Passive Bystanders Research Articles

A Companion to Chivalry

A Companion to Chivalry

More intercultural sensitivity, less cyberbullying: the role of religious education among high-school students

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to explore the link between intercultural sensitivity, the four dimensions of cyberbullying, i.e. aggression, victimisation, cyber-defending, and passive bystander behaviour), and religious education as a formal study discipline in schools. Our sample consisted of 241 high school students (M = 18.54, SD = .49, 61% males). Our results suggested significant negative associations between intercultural sensitivity and cyber-perpetration, cyber-victimisation, and cyber-bystander behaviour. No significant gender differences were found concerning intercultural sensitivity. Our findings also suggested that the participants who studied religion as a formal discipline in high school reported higher intercultural sensitivity. Furthermore, we also found a significant interaction effect between intercultural sensitivity and religion as a formal school discipline, in the case of cyber-aggression and cyber-victimisation dimensions of cyberbullying. Finally, we discuss our findings considering their practical implication, primarily in educational settings.

Neuroticism, Empathy, and Internet Addiction in Different Roles in Cyberbullying

IntroductionResearch on cyberbullying has focused on the psychological characteristics of victims and aggressors, but the important roles of bystanders and defenders have not been sufficiently explored (Escortell et al., 2020; Polanco-Levican, Salvo-Garrido, 2021; Schultze-Krumbholz et al., 2018).ObjectivesThe aim is to compare neuroticism, empathy, and Internet addiction in adolescents in different roles in cyberbullying.Methods1505 adolescents aged 12-17 years old from 8 Federal regions in Russia appraised their experience of cyberbullying (as aggressors, victims, passive bystanders and defenders) using vignettes and filled Aggression Questionnaire (Buss, Perry, 1992), Ten-Item Personality Inventory (Gosling et al., 2003; Egorova, Parshikova,2016); Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Davis, 1983; Karyagina, Kukhtova, 2016) and Chen Internet Addiction Scale (in adaptation Malygin, Feklisov, 2011).ResultsMore than one-third of adolescents (37%) reported experience of cyberbullying in different roles, mostly as passive bystanders (52%). Among the active roles were 30% defenders, 10% victims and 7% aggressors. Aggressors have the lowest empathy scores on the scales of Fantasy (F= 5.424, p=0.001) and Empathic Concern (F= 2.914, p=0.034) and Neuroticism (F= 3.060, p=0.028), while defenders, on the contrary, have the highest levels. The level of these psychological characteristics in victims is lower than in defenders and bystanders. These results are coherent with a number of studies (Escortell et al., 2020; Schultze-Krumbholz et al., 2018). There are no significant differences in Internet addiction between adolescents in different cyberbullying roles.ConclusionsResults can be used to effective intervention and prevention of cyberbullying based on specific personality role profiles. The research was supported by RSF (project No. 18-18-00365)DisclosureThis work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project # 18-18-00365.

Personal and psychophysiological characteristics of the witness experience of cyberaggression in virtual reality

IntroductionThe integration of virtual reality into everyday life is changing sociocultural practices, including those related to cyberaggression, which causes negative consequences for mental health and well-being. Particular attention needs to be paid to the poorly researched but widespread roles of bystanders and defenders in cyberaggression (Machackova, 2020; Polanco-Levican, Salvo-Garrido, 2021).ObjectivesThe aim is to study the behavioral witness strategies in cyberaggression in VR and their relation to personal and psychophysiological characteristics.Methods50 adolescents aged 14-18 years old (50% female) witnessed cyberaggression in an experimental situation in the virtual space of VR-chat. Participants also filled Ten-Item Personality Inventory (Gosling et al., 2003; Egorova, Parshikova, 2016), I7-Impulsiveness (Eysenck, Eysenck, 1985; Kornilova, Dolnikova, 2011), Prosocial Behaviour (Furmanov, Kuhtova, 1998). To determine the functional state Heart rate variability (UPTF 1/30 Psychophysiologist, Mediсom) was measured before and after the experiment.ResultsBehavioral strategies in VR-aggression were divided into uninvolved bystanders (58%) and defenders (42%). All participants experienced stress and functional state decline when faced with cyberaggression, but the defenders were more affected (U=207, p<0.043). Defenders were more likely to have higher social responsibility (U=207, p<0.056) and lower neuroticism (U=208, p<0.054). There were no significant differences in impulsiveness.ConclusionsCyberaggression in a virtual environment is stressful, especially for active defenders, who are more included in the situation compared to passive bystanders. The prosocial role of a defender rather than a passive bystander may be related to such characteristics as social responsibility and emotional stability, but not to impulsiveness. The research was supported by RSF (project No. 18-18-00365)DisclosureThis work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project # 18-18-00365.

Cyber-Bystander Behavior Among Canadian and Iranian Youth: The Influence of Bystander Type and Relationship to the Perpetrator on Moral Responsibility

The current study examines how social determinants influence the way youth from Canadian and Iranian contexts evaluate and morally disengage as bystanders of cyberbullying. While Iranian culture differs from other individualistic and collectivist cultures, Iranian youth have become just as technologically acculturated as their global peers. Despite this, less is understood about how Iranian youth respond to cyberbullying in comparison to youth from individualistic societies. Participants from Canada (N = 60) and Iran (N = 59) who were between the ages of 8-to-15 years old (N = 119, M = 11.33 years, SD = 1.63 years) read 6 cyberbullying scenarios that varied according to Bystander Relationship to Perpetrator (Acquaintance or Friend) and Bystander Response (Assists Cyberbully, Does Nothing, Defends Victim). After reading each scenario, participants were asked to evaluate the bystander's behavior. They were also asked how they would feel if they were the bystander. Similar to past research, these responses were coded on a continuous scale ranging from morally disengaged to morally responsible. Overall, Canadians were more critical of passive bystander behaviors and more supportive toward defending behaviors compared to Iranians. Iranians were more supportive of the behaviors of bystanders who were friends of perpetrators than Canadians were, and Iranians were more critical toward acquaintances of perpetrators. Significant interactions were also found between participants' country of origin, the bystander's relationship with the perpetrator and the bystander's behavior. Taken together, these findings highlight the importance of differentiating between negative judgments and moral attributions of bystander responses.

Genetic Pathways Activated in Heart Allograft Quilty Lesions

<h3>Purpose</h3> Quilty Lesions (QL) are enigmatic polytypic inflammatory cellular aggregates seen in some heart transplant biopsies. The study was designed to investigate genetic pathways that might be activated in heart transplant biopsies with QL. <h3>Methods</h3> Nine heart allograft biopsies from one institution were included in the study. Tissue was stained for H/E and biopsies separated as having QL (5) vs. no QL (4). Total RNA was then extracted from FFPE. RNA extraction and gene analysis was performed using the Nanostring n-Counter Human Organ Transplant Immunology Panel (Seattle, WA). <h3>Results</h3> The heat map (Figure 1) shows a clear separation between biopsies with QL and biopsies without QL. Pathways that were upregulated in biopsies with QL included: NK-kappa Beta, cytokine signaling, chemokine signaling, cytotoxicity, type II interferon, Toll-like receptor, B-cell receptor, T-cell checkpoint, lymphocyte trafficking, oxidative stress, MAPK, Class II Ag presentation, complement system, Class I antigen presentation, TNF family, NLR family, cell cycle regulation, mTOR, inflammasomes, TGF-beta, epigenetics and transcription, T-reg differentiation, Th1 differentiation, Th2 differentiation, Th17 differentiation, cytosolic DNS sensing, innate immune system, adaptive immune system, hematopoiesis, T-cell receptor signaling, cell-ECM interaction. In contrast, the following pathways were downregulated in biopsies with QL: autophagy, angiogenesis, tissue homeostasis. Biopsies with QL showed a predominance of adaptive type Th2 response over Th1genes (3.88x vs. 3.15x). Individual regulatory genes (all p< 0.001) that were higher in biopsies with QL included TGFbeta1, IL10RA, Foxp3 and JAK3. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Heart allograft biopsies with QL showed a clearly differential expression of genes compared to biopsies without QL. Pathways and individual upregulated genes suggest a shift towards regulation and acceptance of the allograft. QL, far from being passive bystanders, may have a positive immunomodulatory function in cardiac allografts.

Escaping Death: How Cancer Cells and Infected Cells Resist Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity.

Cytotoxic lymphocytes are critical in our immune defence against cancer and infection. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes and Natural Killer cells can directly lyse malignant or infected cells in at least two ways: granule-mediated cytotoxicity, involving perforin and granzyme B, or death receptor-mediated cytotoxicity, involving the death receptor ligands, tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and Fas ligand (FasL). In either case, a multi-step pathway is triggered to facilitate lysis, relying on active pro-death processes and signalling within the target cell. Because of this reliance on an active response from the target cell, each mechanism of cell-mediated killing can be manipulated by malignant and infected cells to evade cytolytic death. Here, we review the mechanisms of cell-mediated cytotoxicity and examine how cells may evade these cytolytic processes. This includes resistance to perforin through degradation or reduced pore formation, resistance to granzyme B through inhibition or autophagy, and resistance to death receptors through inhibition of downstream signalling or changes in protein expression. We also consider the importance of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-induced cytotoxicity and resistance mechanisms against this pathway. Altogether, it is clear that target cells are not passive bystanders to cell-mediated cytotoxicity and resistance mechanisms can significantly constrain immune cell-mediated killing. Understanding these processes of immune evasion may lead to novel ideas for medical intervention.

Guardians of Democracy or Passive Bystanders? A Conjoint Experiment on Elite Transgressions of Democratic Norms

Emerging literature shows that citizens in established democracies do not unconditionally support central democratic principles when asked to weigh them against co-partisanship or favored policy positions. However, these studies are conducted in highly polarized contexts, and it remains unclear whether the underlying mechanisms also operate in more consensual contexts. Furthermore, it is unclear whether “critical citizens” or satisfied democrats are more eager to support democratic principles. We study these questions with evidence from a conjoint experiment conducted in Finland ( n = 1030), an established democracy with high levels of democratic satisfaction and a consensual political culture. We examine how transgressions of two central democratic norms, the legitimacy of political opposition and the independence of the judiciary, affect leader favorability. We also explore how these differ across ideological and policy congruence and across levels of political disaffection. Our results show that some segments of the Finnish population are willing to condone authoritarian behavior if this brings them political benefits. Furthermore, we find that satisfied rather than “critical” citizens are more likely to sanction such behavior. These findings suggest that dangers of democratic deconsolidation may appear even in consensus democracies with relatively low levels of political polarization.

Advancing policy frameworks to safeguard financial stability in developing and emerging economies: the case of South Korea’s management of international financial flows after 1998

AbstractFinancial liberalisation can promote economic development in developing and emerging economies (DEEs). Especially international financial flows pose risks to the stability of their financial system though, as recurrent foreign debt crises in DEEs show. How can DEEs benefit from international financial flows while safeguarding financial stability? The case of South Korea shows how DEEs can develop domestic policy frameworks to manage international financial flows while maintaining a high degree of financial openness. With the experience of the foreign debt crisis of 1997/98 in mind, Korean policymakers have interlinked policies (monetary policy, foreign exchange policy and financial regulation), public financial institutions and the development of domestic capital markets to develop a financial stability-oriented policy framework that has served as protection against risks attached to international financial flows. While this policy change substantiates a turn towards a finance-led accumulation regime, the case of Korea illustrates that DEEs are not passive bystanders in financialisation processes.

Private Investments, Public Goods: Regulating Markets for Sustainable Development

In the new ecosystem for financing the sustainable development goals (SDGs), private actors are no longer passive bystanders in the development process, nor engaged merely as clients or contractors but as co-investors and co-producers in development projects and programmes. This ‘private turn’ in the financing of international development and other global public goods sees the enmeshment of public and private finance that brings aid and other forms of official development finance into sharp contact with regulatory regimes commonly associated with commercial investments, capital markets and corporate activity. The shift away from public resources for financing (e.g., multilateral sovereign loans) to leveraging financial markets for development capital (e.g., equity and portfolio investments) will insert countries into global financial markets and engagements with corporate actors in ways that will change forms of regulation, accountability and transparency of public finance. Zooming in on the creation of markets for sustainable development investments (SDI), this paper explores how this broader ‘reengineering of public finance’ is establishing new forms of governance that are restructuring the relationship between states and markets and between transnational capital and their host communities. Specifically, the movement towards private investments and financial markets as key drivers of financing for sustainable development has two critical impacts on transnational governance: (a) the use of private markets, in their capital allocation roles, as quasi-regulatory tools for achieving the SDGs and other global public goods; and (b) the deployment of private regulatory regimes (e.g., contracts, codes of conduct, corporate governance codes) as mechanisms to govern the social and environmental externalities of transnational economic activity. These developments have wide-ranging impacts on the domestic legal, political and civic constitution of states that can paradoxically constrain fiscal and policy space for enabling the attainment of the SDGs.

Two Dimensions of Moral Cognition as Correlates of Different Forms of Participation in Bullying.

The present study investigated the extent to which moral disengagement and the tendency to consider moral rules as socio-conventional rules are distinct dimensions of morality, and their association with three different forms of participation in bullying (perpetrating bullying, defending the victim and passive bystander behavior). These two types of moral cognitions have been theorized in different models of morality and are usually studied independently, even if research on moral shifts (the interpretation of a moral rule transgression as a socio-conventional rule transgression) suggests some possible overlaps. A group of 276 Italian students from primary and middle school (aged 8–15) completed self-reports assessing moral disengagement, socio-conventional perception of moral rules, and participation in bullying as bully, defender of the victim and passive bystander. Results from structural equation modeling analysis confirmed that moral disengagement and socio-conventional comprehension of aggressions are separate and moderately connected morality dimensions. Controlling for age, gender and SES, only moral disengagement was positively associated with perpetrating bullying. These results point to moral disengagement as the critical component of moral cognitions to be addressed in interventions.

Does bystander behavior make a difference? How passive and active bystanders in the group moderate the effects of bullying exposure.

Workplace bullying has negative effects on targets' well-being. Researchers are increasingly aware that bullying occurs within social contexts and is often witnessed by others in the organization, such as bystanders. However, we know little about how bystanders' responses influence outcomes for those exposed to bullying. In this multilevel study, involving 572 employees within 55 work groups, we explore how bystanders' passive (e.g., inaction) and active constructive (e.g., defending the target) responses to bullying can affect targets' somatic symptoms and work engagement. Drawing from Job-Demands Resource theory, we propose that passive and active constructive bystanders can worsen or buffer bullying's effects on these well-being outcomes, respectively. Specifically, we propose that passive bystanders can act as further demands for targets to cope with, leading to demand accumulation, while active constructive bystanders can act as resources. We found that exposure to workplace bullying was associated with somatic symptoms and low work engagement. The number of passive and active constructive bystanders in the target's work group moderated the relationship between exposure to bullying and engagement. In particular, with larger numbers of passive bystanders, the negative relationship of bullying exposure with engagement strengthened. Conversely, with a higher number of active constructive bystanders, bullying's negative relationship with engagement was mitigated. However, there was no moderating effect for somatic symptoms. This study contributes as the first empirical test of whether bystander behavior shapes the consequences of bullying for targets and provides a novel, group-level perspective to the bullying bystander literature. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Social-Emotional Skill-based Differences Between Active and Passive Bystanders of Bullying

Social-Emotional Skill-based Differences Between Active and Passive Bystanders of Bullying

Oral streptococci subvert the host innate immune response through hydrogen peroxide

In periodontal health, oral streptococci constitute up to 80% of the plaque biofilm. Yet, destructive inflammatory events of the periodontium are rare. This observation suggests that oral streptococci may possess mechanisms to co-exist with the host. However, the mechanisms employed by oral streptococci to modulate the innate immune response have not been well studied. One of the key virulence factors produced by oral streptococci is hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In mammalian cells, H2O2 triggers the activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a key pathway mediating antioxidant defence. This study aimed to determine (1) if H2O2 producing oral streptococci activated the Nrf2 pathway in macrophages, and (2) if the activation of Nrf2 influenced the innate immune response. We found that oral streptococci downregulated the innate immune response in a H2O2 dependent manner through the activation of the Nrf2. The activation of the Nrf2 signalling pathway led to the inhibition of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NFĸB), the key transcription factor regulating pro-inflammatory response. This study showed for the first time that oral streptococci are unlikely passive bystanders but could play an active role in the maintenance of periodontal health by preventing overt inflammation.

Vascular bifurcation influences the protein corona composition on nanoparticles and impacts their cellular uptake.

The protein corona (PC) that forms on nanoparticles (NPs) after in vivo injection influences their biodistribution, pharmacokinetics, and cell interaction. Although injected NPs traverse vascular networks, the impact of vascular features on the protein corona composition is mainly unexplored. Using an in vitro flow model that introduces bifurcations, a common feature of blood vessels, we show that vessels are not passive bystanders in the formation of the PC but that their features play active roles in defining the PC on NPs. The addition of bifurcation significantly increased the amount of proteins associated with NP. The bifurcation's introduction also changed the PC's composition on the NPs and affected the NP interactions with cells. Correlation analysis and modeling showed that these changes in the PC are mediated by both the branching and diameter reduction associated with vessel bifurcation and the resulting change in flow rate. The results indicate that blood vessel structures play an active part in the information of the PC, and their role should be studied critically for a better understanding of the PC and its biological implications.

Dogs re-engage human partners when joint social play is interrupted: a behavioural signature of shared intentionality?

Hypotheses regarding the evolution of uniquely human social cognition often emphasize not only mental state representation, but also mental state sharing. Mental state sharing is evident in instances of joint intentionality – mutual understanding between individuals of each other's simultaneous and interdependent commitment to a shared activity or goal. Comparative studies supporting the human uniqueness of joint intentionality show that, as compared to human children, chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes , who engage with humans as cooperative partners do not altruistically help others achieve their goals across the same range of contexts, do not attempt to re-engage cooperative partners in problem-solving or social games at the same rate and do not show spontaneous role reversal. Although recent work supports the possibility that bonobos, Pan paniscus , may re-engage conspecific partners after interrupted social grooming, the extent to which other animals show similar behaviour across more diverse contexts remains largely unexplored. Domestic dogs', Canis familiaris , propensity to interact with humans in cooperative contexts makes them a potentially promising comparative model of prosocial mental state sharing. Here, we investigated a behavioural signature of joint intentionality during social play between humans and dogs ( N = 82). Our results present the first experimental evidence of re-engagement behaviour in dogs, as dogs preferentially attempted to reinitiate an interrupted social game with their previous partner relative to a passive bystander. These findings suggest that dogs exhibit a key marker of joint intentionality and open the door for future research on the cognitive mechanisms supporting this behaviour. • Scholars have hypothesized that shared intentionality aids human ultrasociality. • We assessed whether dogs also show behavioural signatures of shared intentionality. • Dogs reliably re-engaged human partners after interrupted joint social play. • These findings suggest that dogs may form joint commitments in some contexts. • Dogs present a uniquely powerful comparative model for studying joint activities.

Judith N. Shklar on disobedience and obligation in a “society of strangers”

Judith N. Shklar on disobedience and obligation in a “society of strangers”

TAMI-38. TUMOR-ASSOCIATED NEUTROPHILS IN GLIOBLASTOMA PROMOTE THE PERIVASCULAR GLIOMA STEM-LIKE CELL NICHE VIA OSTEOPONTIN SECRETION

Abstract Among clinical analyses, elevated neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio has been correlated with poor outcomes of glioblastoma patients independent of other prognostic factors. Additionally, our flow cytometric studies of primary patient samples found neutrophil percentage to be significantly higher in higher-grade glioma versus lower-grade glioma. Tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) comprise less than 2% of the glioblastoma microenvironment. While TANs were initially considered passive bystanders due to their short-lived nature, investigation of TANs in other cancers revealed distinct pro-tumoral roles. Therefore, we transcriptomically characterized glioblastoma TANs and defined their oncologic effects. Transcriptomic analysis of patient-matched TANs versus peripheral blood neutrophils revealed that functionally quiescent circulating neutrophils infiltrate IDH1-wild type glioblastoma via leukotriene B4 chemoattraction, where tumor cells morphologically and transcriptomically activate them to become TANs. Single-cell RNA-sequencing of patient-matched TANs and peripheral blood neutrophils revealed a subset of tumor-activated neutrophils which adopt a pro-tumoral secretory phenotype, marked by activation of the IL-17 signaling pathway and high osteopontin production. Using immunofluorescence stains of primary patient glioblastoma sections, we demonstrated that activated, myeloperoxidase-positive TANs reside in the perivascular niche of glioblastoma in close proximity to glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs) and CD31-positive endothelial cells. Further analysis in culture demonstrated that TAN-secreted osteopontin drives the formation, self-renewal, and proliferation of GSC-containing neurospheres. These results were validated using a syngeneic stem cell-derived IDH1-wild type murine glioblastoma model in vivo. Thus, while TANs are rare in glioblastoma, their enrichment in the glioblastoma perivascular niche uniquely positions them to support the GSCs that are crucial to therapeutic resistance of GBM.

They Might Cut It-Lysosomes and Autophagy in Mitotic Progression.

The division of one cell into two looks so easy, as if it happens without any control at all. Mitosis, the hallmark of mammalian life is, however, tightly regulated from the early onset to the very last phase. Despite the tight control, errors in mitotic division occur frequently and they may result in various chromosomal instabilities and malignancies. The flow of events during mitotic progression where the chromosomes condensate and rearrange with the help of the cytoskeletal network has been described in great detail. Plasma membrane dynamics and endocytic vesicle movement upon deadhesion and reattachment of dividing cells are also demonstrated to be functionally important for the mitotic integrity. Other cytoplasmic organelles, such as autophagosomes and lysosomes, have until recently been considered merely as passive bystanders in this process. Accordingly, at the onset of nuclear envelope breakdown in prometaphase, the number of autophagic structures and lysosomes is reduced and the bulk autophagic machinery is suppressed for the duration of mitosis. This is believed to ensure that the exposed nuclear components are not unintentionally delivered to autophagic degradation. With the evolving technologies that allow the detection of subtle alterations in cytoplasmic organelles, our understanding of the small-scale regulation of intracellular organelles has deepened rapidly and we discuss here recent discoveries revealing unexpected roles for autophagy and lysosomes in the preservation of genomic integrity during mitosis.

Defending or Remaining Passive as a Bystander of School Bullying in Sweden: The Role of Moral Disengagement and Antibullying Class Norms.

The overall aim of the present study was to examine whether moral disengagement and perceptions of antibullying class norms at individual level and at class level were associated with defending and passive bystanding in school bullying among school-age children. More specifically, we investigated the extent to which moral disengagement would contribute to explain defending and passive bystanding, after controlling for sex and perceptions of antibullying class norms at individual level and at class level. A total of 789 Swedish students (aged 10-14) from 40 middle school classes filled out a self-report survey. The findings revealed that girls and students who were less prone to morally disengage, and who perceived that their classmates endorsed more antibullying norms, were more likely to defend victimized peers. Students who were more inclined to morally disengage and perceive that classmates do not condemn bullying were more likely to act as passive bystanders. In addition, classes with higher levels of antibullying class norms were more likely to show higher rates of defending and lower rates of passive bystanding compared to the other classes. The findings suggest that schools and teachers need to develop educational strategies, methods, and efforts designed to make students aware of moral disengagement and to reduce their likelihood of morally disengaging in bullying situations. The present findings also point to the importance of teachers establishing class rules against bullying together with the students.