Misinformation and COVID-19 vaccine uptake hesitancy among frontline workers in Tanzania: Do demographic variables matter?

Although COVID-19 vaccination has been widely considered as an important remedy to confront COVID-19, people remain hesitant to take it. The objective of this study was to assess the moderation effects of demographic characteristics on the relationship between forms of misinformation and COVID-19 vaccine uptake hesitancy among frontline workers in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma, Tanzania. Using a sample of 200 respondents, it assessed the differences in ratings on misinformation regarding COVID-19 vaccine based on respondents' demographics. The study used a Five-point Likert scale questionnaire distributed through snowball sampling to frontline workers from Dar es Salaam and Dodoma regions. Data was analyzed using binary logistic regression. It was found that the forms of misinformation revealed were manipulated imposters, satire, fabricated contents and false contents with their connection, which they influenced COVID-19 hesitancy significantly. With exception of age, that significantly moderated hesitancy, this study uncovers that, sex and education level moderated insignificantly in predicting those who are misinformed; misinformed individuals are not any less educated or not based on one's sex, different than individuals who are informed. The study informs policy makers on devising appropriate strategies to promote COVID-19 vaccination uptake among the different contextual demographic variables. Promotion of information, media and health literacy to the general public should be considered to deter spreading of vaccine-related misinformation.

How to design effective educational videos for teaching evidence-based medicine to undergraduate learners - systematic review with complementing qualitative research to develop a practicable guide

BACKGROUND

eLearning can be an effective tool to achieve learning objectives. It facilitates asynchronous distance learning, increasing flexibility for learners and instructors. In this context, the high educational value of videos provides an invaluable primary component for longitudinal digital curricula, especially for maintaining knowledge on otherwise rarely taught subjects. Although literature concerning eLearning evaluation exists, research comprehensively describing how to design effective educational videos is lacking. In particular, studies on the requirements and design goals of educational videos need to be complemented by qualitative research using grounded theory methodology.

METHODS

Due to the paucity of randomized controlled trials in this area, there is an urgent need to generate recommendations based on a broader fundament than a literature search alone. Thus, the authors have employed grounded theory as a guiding framework, augmented by Mayring's qualitative content analysis and commonly used standards. An adaptive approach was conducted based on a literature search and qualitative semi-structured interviews. Drawing on these results, the authors elaborated a guide for creating effective educational videos.

RESULTS

The authors identified 40 effective or presumedly effective factors fostering the success of video-based eLearning in teaching evidence-based medicine, providing a ready-to-use checklist. The information collected via the interviews supported and enriched much of the advice found in the literature.

DISCUSSION

To the authors' knowledge, this type of comprehensive guide for video-based eLearning needs has not previously been published. The interviews considerably contributed to the results. Due to the grounded theory-based approach, in particular, consensus was achieved without the presence of a formal expert panel. Although the guide was created with a focus on teaching evidence-based medicine, due to the general study selection process and research approach, the recommendations are applicable to a wide range of subjects in medical education where the teaching aim is to impart conceptual knowledge.

EM-COGLOAD: An investigation into age and cognitive load detection using eye tracking and deep learning

Alzheimer's Disease is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease, and is a leading cause of disability among the elderly. Eye movement behaviour demonstrates potential as a non-invasive biomarker for Alzheimer's Disease, with changes detectable at an early stage after initial onset. This paper introduces a new publicly available dataset: EM-COGLOAD (available at https://osf.io/zjtdq/, DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/ZJTDQ). A dual-task paradigm was used to create effects of declined cognitive performance in 75 healthy adults as they carried out visual tracking tasks. Their eye movement was recorded, and time series classification of the extracted eye movement traces was explored using a range of deep learning techniques. The results of this showed that convolutional neural networks were able to achieve an accuracy of 87.5% when distinguishing between eye movement under low and high cognitive load, and 76% when distinguishing between the oldest and youngest age groups.

A comprehensive analysis of well-being frameworks applied in Australia and their suitability for Indigenous peoples

PURPOSE

Well-being is a complex, multi-dimensional, dynamic, and evolving concept, covering social, economic, health, cultural and spiritual dimensions of human living, and often used synonymously with happiness, life satisfaction, prosperity, and quality of life. We review the existing key wellbeing frameworks applied in Australia both for the wider public and Indigenous peoples. The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of various applied frameworks, along with a critical analysis of domains or dimensions comprising those frameworks, and to analyse the role of nature in those frameworks.

METHODOLOGY

We conducted a critical analysis of the main frameworks applied in Australia to date to measure the well-being of the mainstream (mainly non-Indigenous) and Indigenous populations. This study is particularly timely given the Australian Government's interest in revising the well-being frameworks as mentioned in the Government "Measuring What Matters" statement.

RESULTS

The existing well-being frameworks in Australia either overlook or hardly consider the role of nature and its services which are important to support human well-being. Likewise, for Indigenous peoples "Country" (Indigenous clan land) is vital for their well-being as their living is imbued with "Country". The role of nature/"Country" needs to be considered in revising the well-being frameworks, indicators and measures to inform and develop appropriate policies and programs in Australia.

CONCLUSION

To develop appropriate welfare policies and programs for achieving socio-economic and other wellbeing outcomes, it is essential to evolve and conceptualize wellbeing frameworks (and related indicators and measures) in line with people's contemporary values, particularly considering the role of nature and its services.

Modifiable factors mediating the effects of educational attainment on gestational diabetes mellitus: A two-step Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND

Although there is currently a wealth of evidence to indicate that maternal educational attainment is associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), the specific modifiable risk factors that mediate the causal relationship between these two variables have yet to be identified.

AIM

To identify the specific modifiable risk factors that mediate the causal relationship between the level of maternal education and GDM.

METHODS

Mendelian randomization (MR) was conducted using data from genome-wide association studies of European populations. We initially performed a two-sample MR analysis using data on genetic variants associated with the duration of education as instruments, and subsequently adopted a two-step MR approach using metabolic and lifestyle factors as mediators to examine the mechanisms underlying the relationship between the level of maternal education and risk of developing GDM. In addition, we calculated the proportions of total causal effects mediated by identified metabolic and lifestyle factors.

RESULTS

A genetically predicted higher educational attainment was found to be associated with a lower risk of developing GDM (OR: 0.71, 95%CI: 0.60-0.84). Among the metabolic factors assessed, four emerged as potential mediators of the education-GDM association, which, ranked by mediated proportions, were as follows: Waist-to-hip-ratio (31.56%, 95%CI: 12.38%-50.70%), body mass index (19.20%, 95%CI: 12.03%-26.42%), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (12.81%, 95%CI: 8.65%-17.05%), and apolipoprotein A-1 (7.70%, 95%CI: 4.32%-11.05%). These findings proved to be robust to sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate a causal relationship between lower levels of maternal education and the risk of developing GDM can be partly explained by adverse metabolic profiles.

Association between the hearing aid and mental health outcomes in people with hearing impairment: A case-control study among 28 European countries

BACKGROUND

Hearing loss affects over 1.5 billion individuals globally, with significant implications for mental health. This study investigates the association between hearing aid use and mental health outcomes, by particularly focusing on depression and unmet mental health needs (UMHN), across a diverse international sample.

METHODS

Utilizing data from the third wave of the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS), this study involved 17,660 participants with hearing impairment from 28 countries. The study examined the association between hearing aid use and mental health outcomes, including the likelihood of moderate and severe depression and UMHN due to lack of contact with general practitioners (GPs) and mental health specialists. Logistic regression models, adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics, health risk behaviours, and other relevant variables, were employed. Inverse probability weights were used to mitigate potential selection bias.

RESULTS

Hearing aid usage was associated with significantly lower likelihoods of moderate depression (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.58, 95%CI = [0.54, 0.63]) and severe depression (OR = 0.61, 95%CI = [0.55, 0.69]), compared to non-usage. Hearing aid usage was also associated with reduced UMHN due to lack of GP contact for moderate (OR = 0.82, 95%CI = [0.75, 0.89]) and severe depression (OR = 0.75, 95%CI = [0.59, 0.95]). The depression risk reductions were greater among females and higher-educated subgroups but lower in individuals aged ≥65 years. Income level and rurality also impacted UMHN due to the lack of GP contact. No associations were found between hearing aids and UMHN due to the lack of mental health specialist contact.

CONCLUSIONS

Hearing aid adoption showed protective associations against mood disorders and lowered unmet primary mental healthcare needs. Tailoring intervention strategies to vulnerable sociodemographic profiles could optimize mental health benefits among those with hearing loss. Integrating hearing health services within mental healthcare delivery frameworks is vital amidst the rising global burden.

Relaxed minds for healthier food choice at school: A field experiment in southern Mexico

Stress leads to unhealthy food choices since the school-age stage. Yet, there is limited evidence particularly in low- and middle-income countries regarding the impact of stress-reduction strategies on school-age children's food choices. Such aspects were crucial during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, which exacerbated psychological distress and unhealthier food choices among children. Two years after the pandemic began, we conducted a field experiment in southern Mexico to assess the impact of stress-reduction strategies on the food choices of over 1400 children aged 9-12. Half of the school-classes in the sample were randomly assigned to a stress reduction strategy namely meditation, which comprised six audios with basic relaxation techniques and intuitive messages to guide food choices. Additionally, all participants received information signalling that an amaranth snack was nutritious (i.e., the healthy snack), which was paired with a chocolate bar (i.e., the unhealthy snack) as part of a snack choice experiment. Students that practiced meditation were slightly more likely to choose the healthy snack than those in the control group, but the effect was not statistically significant. Upon collecting their snack, students had the chance to exchange their original choice for the other snack. Students that meditated were more likely to exchange their originally chosen "unhealthy snack" towards the healthy snack than students in the control group. The meditation program effectively reduced chronic stress among treated children. The effect was larger among students attending schools in lower-income areas. Our study sheds some light on the challenges to translate an improved psychological well-being into healthier food choices at school.

Anticholinergic load: A commonly neglected and preventable risk to cognition during schizophrenia treatment?

Background

Cognitive impairment is a widespread feature of schizophrenia, affecting nearly 80 % of patients. Prior research has linked the anticholinergic burden of psychiatric medications to these cognitive deficits. However, the impact of the anticholinergic burden from medications for physical morbidity remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the anticholinergic burden of psychiatric and physical medications in patients with schizophrenia and assess its impact on cognitive function.

Methods

A total of 178 patients with schizophrenia were recruited. The assessments included an ad hoc questionnaire for collecting demographic and clinical data. Anticholinergic burden was evaluated using the cumulative Drug Burden Index (cDBI) for each participant, and cognitive function was assessed using MATRICS. Psychopathology was measured using the PANSS, CDSS, CAINS, and the CGI-S. Statistical analysis included Student's t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlations, and multiple linear regressions.

Results

The average cDBI was 1.3 (SD = 0.9). The model developed explained 40.80 % of the variance. The variable with the greatest weight was the cDBI (B = -11.148, p = 0.010). Negative-expression (B = -2.740, p = 0.011) and negative-experiential (B = -1.175, p = 0.030) symptoms were also associated with lower global cognitive score. However, more years of education (B = 5.140, p < 0.001) and cigarettes per day (B = 1.331, p < 0.001) predicted a better global cognitive score.

Conclusion

This study identified specific predictors of global cognition in schizophrenia, with anticholinergic burden emerging as the strongest factor. Our findings underscore the importance of considering the anticholinergic burden of treatments, in addition to negative symptoms, when designing interventions to optimize or maintain cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia.

Assigned group work is associated with increased student motivation and perceptions of belonging in an asynchronous online physiology laboratory course

With the rise of online instruction, a better understanding of the factors that contribute to belonging and motivation in these contexts is essential to creating optimal learning environments. Although group work is known to be beneficial to student success, few studies have investigated its role in the context of asynchronous online courses. The present study addresses this gap through a survey of 146 undergraduate students in an asynchronous online physiology lab over two semesters, one with required group work and one without group work. Students were surveyed to evaluate the influence of group work on their motivation and sense of belonging, as well as their perceptions of inclusive and exclusive features of the course. Students assigned to groups had a higher sense of belonging (P = 0.006) and beliefs about their competence (P = 0.002) and perceived lower effort and psychological costs associated with the course (P = 0.04 and 0.04, respectively) compared to students not assigned to groups. Students assigned to groups reported that peer interactions made them feel included in the course (70% of coded responses) while those not assigned to groups valued instructor interactions (51% of coded responses) as inclusive. Negative peer interactions were commonly reported as exclusive by students assigned to groups (28% of coded responses) while a lack of peer interactions (23% of coded responses) made students not assigned to groups feel excluded. These data indicate that assigning groups in asynchronous online courses is an effective way to increase student motivation and perceptions of belonging.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study explores the effect of assigned group work in an asynchronous online physiology laboratory course on student motivation and belonging. Students' perceptions of belonging and competence-related beliefs were higher, and effort and psychological costs were lower, when assigned to groups compared to students not assigned to groups. Students assigned to groups noted peer interactions as the most inclusive aspect of the course, whereas instructor interactions were noted as inclusive by those not assigned group work.

Witnessing-condition information differentially affects evaluations of high- and moderate-confidence eyewitness identifications

Recent research on the eyewitness confidence-accuracy relationship reveals that confidence can be highly diagnostic of accuracy when the identification evidence is collected using pristine procedures (Wixted & Wells, 2017) and in the absence of suspect bias (Smalarz, 2021). Some researchers have further argued that eyewitnesses who make high-confidence suspect identifications are highly likely to be accurate even if they experienced suboptimal witnessing conditions (Semmler et al., 2018). The current research examined evaluations of eyewitness identification evidence in cases involving suboptimal witnessing conditions. Students (Experiments 1 & 2) and community members (Experiment 3) read eight crime vignettes involving an eyewitness's identification. We manipulated information about poor witnessing conditions (present vs. absent), the eyewitness's confidence level (high vs. moderate), and the format of the confidence statement (verbal vs. numeric) and measured evaluations of eyewitness-identification accuracy. Across all three experiments, information about suboptimal witnessing conditions disproportionately reduced evaluators' belief of highly confident compared to moderately confident eyewitnesses. This differential-discrediting pattern occurred for both numeric and verbal confidence-statement formats. Expert testimony describing the imperviousness of high-confidence suspect-identification accuracy to suboptimal witnessing conditions reduced, but did not eliminate, the differential-discrediting effect. Given that crime eyewitnesses frequently experience suboptimal witnessing conditions (e.g., Behrman & Davey, 2001; Wright & McDaid, 1996), the current findings have widespread implications for the capacity of the legal system to correctly classify suspects as guilty or innocent based on eyewitness identification testimony.

Designing a learning tool for translating resilience in healthcare into practice: A qualitative mixed methods study

There is currently a lack of tools that focus on strengthening resilient performance of healthcare systems through learning from positive healthcare events. Such tools are needed to operationalize and translate resilience in healthcare and, thus, advance the field of patient safety by learning from both positive and negative events and outcomes. The purpose of this study is to describe the developmental process of one such tool to enable operationalization of resilient healthcare and aid future tool development. The development process featured a complex, multi-step, design through involvement of a range of different stakeholders. A combination of publicly available platforms, cross-sectional knowledge, step-by step instructions and a learning tool that engages participants in collaborative practice to facilitate discussions across stakeholders and system levels is proposed as a means to create awareness of when and what contributes to resilient performance is fundamental to understanding and improving healthcare system resilience.

Running away from the marshmallow: the relevance of behaviour settings for a situated science of self-control

The behaviour settings approach was introduced as a means to study the variability of human beings' behaviour outside the lab. More recently, it has been argued that it also provides a fruitful avenue for developing situated accounts of cognition. This article will provide a proof of concept for the latter suggestion, focusing on the science of self-control. Self-control is the ability of individuals to pursue goals they value in the face of conflicting motivations. The hypothesis we bring forward is that this ability should be understood as a set of skills by which individuals modulate their relation to their environment, more specifically the behaviour settings they inhabit. With this conception of self-control in hand, we will take a critical look at well-known experiments involving delayed gratification tasks and propose concrete suggestions on how to improve them. This will bring us to the conclusion that the behaviour settings framework might have a valuable role to play in developing a situated science of self-control. This article is part of the theme issue 'People, places, things and communities: expanding behaviour settings theory in the twenty-first century'.

Epigenetic biomarkers in aging and longevity: Current and future application

The aging process has been one of the most necessary research fields in the current century, and knowing different theories of aging and the role of different genetic, epigenetic, molecular, and environmental modulating factors in increasing the knowledge of aging mechanisms and developing appropriate diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive ways would be helpful. One of the most conserved signs of aging is epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling, noncoding RNAs, and extracellular RNAs. Numerous biological processes and hallmarks are vital in aging development, but epigenomic alterations are especially notable because of their importance in gene regulation and cellular identity. The mounting evidence points to a possible interaction between age-related epigenomic alterations and other aging hallmarks, like genome instability. To extend a healthy lifespan and possibly reverse some facets of aging and aging-related diseases, it will be crucial to comprehend global and locus-specific epigenomic modifications and recognize corresponding regulators of health and longevity. In the current study, we will aim to discuss the role of epigenomic mechanisms in aging and the most recent developments in epigenetic diagnostic biomarkers, which have the potential to focus efforts on reversing the destructive signs of aging and extending the lifespan.

Frontal cortex neurometabolites and mobility in older adults: a preliminary study

BACKGROUND

The frontal cortex, relevant to global cognition and motor function, is recruited to compensate for mobility dysfunction in older adults. However, the in vivo neurophysiological (e.g., neurometabolites) underpinnings of the frontal cortex compensation for mobility dysfunction remain poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among frontal cortex neurophysiology, mobility, and cognition in healthy older adults.

METHODS

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) quantified N-acetylasparate (tNAA) and total choline (tCho) concentrations and ratios in the frontal cortex in 21 older adults. Four inertial sensors recorded the Timed Up & Go (TUG) test. Cognition was assessed using the Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test which requires conflict resolution because of response interference from flanking distractors during incongruent trials. Congruent trials require no conflict resolution.

RESULTS

tNAA concentration significantly related to the standing (p = 0.04) and sitting (p = 0.03) lean angles. tCho concentration (p = 0.04) and tCho ratio (p = 0.02) significantly related to TUG duration. tCho concentration significantly related to incongruent response time (p = 0.01). tCho ratio significantly related to both congruent (p = 0.009) and incongruent (p < 0.001) response times. Congruent (p = 0.02) and incongruent (p = 0.02) Flanker response times significantly related to TUG duration.

CONCLUSIONS

Altered levels of frontal cortex neurometabolites are associated with both mobility and cognitive abilities in healthy older adults. Identifying neurometabolites associated with frontal cortex compensation of mobility dysfunction could improve targeted therapies aimed at improving mobility in older adults.

Elevated unanticipated acoustic startle reactivity in dyslexia

People with dyslexia, a neurodevelopmental disorder of reading, are highly attuned to the emotional world. Compared with their typically developing peers, children with dyslexia exhibit greater autonomic nervous system reactivity and facial behaviour to emotion- and empathy-inducing film clips. Affective symptoms, such as anxiety, are also more common in children with dyslexia than in those without. Here, we investigated whether the startle response, an automatic reaction that lies at the interface of emotion and reflex, is elevated in dyslexia. We measured facial behaviour, electrodermal reactivity (a sympathetic nervous system measure) and emotional experience in response to a 100 ms, 105 dB unanticipated acoustic startle task in 30 children with dyslexia and 20 comparison children without dyslexia (aged 7-13) who were matched on age, sex and nonverbal reasoning. Our results indicated that the children with dyslexia had greater total facial behaviour and electrodermal reactivity to the acoustic startle task than the children without dyslexia. Across the sample, greater electrodermal reactivity during the startle predicted greater parent-reported anxiety symptoms. These findings contribute to an emerging picture of heightened emotional reactivity in dyslexia and suggest accentuated sympathetic nervous system reactivity may contribute to the elevated anxiety that is often seen in this population.

Changes in Restless Sleep, Self-Control, and Alcohol-Related Problems with Police from Late Adolescence to Adulthood

Sleep quality is crucial for healthy adolescent brain development, which has downstream effects on self-control and involvement in risky behaviors, such as alcohol use. While previous studies have found that sleep and facets of self-control are associated with patterns of alcohol use, few have assessed whether these constructs are tied to alcohol-related problems with law enforcement during the transitional period from adolescence to adulthood. The current study uses self-report panel data from ages 16 to 27 from a population-based sample of U.S. youth (N = 956; 36.86% female). The goal of the current study is to assess the association between changes in restless sleep, impulsivity, sensation seeking, and problems with police during or shortly after consuming alcohol from adolescence to adulthood to begin to address this gap in the existing literature. Results from a multivariate latent growth curve model reveal that faster increases in restless sleep and slower declines in impulsivity are associated with slower declines in police contact. Correlated changes between restless sleep, impulsivity, and police contact are slightly greater from ages 16-21 than for ages 22-27, with males showing stronger associations. The reported results suggest that identifying developmental mechanisms between changes in poor sleep, impulsivity, and alcohol use behaviors during this life-course phase will be crucial moving forward to help divert youth away from alcohol-related contact with the police.

Living well with chronic pain: a 12-month randomized controlled trial revealing impact from the digital pain self-management program EPIO

Introduction

Chronic pain affects a wide range of physical and psychological aspects of life for those impacted. Psychosocial treatment approaches may be of support, but outreach is still limited.

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy of EPIO, an evidence-informed, user-centered digital self-management intervention for people with chronic pain, in a 12-month randomized controlled trial.

Methods

People living with chronic pain (N = 266) were randomized to the EPIO intervention (n = 132) or a usual-care control group (n = 134). The intervention was delivered in a simple blended care model, and outcome measures collected at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Generalized linear models for repeated measures were fitted to compare groups over time.

Results

Participants were primarily female (81%), median age 49 years (range 22-78), with heterogeneous pain conditions, and had lived with pain >5 years (77.6%). A mixed linear model with all timepoints included revealed no statistically significant group differences for the primary outcome of pain interference. Significant psychological benefits in favor of the intervention group were however detected for depression (P = 0.022), self-regulatory fatigue (P = 0.024), vitality (P = 0.016), and mental health (P = 0.047). Baseline to 12-month changes showed additional favorable effects for anxiety (between-group mean differences [MDs] = 0.79, P = 0.047), depression (MD = 1.08, P = 0.004), self-regulatory fatigue (MD = 2.42, P = 0.021), pain catastrophizing (MD = 2.62, P = 0.009), and health-related quality of life.

Conclusions

The EPIO program aims to improve outreach of evidence-based pain self-management interventions. Findings demonstrate how using EPIO can lead to sustainable psychological change, enhancing mental health and health-related quality of life for people suffering from pain, providing a chance to live well with the pain.

Patient- and caregiver-related factors affecting family caregiver burden of urologic cancer patients

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the level of family caregivers' (FC) burden and the extent to which patient- and caregiver-related factors influence the caregiving burden among FCs of urologic cancer (UC) patients.

METHOD

A cross-sectional survey was conducted on caregivers of UC patients who sought cancer care. The modified caregiver strain index (MCSI) was used to assess FC burden.

RESULTS

Just over half (54.3%) of FCs had moderate/high MCSI scores (score 9-26). By demographics, FCs who were unemployed (OR = 5.55, 95%CI 1.50-20.60) and perceived their current health condition as moderate/poor (OR = 6.05, 95%CI 1.95-18.78) reported higher odds of increased FC burden. Patient performance status played a pivotal role in exacerbating FC burden, whereby the odds of higher FC burden was 13 times higher in caregivers of UC patients having an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance rating score of 3-4 (OR = 13.06, 95%CI 1.44-111.26) than those with a score of 0. Perceived lower levels of confidence in care provision were significantly associated with a higher level of strain (OR = 6.76, 985%CI 1.02-44.90).

CONCLUSION

Care recipient performance status was a strong patient-related factor associated with higher FC burden regardless of duration of caregiving and other caregiver-related factors after adjusting for caregiver demographics.

Intimate Partner Violence Risk Factors: A Vulnerability-Adaptation Stress Model Approach

Intimate partner violence (IPV) disproportionally affects women. Using the vulnerability-adaptation stress model, we examined adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), self-esteem, and hope as vulnerability indicators and relationship status and length, positive and negative affect, and socioeconomic status (SES) as stressors to ascertain the risk for IPV. Women (N = 491, M = 37.15, standard deviation = 12.51) completed an online survey comprised of the Positive and Negative Affect Scale, Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale, Snyder's Hope Scale, ACE questionnaire, Composite Abuse Scale Revised-Short Form, and demographic questions. Factor analysis identified four ACE factors of sexual abuse, physical or psychological abuse, witnessing domestic violence, and household dysfunction. A five-step hierarchical multiple regression identified that greater exposure to physical or psychological child abuse was associated with an increased risk of IPV (Step 2), B = 0.73 [0.16, 1.34]. Lower self-esteem, B = -0.30 [-0.47, -0.14] predicted IPV (Step 3). Age B = 0.07 [0.01, 0.13], negative affect, B = 0.39 [0.19, 0.59], and relationship length, B = -1.24 [-2.16, 0.41] were associated with a higher risk of IPV (Step 4). In Step 5, previous variables attenuated to non-significance while age, B = 0.07 [0.01, 0.13], negative affect, B = 0.39 [0.19, 0.59], and relationship length B = -1.25 [-2.16, 0.41] remained significant. While the key findings of this study were inconsistent with some commonly reported findings (e.g., ACEs, self-esteem, hope, relationship status, SES, age), these inconsistencies are important to highlight given the factorial approach to examining ACEs, the comprehensive analyses conducted, and our examination of these variables' direct relationship to IPV. The study was limited by its cross-sectional nature, higher prevalence of IPV victims, and not examining IPV sub-types. Similar studies need to be conducted for other relationship types and victimized individuals (e.g., same-sex relationships and male victims) to provide a complete picture of risk factors for IPV.

Reserve, resilience and maintenance of episodic memory and other cognitive functions in aging

We tested if cognitive and brain reserve and maintenance explain individual differences in episodic memory and other cognitive domains from late middle to early older adulthood. We used The Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging data (n=1604 men) with episodic memory measured at mean ages of 56, 62 and 68 years, and magnetic resonance imaging data for a subsample of participants (n=321). Cognitive reserve -young adult general cognitive ability at a mean age of 20 years and, to a lesser degree, educational attainment- was positively related to episodic memory performance at each assessment, but not to memory change. We found no evidence for the associations of brain reserve or brain maintenance on memory change. Results were highly similar when looking at processing speed, executive function and verbal fluency. In conclusion, higher young adult cognitive reserve was related to better episodic memory in midlife and older adulthood, but it did not confer better cognitive maintenance with respect to memory. This supports the importance of early cognitive development in dementia prevention.

Neural mechanisms of the continued influence effect of misinformation: Analysis based on fMRI causal connectivity

The continued influence effect of misinformation (CIEM) can negatively affect individuals' reasoning and judgment processes. This research aims to enhance the correction of misinformation and foster rational judgement by investigating the internal brain mechanisms involved in the processing of the CIEM through the use of task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging combined with Granger causality analysis. Our findings demonstrate notable effective interactions in varying directions between the left inferior frontal gyrus and middle temporal gyrus during the encoding phase, and between the right anterior cingulate gyrus and left inferior occipital gyrus in the retrieval phase. These insights elucidate the roles of mental model updating and retrieval failure in the processing of CIEM, offering more granular evidence to support the differentiation in processing phases.

The impact of social comparison on self-deception: An event-related potentials study

Self-deception refers to an individual holding inflated beliefs about their abilities, and it plays a crucial role in human behavior and decision-making. The present study employed event-related potentials (ERPs) technique to explore the neural responses to the impacts of social comparison direction and comparison gap on self-deceptive behavior. They were instructed to predict their performance in the forward-looking paradigm. Behavioral responses and neural reactions during the decision-making process were documented. The behavioral results indicated that, in contrast to the downward comparison condition, participants engaged in upward comparison exhibited more occurrences of self-deception. However, within the context of upward comparison, participants demonstrated a higher frequency of self-deception in the large gap condition compared with the small gap condition. The ERP results showed that induced self-deception under conditions with a large comparative gap between participants and their paired counterparts stimulated larger P300 and smaller N400 amplitude than under conditions with a small gap. However, when participants were in the upward comparison situation, the late positive potential (LPP) amplitude induced by self-deception behavior in the condition of a large comparison gap between participants and paired opponents was larger than that in the condition of a small comparison gap. These results indicated that individuals in the large gap group feel strong unfairness and negative emotions. More importantly, the self-deception induced by the large gap group in the upward comparison situation used fewer cognitive resources than the small gap condition, whereas the individuals in the downward comparison situation did not show the difference in cognitive resources.

Advanced theory of mind and children's prosocial lie-telling in middle childhood: A training study

Children's advanced theory of mind (AToM) is concurrently associated with their prosocial lie-telling. However, the causal link between AToM and prosocial lie-telling has not yet been demonstrated. To address this gap, the current study adopted a training paradigm and investigated the role of AToM in children's prosocial lie-telling in middle childhood. A total of 66 9- and 10-year-old children who did not demonstrate any prosocial lie-telling in a disappointment gift paradigm at the baseline were recruited and randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n = 32) or an active control group (n = 34). The experimental group underwent a conversation-based training program of four sessions. The results showed significantly greater gains in AToM at the posttest for the experimental group children compared with the control group children, controlling for family socioeconomic status, children's literacy score, working memory, and inhibition. More important, the experimental group children were more likely to tell prosocial lies than the control group, even after controlling for the pretest AToM and other covariates. However, the training effects faded at the 6-month follow-up test after the training's completion. These findings provide the first evidence for the causal role of AToM in the development of prosocial lie-telling in middle childhood. The fade-out effect is discussed in the context of educational interventions.

Teleworking: does it make workers healthier and productive? A cross-sectional study on a Southern European population

BACKGROUND

Teleworking (TW) has recently shifted from a marginal into a common practice. Yet, concerns have been raised regarding potential work-health negative effects, related to the reduced socialization, and extended working hours with computers at home, possibly offset by reduced commuting time or better individual work-life balance. This paper aims at describing the influence of TW on health, well-being, and productivity perceptions, and how this is shaped by TW conditions.

METHODS

We collected data from workers of 25 companies that exert their activity in Portugal. Data were completed with a representative sample of workers who regularly participate in surveys (total N = 1,069). We applied an on-line questionnaire from September the 1st 2022 to December the 1st 2022. We performed a simple descriptive analysis of each variable. Then, we analyzed the relationship between TW conditions and self-reported health, and between TW conditions at home and productivity, using logistic regression models.

RESULTS

We observed a high prevalence of self-perceived health worsening (15.9%), mostly among those with poor TW conditions. Most teleworkers enjoyed favorable TW conditions, despite limited company support. Relevant changes were observed in lifestyle factors, towards more smoking (5.5%), alcohol drinking (4.5%), and worse diet (10.1%). Two thirds reported enhanced productivity. A statistically significant relationship was observed between inadequate TW conditions, health deterioration, and lower productivity. A 6.0% point (pp) increased risk of productivity worsening was observed when employees faced at least one inadequate condition at home (no private working place at home, inadequate heating, artificial light, or absence of well-being at home). The risk of health deterioration increased by 12.9 pp when facing at least one of these inadequate conditions, and by 6.3 under hybrid TW, compared to one or two days of TW.

CONCLUSIONS

Most teleworkers highlighted a positive perspective about teleworking. Yet, TW conditions are not favorable for all workers, with consequences on health, well-being, and productivity, suggesting that further support is needed for teleworkers to protect their health at home, and reach its maximum benefit.

Examining Factors Associated With Intention to Seek Professional Mental Health Support Among First-Generation Iranian Americans

PURPOSE

Research suggests immigrants are at a greater risk of mental health disorders compared to native-born populations. Thus, the current study investigated factors associated with professional mental help-seeking intention among American immigrants.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 207 first-generation Iranian Americans, and data were collected using survey questionnaires.

RESULTS

Younger Iranians living in western states in the United States and those with positive attitudes toward professional mental health services had greater intention to seek these services. Unexpectedly, those with better mental health literacy (MHL) held more mental health stigma (MHS).

CONCLUSION

Findings elucidated valuable insights into the complex dynamics among sociodemographic factors, acculturation, MHL, MHS, attitudes, and intentions toward professional mental health help-seeking. We also highlighted the intricate relationship between MHL and MHS, suggesting that strategies to improve MHL may not necessarily mitigate MHS within this community. Therefore, integrating anti-stigma, contact-based approaches to MHL programs could effectively reduce stigma while facilitating mental health help-seeking. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx(xx), xx-xx.].

The Emotion Authenticity Recognition (EAR) test: normative data of an innovative test using dynamic emotional stimuli to evaluate the ability to recognize the authenticity of emotions expressed by faces

Despite research has massively focused on how emotions conveyed by faces are perceived, the perception of emotions' authenticity is a topic that has been surprisingly overlooked. Here, we present the Emotion Authenticity Recognition (EAR) test, a test specifically developed using dynamic stimuli depicting authentic and posed emotions to evaluate the ability of individuals to correctly identify an emotion (emotion recognition index, ER Index) and classify its authenticity (authenticity recognition index (EA Index). The EAR test has been validated on 522 healthy participants and normative values are provided. Correlations with demographic characteristics, empathy and general cognitive status have been obtained revealing that both indices are negatively correlated with age, and positively with education, cognitive status and different facets of empathy. The EAR test offers a new ecological test to assess the ability to detect emotion authenticity that allow to explore the eventual social cognitive deficit even in patients otherwise cognitively intact.

Factors associated with dental clinic use by clients in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Nigeria, like many other countries, faced challenges in dental care provision during the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating limited care to emergencies only. However, the impact of restricted access to dental services on oral health remains a concern, particularly with preventive maintenance care. This study aims to identify the factors associated with dental service utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic among patients attending dental clinics in Nigeria, and their sources of information about COVID-19.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study recruited 500 participants who had visited dental clinics before and during the pandemic. Data were collected through telephone interviews and online questionnaires between September and December 2021. Inferential analyses were conducted using ordered logistic regression models to assess the association between the independent (awareness of emergency dental treatments, knowledge of COVID-19 transmission routes in dentistry, awareness of required preparations in dental practice settings, fear of COVID-19 infection in dental settings), and dependent (utilization of dental services during the pandemic) variables after adjusting for confounding variables (age, sex, educational status, COVID-19 vaccinations status and COVID-19 status of live-in residents). The sources of COVID-19 information by dental patients was also identified. Statistical significance was established at 95% confidence level with a p value < 0.05.

RESULTS

Many participants were males (51.2%) and had tertiary education (61.6%). Fear of COVID-19 infection in dental settings was significantly associated with lower odds of utilizing dental care services during the pandemic (Adjusted Odds Ratio: -0.06, 95% Confidence Interval: -0.08, -0.01). The main sources of COVID-19 information were mass media and social networks, with only 42% receiving information from dental professionals.

CONCLUSION

Fear of COVID-19 infection in dental settings significantly influenced dental service utilization during the pandemic. Strategies to address fear and improve communication channels between dental professionals and patients are essential for promoting oral health during similar crises.

Assessing pain in older people with normal, mildly impaired or severely impaired cognition

Pain is a relatively common experience among older people, but unrelieved pain has significant functional, cognitive and emotional consequences for this population. A comprehensive and accurate pain assessment is essential for effective pain management. Self-report tools are suitable to assess pain in older people with normal or mildly impaired cognition, while observational tools are suitable for use with those with significant cognitive impairment or communication difficulties. However, pain assessment in older people can be challenging. The use of one tool on its own is rarely sufficient and it is crucial to involve family carers in assessment of pain in older people with severe cognitive impairment. This article discusses different tools and strategies, including the benefits and limitations, for assessing pain in older people.

Consumption of sugary beverages, genetic predisposition and the risk of depression: a prospective cohort study

Background

The associations between sugary beverages and genetic predisposition to depression risk remain unclear.

Aims

This study aimed to investigate the associations of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) and natural juices (NJs) with depression and to assess whether these associations were modified by genetic predisposition.

Methods

We used data from the UK Biobank of 180 599 individuals aged 39-72 years who were depression-free at baseline. Dietary intake of SSBs, ASBs and NJs was accessed by a 24-hour dietary recall between 2009 and 2012. The Polygenic Risk Score for depression was estimated and categorised as low (lowest tertile), intermediate (tertile 2) and high (highest tertile). Cox proportional hazard and substitution models were conducted to evaluate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs.

Results

Over the 12-year follow-up, 4915 individuals developed depression. Higher consumption (>2 units/day) of SSBs (HR: 1.26, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.43) and ASBs (HR: 1.40, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.60) were both associated with an increased risk of depression. However, moderate consumption (>0-1 units/day) of NJs was associated with a lower risk of depression (HR: 0.89, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.95). Furthermore, genetic predisposition did not modify these associations (p interaction>0.05). In substitution models, the HRs for depression risk were 0.94 (95% CI 0.89 to 0.99) and 0.89 (95% CI 0.85 to 0.94), respectively, when 1 unit/day of SSBs or ASBs was replaced by an equivalent intake of NJs.

Conclusions

Higher consumption of SSBs and ASBs was associated with an increased risk of depression; in contrast, moderate consumption of NJs was inversely associated with a lower risk of depression. In theory, substituting SSBs and ASBs with NJs would suppose a reduction of depression risk.

Activity for CUREs to increase student understanding and application of responsible authorship and publication practices

Professional development of scientists is enhanced by training students in responsible conduct of research earlier in their careers. One aspect of responsible conduct of research is authorship ethics, which concerns granting of credit to those who make intellectual contributions to the research. The activity discussed in this article emphasizes how authorship ethics can be integrated with Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) and includes an adaption that could also be used for independent research students. The activity allows students to reflect upon inequalities and problems seen in scientific authorship, including gender bias, failure to credit effort (ghostwriters), and inclusion of authors that did not meaningfully contribute to the work (honorary/gift authorship). Themes seen in student reflections on how they could demonstrate ethics in authorship included: determining authorship by contribution, appropriate attributions on curriculum vitas (CV) and posters, different credit levels, understanding authorship criteria, and tracking contributions. Themes seen in student reflections on the importance of authorship were proper authorship credit distribution, authorship impacting career opportunities, and accountability in research. In the activity, students also created attributions for a poster to be presented from their research. We found that most students were able to create attributions that were correctly formatted, included the same authors, and positioned authors in the same order as other group members, matching what was presented on the finalized poster. We found that students' reflection on authorship and this professionalization of their activities in their CURE led to modest increases in their view of themselves as scientists.

Is working memory domain-general or domain-specific?

Given the fundamental role of working memory (WM) in all domains of cognition, a central question has been whether WM is domain-general. However, the term 'domain-general' has been used in different, and sometimes misleading, ways. By reviewing recent evidence and biologically plausible models of WM, we show that the level of domain-generality varies substantially between three facets of WM: in terms of computations, WM is largely domain-general. In terms of neural correlates, it contains both domain-general and domain-specific elements. Finally, in terms of application, it is mostly domain-specific. This variance encourages a shift of focus towards uncovering domain-general computational principles and away from domain-general approaches to the analysis of individual differences and WM training, favoring newer perspectives, such as training-as-skill-learning.

Mitigating the influence of message features on health misinformation sharing intention in social media: Experimental evidence for accuracy-nudge intervention

RATIONALE

The escalating dissemination of health misinformation on social media platforms poses a significant threat to users' well-being. It is imperative to identify the types of health misinformation that are more susceptible to widespread dissemination and to explore strategies to curb its spread.

METHOD

This study designed a 2 (emotional appeal type: positive vs. negative) × 2 (fabricated source type: pseudo-common vs. pseudo-authoritative) × 2 (accuracy-nudge label: No vs. Yes) online between-subjects experiment controlling for factors such as e-health literacy, prior sharing experience, and personal involvement. A snowball sampling approach was used to recruit 1952 participants through social media, resulting in a final sample of 1393 valid responses.

RESULTS

Compared to positive emotional appeal and pseudo-common sources, negative emotional appeal and pseudo-authoritative sources resulted in higher levels of sharing intention. Under the condition of negative emotional appeal, the promotion effect of pseudo-authoritative sources on sharing intention was intensified. The accuracy-nudge intervention could significantly mitigate this tendency. The underlying mechanisms revealed more details: both negative emotional appeals and pseudo-authoritative sources increased the perceived credibility of health misinformation, thereby increasing users' sharing intention. However, in contrast to pseudo-authoritative sources, excessive negative emotional appeal induced vigilant verification behavior among users, which reduced sharing to some extent. Adding an accuracy-nudge label to health misinformation reduced users' misguided trust in health misinformation features and stimulated information verification, ultimately reducing health misinformation sharing intention.

CONCLUSIONS

Negative emotional appeal and pseudo-authoritative sources can enhance the perceived credibility of health misinformation, thereby strengthening the sharing intention of social media users. Therefore, health misinformation with negative emotional appeal and pseudo-authoritative sources is more likely to be widely shared. The accuracy nudge intervention can trigger users' information verification behavior, suppress the persuasive effects of the misinformation features mentioned above, and help prevent the spread of health misinformation on social media.

Nurse judgements of hospitalized patients' safety concerns are affected by patient, nurse and event characteristics: A factorial survey experiment

AIM

To test the influences of patient, safety event and nurse characteristics on nurse judgements of credibility, importance and intent to report patients' safety concerns.

DESIGN

Factorial survey experiment.

METHODS

A total of 240 nurses were recruited and completed an online survey including demographic information and responses to eight factorial vignettes consisting of unique combinations of eight patient and event factors. Hierarchical multivariate analysis was used to test influences of vignette factors and nurse characteristics on nurse judgements.

RESULTS

The intraclass coefficients for nurse judgements suggest that the variation among nurses exceeded the influence of contextual vignette factors. Several significant sources of nurse variation were identified, including race/ethnicity, suggesting a complex relationship between nurses' characteristics and their potential biases, and the influence of personal and patient factors on nurses' judgements, including the decision to report safety concerns.

CONCLUSION

Nurses are key players in the system to manage patient safety concerns. Variation among nurses and how they respond to scenarios of patient safety concerns highlight the need for nurse-level intervention.

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND PATIENT CARE

Complex factors influence nurses' judgement, interpretation and reporting of patients' safety concerns.

IMPACT

Understanding nurse judgement regarding patient-expressed safety concerns is critical for designing processes and systems that promote reporting. Multiple event and patient characteristics (type of event and apparent harm, and patient gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and communication approach) as well as participant characteristics (race/ethnicity, gender, years of experience and primary hospital area) impacted participants' judgements of credibility, degree of concern and intent to report. These findings will help guide patient safety nurse education and training.

REPORTING METHOD

STROBE guidelines.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Members of the public, including patient advocates, were involved in content validation of the vignette scenarios, norming photographs used in the factorial survey and testing the survey functionality.

Teamwork and implementation of innovations in healthcare and human service settings: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Implementation of new practices in team-based settings requires teams to work together to respond to new demands and changing expectations. However, team constructs and team-based implementation approaches have received little attention in the implementation science literature. This systematic review summarizes empirical research examining associations between teamwork and implementation outcomes when evidence-based practices and other innovations are implemented in healthcare and human service settings.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, APA PsycINFO and ERIC for peer-reviewed empirical articles published from January 2000 to March 2022. Additional articles were identified by searches of reference lists and a cited reference search for included articles (completed in February 2023). We selected studies using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods to examine associations between team constructs and implementation outcomes in healthcare and human service settings. We used the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool to assess methodological quality/risk of bias and conducted a narrative synthesis of included studies. GRADE and GRADE-CERQual were used to assess the strength of the body of evidence.

RESULTS

Searches identified 10,489 results. After review, 58 articles representing 55 studies were included. Relevant studies increased over time; 71% of articles were published after 2016. We were unable to generate estimates of effects for any quantitative associations because of very limited overlap in the reported associations between team variables and implementation outcomes. Qualitative findings with high confidence were: 1) Staffing shortages and turnover hinder implementation; 2) Adaptive team functioning (i.e., positive affective states, effective behavior processes, shared cognitive states) facilitates implementation and is associated with better implementation outcomes; Problems in team functioning (i.e., negative affective states, problematic behavioral processes, lack of shared cognitive states) act as barriers to implementation and are associated with poor implementation outcomes; and 3) Open, ongoing, and effective communication within teams facilitates implementation of new practices; poor communication is a barrier.

CONCLUSIONS

Teamwork matters for implementation. However, both team constructs and implementation outcomes were often poorly specified, and there was little overlap of team constructs and implementation outcomes studied in quantitative studies. Greater specificity and rigor are needed to understand how teamwork influences implementation processes and outcomes. We provide recommendations for improving the conceptualization, description, assessment, analysis, and interpretation of research on teams implementing innovations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO, the international prospective register of systematic reviews.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020220168.

Visual Attention to Evolutionarily Relevant Information by Heterosexual Men and Women While Viewing Mock Online Dating Profiles

The way people create social connections and access information has been altered greatly by technology in recent decades. Online browsing of visual profiles has become a common means for seeking potential partners for both short- and long-term relationships. Little is known, however, about how people prioritize mate quality information while viewing online profiles. Using eye-tracking methods and self-report, this study investigated how people evaluated profile-based facial attractiveness and text-based financial resources information, represented by income and occupation. Heterosexual male and female participants, aged between 18 and 27 years, viewed opposite-sex profiles while their eye-movements were recorded using a remote eye-tracking camera. In line with current theory, resources information had little effect on men's overall attention to women's faces, whereas women's overall attention to men's faces varied depending on the level of income and occupation. Women evaluated men's faces more when income and occupation were low, regardless of attractiveness. Unexpectedly, however, men marginally increased their attention toward unattractive women who showed a high-level of income and more esteemed occupation. Men self-reported a higher interest in women for a short-term relationship and women self-reported a higher interest in men for a long-term relationship. This work provides a foundation to further examine how people browse profile-based information and to investigate the mate selection process, with real-world implications for online dating app users, profile design, and content.

Detection of ChatGPT fake science with the xFakeSci learning algorithm

Generative AI tools exemplified by ChatGPT are becoming a new reality. This study is motivated by the premise that "AI generated content may exhibit a distinctive behavior that can be separated from scientific articles". In this study, we show how articles can be generated using means of prompt engineering for various diseases and conditions. We then show how we tested this premise in two phases and prove its validity. Subsequently, we introduce xFakeSci, a novel learning algorithm, that is capable of distinguishing ChatGPT-generated articles from publications produced by scientists. The algorithm is trained using network models driven from both sources. To mitigate overfitting issues, we incorporated a calibration step that is built upon data-driven heuristics, including proximity and ratios. Specifically, from a total of a 3952 fake articles for three different medical conditions, the algorithm was trained using only 100 articles, but calibrated using folds of 100 articles. As for the classification step, it was performed using 300 articles per condition. The actual label steps took place against an equal mix of 50 generated articles and 50 authentic PubMed abstracts. The testing also spanned publication periods from 2010 to 2024 and encompassed research on three distinct diseases: cancer, depression, and Alzheimer's. Further, we evaluated the accuracy of the xFakeSci algorithm against some of the classical data mining algorithms (e.g., Support Vector Machines, Regression, and Naive Bayes). The xFakeSci algorithm achieved F1 scores ranging from 80 to 94%, outperforming common data mining algorithms, which scored F1 values between 38 and 52%. We attribute the noticeable difference to the introduction of calibration and a proximity distance heuristic, which underscores this promising performance. Indeed, the prediction of fake science generated by ChatGPT presents a considerable challenge. Nonetheless, the introduction of the xFakeSci algorithm is a significant step on the way to combating fake science.

Impairment of olfactory identification ability in ultra-high risk for psychosis and drug-naïve first episode psychosis

OBJECTIVE

Patients with psychotic diseases have been reported to exhibit abnormalities in their olfactory discrimination. These alterations have also been identified in people at high genetic or clinical risk for psychosis, suggesting olfactory discrimination dysfunction may be a potential risk factor for developing psychosis. Thus, the purpose of our study is to explore the difference in olfactory discrimination ability in the prosal stage and early stage of psychosis and to explore the potential risk factor of developed psychosis.

METHODS

We compared olfactory identification and cognitive function in 89 ultra-high-risk (UHR) individuals, 103 individuals with Drug-naïve first-episode schizophrenia (FES), 81 genetic high-risk (GHR) individuals, and 97 healthy controls (HC). Additionally, we compared olfactory identification and cognitive function between two groups; UHR individuals who later transitioned to psychosis (UHR-T; n = 33) and those who did not transition (UHR-NT; n = 42)). Furthermore, we analyzed the correlations between olfactory discrimination ability and cognitive function and symptoms and compared the olfactory function between men and women.

RESULTS

Patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FES) and those at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis exhibited more significant deficits in olfactory identification than healthy controls (HC), while no differences in olfactory identification dysfunction were observed between the genetic high risk (GHR) and HC groups. Notably, individuals in the UHR group who later developed psyhchosis displayed a steeper marked decline in their baseline olfactory identification ability than that of those in the UHR group who did not develop psychosis. Cognitive dysfunction is widely observed in both the FES and UHR groups, with a distinct correlation identified between olfactory discrimination function and cognitive performance. Finally, overall, women exhibit significantly superior olfactory function than men.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, these findings suggest that impairment of olfactory identification exists in the early stage of psychosis. Olfactory identification dysfunction may therefore be a potential marker of predicting the transition to schizophrenia.

Social Dysfunction and Apathy: Transdiagnostic Domains in Late-Life Cognitive Disorders

Social dysfunction is a maladaptive process of coping, problem solving, and achieving one's goals. A new definition of apathy was cross-linked to social dysfunction, with a reduced goal-directed behavior and social interaction as a separate dimension. We hypothesized that these two neuropsychiatric symptoms may be included in the mild behavioral impairment diagnostic framework, operationalizing and standardizing late-life neuropsychiatric symptom assessment, to improve risk determination of dementia. Social dysfunction and apathy were transdiagnostic and prodromic for late-life cognitive disorders. A transdiagnostic approach could provide a useful mean for a better understanding of apathy and related conditions such as social behavior.

Multivariate pattern analysis of cooperation and competition in constructive action

The neural underpinning of cooperative and competitive constructive activity has been investigated using mass-univariate approaches. In this study, we sought to compare the results of these approaches with the results of multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA). In particular, we wanted to test whether MVPA supports the claim made in previous studies that cooperation is associated with the activity of reward-related brain circuits. Participants were required to construct a pattern on the screen either individually or in cooperation or competition with another person during an fMRI scan. Both the MVPA classification methods and the representational similarity analysis indicated the involvement of orbitofrontal and ventromedial prefrontal areas in processes that distinguish between cooperation and competition, and activation analysis showed that these areas are more active during cooperation than during competition. However, a single trial analysis showed that the effect was reversed when only winning trials were considered. In these trials, activation of reward-related areas was higher during competition than during cooperation. Moreover, the contrast between won and lost trials in terms of reward circuits involvement was sharper under competition than under cooperation. Thus, although cooperation can be generally more rewarding than competition, it is associated with smaller difference between trials lost and trials won in terms of reward circuits activation. One may speculate that in cooperation, victory and defeat are shared with the partner and, contrary to competition, are not experienced as personal achievement or failure.

Mental health treatments and the influence of culture: portrayals of hypnotherapy and electroconvulsive therapy in Singaporean television dramas

Stigma is one of the chief reasons for treatment-avoidant behaviour among people with mental health conditions. Stigmatising attitudes are spread through multiple determinants, including but not limited to: (i) individual beliefs; (ii) interpersonal influences; (iii) local cultural values and (iv) shared culture such as depictions in television shows. Our research indicates that popular television shows are currently understudied vectors for narratives that alternately reify or debunk assumptions and stereotypes about people with mental health conditions. Although such shows are fictional, they influence perception by normalising 'common sense' assumptions over extended periods of time. Consequently, representations of patients, psychiatrists and treatments influence knowledge and understanding of mental health and treatment-seeking behaviour. While storytelling about sickness can inspire possibilities and bestow meaning on traumatic experiences, fictional narratives written without sufficient care can have the inverse effect of curtailing horizons and limiting expectations. Problematic portrayals of patients, mental health professionals and psychological interventions are often reductive and may increase stigma and prevent treatment-seeking behaviour. This article analyses the representation of hypnotherapy and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in Singaporean television dramas that attract a wide, mainstream audience. Our diverse team investigated dramas in all four of the official languages of Singapore: English, Mandarin Chinese, Bahasa Melayu and Tamil. We found that depictions of hypnotherapy tend to produce problematic images of mental health professionals as manipulative, able to read minds, engaging in criminal behaviour, lacking in compassion and self-interested. Meanwhile, representations of ECT typically focus on the fear and distress of the patient, and it is primarily depicted as a disciplinary tool rather than a safe and effective medical procedure for patients whose condition is severe and refractory to pharmacotherapy and behavioural interventions. These depictions have the potential to discourage treatment-seeking behaviour-when early intervention has found to be crucial-among vulnerable populations.

State-Level Education Quality and Trajectories of Cognitive Function by Race and Educational Attainment

Policy Points Education-cognition research overlooks the role of education quality in shaping cognitive function at midlife and older ages, even though quality may be more responsive to federal and state investment in public schooling than attainment. For older US adults who attended school during the early to mid-20th century, the quality of US education improved considerably as federal and state investment increased. Ensuring access to high-quality primary and secondary education may protect against poor cognitive function at midlife and older ages, particularly among Black Americans and persons who complete less education. It may also play an important role in reducing health inequities.

CONTEXT

Although educational attainment is consistently associated with better cognitive function among older adults, we know little about how education quality is related to cognitive function. This is a key gap in the literature given that the quality of US education improved considerably during the early to mid-20th century as state and federal investment increased. We posit that growing up in states with higher-quality education systems may protect against poor cognitive function, particularly among Black adults and adults who completed fewer years of school.

METHODS

We used prospective data on cognitive function from the Health and Retirement Study linked to historical data on state investment in public schools, restricting our sample to non-Hispanic White and Black adults born between 1914 and 1959 (19,096 White adults and 4,625 Black adults). Using race-stratified linear mixed models, we considered if state-level education quality was associated with level and decline in cognitive function and if these patterns differed by years of schooling and race.

FINDINGS

Residing in states with higher-resourced education systems during childhood was associated with better cognitive function, particularly among those who completed less than 12 years of schooling, regardless of race. For White adults, higher-resourced state education systems were associated with higher scores of total cognitive function and episodic memory, but there were diminishing returns as resources increased to very high levels. For Black adults, the relationship between state education resources and cognitive function varied by age with positive associations in midlife and generally null or negative associations at the oldest ages.

CONCLUSIONS

Federal and state investment in public schools may provide students with opportunities to develop important cognitive resources during schooling that translate into better cognitive function in later life, especially among marginalized populations.

The associations of socioeconomic position with structural brain damage and connectivity and cognitive functioning: The Maastricht Study

BACKGROUND

Socioeconomic inequalities in cognitive impairment may partly act through structural brain damage and reduced connectivity. This study investigated the extent to which the association of early-life socioeconomic position (SEP) with later-life cognitive functioning is mediated by later-life SEP, and whether the associations of SEP with later-life cognitive functioning can be explained by structural brain damage and connectivity.

METHODS

We used cross-sectional data from the Dutch population-based Maastricht Study (n = 4,839; mean age 59.2 ± 8.7 years, 49.8% women). Early-life SEP was assessed by self-reported poverty during childhood and parental education. Later-life SEP included education, occupation, and current household income. Participants underwent cognitive testing and 3-T magnetic resonance imaging to measure volumes of white matter hyperintensities, grey matter, white matter, cerebrospinal fluid, and structural connectivity. Multiple linear regression analyses tested the associations between SEP, markers of structural brain damage and connectivity, and cognitive functioning. Mediation was tested using structural equation modeling.

RESULTS

Although there were direct associations between both indicators of SEP and later-life cognitive functioning, a large part of the association between early-life SEP and later-life cognitive functioning was explained by later-life SEP (72.2%). The extent to which structural brain damage or connectivity acted as mediators between SEP and cognitive functioning was small (up to 5.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

We observed substantial SEP differences in later-life cognitive functioning. Associations of structural brain damage and connectivity with cognitive functioning were relatively small, and only marginally explained the SEP gradients in cognitive functioning.

HAPI: An efficient Hybrid Feature Engineering-based Approach for Propaganda Identification in social media

Social media platforms serve as communication tools where users freely share information regardless of its accuracy. Propaganda on these platforms refers to the dissemination of biased or deceptive information aimed at influencing public opinion, encompassing various forms such as political campaigns, fake news, and conspiracy theories. This study introduces a Hybrid Feature Engineering Approach for Propaganda Identification (HAPI), designed to detect propaganda in text-based content like news articles and social media posts. HAPI combines conventional feature engineering methods with machine learning techniques to achieve high accuracy in propaganda detection. This study is conducted on data collected from Twitter via its API, and an annotation scheme is proposed to categorize tweets into binary classes (propaganda and non-propaganda). Hybrid feature engineering entails the amalgamation of various features, including Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF), Bag of Words (BoW), Sentimental features, and tweet length, among others. Multiple Machine Learning classifiers undergo training and evaluation utilizing the proposed methodology, leveraging a selection of 40 pertinent features identified through the hybrid feature selection technique. All the selected algorithms including Multinomial Naive Bayes (MNB), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Decision Tree (DT), and Logistic Regression (LR) achieved promising results. The SVM-based HaPi (SVM-HaPi) exhibits superior performance among traditional algorithms, achieving precision, recall, F-Measure, and overall accuracy of 0.69, 0.69, 0.69, and 69.2%, respectively. Furthermore, the proposed approach is compared to well-known existing approaches where it overperformed most of the studies on several evaluation metrics. This research contributes to the development of a comprehensive system tailored for propaganda identification in textual content. Nonetheless, the purview of propaganda detection transcends textual data alone. Deep learning algorithms like Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) offer the capability to manage multimodal data, incorporating text, images, audio, and video, thereby considering not only the content itself but also its presentation and contextual nuances during dissemination.

The effect of Transcendental Meditation on self-esteem, self-efficacy, and gratitude, for increasing empowerment of female youth in Uganda

This longitudinal study with female youth in the slums of Kampala, Uganda (n = 130), explored the impact of the Transcendental Meditation® (TM®) technique on self-esteem, the primary outcome measure, and self-efficacy, gratitude, hope, tiredness, and resilience as secondary outcomes. Quality-of-life behaviors were also assessed, including excessive alcohol use. After baseline testing participants learned TM over five consecutive days. Participants practiced TM at home for 20 min twice a day and attended two follow-up sessions. Post-testing occurred at five months. Significant improvements in self-esteem (p < .001), self-efficacy (p < .001), gratitude (p < .001), and tiredness (p = .05) were found. A decrease in excessive alcohol use was also observed (p = .02). At eight months a short answer questionnaire showed improved physical health, decreased stress and anxiety levels, and improved relationships in the family and community. Our findings have important implications for enhancing the well-being and empowerment of these vulnerable female youth.

Prevalence of Dementia and Cognitive Impairment in East Africa Region: A Scoping Review of Population-Based Studies and Call for Further Research

Background

Population-based research on the prevalence and determinants of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and cognitive impairment is scarce in East Africa.

Objective

To provide an overview of community- and population-based studies among older adults on the prevalence of dementia and cognitive impairment in East Africa, and identify research gaps.

Methods

We carried out a literature search using three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar) using pertinent search terms.

Results

After screening 445 publications, we identified four publications on the population-based prevalence of dementia, and three on cognitive impairment. Prevalence rates varied from 6- 23% for dementia, and 7- 44% for cognitive impairment, among participants aged≥50-70 years. Old age and a lower education level were risk factors for dementia and cognitive impairment. Physical inactivity, lack of a ventilated kitchen, and history of central nervous system infections and chronic headache were associated with increased odds of dementia. Female sex, depression, having no spouse, increased lifetime alcohol consumption, low income, rural residence, and low family support were associated with increased odds of cognitive impairment. Potential misclassification and non-standardized data collection methods are research gaps that should be addressed in future studies.

Conclusions

Establishing collaborative networks and partnering with international research institutions may enhance the capacity for conducting population-based studies on dementia and cognitive impairment in East Africa. Longitudinal studies may provide valuable insights on incidence, as well as potential risk and protective factors of dementia and cognitive impairment, and may inform the development of targeted interventions including preventive strategies in the region.

Caregiving stress and maternal mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

It has now been extensively documented that parental mental health has deteriorated since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although pandemic-related stress has been widespread, parents faced the unique challenge of navigating remote schooling. Parental oversight of children's education, loss of access to school supportive resources, and the challenges of remote learning may have been most problematic for parents of children with or at elevated risk for mental health difficulties. In the current study, we examined interactive effects of parent-reported pandemic-related caregiving stress and child internalizing and externalizing problems on parental depressive symptoms in a community-based cohort (N = 115) in the Northeast of the United States. Results indicated that parents experiencing higher levels of pandemic-related caregiving stress whose children exhibited elevated externalizing behaviors reported heightened levels of depressive symptoms. Greater child internalizing problems were associated with higher parental depressive symptoms independent of caregiving stress. These findings point to conditions that might heighten risk for parent mental health challenges in the context of ongoing remote or hybrid learning and pandemic-associated restrictions. Further, the findings point to conditions and characteristics that may be screened to identify and intervene with vulnerable families to mitigate mental health problems.

Knowing what they know: Preschool teachers' knowledge of math skills and its relation to instruction

Math experiences during the preschool years play an important role in children's later math learning. Preschool teachers exhibit considerable variability in the amount and types of mathematics activities they engage in with their students; one potentially important source of these individual differences is adults' knowledge of early math development. The current study aimed to describe preschool teachers' knowledge of numeracy, patterning, and spatial/geometric skills developed in preschool and its relation to their reported mathematics instruction. Participants (N = 83) completed a survey in which they judged whether particular early math skills could be observed in typically developing 4-year-olds in the United States and reported their frequency of engaging in different math instructional activities. Pre- and in-service preschool teachers' knowledge varied across the different domains (i.e., numeracy, patterning, and spatial/geometric) of mathematical thinking, but their reported frequency of instruction did not. Teachers who were found to be more accurate in their knowledge of early math development were more likely to report higher frequency of math instruction; looking specifically at the domains, the strength of association between knowledge and instruction was the strongest for numeracy. Such findings highlight the possibility that supporting preschool teachers' knowledge of the range of math skills their students can be developing may be one component of improving early math teaching and learning.

A Virtual Reality Simulation to Examine the Relationship Between Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms and Decision-Making in First Responders

First responders (FRs) are continuously exposed to critical incidents, considered traumatic events (TEs). This cumulative exposure increases the risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, there is no evidence about the relationship between PTSD symptoms and emergency decision-making (EDM). The objective of this study was to examine the EDM of FRs during a virtual reality through the simulation of two emergency scenarios to collect data on the reaction time and the number of incorrect decisions. We also assessed PTSD symptoms, TE, and sociodemographics. The sample included 368 Portuguese FRs, were 295 (80.20%) males and 73 (19.80%) females, with a mean age of 33.96 (SD  = 9.38). Considering the probable PTSD diagnosis according to the DSM-5, 85 (23.10%) of the FRs met the criteria. These individuals who meet the criteria exhibited higher EDM scores (M  = 19.60, SD  = 5.99) compared to those without probable PTSD (M  = 17.87, SD = .5.66) (F(1, 360) = 5.32, p = .02, partial η2 = .015). We found that TEs had a direct effect on EDM, β = -.16, Z = -3.74, p < .001), and the pathway of trauma-PTSD symptoms-decision-making an indirect effect, β = .02, Z  = 3.10, p = .002). Individuals exposed to more TEs demonstrated faster and more accurate decision-making in the context of EDM. However, when these individuals developed PTSD symptoms, their decision-making became slower and less accurate. The inclusion of a trauma-informed approach for FRs to prevent individual and job-related consequences is discussed.