Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many activities and platforms have shifted to the virtual realm, including rituals and ceremonies. When it comes to psychedelic rituals, there are several important...Show moreDue to the COVID-19 pandemic, many activities and platforms have shifted to the virtual realm, including rituals and ceremonies. When it comes to psychedelic rituals, there are several important factors to take into account, such as the setting, dosage, and type of substance consumed. This paper examines the effects of virtual ceremonies on psychedelic experiences. The study utilized an online self-report questionnaire that was sent 1-2 days after the ceremony conducted by retreat company Spinoza. The gathered data were analyzed using thematic qualitative analysis. The categorization and themes were agreed upon by two independent researchers. The themes presented relate to the improvement of mental health and physical comfort along with insightful personal journeys. Further evaluation of the research suggested that the findings provide a general idea about the effects of digital format on the psychedelic experience. It has been found that with digital platforms on psychedelic experiences, individuals can experience clarity of unsolved issues, improved self-regulation, as well as improved emotional and mental states.Show less
Inaction inertia occurs when one is less likely to take an attractive opportunity, after refusing an even more attractive opportunity. In their experiment, van Putten and colleagues (2007) tried to...Show moreInaction inertia occurs when one is less likely to take an attractive opportunity, after refusing an even more attractive opportunity. In their experiment, van Putten and colleagues (2007) tried to decouple the inaction inertia effect by using ambiguous information. Their results yielded that ambiguous information did in fact decouple. However, the authors came to these conclusions by using optional stopping and p-hacking. This influenced the reliability of the results, so we decided to replicate this study, for good research practices and because it can give us valuable insight into how decoupling works when given an attractive offer. We made use of the replication recipe of Brandt and colleagues (2014) to conduct the replication.Show less
Disgust, rooted in human evolutionary history, serves as a vital defense mechanism against pathogens, manifesting in varied behaviors. This paper explores the intricate relationship between disgust...Show moreDisgust, rooted in human evolutionary history, serves as a vital defense mechanism against pathogens, manifesting in varied behaviors. This paper explores the intricate relationship between disgust and visual attention, employing the eye-tracking method. Drawing insights from primate studies, habituation, and human facial expressions, the research aims to address three key questions: Does gaze aversion occur in humans when exposed to disgusting stimuli, extending avoidance behavior into the visual domain? Do individuals exhibit prolonged attention to facial area, indicating a social imperative to assess the risk of pathogen contamination? How does gaze aversion change with repeated exposure to disgust-inducing stimuli? The study employs three conditions, including scenes of feces ingestion in the test condition, to assess total looking time. Results reveal significant gaze aversion towards feces as compared to control conditions, supporting the hypothesis of avoidance behavior. Participants displayed prolonged attention to faces during non-disgusting conditions, challenging assumptions about social necessity for risk assessment. Repeated exposure across trials to disgust-inducing stimuli did not significantly alter gaze behavior, highlighting the nuanced nature of responses to aversive stimuli. Discussion of the findings and implications are also addressed.Show less
In de huidige studie hebben we onderzoek gedaan naar de invloed van Intolerantie voor Onzekerheid (IU; nervositeit voor het onbekende) op processen zoals (1) zekerheid in het geven van een antwoord...Show moreIn de huidige studie hebben we onderzoek gedaan naar de invloed van Intolerantie voor Onzekerheid (IU; nervositeit voor het onbekende) op processen zoals (1) zekerheid in het geven van een antwoord en (2) reactietijd. Met kennis over mechanismen van IU kunnen we symptomen begrijpen en dagelijkse negatieve gevolgen verminderen. Gedurende het experiment kregen 54 gezonde participanten (37 vrouwen, 17 mannen) tussen de 18-40 jaar neutrale en negatieve afbeeldingen met bijhorende beschrijvingen te zien op twee verschillende dagen met 24 uur ertussen. Specifiek is gekeken naar dag twee, waarbij de participanten bij 75 neutrale en 75 negatieve afbeeldingen moesten aangeven of ze de afbeeldingen hadden gezien op de dag ervoor (oud) of niet (nieuw). Ze gaven aan hoe zeker ze waren over hun antwoord (betrouwbaarheidsbeoordeling; VAS 1-100; oud-nieuw). De reactietijd (ms) van deze respons werd voor beide condities gemeten. Daarna vulden participanten de Intolerance for Uncertainty Scale (IUS) in, bestaande uit 27 stellingen waarbij ze aangaven in welke mate de stelling hen typeert. De data zijn geanalyseerd middels niet-parametrische Friedmantoetsen, RMANCOVA en twee regressieanalyses met verschilscores. Daaruit kwamen de volgende bevindingen. Participanten met meer IU vertoonden minder spreiding in zekerheid van hun antwoord en waren gemiddeld langzamer in beide condities. Los van IU, vertoonden participanten meer spreiding in antwoordzekerheid en waren ze gemiddeld langzamer bij de negatieve dan bij de neutrale afbeeldingen. We concluderen dat IU effect heeft op de antwoordzekerheid en op de reactietijd. Of de getoonde afbeeldingen neutraal of negatief zijn blijkt hierbij niet van invloed.Show less
One of the greatest remaining puzzles in physics is what particle dark matter consists of. For this project, the theory of dark pions is considered, a Hidden Valley model that extends the Standard...Show moreOne of the greatest remaining puzzles in physics is what particle dark matter consists of. For this project, the theory of dark pions is considered, a Hidden Valley model that extends the Standard Model with new, dark particles and a new force, dark QCD. A sensitivity study is performed to determine how many dark pions are expected to be in acceptance of the LHCb detector for Run 2 conditions; the LHCb is well-suited to search for particles in the considered O(1) GeV mass and O(1) - O(100) ps lifetime range. Additionally, a framework has been developed to study the dependence of the sensitivity on a number of theoretical parameters of the dark QCD model, namely the probability to form a dark vector meson instead of a dark pion, the number of colours in dark QCD, the dark QCD scale, and the Higgs mass. It is found that O(100) dark pions are in LHCb acceptance for different track categories, and that the considered the- oretical parameters do not drastically change the number of expected particles (with some small caveats), staying within a difference of about 20%. This is acceptable given the expected experimental uncertainty, showing theory inde- pendent searches for dark pions are possible.Show less
Objective: The period after successfully coming off treatment (SCOT) following a childhood cancer diagnosis is known to be a vulnerable time for parents in which increased levels of distress can...Show moreObjective: The period after successfully coming off treatment (SCOT) following a childhood cancer diagnosis is known to be a vulnerable time for parents in which increased levels of distress can play a significant role. It is important to know more about the distress experienced by parents during this period to determine whether an intervention should be used to help parents return to ‘normal life’. The aim of this study was therefore to gain better understanding of parental distress and factors related to their distress during the first year after their child has successfully completed treatment. Methods: A sample of 283 parents of children who had successfully completed cancer treatment in the previous year were included in this cross-sectional study. These parents, who were part of the SCOT group, were invited to complete the Distress Thermometer for Parents (DT-P) within one year after treatment completion. The DT-P consists of a thermometer score to measure experienced distress and problem domains (practical, social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and parenting). Parents in the SCOT group were compared with parents in the general population (NORM group) to see if their distress levels were higher. In addition, the association between distress and the problem domains and child- or parent-related factors (time since the end of treatment, cancer type, child’s age, parental disease, and perceived support) was examined. Results: Parents (73.9% mothers) in the SCOT group experienced higher levels of distress in the first year after SCOT compared to the general population (fathers SCOT: M=3.5, SD=2.6 vs. fathers NORM: M=2.8, SD=2.5; p=.032; mothers SCOT: M=4.1, SD=2.7 vs. mothers NORM: M=3.5, SD=2.7; p=.001). Emotional (p<.001), practical (p=.016), and physical (p=.005) problems were predictors of higher distress levels. Parents’ perceived support from their environment contributed also to their level of distress (p<.001). Conclusions: Parents of children who have successfully completed cancer treatment experience increased levels of distress in the first year after treatment compared to parents in the general population. There may be value in developing an intervention to ease this transition that specifically addresses their emotional well-being and highlights the importance of their social network during this vulnerable period.Show less
Background: Individuals with psychotic disorders (PD) often experience cognitive challenges, particularly in executive functioning (EF), crucial for daily functioning. Sleep disruptions, notably...Show moreBackground: Individuals with psychotic disorders (PD) often experience cognitive challenges, particularly in executive functioning (EF), crucial for daily functioning. Sleep disruptions, notably insomnia, are prevalent in PD, worsening symptoms and affecting overall well-being and treatment outcomes. Moreover, individuals with PD frequently engage in cannabis use, which can further impact EF. Gender differences may also play a role in how cannabis affects EF, though findings are varied. This study aims to deepen our understanding of the interplay between insomnia, EF, and cannabis use in PD individuals, while considering gender influences. We hypothesize that higher insomnia rates correlate with poorer EF in PD, with cannabis mediating this relationship. Additionally, we expect gender disparities to influence how cannabis affects EF. This study sheds light on critical factors affecting cognitive function in PD, aiding in tailored intervention strategies. Method: Data were collected from a randomly selected sample of patients (N=262) undergoing treatment at a mental health care clinic in the South-western part of the Netherlands at time of inclusion. Participants, aged between 18 and 65 at inclusion, had a primary diagnosis of a psychotic disorder. The current study utilized data from the Lichamelijke Klachten Vragenlijst (LKV), the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function for Adults (BRIEF-A), and the Measurements in Addictions for Triage and Evaluation (MATE). Results: Significant correlations indicated a moderate positive association between insomnia and EF problems. However, mediation analysis did not support cannabis use as a mediator between insomnia and EF. Gender differences were explored through residual variances analysis, suggesting potential unaccounted factors impacting variability. Model fit indices revealed areas for improvement in explaining variance, warranting further examination and potential adjustments to refine the overall model fit. Conclusion: Higher rates of insomnia were related to higher rates of EF problems. There is no evidence for a mediating effect of cannabis use in this relationship. Gender differences did not seem to play a significant role in the effect of cannabis on EF. Future research should incorporate performance-based tasks alongside self-report measures to improve measurement precision. Future treatments could potentially benefit from incorporating interventions that address insomnia, as this may lead to potential enhancements in executive functioning.Show less
The past decades have shown a rise in skin cancer. This creates the need for prevention and efficient treatment. The most common skin cancer (melanoma) can only be treated when detected early. In...Show moreThe past decades have shown a rise in skin cancer. This creates the need for prevention and efficient treatment. The most common skin cancer (melanoma) can only be treated when detected early. In this thesis we propose a method of increasing awareness for people with a high risk of skin cancer as well as allowing for early detection. Skin cancer is hard to detect, even for experiences healthcare professionals. One of the signals of potential harm full lesions is change over time. We propose to develop an application with which changes in skin lesions can be identified early. By allowing patients to film their body with a mobile phone camera we aim to track the development of lesions. If a patient films their body regularly changes can be detected and the application can urge the patient to consult a dermatologist. In this thesis we explore the possibility of combining the frames of these films into an overview displaying the patients complete back or arm. Combining frames is called stitching. Different stitching techniques found in literature are explored and tested for effectiveness. The optimizations performed are reported and the final result is presented. The location of the different lesions on an overview of the body is needed to show the patient and the healthcare professional where potential harmful lesions are located on the body. This allows for further inspection at the dermatology department.Show less
Background: Childhood emotional maltreatment by a primary caregiver is a key predictor for PTSD symptoms, yet limited research explores connections with specific symptoms, especially in children....Show moreBackground: Childhood emotional maltreatment by a primary caregiver is a key predictor for PTSD symptoms, yet limited research explores connections with specific symptoms, especially in children. Literature reports gender differences on emotional maltreatment and the experience of PTSD, so it is worth investigating the existence of differences when looking at separate symptoms. Objective: This study aims to investigate the correlation between childhood emotional maltreatment and PTSD symptomatology and identify gender differences in children and adolescents. Method: A sample of 237 children (mean age 15.5) with PTSD symptoms from a Dutch mental health institution (2012-2015) underwent assessment using anonymous questionnaires. Network analysis examined partial correlations between emotional abuse, neglect, intrusions, avoidance, arousal, and negative mood. Results: The network analysis showed a high correlation between emotional abuse and most PTSD symptoms. However, emotional neglect only exhibited a strong association with emotional abuse. Gender differences in how emotional maltreatment and PTSD symptoms interacted were found. Girls reported higher PTSD symptoms and emotional maltreatment than boys. Conclusions: This study highlights the important role of childhood emotional maltreatment in the development of PTSD, among children and adolescents. These results emphasize the need for the customization of PTSD treatment based on the type of maltreatment and gender.Show less
The debate around the issue of abortion rights is not new in American politics. However, in recent years American politics has been polarized along partisan lines. This is also the case in the...Show moreThe debate around the issue of abortion rights is not new in American politics. However, in recent years American politics has been polarized along partisan lines. This is also the case in the abortion rights debate. The abortion rights debate has an effect on policy making in U.S. politics. Abortion rights also play a role in foreign policy making. Under the Trump Presidency, the Mexico City Policy was reinstalled and even further strengthened, entailing that no government funds were allowed to be given to actors that provide or promote abortions. Republicans, after years of supporting the initiative, now also threaten to defund PEPFAR, the successful initiative that has saved millions of lives in the fight against HIV/AIDS. They threaten to do this since they claim that the program funds abortion services. This thesis investigates and reveals the impact that this partisan polarization on the abortion rights issue has on American foreign policy and therefore on the United States’ image and influence in Africa. Furthermore, this research investigates China’s efforts to benefit from America’s impacted foreign policy by the abortion rights discussion. This thesis indeed reveals that the United States’ image and influence in Africa is negatively impacted by the partisan polarized abortion debate in American politics and that China is actively using its propaganda apparatus to portray the United States as hypocritical and unreliable and China as the better alternative.Show less
