Threat Condition Research Articles

Threat effects on attention networks in individuals with a history of externalizing behaviors.

Research identifying the biobehavioral processes that link threat exposure to cognitive alterations can inform treatments designed to reduce perpetration of stress-induced aggression. The present study attempted to specify the effects of relatively predictable versus unpredictable threat on two attention networks, attentional alerting and executive control. In a sample of adults (n=74, 35% identifying as women, Mage=32.85) with high rates of externalizing behaviors (e.g., substance use, criminal/legal system involvement, aggressivity), we measured event-related brain activity during an attention network test that manipulated cognitive systems activation under relatively unpredictable and predictable threat conditions. Results showed that threat exposure alters attentional alerting and executive control. The predictable threat condition, relative to unpredictable threat, increased visual alerting (N1 amplitude to alert vs. no alert cue conditions) and decreased attention to the task (P3 amplitude to subsequent task-relevant flankers, but these effects did not survive adjusting for multiple tests. In contrast, overall threat and unpredictable threat conditions were associated with faster response time to alert cue (versus no cue) and poorer conflict processing, operationalized as flanker N2 reductions and slower response time to incongruent (versus congruent) flanker trials. These results expand what is known about threat-related modulation of cognition in a sample of individuals with histories of externalizing behaviors.

Managing selected areas of preparation military personnel for their assigned roles in the state

Purpose: The main objective of the research presented in this paper is to identify the research gap in the management of the process of competence preparation of soldiers in the context of their social roles and expectations of citizens. To achieve this goal, the first part of the paper explains the concepts of professional training and activities that shape a professional serviceman. The second part of the paper is devoted to social competence vs. emotional intelligence in the management of military personnel. The third part analyzes the results of a study of the extent to which military personnel fulfill the roles assigned to this formation in society. Design/methodology/approach: The research presented in this study is based on the analysis of the literature and critical review of selected areas of professional preparation of military personnel. The literature study also took into account secondary sources, which were research communications in the subject area. Using methods of logical deduction and inference, conclusions and recommendations were derived, which are presented in the final part of the article. The combination of different research methods made it possible to obtain a broader context of the phenomenon under study and ensured a higher quality of the research conducted. Personal experience regarding the training of military personnel was also used, as the author is professionally involved in the academic training of military personnel, as discussed in this paper. Findings: The dynamics and high level of complexity in the modern world of VUCA, moreover the expectations of societies force the continuous improvement of the process of competence preparation of military personnel. Studies indicate that the profession of a soldier is oriented towards fulfilling the basic needs of the other which are the needs for security and protection of private property and more broadly of society as a whole. In the research, those interviewed presented that they feel a moral responsibility to fulfill their role primarily to society and their own conscience. This is confirmed by the awareness of military personnel as to their choice of vocation in their professional life and service, as well as the properly conducted process of professional development of cadres and the correct direction of competence development. However, in areas such as the opinions of subordinates, one can find opinions suggesting demonstrated deficiencies in social behavior, especially in superiors, which should be monitored in professional development and supplemented as necessary. Research limitations/implications: Continuous changes in the sphere of security, customs, trends and in the structure of societies result in the emergence of new expectations and needs addressed to military personnel. This is a contribution to continuing research on the directions of development in the field of competence development in a dynamically changing environment. Practical implications: The recommendations developed on the basis of the research is the identified need to develop professional competence in the emotional intelligence (competence) of military personnel, especially in the cognitive and social aspects, ensuring the adaptation of soldiers to function under threat conditions. This should result in the expansion of the periodic evaluation questionnaires, to which soldiers are subjected, with indicators and measures relating to the individual assessment of competence preparation in relation to social and emotional competence, and the preparation of a program to improve the diagnosed shortcomings in this area. Originality/value: Based on the conducted research, the article proposes original system solutions for managing the competence development of military personnel in their roles in society. Keywords: human factor, military personnel. Category of the paper: Research paper.

Neural responding during uncertain threat anticipation in pediatric anxiety.

Excessive fear responses to uncertain threat are a key feature of anxiety disorders (ADs), though most mechanistic work considers adults. As ADs onset in childhood and confer risk for later psychopathology, we sought to identify conditions of uncertain threat that distinguish 8-17-year-old youth with AD (n = 19) from those without AD (n = 33), and assess test-retest reliability of such responses in a companion sample of healthy adults across three sites (n = 19). In an adapted uncertainty of threat paradigm, visual cues parametrically signaled threat of aversive stimuli (fear faces) in 25 % increments (0 %, 25 %, 50 %, 100 %), while participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We compared neural response elicited by cues signaling different degrees of probability regarding the subsequent delivery of fear faces. Overall, youth displayed greater engagement of bilateral inferior parietal cortex, fusiform gyrus, and lingual gyrus during uncertain threat anticipation in general. Relative to healthy youth, AD youth exhibited greater activation in ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC)/BA47 during uncertain threat anticipation in general. Further, AD differed from healthy youth in scaling of ventral striatum/sgACC activation with threat probability and attenuated flexibility of responding during parametric uncertain threat. Complementing these results, significant, albeit modest, cross-site test-retest reliability in these regions was observed in an independent sample of healthy adults. While preliminary due to a small sample size, these findings suggest that during uncertainty of threat, AD youth engage vlPFC regions known to be involved in fear regulation, response inhibition, and cognitive control. Findings highlight the potential of isolating neural correlates of threat anticipation to guide treatment development and translational work in youth.

Regulation of quantum communications in the “smart city” information system

Different countries are creating and improving information systems that increase the efficiency of city management. Their research takes place within the concept of a smart city. The article considers the formation of this concept in the Russian Federation and its evolution abroad. Information systems “smart city” involve the transfer of a significant amount of data, protected by the methods of classical cryptography, through communication lines. The level of development of quantum technologies allowed us to conclude that this method of information security will not be effective in the medium term. Smart city systems have already lost their cryptographic strength for retrospective attacks. The article analyzes data protection options for information system smart city under quantum threat conditions. Based on the classification of city services, the authors propose a differentiated approach to information security, combining post-quantum cryptography and quantum communication technologies. This will allow the optimal use of public resources and create a smart city information system resistant to quantum computer attacks. We completed this article within the Governmental Assignment: “Russian Legal System in the Realities of Digital Transformation of Society and State: Adaptation and Prospects for Responding to Modern Challenges and Threats (FSMW-2023-0006)”. Registration number: 1022040700002-6-5.5.1.

Management of Crisis Communications in the Public Space

<p><strong><em>Purpose. </em></strong><em>Analysis and systematization of objective conditions that determine the content of modern crisis communication processes and determine effective strategies for crisis management in social systems.<strong></strong></em></p><p><strong><em>Research methodology</em></strong><em>. The study used a comparative-historical method to analyze and systematize data on crisis communication management in public space. Systematization and classification were used to determine the features and factors of crisis situations in the field of social communications. The aim of the study is to analyze and systematize the objective conditions that determine the content of modern crisis communication processes and to determine effective strategies for anti-crisis management in social systems.</em></p><p><strong><em>Results.</em></strong><em> Social space is considered as a variety of social processes, a field of social activity that contains a set of significant social groups, individuals, objects in their mutual location. The directions of social interaction as a form of theoretical generalizations of social communication, which is a continuous exchange of social information and knowledge, carried out with the help of the formed communicative chain. The analysis of crisis communications as a process of interaction of public subjects in the conditions of potential or real threat of their activity, functioning, existence is carried out. The classification of crisis situations according to such criteria as predictability of the onset and consequences of crises, the dynamics of their course is considered. The stages of problem management in crisis communications are analyzed, the main condition for successful anti-crisis communication is a pre-developed strategy. The main tasks of anti-crisis management are defined: detection of certain features, localization of crisis phenomena, crisis prevention, determination of their features, forms of implementation; determination of methods of observation, detection of certain signs, localization of crisis phenomena, prevention of crisis situations.</em> <em>The peculiarities of the activity of the spin doctor is to work with the media to form the desired point of view, present events in a more favorable form, that is news management. The practice of anti-crisis communications in the public space as a way to overcome information asymmetry and establish effective communication with the public is identified. </em></p><p><strong><em>Novelty. </em></strong><em>The article analyzes the current trends in the field of crisis communications and identifies the main directions of anti-crisis communication strategies.</em></p><p><strong><em>Practical significance. </em></strong><em>The results of the study can be used to improve the forms and methods of crisis communication, to form formation of effective strategies for crisis management in social systems.</em><em></em></p><p><strong><em>Key words: </em></strong><em>problem identification, crisis communication, risk minimization, system viability parameters, social interaction, anti-crisis management tactics.</em></p>

Моделювання критичних вразливостей у логістиці постачання озброєння та військової техніки в умовах воєнних загроз

The systemic nature problem related to the simulation of the influence of military threats on the logistics chain of the supply of weapons and military equipment (spare parts for aircrafts, ammunition for rocket systems of volley fire, etc.) is being solved. Military threats can lead to logistical damage (destruction: airfields, bridges, railways, and highways, etc.), which is investigated in this paper. The relevance of the research is related to the systemic nature of the solution to the logistical problem. The occurrence of losses leads to the taking of preventive measures to reduce the level of critical vulnerabilities (for example, runways, ground equipment of airfields, etc.) of the logistical supply chain (for example, aviation) of weapons and military equipment under conditions of martial law. The study aims to create a set of models that will allow making a systematic analysis of the sequence of events associated with the emergence of a military threat in the logistics of the supply of weapons and military equipment: the appearance of a military threat – the emergence of critical vulnerabilities in the logistics chain – the appearance of logistical losses – the formation of preventive actions. The analysis of publications and studies on the logistics of military supplies with the identification of unresolved problems has been carried out. A model to analyze the criticality of vulnerabilities of the logistics supply chain, using the assessments of military experts and the planning of virtual experiments has been created. A model to analyze the causal chain: military threat – critical vulnerability – losses using qualitative assessments of experts in the form of linguistic variable values has been developed. The lexicographic arrangement of possible alternative ways to supply weapons and military equipment to the zone of military conflict is used. This made it possible to select a rational supply option to reduce possible logistical losses. The optimization model to reduce the level of criticality of vulnerabilities in the logistics supply chain to ensure the minimization of losses has been created. In this case, the time, risks and costs of carrying out the preventive actions under conditions of martial law are considered. An agent model to study the dynamic processes of moving forward the military cargo in the logistics supply chain, which helps simulate the occurrence of a military threat, the activation of critical vulnerabilities, and the appearance of possible logistical losses has been developed. The efficiency of the proposed approach is ensured by a systematic representation of the sequence of events on the emergence of a military threat, the activation of critical vulnerabilities, the appearance of logistical losses, which ensures the adoption of rational preventive actions to prevent the consequences of military threats. The scientific novelty of the study is related to the development of original models, which are based on the systematic presentation of the logistics chain of the supply of weapons and military equipment to the zone of military conflict under conditions of military threat to ensure that efficient preventive actions are done to minimize logistical losses. The results of the study should be used to plan the preventive measures to minimize possible losses and ensure military supplies under conditions of the risk of military threats.

Responding to Microaggressions: Social Cost of Bystander Intervention Strategies

This two-part study examined the effects of intervener’s race (White vs. Asian) and intervention format (high-threat—emphasizing the act of racism, low-threat—emphasizing the norm of justice, support-based—emphasizing a nonjudgmental attitude) on perceptions of microaggression interventions for White observers and Asian American targets. In separate 2 x 3 experimental designs, Asian Americans participants ( N = 187) and White American participants ( N = 185) were recruited through Qualtrics panels and randomly assigned to one of six conditions (three formats of intervention and two intervener groups). Participants read a vignette, imagined themselves as targets of the microaggression (Asian sample) or witnesses of the interaction (White sample), and completed a set of questionnaires assessing positive and negative perceptions of the intervener and aggressor. Asian American targets and White witnesses had more negative perceptions of interveners in the high threat condition. Covariates were relevant in interpreting reactions to intervention.

Australian Foreign Policy during the World War II

The article is related to the establishment of Australian foreign policy tradition and becoming of Australia as a subject of international relations. The significant role of the dominions during First World War Great and their help for Great Britain victory, intensified their struggle for independence. As the result of long-term efforts, dominions reached the proclamation of the Balfour Declaration in 1926 by London, which was later confirmed by the Statute of Westminster (1931), which established the authority for dominions for an independent foreign policy. The development of Australian foreign policy before and during World War II was analyzed. The evolution of the relations of the Australia and Great Britain in the context of the events of the World War II is traced, in particular the peculiarities of the allied relations of the two countries. There is shown the regional dimension of the World War II within the Asia-Pacific region, in the context of Australia and the United States actions against Japanese aggression. There are analyzed the peculiarities of external threats effect on the transformation of the Australian foreign policy strategy, in particular in the national security sphere. The main threat for Australia in that period become Japanise aggressive and expansionist policy in the Asia-Pacific region. A lot of Australian soldiers and military equipment were sent to Great Britain to support traditional allie. But in actual strategic situation in Europe there were great doubts that British troops and the navy would be able to effectively help Australians in case of an attack by Japan. Politics of national security and defense of Australia in the context of its participation in World War II is considered. In the conditions of real threat of Japanese invasion, as well as the lack of sure to receive necessary support from Great Britain, the Australian government start to find a military alliance with the USA. There were identified the key implications of World War II for Australian socio-economic system.

The Effectiveness of Land Reform Implementation in the Context of the Impact of Armed Hostilities: Regulatory Aspect

The relevance of the topic of the academic paper lies in the possibility of improving the mechanism of implementing land reform in the conditions of armed hostilities in Ukraine. The state of the land market has changed significantly, which makes it necessary to conduct a study of the quality of its functioning. The discussion around the effectiveness of the land reform is controversial, and the expediency of its impact on the economic situation of the country during the war determines the importance of its analysis. The purpose of the academic paper is to study the effectiveness of the land market in the conditions of armed hostilities, economic instability, destructive factors of its development, and as a consequence the expediency of adopting land reform. The object of the research is to determine the positive processes of the development of the land market and outline the negative aspects of the land reform, which directly affects its economic and legal activity. The research methodology implies the use of the analytical material on the state of the land market, the application of statistical methods in order to assess the indicators of the state of the land market and the possibility of its further development in the conditions of a constant military threat. By the way, the methods of a theoretical nature have been used in the academic paper, namely: the synthesis method determines the basics of the problems concerning functioning of the land market; an analysis of the implementation of the land reform is carried out with the help of the generalization method. Vulnerable spots in the processes of implementing land reform were identified by the method of explanation, taking into account the military threat and the unstable economic situation. The obtained research results are important for the improvement and further development of the land reform in the country and the implementation of relevant recommendations for the strategic development of the land market. The academic paper highlights the ideas and tools for improving the functioning of the land market in the conditions of armed hostilities, as well as proposes the ways of improving the legal mechanism for the implementation of the land reform. The practical significance lies in the stabilization of the land market due to the military influence of the aggressor country.

Neural resources shift under Methylphenidate: A computational approach to examine anxiety-cognition interplay

The reciprocal interplay between anxiety and cognition is well documented. Anxiety negatively impacts cognition, while cognitive engagement can down-regulate anxiety. The brain mechanisms and dynamics underlying such interplay are not fully understood. To study this question, we experimentally and orthogonally manipulated anxiety (using a threat of shock paradigm) and cognition (using methylphenidate; MPH). The effects of these manipulations on the brain and behavior were evaluated in 50 healthy participants (25 MPH, 25 placebo), using an n-back working memory fMRI task (with low and high load conditions). Behaviorally, improved response accuracy was observed as a main effect of the drug across all conditions. We employed two approaches to understand the neural mechanisms underlying MPH-based cognitive enhancement in safe and threat conditions. First, we performed a hypothesis-driven computational analysis using a mathematical framework to examine how MPH putatively affects cognitive enhancement in the face of induced anxiety across two levels of cognitive load. Second, we performed an exploratory data analysis using Topological Data Analysis (TDA)-based Mapper to examine changes in spatiotemporal brain activity across the entire cortex. Both approaches provided converging evidence that MPH facilitated greater differential engagement of neural resources (brain activity) across low and high working memory load conditions. Furthermore, load-based differential management of neural resources reflects enhanced efficiency that is most powerful during higher load and induced anxiety conditions. Overall, our results provide novel insights regarding brain mechanisms that facilitate cognitive enhancement under MPH and, in future research, may be used to help mitigate anxiety-related cognitive underperformance.

Policy of the transitıon from agricultural to high-tech export in conditions of permanent military threat: Israeli experience for Ukraine

The Russian-Ukrainian war causes the loss of a significant part of Ukraine's production and raw and food export potential, which creates the risk of economic insecurity in the long run. At the same time, the new challenges create favourable conditions and opportunities for restructuring the national economy in the direction of developing high-tech areas and increasing the science-intensiveness of traditional industries. Today, the question is to choose the most effective institutional and economic mechanism for such a transformation, as exemplified by the State of Israel. The article is devoted to the research of the Israeli practice of transition to high-tech production and the formation of an innovative export-oriented economy. The author aims to clarify the conditions, factors, mechanisms, and tools for the successful economic transformation of Israel in terms of the possibility of implementing the acquired historical experience in Ukrainian realities. The methodology is based on a systematic approach, which considers the economic transformation of Israel as a set of processes and systems of closely interrelated elements (historical conditions, institutional factors, public policy, available resources, economic potential, etc.). It is necessary to apply the historical-evolutionary approach to identify the features and trends of the country's transition from traditional spheres of production and export to high-tech. In this context, comparative-historical analyse is used. The precondition for the transition of the State of Israel to high-tech production and exports was the development of powerful science-intensive complexes of its own agricultural and defence production through targeted public and private investment, subsidies and loans to producers, stimulating education and research, a unique system of public-private partnership (so-called "gold triangle"). It is determined that the use of defence technologies in production of the double-purpose products (in space, aviation, cybersecurity spheres), the flow of intellectual capital, and the formed research base became the basis for the development of pharmaceuticals, electronics, microelectronics, computer hardware, and software, etc. The key role in the Israeli transition to high-tech production and exports was played by state support policy implemented by grant funding instruments for education and R&D, venture capital incentive programs, tax and credit benefits for small and medium businesses, an extensive system of institutional assistance, and effective legal regulation of the business environment for the protection of intellectual property rights, granting special privileges, simplifying the procedure of repatriation of profits, ensuring high-quality products, etc. The policy of "arms diplomacy", trade liberalization, tax, credit, and institutional support of exporters, the conclusion of a system of agreements on international trade, and economic and scientific-technical cooperation contributed to the formation of the competitive advantages of Israel in the markets of high-tech products

Fear influences phantom sound percepts in an anechoic room

Aims and hypothesesIn an environment of absolute silence, researchers have found many of their participants to perceive phantom sounds (tinnitus). With this between-subject experiment, we aimed to elaborate on these research findings, and specifically investigated whether–in line with the fear-avoidance model of tinnitus perception and reactivity–fear or level of perceived threat influences the incidence and perceptual qualities of phantom sound percepts in an anechoic room. We investigated the potential role of individual differences in anxiety, negative affect, noise sensitivity and subclinical hearing loss. We hypothesized that participants who experience a higher level of threat would direct their attention more to the auditory system, leading to the perception of tinnitus-like sounds, which would otherwise be subaudible, and that under conditions of increased threat, narrowing of attention would lead to perceptual distortions.MethodsIn total, N = 78 normal-hearing volunteers participated in this study. In general, the study sample consisted of young, mostly female, university students. Their hearing was evaluated using gold-standard pure tone audiometry and a speech-in-noise self-test (Digit Triplet Test), which is a sensitive screening test to identify subclinical hearing loss. Prior to a four-minute stay in an anechoic room, we randomized participants block design-wise in a threat (N = 37) and no-threat condition (N = 41). Participants in the threat condition were deceived about their hearing and were led to believe that staying in the room would potentially harm their hearing temporarily. Participants were asked whether they perceived sounds during their stay in the room and rated the perceptual qualities of sound percepts (loudness and unpleasantness). They were also asked to fill-out standardized questionnaires measuring anxiety (State–Trait Anxiety Inventory), affect (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule) and noise sensitivity (Weinstein Noise Sensitivity Scale). The internal consistency of the questionnaires used was verified in our study sample and ranged between α = 0.61 and α = 0.90.ResultsIn line with incidence rates reported in the literature, 74% of our participants reported having heard tinnitus-like sounds in the anechoic room. Speech-in-noise identification ability was comparable for both groups of participants. The experimental manipulation of threat was proven to be effective, as indicated by significantly higher scores on a Threat Manipulation Checklist among participants in the threat condition as compared to those in the no-threat condition (p < 0.01). Nevertheless, participants in the threat condition were as likely to report tinnitus percepts as participants in the no-threat condition (p = 1), and tinnitus percepts were not rated as being louder (p = 0.76) or more unpleasant (p = 0.64) as a function of level of threat. For participants who did experience tinnitus percepts, a higher level of threat was associated with a higher degree of experienced unpleasantness (p < 0.01). These associations were absent in those who did not experience tinnitus. Higher negative affect was only slightly associated with higher ratings of tinnitus unpleasantness (p < 0.01).ConclusionWhereas our threat manipulation was successful in elevating the level of fear, it did not contribute to a higher percentage of participants perceiving tinnitus-like sounds in the threat condition. However, higher levels of perceived threat were related to a higher degree of perceived tinnitus unpleasantness. The findings of our study are drawn from a rather homogenous participant pool in terms of age, gender, and educational background, challenging conclusions that are applicable for the general population. Participants generally obtained normophoric scores on independent variables of interest: they were low anxious, low noise-sensitive, and there was little evidence for the presence of subclinical hearing loss. Possibly, there was insufficient variation in scores to find effects.

Anticipatory threat responses mediate the relationship between mindfulness and anxiety: A cross-sectional study.

Increasing research has shown that mindfulness-based interventions can effectively alleviate anxiety; however, the underlying neural mechanism has not yet been elucidated. Recent studies suggest that abnormal and excessive anticipatory responses to unpredictable threats play an important role in anxiety symptoms. Mindfulness refers to the non-judgmental awareness of the present moment's real experience, which is antithetical to the future-oriented thinking processes involved in anxiety-oriented cognition and its corresponding emotion regulation tactics. Thus, mitigating anticipatory threat responses may be a potential mechanism by which mindfulness alleviates anxiety. This study aimed to detect the possible mediating effects of anticipatory threat responses on the relationship between mindfulness and anxiety. A total of 35 trait-anxious (TA) individuals and 36 low-anxious (LA) individuals were recruited to participate in the predictable and unpredictable threat test. Self-reported intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and electroencephalographic responses to uncertainty were recorded. TA individuals reported more IU and less mindfulness, and exhibited significantly higher late positive potential (LPP) and longer reaction time (RT) than LA individuals in the unpredictable negative threat condition. In addition, there were significant mediating effects of the LPP amplitude and RT in the uncertain threats on the relationship between mindfulness and anxiety. The data from this study verified that mitigating anticipatory threat responses (including self-reported IU, behavioral RT, and LPP amplitude) might be the potential mechanism by which mindfulness alleviates anxiety. These findings may have practical implications for the development and optimization of mindfulness treatments for anxiety.

Frequency-specific gaze modulation of emotional face processing in the human amygdala.

Determining the social significance of emotional face expression is of major importance for adaptive behavior, and gaze direction provides critical information in this process. The amygdala is implicated in both emotion and gaze processing, but how and when it integrates expression and gaze cues remains unresolved. We tackled this question using intracranial electroencephalography in epileptic patients to assess both amygdala (n = 12) and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC; n = 11) time-frequency evoked responses to faces with different emotional expressions and different gaze directions. As predicted, self-relevant threat signals (averted fearful and directed angry faces) elicited stronger amygdala activity than self-irrelevant threat (directed fearful and averted angry faces). Fear effects started at early latencies in both amygdala and OFC (~110 and 160ms, respectively), while gaze direction effects and their interaction with emotion occurred at later latencies. Critically, the amygdala showed differential gamma band increases to fearful averted gaze (starting ~550ms) and to angry directed gaze (~470ms). Moreover, when comparing the 2 self-relevant threat conditions among them, we found higher gamma amygdala activity for averted fearful faces and higher beta OFC activity for angry directed faces. Together, these results reveal for the first time frequency-specific effects of emotion and gaze on amygdala and OFC neural activity.

Meat-eating justification when gender identity is threatened – The association between meat and male masculinity

Identifying psychological barriers that prevent individuals from adopting a meat-free diet is a key to success for environmentalists. The current study experimentally investigates the relation between sex, sex role identification, and meat-eating justification by exposing participants to a gender identity threat or affirmation. In the threat condition, participants received the information that they had below-average levels of masculinity/femininity, whereas in the affirmation group they were told to be above average with regard to their masculinity/femininity. Two-hundred female and 132 male participants were randomly assigned to these conditions. The findings suggest that men and women rationalize their meat consumption differently: While men directly and unapologetically defend their behavior, women tend to avoid recognizing their own responsibility. Moreover, masculinity was associated with direct meat-eating justifications among male, but not among female participants. The experimental manipulation did not affect direct or indirect meat-eating justification. However, further exploratory analyses suggest that how threatening the manipulated feedback was perceived was not primarily dependent on the participant’s sex, but rather the individual identification with sex roles. Therefore, simply basing gender identity threats on participant’s sex might be outdated. The results highlight the association between meat and male masculinity and encourage future studies to take a more nuanced approach to gender identity threats.

"Triple Threat" Conditions Predict Mortality Among Patients With Advanced Cancer Who Present to the Emergency Department

BackgroundDelirium, poor performance status, and dyspnea predict short survival in the palliative care setting. ObjectiveOur goal was to determine whether these three conditions, which we refer to as a “triple threat,” also predict mortality among patients with advanced cancers in the emergency department (ED). MethodsThe study sample included 243 randomly selected, clinically stable patients with advanced cancer who presented to our ED. The analysis included patients who had delirium (Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale score ≥ 7), poor performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score of 3 or 4), or dyspnea as a presenting symptom. We obtained survival data from medical records. We calculated predicted probability of dying within 30 days and association with number of symptoms after the ED visit using logistic regression analysis. ResultsTwenty-eight patients died within 30 days after presenting to the ED. Death within 30 days occurred in 36% (16 of 44) of patients with delirium, 28% (17 of 61) of patients with poor performance status, and 14% (7 of 50) of patients with dyspnea, with a predicted probability of 30-day mortality of 0.38 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.25–0.53), 0.28 (95% CI 0.18–0.40), and 0.15 (95% CI 0.07–0.29), respectively. The predicted probability of death within 30 days for patients with two or three of the conditions was 0.49 (95% CI 0.34–0.66) vs. 0.05 (95% CI 0.02–0.09) for patients with none or one of the conditions. ConclusionsPatients with advanced cancers who present to the ED and have at least two triple threat conditions have a high probability of death within 30 days.

Recognition memory, primacy vs. recency effects, and time perception in the online version of the fear of scream paradigm

Anxiety disorders are characterized by cognitive dysfunctions which contribute to the patient’s profound disabilities. The threat of shock paradigm represents a validated psychopathological model of anxiety to measure the impact of anxiety on cognitive processes. We have developed an online version of the threat of scream paradigm (ToSP) to investigate the impact of experimental anxiety on recognition memory. Two animated passive walkthrough videos (either under threat of scream or safety conditions) were shown to healthy participants. Recognition memory, primacy vs. recency effects, and subjective estimations of the length of encoding sessions were assessed. Subjective anxiety, stress, and emotional arousal ratings indicated that experimental anxiety could successfully be induced (Safe-Threat) or reversed (Threat-Safe) between the two passive walkthrough sessions. Participants exposed to distress screams showed impaired retrieval of complex information that has been presented in an animated environment. In the threat condition, participants failed to recognize details related to the persons encountered, their spatial locations, as well as information about the temporal order and sequence of encounters. Participant groups, which received a threat announcement prior to the first walkthrough session (Threat-Threat vs. Safety-Safety and Threat-Safety vs. Safety-Threat) showed poorer recognition memory as compared to the groups that received a safety announcement (P = 0.0468 and P = 0.0426, respectively; Mann–Whitney U test, Cohen’s d = 0.5071; effect size r = 0.2458). In conclusion, experimental anxiety induced by the online version of the ToSP leads to compromised recognition memory for complex multi-dimensional information. Our results indicate that cognitive functions of vulnerable populations (with limited mobility) can be evaluated online by means of the ToSP.

Threat-induced alterations in cognition and associations with dysregulated behavior.

Previous literature suggests that threat disrupts cognitive control, especially for those prone to engaging in dysregulated behaviors (i.e., maladaptive attempts at regulating stress). However, this relationship is not well understood and has yet to be directly examined. The current study extends previous literature by examining the link between individual differences in dysregulation and threat-related alterations in neurocognitive and behavioral indicators of cognitive control. Using a diverse community sample (N=143), we recorded participants' brain activity during a flanker task under conditions of predictable, unpredictable, and no threat-of-shock. Findings revealed a nuanced relationship, whereby predictable threat, relative to unpredictable threat, was associated with larger N2 to flankers, perhaps at the expense of a reduced later P3. We also found a relationship between proneness toward dysregulated behaviors and threat-induced alterations of cognitive control, with those higher in dysregulation showing reduced conflict P3 differentiation and accuracy interference during threat vs. no threat conditions. This research expands what is known about how threat can modulate cognition in everyday life and linked it to dysregulated behaviors with high societal burden.

The Ottoman Model: Basra and the Making of Qajar Reform, 1881–1889

AbstractIn the nineteenth century, Qajar Iran was beset by both internal and external threats to its cohesion. In considering Qajar responses to this condition of threat, scholars have largely emphasized the rise of nationalism and a traumatic encounter with Europe. In this article, instead, I use the two Khuzestan travel narratives of royal engineer Najm al-Molk to draw out an alternative thread of reform discourse based on comparisons and connections with the Ottoman Empire. In his safarnamehs, Najm al-Molk joined the style and preoccupations of modern engineering to existing Persianate discourses on rule to elaborate the concept of abadi, a social, political, and material condition encompassing land, people, and state. His advocacy for making Khuzestan abadan was aimed at integrating the region more fully into the Qajar domains. In thinking about what constituted abadi and why it was missing in Khuzestan, the engineer’s major reference point was Ottoman Basra. Traveling around the Basra-Khuzestan borderlands helped Najm al-Molk frame the Ottoman Empire as an example for the Qajar future and a factor in producing the Qajar present. The article both analyzes and follows Najm al-Molk’s use of comparison in order to draw out a broader imperial comparison between late imperial rule in the Ottoman and Qajar lands. I argue that taking seriously Najm al-Molk’s view that the Qajars and Ottomans were comparable can help us use their peripheries to understand late Qajar history outside the national frame of “Iran.”

ECONOMIC NATIONALISM AND PHILOSOPHY OF WAR

The article is devoted to analysis of cause-and-effect connections between such socially meaningful phenomena as economic nationalism and war strategies. The relevance of the issue precisely in the context of such correlations discovers at the level of regionally significant wars and it could be important for modern countries in possible global confrontation or redistribution of geo-economic influence spheres as well. That is why in the article proposed strategic revision of the economic policy for credit-dependent countries – especially in conditions of permanent military threat – in course to creation more effective economic models with elements of protectionism, implementation of national production sector and development of forceful military-industrial systems. This approach will allow to improve defense capacity of countries, provide reliable rear protection and increase industrial activity, which is extremely important for balanced economic systems as it has been demonstrated by experience of developed countries.