Problematic shopping behavior: an item response theory examination of the seven-item bergen shopping addiction scale

There has been an increasing amount of research examining problematic shopping behavior (PSB), often referred to in the psychological literature as “compulsive buying” or “shopping addiction.” A popular scale for assessing the risk of PSB is the seven-item Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale (BSAS). To expand our knowledge of the psychometric properties of this instrument, the present study employed Item Response Theory (IRT) and differential item functioning analyses (DIF) while concurrently attempting to determine a preliminary cut-off point. A relatively large community sample completed the BSAS online (N = 968, Mage = 29.5 years, SDage = 9.36, 32.5% women). IRT analyses showed differences regarding the BSAS items’ discrimination, difficulty, and precision, with a raw score exceeding 23 (out of 28) indicating a higher risk of shopping addiction. Finally, while most BSAS items operated equally among males and females, Item 2 (mood modification) required a higher level of shopping addiction behaviors to be endorsed by males. The BSAS functions as a reliable assessment of the risk of shopping addiction, particularly between average and high levels of the trait. Clinical implications are discussed in light of these findings

The Online Flow Questionnaire: an Item Response Theory examination

Online flow refers to the rate of an individual's absorbance in an Internet activity in which they are engaged. It has been implicated with both the effectiveness of cyberhealth and online education applications, as well as excessive Internet use. One way of assessing it is the Online Flow Questionnaire (OFQ). Consequently, this study investigated the optimum measurement of online flow, as well as OFQ cutoff points, using Item Response Theory (IRT). A large sample of high school students from Greece (N = 1579, Mage = 16.12, SDage = 0.85; 50.5 percent females) completed the OFQ and the data were analyzed using IRT procedures. The analysis indicated that items in the OFQ possess differing levels of discrimination and difficulty, although all items were generally within acceptable ranges. An OFQ cutoff score of 5 represented an extremely high level of online flow experiences. The findings suggest that the OFQ generally functions as an acceptable marker of overall online flow. However, the current format of the OFQ appears to inhibit its ability to detect variability at the extreme low and high ends of the latent trait in the population assessed. Future revisions (potentially employing computerized adaptive tests) of the OFQ response format may enhance its utility

Deep learning(s) in gaming disorder through the user-avatar bond: a longitudinal study using machine learning

Background and aims: Gaming disorder [GD] risk has been associated with the way gamers bond with their visual representation (i.e., avatar) in the game-world. More specifically, a gamer's relationship with their avatar has been shown to provide reliable mental health information about the user in their offline life, such as their current and prospective GD risk, if appropriately decoded. Methods: To contribute to the paucity of knowledge in this area, 565 gamers (Mage = 29.3 years; SD =10.6) were assessed twice, six months apart, using the User-Avatar-Bond Scale (UABS) and the Gaming Disorder Test. A series of tuned and untuned artificial intelligence [AI] classifiers analysed concurrently and prospectively their responses. Results: Findings showed that AI models learned to accurately and automatically identify GD risk cases, based on gamers' reported UABS score, age, and length of gaming involvement, both concurrently and longitudinally (i.e., six months later). Random forests outperformed all other AIs, while avatar immersion was shown to be the strongest training predictor. Conclusion: Study outcomes demonstrated that the user-avatar bond can be translated into accurate, concurrent and future GD risk predictions using trained AI classifiers. Assessment, prevention, and practice implications are discussed in the light of these findings

Огляд ефективності державних антикорупційних інституцій в Україні

The objective of the article is a review of the state anti-corruption institutions' effectiveness in Ukraine. An important part of anti-corruption reform in Ukraine has been the complete transformation of anti-corruption institutions. That is why the authors try to use the most optimal methodology that would be able to ensure the comprehensiveness and completeness of the study: phenomenological; the descriptive; the hypothetic-deductive; the statistical; and the method of case law analysis. It is proposed to analyze the anti-corruption powers of general competence authorities in the sphere of anti-corruption. The authors analyzed the powers of specialized anti-corruption authorities' functioning: the National Agency on Corruption Prevention; the National Anti-Corruption Bureau; the National Agency for finding, tracing, and management of assets derived from corruption and other crimes; the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and the High Anti-Corruption Court. The conclusion is drawn that, realizing the need of the anti-corruption task, the state has developed an extensive and relatively closed system of specialized anti-corruption authorities. Almost all bodies of state power and local self-government have acquired certain anti-corruption competencies. The authors made conclusion that such dispersion of powers, and in some cases their duplication, does not simplify, but rather complicates the effectiveness of combating corruption.Стаття присвячена важливій та актуальній темі – аналізу ефективності діяльності державних антикорупційних інституцій в Україні. Автори наголошують, що корупція є однією з основних загроз національній безпеці. Саме тому важливо вживати правові, організаційні, економічні, політичні та моральні заходи для протидії цьому деструктивному явищу. Важливою частиною антикорупційної реформи в Україні стала повна трансформація антикорупційних інституцій. Автори аналізують позицію наукової доктрини щодо сутності та значення інституційних особливостей протидії корупції в Україні. З’ясовано, що успіх науковго дослідження прямо пропорційно залежить від обрання правильної методології дослідження. Саме тому автори намагалися підібрати найбільш оптимальну методологію, яка б повністю змогла б забезпечити повноту дослідження. Пропонується проаналізувати антикорупційні повноваження органів загальної компетенції у сфері протидії корупції. А саме: Верховної Ради України, Кабінету Міністрів України та Президента України. Потім аналізують повноваження та рівень успішності функціонування спеціалізованих антикорупційних інституцій, зокрема, таких як Національне агентство з питань запобігання корупції, Національне антикорупційне бюро України, Агенство з розшуку та менеджменту активів, Спеціалізована антикорупційна прокуратура та Вищий Антикорупційний суд України. Особливу увагу зосереджено на проблемах у співпраці між антикорупційними інституціями. Робиться висновок про те, що усвідомлюючи значущість завдання з протидії корупції держава розробила розгалужену та відносно замкнену систему спеціалізованих антикорупційних органів. Поза тим певні стратегічні повноваження у сфері протидії корупції зберегли й органи загальної компетенції

РОЛЬ ЭПИТЕЛИАЛЬНО-МЕЗЕНХИМАЛЬНОГО ПЕРЕХОДА И АУТОФАГИИ В ПРОТИВООПУХОЛЕВОМ ОТВЕТЕ КЛЕТОЧНЫХ ЛИНИЙ МЕЛАНОМЫ НА ТАРГЕТНОЕ ИНГИБИРОВАНИЕ MEK и mTOR КИНАЗ

Introduction. Cutaneous melanoma is a challenge to treat due to rapid progression of disease and acquired resistance to therapy. Autophagy and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are closely interrelated and play a key role in tumor progression. Targeted co-inhibition of MEK and mTOR kinases is a potential target for melanoma therapy by downregulatoin of the EMT.Objective: to study the effect of MEK and mTOR co-inhibition on cell viability, ability to form 3D-spheroids and migratory capacity of melanoma cell lines, and correlation of these changes with EMTand autophagy-related markers.Material and Methods. Melanoma cell lines Mel Z and Mel MTP were derived from patients, who were treated at the N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology. The antiproliferative effect of binimetinib and/or rapamycin was studied by the MTT -test. 3D spheroids were formed using RGD peptides. Cell migration and invasion were assessed by a Boyden chamber migration assay. The expression levels of autophagy and EMT markers were investigated by immunocytochemistry or immunoblotting.Results. Rapamycin increased cytotoxicity of binimetinib in both 2D and 3D melanoma cell line cultures. At the same time, binimetinib and rapamycin reduced invasion, but not migration capacity of melanoma cells in vitro. The effectiveness of the combination was associated with a decrease in the EMT markers (N-cadherin and β-catenin) and autophagy markers (Beclin 1, p62/SQST M1 and LC3BII ) in melanoma cells.Conclusion. Inactivation of autophagy and EMT leads to overcoming the resistance to current anti-melanoma therapy and can be considered as a promising target for the treatment of melanoma.Введение. Возникновение резистентности и дальнейшая опухолевая прогрессия остаются актуальной проблемой в лечении меланомы кожи. Процесс аутофагии и эпителиально-мезенхимальный переход (ЭМП) тесно связаны между собой и играют ключевую роль в опухолевой прогрессии. Таргетное коингибирование МЕК и mTOR киназ является потенциальной мишенью для терапии меланомы, нацеленной на блокирование ЭМП.Цель работы – изучение влияния ко-ингибирования МЕК и mTOR киназ на выживаемость, возможность формирования 3D-сфероидов и миграционные способности клеточных линий меланомы, а также взаимосвязь этих изменений с маркерами ЭМП и аутофагии.Материал и методы. Работа проведена на клеточных линиях меланомы Mel Z и Mel MTP, полученных от пациентов, проходивших лечение в НМИЦ онкологии им. Н.Н. Блохина. Оценку антипролиферативной активности биниметиниба и/или рапамицина исследовали МТТ-тестом. 3D-сфероиды получали на основе RGDпептидов, миграционную способность и инвазивность оценивали к камере Бойдена и базальном матриксе. Изменения экспрессии маркеров аутофагии и ЭМП исследованы иммуноцитохимически или иммуноблоттингом.Результаты. Рапамицин усиливал цитотоксичность биниметиниба как в 2D-, так и в 3D-культурах клеточных линий меланомы. При этом биниметиниб и рапамицин снижали инвазию, но не миграцию клеток меланомы in vitro. Эффективность комбинации связана со снижением маркеров ЭМП N-кадхерина и β-катенина и аутофагии в клетках меланомы – Беклин 1, р62/SQST M1 и LC3BII .Заключение. Инактивация аутофагии и ЭМП позволяет преодолевать резистентность к существующей терапии и может быть рассмотрена как перспективная мишень для терапии меланомы

Эффективность и безопасность эрибулина при различных подтипах рака молочной железы: данные из реальной клинической практики в России

The article presents a pooled experience of the use of eribulin in the real clinical practice of treatment of metastatic breast cancer in Russian oncological institutions. The effectiveness of the drug in monotherapy with HER2‑negative breast cancer was analyzed, groups of patients with most effective use of eribulin were identified depending on the localization of metastases, the most effective lines of therapy. The effectiveness of the drug in combination with trastuzumab in HER2‑positive breast cancer is described, as well as toxic reactions. В статье представлен обобщенный опыт применения эрибулина в реальной клинической практике онкологических учреждений РФ при метастатическом раке молочной железы. Проанализирована эффективность препарата в монотерапии при HER2-отрицательном раке молочных желез, выделены группы больных в зависимости от локализации метастазов, линии терапии, в которых препарат оказался максимально эффективным. Описана эффективность препарата в комбинации с трастузумабом при HER2-положительном раке молочной железы, а также токсические реакции. 

Genome-wide association study of germline variants and breast cancer-specific mortality

BACKGROUND: We examined the associations between germline variants and breast cancer mortality using a large meta-analysis of women of European ancestry. METHODS: Meta-analyses included summary estimates based on Cox models of twelve datasets using ~10

Psychological TV-series as a Phenomenon of the Consumer Society of the XXI Century

Introduction. The article examines modern psychological television series as one of the ways to satisfy the thirst for consumption and the desire to find meaning. The author considers the consumer society and the thirst for consumption as its integral characteristic and habit of a person in modern society. To analyze this phenomenon, the author turns to the works of philosophers, finding confirmation of their concepts in modern reality. The emphasis is on the fact that the objects of consumption are “objects” belonging to both material and spiritual culture, with the peculiarity that in the consumer choice itself there is no reflection as its basis. The subject of the research is the phenomenon of modern psychological TV-series.Methodology and sources. To analyze the phenomenon of psychological television series in the context of modern mass and popular culture, the author uses the method of phenomenological analysis, the method of historical parallels, the value method, the dialectical method. The article uses an interdisciplinary and comparative approach. The author relies on the work of representatives of these philosophical trends – Karl Marx, Erich Fromm, Alvin Toffler, Jean Baudrillard, Victor Frankl and others.Results and discussion. We can name many reasons why people can watch TV-series, for example, taking a break from routine, a desire to relax, this is a certain way of spending leisure time. Our goal was to analyze TV-series as a phenomenon of a consumer society, and the situation when watching the series is a goal in itself and a kind of escapism, a way to escape from reality and filling your time. The task was to identify the natural and social reasons for the popularity of modern psychological series.Conclusion. As a result of the analysis, the author concluded that modern high-quality television series perform a triune task. On the one hand, they captivate the plot and allow you to relax and relieve stress, avoiding strong concentration. On the other hand, they involve a claim to be intelligent. And the third point – they distract from routine and everyday life while eliminating the need for a daily choice of a way of spending leisure time. TV-series are a product of the consumer society, and therefore the prerequisite for reflection contained in them is far from always being realized. As a result, the series itself becomes for a person just another way to spend their own time and fill the inner emptiness