Suchergebnisse

Abstract
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic and related measures have negatively impacted mental health worldwide. The main objective of the present longitudinal study was to investigate mental health in people living in Tyrol (Austria) and South Tyrol (Italy) during the COVID-19 pandemic and to report the prevalence of psychological distress among individuals with versus those without pre-existing mental health disorders (MHD) in the long-term (summer 2020–winter 2022). Here, we specifically focus on the relevance of spirituality and perceived social support in this regard.

Methods
161 individuals who had been diagnosed with MHD and 446 reference subjects participated in this online survey. Electronic data capture was conducted using the Computer-based Health Evaluation System and included both sociodemographic and clinical aspects as well as standardized questionnaires on psychological distress, spirituality, and the perception of social support.

Results
The prevalence of psychological distress was significantly higher in individuals with MHD (36.6% vs. 12.3%) and remained unchanged among both groups over time. At baseline, the perception of social support was significantly higher in healthy control subjects, whereas the two groups were comparable in regards of the subjective relevance of faith. Reference subjects indicated significantly higher spiritual well-being in terms of the sense of meaning in life and peacefulness, which mediated in large part the between-group difference of psychological distress at follow-up. Notably, both faith and the perception of social support did not prove to be relevant in this context.

Conclusions
These findings point to a consistently high prevalence of psychological distress among people suffering from MHD and underscore the prominent role of meaning in life and peacefulness as a protective factor in times of crisis. Therapeutic strategies that specifically target spirituality may have a beneficial impact on mental health.

It is estimated that 275 million people in the world between 15 and 64 years old used drugs of abuse in 2020. In the same year, the Brazilian Federal Police seized about 546,439.57 kg of marijuana and 91,234.87 kg of cocaine, demonstrating that the use and abuse of psychoactive substances are on the rise in everyday life. This study aimed to describe the profile of seizures of marijuana, cocaine and crack, carried out by the Civil Police, in the region of Betim in the state of Minas Gerais. This is a descriptive observational study, carried out on a documentary basis, in the years 2017 and 2018. The information was collected through the analysis of the final reports issued by the Betim Police Department, and the Social Defense Event Records (REDS). The results demonstrate that 568 definitive reports and REDS were analyzed, and the sociodemographic profile of the individual apprehended in connection with illicit drugs is composed mainly of men (86.4%), single (86.6%), with incomplete elementary education (33.2%), with a median age of 20 years. The 24 hour Police Station (88%) and the north region Police Station (22.7%) were where the largest seizures took place; illicit drug trafficking (85.6%) was the main crime related to these seizures, and marijuana was the most seized drug (51.1%). Knowledge of the profile of drug seizures in this region allows for the creation of prevention measures for the trafficking and use of illicit drugs, contributing to the improvement of public health and safety.

AbstractTesticular cancer (TCa) is a rare malignancy affecting young men worldwide. Sociodemographic factors, especially socioeconomic level (SEL) and healthcare access, seem to impact TCa incidence and outcomes, particularly among Hispanic populations. However, limited research has explored these variables in Hispanic groups. This study aimed to investigate sociodemographic and clinical factors in Mexico and their role in health disparities among Hispanic TCa patients. We retrospectively analyzed 244 Mexican TCa cases between 2007 and 2020 of a representative cohort with diverse social backgrounds from a national reference cancer center. Logistic regression identified risk factors for fatality: non-seminoma histology, advanced stage, and lower education levels. Age showed a significant trend as a risk factor. Patient delay and healthcare distance lacked significant associations. Inadequate treatment response and chemotherapy resistance were more likely in advanced stages, while higher education positively impacted treatment response. Cox regression highlighted non-seminoma histology, below-median SEL, higher education, and advanced-stage survival rates. Survival disparities emerged based on tumor histology and patient SEL. This research underscores the importance of comprehensive approaches that integrate sociodemographic, biological, and environmental factors to address health disparities improving outcomes through personalized interventions in Hispanic individuals with TCa.

Abstract. In 2012, the Emilia-Romagna region (Italy) was struck by a seismic crisis characterized by two main shocks (ML 5.9 and 5.8) which triggered relevant liquefaction events. Terre del Reno is one of the municipalities that experienced the most extensive liquefaction effects due to its complex geostratigraphic and geomorphological setting. This area is indeed located in a floodplain characterized by lenticular fluvial channel bodies associated with crevasse and levee clay–sand alternations, related to the paleo-Reno River. Therefore, it was chosen as a case study for the PERL project, which aims to define a new integrated methodology to assess the liquefaction susceptibility in complex stratigraphic conditions through a multi-level approach. To this aim, about 1800 geotechnical, geophysical, and hydrogeological investigations from previous studies and new realization surveys were collected and stored in the PERL dataset. This dataset is here publicly disclosed, and some possible applications are reported to highlight its potential.

Abstract
Phenotypic heterogeneity is an important mechanism for regulating bacterial virulence, where a single regulatory switch is typically activated to generate virulent and avirulent subpopulations. The opportunistic pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii can transition at high frequency between virulent opaque (VIR-O) and avirulent translucent subpopulations, distinguished by cells that form opaque or translucent colonies. We demonstrate that expression of 11 TetR-type transcriptional regulators (TTTRs) can drive cells from the VIR-O opaque subpopulation to cells that form translucent colonies. Remarkably, in a subpopulation of VIR-O cells, four of these TTTRs were stochastically activated in different combinations to drive cells to the translucent state. The resulting translucent subvariants exhibited unique phenotypic differences and the majority were avirulent. Due to their functional redundancy, a quadruple mutant with all four of these TTTRs inactivated was required to observe a loss of switching from the VIR-O state. Further, we demonstrate a small RNA, SrvS, acts as a "rheostat," where the levels of SrvS expression influences both the VIR-O to translucent switching frequency, and which TTTR is activated when VIR-O cells switch. In summary, this work has revealed a new paradigm for phenotypic switching in bacteria, where an unprecedented number of related transcriptional regulators are activated in different combinations to control virulence and generate unique translucent subvariants with distinct phenotypic properties.

ObjectivesSPECTRUM is a unique multi-disciplinary, cross-sector collaborative research partnership between academics, government, and community organizations in Manitoba working together to address complex social problems. In our first research project, partners identified the need for quantitative evidence around outcomes of children involved with Child Protection Services (CPS), using linked administrative data.
ApproachFrom the SPECTRUM partnership, a research team with CPS expertise was established, including government policy-makers, community organizations representing First Nations families, and academics from multiple disciplines. The research is guided by an Advisory Circle of First Nations Knowledge Keepers. Linking health, education, CPS, and justice data we developed a matched cohort identifying children involved with CPS (2007-2018) for whom there was discretion in the decision to 1) place them in out-of-home care (n=19,718), or 2) keep them in their family home while providing services (n=28,154). Instrumental Variable analysis, with CPS agency as the instrument, will be used to compare outcomes.
ResultsFollowing the trajectories of these two groups of CPS-involved children over time, we will compare their mental and physical health, educational achievement, and justice system involvement while accounting for individual-level (e.g., age, sex, chronic health conditions) and family-level (e.g., family income, maternal mental health, number of siblings) factors that may contribute to these outcomes. Preliminary findings will be workshopped with the SPECTRUM partnership to facilitate discussions on framing the evidence for policy makers. The SPECTRUM policy team will then prepare policy recommendations for government to consider. The Advisory Circle and a youth advisory squad will facilitate contextualizing and mobilizing findings. Actions taken by government in response to material provided will be monitored and will inform the development of subsequent research projects conducted by SPECTRUM.
ConclusionGovernment and community stakeholder involvement throughout bolsters the likelihood of evidence translating into program and policy changes. This is not a situation where academics are telling government how to do their jobs – this is government, community organizations, and academics working together with the shared goal of better outcomes for children.

Having a disability, in particular, an intellectual disability, is associated with Internet non-use. This article explores how people with intellectual disabilities used the Internet across the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic. In April to May 2021, 571 adults with intellectual disabilities were interviewed. Participants most commonly used the Internet for being with family and friends, social media or doing online activities with other people. People who lived with family were the most likely to use social media; people who lived with other people with intellectual disabilities were the least likely. People who self-reported as not lonely were more likely to use the Internet for online activities with others and play video games with others. Social connections were identified as the best thing about the Internet. Many participants chose not to identify a worst thing about Internet use, while others reported issues with technology, online harm and threats to well-being.

BackgroundIt is known that the COVID-19 pandemic and social isolation has increased anxiety, depression, and gender-based violence. However, to the best of our knowledge no studies have evaluated differences in the association between anxiety and depression symptomatology with concern about becoming infected with COVID-19, and the differential risk of suffering from gender-based violence among women with a previous mental disorder, and black women.
MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study among adults living in Brazil during the COVID-19 lockdown (20th June-30th August 2020). We administered an online questionnaire containing questions on socioeconomic characteristics, risk perception, confinement, health conditions, and gender-based violence. We ran two ordinal logistic regression models. In the first, we considered having a previous mental disorder and sex as the predictors, and concern about becoming infected with COVID-19 as the outcome. In the second model, we considered previous mental disorders and race as the predictors, and gender-based violence as the outcome. Depressive symptomatology and anxiety symptomatology was assessed through PHQ-9 and GAD-7, respectively.
FindingsPeople who declared that they suffered from depression had a 2% less chance of concern about becoming infected with COVID-19, while those with anxiety had an 11% higher chance. Women had 19% more chance of being very concerned about becoming infected with COVID-19, compared to men. Women with previous mental health disorders had a 34% higher chance of suffering from gender-based violence, compared to women who did not declare having a previous mental health disorder. Black women had a 54% higher chance of suffering from gender-based violence during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to white women.
ConclusionsThis is the first study to demonstrate that black women and those with mental health problems are more likely to suffer from gender- based violence during the pandemic. These findings could be used in the preparation of protection policies focused on women in situations of major vulnerabilities, optimising interventions and enhancing resource allocation for those most in need, especially during pandemics.

The article is based on the study "Political identification of youth in the Moscow region" conducted in May-June 2021 on the basis of the Center for Political Science of the ISPR FCTAS RAS. It describes the features of the political and ideological identification of youth in Moscow and the Moscow region, which are considered as the most important factor in political behavior and civil activity. The authors identified the groups of young people according to their self-identification, based on a civilizational approach. Revealing the positions of different groups of young people regarding the present and future of Russia demonstrates a high level of social optimism among those who demonstrate adherence to the Russian cultural matrix. In turn, in the groups where orientations towards the Western culture prevail, there is a more pessimistic attitude towards both their future and the prospects for the country's development.

Non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) are excellent light harvesters, yet the origin of their high optical extinction is not well understood. In this work, we investigate the absorption strength of NFAs by building a database of time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations of ∼500 π-conjugated molecules. The calculations are first validated by comparison with experimental measurements in solution and solid state using common fullerene and non-fullerene acceptors. We find that the molar extinction coefficient (εd,max) shows reasonable agreement between calculation in vacuum and experiment for molecules in solution, highlighting the effectiveness of TDDFT for predicting optical properties of organic π-conjugated molecules. We then perform a statistical analysis based on molecular descriptors to identify which features are important in defining the absorption strength. This allows us to identify structural features that are correlated with high absorption strength in NFAs and could be used to guide molecular design: highly absorbing NFAs should possess a planar, linear, and fully conjugated molecular backbone with highly polarisable heteroatoms. We then exploit a random decision forest algorithm to draw predictions for εd,max using a computational framework based on extended tight-binding Hamiltonians, which shows reasonable predicting accuracy with lower computational cost than TDDFT. This work provides a general understanding of the relationship between molecular structure and absorption strength in π-conjugated organic molecules, including NFAs, while introducing predictive machine-learning models of low computational cost. ; J. N., J. Y., D. P., M. A., F. E., and E. R. thank the European Research Council for support under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (Grant Agreement No. 742708 and 648901). The authors at ICMAB acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the Severo Ochoa" Program for Centers of Excellence in R&D ...

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to provide a detailed characterisation of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine awareness, knowledge and information sources in the HPV vaccine decision-making process of youth, both male and female, in Switzerland. DESIGN: With a mixed-method study design, we conducted quantitative questionnaires and qualitative interviews, which lasted 20–45 min. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: We recruited participants, 15–26 years of age, in physicians' offices, in a local sexual health clinic, and during military enlistment. We administered quantitative questionnaires to 997 youth participants (585 male, 412 female) and conducted qualitative interviews with 31 youth (17 male, 14 female). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: We assessed HPV vaccine awareness, knowledge, information sources and vaccination status. RESULTS: In the study's quantitative component, 108 (20%) male and 262 (65%) female participants had received ≥1 dose of HPV vaccine. 697 (70%) participants were knowledgeable about the HPV vaccine. Females were more likely to be knowledgeable than males (342/412 (83%) vs 355/585 (61%); p4 years prior to the data collection, HPV vaccine knowledge was higher among females than males, and a female-gendered perception of HPV vaccine remains prevalent. Internet and social media were minor HPV vaccine information sources. Study findings demonstrate that HPV knowledge matters for HPV vaccine uptake and suggest that we should improve HPV information ...