Interpersonal Research Articles

Self-other distinction and schizotypy: Affect sharing and alexithymia in the prediction of socially anxious and avoidant traits.

Social cognition may play a central role in many schizotypal personality characteristics, such as suspiciousness, constricted affect, social anxiety, and lack of close relationships. This study investigated how factors relevant to self-other distinction (i.e., emotion contagion and personal distress) were related to social schizotypal personality traits, in two experiments involving healthy young adults. Subclinical depressive symptoms, alexithymia, and obsessive-compulsive traits, were explored as potential mediators of the relationship between personal distress and schizotypy. Experiment 1 showed that high sadness contagion predicted personal distress, which in turn predicted cognitive disorganization. This relationship was mediated by low mood. Experiment 2 revealed that high personal distress predicted excessive social anxiety and ideas of reference, as well as obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Personal distress also predicted difficulty identifying feelings, an aspect of alexithymia that could develop as a result of difficulties in disentangling emotional experiences related to the self and others. However, it was difficulty describing feelings that predicted social anhedonia, constricted affect, and no close friends. While personal distress was a positive predictor of empathic concern, social anhedonia was a negative predictor. These findings suggest that personal distress and difficulty identifying feelings predict more anxious and disorganized aspects of schizotypy, as well as subclinical depressive and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Future research should investigate whether this profile, which may be more closely related to low self-other distinction, contrasts with a more socially avoidant presentation, characterized by negative schizotypal traits such as social anhedonia and lower empathy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Emergence and clonal dissemination of KPC-2- and NDM-1-coharboring Citrobacter freundii in China with an IncR plasmid.

The rise of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae coharboring KPC-2 and NDM-1 poses a significant public health threat. KPC-2-NDM-1-Citrobacter freundii is rarely reported in clinical settings. In this study, we report the largest cohort of eight KPC-2-NDM-1-C. freundii isolated from children with urinary tract infections. Comprehensive characterization, including antimicrobial susceptibility testing, plasmid conjugation, whole-genome sequencing, and comparative genomics, was conducted for these clinical strains. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing indicated that all strains were resistant to meropenem [minimal inhibitory concentration (MICs) ≥ 8 µg/mL] and imipenem (MICs > 8 µg/mL). Genotyping and comparative genomics analyses identified the eight KPC-2-NDM-1- C. freundii belonging to ST523, exhibiting a close relationship characterized by 45 single nucleotide polymorphisms. Whole-genome sequencing and plasmid analysis confirmed the presence of blaKPC-2 and blaNDM-1 on an IncR plasmid named pC275-2 with 46,050 bp. The blaNDM-1 was integrated within the blaNDM-1 related region, which includes ΔISAba125, blaNDM-1, ble-MBL, trpF, dsbD, and ISCR1, while the blaKPC-2 gene was located on a novel non-Tn4401 genetic element. The blaKPC-2 genetic architectures containing blaKPC-2 differed from classical structures, underscoring the ongoing evolution of these genetic elements.IMPORTANCEOur study described the largest cohort to date of eight ST523 KPC-2-NDM-1-C. freundii isolated from children with urinary tract infections. The cooccurrence of KPC-2, a serine β-lactamases, and NDM-1, a metallo-β-lactamase on an IncR plasmid pC275-2 from a clinical carbapenem-resistant C. freundii. The conserved insertion structure mediated the blaNDM-1, and the propagation of blaKPC-2 gene with a new genetic background using IncR plasmid in clinical settings promotes the emergence of superbugs necessitating vigilant monitoring. Our research detected that ST523 KPC-2- NDM-1-C. freundii were disseminated in a children's hospital. The potential spread of an IncR plasmid within the hospital raises concerns about the pandemic potential of this clone that produces two carbapenemases: KPC-2 and NDM-1. Further investigations will be necessary to control and prevent the spread of KPC-2-NDM-1-C. freundiis.

Antimicrobial Resistance Genes and Clonal Relationships of Duck-Derived Salmonella in Shandong Province, China in 2023

Salmonella is a major threat to both human and animal health. However, the diversity and antibiotic resistance of animal-derived Salmonella and their association with human infections remain largely unexplored. In this study, Salmonella strains were isolated, identified, and sequenced from dead embryos and cloacal swab samples obtained from 278 large-scale duck farms in 11 cities in Shandong Province. The results show that a total of 57 Salmonella strains were isolated, with the dominant sequence types (ST) being ST17 (15/57) and ST19 (9/57), while the dominant serotypes were S. Indiana (15/57) and S. Typhimurium (11/57). Furthermore, genomic analysis has revealed the presence of prevalent antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which are often associated with co-transfer mechanisms. Over 52.63% of the strains were observed to carry two or more ARGs, especially one Salmonella strain that carried twenty-eight distinct ARGs. Furthermore, core genome multilocus sequence typing analysis (cgMLST) indicated that the 57 Salmonella strains may have a close relationship, which could be clonally transmitted among different cities. The results demonstrated a close relationship between the Salmonella strains identified in diverse geographical regions, suggesting that these strains may have been widely disseminated through clonal transmission. The mutation analysis reveals significant mutations at parC (T57S), gyrA (S83F), parC (S80R), gyrA (D87N), and gyrA (S83Y). These findings emphasize the necessity for monitoring and controlling Salmonella infections in animals, as they may serve as a reservoir for ARGs with the potential to affect human health or even be the source of pathogens that infect humans.

Levels of Bile Acid Metabolism Are Associated With Alterations of Gut Microbes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is viewed as a metabolism associated disease, and bile acid metabolism is reported to occupy a significant role in the progression of HCC. However, little is known about the association between gut microbes and bile acid metabolism in HCC. Our study was designed to clarify the role of bile acid metabolism and microbiome in the progression of HCC. We investigated the relationship between bile acid metabolism and prognosis and immune cells by mining GSE14520. We studied the microbial profiles and metabolic alterations between the low bile acid group and high bile acid group using 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomics. HCC patients in the high bile acid metabolism group showed better survival outcome compared with those in the low bile acid metabolism. Immune analysis displayed the close correlation between low bile acid metabolism and infiltration of CD4 + T cells, and the close relationship between high bile acid metabolism and infiltration of CD8 + T cells, macrophage cells in HCC. 16S rRNA sequencing results demonstrated that Blautia, Ruminococcus_gnavus_group, Erysipelotrichaceae_UCG-003 were mostly enriched in the low bile acid group. Metabolomics of the 109 fecal samples showed that the most enriched metabolites in the low total bile acid group were dihydrocytochalasin B, cucurbic acid and 27-Norcholestanehexol. Finally, KEGG enrichment analysis identified secondary bile acid biosynthesis and endocrine resistance as the most significant metabolic pathways. High bile acid metabolism was associated with more infiltration of CD8 + T cells, macrophage cells, and better prognosis in HCC. Levels of bile acid were significantly associated with altered gut microbes and metabolites in HCC. Further research related to gut microbes and bile acid metabolism may provide a novel insight into the pathogenesis and therapeutic strategy of HCC.

The Spillover Effects of Market Sentiments on Global Stock Market Volatility: A Multi-Country GJR-GARCH-MIDAS Approach

In behavioral economics, it has widely been documented that there might be a close relationship between overall market sentiment and economic performance, such as GDP per capita. In this paper, we investigate the effects of market sentiment on stock market volatility, which has widely been recognized as an important factor for economic sustainability. In particular, we aim to identify the existence of spillover effects of market sentiments on global stock market volatility. As a first attempt, we chose ten countries from major economic regions over the world (including America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania), and analyzed their interdependence and interconnectedness using a GJR-GARCH-MIDAS model. The results highlight that an individual country’s stock market volatility is significantly influenced not only by its own market sentiment (proxied by the consumer confidence index) but also by the overall market sentiments of other countries across the world. The results also highlight significant country-by-country heterogeneity in the time lags of the global spillover effects, which indicates substantial heterogeneity in the behavioral dynamics of individual countries.

Investigating the causal relationship between immune factors and ankylosing spondylitis: insights from a Mendelian Randomization study

BackgroundDespite previous studies indicating a close relationship between immune system and ankylosing spondylitis (AS), the causal relationship between them remains unclear.MethodsGenome-wide association data were utilized to explore the causal link between 731 immune cells and AS using a bidirectional two-sample MR approach. The data included immune cell data from Orrù et al.’s study and AS data from the FinnGen consortium. Cochran’s Q test and leave-one-out checked instrument variable (IV) heterogeneity. IVW was the primary method for causal analysis, with MR-Egger and MR-PRESSO addressing horizontal pleiotropy. FDR correction was applied to both analysis directions to rectify multiple testing errors.ResultsIn our study, 22 immune phenotypes out of 731 were casually linked to AS. After excluding 5 less robust features, 17 immune factors remained, with 4 being protective and the rest posing risks. Through FDR correction, we found a significant causal relationship between HLA DR on CD14- CD16+ monocyte and AS (OR (95%CI) = 0.70(0.60 ~ 0.83), P = 2.06*10−5). In the reverse analysis with AS as exposure, potential effects on 34 immune features were discovered. After correction, we confirmed significant causal relationships between AS and two immune features, namely CD20- B cell %lymphocyte (OR (95%CI) = 1.16(1.08–1.25), P = 1.91*10−5) and CD20- B cell %B cell (OR (95%CI) = 1.17(1.09–1.26), P = 1.50*10−5).ConclusionsOur study identified various features associated with AS in different types of immune cells. These findings provide important clues and a theoretical basis for further understanding the pathogenesis of AS, guiding clinical treatment, and drug design.

Edge detection of mammogram images using Pythagorean fuzzy set and Type 2 fuzzy set – an innovative approach

ABSTRACT This paper focuses on the complex task of detecting edges in mammogram images. Edge detection in mammogram images is complex as the images are unclear. In this paper, we have proposed an edge detection method using a Type 2 fuzzy set and Pythagorean fuzzy set on mammogram images. Pythagorean fuzzy set has a close relationship with intuitionistic fuzzy sets. A novel Pythagorean fuzzy generator is created to obtain a Pythagorean fuzzy image. The Type 2 fuzzy set considers the membership function in a Type 1 fuzzy set as fuzzy; another form of representing uncertainty. Dombi T co-norm is used to create a Type 2 fuzzy image. The edge detection method uses twelve edge detection templates for detecting edges in different directions in images. These templates are then applied to the converted images for edge detection. The results of the proposed methods are compared with recent edge detection methods and found to be better.

Analyzing the Impact of Responding to Joint Attention on the User Perception of the Robot in Human-Robot Interaction

The concept of joint attention holds significant importance in human interaction and is pivotal in establishing rapport, understanding, and effective communication. Within social robotics, enhancing user perception of the robot and promoting a sense of natural interaction with robots becomes a central element. In this sense, emulating human-centric qualities in social robots, such as joint attention, defined as the ability of two or more individuals to focus on a common event simultaneously, can increase their acceptability. This study analyses the impact on user perception of a responsive joint attention system integrated into a social robot within an interactive scenario. The experimental setup involves playing against the robot in the “Odds and Evens” game under two conditions: whether the joint attention system is active or inactive. Additionally, auditory and visual distractors are employed to simulate real-world distractions, aiming to test the system’s ability to capture and follow user attention effectively. To assess the influence of the joint attention system, participants completed the Robotic Social Attributes Scale (RoSAS) after each interaction. The results showed a significant improvement in user perception of the robot’s competence and warmth when the joint attention system was active.

Characteristics of water stable isotopes and runoff sources of a small permafrost basin in northeastern China

Permafrost degradation may have significant impacts on regional water cycles, while little is known about the recharge sources of runoff in permafrost regions, hindering our capability to predict river discharges. Here, a small permafrost basin in Northeast China was selected as the study area. We analyzed isotopic tracers of 186 precipitation, river water, and supra-permafrost water samples collected from May to October 2021. We further calculated the contribution of supra-permafrost water and precipitation to river discharges. The δ18O and δD of precipitation exhibited a significant correlation with air temperature (p<0.05). Similar values and trends were observed in the stable isotope changes of river water and supra-permafrost water, indicating a close hydraulic relationship between the two water sources. Hydrograph separation revealed that supra-permafrost water and precipitation are the first and second end-member of river water in the basin, with a contribution of 85% and 15%, respectively. Overall, our results suggest that supra-permafrost water is the main recharge source of runoff, highlighting the importance of permafrost in the regulation of runoff in small catchments.

Touching at a distance: the elaboration of communicative functions from the perspective of the interactants

Touch is an inherent part of human social interactions and the diversity of its functions has been highlighted in numerous works. Given the varied roles of touch, with technology-mediated communication being a big part of our everyday lives, research has been interested in enabling and enhancing distant social interactions with mediated touch over networks. Due to the complexity of the sense of touch and technological limitations, multimodal devices have been developed and investigated. In this article, we explore the use of mediated visual touch in distant social interaction. Adopting an interactionist and collaborative approach to human communication, we focus on the communicative functions of distant touch behaviours which interactants co-elaborate throughout their mediated interactions. For this purpose, we conducted an exploratory study placing five romantically involved couples in interaction, where each discussed shared biographical events via a video call, using mediated touch devices (producing vibration and coloured lights). Their interactions were recorded, and excerpts were presented to participants in interviews using a collective confrontation technique (participants are confronted with a recording of their activity and encouraged to comment on it). This technique allows a better understanding of the participants’ points of view on their use of the touch devices in context. Through analysis of the interviews, our results highlight: (1) a variety of visual-touch functions with a redistribution of functions mostly supported by other modalities of communication in face-to-face interactions, such as illustrating aspects of the ongoing conversation; (2) the visual-touch characteristics as well as the verbal, paraverbal and non-verbal indicators of the interactional context considered by the participants to make sense of the stimuli and; (3) the multifactorial and dynamic aspects of the co-elaboration process of the visual-touch functions, reaffirming the role of interactional context, combined with cultural and biographical knowledge, in the meaning making.

An earthquake is "earthclonus" like myoclonus

In this article, we discuss similar featuresof earthquakes and myoclonus to draw attention tothe fact that man is a miniature sample of theuniverse. Myoclonus is defined as rapid, brief,jerky, or shock-like movements involving a muscleor a group of muscles. An earthquake (also knownas a tremor) is a ground shaking caused by themovement of the Earth's crust. Earthquakes andmyoclonus have many similar features. Forexample, earthquakes and myoclonus result from asudden release of energy in the lithosphere and motor cortex impulses in the brain. In conclusion,we would like to emphasize that an earthquake is"earthclonus" like myoclonus because earthquakesand myoclonus have many similar features.Secondly, Allah created man as a miniature sampleof the universe, and whatever there is in theuniverse, a sample of it is in man, and there is avery close relationship between man's body and theuniverse.

Social and political activity of Mikhail Rostovtzeff in emigration through his correspondence with Pyotr Struve

Mikhail Rostovtzeff, an eminent classicist, occupied a pivotal role not only within the academic milieu of the Russian Diaspora but also in the years preceding and following his departure from Russia in 1918. His activities were especially noteworthy during the initial years of emigration. The State Archive of the Russian Federation holds copies of four documents from the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace (Leland Stanford Junior University) that illustrate the close relationship Rostovtzeff maintained with his like-minded colleague Pyotr Struve, one of the leaders of the Russian political emigration at the turn of the 1910s and early 1920s. Furthermore, the documents demonstrate Rostovtzeff’s active involvement in advancing anti-Bolshevik initiatives within the United States. Despite the apparent futility of his anti-Bolshevik efforts, Rostovtzeff nevertheless endeavoured to fulfill his public obligation through active engagement in social life abroad. This entailed offering aid to colleagues confronting daunting circumstances, cultivating and sustaining ties with the political milieu, particularly in the realm of foreign affairs, within the United States. The article introduces a previously unexplored correspondence between Rostovtzeff and Struve, providing insights not only into the lives of these scholars but also into the historical context of Soviet-American relations prior to the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and the United States.

The effect of adult attachment on mobile phone dependence among university students: the mediating role of loneliness

ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the direct relationship between adult attachment and mobile phone dependence, as well as the mediating role of loneliness.MethodsUsing a cross-sectional study design, 596 Chinese university students (mean age = 19.8, SD = 1.09; females = 309) completed the Experience in Close Relationship Inventory, the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Mobile Phone Addiction Index.ResultsThere were significant differences in loneliness and mobile phone dependence among university students with different adult attachment types. Adult attachment was found to have a significant positive correlation with mobile phone dependence. Moreover, adult attachment had an indirect association with mobile phone dependence through the mediating role of loneliness.ConclusionAdult attachment and mobile phone dependence are closely related, and loneliness plays a vital role in this relationship, suggesting that mobile phone dependence can be reduced by alleviating university students’ loneliness. These findings enhanced the understanding of the mechanism of mobile phone dependence and provided new perspectives for the prevention and treatment of mobile phone dependence among university students.

Genome Studies in Amaranthus cruentus L. and A. hypochondriacus L. Based on Repeatomic and Cytogenetic Data

Amaranthus cruentus L. and Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. are valuable and promising food crops for multi-purpose use that are distributed worldwide in temperate, subtropical, and tropical zones. However, their karyotypes and genomic relationships still remain insufficiently studied. For the first time, a comparative repeatome analysis of A. cruentus and A. hypochondriacus was performed based on the available NGS data; bioinformatic analyses using RepeatExplorer/TAREAN pipelines; and chromosome FISH mapping of 45S rDNA, 5S rDNA, and the most abundant satellite DNAs. In the repeatomes of these species, interspecific variations in the amount of Ty3/Gypsy and Ty1/Copia retroelements, DNA transposons, ribosomal, and satellite DNA were detected. In the repeatomes of both species, shared satDNAs with high sequence similarity were identified. The chromosome distribution patterns of four effective molecular markers, 45S rDNA, 5S rDNA, AmC4, and AmC9, allowed us to identify all chromosome pairs in the species karyotypes, construct unique karyograms of A. cruentus and A. hypochondriacus, and confirm the close relationship between their genomes. These results are important for comparative karyotypic studies within the genus Amaranthus. Our findings demonstrated that cytogenomic analyses might provide important data on genomic relationships within Amaranthus and increase knowledge on genome organization in these valuable crops.

Dengue lethality and inequalities in the Region of the Americas between 2014 and 2023Letalidade da dengue e desigualdades na Região das Américas entre 2014 e 2023

Evaluate the differences in the dengue case fatality rate among the different subregions of the Americas in the period 2014-2023 and explore their relationship with the human development index (HDI) in each subregion. Longitudinal ecological study based on open-access data from each country, grouped into the corresponding subregions to calculate the different indicators. In addition, a linear regression was performed between the mean case fatality rate in each region and the weighted regional HDI. There are large differences in dengue lethality by subregion and considerable variability by year. These differences in lethality are not directly correlated with the incidence recorded in each region. The regional HDI shows a close relationship with lethality: a higher HDI is generally associated with a lower case fatality rate. The observed differences in lethality and their relationship with subregional development levels indicate that a broad and multifactorial perspective should be taken when designing a dengue control strategy.

The role of microglia in Neuroinflammation associated with cardiopulmonary bypass

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) are indispensable core techniques in cardiac surgery. Numerous studies have shown that cardiopulmonary bypass and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest are associated with the occurrence of neuroinflammation, accompanied by the activation of microglia. Microglia, as macrophages in the central nervous system, play an irreplaceable role in neuroinflammation. Current research on neuroinflammation induced by microglia activation mainly focuses on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, neuropathic pain, acquired brain injury, and others. However, there is relatively limited research on microglia and neuroinflammation under conditions of cardiopulmonary bypass and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. The close relationship between cardiopulmonary bypass, deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, and cardiac surgery underscores the importance of identifying targets for intervening in neuroinflammation through microglia. This could greatly benefit cardiac surgery patients during cardiopulmonary bypass and the perioperative period, significantly improving patient prognosis. This review article provides the first comprehensive discussion on the signaling pathways associated with neuroinflammation triggered by microglia activation, the impact of cardiopulmonary bypass on microglia, as well as the current status and advancements in cardiopulmonary bypass animal models. It provides new insights and methods for the treatment of neuroinflammation related to cardiopulmonary bypass and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, holding significant importance for clinical treatment by cardiac surgeons, management strategies by cardiopulmonary bypass physicians, and the development of neurologically related medications.

Molecular genetic characterization of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus outbreak in Assam, India and neighbouring regions.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a significant swine disease with no effective vaccine due to high viral mutation rates. This study investigates a natural PRRS outbreak through molecular, pathological, and serological analyses. Nineteen affected pigs were clinically examined, and 10 underwent post-mortem examination. PRRS virus (PRRSV) presence was confirmed in all tissue samples by RT-PCR targeting open reading frame (ORF) 5 and ORF7 genes. Clinical signs, especially in boars and sows, included fever, appetite loss, movement reluctance, erythematous skin patches, vomiting, and abortions in sows. Post-mortem findings highlighted lung consolidation, severe lymph node enlargement, interstitial pneumonia with mononuclear cells, macrophage accumulation and necrotic cells in alveolar spaces. Multifocal myocarditis, lymphoid follicular degeneration, and follicular necrosis were observed in the tonsil, spleen, and lymph nodes. PRRSV-specific antibodies were detected in 32.75% of serum samples, confirming the outbreak. Phylogenetic analysis of the PRRSV-ORF5 and ORF7 genes revealed a close genetic relationship between the outbreak samples from Assam and recent outbreaks in Idukki, Kerala, India (2018), and neighbouring country China, indicating the circulation of Genotype 2 virus in Assam. However, the sequences showed some differences from the isolates of Mizoram, India. In conclusion, this study provides molecular and pathological evidence of a PRRSV outbreak, confirms the presence of PRRSV-specific antibodies and viral RNA, and shed light on the virus's genetic characteristics in India.

Artificial intelligence in mental healthcare: transformative potential vs. the necessity of human interaction

Artificial intelligence in mental healthcare: transformative potential vs. the necessity of human interaction

Memahami Konsep Dasar Organisasi dan Manajemen

Nowadays, organization and management are very important in almost every field of human life. Therefore, in order to live this life well, we should have understood the basic concepts of organization and management first. The purpose of this research is to be able to know and understand the basic concepts in organization and management in detail and clearly. The research method used is descriptive qualitative research method with literature study data collection technique. The results of this study include the basic concepts of organization, which are as follows: (1) definition, (2) purpose, (3) elements, and (4) types of organizations. In addition, the results of this study also include the basic concepts of management, namely as follows: (1) definition, (2) elements, (3) scope, (4) objectives, (5) functions, (6) processes, (7) general principles, along with (8) types in management. The conclusion of this research is that organization and management have a close relationship because management is an important element in the success of an organization.

Religion And Education in Teachers` Seminaries and Pedagogical Courses in the Caucasus During the Tsarist Era

The main goal of the research is to explain the function of teacher seminaries and pedagogical courses, to reveal the relationship between these educational institutions and religious education. At the same time, at the level of statistical data, we can observe the participation rate of the local Muslim population in Russian public schools, and thus the rate of Muslim teachers in the education system. In the study, the formation process of the educational system of Tsarist Russia was given a general overview, and it was seen that the Russian education system did not differ from the Azerbaijani education in terms of its close relationship with religion until the 18th century. This trend is an indication that the process of replacing religious education with secular education which corresponds to that period. The article provides information about the stages of the Russian education system, the purpose of creating teachers' seminaries and pedagogical courses in the secondary education category, statistics, curriculum, the place of religious education in these institutions, and the problems that manifest themselves here are described in a descriptive manner. When we look at the information related to religious education, it is seen that in the seminaries opened in accordance with the 1902 law, mother tongue and religious education was not given, but the objections of the local people were heard by the tsar officials and the teaching of these courses was started on the account of the charitable societies. Based on the report obtained on Islamic teaching, it is possible to say that Islamic history, Aqaid (creeds) and various prayers were taught in the seminary according to both sects. By the way, it is known that the mother tongue classes are also taught by religious teachers.