scholarly journals The evolution of the psyche: object-oriented activity and affect

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 68-81
Author(s):  
Andrey D. Maydansky ◽  
◽  

Relevance. The solution of all other problems of scientific psychology depends on the solution of the problem of the nature and evolution of the psyche. In post- Vygotsky activity psychology, the notion of affect was not at the forefront. Objective: To continue the study of the psyche as a form of affective activity begun by Vygotsky. Methodology and methods: The principle of activity and the cultural-historical approach in human psychology. Results of the research: Following Spinoza and Vygotsky, adopting affect as the “alpha and omega” of mental life, the author traces the initial stages of mental evolution in the process of subject activity. Phase analysis of this cyclical process allows us to determine the specificity of mental activity. The psyche is defined as an affect-inducing reflection of activity on its subject. The cellular form of mental activity, affect, is a state of the acting body, due to which the activity potential of the body, i.e. the level of motivation and the assortment of activity schemes, increases or decreases. The simplest affect is desire; in the process of subject activity, desire performs an orientation function and turns into the affects of pleasure or dissatisfaction, the “primary forms of purely mental behavior”, according to Vygotsky. Considered from the objective side, in relation to the object of perception, affect acts as an image of the senses. In relation to the subject of perception, the same affect appears as an emotion. As mental activity develops, its cognitive and emotional, and its subject and reflexive sides become differentiated. With regular repetition, action becomes automatic: the pattern of activity is fixed in the structure of the body, and the affective orienting reaction is replaced by the reflexive one. Affects arise and function at the “creative” pole of divided activity – in situations when a new scheme of activity needs to be developed or a previously acquired one needs to be corrected. They signal a change in the external conditions of activity, triggering a search-oriented reaction. The article provides evidence that conditionally reflex activity is derived from mental activity and gives a critique of the concept of the orienting reflex


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-209
Author(s):  
Syed Saqib Ali ◽  
Mohammad Khalid Zia ◽  
Tooba Siddiqui ◽  
Haseeb Ahsan ◽  
Fahim Halim Khan

Background: Ascorbic acid is a classic dietary antioxidant which plays an important role in the body of human beings. It is commonly found in various foods as well as taken as dietary supplement. Objective: The plasma ascorbic acid concentration may range from low, as in chronic or acute oxidative stress to high if delivered intravenously during cancer treatment. Sheep alpha-2- macroglobulin (α2M), a human α2M homologue is a large tetrameric glycoprotein of 630 kDa with antiproteinase activity, found in sheep’s blood. Methods: In the present study, the interaction of ascorbic acid with alpha-2-macroglobulin was explored in the presence of visible light by utilizing various spectroscopic techniques and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Results: UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy suggests the formation of a complex between ascorbic acid and α2M apparent by increased absorbance and decreased fluorescence. Secondary structural changes in the α2M were investigated by CD and FT-IR spectroscopy. Our findings suggest the induction of subtle conformational changes in α2M induced by ascorbic acid. Thermodynamics signatures of ascorbic acid and α2M interaction indicate that the binding is an enthalpy-driven process. Conclusion: It is possible that ascorbic acid binds and compromises antiproteinase activity of α2M by inducing changes in the secondary structure of the protein.



Author(s):  
Steven N. Dworkin

This book describes the linguistic structures that constitute Medieval or Old Spanish as preserved in texts written prior to the beginning of the sixteenth century. It emphasizes those structures that contrast with the modern standard language. Chapter 1 presents methodological issues raised by the study of a language preserved only in written sources. Chapter 2 examines questions involved in reconstructing the sound system of Old Spanish before discussing relevant phonetic and phonological details. The chapter ends with an overview of Old Spanish spelling practices. Chapter 3 presents in some detail the nominal, verbal, and pronominal morphology of the language, with attention to regional variants. Chapter 4 describes selected syntactic structures, with emphasis on the noun phrase, verb phrase, object pronoun placement, subject-verb-object word order, verb tense, aspect, and mood. Chapter 5 begins with an extensive list of Old Spanish nouns, adjectives, verbs, and function words that have not survived into the modern standard language. It then presents examples of coexisting variants (doublets) and changes of meaning, and finishes with an overview of the creation of neologisms in the medieval language through derivational morphology (prefixation, suffixation, compounding). The book concludes with an anthology composed of three extracts from Spanish prose texts, one each from the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth centuries. The extracts contain footnotes that highlight relevant morphological, syntactic, and lexical features, with cross references to the relevant sections in the body of the book.



2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shanta Pandian ◽  
Kamal Narayan Arya ◽  
Dharmendra Kumar

Background. Balance and functional abilities are controlled by both sides of the body. The role of nonparetic side has never been explored for such skills.Objective. The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of a motor therapy program primarily involving the nonparetic side on balance and function in chronic stroke.Method. A randomized controlled, double blinded trial was conducted on 39 poststroke hemiparetic subjects (21, men; mean age, 42 years; mean poststroke duration, 13 months). They were randomly divided into the experimental group(n=20)and control group(n=19). The participants received either motor therapy focusing on the nonparetic side along with the conventional program or conventional program alone for 8 weeks (3 session/week, 60 minutes each). The balance ability was assessed using Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Functional Reach Test (FRT) while the functional performance was measured by Barthel Index (BI).Result. After intervention, the experimental group exhibited significant(P<0.05)change on BBS (5.65 versus 2.52) and BI (12.75 versus 2.16) scores in comparison to the control group.Conclusion. The motor therapy program incorporating the nonparetic side along with the affected side was found to be effective in enhancing balance and function in stroke.



Vestnik ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 190-195
Author(s):  
М.С. Кулбаева ◽  
А.Н. Курал ◽  
Л.Б. Умбетьярова ◽  
Н.Т. Аблайханова ◽  
Г.К. Атанбаева ◽  
...  

Человека давно интересует вопрос о том, как умственная нагрузка влияет на организм. Известно, что при длительной умственной работе преобразуется сила процессов возбуждения и торможения, изменяется соотношение между ними. С возникновением утомления в головном мозгу нарушаются взаимосвязи между корой больших полушарий и подкорковыми образованиями. При этом наблюдается снижение регулирующего влияния больших полушарий на все функции организма и уменьшение активизирующих воздействий подкорковых отделов мозга. Кроме того, длительное сидячие положение, состояние низкой двигательной активности ведут к значительному уменьшению центростремительных импульсов с рецепторов мышц, сухожилий, суставов. В исследовании приняли участие 17 относительно здоровые, имеющие стабильное физиологическое состояние девушек-студенток в возрасте от 21 до 25 лет. Для исследования были взяты 16 биологически активных точек на стандартных меридианах, связаных с определенным органом. Для оценки физиологического состояния органов до и после умственной нагрузки были исследованы показатели ЭП БАТ на коже. Выявлено снижение показателей каждого органа после умственной нагрузки по сравнению с показателями до ее выполнения со статистической достоверностью во всех исследуемых органах (р<0,05). Особенно низкие значения показателей ЭП БАТ после умственной нагрузки были выявлены в биоактивных точках меридиана печени F.3 Тай-Чун, меридиана толстой кишки GI.5 Ян-Си и GI.4 Хэ-Гу, меридиана сердца С.7 Шэнь-Мэнь, меридиана тонкой кишки IG.1 Шао-Цзе и IG.2 Цянь-Гу, меридиана почек R.1 Юн-Цюань и Р.2 Жань-Гу. Humans has long been interested in the question of how mental activity affects the body It is known that with prolonged mental work, the strength of the processes of excitation and inhibition is transformed, the ratio between them changes. With the onset of fatigue in the brain, the relationship between the cerebral cortex and subcortical formations is disrupted. At the same time, there is a decrease in the regulatory influence of the large hemispheres on all body functions and a decrease in the activating effects of the subcortical parts of the brain. In addition, prolonged sitting, a state of low motor activity leads to a significant decrease in centripetal impulses from the receptors of muscles, tendons, and joints. The study involved 17 relatively healthy, stable physiological condition of female students aged 21 to 25 years. For the study, 16 biologically active points were taken from standard meridians associated with a specific organ. To assess the physiological state of the organs before and after the load of mental labor, the indicators of EC BAP on the skin. A decrease in the indicators of each organ after mental labor was revealed in comparison with the indicators before mental labor with statistical reliability in all the studied organs (p˂0.05). Especially low values of the EC BAP values after a load of mental labor were found in the bioactive points of the liver meridian F. 3 Tai-Chun, the colon meridian GI.5 Yang-Si and GI. 4 He-Gu, the heart meridian C. 7 Shen-Men, the small intestine meridian IG.1 Shao-tse and IG.2 Qian-Gu, the meridian of the kidneys R. 1 Yun-Chuan and R. 2 Zhan-Gu.



Author(s):  
Greg Quinn

There are many theoretical models that attempt to accurately and consistently link kinematic and kinetic information to musculoskeletal pain and deformity of the foot. Biomechanical theory of the foot lacks a consensual model: clinicians are enticed to draw from numerous paradigms, each having different levels of supportive evidence and contrasting methods of evaluation, in order to engage in clinical deduction and treatment planning. Contriving to find a link between form and function lies at the heart of most of these competing theories and the physical nature of the discipline has prompted an engineering approach. Physics is of great importance in biology and helps us to model the forces that the foot has to deal with in order for it to work effectively. However, the tissues of the body have complex processes that are in place to protect them and they are variable between individuals. Research is uncovering why these differences exist and how these processes are governed. The emerging explanations for adaptability of foot structure and musculoskeletal homeostasis offer new insights on how clinical variation in outcomes and treatment effects might arise. These biological processes underlie how variation in the performance and utilisation of common traits, even within apparently similar sub-groups, make anatomical distinction less meaningful and are likely to undermine the justification of a 'foot type'. Furthermore, mechanobiology introduces a probabilistic element to morphology based on genetic and epigenetic factors.



1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 655-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. NOPOULOS ◽  
M. FLAUM ◽  
S. ARNDT ◽  
N. ANDREASEN

Background. Morphometry, the measurement of forms, is an ancient practice. In particular, schizophrenic somatology was popular early in this century, but has been essentially absent from the literature for over 30 years. More recently, evidence has grown to support the notion that aberrant neurodevelopment may play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Is the body, like the brain, affected by abnormal development in these patients?Methods. To evaluate global deficit in development and its relationship to pre-morbid function, height was compared in a large group (N=226) of male schizophrenics and a group of healthy male controls (N=142) equivalent in parental socio-economic status. Patients in the lower quartile of height were compared to those in the upper quartile of height.Results. The patient group had a mean height of 177·1 cm, which was significantly shorter than the mean height of the control group of 179·4 (P<0·003). Those in the lower quartile had significantly poorer pre-morbid function as measured by: (1) psychosocial adjustment using the pre-morbid adjustment scales for childhood and adolescence/young adulthood, and (2) cognitive function using measures of school performance such as grades and need for special education. In addition, these measures of pre-morbid function correlated significantly with height when analysed using the entire sample.Conclusions. These findings provide further support to the idea that abnormal development may play a key role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Furthermore, this is manifested as a global deficit in growth and function resulting in smaller stature, poorer social skills, and deficits in cognitive abilities.



2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-61
Author(s):  
Siti Fithrotul Umami ◽  
Titiek Idayanti

Background: Development is increasing ability (skill) in the structure and function of the body that is more complex in a regular pattern and can be predicted as a result, from the results of maturation. attitude is an individual evaluation in the form of a tendency (Inclination) towards various elements outside of him. Based on the results of a preliminary study of 10 children aged 5-6 years, it was found that 5 children had normal development, 2 children doubted, and 3 children developed abnormally. While for family education conducted by parents, it was found that 7 parents supported (favorabel), and 3 parents were not supportive (unfavorable).Objectives: The study aimed to determine the influence of parents' attitudes in providing education at home toward the development of children aged 5-6 years in Bulusari Village, Gempol Sub-District, Pasuruan District.Methods: The research design was analytical design using purposive sampling with a sample of 45 parents and children in Bulusari Village, Gempol Sub-District, Pasuruan District. The measuring instrument used was a questionnaire for parents and KPSP for child development. This research is presented in the form of the Fisher's Exact Test.Results: The results showed that of 38 parents (84.45%) who supported having normal development children as many as 35 children (77.78%). Based on the results of the Fisher's Exact Test statistical test, it was found that the value of p <α, which is 0.001022 <0.05, which means that there is an influence from the provision of family education conducted by parents to the development of children aged 5-6 years.Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is expected that efforts from health workers to increase counseling to parents so that they have a role and have an obligation to help, assist children, teach children to actively learn, give love, develop creativity and socialization of children. Kata kunci : Parent’s attitude, development of 5-6 years, giving education in houses.



2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma E. Hamilton-Williams ◽  
Graciela L. Lorca ◽  
Jill M. Norris ◽  
Jessica L. Dunne

In recent years the role of the intestinal microbiota in health and disease has come to the forefront of medical research. Alterations in the intestinal microbiota and several of its features have been linked to numerous diseases, including type 1 diabetes (T1D). To date, studies in animal models of T1D, as well as studies in human subjects, have linked several intestinal microbiota alterations with T1D pathogenesis. Features that are most often linked with T1D pathogenesis include decreased microbial diversity, the relative abundance of specific strains of individual microbes, and altered metabolite production. Alterations in these features as well as others have provided insight into T1D pathogenesis and shed light on the potential mechanism by which the microbiota plays a role in T1D pathogenesis, yet the underlying factors leading to these alterations remains unknown. One potential mechanism for alteration of the microbiota is through diet and nutrition. Previous studies have shown associations of diet with islet autoimmunity, but a direct contributing factor has yet to be identified. Diet, through introduction of antigens and alteration of the composition and function of the microbiota, may elicit the immune system to produce autoreactive responses that result in the destruction of the beta cells. Here, we review the evidence associating diet induced changes in the intestinal microbiota and their contribution to T1D pathogenesis. We further provide a roadmap for determining the effect of diet and other modifiable factors on the entire microbiota ecosystem, including its impact on both immune and beta cell function, as it relates to T1D. A greater understanding of the complex interactions between the intestinal microbiota and several interacting systems in the body (immune, intestinal integrity and function, metabolism, beta cell function, etc.) may provide scientifically rational approaches to prevent development of T1D and other childhood immune and allergic diseases and biomarkers to evaluate the efficacy of interventions.



Author(s):  
Albert W. Nyongesaa ◽  
Esther M. Malukib ◽  
Jemimah A. Simbaunib

Khat, Catha edulis, use is rampant in Eastern Africa and Middle East countries with associated reports of reproductive function impairment in the body of the user. Reports on recovery post long-term khat exposure are obscure. The present study investigated evidence of restoration of testicular and epididymal structure and function during withdrawal from cytotoxic damage caused by sub-chronic exposure of khat extract. Twenty-eight male rabbits were divided into 7 groups of 4 rabbits each. Group I (control) was administered normal saline while groups II, III and IV were administered 1.0 g/kg, 10 g/kg and 20 g/kg body weight of khat extract, respectively, via oral gavage on alternate days of the week for 12 weeks. Blood samples from animals were collected for hormonal assays followed by euthanasia using 26.4 mg/kg body weight of Sagatal sodium intramuscularly for testicular and epididymal histology. Group V, VI and VII were administered 1.0 g/kg, 10 g/kg and 20 g/kg body weight of khat extract, respectively, orally on alternate days of the week for 12 weeks followed by 1-month withdrawal period, blood samples collected for hormone assays and animals sacrificed for testicular and epididymal histology. High khat dose, 20 g/kg body weight, at sub-chronic exposure caused degeneration in spermatogenic cells with accompanying decrease in plasma FSH and testosterone. Histological output of Sertoli cells, Leydig cells and epididymal epithelium appeared unaffected in treatment groups. Post withdrawal data showed apparent regeneration of seminiferous epithelium and restoration of plasma FSH and testosterone comparable to control. It appears khat extract preferentially affected germ cell spermatogonia and subsequent daughter cells while stem cell spermatogonia were unaffected and contributed to regeneration of germinal epithelium and endocrine function.



Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1106
Author(s):  
Di Wang ◽  
Ye Cong ◽  
Quanfeng Deng ◽  
Xiahe Han ◽  
Suonan Zhang ◽  
...  

The pathogenesis of respiratory diseases is complex, and its occurrence and development also involve a series of pathological processes. The present research methods are have difficulty simulating the natural developing state of the disease in the body, and the results cannot reflect the real growth state and function in vivo. The development of microfluidic chip technology provides a technical platform for better research on respiratory diseases. The size of its microchannel can be similar to the space for cell growth in vivo. In addition, organ-on-a-chip can achieve long-term co-cultivation of multiple cells and produce precisely controllable fluid shear force, periodically changing mechanical force, and perfusate with varying solute concentration gradient. To sum up, the chip can be used to analyze the specific pathophysiological changes of organs meticulously, and it is widely used in scientific research on respiratory diseases. The focus of this review is to describe and discuss current studies of artificial respiratory systems based on organ-on-a-chip technology and to summarize their applications in the real world.



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