO IMPROVE MAN MACHINE INTERACTION

Interaction between man and machine is the future of technology. Different mechanisms and mediums are used for this interaction such as voice, signals, pictures, videos, text etc. Text is one of the most popular medium of interaction and has gained popularity over past decades. It is used for making predictions of stock market, analysis of people’s opinion, identification of group of people with similar interests etc. In this research, the focus is to identify and analyze the intent of the written text and used it to prepare an appropriate machine response to text. There are several system available that uses semi-automatic mechanisms for interaction with humans such as the online customer care services for banks and the telecommunication industry. Different models and algorithms are used for this semi-automatic interaction. This study works on the design of a fully automated system for extracting the intents from the text, prepare an appropriate response and use the intent to do the prediction of the text. The results of the research are detailed in the methodology and experiment sections of the paper.