Social and moral psychology of COVID-19 across 69 countries

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all domains of human life, including the economic and social fabric of societies. One of the central strategies for managing public health throughout the pandemic has been through persuasive messaging and collective behaviour change. To help scholars better understand the social and moral psychology behind public health behaviour, we present a dataset comprising of 51,404 individuals from 69 countries. This dataset was collected for the International Collaboration on Social & Moral Psychology of COVID-19 project (ICSMP COVID-19). This social science survey invited participants around the world to complete a series of moral and psychological measures and public health attitudes about COVID-19 during an early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (between April and June 2020). The survey included seven broad categories of questions: COVID-19 beliefs and compliance behaviours; identity and social attitudes; ideology; health and well-being; moral beliefs and motivation; personality traits; and demographic variables. We report both raw and cleaned data, along with all survey materials, data visualisations, and psychometric evaluations of key variables.

Predicting attitudinal and behavioral responses to COVID-19 pandemic using machine learning

At the beginning of 2020, COVID-19 became a global problem. Despite all the efforts to emphasize the relevance of preventive measures, not everyone adhered to them. Thus, learning more about the characteristics determining attitudinal and behavioral responses to the pandemic is crucial to improving future interventions. In this study, we applied machine learning on the multinational data collected by the International Collaboration on the Social and Moral Psychology of COVID-19 (N = 51,404) to test the predictive efficacy of constructs from social, moral, cognitive, and personality psychology, as well as socio-demographic factors, in the attitudinal and behavioral responses to the pandemic. The results point to several valuable insights. Internalized moral identity provided the most consistent predictive contribution-individuals perceiving moral traits as central to their self-concept reported higher adherence to preventive measures. Similar results were found for morality as cooperation, symbolized moral identity, self-control, open-mindedness, and collective narcissism, while the inverse relationship was evident for the endorsement of conspiracy theories. However, we also found a non-neglible variability in the explained variance and predictive contributions with respect to macro-level factors such as the pandemic stage or cultural region. Overall, the results underscore the importance of morality-related and contextual factors in understanding adherence to public health recommendations during the pandemic.

National identity predicts public health support during a global pandemic

Changing collective behaviour and supporting non-pharmaceutical interventions is an important component in mitigating virus transmission during a pandemic. In a large international collaboration (Study 1, N = 49,968 across 67 countries), we investigated self-reported factors associated with public health behaviours (e.g., spatial distancing and stricter hygiene) and endorsed public policy interventions (e.g., closing bars and restaurants) during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic (April-May 2020). Respondents who reported identifying more strongly with their nation consistently reported greater engagement in public health behaviours and support for public health policies. Results were similar for representative and non-representative national samples. Study 2 (N = 42 countries) conceptually replicated the central finding using aggregate indices of national identity (obtained using the World Values Survey) and a measure of actual behaviour change during the pandemic (obtained from Google mobility reports). Higher levels of national identification prior to the pandemic predicted lower mobility during the early stage of the pandemic (r = -0.40). We discuss the potential implications of links between national identity, leadership, and public health for managing COVID-19 and future pandemics.

Involuntary reduction in vigour of calves born from sexed semen

The objective of this study was to compare the reproductive traits of heifers and the development characteristics of their calves following artificial insemination (AI) with sexed and non-sexed semen. The analysed characteristics included conception rate, gestation length, calf birth weight, calf vigour, stillbirth rate, and twinning rate. Data of 530 calves produced with sexed and 1,163 calves produced with non-sexed semen were analysed. The General Linear Model (GLM) was applied to assess the influence of semen type, farm, season of insemination, the calf's sex and the inseminating sire on gestation length and calf birth weight. With the exception of gestation length (P > 0.05), all other traits studied were significantly (P < 0.01) influenced by the type of semen. The conception rate was 55% for conventional and 44% for sexed semen, and the average gestation length was 274.6 and 274.9 days, respectively. The mean calf birth weight was 37.47 kg for non-sexed and 36.75 kg for sexed semen. The stillbirth rate was 6.19% for conventional and 7.54% for sexed semen, while the twinning rate was 3.78% for conventional and 1.13% for sexed semen. The calves produced with non-sexed and sexed semen differed significantly in viability (P < 0.001), the latter having a lower calf vigour score. The use of conventional semen did not affect the ratio of female and male calves (52.7:47.3%; P > 0.05); however, artificial insemination with X-sorted sexed semen significantly altered the sex ratio of calves (85.1:14.9%, P < 0.01). The results obtained in this investigation are in agreement with the majority of studies which compared the fertility traits, sex ratio and calf characteristics depending on the application of artificial insemination with sexed or conventional semen.

Fungal-Induced Deterioration of Mural Paintings: In Situ and Mock-Model Microscopy Analyses

Fungal deterioration of frescoes was studied in situ on a selected Serbian church, and on a laboratory model, utilizing standard and newly implemented microscopy techniques. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray confirmed the limestone components of the plaster. Pigments used were identified as carbon black, green earth, iron oxide, ocher, and an ocher/cinnabar mixture. In situ microscopy, applied via a portable microscope ShuttlePix P-400R, proved very useful for detection of invisible micro-impairments and hidden, symptomless, microbial growth. SEM and optical microscopy established that observed deterioration symptoms, predominantly discoloration and pulverization of painted layers, were due to bacterial filaments and fungal hyphal penetration, and formation of a wide range of fungal structures (i.e., melanized hyphae, chlamydospores, microcolonial clusters, Cladosporium-like conidia, and Chaetomium perithecia and ascospores). The all year-round monitoring of spontaneous and induced fungal colonization of a "mock painting" in controlled laboratory conditions confirmed the decisive role of humidity level (70.18±6.91% RH) in efficient colonization of painted surfaces, as well as demonstrated increased bioreceptivity of painted surfaces to fungal colonization when plant-based adhesives (ilinocopie, murdent), compared with organic adhesives of animal origin (bone glue, egg white), are used for pigment sizing.

ATP bioluminescence method: tool for rapid screening of organic and microbial contaminants on deteriorated mural paintings

The extent of the microbial contamination of the seventeenth-century wall paintings in the nave of the old Church of the Holy Ascension (Veliki Krčimir, Serbia) was evaluated via newly implemented ATP bioluminescence method, and traditional cultivation-based method, utilising commercially available dip slides. To assess the validity of ATP, as a biomarker for rapid detection of mural surface contamination, obtained zones of cleanliness values, in range from 1.0 to 5.3, were compared to documented total microbial counts, ranging between seven and 247 CFU/cm². Small coefficients of determination, 0.0106-0.0385, suggest poor correlation between microbial counts and surface ATP levels; however, zones of cleanliness values are of great help in determining the high points of contamination, aka 'hotspots', which should be given special attention during sampling and investigation using other methods. In addition, various aspects of the possible implementation of the ATP bioluminescence method in an integrated system of wall painting conservation are discussed.

Challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of recurrent non-resolving pneumonia - the case of foreign body aspiration in adult mimicking lung neoplasm

Foreign-body tracheobronchial aspiration in adults is fairly rare, and it is caused mostly by the failure of airway protective mechanisms. The symptoms of this clinical entity can mimic many other respiratory diseases, such as recurrent or non-resolving pneumonia, asthma, lung neoplasm etc. Flexible bronchoscopy was indicated in this situation, both for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. We are reporting on a case of a fiftythree- year old women with recurrent, non-resolving pneumonia, recurrent hemoptysis, dyspnea, fiver, chest pain and radiological presentation of middle lobe neoplasm caused by aspirated chicken neck bone.

[Five-years experience with urinary derivation by Sygma-Rectum pouch at the department for urology in Smederevo]

Bladder cancer has poor prognosis. Outcome of the treated patients is dependent on correct staging, histologic grade of the tumor, and correctly realized surgical intervention, i.e. radicality of the operation. During the period from 2002. to 2004, on the Department for Urology in Smederevo, 120 patients were surgically treated because of bladder tumors. Of that number, in 34 patients radical cystectomy and derivation by Sygma-Rectum pouch was done. Of these 34 patients, 22 (64.7%) were being followed during the five-years period.

[Myomectomy by vaginal route]

Myomectomy by vaginal route is the least invasive of all methods for myoma removal. Compared to classical, abdominal myomectomy, it has numerous advantages, especially in cases of fundal and posterior wall myomas, but still it is relatively rarely performed. This study provides an analysis of operative and postoperative course of patients subjected to myomectomy by vaginal route in the period from 01/01/2003 to 01/11/2005 as well as the corresponding control group of patients which had undergone classical, abdominal myomectomy. The study points out to significance and advantages of application of surgical technique for removal of myoma through the posterior wall of the vagina as opposed to classical, abdominal myomectomy. Transvaginal myomectomy eliminates trauma of laparotomy, intraoperative blood loss is reduced, postoperative complications are down to minimum, postoperative recovery is shorter, and so is the number of days spent in hospital. Thus, by performing this type of surgery, a positive cost-benefit effect is obtained not only for the patient but for health authorities as well.

[Our experience in the Martius method of closing the vesicovaginal fistula]

Sometimes after delivery, gynecological or other surgeries, radiological therapy, or destructions of vesico-vaginal septum due to the tumor or trauma, the unnatural communication between the bladder and vagina occurs. Those are fistulas that occur after the delivery (tocogenic) caused by the prolonged delivery or some obstetrics operations. Some fistulas are high, coming from the fundus of the bladder, medium, if they come just behind the trigonum of the bladder, and low, if they are in the level of trigonum and the neck of the bladder. The purpose of this paper is to show the operative technique of elimination of medium and low vesicovaginal fistula and the results of the treatment. Material and method The elimination of the vesicovaginal fistula by original Martius technique is done through vagina. The catheter is inserted through the fistula (figure 1). Than the mucosis of the vagina is cut around the fistula and the vaginal wall is separated from the bladder. The catheter is pulled out and the fistula on the bladder is sown with resorptive stitches. Than the labia maiora nearer to the fistula is cut along from Mons Veneris to the middle and the lipoid tissue is taken with vascular pedicle (figure 2). This tissue is put between the bladder and the vagina and fixed with resorptive stitches. After that the vagina is sown by single stitches. The labia maiora that was cut is also sown by single stitches (figure 3). Than the catheter is inserted in the bladder that should stay there for four weeks. This is the method we used to make surgery in twenty patients with vesicovaginal fistula. The first one had the fistula as the result of the Caesarean section. She was operated twice through the bladder without success. The second patient was a fourteen years old girl that cut herself on the glass and damaged anal sfincter, rectum, vagina and the bladder. The fistula appeared later in the level of trigonum of the bladder. The other eighteen patients got fistula after hysterectomy. All patients were treated as described above and fistulas disappeared. The first patient had another baby a year after the operation by Caesarean section. The other patients have regular miction (figure 4 and 5). Discussion and the conclusion Vesicovaginal fistula are serous complications, for the patients and for the doctors. The only treatment of the vesicovaginal fistula is surgical. If any damage of the bladder occurs during any operation it should be treated immediately, otherwise the fistula will appear. The treatment depends of the localization of the fistula. Low fistulas and some medium and urethrovaginal fistulas should be approached through vagina and according to our experience Martius's method is very efficient. The only important thing is when the fistula is detected to wait at least for two or three months for the fistula to "consolidate" and also to cure the infection.

[Fixation of the vagina and neovagina with the sacrospinal ligament]

In order to fix the prolapse of vaginal vault after vaginal or abdominal hysterectomy we use the technique of transvaginal sacrospinous colpopexy. The authors used this technique for the firs time when they have made neovagina at male transsexual. The technique is as follows: after making the tunnel between the bladder and recrum, under the control of the left hand fingers the vagina, or neovagina is fixed to sacrospinous ligament. No complications or recidive followed the operation ever. The authors point out that the skillfull surgeon should know very well the anatomy of both male or female pelvis in order to perform this operation.

[Creation of a new vagina using a part of the rectosigmoid colon]

The paper shows the indications, preoperative and intraoperative evaluation as well as the way to make a new vagina. The authors advise to use part of colon sigmoideum to make a new vagina, this vagina is very much like the real one and the function is unlimited. During the operation the shortest possible part of colon sigmoideum should be taken in order to avoid oversecretion (mucorrhoea). After taking the segment and making termino-terminal anastomosis the tunnel should be made between the bladder and rectum and the segment should be stitched to the introitus of the vagina. For three weeks after the operation the patient should keep a tampon in the [figures: see text] new vagina and we suggest the dilatation of the introitus for three months. After the three months period we advise the sexual intercourse. The number of postoperative complications was minimal and the sexual intercourse was normal.

[Advantages of laparoscopically-assisted vaginal hysterectomy in comparison with the traditional approach]

The authors are discussing the advantages of the laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy over the traditional vaginal method, comparing two groups of patients operated in both techniques. In 30 patients from the first group the traditional vaginal hysterectomy have been performed as part of the operation needed in order to change their sex. 20 patients from the second group have been operated, due to different indications, by laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy. Comparing the indications, the operation itself and the results in postoperative treatment the authors concluded that, for the laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy the indications are more numerous, practically there are no contraindications, the operation itself is easier, because all abdominal organs are visible on the screen. As for the results after the operation, they are almost identical in both groups. The only advantage of the traditional method is that, sometimes, the operation itself does not last long. The greatest benefit of laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy is the potential to convert what would have been an abdominal hysterectomy into a vaginal hysterectomy. The authors unanimously concluded that only experienced surgeons can perform both operations.

[Vaginoplasty in male to female sex change operations]

Vaginoplasty presents the main procedure in one-stage male to female sex reassignment surgery. Our new vagina consist of two parts: a long vascularized urethral flap and a pedicled island tube skin flap serrated from the penile skin. The urethral segment of the vagina plays a major role, giving the vagina depth, width and providing moisture. In the period from January 1989 to August 1995, 89 patients aged 18 to 56 years underwent surgery. The follow-up ranged from 3 months to 6 years (mean 4.1 years). Satisfactory cosmetic and functional results were obtained in 86% of cases.

[An ultrasonic scalpel for laparoscopic gynecologic surgery]

In order to obtain good results in laparoscopic surgery the surgeon should be well trained and experienced and the equipment perfect. The recent innovation in laparoscopic surgery is the ultrasonically activated scalpel. Scissors make the working part of scalpel with one hand vibrating 55,000 Hz in a second. The effect reflects in braking hydrogen links and denaturation of proteins in instant haemostasis and coagulation in blood vessels, and there is no need of tying them up. Practically, there is no damaging of the surrounding tissues. The technique is easy to use. When performing laparoscopic vaginal hysterectomy and adnexectomy the ligamentum infundibulopelvicum and ligamentum rotundum are cut, and there the blood vessels are not thicker than 3 millimeters. As these ligaments are easy to reach with ultrasonically activated scalpel, we can say that this instrument is the ideal option for laparoscopic vaginal hysterectomy.

[The modern approach to hysterectomy]

Being quite experienced in the field of gynaecologic surgery and hysterectomies especially, being familiar with recent innovations in laparoscopic surgery and also having some own experience in laparoscopic surgery, the authors discuss the advantages and disadvantages of all surgical methods of hysterectomy. Comparing the techniques, the duration, bearing in mind the the risks, overall costs and all other surgical details, the authors concluded that laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy is the best choice because it is the least invasive, less risky, no scars are left, the postoperative recovery is quick, there are numerous indications for it, the preparation obtained as a whole can be used for further clinical examination. The only disadvantage is it is too costly and sometimes the operation itself lasts too long, so it should not be applied in some cases.

Activation and repression of transcription by the gap proteins hunchback and Krüppel in cultured Drosophila cells

We have studied the ability of the Drosophila gap proteins Krüppel and hunchback to function as transcriptional regulators in cultured cells. Both proteins bind to specific sites in a 100-bp DNA fragment located upstream of the segment polarity gene engrailed, which also contains functional binding sites for a number of homeo box proteins. The hunchback protein is a strikingly concentration-dependent activator of transcription, capable of functioning both by itself and also synergistically with the pair-rule proteins fushi tarazu and paired. In contrast, Krüppel is a transcriptional repressor that can block transcription induced either by hunchback or by several different homeo box proteins. While repression of the homeo box protein activators requires a Krüppel-binding site on the DNA, repression of hunchback can occur efficiently in the absence of a Krüppel-binding site. We discuss the possible molecular mechanisms underlying these activities, as well as the potential significance of these results with respect to segmentation in Drosophila.

Sequence-specific DNA-binding activities of the gap proteins encoded by hunchback and Krüppel in Drosophila

The segmentation of the Drosophila body plan depends on a hierarchy of interactions among approximately 20-25 regulatory genes that are active in the early embryo (refs 1-4; for a review see ref. 5). The gap genes have a key role in this process and are responsible for the periodic expression of certain pair-rule genes and the localized expression of several homoeotic genes. The two best characterized gap genes, hunchback (hb) and Krüppel (Kr), contain homologies with the zinc-finger DNA-binding motif, although their mode of action in the early embryo is unknown. Here we report that both of the proteins encoded by these genes possess sequence-specific DNA-binding activities, which indicates that they might regulate gene expression at the level of transcription. The binding sites of the hb gene product are related by a 10-base pair (bp) consensus sequence, G/A C/C ATAAAAAA, whereas the binding sites of the Kr gene product share a distinct 10-bp motif, AACGGGTTAA. It is possible that the hb and Kr proteins cooperatively regulate gene expression, because they are expressed in broad, overlapping gradients in the early embryo. We also provide evidence that the on/off periodicity of the pair-rule gene even-skipped (eve) involves the interaction of the hb and Kr proteins with defined eve promoter elements.