Violent radicalization during the COVID-19 pandemic: at the intersection of gender, conspiracy theories and psychological distress

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a threat to health, economic stability and collective functioning. The related upsurge in psychological distress has fuelled the emergence of conspiracy theories regarding the origins of the virus. Worldwide, there is mounting evidence that these narratives have increased stigma and discrimination against diverse ethnic, age and occupational groups. However, the role of gender in the dynamics weaving together psychological distress, conspiracy theories and legitimation of violence toward other groups is still unknown. This paper addresses this knowledge gap, analysing a Canadian interprovincial survey conducted in November 2020. In total, 6003 individuals aged 18-35 years residing in large Canadian cities responded to an online survey administered in English and French between October 16 and November 17, 2020. A total of 4928 individuals with complete data on support for violent radicalization (VR), psychological distress, and endorsement of COVID-19 conspiracy theories were included in the analysis. This study indicates that for young Canadian adults, gender, endorsement of COVID-19 conspiracy theories and psychological distress, as measured by the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25), have an interaction effect on support for VR, as measured by both the Sympathy for Violent Radicalization Scale (SyfoR) and the Radicalism Intention Scale (RIS) (both p-values <.001). While the magnitude of the association between support for VR and endorsement of COVID-19 conspiracy theories is greatest among individuals with scores of psychological distress above the clinical cut-off, there is a significant association between scores on support for VR and endorsement of COVID-19 conspiracy theories in both women and men, both above and below the psychological distress cut-off of the HSCL-25. Effective strategies to mitigate the relationship between violent radicalization and pandemic-related psychological distress must explicitly address gender differences in expression and management of psychological distress

Violent radicalization during the COVID-19 pandemic: at the intersection of gender, conspiracy theories and psychological distress

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a threat to health, economic stability and collective functioning. The related upsurge in psychological distress has fuelled the emergence of conspiracy theories regarding the origins of the virus. Worldwide, there is mounting evidence that these narratives have increased stigma and discrimination against diverse ethnic, age and occupational groups. However, the role of gender in the dynamics weaving together psychological distress, conspiracy theories and legitimation of violence toward other groups is still unknown. This paper addresses this knowledge gap, analysing a Canadian interprovincial survey conducted in November 2020. In total, 6003 individuals aged 18-35 years residing in large Canadian cities responded to an online survey administered in English and French between October 16 and November 17, 2020. A total of 4928 individuals with complete data on support for violent radicalization (VR), psychological distress, and endorsement of COVID-19 conspiracy theories were included in the analysis. This study indicates that for young Canadian adults, gender, endorsement of COVID-19 conspiracy theories and psychological distress, as measured by the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25), have an interaction effect on support for VR, as measured by both the Sympathy for Violent Radicalization Scale (SyfoR) and the Radicalism Intention Scale (RIS) (both p-values <.001). While the magnitude of the association between support for VR and endorsement of COVID-19 conspiracy theories is greatest among individuals with scores of psychological distress above the clinical cut-off, there is a significant association between scores on support for VR and endorsement of COVID-19 conspiracy theories in both women and men, both above and below the psychological distress cut-off of the HSCL-25. Effective strategies to mitigate the relationship between violent radicalization and pandemic-related psychological distress must explicitly address gender differences in expression and management of psychological distress

Applications of shear-induced polarized light imaging (SIPLI) technique for mechano-optical rheology of polymers and soft matter materials

A new experimental method for studying the mechano-optical rheology of polymeric liquids and soft matter materials is presented. The method is based on a combination of rotational rheology and a recently developed optical technique—shear-induced polarized light imaging (SIPLI). The method provides a unique opportunity to monitor a complete sample view during rheological measurements in plate–plate and cone-and-plate geometry. Applications of the method are presented including simultaneous SIPLI and the rheology of the oriented lamellar phase of block copolymers and liquid crystals as well as a study of the thermally induced reversible transformation of worm-like micelles to spherical micelles. In addition, a direct relation between the shish formation and the polymer melt viscosity upturn during flow-induced crystallization of semi-crystalline polymers is demonstrated. An application of SIPLI for quantitative birefringence measurements is also shown

Rheological and flow birefringence studies of rod-shaped pigment nanoparticle dispersions

We study rheological and rheo-optical properties of suspensions of anisometric pigment particles in a non-polar fluid. Different rheological regimes from the dilute regime to an orientationally arrested gel state were characterized and compared with existing theoretical models. We demonstrate the intricate flow behaviour in a wide range of volume fractions. A unique combination of the optical properties of the particles results in a giant rheo-optical effect: an unprecedentedly large shear stress-induced birefringence was found in the isotropic range, exhibiting a sharp pre-transitional behaviour

results from the World Mental Health Survey Initiative

Purpose: Understanding the effects of war on mental disorders is important for developing effective post-conflict recovery policies and programs. The current study uses cross-sectional, retrospectively reported data collected as part of the World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative to examine the associations of being a civilian in a war zone/region of terror in World War II with a range of DSM-IV mental disorders. Methods: Adults (n = 3370) who lived in countries directly involved in World War II in Europe and Japan were administered structured diagnostic interviews of lifetime DSM-IV mental disorders. The associations of war-related traumas with subsequent disorder onset-persistence were assessed with discrete-time survival analysis (lifetime prevalence) and conditional logistic regression (12-month prevalence). Results: Respondents who were civilians in a war zone/region of terror had higher lifetime risks than other respondents of major depressive disorder (MDD; OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1, 1.9) and anxiety disorder (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1, 2.0). The association of war exposure with MDD was strongest in the early years after the war, whereas the association with anxiety disorders increased over time. Among lifetime cases, war exposure was associated with lower past year risk of anxiety disorders (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2, 0.7). Conclusions: Exposure to war in World War II was associated with higher lifetime risk of some mental disorders. Whether comparable patterns will be found among civilians living through more recent wars remains to be seen, but should be recognized as a possibility by those projecting future needs for treatment of mental disorders.publishersversionpublishe

The Cohesive Energy of Rutile

The objective of this research is to study the methods available to calculate the cohesive energy of tonic crystals and to apply these methods to the calculation of the cohesive energy of the rutile form of stoichiometrlc titanium dioxide. Rutile was selected because a search of the literature indicated that the cohesive energy of rutile has not been calculated and the cohesive energy is required as one of the initlal steps in the investigation of dislocation energies in rutile

Fourier Analysis of the Theory of Structures of Certain Types

The primary objective of this thesis is to apply the use of Fourier series expansion to the solution of various problems arising in the study of Beam Structures. Following a statement of the theorem itself, a few of the special cases of the series expansion are demonstrated. Included in these sections are the expansions of the Sin-Harmonic, Cos-Harmonic, Odd-Harmonic and the Bi-Symmetric Functions. Sections seven through ten give examples of the Fourier series expansion of an even function, odd function and the expansion of a function, having finite discontinuities, as a special case in section ten. Sections twelve and thirteen give a discussion of the differentiation and integration of Fourier series term by term. The next five sections deal with the methods of determining the Fourier coefficients. In addition to the method of integration, are included the methods of the Numerical solution, the Graphical solution, the combination Graphical and Mechanical method of solution, and the energy method of solution. Section nineteen, which deals with the general theory of beams, was included to introduce the reader to some of the engineering terms and formulas that the author felt were necessary for an understanding of the sections to follow. Section twenty deals wit the solution of an elastically supported beam. Included is the general solution of a beam of this type, the symbols used for the various terms such as deflection, restoring force and loading conditions. The problem is carried on, in section twenty one, to the case of a beam without elastic support. The problem of a beam with a concentrated load acting at its center is set up and expanded in Fourier series in section twenty two. In section twenty three is a discussion of a simple beam with a concentrated load acting at the center. The solution is an application of the Energy method given in section eighteen. Section twenty four is introduced next to extend the previous Fourier series expansion to the case where the limits of integration extend to infinity. The relationship that is found is known as the Fourier Integral Theorem. This theorem is then applied to the solution of an elastically supported beam of infinite span as shown in section twenty five and a uniformly loaded beam of infinite span as shown in section twenty six

SPLATTER! SPLATTER! SPLATTER! Workers’ Health and the Spray Machine Debate

A conflict between industrialization and worker health developed in the painting industry during the early 1900s with the introduction of the spray machine. This technological innovation allowed the application of paint at greater speed and lower cost than hand painting and increased the rate at which painters were exposed to lead and other toxins contained in paint. From roughly 1919 to 1931, the painters’ trade union clashed with employers, paint manufacturers, and legislatures over the impact of the spray machine on the health of workers and the need to enact legislation to regulate its use. While painters made gains on local, state, and national levels during the 1920s to prevent the use of the spray machine, their efforts ultimately failed