bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Depression, anxiety, and help-seeking among Slovenian postsecondary students during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Selak Špela , Lebar Maša , Žvelc Gregor , Gabrovec Branko , Šorgo Andrej , Cesar Katarina , Crnkovič Nuša 
Published: November 2024

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has faced students with many challenges, contributing to their mental distress. This article explores the role of demographic characteristics, psychological status, year of study, and social support during the COVID-19 pandemic in explaining Slovenian university students’ mental health problems and help-seeking behavior.MethodsIn February and March 2021, data were collected on 5,234 full-time Slovenian postsecondary students who were enrolled in public and concessionary independent higher education institutions. Participants completed a questionnaire, which included The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), General Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD-7), Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3), and items measuring psychological status, help-seeking behavior and demographics. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression and hypothesis testing for differences.ResultsFactors, such as gender, age, psychological status and social support, contributed to experiencing anxiety and depression among Slovenian students during the COVID-19 pandemic, with year of study additionally contributing to experiencing depression. Similarly, gender, age, psychological status and social support contributed to help-seeking behavior. Higher levels of depression and anxiety were reported by female students, students with prior mental disorders, and students with lower social support levels. Female students and students with lower social support levels reported more frequent help-seeking behaviors.ConclusionThe results provide insight into the mental state of the Slovenian student population in the context of imposed public health measures at the end of the second COVID-19 wave in Slovenia. The findings can help identify vulnerable groups within the student population to whom we must be particularly attentive in times of crisis.
Readable and neutral? Reliability of crowdsourced misinformation debunking through linguistic and psycholinguistic cues
Authors: Yao Mengni , Tian Sha , Zhong Wenming 
Published: November 2024

BackgroundIn the face of the proliferation of misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic, crowdsourced debunking has surfaced as a counter-infodemic measure to complement efforts from professionals and regular individuals. In 2021, X (formerly Twitter) initiated its community-driven fact-checking program, named Community Notes (formerly Birdwatch). This program allows users to create contextual and corrective notes for misleading posts and rate the helpfulness of others' contributions. The effectiveness of the platform has been preliminarily verified, but mixed findings on reliability indicate the need for further research.ObjectiveThe study aims to assess the reliability of Community Notes by comparing the readability and language neutrality of helpful and unhelpful notes.MethodsA total of 7,705 helpful notes and 2,091 unhelpful notes spanning from January 20, 2021, to May 30, 2023 were collected. Measures of reading ease, analytical thinking, affect and authenticity were derived by means of Wordless and Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC). Subsequently, the non-parametric Mann–Whitney U-test was employed to evaluate the differences between the helpful and unhelpful groups.ResultsBoth groups of notes are easy to read with no notable difference. Helpful notes show significantly greater logical thinking, authenticity, and emotional restraint than unhelpful ones. As such, the reliability of Community Notes is validated in terms of readability and neutrality. Nevertheless, the prevalence of prepared, negative and swear language in unhelpful notes indicates the manipulative and abusive attempts on the platform. The wide value range in the unhelpful group and overall limited consensus on note helpfulness also suggest the complex information ecology within the crowdsourced platform, highlighting the necessity of further guidance and management.ConclusionBased on the statistical analysis of the linguistic and psycholinguistic characteristics, the study validated the reliability of Community Notes and identified room for improvement. Future endeavors could explore the psychological motivations underlying volunteering, gaming, or even manipulative behaviors, enhance the crowdsourced debunking system and integrate it with broader efforts in infodemic management.
Executive Function and young children's Cardinality Principle: the mediating role of the Approximate Number System and the moderating role of age
Authors: Li Huanhuan , Di Huijuan , Duan Bingyu , Luo Mengzhen , Wang Yifang , Wang Zhenglu 
Published: November 2024

BackgroundExecutive Function and the Approximate Number System are well-established as critical components in developing the Cardinality Principle in young children. However, most existing studies explore the relationship between these variables in isolation without examining whether Approximate Number System mediates the relationship between Executive Function and the Cardinality Principle and the role of age in this. This study aimed to address this gap by investigating the mediating role of the Approximate Number System in the relationship between Executive Function and the Cardinality Principle and the moderating role of age in young children.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in China from February to June 2024. A total of 203 young children (97 boys and 106 girls, Mean age = 68.93 ± 7.076 months) participated. Participants were assessed using a range of tests: the Day-Night Stroop Task, Digit Recall Task, Dimensional Change Card Sort Task, Panamath Test Software, How Many Task, and Give-N Task to measure Executive Function, Approximate Number System, and Cardinality Principle. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and PROCESS v4.1 (Model 4) to explore the relationships among Executive Function, the Approximate Number System, and the Cardinality Principle through Pearson correlations, multivariate regression, and mediation analysis with 5000 bootstrap samples.ResultsCorrelation analysis revealed that the Cardinality Principle was significantly and positively correlated with Inhibitory Control, Working Memory, Cognitive Flexibility, Executive Function, and the Approximate Number System. Regression analyses indicated that Executive Function positively predicted young children's Cardinality Principle. Specifically, Working Memory and Cognitive Flexibility were positive predictors of the Cardinality Principle, while Inhibitory Control was not. Mediation analysis results demonstrated that the Approximate Number System mediated the relationships between Inhibitory Control and the Cardinality Principle, Working Memory and the Cardinality Principle, and Cognitive Flexibility and the Cardinality Principle, respectively. In addition, the study found that young children's age negatively moderated the relationship between the Approximate Number System and the Cardinality Principle.ConclusionsThe study emphasizes that in developing young children's Cardinality Principle, emphasis should be placed on improving their Executive Function and Approximate Number System while considering the age differences of young children and developing appropriate educational methods for different age groups.
Evaluation of tolerability and safety of transcranial electrical stimulation with gel particle electrodes in healthy subjects
Authors: Chang Chuangchuang , Piao Yi , Zhang Mingsong , Liu Yan , Du Minglei , Yang Miao , Mei Tianyuan , Wu Chengkai , Wang Yan , Chen Xueli , Zeng Ginger Qinghong , Zhang Xiaochu 
Published: November 2024

BackgroundWith the advancement of transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) technology, an increasing number of stimulation devices and treatment protocols have emerged. However, safety and tolerability remain critical concerns before new strategies can be implemented. Particularly, the use of gel particle electrodes brings new challenges to the safety and tolerability of tES, which hinders its widespread adoption and further research.ObjectiveOur study utilized a specially designed and validated transcranial electrical stimulation stimulator along with preconfigured gel particle electrodes placed at F3 and F4 in the prefrontal lobes. We aimed to assess the tolerance and safety of these electrodes in healthy subjects by administering different durations and types of tES.MethodsEach participant underwent ten sessions of either transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) or transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), with session durations varying. In the experiment, we collected various measurement data from participants, including self-report questionnaire data and behavioral keystroke data. Tolerability was evaluated through adverse events (AEs), the relationship of adverse events with tES (AEs-rela), the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and the Visual Analog Mood Scale-Revised (VAMS-R). Safety was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Skin Sensation Rating (SSR), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Stroop task. These data were analyzed to determine the impact of different parameters on the tolerability and safety of tES.ResultsThere were no significant changes in the results of the MoCA and SAS scales before and after the experiment. However, significant differences were observed in VAS, SSR, AEs, and AEs-rela between tDCS and tACS. Additionally, fatigue increased, and energy levels decreased on VAMS-R with longer durations. No significant differences were found in other neuropsychological tests.ConclusionOur study revealed significant differences in tolerability and safety between tDCS and tACS, underscoring the importance of considering the stimulation type when evaluating these factors. Although tolerance and safety did not vary significantly across different stimulation durations in this study, future research may benefit from exploring shorter durations to further assess tolerability and safety efficiently.
Water, sanitation, and hygiene service inequalities and their associated factors among urban slums and rural communities in Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Mekonnen Getachew Kabew , Zako Abdurauf , Weldegebreal Fitsum , Desalew Assefa , Raru Temam Beshir , Umer Ukash , Urgesa Kedir 
Published: November 2024

BackgroundUnderstanding the level of inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) services in urban and rural settlements is crucial for prioritizing community interventions and resource allocation. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding discrepancies in WaSH services across rural and urban slum communities in Ethiopia.ObjectiveThis study aims to assess inequalities in households’ WaSH services and their associated factors among urban slums and rural communities in Eastern Ethiopia from February to April 2024.MethodsA comparative community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted, with study participants selected through stratified random sampling using proportional-to-size allocation. Data were entered into Epi Data version 3.1 and then exported to STATA version 17 for analysis. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression was conducted, and associations were reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), using a p-value less than 0.05 as the significance threshold.ResultA total of 278 urban and 301 rural households participated in the study, with a response rate of 94%. Key indicators showed that WaSH services were significantly better in urban areas compared to rural households. For example, 98% (95% CI: 96, 99) of urban households had access to an improved water source compared to 76% (95% CI: 71, 80) of rural households. The proportion of households with improved latrines was 44% (95% CI: 38, 50) in urban areas and only 14% (95% CI: 11, 19) in rural areas. Handwashing practices at all five critical times were reported by 52% (95% CI: 46, 58) of urban household heads, compared to 22% (95% CI: 18, 27) of rural households. Additionally, occupation (such as being a farmer, p = 0.000) and water service satisfaction (p = 0.000) were significantly associated with these key WaSH outcomes.ConclusionThe study revealed that the WaSH services in urban slums are considerably better than in rural households. Socioeconomic factors significantly influence the existing disparities in WaSH services. Stakeholders should focus on providing targeted, strategic support to communities to address the challenges in WaSH service provision.
Existing operational standards for field deployments of rapid response mobile laboratories: a scoping review
Authors: Mushasha Rand , Paez Jimenez Adela , Dolmazon Virginie , Baumann Jan , Jansen Andreas , Storozhenko Oleg Nikolayevich , El-Bcheraoui Charbel 
Published: November 2024

IntroductionRapid response mobile laboratories (RRML) play an important role in responding to emergencies such as outbreaks and humanitarian crises, working in coordination with national authorities. This scoping review aims to provide evidence to support the development of minimum operational standards for the deployment of RRMLs across the five key workstreams: operational support and logistics, biosafety and biosecurity, laboratory information management system, quality management systems and interoperability and coordination.MethodsWe searched PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and the grey literature focusing on RRML deployment missions. Study characteristics such as year, country, objectives, methods, and findings were extracted and summarized to identify common themes, gaps, and patterns. The results were presented in a narrative format. We ensured methodological rigor by following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines throughout the review process.ResultsOut of 163 full-text studies assessed for eligibility, 46 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Six studies addressed the five RRML workstreams. Operational support and logistics are most commonly addressed during pre-deployment phases with a focus on personnel, transport and cold chain management. The application of biosafety and biosecurity protocols is most addressed during the mission execution phase, particularly in the use of personal protective equipment and the implementation of decontamination and disinfection procedures. The laboratory information management system procedures most frequently reported include sample identification and result dissemination protocols. The quality management system workstream overlaps significantly with the other four workstreams, with a strong emphasis on internal and external quality assurance measures. Coordination and interoperability aspects involve maintaining multiple collaborations, ranging from coordinating with local authorities to establishing international partnerships. Common field challenges included interrupted data transfer in areas characterized by poor connectivity and difficulties caused by extreme weather conditions.DiscussionThis review highlights RRML deployment procedures and addresses some critical challenges concerning their deployment. It suggests the provision of a pre-deployment logistics checklist, the use of a pre-determined standardized dataset for inputs to reduce data entry errors and the application of standardized internal and external quality assurance measures.
Moderated serial mediation effects of adaptation problems, academic stress, and interpersonal relationships on the sleep quality of early-year university students
Authors: Zhao Chenyang , Zhang Yang 
Published: November 2024

PurposeDue to heightened anxiety levels, sleep disorders become more prevalent among university students. This study, centered on adaptive capacity in early-year university students, aimed to explore the underlying mechanisms through which anxiety affects sleep quality.MethodsBetween February 2023 and June 2023, a cohort of first- and second-year university students (mean age 18.8 years) from Hunan Province, China, took part in an online survey. Anxiety was assessed using the Self-rating Anxiety Scale; adaptation problems, academic stress, and interpersonal relationships were assessed using the Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist; and sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A moderated serial mediation model, based on Hayes’ Model 92, was used to assess the hypothesized model.ResultsThe survey resulted in 3,490 valid responses. Among respondents, 24% exhibited anxiety symptoms and 30.4% showed abnormal sleep patterns (i.e., PSQI score ≥ 8). The most significant path identified based on indirect effects was anxiety (β = 0.109), adaptation problems (β = 0.183), academic stress (β = 0.081), and sleep quality (all p-values &lt; 0.001). Furthermore, interpersonal relationships moderated the effects of adaptation problems (β = −0.015, p &lt; 0.001), academic stress (β = −0.012, p &lt; 0.001), and anxiety (β = 0.003, p = 0.002) on sleep quality.ConclusionElevated anxiety and sleep disorders are common among university students. Adaptive capacity may play a crucial role in sleep disorders among early-year university students. Interventions such as fostering strong interpersonal relationships in campus environments, may prove beneficial in improving academic performance and sleep quality.
Negative life events and depression among Chinese university freshmen: a longitudinal moderated mediation model
Authors: Jiang Pei , Zhang Zhihui , Li Shuqin , Yan Yuan 
Published: November 2024

ObjectivesDepression is a major mental health concern among university freshmen, with negative life events recognized as a risk factor. However, limited studies have explored the underlying mechanisms between them. This study aims to investigate the longitudinal relationship between negative life events and depression, and to examine both the potential mediating role of perceived social support and the moderating role of self-esteem in this process.MethodsA two-wave longitudinal design with a 6-month interval was employed, involving 785 Chinese university freshmen (55.92% were female). Self-reported measures of negative life events, perceived social support, self-esteem, and depression were collected using validated scales.ResultsResults revealed that negative life events significantly predicted depression in freshmen after 6 months, with perceived social support partially mediating this relationship. In addition, self-esteem moderated the effect of negative life events on perceived social support. As self-esteem increased, there was a stronger mediating effect of perceived social support between negative life events and depression.DiscussionThis study verified a moderated mediation process of how negative life events impact depression among freshmen. The findings provide valuable insights for developing effective interventions to reduce the depression risk of freshmen.
Parkinson's disease and posture: evaluation with biometrical holistic of human body device: a pilot study
Authors: Ronconi Gianpaolo , Ferrara Paola E. , Codazza Sefora , Gatto Dario M. , La Cagnina Fabiana , Coraci Daniele , Panunzio Maurizio , Ariani Mariantonietta , Ferriero Giorgio 
Published: November 2024

BackgroundPatients with Parkinson's disease (PD) commonly develop severe spinal deformity. The etiology of Parkinson's spinal deformity is not completely understood and in most cases is likely due to multiple factors. These include dystonia and focal myopathy. Clinical, neurophysiological, and radiological data must be considered to monitor the pathology and the effects of rehabilitation. The aim of this pilot study is to evaluate spine alignment with a surface topography analysis of Parkinson's patients with Biometrical Holistic of Human Body (BHOHB®) and to compare results with their x-rays spine standard as already done for adolescent scoliosis.Methods32 adult patients affected by Parkinson disease, have been evaluated with BHOHB ®. The correspondence of the Cobb angles were evaluated using the BHOHB device and with standard spinal x-rays.ResultsA total of 32 patients were enrolled. The mean age was 67.45 years. In this pilot study the measurement of the correlations between the radiological and BHOHB® Cobb angles of the patients were excellent.ConclusionThis preliminary result supports the use of BHOHB® as a device useful to monitor and measure posture in Parkinson's. This needs to be evaluated on a larger sample and over time. Keywords: Parkinson's disease, scoliosis, postural imbalance, neurophysiology.
A global perspective on the abundance, diversity and mobility of antibiotic resistance genes in Escherichia coli
Authors: Qing Yun , Zou Zhongai , Jiang Guolian , Qin Lingshi , Liu Kehui , Liu Zongbao 
Published: November 2024

IntroductionEscherichia coli (E. coli), a ubiquitous opportunistic pathogen, poses a growing threat to human health due to the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance. However, a comprehensive understanding of the global distribution, diversity, and transmission of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in E. coli remains lacking, hindering effective strategies to combat resistance.MethodsIn this study, we analyzed 94,762 E. coli genome sequences obtained from the NCBI database using advanced bioinformatics tools. ARGs were identified by comparing sequences against a custom ARG database using BLAST. Mobile genetic element (MGE)-associated ARGs were identified by matching with ISfinder databases. Global distribution of ARGs was analyzed by clustering mobile ARG sequences with 99% genetic similarity.ResultsOur analysis revealed that 50.51% of the E. coli genome sequences contained ARGs, totaling 301,317 identified ARG sequences. These ARGs were categorized into 12 major classes and 229 subtypes. Notably, ARGs associated with multi-drug resistance (MDR), β-lactams, macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramins (MLS), tetracyclines, and aminoglycosides were particularly abundant, with the subtypes mdtK, macB, and ampC being especially prevalent. Additionally, significant differences in ARG abundance and diversity were observed across countries, with higher diversity found in high-income nations. Furthermore, 9.28% of the ARG sequences were linked to MGEs, accounting for 98.25% of all ARG subtypes. Notably, 4.20% of mobile ARGs were identified in over 20 countries, with β-lactam and aminoglycoside ARGs being the most widespread.DiscussionThis study provides a comprehensive overview of the global distribution and transmission of ARGs in E. coli. The high abundance of MDR and β-lactam-related ARGs, along with their widespread transmission across countries, highlights the urgent need for global surveillance and control measures. Furthermore, the strong association between ARGs and MGEs underscores the role of horizontal gene transfer in the spread of resistance. The observed variations in ARG diversity between countries suggest that socioeconomic factors, such as healthcare infrastructure and antibiotic usage patterns, significantly influence ARG prevalence. These findings are crucial for informing global strategies to mitigate the spread of antibiotic resistance and improve public health outcomes.