bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and correlates of the misuse of z-drugs and benzodiazepines in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health
Authors: McHugh R. Kathryn , Votaw Victoria R. , Trapani Emma W. , McCarthy Megan D. 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundBenzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine hypnotics (z-drugs) are commonly prescribed for their anxiolytic and hypnotic properties, though they can also be misused. In studies examining the epidemiology of prescription drug misuse, these medication classes are commonly combined, rendering inadequate knowledge of their patterns of misuse. The objective of this study was to characterize the population prevalence, conditional dependence, and sociodemographic and clinical correlates of the misuse of benzodiazepines and z-drugs.MethodsData from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2015 to 2019 were used to estimate population-level prevalence and characteristics of benzodiazepine and z-drug misuse. Groups were derived based on past-year misuse of benzodiazepines alone, z-drugs alone, or both drug types. Unadjusted regression analyses were used to compare groups on characteristics of interest.ResultsExposure to benzodiazepines and/or z-drugs via prescription or misuse was common; however, only 2% of the population was estimated to have misused a benzodiazepine in the past year, and less than 0.5% misused z-drugs. People who misused only z-drugs were generally older, more likely to have health insurance, more educated, and had less severe psychiatric symptoms. This group was also more likely to report misuse to cope with sleep difficulty. Although concurrent substance use was highly prevalent in all groups, people who misused z-drugs alone generally reported less concurrent substance use than the other groups.ConclusionThe misuse of z-drugs is less common than benzodiazepines, and people who misuse only z-drugs appear to generally have lower clinical severity. Nonetheless, a substantial subgroup of people exposed to z-drugs report concurrent, past-year use of other substances. Further research on z-drug misuse, including consideration of whether it should be grouped with other anxiolytic/hypnotic drugs, is needed.
Psychometric properties of the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 among Hong Kong young adults in 2021: Associations with meaning in life and suicidal ideation
Authors: Fong Ted C. T. , Ho Rainbow T. H. , Yip Paul S. F. 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundYoung adults in Hong Kong are subject to elevated psychological distress given the societal stressors such as civil unrest and COVID-19 pandemic and suicide is a leading cause of death among them. The present study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties and measurement invariance of the 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) as a brief measure of psychological distress and its associations with meaning in life and suicidal ideation (SI) in young adults.Materials and methodsA mobile survey recruited a large and random sample of 1,472 young adults (Mean age = 26.3 years, 51.8% males) in Hong Kong in 2021. The participants completed the PHQ-4 and Meaning in Life Questionnaire–short form (MLQ-SF) for presence of meaning in life (MIL), SI, COVID-19 impact, and exposure to suicide. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to examine the factorial validity, reliability, and measurement invariance of PHQ-4 and MLQ-SF across gender, age, and distress subgroups. Multigroup structural equation model evaluated and compared the direct and indirect effects of latent MIL factor on SI via latent PHQ-4 factor across distress groups.ResultsBoth MIL and PHQ-4 supported a 1-factor model with good composite reliability (Ω = 0.80–0.86) and strong factor loadings (λ = 0.65–0.88). Both factors showed scalar invariance across gender, age, and distress groups. MIL showed significant and negative indirect effects (αβ = −0.196, 95% CI = −0.254 to −0.144) on SI via PHQ-4. PHQ-4 showed a stronger mediating role between MIL and SI in the distress group (Δ = −0.146, 95% CI = −0.252 to −0.049) than the non-distress group. Higher MIL predicted higher likelihoods of help-seeking (Odds ratios = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.14–1.88).ConclusionThe present results support adequate psychometric properties in terms of factorial validity, reliability, convergent validity, and measurement invariance for the PHQ-4 in young adults in Hong Kong. The PHQ-4 demonstrated a substantial mediating role in the relationship between meaning in life and SI in the distress group. These findings support clinical relevance for using the PHQ-4 as a brief and valid measure of psychological distress in the Chinese context.
Ketamine study: Protocol for naturalistic prospective multicenter study on subcutaneous ketamine infusion in depressed patients with active suicidal ideation
Authors: Anzolin Ana Paula , Goularte Jeferson Ferraz , Pinto Jairo Vinícius , Belmonte-de-Abreu Paulo , Cruz Luciane Nascimento , Cordova Victor Hugo Schaly , Magalhaes Lucas Sueti , Rosa Adriane R. , Cereser Keila Maria , Kauer-Sant’Anna Márcia 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundPsychiatric disorders are associated with more than 90% of reported suicide attempts worldwide, but few treatments have demonstrated a direct effect in reducing suicide risk. Ketamine, originally an anesthetic, has been shown anti-suicide effects in clinical trials designed to treat depression. However, changes at the biochemical level were assessed only in protocols of ketamine with very limited sample sizes, particularly when the subcutaneous route was considered. In addition, the inflammatory changes associated with ketamine effects and their correlation with response to treatment, dose-effect, and suicide risk warrant further investigation. Therefore, we aimed to assess whether ketamine results in better control of suicidal ideation and/or behavior in patients with depressive episodes and whether ketamine affects psychopathology and inflammatory biomarkers.Materials and methodsWe report here the design of a naturalistic prospective multicenter study protocol of ketamine in depressive episodes carried out at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) and Hospital Moinhos de Vento (HMV). The study was planned to recruit adult patients with Major depressive disorder (MDD) or Bipolar disorder (BD) types 1 or 2, who are currently in a depressive episode and show symptoms of suicidal ideation and/or behavior according to the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) and have been prescribed ketamine by their assistant psychiatrist. Patients receive ketamine subcutaneously (SC) twice a week for 1 month, but the frequency can be changed or the dose decreased according to the assistant physician’s decision. After the last ketamine session, patients are followed-up via telephone once a month for up to 6 months. The data will be analyzed using repeated measures statistics to evaluate the reduction in suicide risk as a primary outcome, as per C-SSRS.DiscussionWe discuss the need for studies with longer follow-ups designed to measure a direct impact on suicide risk and that additional information about the safety and tolerability of ketamine in particular subset of patients such as those with depression and ideation suicide. In line, the mechanism behind the immunomodulatory effects of ketamine is still poorly understood.Trial registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT05249309.
Assessing the construct validity of a theory of mind battery adapted to Tunisian school-aged children
Authors: Salhi Imène Soumaya , Lancelot Céline , Marzouki Yousri , Souissi Wided , Besbes Aya Nejiba , Le Gall Didier , Bellaj Tarek 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundTheory of mind (ToM) refers to the ability to understand others’ states of mind, desires, emotions, beliefs, and intentions to predict the content of their mental representations. Two major dimensions within ToM have been studied. The first is the type of inferred mental state, which can be cognitive or affective. The second comprises the types of processes involved according to their degree of complexity (first- and second-order false belief and advanced ToM). ToM acquisition is fundamental—a key component in the development of everyday human social interactions. ToM deficits have been reported in various neurodevelopmental disorders through various tools assessing disparate facets of social cognition. Nevertheless, Tunisian practitioners and researchers lack a linguistically and culturally appropriate psychometric tool for ToM assessment among school-aged children.ObjectiveTo assess the construct validity of a translated and adapted French ToM Battery for Arabic-speaking Tunisian school-aged children.MethodsThe focal ToM Battery was designed with neuropsychological and neurodevelopmental theory and composed of 10 subtests distributed evenly in three parts: Pre-conceptual, cognitive, and affective ToM. Translated and adapted to the Tunisian sociocultural context, this ToM battery was individually administered to 179 neurotypical Tunisian children (90 girls and 89 boys) aged 7–12 years.ResultsAfter controlling for the age effect, construct validity was empirically confirmed on two dimensions (cognitive and affective) via structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis, demonstrating that this solution has a good fit. The results confirmed that the age affected differentially the performance obtained on ToM tasks based on the two components of the battery.ConclusionOur findings confirm that the Tunisian version of the ToM Battery has robust construct validity for the assessment of cognitive and affective ToM in Tunisian school-aged children; hence, it could be adopted in clinical and research settings.
Association between psychological capital and depressive symptoms during COVID-19: The mediating role of perceived social support and the moderating effect of employment pressure
Authors: Huang Yalian , Lin Xin , Yang Jian , Bai Hefei , Tang Ping , Yuan Guangzhe Frank 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionThe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affects individuals' mental health that can result in fear of getting COVID-19 infection and depression. Prior research has demonstrated that both psychological capital and perceived social support are related to the severity of depression. Yet no study explored the direction of associations between these factors. This undermines the validity of psychological capital as a basis for health interventions.MethodsThis study aimed to explore the association between psychological capital, perceived social support, employment pressure, and depressive symptoms during COVID-19. A cross-sectional design was employed in a sample of 708 Chinese senior medical students who were asked to complete an online questionnaire survey.ResultsResults indicated that psychological capital negatively predicts depressive symptoms (β = −0.55, p &lt; 0.001); perceived social support plays a mediating role in the impact of psychological capital on depressive symptoms (indirect = −0.11, SE = 0.02, p &lt; 0.001, 95%CI [−0.16, −0.07]), and these associations were moderated by employment pressure. Medical students with high employment pressure, the negative impact of psychological capital on depressive symptoms was statistically significant (β = −0.37, SE = 0.05, p &lt; 0.001, 95% CI [−0.046, −0.27]); when the perceived employment pressure was low, the negative effect of psychological capital on depressive symptoms, although significant, was stronger (β = −0.49, SE = 0.04, p &lt; 0.001, 95% CI [−0.57, −0.40]).DiscussionThe current study highlights that it is of great significance to address Chinese medical students' employment pressure and improve their mental health during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Age- and sex-dependent increase in self-harm among adolescents with mental health problems in East China during COVID-19 related society-wide isolation
Authors: Liu Wenjing , Hu Zhishan , Liu Zhen , Zhang Fang , Ding Yue , Shui Ying , Yang Zhi , Cheng Wenhong 
Published: March 2023

ObjectiveThe COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns about child and adolescent mental health issues, such as self-harm. The impact of society-wide isolation on self-harming behaviors among adolescents in China is unclear. In addition, adolescents of different ages and sexes have varying abilities to cope with environmental changes. However, these differences are rarely considered in self-harm studies. We aimed to characterize the age- and sex-dependent effects of COVID-19-related society-wide isolation on self-harm among adolescents in East China.MethodsWe collected 63,877 medical records of children and adolescents aged 8–18 who had an initial visit to Shanghai Mental Health Center in China between 2017 and 2021 and charted annual self-harm rates for each age and sex. Using interrupted time series analysis, we modeled global and seasonal trends and the effect of COVID-19-related society-wide isolation on self-harm rates.ResultsFemales aged 10–17 and males aged 13–16 exhibited significantly increasing trends in self-harm rate (pfdr &lt; 0.05) in the past 5 years. Eleven-year-old females in 2020 showed a self-harm rate (37.30%) that exceeded the peak among all ages in 2019 (age 13, 36.38%). The COVID-19-related society-wide isolation elevated self-harm rates in female patients aged 12 [RR 1.45 (95% CI 1.19–1.77); pfdr = 0.0031] and 13 years [RR 1.33 (95% CI 1.15–1.5); pfdr = 0.0031], while males were less affected. Further, females with emotional disorders dominated the increased self-harm rates.ConclusionSociety-wide isolation has had a significant impact on early adolescent females in East China, especially for those with emotional disturbances, and has brought forward the peak in adolescent self-harm rates. This study calls for attention to the risk of self-harm in early adolescents.
Assessing the diet quality, environmental impact, and monetary costs of the dietary transition in China (1997–2011): Impact of urbanization
Authors: Chang Zhiyao , Cai Hongyi , Talsma Elise F. , Fan Shenggen , Ni Yuanying , Wen Xin , Veer Pieter van't , Biesbroek Sander 
Published: March 2023

BackgroundIncreased urbanization has been linked to transitions in dietary patterns. However, evidence on the impacts of urbanization on diet quality, and environmental impact, and diet cost is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the time trends of these three dietary sustainability in China over the period 1997–2011 and to examine their associations with urbanization.MethodsFood consumption of 8,330 participants (18–64y) of the China Health and Nutrition Survey cohort (1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2009, and 2011) were examined and diet quality was assessed using the Chinese Healthy Eating Index 2016 (CHEI2016). Dietary related environmental impacts on Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGE), Total Water Use (TWU), and Land Use (LU) were estimated using the Chinese Food Life Cycle Assessment Database. Monetary cost of diet was calculated using the community market prices of food items. Multilevel mixed-effects models were used to estimate associations between the time trend of dietary sustainability indicators and degree of urbanization.ResultsFrom 1997 to 2011, the CHEI2016 score increased by 10.6%, GHGE by 23.8%, LU by 29.1%, and the inflation-corrected cost of diet by 80%. Urbanization was positively associated with these time trends, which remained after adjustment for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors (all P &lt; 0·05).ConclusionThe rapid urbanization in China over the past two decades has been followed by an improvement in the overall dietary quality, but this has been accompanied by an increase in the environmental impacts and higher cost of the diet, especially in communities with lower urbanization index.
Combining ability estimates for quality and non-quality protein maize inbred lines for grain yield, agronomic, and quality traits
Authors: Amegbor Isaac Kodzo , van Biljon Angeline , Shargie Nemera Geleta , Tarekegne Amsal , Labuschagne Maryke T. 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionBiofortified maize varieties could contribute to the fight against hunger and malnutrition of the increasing human population and help meet the high demand of maize for human consumption, industrial use and feed for animal and poultry. The understanding of the genetic mechanisms conditioning the inheritance of grain yield and other agronomic and quality traits is essential in the development of superior maize genotypes. The main objective of this study was to determine the combining ability for grain yield and other agronomic traits of QPM and non-QPM inbred lines crossed with two QPM and two non-QPM testers.Materials and methodsA total of 130 hybrids were obtained by crossing 10 non-QPM and 23 QPM lines with four elite testers (two QPM and two non-QPM). The 130 single cross hybrids were evaluated at 13 sites in 2018 and 2019.Results and discussionThe results showed significant general combining ability (GCA) for lines and testers as well as significant specific combining ability (SCA) for hybrids for most of the measured traits. Non-additive gene action controlled the inheritance of grain yield while agronomic and quality traits were controlled by additive gene action. QPM lines 11, 14 and 28 and non-QPM tester CML444 showed desirable GCA effects for grain yield, indicating that these lines in combination with tester CML444 should be considered when targeting development of superior maize genotypes with QPM traits.ConclusionsBased on the SCA values, crosses 120, 108, 105, 99, 85, and 41 were identified as the best hybrids across the locations. It is recommended that maize breeding programs targeting the development of high yielding QPM hybrids should exploit QPM lines with high GCA values for heterosis to be realized. In addition, the identified superior hybrids may be further evaluated and consequently promoted for commercial release which could increase incomes of farmers and help to alleviate poverty, hunger and malnutrition in southern Africa and sub-Saharan Africa at large.
Ultrasound-guided endoscopy to improve accuracy of persistent urogenital sinus (PUGS) diagnosis in adult patient: A case report
Authors: Mirandola Mariateresa , Gui Benedetta , Naldini Angelica , Foschi Nazario , Casula Viola , Testa Antonia Carla , Scambia Giovanni , Catena Ursula 
Published: March 2023

Introductionpersistent urogenital sinus (PUGS) is a rare condition characterized by abnormal communication between the urethra and vagina, that can frequently be associated with other complex Mullerian malformation (33%). We present a case of PUGS associated with a complex Mullerian malformation diagnosed in adult age after the integration of gynecological ultrasound with hysteroscopy, both performed by expert operators.Case description27-year-old women was referred to our clinic because of frequent urinary tract infections and cyclic pelvic pain. She was virgo, with normal menstrual cycles and dysmenorrhea. A didelphys uterus and double vagina with bilateral hematocolpos was firstly diagnosed through transrectal and transabdominal ultrasound. An MRI was then performed and a monorenal and ipsilateral ureteral malformation were diagnosed; in addition, a complete absence of the lower third of the vagina and an abnormal origin of the urethra from the bladder were described. Patient underwent lower genital tract endoscopy: external vaginal orifice was obliterated, a PUGS was diagnosed and both vaginas' ostia were detected on the PUGS's posterior-lateral walls. The procedure was performed under transabdominal ultrasound guidance which confirmed the endoscopic anatomical suspicion, avoiding complications such as perforation and misdiagnosis.Discussionultrasound guided endoscopy plays an essential role in the evaluation of complex anatomic anomalies, such as persistent urogenital sinus (PUGS), leading to a dynamic one-stop diagnosis; it avoids delays and misdiagnosis in preoperative assessment possibly related to the separately application of different radiological and endoscopic techniques.
Efficacy of Fungi in the Decolorization and Detoxification of Remazol Brilliant Blue Dye in Aquatic Environments
Authors: Nabeela Nabeela , Khan Sumera Afzal , Mehmood Saadat , Shabbir Sohaib Bin , Ali Sajid , Alrefaei Abdulwahed Fahad , Albeshr Mohammed Fahad , Hamayun Muhammad 
Published: March 2023

Industrial effluents result in water pollution and affect the biological activity of aquatic and terrestrial life. In this study, efficient fungal strains were isolated from the aquatic environment and identified as Aspergillus fumigatus (SN8c) and Aspergillus terreus (SN40b). The isolates were selected based on their potential to efficiently decolorize and detoxify Remazol brilliant blue (RBB) dye, which is extensively used in different industries. Initially, a total of 70 different fungal isolates were screened. Among these, 19 isolates demonstrated dye decolorization capabilities, and SN8c and SN40b revealed the highest decolorization capabilities in liquid medium. The maximum estimated decolorization for SN8c was 91.3% and for SN40b, 84.5% at 40 mg/L of RBB dye in the presence of glucose (1 gm/L), after 5 days of incubation at different levels of pH, temperature, nutrient source, and concentration. RBB dye decolorization using SN8c and SN40b isolates was at a maximum of 99% at pH 3–5, whereas minimum decolorization was recorded as 71.29% and 73.4% SN8c, respectively, at pH 11. The maximum decolorization of the dye was 93% and 90.9% in a defined glucose concentration of 1 gm/L, and a 63.01% decrease was recorded in the decolorization activity at a low level of glucose concentration (0.2 gm/L). Finally, the decolorization and degradation were detected using UV spectrometry and HPLC. Toxicity tests of pure dye and treated dye samples were checked against the seed germination of different plants and the larvae mortality of Artemia salina. This study revealed that indigenous aquatic fungal flora can recover contaminated sites and support aquatic and terrestrial life.
MÁQUINAS DE SOPORTE VECTORIAL EN REGRESIÓN PARA LA PREDICCIÓN DEL DESARROLLO DE UNA CADENA DE SUMINISTRO
Authors: Verduga Alcívar Douglas Andrés , Márquez Pérez Víctor Ernesto , Muñoz Muñoz Emanuel Guillermo 
Published: March 2023

El objetivo de este trabajo es predecir el nivel de desarrollo de una cadena de suministro manabita de clasificación agroalimentaria, cuyo producto fundamental es el agua de coco artesanal. Usando datos históricos, se aplican los métodos de Máquinas de Soporte Vectorial en Regresión y Regresión Lineal Múltiple. Como parte del trabajo se lleva a cabo un estudio de correlación para mejorar el desempeño de los métodos. Los resultados muestran que las Máquinas de Soporte Vectorial logran el mejor desempeño cuando se usa el Kernel Polinomial con una selección de parámetros apropiados. La metodología empleada para el procesamiento de la investigación utiliza el entrenamiento de estos dos métodos lo que proporciona un modelo que se puede aplicar en otros estudios de casos.
DYNAMIC MODEL OF “SOFT” PROCESS OF INVESTING IN PORT CONSTRUCTION. OPTIMIZATION PROCEDURES BASED ON COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
Authors: Eglit Y , Eglite C , Yurchenko E. , Dudin V. , Yavorskaya D 
Published: March 2023

This work is a rationale for the use and effectiveness of the dynamic model of the soft investment process of
port construction. For this purpose, this work presents the necessary statistical data and mathematical calculations,
which include the use of various methods for analyzing the investment plan, as well as a number of
methods for calculating the cost of investment payments, including the use of the matLAB digital mathematical
environment to simplify the process of calculating.