Positive Function Research Articles

Current Findings and Potential Mechanisms of KarXT (Xanomeline-Trospium) in Schizophrenia Treatment.

Standard schizophrenia treatment involves antipsychotic medications that target D2 dopamine receptors. However, these drugs have limitations in addressing all symptoms and can lead to adverse effects such as motor impairments, metabolic effects, sedation, sexual dysfunction, cognitive impairment, and tardive dyskinesia. Recently, KarXT has emerged as a novel drug for schizophrenia. KarXT combines xanomeline, a muscarinic receptor M1 and M4 agonist, with trospium, a nonselective antimuscarinic agent. Of note, xanomeline can readily cross blood-brain barrier (BBB) and, thus, enter into the brain, thereby stimulating muscarinic receptors (M1 and M4). By doing so, xanomeline has been shown to target negative symptoms and potentially improve positive symptoms. Trospium, on the other hand, is not able to cross BBB, thereby not affecting M1 and M4 receptors; instead, it acts as an antimuscarinic agent and, hence, diminishes peripheral activity of muscarinic receptors to minimize side effects probably stemming from xanomeline in other organs. Accordingly, ongoing clinical trials investigating KarXT's efficacy in schizophrenia have demonstrated positive outcomes, including significant improvements in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score and cognitive function compared with placebo. These findings emphasize the potential of KarXT as a promising treatment for schizophrenia, providing symptom relief while minimizing side effects associated with xanomeline monotherapy. Despite such promising evidence, further research is needed to confirm the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of KarXT in managing schizophrenia. This review article explores the current findings and potential mechanisms of KarXT in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Psychological Well-being and the Structure of the teacher’s Agency

Introduction. In positive psychology, psychological well-being is associated with personal resources that ensure creative processes and positive changes in a person’s life and activities. Considering agency as the main professional and personal resource of a teacher for positive transformations in modern education, we assume that agency acts as such a resource provided that the teacher perceives himself as a psychologically prosperous person. Psychological well-being in the study is considered within the framework of the PERMA model and represents the teacher’s self-representation of the main resources of positive functioning (positive emotions, involvement in relationship activities, meaning and achievement in activities) and his experience of happiness and life satisfaction. The purpose of the study is to study the characteristics of the psychological well-being of a modern teacher and the relationship between the components of well-being and the structure of the teacher’s agency.Materials and Methods. The severity of the components of teachers’ subjectivity was studied using the “Structure of agency” questionnaire (E. N. Volkova, I. A. Seregina). To study psychological wellbeing, the Russian version of the PERMA-Profiler questionnaire was used (O. M. Isaeva, A. Yu. Akimova, E. N. Volkova). 447 people participated in the study, of which 376 people. (84.1 %) – women, 71 people. (15.9 %) – men. The average age of study participants was 37.2 years (standard deviation SD=12.5). Work experience – from 1 year to 47 years.Results. The results of the study showed that the general level of well-being, as well as the values of the main components of well-being among modern teachers, is in the range of average values, however, all components of psychological well-being are expressed among teachers to a lesser extent than among representatives of other professional groups and in general among respondents of the Russian sample. Stratification variables that influence the psychological well-being of school teachers are the characteristics of age, work experience, and qualification category. The psychological wellbeing of teachers corresponds to older age, decreased work experience, and a low qualification category (or lack thereof). Psychologically well-off teachers are characterized by a balanced structure of agency, which presupposes uniform and high expression of all its components. Among the components of agency, psychological well-being is most determined by the teacher’s ability to make personal choice and the development of reflection.Discussion and Conclusions. The teacher’s psychological well-being can be considered as a characteristic of his/her professional socialization connected with the level of students' well-being. The actual level of teacher’s psychological well-being is lower than in the general Russian sample and in the sample of other professional pedagogical groups - preschool teachers. The low level of the teacher's psychological well-being can hinder the teacher's professional development. The teacher's psychological well-being is correlated with the teacher’s agency, in particular, with the teacher's activity, choices and responsibility, reflection. A balanced structure of agency is correlated the psychological well-being of teachers and the understanding another person is expressed to a significant extent.

Uniform estimates for local properties of analytic functions in a complete Reinahrdt domain

Using recent estimates of maximum modulus for partial derivatives of the analytic functions with bounded $\mathbf{L}$-index in joint variables we describe maximum modulus of these functions at the polydisc skeleton with given radii by the maximum modulus with lesser radii. Such a description is sufficient and necessary condition of boundedness of $\mathbf{L}$-index in joint variables for functions which are analytic in a complete Reinhardt domain. The vector-valued function $\mathbf{L}$ is a positive and continuous function in the domain and its values at a point is greater than reciprocal of distance from the point to the boundary of the Reinhardt domain multiplied by some constant.

Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the L2 Savoring Beliefs Inventory

The rise of positive psychology (PP) in applied linguistics has led to a focus on the role of positive emotional functioning in second language (L2) learning and teaching. This field has identified key constructs from PP to understand how to replace negative emotions with positive ones in L2 learning. Despite these advancements, there is a need for a specific framework and scale to foster and measure positive emotions in this context. The concept of savoring, which involves recognizing and embracing positive emotions, addresses this need. The paper investigates the factorial structure and psychometric properties of the Language-Specific Savoring Beliefs Inventory (L2SBI) through exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM). The results revealed that the bifactor ESEM solution is the most suitable model for assessing L2SBI. In other words, the L2SBI can be better represented by a comprehensive general component of L2 savoring beliefs, distinct from the three specific factors of anticipating progress in learning English, savoring the moment while learning English, and reminiscing about experiences in learning English. The study confirms the consistency of the L2SBI across genders and language levels, offering insights into varying belief patterns among learners and explaining differences in positive learning outcomes.

Why are pension schemes frozen, and how does a freeze affect the Employer's risk?

Defined benefit (DB) pension schemes involve substantial risks and costs for employers. So employers have frozen (or closed) their schemes. Using data on firms in the FTSE 100 index, we study the characteristics of employers who hard froze (no new members or accruals) their DB scheme, and the effect of this on the employer's risk. We find that the probability of a hard freeze is a negative function of employer size, operating cash flow and unionization; and a positive function of a previous soft freeze (no new members). We also find that a hard freeze reduces total, unsystematic and credit risk; and increases systematic and asset risk.

Variations on the Choi–Jamiołkowski isomorphism

The Choi–Jamiołkowski isomorphism is an essential component in every quantum information theorist’s toolkit: it allows to identify linear maps between two quantum systems with linear operators on the composite system. Here, we analyse this widely used gadget from a new perspective. Namely, we explicitly distinguish between its kinematical and dynamical properties, that is, we study the isomorphism on two different levels: Jordan algebras and the different C∗ -algebras they arise from, which are distinguished by their order of composition. A number of important and novel insights stem from our analysis. We find that Choi’s theorem, which asserts that Choi’s version of the isomorphism (Choi 1975 Lin. Alg. Appl. 10 285) further maps the positive cone of completely positive linear maps (such as quantum channels) to the cone of positive linear operators (such as quantum states) on the composite system, crucially depends on the dynamical structure in C∗ -algebras. We explain in detail how this dependence gives rise to the mismatch between the basis-dependence of Choi’s version of the isomorphism, and the basis-independent version by Jamiołkowski (1972 Rep. Math. Phys. 3 275). We then overcome this subtle but pervasive issue in a number of ways: first, we prove a version of Choi’s theorem for Jamiołkowski’s isomorphism, second, we define a basis-independent variant of Choi’s isomorphism and, third, by making explicit the dynamical distinction between Jordan and C∗ -algebras, we combine the different variants of the isomorphism into a unified description, that subsumes their individual features. We also embed and interpret our results in the graphical calculus of categorical quantum mechanics.

Cyber violence governance on digital platforms: criminal compliance and public-private co-governance

Cyber violence is endangering the order of cyberspace with the characteristics of depersonalization and de-accountability, and the governance of digital platforms is facing challenges such as lagging response, lax implementation and conflict of interest. Platforms, as providers of online services, have a natural technological advantage and should be responsible for the governance of public cyberspace. There is an urgent need to establish a detailed criminal compliance plan to reduce the criminal compliance risk due to online violence through the whole process of prevention beforehand, timely disposal during the incident, and reflection after the incident, and a positive incentive function can be expected. In addition, the prudent involvement and appropriate intervention of public power are key elements in the governance of online violence. Under the framework of binary co-regulation, the public and private sectors complement each other and dynamically synergize to make up for the inadequacy of the current legal regulation.

Par3/bazooka binds NICD and promotes notch signaling during Drosophila development

The conserved bazooka (baz/par3) gene acts as a key regulator of asymmetrical cell divisions across the animal kingdom. Associated Par3/Baz-Par6-aPKC protein complexes are also well known for their role in the establishment of apical/basal cell polarity in epithelial cells. Here we define a novel, positive function of Baz/Par3 in the Notch pathway. Using Drosophila wing and eye development, we demonstrate that Baz is required for Notch signaling activity and optimal transcriptional activation of Notch target genes. Baz appears to act independently of aPKC in these contexts, as knockdown of aPKC does not cause Notch loss-of-function phenotypes. Using transgenic Notch constructs, our data positions Baz activity downstream of activating Notch cleavage steps and upstream of Su(H)/CSL transcription factor complex activity on Notch target genes. We demonstrate a biochemical interaction between NICD and Baz, suggesting that Baz is required for NICD activity before NICD binds to Su(H). Taken together, our data define a novel role of the polarity protein Baz/Par3, as a positive and direct regulator of Notch signaling through its interaction with NICD.

Does dispositional awe promote customer citizenship behaviours? The multiple mediating effects of construal level and social connectedness

In the digital economy, the relationship between customers and companies is a win-win cooperation, and value co-creation has become the mainstream business development concept. Against this background, customer citizenship behaviours have received increasing and widespread attention in marketing and consumer behaviour research. However, previous studies have not sufficiently considered the importance of trait emotions in predicting customer citizenship behaviours. By focusing on a specific emotional disposition with positive functions, dispositional awe, this study develops an integrative model based on the prototype model of awe and the elaborated model of awe’s prosocial effects. This model examines the impact of dispositional awe on customer citizenship behaviours and analyses the roles of construal level and social connectedness in it. Drawing on a sample of 701 questionnaires from Chinese adults and using structural equation modelling, this study finds that dispositional awe contributes positively to three types of customer citizenship behaviours: making recommendations, helping other customers, and providing feedback. In addition, dispositional awe can influence customer citizenship behaviours through the independent mediating effect of social connectedness as well as the serial mediating effect of construal level and social connectedness. These findings suggest that frequent experiences of awe help develop an individual’s internal abstract mindset and subjective sense of connection to external society, thereby motivating customer citizenship behaviours. This study provides valuable insights into whether and how dispositional awe can influence customer citizenship behaviours and offers operational strategies for marketing practice.

Noncompletely Positive Quantum Maps Enable Efficient Local Energy Extraction in Batteries

Noncompletely Positive Quantum Maps Enable Efficient Local Energy Extraction in Batteries

Рост и состояние дуба черешчатого в смешанных древостоях полезащитных лесных полос

An analysis of the creation and operation of protective forest plantations at agricultural enterprises of the Central Chernozem Region allows us to assert that positive ameliorative functions are performed by those forest plantations that have good growth, high stability and longevity. Russian forestry scientists have recognized that the main species in the steppe conditions for all types of protective forest plantations is the English oak. The aim of the research has been to assess the current state of the stands in forest shelterbelts planted via different methods with the English oak as the main species. Taxation works and forest pathology research were carried out in 1997–2021 in the forest shelterbelt no. 9, established in the spring of 1989 by 2-year-old seedlings in the land-use territory of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise Experimental Production Farm “Znamya Oktyabrya” of the Talovskiy District of the Voronezh Region. It has been established that the influence of combinations of tree species in forest belts on the growth of the English oak at the age of 32 years is quite significant. As a result of competitive relations for environmental resources by fast-growing and associate species, the number of live oak trees in a continuous row planting option is 35.6...52.1 % less than in intermittent forest belt options, of their number during planting. The remaining sharply oppressed oak trees in the plantation sown in the continuous row planting way are far behind in height and stem diameter (by 0.8...7.6 m and 4.1...12.7 cm, respectively) compared to the oaks growing in the intermittent forest belts sown in a block planting way. The absence of improvement felling in the experimental plantations during their growth and formation has led to a significant number of dead oak wood and non-viable trees of this species. Moreover, the proportion of dead oak wood and non-viable trees in the forest belt sown via continuous row planting exceeds the indicator in the intermittent forest belts by 36.6...40.6 %. The number of viable oak trees in the intermittent belt options is 17.7...27.3 % higher than in the continuous row planting option, and the number of limitedly viable trees is 11.5...18.9 % higher.

On the Bishop–Phelps–Bollobás property for positive functionals

On the Bishop–Phelps–Bollobás property for positive functionals

Positive sexuality, relationship satisfaction, and health: a network analysis.

Positive sexuality, defined as the happiness and fulfillment individuals derive from their sexual experiences, expressions, and behaviors, has been linked to relationship satisfaction and health. However, the intricate associations between positive sexuality and relationship functioning and health indicators have rarely been explored from a network perspective. This approach, by analyzing the interconnections among these factors within a broader system, can offer insights into complex dynamics and identify key variables for targeted interventions. The present study applied network analysis to uncover interconnections between positive sexuality, relationship satisfaction, and health indicators, highlight the most relevant variables and explore potential gender-based differences in a sample of 992 partnered individuals (51% women, aged 18-71 years). Networks were estimated via Gaussian Graphical Models, and network comparison test was used to compare men and women. Results indicated that variables related to positive sexuality were more highly interconnected than the rest of the network. There were small-to-negligible connections between positive sexuality and relationship satisfaction variables, both of which had negligible or no connections with health. The network was globally invariant across gender, though a few connections were gender-specific. The most important variables, regardless of gender, related to pleasurable feelings during sexual intercourse. The findings underscore the importance of enhancing positive sexual experiences within intimate relationships and have implications for research and clinical practice in positive sexuality.

Orthopaeddontics in Cleft Treatment

Orthopaeddontics offers a comprehensive treatment paradigm tailored to paediatric patients aged 5 to 11 years with cleft anomalies, focussing on early correction of dento-alveolar and orthognathial deformities alongside structured psychological support. The intensive pre- surgical preparational treatment phase, conducted during this very active growth period, lays the foundation for subsequent surgical interventions, particularly secondary osteofusion, in children with the CLA and CLAP deformities. The primary objective is to achieve optimal gothic arch formation, ideal maxillary-mandibular occlusal relationship and attain balanced facial aesthetics while mitigating orthognathial deformities. Following surgery, orthopeaddontic maintenance continues into the pre-adolescent years, typically until the age of 12 years, ensuring sustained treatment efficacy before transitioning to standard orthodontic care. Central to this approach is a non-extraction treatment philosophy targeting both primary and permanent dentition, aimed at aligning teeth to achieve the most ideal arch or horse-shoe- shaped alveolus arch for all of the two (uCLA/uCLAP) or three arch segments (bCLA/bCLAP) within a balanced maxillary-mandibular occlusal relationship with an ideal facial balance. Various orthopaeddontic techniques are employed to address abnormal dimensional appearances, complimented by a psychologically sensitive approach to support paediatric patients and their families. During the orthopaeddontic treatment the treating expert needs to liaise with the parents to support the cleft child with a gentle, psychologically meaningful approach to warrant essential ultimate outcome with lifelong positive aesthetic appearance and functionality and to secure an easier acceptance of their odyssey as a person with a cleft deformity. A result of the utilization of this growth phase, related to the midfacial development and function, needs to be comparable with the expected development of a non-cleft child at a similar age. Ultimately, successful orthopeaddontic intervention during the critical growth phase should yield marked improvements in speech, facial aesthetic and a functional occlusion, potentially reducing the need for future orthodontic treatments and minimizing treatment duration.

A Preliminary Study of Brain Developmental Features of Bipolar Disorder Familial Risk and Subthreshold Symptoms

BackgroundRisk for bipolar disorder (BD) is increased among individuals with a family history or subthreshold mood symptoms. However, the brain structural developments associated with these BD risks remain unknown. MethodsThis longitudinal cohort study examined the brain gray matter volume (GMV) developmental features of familial and symptomatic risks for BD and their associations with participants’ global function levels. We recruited unaffected BD offspring with (n = 26, 14 female, mean ± SD age = 14.9 ± 2.9 years) or without (n = 35, 19 female, age = 15.3 ± 2.7 years) subthreshold manic or depressive symptoms and unaffected non-BD offspring with (n = 49, 30 female, age = 14.5 ± 2.2 years) or without (n = 68, 37 female, age = 15.0 ± 2.3 years) symptoms. The offspring had no mood disorder diagnosis prior to the study. The average follow-up duration was 2.63 ± 1.63 years. ResultsAt baseline, we found significant interactive effects of familial risk and subthreshold symptoms that indicated that the symptomatic offspring exhibited markedly large GMV in the brain affective and cognitive circuitries. During follow-up, the combined group of BD offspring (symptomatic and nonsymptomatic) displayed a more accelerated GMV decrease than BD nonoffspring in the hippocampus and anterior cingulate cortex. In contrast, the combined group of symptomatic participants (offspring and nonoffspring) displayed a slower GMV decrease than nonsymptomatic participants in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Larger GMV at baseline and accelerated GMV decrease during follow-up prospectively and longitudinally predicted positive global function changes. All results survived multiple testing correction. ConclusionsThese findings indicated that familial and symptomatic risks of BD are associated with distinct brain structural developments and unraveled key brain developmental features of particularly vulnerable high-risk individuals to subsequent functional deterioration.

On the truncated matricial moment problem. I

This paper is about the general truncated matrix-valued moment problem. Let Hq denote the complex Hermitian q×q-matrices, q∈N. Suppose that (X,X) is a measurable space and E is a finite-dimensional vector space of measurable mappings of X into Hq. A linear functional Λ on E is called a moment functional if there exists a positive Hq-valued measure μ on (X,X) such that Λ(F)=∫X〈F,dμ〉 for F∈E.We prove a matricial version of the Richter–Tchakaloff theorem which states that each moment functional on E has a finitely atomic representing measure. It is shown that strictly positive linear functionals on E are moment functionals. For a moment functional Λ, we study the set of atoms W(Λ) and define two Carathéodory numbers of Λ. Further, we define and investigate the core set V(Λ) which generalizes the core variety from the scalar case to the matricial setting. A main result of the paper is the equality W(Λ)=V(Λ).

Erratum to: On an Extremal Problem for Compactly Supported Positive Definite Functions

Erratum to: On an Extremal Problem for Compactly Supported Positive Definite Functions

Understanding and Generalizing Unique Decompositions of Generators of Dynamical Semigroups

We generalize the result of Gorini, Kossakowski, and Sudarshan [J. Math. Phys. 17:821, 1976] that every generator of a quantum-dynamical semigroup decomposes uniquely into a closed and a dissipative part, assuming the trace of both vanishes. More precisely, we show that given any generator [Formula: see text] of a completely positive dynamical semigroup and any matrix [Formula: see text] there exists a unique matrix [Formula: see text] and a unique completely positive map [Formula: see text] such that (i) [Formula: see text], (ii) the superoperator [Formula: see text] has trace zero, and (iii) [Formula: see text] is a real number. The key to proving this is the relation between the trace of a completely positive map, the trace of its Kraus operators, and expectation values of its Choi matrix. Moreover, we show that the above decomposition is orthogonal with respect to some [Formula: see text]-weighted inner product.

Validity study of the EPOCH Measure of Adolescent Well-being in Malaysian samples

The EPOCH (Engagement, Perseverance, Optimism, Connectedness, Happiness) Measure of Adolescent Well-being is a newly developed scale designed to evaluate adolescent well-being and positive functioning. This study assesses its validity and reliability in a Malay language version. A total of 444 participants (189 boys and 255 girls) aged 13 and 14 were recruited from public schools in Malaysia. The EPOCH measure demonstrated excellent construct, convergent, concurrent, and discriminant validity, as well as reliability, in the sample. Confirmatory factor analysis showed an adequate model fit (CMIN/df = 2.99, RMSEA = .07, CFI = .91, GFI = .90, TLI = .89), while all the subscales had composite reliability above .70, indicating satisfactory convergent validity. The measure and its subscales exhibited significant positive correlations with cognitive reappraisal (CR), ranging from .21 to .31 (p .01), and negative correlations with expressive suppression (ES), ranging from .04 to .18 (p .01). Two subscales (engagement and perseverance) showed non-significant correlations with ES, while discriminant validity showed negative correlations with depression, anxiety and stress (r = .14 to .54, p .01), except for the engagement subscale. It is concluded that the EPOCH measure is valid and reliable for assessing adolescent well-being in Malaysia, providing culturally relevant instruments for such assessment.

PECULIARITIES OF THE PROPAGANDA TRANSFORMATION AS AN INSTRUMENT OF INFLUENCE IN THE METAMODERN SOCIETY

The article reveals the substantive characteristics of the transformation of propaganda as an instrument of influence, and also shows its both destructive and constructive role in the metamodern society. The importance of considering propaganda in a neutral context is determined, which allows us to describe it as an important form of directed communications aimed at changing public opinion in favor of a specific task or intention. The author reveals the positive function of propaganda as a technique of social unification, strengthening faith and ensuring social harmony. At the same time, its destructive potential as a means of manipulation and disinformation is revealed. The stages of transformation of the content, methods and forms of propaganda from antiquity to the present are described. The influence of communication means on the nature of propaganda is shown. If in the twentieth century the main instruments of propaganda were radio, cinema and television, in the twenty-first century they have become social networks. The article identifies the peculiarities of propaganda in the metamodern society, which is characterized by indirect methods of influence based on the mechanisms of seduction and soft power and includes appeals to either rational interests or irrational needs for spectacular or emotional communication. The deterritorialization of ideas and narratives in the modern digital environment creates favorable conditions for concealing propaganda and promoting it more quickly. The author identifies such mechanisms of modern propaganda as temptation, performance, reformatting of contexts, false intertextuality, and personalization of messages. While classical propaganda was vertical in nature, in the metamodern society, horizontal ties through which propaganda narratives are promoted are becoming more important. The increasing dependence of the authorities on the desires of citizens in modern democracies causes propaganda to be built on the basis of public expectations, which leads to the prevalence of populism in political decisions. The author describes the phenomenon of post-truth as a product of modern propaganda, which shapes public opinion not by using facts but by relying on emotional reactions of people. The author proves the importance of controlling the methods and strategies of propaganda in the metamodern society.