Investigation of photosynthetic inactive suspension in some algae cultures at growth and under different illumination

The volume fraction of photosynthetic inactive suspension (PIS) under favorable growth conditions is 1-2% of the total biomass of algae species with rigid silicon - or cellulose membrane (Ph. tricornutum and Ch. vulgaris suboblonga), and does not exceed 0.5% of the populations of cells Is. Galban with cytoplasmic membrane. In the stationary phase of growth, as well as at high light intensities, the percentage of PIS is increased to 10-20% in Ch. vulgaris suboblonga and Ph. Tricornutum cultures. Increasing of PIS fraction is shown in the long-term steady-state, probably due to the high density of the culture, and not to the deficit of mineral nutrition. The particle size of PIS (Ph. tricornutum) widely varies, from a value exceeding the size of the cells to particles of less than 1 mkm3

The discrimination of self from other as a component of empathy.

Despite the centrality of empathy in human social life, there is no widely agreed definition or characterization of the concept of empathy. A common thread in many of the proposed definitions, however, is that empathy presupposes the discrimination of self and other on the grounds that, to empathize with another individual, the mental state of the target individual must first be distinguished from the empathizer's own mental state. The purpose of this study is to investigate this proposal empirically. We employed a paradigm in which participants rated the emotional valence and degree of arousal of 93 facial expressions of mental states. We asked participants to infer the mental state represented by each facial expression (the Other condition) as well as to describe the effect of the expression on their own mental state (the Self condition). An absolute difference score between the Other and the Self conditions was used as an index of a capacity for self-other discrimination. Empathy was measured using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Results show that individuals high in trait empathy discriminate between self and other to a significantly greater degree when judging mental states than individuals low in trait empathy. This suggests that the capacity for self-other discrimination may be a component of the capacity for empathy and that future investigations of the concept of empathy ought to retain it. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

The discrimination of self from other as a component of empathy

All data have been made publicly available at the Open Science Framework and can be accessed at https://osf.io/29d6e. This study was not preregistered

Conspiracies and contagion: Two patterns of COVID-19 related beliefs associated with distinct mental symptomatology

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about unique challenges, leading to a simultaneous decline in global mental well-being and an increase in perceived social threats. The present study explores the interplay between COVID-19 beliefs and mental health symptoms in a multinational sample of 1523 individuals primarily from Canada, the US and Mexico. Between May 2020 and February 2021, participants completed an online survey assessing somatic symptoms, anxiety, depression, alexithymia, and psychotic-like symptoms, along with the newly developed COVID-19 beliefs questionnaire (CBQ). The CBQ consisted of a series of statements corresponding to different beliefs about the origins and consequences of the virus and it revealed two dimensions through Exploratory Factor Analysis: Fear of contagion of COVID-19 (FC) and COVID-19 denial/conspiratorial ideation (CI).Correlation analyses and linear regressions revealed a negative correlation between these two belief patterns as well their distinct associations with mental health symptoms. Fear of contagion was positively predicted by somatic symptoms and anxiety. In contrast, COVID-19 denial/conspiratorial ideation was positively predicted by positive psychotic-like experiences, alexithymia, and depression, and negatively predicted by negative psychotic-like symptoms. Furthermore, the relationship between positive psychotic-like symptoms and CI was mediated negatively by negative psychotic-like symptoms, suggesting that individuals with higher self-reported delusional ideation and bizarre experiences but lower avolition during the pandemic were the most likely to endorse COVID-19 related conspiracy theories.We provide an interpretation of these results according to which these two profiles represent distinct doxastic threat responses, shaped by the interaction between the non-specific pandemic distress response and individual proneness to mental health symptomatology

Структура и механизм вскрывания плодов некоторых представителей подсемейства Hippocrateoideae и трибы Lophopetaleae (Celastraceae R. Br.)

Рассмотрены морфология и анатомическое строение плодов и семян некоторых представителей подсемейства Hippocrateoideae s.l. (включая Salacioideae) и трибы Lophopetaleae семейства Celastraceae (всего 8 видов из 6 родов). Для представителей подсемейства Hippocrateoideae (за исключением тех из них, которые имеют сочные плоды) характерны дробные 3-гнездные коробочки с уплощенными ерикарпиями, образованными отдельными плодолистиками, и крылатые семена (крыло образуется с базального конца семени). Для видов трибы Lophopetaleae характерны листовковидные 3-гнездные коробочки, и крылатые семена (крыло в форме диска вокруг тела семени, либо апикального выроста от него). Яркий признак, свойственный представителям обеих групп – наличие групп склереид (дериватов проводящих пучков) в толще мезокарпия (включая представителей с сочными плодами!). У всех изученных видов в зрелой семенной кожуре хорошо выражены только слои тесты. Особое внимание уделено механизмам вскрывания сухих плодов. Имея ряд общих признаков, представители обеих групп отличаются особенностями формирования и диссеминации своих плодов-коробочек, а также характером расположения крылатых семян в гнездах плода.</p

Spring 2020: Toward a Digital Transformation of Education

“We will remember this spring as a time of digital transformation in education,” these words of Valery Falkov at the opening of 2020 International Moscow Salon of Education convey an atmosphere of change that has filled the entire educational sphere. Today’s disputes on need for measuring teachers` professional deficits grow fast. Deficiency approach focused on revealing certain mismatch of teacher and his professional activity prevails in most studies that identify and assess the level of professional competences. Of course, this one of important tools for determining qualification gaps will be presented in research works, but in combination with activity-based approach which has proved its effectiveness. Action research is one that identifies and professional difficulties and need of teacher and logically determines routes of his professional development through the system of continuing professional education. It should be noticed that pandemic and transition to distant and online learning revealed lack of very simple skills in teachers such as proper organization of learning process in remote or online mode. Many teachers, students and their parents were not psychologically prepared for complete transition to digital education. In this regard, it is quite reasonable to highlight such challenge in education in digitalization process and need for overcoming it. The paper includes analysis of current satiation in school education in terms of digitalization and transition to online learning. The study brings together various views on methodology and mechanisms of digitalizing school education, and criteria of valid identification of teachers` digital competencies. The present study attempts to compile a passport of teacher’s digital competencies and approve a pilot program called “Cognitive models and algorithms for formation of teacher’s digital competence in context of digital transformation of general education”. The reported study was funded by RFBR, project number 19-29-14030

Structure, morphogenesis and evolutional transformation of winged fruits in representatives of the family Celastraceae R. Br.

Structure, peculiarities of morphogenesis and evolutional transformation of winged fruits in representatives of the family Celastraceae R. Br. are considered. Four types of such fruits are distinguished: I – winged fruits – fruits, outgrowths of which are formed due to radial expansion of the pericarp in the dorsal side of the carpel along the axis of the fruit (Tripterygioideae, subgenus Kalonymus genus Euonymus); II – the fruits with winged perianth – fruits, alar outgrowths of which are formed by elements of the perianth (Monimopetalum); III – divided winged fruit – divided fruits-capsules, wingshaped blades of which are formed from proliferating in the axial plane of the carpels (Hippocrateoideae); IV – winged schizocarpium – divided fruit, each mericarpium of which is provided by 3 alar vascularized outgrowths emerging due to the radial expansion of the pericarp from places of carpels fusion and in the dorsal side of the carpel along the axis of fruit (Stackhousioideae). We demonstrated that winged fruits appeared in different subfamilies and tribes