Ragdoll Research Articles

Evaluation of galectin-3 and titin in cats with a sarcomeric gene mutation associated with echocardiography

Background and Aim: Cardiac biomarkers, such as serum galectin-3 (Gal-3) and titin levels, may be related to cats with sarcomeric gene mutations. This study evaluated cardiac biomarkers and echocardiographic parameters in cats with or without myosin-binding protein C3 (MYBPC3) gene mutations. Materials and Methods: Forty-two healthy cats without cardiac symptoms, including Bengal, Maine Coon, Scottish fold, and Ragdoll cats, were enrolled in this study. Cats were categorized into three groups: Homozygous wild type (n = 17), homozygous MYBPC3 gene mutation (n = 14), and heterozygous MYBPC3 gene mutation (n = 11). All recruited cats underwent echocardiography, and blood samples were collected for DNA extraction. DNA sequencing for MYBPC3 gene mutations at A31P and A74T loci was first examined by Sanger sequencing. The biomarkers of cardiac fibrosis (Gal-3) and myocardial stiffness (titin) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Gal-3 levels >250 pg/mL were associated with echocardiographic parameters. However, Gal-3 levels were not significantly different between cats with MYBPC3 gene mutations and those in the wild-type group. Titin was associated with the left ventricular (LV) thickness and systolic function (r = 0.405, p = 0.013). Qualitative measurement of titin antibodies showed that the highest percentage of these antibodies was found in homozygous wild-type cats. No correlation was found between titin levels and MYBPC3 gene mutations. Weight was positively associated with interventricular septum (r = 0.312, p = 0.056) and LV wall thickness (LVPW) (r = 0.219, p = 0.187). However, they were not associated with Gal-3 levels. Conclusion: LVPW was correlated with weight in cats with sarcomeric gene mutations. Serum titin may be an underlying factor for cardiac hypertrophy in cats. Keywords: cardiac biomarker, cat, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, myosin-binding protein C3.

Material Ethics in Trans-corporeal Space: A Study of Alejandro Morales’s The Rag Doll Plagues

ABSTRACT The Rag Doll Plagues, by Mexican American writer Alejandro Morales, underlines the racial dimension of the environmental crisis while also demonstrating the material interdependence between human and more-than-human worlds through the lens of trans-corporeality. By exploring the material connection between the poisoned body and the environment; the interaction between the marginalized body and nonhuman as subject; and the mutant body’s agency as a “habitat” and “thing,” this paper highlights the evolving and dynamic relationship between the porous human body and various forms of living and non-living entities within and beyond its borders. Morales's plague reminds humanity to break away from narrow, teleological thinking in the face of disaster and to adopt a mode of thought that is interconnected with the world as well as attentive to, and appreciative of, the vitality of non-living entities, thus fostering a nonlinear, open “material ethics”.

Effects of Different Processed Diets on Growth Performance, Blood Parameters, Hair Quality and Fecal Microbiota in Ragdoll Cats.

In recent years, there has been ongoing debate about the dietary choices for pet cats, particularly regarding three options: extruded dry food, cooked meat, and raw meat. Determining which diet is most suitable for a cat's healthy growth still requires substantial empirical support. Our study aimed to evaluate the effects of feeding Ragdoll cats (n = 5/group) extruded dry food (ED), cooked meat (CM), and raw meat (RM) on their growth performance, apparent digestibility, fur condition, blood parameters, fecal scores, and gut microbiota composition. However, our results indicate that different types of diets did not significantly affect the daily weight gain of Ragdoll cats. The CM group showed a significant improvement in the digestibility of dry matter, fat and protein compared to the ED group (p < 0.05) but no improvement in that of fat compared to the RM group. Compared to the ED group, both the CM and RM groups showed significant improvements in fur condition while exhibiting a significant decrease in fecal scores (p < 0.05). The CM and RM groups exhibited enhanced serum antioxidant capacity (p < 0.05) and increased immunity in the cats (p < 0.05). Immunity enhancement in the CM group was significantly higher than that in the RM group(p < 0.05). The ED group showed an increase in the abundance of beneficial bacteria in Ragdoll cat intestines, while the CM and RM groups showed enhancements in the innate microbiota of feline animals. These data, to some extent, suggest that CM is the most suitable diet for Ragdoll cats, but further research on intestine microbiota is still needed. These study findings provide a reference for purebred pet breeding purposes.

Protective effect of chicken yolk antibody Y against Campylobacter jejuni induced diarrhea in cats.

Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) is a common pathogen that often causes diarrhea, loss of appetite, and even enteritis in domestic cats, affecting their growth and development, especially in kittens under 6 months of age. Oral passive immunization with chicken yolk antibody Y has been proved effective for the treatment of gastrointestinal pathogen infections due to its high specificity. In this study, C. jejuni was isolated from diarrheal cat feces, and the specific egg yolk antibody Y against C. jejuni was demonstrated to effectively inhibit its proliferation in vitro experiments. To evaluate the effect of anti-C. jejuni IgY, the mouse C. jejuni infection model was established and it was found that IgY could alleviate C. jejuni-induced clinical symptoms. Consistent with these results, the reduction of pro-inflammatory factors and intestinal colonization by C. jejuni in the IgY-treated groups, especially in the high dose group. We then evaluated the protective effect of IgY on young Ragdoll cats infected with C. jejuni. This specific antibody reduced the rate of feline diarrhea, protected the growth of young cats, inhibited systemic inflammatory hyperactivation, and increased fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations. Notably, IgY may have a protective role by changing intestinal amino acid metabolism and affecting C. jejuni chemotaxis. Collectively, specific IgY is a promising therapeutic strategy for C. jejuni-induced cat diarrhea.

Ebstein anomaly, right-to-left atrial septal defect, and cor triatriatum dexter in a cat: a case report

A 6-month-old male Ragdoll cat presented with exercise intolerance. On physical examination, there was a grade 2/6 systolic murmur at the right apex. Diagnostic tests, including SpO2 measurement, blood tests, radiography, echocardiography, contrast echocardiography, and electrocardiography, were performed. Severe right atrial dilation, tricuspid valve leaflets and orifice displacement, right ventricular atrialization, septal leaflet adherence, anterior leaflet tethering, and right atrioventricular junction dilation were noted on echocardiography, alongside a right-to-left atrial septal defect. Cor triatriatum dexter and left ventricular aneurysm were observed. We diagnosed this case as having Ebstein anomaly with rare congenital heart deformities; which is rare in cats.

Diagnosis and medical treatment of otitis externa in a ragdoll cat: A case report

Otitis is a disease that is often found due to the cat's ears being unclean and causing earwax to build up along with fluid. Otitis is caused by inflammation of the epithelium of the ear canal and also surrounding structures such as the external auditory meatus and pinna. A 3-month-old Ragdoll cat, male, with white and black hair on the ears, was examined with complaints of head tilting and frequent head shaking, pus in the ears, and inflammation. Clinical examination revealed erythema. The ear wax swab examination results showed an Otodectes cynotis mite infection. The results of the bacterial culture examination showed the presence of Klebsiella sp bacterial infection. The animal was diagnosed with otitis externa. Treatment for otitis externa is given by Dexamethasone, Erlamycetin® (Chloramphenicol 1%), Ivermectin, and lidocaine. The accumulated earwax is also cleaned using a cotton bud and saline. Five days after therapy the cat showed recovery.

Understanding feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia

Feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia is a recently described disease in cats that presents as eosinophilic masses that are associated with the gastrointestinal tract and associated abdominal lymph nodes, often localised near the pylorus or ileocaecocolic junction. Feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia is seen predominantly in middle-aged cats, with Ragdoll cats being overrepresented. Clinical signs are often chronic, typically including weight loss, hyporexia and vomiting. Bloodwork abnormalities most frequently documented in cats with feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia are eosinophilia, anaemia and hypoalbuminaemia. The diagnosis of feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia is usually confirmed on histopathology and infectious organisms are identified in about one-to two-thirds of cases in different studies. Corticosteroids are important in the treatment of cats with feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia, with cats being treated by surgery alone having a significantly shorter survival time than those cats treated with surgery and corticosteroids combined.

Stand with Ukraine: Ukrainians of Carolina

The activities of Ukrainians from South and North Carolinas, connected with the preservation of Ukrainian cultural heritage and support of Ukraine during the war time are described in the study. Ukrainian community of both states makes up for more than 10 thousand people and consists mainly of immigrants, moving to the USA since the early 2000s. This number has increased significantly after Russia’s full-scale invasion. Community organizations work in many cities. They unite and encourage the cultural activities of the Ukrainian population of the region. The Ukrainian Association of North Carolina (organized by Oleh Wolowyna, registered in 2005) and Ukrainians of Carolina (organized by Olena Kozlova-Pates, established in 2014, registered in 2022) are the most prominent among them. The organizations are non-profit and aimed to promote national culture, preserve folk traditions and art, collect and distribute humanitarian aid for Ukrainians, suffered from the war, families of fallen heroes, warriors of Ukrainian Armed Forces, and for the wounded. During this time they have organized hundreds of events, charity functions, exhibitions, concerts, proceeds from which (hundreds of thousands of dollars) are collected for Ukrainian civilians and military men. The identity markers of Ukrainians of Carolina are analyzed. They include celebration of Ukrainian state, religious and calendar holidays, culinary traditions, skills connected with national arts and crafts (Petrykivka painting, traditional Easter egg painting, embroidery). The ability to speak Ukrainian remains one of the main identifying factors. Facebook pages of Ukrainian community organizations only offer Ukrainian or English languages. Modern forms of ethno-cultural heritage demonstration in Ukrainian communities, and involving American citizens with various ethnic backgrounds include different celebrations and festivals (Vyshyvanka Day, Kupala holiday, Independence Day, etc.), Ukrainian cooking parties, Easter egg, Perrykivka painting master-classes, making traditional rag doll and wreath-plaiting. Olena Zinchuk is known for her Petrykivka painting outside Carolina, her students also work as independent artists in this genre (Anna Sabatini). Participants of Ukrainian artistic events have the chance to explore a collection of authentic Ukrainian clothing and rushnyky (embroidered hand towels) from different regions of Ukraine, preserved in a private collections of Nataliia Tomasian and Lesia Zinchuk. Professional artists also join charity events of the Ukrainian association - movie directors, singers, musicians, dancers - both local, and visiting from Ukraine. The movies showing from Iryna Tsilyk, Natalia Vorozhbyt, concerts of Oleh Skrypka, Dakha-Brakha group and Ukrainian baroque music concert of American piano player Taras Filenko have taken place in the city of Charlotte in 2022. Ukrainian music has been performed here by the singers Bria Blessing and Olena Pavlova. Kobzar Yurii Fedynskyi is an American musician of Ukrainian origin, born in the city of Raleigh. He has travelled over small cities throughout North and South Carolinas in summer. He’s been living in the village of Kriachkivka in Poltava region. He holds an annual kobzar festival there. “Red Viburnum” band has been created, uniting Ukrainians and Americans both in the name and the band itself. It performs almost at all Ukrainian charity events. Unprecedented resistance of Ukrainian people to Russian occupiers, courage and bravery of Ukrainian warriors have attracted attention of American society, ordinary citizens to Ukraine. This is also possible due to the activities of Ukrainian associations of Carolina. Their voice and presence in American society have become noticeable finally.

Thread Dolls: Bone Heads Belonging to Islamic Rag Dolls in the Collection of the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

In the collections of the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences are stored four bone objects that are of an extraordinary and unconventional nature. They are anthropomorphic faces made of bone with an elongated irregular rectangular shape (in some places with rounded areas), pointed at one end. The aim of this publication is to present more information on the chronology, interpretation and cultural affiliation of these interesting artefacts. The artefacts were received by NAIM–BAS in the 1980s, with no information available on the circumstances of their acquisition and no receipt from the previous owner. There is no information whatsoever about their original archaeological environment, and whether or not they were acquired as a result of regular archaeological research, or whether they were the subject of unauthorised archaeological activity, such as the illegal trafficking of movable cultural property etc. Based on a brief overview, it can be said that the finds from NAIM–BAS can be attributed to the period of Islamic art generated during the Arab expansion in the lands of the Near East between the 7th–10th/12th centuries. Their interpretation as parts of several rag or dressed dolls is based on the definitions of similar finds from the territories of present-day Israel, Egypt and Palestine. This conclusion is based on the archaeological context in which these objects were found, as well as the hypotheses circulating in scholarly circles regarding their use and place in the daily life of people during this period. Taking into account the geographical area of their distribution, the archaeological context and the anthropomorphic specifics, it can be assumed that the finds from the NAIM–BAS collection are probably of similar origin, interpretation and chronology, although their natural area of manifestation is far removed from the borders of the Bulgarian lands and the European Southeast.

Thinking methodologies with textiles, thinking textiles as methodologies in the context of transitional justice

In this paper, we examine the methodological possibilities of working with personal textile objects, such as clothes in need of mending, beloved personal blankets, and knotted rag dolls. Our focus is on a transdisciplinary project that sought to collectively explore how the bodies of professionals working for the Colombian Transitional Justice System are affected when engaging with narratives of war and conflict. We contend that textile making in this context serves a dual methodological purpose when facilitating spaces of careful research. Firstly, this material practice enables participants to pause and immerse themselves in their own experiences, something that in turn is generative of personal reflections. Secondly, the created objects become appreciation devices capable of documenting and eliciting memories that continually engage participants and researchers in new inquiries. Consequently, this paper contributes to the understanding of object-oriented methodologies as inherently relational and situated. Moreover, it aims to comprehend textile making practices as capable of unfolding care as a research practice.

Frequency of arrhythmias detected in 9440 feline electrocardiograms by breed, age, and sex

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to describe the frequency of arrhythmias detected in unsedated feline patients from general practice settings. AnimalsA total 10,638 feline electrocardiograms (ECGs) were retrospectively collected of which 9440 met the inclusion criteria. MethodsRecordings were evaluated by a board-certified cardiologist. If an arrhythmia was present in the ECG tracing, the cardiologist categorized the arrhythmia using pre-established keywords. ResultsAt least one arrhythmia was observed in 249 cases (2.64%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.34–2.98, 249/9440), with the most common arrhythmia encountered being ventricular premature complexes (1.63%, 95% CI: 1.39%–1.91%, 154/9440). Ragdoll cats had the highest odds of arrhythmia (odds ratio (OR): 3.17, 95% CI: 1.43–6.17, P=0.036). Both geriatric (Age: 13+ years, OR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.24–2.34, P=0.013) and senior (Age: 10–13 years, OR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.19–2.37, P=0.003) cats had higher odds of having an arrhythmia than adult cats. The odds of male cats having an arrhythmia were slightly higher than female (OR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.06–1.76, P=0.018). Conclusions and relevanceOf the 9440 ECGs included in this study, at least one arrhythmia was detected in 249 distinct cases. Arrhythmias were more common in older cats, male cats and the Ragdoll cat breed. While it is important to note that the presence of an arrhythmia alone does not always indicate the presence of heart disease, further research on the association between breed cardiac health is needed.

Antimicrobial Peptides Relieve Transportation Stress in Ragdoll Cats by Regulating the Gut Microbiota.

Transportation is common in cats and often causes stress and intestinal disorders. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) exhibit a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity, and they may have the capacity for antioxidant and immune regulation. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with AMPs on stress response, gut microbiota and metabolites of cats that have undergone transport stress. A total of 14 Ragdoll cats were randomly allocated into 2 treatments: basal diet (CON) and a basal diet supplemented with 0.3% AMPs. After a 6-week feeding period, all cats were transported for 3 h and, then, fed for another week. The results show that the diarrhea rate of cats was markedly reduced by supplementation with AMPs throughout the trial period (p < 0.05). In addition, AMPs significantly reduced serum cortisol and serum amyloid A (p < 0.05) and increased apolipoprotein 1 after transportation (p < 0.05). Moreover, AMPs reduced the level of inflammatory factors in the serum caused by transportation stress, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) (p < 0.05). The AMPs enhanced the activities of glutathione peroxidase (p < 0.01) and superoxide dismutase (p < 0.05). Furthermore, cats fed AMPs had higher levels of branched chain fatty acids (BCFAs) and a relative abundance of Blautia and a lower relative abundance of Negativibacillus after transportation (p < 0.05). The serum metabolome analysis further revealed that AMPs markedly regulated lipid metabolism by upregulating cholic acid expression. In conclusion, AMP supplementation alleviated oxidative stress and inflammatory response in transportation by regulating the gut microbiota and metabolites, thereby relieving stress-induced diarrhea and supporting gut and host health in cats.

EVALUATION OF RAG DOLL MAKING METHODS WITH DESIGNS FOR VISUAL ARTS EDUCATION

EVALUATION OF RAG DOLL MAKING METHODS WITH DESIGNS FOR VISUAL ARTS EDUCATION

A Return to the Commons: An Eco-Marxist Reading of Jewett's “The Gray Mills of Farley” and Rebecca Harding Davis’ Life in the Iron Mills

A Return to the Commons: An Eco-Marxist Reading of Jewett's “The Gray Mills of Farley” and Rebecca Harding Davis’ <i>Life in the Iron Mills</i>

Less Punk, More Splatter: Heavy Metal, Horror Video, and the Literary Nasties of Shaun Hutson

Less Punk, More Splatter: Heavy Metal, Horror Video, and the Literary Nasties of Shaun Hutson

Folk Doll as Symbolism of the Image of Motherhood in Preschoolers

Introduction. Motherhood is a cultural, socio-psychological and physiological phenomenon. Motherhood contributes to changing the social and psychological status of a woman, actualizes and optimizes the acquisition of important personal qualities that fall under the characteristics of the archetype of the mother or its reverse or shadow side – the archetype of the stepmother. The gradual disintegration of the institution of the family and socially “legalized” intimate relationships between young people of reproductive age, along with the postponement of the age of birth of a child in a couple, leaves the position of an adult not actualized, leaves young people in an infantile position for an indefinite period. The traditional rites of age-related initiation into the maternal position have now turned out to be unclaimed. In our culture there is a shortage of social and cultural institutions, traditions, rituals of conversion to motherhood. Methods. The research materials were psychological, philosophical, sociological, socio-cultural works that form the methodological basis of motherhood and the cultural and historical roots of the folk doll as a cultural and historical symbolism of the image of motherhood in preschoolers, the archetypal symbolism of motherhood, folk toys in culture from the standpoint of Junginian analytical psychology. Results. Archetypal female images, including the image of motherhood, are widely represented in the form of conscious and unconscious manifestations, spontaneous reproduction of traditions in the symbolism of folk dolls. The symbolism of folk dolls immerses a private immersion in the element of the “original” and gives through it a holistic image of motherhood. A folk toy is one of the forms of folk culture. It is the folk toy that symbolically conveys to the child the culture, wisdom and spirituality of its folk, being the information carrier of the folk tradition. Discussion and Conclusion. A traditional folk doll translates the traditional image of motherhood. The folk rag doll allows to reduce the psychological tension between the child and the surrounding reality, the soft and warm to the touch doll’s body brings up a warm and trusting attitude to the outside world. The internal content of the folk doll is identical in functional characteristics with the maternal role, forms the ideas of preschoolers about the mother, a positive attitude towards her, contributes to the development of the image of motherhood in preschoolers.

Comparative Analyses of the Gut Microbiota in Growing Ragdoll Cats and Felinae Cats.

Simple SummaryAccumulating studies have revealed that the gut microbiota had intimate relations with the animal gastrointestinal tract diseases. Through regulating the development of the host’s intestinal immune system, the gut microbiota could directly influence the host’s intestinal function. In the current study, the gut microbiota of Ragdoll cats and Felinae cats were investigated and compared. Results demonstrated the diversity and richness of the gut microbiota in the Felinae cats were much higher than in the Ragdoll cats. However, the relative abundances of beneficial microbes in the Ragdoll cats were much higher than those in the Felinae cats. In all, different genetic portraits determined the different microbial communities in the feline gut. The candidate probiotics isolated in the growing cat’s gut might be applied to treat the gastrointestinal tract diseases.Today, domestic cats are important human companion animals for their appearance and favorable personalities. During the history of their domestication, the morphological and genetic portraits of domestic cats changed significantly from their wild ancestors, and the gut microbial communities of different breeds of cats also apparently differ. In the current study, the gut microbiota of Ragdoll cats and Felinae cats were analyzed and compared. Our data indicated that the diversity and richness of the gut microbiota in the Felinae cats were much higher than in the Ragdoll cats. The taxonomic analyses revealed that the most predominant phyla of the feline gut microbiota were Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, Fusobacteriota, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, Campilobacterota, and others, while the most predominant genera were Anaerococcus, Fusobacterium, Bacteroides, Escherichia-Shigella, Finegoldia, Porphyromonas, Collinsella, Lactobacillus, Ruminococcus_gnavus_group, Prevotella, and others. Different microbial communities between the Ragdoll group and the Felinae group were observed, and the compared results demonstrated that the relative abundances of beneficial microbes (such as Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Blautia, Roseburia, and so on) in the Ragdoll group were much higher than in the Felinae group. The co-occurrence network revealed that the number of nodes and links in the Felinae group was significantly higher than the Ragdoll group, which meant that the network of the Felinae group was larger and more complex than that of the Ragdoll group. PICRUSt function analyses indicated that the differences in microbial genes might influence the energy metabolism and immune functions of the host. In all, our data demonstrated that the richness and diversity of beneficial microbes in the Ragdoll group were much higher than the Felinae group. Therefore, it is possible to isolate and identify more candidate probiotics in the gut microbiota of growing Ragdoll cats.

Haematological and biochemical reference intervals in healthy Ragdoll cats.

Breed-specific reference intervals (RIs) may be necessary to avoid misinterpretation of laboratory results. The main aim of this study was to establish haematobiochemical RIs for Ragdoll cats. Forty-two clinically healthy adult (0.8-10 years old) Ragdoll cats (Ragdoll population [RP]) and 60 non-Ragdoll cats as the control population (CP) were prospectively enrolled. Results of haematology, biochemistry and total thyroxine (TT4) were used to determine both Ragdoll-specific and general feline population RIs for each variable using Reference Value Advisor software according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines and the American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology guidelines. For each analyte, RIs of the RP were calculated and compared with those obtained from the CP. Haematocrit, haemoglobin, mean cell volume, mean cell haemoglobin concentration, reticulocyte absolute count, platelet count and lymphocyte absolute number were statistically different from the CP. Biochemistry RIs revealed a statistical difference in creatinine kinase (CK), total protein, urea, creatinine, glucose, total calcium and iron. Haematobiochemical RIs of the general feline population must be used with caution in Ragdoll cats when it comes to iron and glucose concentrations, CK activity and absolute lymphocyte number. For these parameters, the use of breed-specific RIs is suggested. The docile and more relaxed nature of this breed may explain these differences and further investigations are necessary to better understand the results. Furthermore, investigations are needed to evaluate the possible benefits of breed-specific urea RIs.

В поисках идентичности: дискурс будущего в современном романе-дистопии Ванессы Веселки «Дзадзен», Алехандро Моралеса «Чума тряпичной куклы»

The article deals with the collective and individual identity problem in the context of changing world and socio-political conditions in hypothetical reality. World literature is an ever-living source for understanding a variety of possible options for development of civilization, the role and place of the individual in the future society. The authors examine representation of individual and collective identification in the dystopian novels by modern writers: V. Veselka “Zazen” (2011) and A. Morales “The Rag Doll Plagues” (1992). The object of the study is the socio-political discourse of the future, outlined in fiction form. The subject of the research is the process of individual and collective identification in the context of the predicted future reality. The purpose of the study is to analyze Veselka and Morales’ dystopian novels for outlining factors influencing the process of individual and collective identification in the hypothetical future. The research methodology is based on the principles of semiotic-communicative and cultural-historical approaches. The discourse of the future is considered as a political discourse, a set of verbal signs that performs a certain function in political communication and conveys information about social processes, norms and values in a given socio-political situation. Within the framework of the cultural-historical approach, the literary text is studied as a product of social life in specific cultural-historical conditions. Individual and collective identity is forming in the conditions of an unfavorable, “negative” version of the future civilization. Veselka and Morales project in their works nowadays socio-political problems in a hypertrophied form: terrorism, epidemics and pandemics, environmental disasters, dehumanization, consumerism, etc. The analysis of dystopias clearly indicates that main factors in individual and collective identification are ethnopolitical, ethnocultural and psychological ones. Ethnopolitical and ethnocultural factors affect deeply the process of social identification, while psychological factors have a major impact on the search for individual identity

Этнокультурные трансформации на аннексированных (1848) территориях Северной Мексики и гипотетическая реальность будущего в представлениях калифорнийских писателей XIX и XX вв. (Мария Ампаро Руис де Бёртон, Хелен Хант Джексон, Алехандро Моралес)

The article focuses on defining the ways the 19th and 20th centuries authors presented ethnocultural transformations driven by ethnopolitical processes in the Mexican territories of Alta California annexed by the United States in 1848. The research includes the novels of the 19th-century American authors: The Squatter and the Don (1885) by Maria Amparo Ruiz de Burton, Ramona (1884) by Helen Maria Hunt Jackson; and The Rag Doll Plagues (1992) by the author of late 20th century Alejandro Morales. The object of the research is the historical reality as presented in the literature of California in the 19th and 20th centuries. The subject of the research is the representation of ethnocultural transformations in the territories of the former Alta California in the views of Maria Amparo Ruiz de Burton, Helen Maria Hunt Jackson, and Alejandro Morales. The purpose of the research is to identify the specifics of depicting ethnocultural transformations in the fiction works by Californian writers of the 19th and 20th centuries. The methodological basis of the research includes the works that analyze a literary text as a product of social life in specific cultural and historical conditions. The article uses a comprehensive approach to the analysis of the social and ethnocultural phenomena specific to the population of Mexican territories that became part of the United States. The approach combines methods of the sociology of literature, historical and cultural, problem-focused and chronological, and comparative research methods. The analysis of the novels helps to identify similarities and differences in the representation of the views of the 19th and 20th centuries authors on the ethnocultural transformations both in the ‘current’ historical reality (in literature depicting the ‘local color’) and the hypothetical reality of the future (in the dystopian novel).