The current study investigated the role of early maladaptive schema (EMS), particularly the schemas subjugation and self-sacrifice in mediating the relationship between adverse childhood...Show moreThe current study investigated the role of early maladaptive schema (EMS), particularly the schemas subjugation and self-sacrifice in mediating the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and transdiagnostic somatic symptoms. Through convenience sampling, participants’ demographic data, EMS score (YSQ-3), ACE score (ACE questionnaire), and presence of transdiagnostic somatic symptoms (DSM-5 Self-Rated Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure) were measured. The total scores of subjugation and self-sacrifice, ACE, and transdiagnostic somatic symptoms were respectively summated, then analysed through mediation analysis. Participants were (N = 131) students of Leiden University from the age of 18 years old (M = 19, IQR = 2), comprising of 91.2% female and 8.8% male. Through the analysis, it was found that subjugation and self-sacrifice together significantly mediate the relationship between ACE and transdiagnostic somatic symptoms (b = .314, p = .003). The indirect effect was found to have mediated 55.6% (b = .175, p = .002) of the relationship. Moreover, exploratory analyses indicated that individually, subjugation and self-sacrifice also successfully mediated this relationship. This finding further strengthens the existing argument that following ACE, particular behavioral stress-response may lead to transdiagnostic somatic symptoms in later life. In this case, the schemas subjugation and self-sacrifice were found to be crucial in this relationship. Thus, providing a deeper look into the developmental trajectory of the ACE, EMS, and transdiagnostic domains and may aid clinicians in recognizing and targeting schemas related to transdiagnostic somatic symptoms.Show less
This study aims to empirically assess the influence of K-pop music on the perception of South Korea as a desirable travel destination among foreign K-pop fans. Investigating the multifaceted...Show moreThis study aims to empirically assess the influence of K-pop music on the perception of South Korea as a desirable travel destination among foreign K-pop fans. Investigating the multifaceted factors that attract visitors, including the roles of government initiatives and corporate efforts, the research explores the significance of K-pop within the broader context of influences on foreign K-pop fans’ decisions to visit South Korea. Through survey data collected from 1751 K-pop fans, the results demonstrate that K-pop has a substantial impact on their perception of South Korea, contributing positively to the country's image as a tourist destination. Furthermore, the research underscores the continued value of government and corporate efforts to attract visitors, particularly through the creation of K-pop-related locations for fan visits. While K-pop does not emerge as the primary motivational factor for half of the respondents, it emerges as the most influential factor shaping the intention to visit South Korea.Show less
While amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are primarily defined by cognitive deficits, studies have demonstrated that motor impairments can precede cognitive...Show moreWhile amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are primarily defined by cognitive deficits, studies have demonstrated that motor impairments can precede cognitive symptoms by several years in these conditions. However, it is uncertain if the ability to learn sequences of movements is also impaired in this population. Therefore, this study investigated whether aMCI and AD affect motor sequence learning abilities, and how such abilities are related to AD biomarkers. The sample included 33 individuals with aMCI, 28 with AD, and 52 healthy controls (HCs). All groups completed a motor task consisting of performing a sequence of button presses, alternated with random blocks. Reaction time, coefficient of variation, and learning rates were obtained from the task. Participants also completed a series of cognitive tests to assess memory, visuospatial abilities, processing speed, language, and attention. Additionally, the following biomarkers for AD were assessed: amyloid beta via PET imaging, hippocampal volume via structural MRI, and number of e4 alleles via APOE genotyping. ANOVAs showed that AD participants had longer and more variable reaction times, followed by aMCI individuals, and with HCs having the shorter and more consistent reaction times. No significant differences in sequence learning rate were observed between groups. Exploratory analyses revealed that aMCI/AD had significantly slower initial learning rate than HCs. Linear regressions showed associations of slower reaction times with smaller hippocampal volume, and of higher coefficients with higher amyloid deposition. Poisson regressions revealed no significant correlations between motor sequence learning and APOEe4 allele count. Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) results indicated that combining cognitive test with motor measures improves the prediction of AD biomarkers. Overall, AD and aMCI individuals showed impairments in general motor performance but relatively preserved motor sequence learning abilities, with some deficits in initial rate of learning. Moreover, statistical model comparison suggested that adding motor sequence learning measures to neuropsychological assessment tools enhanced the prediction of AD biomarkers. As such, future studies should explore the value of integrating motor sequence learning measures in the assessment and tracking of AD/aMCI.Show less
People in debt often avoid contacting their creditors, a behaviour likely driven by feelings of shame. In the Netherlands, around one million households face significant debt, leading to stress and...Show morePeople in debt often avoid contacting their creditors, a behaviour likely driven by feelings of shame. In the Netherlands, around one million households face significant debt, leading to stress and shame, which exacerbates financial problems by hindering communication with creditors. This study investigates the impact of building shame resilience on reducing avoidance behaviours among debtors. Enhancing shame resilience means increasing individuals' sense of control over their situation and reducing feelings of being trapped. These factors can empower debtors to confront their financial problems rather than avoid them. Thus, an experiment involving 308 participants with financial distress evaluated the effectiveness of different versions of the same creditor letter. These messages were adjusted to either increase a sense of control, reduce feelings of being trapped, or serve as a baseline with no specific emotional content. The study hypothesised that these adjustments would lead to greater willingness to contact creditors and that gender might moderate the impact. Results showed that messages enhancing control or reducing feelings of being trapped significantly increased participants' willingness to engage with creditors. Although the hypothesis regarding gender moderation was not supported overall, women responded more positively to messages reducing feelings of being trapped. These findings suggest that supportive communication strategies addressing emotional barriers like shame can facilitate better debt management. The study's implications for policy and creditor practices emphasise prioritising psychological well-being to enhance financial stability.Show less
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized primarily by motor symptoms due to the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. However, non-motor symptoms such as cognitive...Show moreParkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized primarily by motor symptoms due to the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. However, non-motor symptoms such as cognitive decline are prevelant in up to 80% of PD patients. Multi-system degeneration and neurotransmitter decifiences are likely the cause. One of the systems implicated in PD-related cognitive decline is the cholinergic system but it remains unclear to what extent the system is affected and how it links to different disease stages. This retrospective cohort study explores the integrity of the cholinergic system in PD through the measurement of alpha reactivity using electroencephalography (EEG). EEG data from 191 participants, including 46 early-stage PD patients, 17 late-stage PD patients, and 128 healthy controls was analyzed. Alpha reactivity, measured as the difference in alpha power between eyes closed and eyes open conditions, was assessed via EEG. Cognition was assessed via the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE). Results revealed significantly reduced alpha reactivity in PD patients compared to healthy controls. ANCOVA analyses demonstrated reductions in alpha reactivity in both early-stage and late-stage PD groups when compared to healthy controls. However, no significant reduction in alpha reactivity was found between early and late-stage PD patients. These findings provide neurophysiological evidence of a reduction in alpha reactivity in PD patients, which could indicate a cholinergic dysfunction in PD, irrespective of disease stage. This study also highlights the potential utility of alpha reactivity as a biomarker for assessing disease severity.Show less
Migration as a theme has held a prominent position in the (European) museum world since the 1990s. An extensive theoretical debate on its representation has been evolved since then. City museums...Show moreMigration as a theme has held a prominent position in the (European) museum world since the 1990s. An extensive theoretical debate on its representation has been evolved since then. City museums have emerged as important arenas for the exploring of the migration theme. In the development of migration-themed exhibitions, a common practice involves collaborating with local migrant communities to gather narratives previously untold or underrepresented. Whether the collected (hi)stories are presented and stored through tangible or intangible means, often this collected information is “new”. Despite the enduring presence of migration as a phenomenon throughout human history, relatively little attention has been directed towards exploring it within existing historical museum collections. While some scholars recognize the potential of historical collections to contribute to inclusive migration representations, this aspect remains relatively underexplored. This study employed two primary research strategies to address this gap. Firstly, interviews were conducted with six city museum professionals. Secondly, collection research was undertaken at the Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, focusing on revisiting its historical collection. The research uncovered that revisiting historical city museum collections can yield valuable insights into migration-related histories. By posing different questions and embracing an interdisciplinary approach, previously overlooked objects can be reinterpreted to narrate migration stories. The effectiveness of this approach was demonstrated through the case study of the Stedelijk Museum Schiedam, where several migration-related objects were identified within the historical collection. These objects, including a curved draw knife, a painting, and a sketch, symbolized various migration stories to Schiedam, such as German, Polish, and Huguenot migrations. The interdisciplinary aspect was found to be essential in enriching the revisiting process. Linking historical or archaeological data to museum collections facilitated a deeper understanding of migration-related narratives. Furthermore, exposing historical museum objects to present-day impulses can offer fresh perspectives. While participative projects have been advocated as a primary method for gathering new migration stories, this research revealed a certain hesitancy, fearing the reduction of migrants' experiences to stereotypical representations. Instead, there was a preference for embedding migration within other themes, allowing for a more nuanced portrayal of individuals' lives beyond their migrant status. Overall, this research revealed that revisiting historical city museum collections can offer valuable insights into migration-related histories. Furthermore, it contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the use of participative strategies in sourcing migration objects, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and thoughtful integration in the European city museum context.Show less
Chronic maxillary sinusitis (CMS) is a much debated topic and the current clinical literature states that up to 40% of the maxillary sinusitis cases can be caused by dental disease. This is called...Show moreChronic maxillary sinusitis (CMS) is a much debated topic and the current clinical literature states that up to 40% of the maxillary sinusitis cases can be caused by dental disease. This is called odontogenic maxillary sinusitis (OMS). Unilateral CMS is even believed to be induced by dental disease in approximately 75% of the cases. In bioarchaeology, odontogenic sinusitis has been somehow understudied, since very few archaeological studies on sinusitis have taken dental disease into consideration. Studying the impact of dental disease can give more contextualisation to previous studies on respiratory disease, including CMS. Both CMS and dental disease can be observable in archaeological context as various skeletal changes. This thesis research aims to test if the presence of CMS is related to the presence of dental disease within two post-medieval populations from Arnhem and Middenbeemster. The dental pathological conditions that are included here are periapical abscesses, periodontal disease, ante-mortem tooth loss and oroantral fistulae. First, the relation between CMS and dental disease has been investigated for the sample in its entirety, as well as on the intrasite level. After this, differences in the prevalence rates of OMS were investigated on the intersite level (i.e., between populations and between sex groups across populations). Chi squared tests and the Fisher’s Exact Test were used to test the hypotheses. The results show that there is no statistically significant correlation between the presence of chronic maxillary sinusitis and the presence of dental disease. Moreover, the differences in the prevalence rates of CMS did not hold any statistical significance either. It can be suggested that other factors, such as climate, smoking, or hazards as the result of urbanisation, have played a bigger role in the development of chronic maxillary sinusitis in the current sample. Although not significant, there was a stronger correlation between CMS and dental disease in the rural sample than in the urban sample. A stronger relationship was also observed in females than in males. Therefore, it might be suggested that dental disease played a more important role in the development of CMS among these subgroups. Furthermore, it is observed that OMS is slightly more prevalent in the urban population and has a slight female predominance.Show less
Research implies that stroke rehabilitation might benefit from music as an add-on in physical therapy. Nevertheless, it is still not widely used and researched. This research aims to examine if...Show moreResearch implies that stroke rehabilitation might benefit from music as an add-on in physical therapy. Nevertheless, it is still not widely used and researched. This research aims to examine if sonification, translating movement into sound, or rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) of movement, using background music, shows a greater learning process while playing the Pizzicato game. As both have shown to be a profitable add-on, the current research question is, “Which auditory-motor training method is most suitable for stroke rehabilitation?”. Here, we predict that sonification will show a greater learning increase over RAS, while a combination of the two exceeds all the conditions. 75 participants were randomly assigned over four conditions to play the Pizzicato game. The results arising from a 1x4 ANOVA show a lack of overall significant effects, even though significant effects are seen in sonification, and RAS compared to no sound. Concluding sonification and RAS can possibly enhance motor learning performance, while a combination of the auditory stimuli could result in a cognitive overload. Sonification or RAS could cautiously be implemented in stroke rehabilitation only if it is to increase enjoyability in rehabilitation.Show less
This thesis explores the concept of linguistic secession and its implications within the framework of international law, focusing on the case studies of Québec and Abkhazia. Through a detailed...Show moreThis thesis explores the concept of linguistic secession and its implications within the framework of international law, focusing on the case studies of Québec and Abkhazia. Through a detailed examination of historical contexts, it highlights how linguistic identity can fuel secessionist movements and evaluates the extent to which linguistic discrimination can justify claims for independence. By analysing legal doctrines and international treaties, the study assesses the applicability of remedial secession as a response to linguistic subjugation. The findings suggest that while language plays a pivotal role in shaping national identity, the legitimacy of secession based on linguistic grounds remains contentious. The research underscores the importance of ensuring that internal self-determination is properly implemented and the need of protecting linguistic rights within existing state structures, offering insights into the evolving nature of self-determination in the global legal landscape.Show less
Education serves as a pivotal driver of societal advancement, yet persistent obstacles hinder universal access to quality education in low-middle-income countries. Concurrently, the phenomenon of...Show moreEducation serves as a pivotal driver of societal advancement, yet persistent obstacles hinder universal access to quality education in low-middle-income countries. Concurrently, the phenomenon of brain drain, characterized by the migration of skilled individuals to foreign shores, poses a considerable challenge to these nations. This study employs linear regression analysis to delve into the impact of educational assistance on emigration rates, with a particular focus on the dynamics of brain drain. Drawing from diverse theoretical frameworks, including Schumpeter's theory and insights gleaned from entrepreneurship studies, this research formulates hypotheses to elucidate the relationship between educational development and emigration. It undertakes a comprehensive examination of perspectives surrounding brain drain and delineates the role of education in nurturing sustainable development, with the overarching goal of unraveling the intricate interplay between education and emigration. This research contributes to the discourse on development by offering evidence-based insights into the complications of education assistance affecting brain drain. By understanding the nexus between education and emigration, policymakers can formulate targeted strategies to harness youth talent and drive economic progress in low-middle-income countries, without driving them abroad.Show less
