Community Sample Research Articles

Daily Associations between Parental Warmth and Discipline and Adolescent Conduct Problems and Callous-Unemotional Traits.

Past longitudinal research has demonstrated links between parenting behaviors and adolescent conduct problems (CP) and callous-unemotional (CU) traits on macro timescales (e.g., years). Less is known about daily fluctuations in parenting behaviors and adolescent CP and CU traits, as well as their daily associations on a micro timescale. This study investigated thedaily reciprocal associations between three key dimensions of parenting behaviors-parental warmth, inconsistent discipline, and non-harsh discipline-and adolescent CP and CU traits, and explored potential moderating effects of person-mean levels of these parenting behaviors on within-person cross-day links. Participants included an ethnically-racially diverse low risk community sample of 86 adolescents (Mage = 14.5years, 55% female, 45% non-White) who completed daily reports over 1month regarding their perceived parenting behaviors and their own levels of CP and CU traits (2056 total observations). Results from dynamic structural equation modeling showed that at the within-person level, higher than average levels of inconsistent discipline were linked to higher than average levels of CU traits the next day. Among adolescents with higher person-mean levels of parental warmth and non-harsh discipline, daily parental warmth and non-harsh discipline were protective against CU traits. Moreover, among adolescents with higher person-mean levels of parental warmth, adolescent CU traits also evoked lower parental warmth the next day. These findings have significant implications for understanding daily fluctuations in parenting behaviors and adolescent CP and CU traits, and inform novel parenting-based interventions that capitalize on recent advances in mobile and other technology.

Psychometric properties of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in an Icelandic community sample

Purpose The current paper aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Icelandic translation of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, for both parent and teacher reports. SDQ is a widely used questionnaire for screening mental problems among youth. However, only a few studies have conducted a factor analysis on the youngest and oldest cohorts using an adequate sample size. This study aims not only to examine the traditional 5-factor model and alternative models suggested in prior research but also to establish norm data for the Icelandic population. Materials and methods The total sample consists of 1653 youth aged 5–16 years, thereof 316 parent reports and 271 teacher reports for the 5-year-old sample. We used confirmatory factor analysis to evaluate the factor structure. Special attention was given to the models’ performance across different age groups and between genders. This cross-demographic evaluation is vital to ensure that the SDQ’s utility is not limited by developmental or gender-specific variations in symptom expression or reporting. Results We found an acceptable fit for both the original five-factor model and the more recent three-factor model with higher-order internalizing and externalizing factors. The fit for the factor structures seemed to be quite similar across ages. However, we observed goodness-of-fit below the acceptable range for girls on the parent ratings. We also found evidence for the convergent and divergent validity of both models. Conclusions The current study provides further evidence of the utility of the SDQ as a screening instrument, with an acceptable factor structure across ages.

Using machine learning to understand social isolation and loneliness in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and the community

Social disconnection, including objective social isolation and subjective loneliness, is linked to substantial health risks. Yet, little is known about the predictors of social disconnection in individuals with mental illness. Here, we used machine learning to identify predictors of social isolation and loneliness in schizophrenia (N = 72), a psychiatric condition associated with social disconnection. For comparison, we also included two other groups: a psychiatric comparison sample of bipolar disorder (N = 48) and a community sample enriched for social isolation (N = 151). We fitted statistical models of social isolation and loneliness within and across groups. Each model included five candidate predictors: social avoidance motivation, depression, nonsocial cognition, social anhedonia, and social cognition. The results showed that social anhedonia explained unique variance in social isolation and loneliness in all samples, suggesting that it contributes to social isolation and loneliness broadly. However, nonsocial cognition explained unique variance in social isolation only within schizophrenia. Thus, social anhedonia could be a potential intervention target across populations, whereas nonsocial cognition may play a unique role in determining social disconnection in schizophrenia.

Genomic and phenotypic imprints of microbial domestication on cheese starter cultures

Domestication – the artificial selection of wild species to obtain variants with traits of human interest – was integral to the rise of complex societies. The oversupply of food was probably associated with the formalization of food preservation strategies through microbial fermentation. While considerable literature exists on the antiquity of fermented food, only few eukaryotic microbes have been studied so far for signs of domestication, less is known for bacteria. Here, we tested if cheese starter cultures harbour typical hallmarks of domestication by characterising over 100 community samples and over 100 individual strains isolated from historical and modern traditional Swiss cheese starter cultures. We find that cheese starter cultures have low genetic diversity both at the species and strain-level and maintained stable phenotypic traits. Molecular clock dating further suggests that the evolutionary origin of the bacteria approximately coincided with the first archaeological records of cheese making. Finally, we find evidence for ongoing genome decay and pseudogenization via transposon insertion related to a reduction of their niche breadth. Future work documenting the prevalence of these hallmarks across diverse fermented food systems and geographic regions will be key to unveiling the joint history of humanity with fermented food microbes.

The Interrelationship between Stress, Sugar Consumption and Depression.

Depression is a leading cause of disability in the United States. Previous research has shown that added sugar consumption and stress are both risk factors for depression. Despite evidence that stress predicts added sugar consumption, and both affect the HPA axis, no research has explored how stress, added sugar consumption and depression are related. In this study, we investigated the possible effects of total added sugar and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption on depression, as well as their potential interactions with chronic stress. Measures of sugar consumption, chronic stress and depression were taken in an adult community sample at two time points. We hypothesized that high sugar consumption would predict more depression even after stress was statistically adjusted for, but that stress would moderate the relationship between added sugar consumption and depressive symptoms, amplifying the effect. We found that both total sugar consumption and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption at baseline predicted depressive symptoms one month later. However, only sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was a significant predictor of depression after controlling for stress, possibly because stress is related to diet quality. Stress did not moderate the relationship between added sugar consumption and depressive symptoms. These results suggest that stress should be included in future research on sugar and depression.

7912 Children's Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at School-Age After Conception with Hysterosalpingography Using Iodinated Contrast Media

Abstract Disclosure: S. Keestra: None. C. Kooper: None. N. van Welie: None. K. Dreyer: Grant Recipient; Self; research grants from Guerbet. Speaker; Self; travel and speaker fees Guerbet. R. van Eekelen: None. T. Roseboom: None. J. Oosterlaan: None. B. Mol: Consulting Fee; Self; Organon Laboratories, Norgine, Merck. Grant Recipient; Self; Merck. Stock Owner; Self; ObsEva. M. Finken: None. V. Mijatovic: Grant Recipient; Self; Guerbet, Merck, Ferring Pharmaceuticals. Speaker; Self; Guerbet, Merck, Ferring Pharmaceuticals. M. Königs: None. Thyroid hormone sufficiency in pregnancy is vital for children's neurodevelopment. Exposure to iodine excess can cause transient disruption of thyroid hormone synthesis through the Wolff-Chaikoff effect. Iodinated contrast media are commonly utilized in hysterosalpingography (HSG) as part of female fertility work-up. When conception occurs shortly after HSG with iodinated contrast, a temporary reduction of maternal and/or foetal thyroid hormone synthesis could jeopardize children's neurodevelopment. We compared the neurodevelopmental outcomes of 6-9-year-old children (n=69) conceived <6 months after HSG with 5-10 ml of oil-based contrast (iodine content: 480mg/ml) or water-based contrasts (iodine content: 250mg/ml) in the follow-up of a nationwide randomised controlled trial (H2Oil trial; Netherlands; 2012-2014; NCT05168228). A community sample of naturally-conceived children (n=44) with similar age, sex and parental education was used as a comparison group (NTR9574). Primary outcomes were intelligence (Wechsler’s Intelligence Scale for Children V), behaviour questionnaires for parents and teachers (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ); Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD Symptoms And Normal behaviour (SWAN)), and academic performance. Secondary outcomes were neurocognitive domains assessed in computerized tasks focussing on Processing & Control, Verbal Memory, Visual Memory, Verbal Working Memory, Visual Working Memory, and Visuomotor Integration (Emma Toolbox for Neurocognitive Functioning). We adjusted linear regression models for age, sex, and parental education, applying FDR correction for multiple comparisons. Additional analysis looked at children conceived within 4 weeks, 4-12 weeks, or >12 weeks after HSG. Children conceived <6 months after HSG had lower performance on intelligence tests (-6.81; 95%CI -10.97 to -2.65; p=0.02) and the neurocognitive domain Processing & Control (-0.52; 95%CI-0.84 to -0.19; p=0.02), with processing speed and consistency affected. No differences were found for other neurocognitive domains, behaviour or academic performance. In comparison to naturally-conceived children, children conceived <4 weeks after HSG had lower performance on intelligence tests, but there was no difference for children conceived 4-12 weeks and >12 weeks after HSG. Replication studies with higher power are needed to further evaluate the safety of iodinated contrast media use periconception, including their effects on thyroid function and children's neurodevelopment. Closer monitoring and treatment of thyroid dysfunction in the months following HSG may be warranted. Presentation: 6/1/2024

Factor Structure, Construct Validity, and Measurement Invariance of the Neuroception of Psychological Safety Scale (NPSS).

Psychological safety has recently emerged as a central construct, strictly implicated in mental health and emotional well-being. The Neuroception of Psychological Safety Scale (NPSS) is the first scale designed to assess feelings of psychological safety from a multidimensional perspective. However, the robustness of its factorial structure requires further examination in large community samples, and evidence of construct validity along with measurement invariance across genders is scarce. The present study aimed to address these gaps through a comprehensive cross-validation approach. A community sample of 660 Italian adults, aged 18-65, completed self-report questionnaires including the NPSS, the Compassionate Engagement and Action Scale (CEAS), the Sussex-Oxford Compassion for Others (SOCS), and the Body Perception Questionnaire (BPQ). A three-factor model, i.e., Social Engagement, Compassion, and Bodily Sensations, demonstrated a good fit to the data in two random subsamples. Moreover, the measurement model was factorially invariant across genders. Model-based omega coefficients supported the internal consistency of the NPSS scores (ω ranged between 0.879 and 0.918). Zero-order correlations between NPSS subscales and CEAS, SOCS, and BPQ provided construct validity evidence. Additionally, inter-correlations between latent factors and Harman's single-factor test supported the discriminant validity of the NPSS dimensions. Overall, this study provided compelling evidence regarding the psychometric properties of the NPSS, demonstrating for the first time the invariance of its factorial structure across gender.

The Influence of Childhood Emotional Abuse and Neglect on Love Addiction: The Indirect Effect of Vulnerable Narcissism Among Female and Male Emerging Adults.

Childhood maltreatment is a key precursor to vulnerable narcissism since it likely lead to a narcissistic injury that triggers defenses against rage and abandonment. In later life, this pattern may contribute to a maladaptive model of love relationships. The present study explored the association between different types of childhood maltreatment (i.e., emotional, physical, and sexual abuse; physical and emotional neglect) and love addiction via vulnerable narcissism in a community sample of 505 cisgender emerging adults (M = 24.90, SD = 2.67; 76.6% assigned female at birth (AFAB); 68.5% heterosexual) residing in Italy. Data collection relied on self-report questionnaires administered online through the Qualtrics platform, and study hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. The results showed that childhood emotional abuse and emotional neglect directly influenced love addiction, while physical and sexual abuse, as well as physical neglect, showed no significant effects. Greater childhood emotional abuse and neglect were associated with increased vulnerable narcissism, leading to higher levels of love addiction. Gender differences emerged, with the indirect effect of vulnerable narcissism on the relationship between emotional neglect and love addiction significant only for AFAB. The findings emphasize the risk of love addiction in emerging adults with a history of childhood emotional abuse and neglect, highlighting the importance of addressing childhood emotional maltreatment and vulnerable narcissistic personality traits in interventions to treat this condition.

Misinformation and perception of COVID-19 and risk assessment among people in Pakistan: A pilot study.

During the coronavirus pandemic, misinformation was circulated through technology and social media on a large scale. Since people rely on media to keep connected and informed, misinformation can prevent them from staying safe. To examine the quality of information reaching Pakistanis, the effect of information/misinformation on people's perception, and its relationship with risky health behaviours in different demographical groups. A community sample of N= 103 Pakistanis was assessed using a mixed-method cross-sectional survey research design to investigate their sources of knowledge/information, perceptions of coronavirus-related facts, and risky health behaviours. Content analysis of the material that participants read/watched indicated the possible effect of media on people's perception of COVID-19. Specific demography (e.g., increasing age) and people's tendency to believe misinformation/information may indicate risky health behaviours pertaining to coronavirus infection. Findings showed how the models considered (social cognitive theory, biological warfare conspiracy theory, theory of planned behaviour, protection motivation theory, the health belief model, and biopsychosocial model) may be relevant to examination of the effects of misinformation on different demographic groups. The findings and models need to be verified on larger, more representative samples of Pakistanis using a large-scale survey based on the insights obtained from this pilot study.

Effect of Cooling Face on Recovery from edema for Patients after Rhinoplasty

Objective: The purpose of this study is to ascertain how cold therapy affects patients' edema in the eyes following rhinoplasty. Methodology: The AL-Kindi Teaching Hospital and AL-Wasiti Teaching Hospital's surgical wards hosted a clinical experiment. A community sample of 53 patients was computed, and the patients were divided into two groups: the study group, which consisted of 26 patients, and the control group, which consisted of 27 patients., a A cold mask was used in the intervention group to achieve the study's objectives and evaluate validity and reliability. The investigator also used a dice cube to investigate randomness. The researcher reported on the data collection technique that was selected. Results: the results of data showed that the edema for right and left eyes in time one p= (0.941,0.763) And p-value the edema during time one, two and three (post two) in right eyes (0.941 ,0.001 and 0.001) as in left eyes p= (0.763,0.006 and 0.001) in time one. two and three. Conclusions: the researchers conclude that cold therapy have a positive relationship in reducing edema. Recommendations: The researchers recommended that the cold therapy experience be applied to all patients after rhinoplasty.

Initial development of a digitally based comprehensive child mental health questionnaire.

The present report describes the item development and initial validation of a comprehensive child mental health questionnaire through a series of four studies. To maximize clinical utility, the questionnaire was developed to directly reflect Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition psychiatric criteria and diagnoses, cover all mental health conditions that present in youth, and capitalize on the benefits of digital administration, particularly tiered branching logic. Study 1 describes the item generation and development of a tiered item structure. Study 2 established internal consistency and discriminant validity in a representative community sample of 1,000 youth aged 7-17 and a parent. Study 3 examined the acceptability of the questionnaire's content and structure to families and made indicated text revisions. Finally, Study 4 cross validated the internal consistency and tiered structure of a revised version of the questionnaire in a second representative normative sample of 1,000 parent and child dyads. The four studies resulted in a questionnaire consisting of one general mental health question (parent-report only), 16 items (for both parent and child) on a diagnostic category checklist, and 40 scales with screener and follow-up items reflecting DSM-5 criteria for specific disorders (371 parent items and 326 child items). The data support the potential of the questionnaire to efficiently assess the breadth of youth psychiatric symptoms efficiently. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The Usefulness of the Regression-Based Normed SKT Short Cognitive Performance Test in Detecting Cognitive Impairment in a Community Sample.

Background: The SKT is a short cognitive performance test designed to assess impairments in memory and cognitive abilities such as attention and speed of information processing. In 2019, new regression-based norms for the English version of the SKT were calculated. This study has two aims: to establish valid cut-offs for distinguishing between no cognitive impairment, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia (1) and to cross-validate the new norms for detecting MCI and dementia in a community sample of older adults with clinical diagnoses (2). Methods: The validation sample included 143 older adults (mean age = 87.7, SD = 3.55) from the Sydney Memory and Aging Study (MAS Study). Participants were classified as having normal cognition, MCI, or dementia solely based on a consensus diagnosis; in addition, three tests (SKT, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III (ACE-III)) to measure cognitive impairment were applied. Sensitivity and specificity for all three tests, as well as bivariate correlations, were calculated. Results: The sensitivity of the SKT for the differentiation of cognitive impairment (MCI or dementia) from normal cognition was 80.6%. The convergence between the SKT and the consensus diagnoses was 70.3% for all three diagnostic groups. All correlations between the three tests and the consensus diagnosis were significant (p < 0.01). Conclusions: In sum, it can be stated that the SKT is a valid tool for detecting early stages of cognitive impairment, performing very well in discriminating between no cognitive impairment and cognitive impairment (MCI or dementia).

Brief Peer-Supported Web-Based Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (BPS webSTAIR) for Trauma-Exposed Veterans in the Community: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Peer-supported mobile health (mHealth) programs hold the promise of providing a low-burden approach to increasing access to care and improving mental health. While peer support has been shown to improve engagement in care, there is limited investigation into the impact of peers on symptom outcomes. Trauma-exposed populations frequently endure co-occurring posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms as well as difficulties in day-to-day functioning. This study evaluated the potential benefits of a peer-supported, transdiagnostic mHealth program on symptom outcomes and functioning. This randomized controlled trial tested the effectiveness of Brief Peer-Supported (BPS) web-based Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (webSTAIR), a 6-module transdiagnostic digital program derived from Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation and compared to waitlist control in a community sample of veterans who screened positive for either posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression. A total of 178 veterans were enrolled in this study using a 2:1 randomization scheme with 117 assigned to BPS webSTAIR and 61 assigned to waitlist control. PTSD and depressive symptoms as well as emotion regulation and psychosocial functioning were assessed at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 8-week follow-up time points. Mixed-effects models were used to assess change in outcome measures across time points. Exploratory analyses were conducted to determine whether the type and number of peer interactions influenced outcomes. Significant interaction effects were observed for all outcomes such that participants randomized to BPS webSTAIR reported significantly greater improvement at the posttreatment time point compared to waitlist control with moderate effect sizes for PTSD (d=0.48), depression (d=0.64), emotion regulation (d=0.61), and functional impairment (d=0.61); gains were maintained at 8-week follow-up. An initial cohort of participants who were required to engage with a peer coach to progress through the modules interacted more frequently with peers but completed fewer modules compared to a later cohort for whom peer engagement was optional. Overall, those who completed more modules reported greater improvement in all outcomes. BPS webSTAIR was effective in improving PTSD and depression symptoms, emotion regulation, and psychosocial functioning in community veterans. Peer-supported, transdiagnostic mHealth programs may be a particularly efficient, effective, and low-burden approach to improving mental health among trauma-exposed populations. Investigation of peer-supported programs among other populations is necessary to evaluate the generalizability of the findings. Analyses comparing peer support that was required versus optional indicated that some veterans may not need or want peer support. Future research should evaluate how best to deliver peer support and for whom it is most beneficial. If successful, peer-supported tech programs may increase the Veteran Affairs workforce as well as improve veteran mental health services and outcomes. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04286165; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04286165.

Concordance between a New Rapid Point-Of-Care Assay and Standard ELISA in the Detection of Cysticercosis Antigens in Urine.

Neurocysticercosis is a parasitic disease of major public health importance. Definitive diagnosis requires neuroimaging, which is typically unavailable in rural impoverished regions of endemicity. Screening immunoassays can support diagnosis in this setting by identifying individuals most likely to have severe forms of disease for referral to imaging. Urine sampling is convenient, painless, and generally well accepted. We developed a rapid point-of-care (POC) assay to detect urinary antigens and assessed concordance with a standard antigen ELISA (Ag-ELISA), both using monoclonal antibodies TsW8/TsW5. From 28,145 stored community samples with Ag-ELISA results, we selected 843 for comparison, 281 each from nonreactive (ratio <1), reactive-below-cutoff (ratio 1:3), and positive (ratio ≥3) samples. Overall agreement was 73.6%, with strong agreement observed in the nonreactive (280/281, 99.6%) and positive (255/281, 90.8%) groups. This affordable noninvasive POC test can be applied to identify individuals in the community most at risk of developing severe disease.

Adult recollections of childhood memories in individuals convicted of sexual offences: implications for narrative therapy

ABSTRACT This study examines the autobiographical memories of 84 individuals convicted of sexual offences. Our results indicate that despite their adverse childhoods, chaotic families, and compromised social competence, justice-involved clients can engage meaningfully in longform narrative interviews that contain probing personal and reflective questions about their early lives. In fact, many participants expressed gratitude that they were invited to engage and share their experiences in this way. This pioneering interdisciplinary study has important practical implications for providers of psychotherapeutic treatment who work with custodial and community samples of people convicted of sexual offences. We conclude by emphasising the value of narrative therapy and present directions for future research. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT Most therapeutic approaches offered in correctional settings emphasise a cognitive behavioural approach intended to dismantle cognitive distortions. Our results suggest that the willingness and ability of justice-involved individuals to participate in narrative therapy has been likely underestimated. Accordingly, this study will help clients and clinicians alike to make the treatment experience more personalised and meaningful.

Enhancing Understanding of Eating Psychopathology: A Network Analysis Study

Compassion Focused Therapy for eating disorders (CFT-E) has been shown to be effective in treating eating psychopathology. Exploring which processes identified by the CFT-E model are most linked with eating disorder symptoms could help develop targeted treatments. However, the relationship between these variables requires further investigation. This study explores the interconnections between eating disorder symptoms and processes identified by the CFT-E using a network analysis approach. Participants were 497 individuals (77.3% female) from a community sample who completed measures to assess body dissatisfaction, shape and weight overvaluation, cognitive restraint, bingeing, emotional eating, purging, self-compassion, social comparison through appearance, self-criticism, appearance-related shame, guilt and pride, and positive and negative affect. A regularized partial correlation network was estimated. Appearance-related shame, inadequate self and body dissatisfaction emerged as the central nodes in the network. These findings support the use of interventions targeting shame and self-criticism for the treatment of eating disorder symptoms. Studies with diverse samples are needed to further examine the interconnections between eating psychopathology and the key processes identified by the CFT-E theoretical model.

Measuring the Pupillary Light Reflex Using Portable Instruments in Applied Settings.

The early components of the pupillary light reflex (PLR) are governed by the parasympathetic nervous system. The use of cheap, portable pupillometry devices may allow for the testing of parasympathetic-system health in field settings. We examined the reliability of two portable instruments for measuring the PLR and their sensitivity to individual differences known to modulate the PLR. Parameters of the PLR were measured in a community sample (N = 108) in a variety of field settings. Measurements were taken using a commercial pupillometer (NeuroLight, IDMED) and an iPhone using the Reflex Pro PLR analyser (Brightlamp). The parameters of baseline pupil diameter, constriction latency, amplitude and relative amplitude of constriction, and constriction velocity were measured. Individual differences related to age, levels of anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomology were assessed. Some measures could not be attained using the iPhone under these field conditions. The reliability of the measures was high, save for the measurement of contraction latency which was particularly unreliable for the iPhone system. The parameters of the PLR showed the same internal relationships as those established in laboratory-based measurements. Age was negatively correlated with all the reliable PLR parameters for both systems. Effects of anxiety and PTSD symptomology were also apparent. The study demonstrated that a hand-held portable infrared pupillometer can be used successfully to measure the PLR parameters under field settings and can be used to examine individual differences. This may allow these devices to be used in workplaces, sports fields, roadsides, etc., to examine parasympathetic activity where needed.

Validity and reliability of chemical-based disinfectant use questionnaire in a sample of the Lebanese public community

IntroductionWorldwide, people heavily use chemical-based disinfectants to prevent the spread of COVID-19 with limited or no safety instructions. Awareness about the safe use of chemical-based disinfectants is highly recommended to...

UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF ENHANCED PUBLIC HEALTH MONITORING SYSTEMS: A SURVEY ON TECHNOLOGICAL INTEGRATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFITS

Introduction: Various changes in technologies have impacted the public health monitoring systems especially in the United States. AI and IoT, Big Data, block chains have enhanced the ways that diseases are monitored, vaccinations are administered and emergency responses are coordinated. Issues like the infrastructure constraints, privacy issues and variability in technological implementation graduality’s limit the extent to which these technologies can be scaled up in U.S. public health systems. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of technological improvement on the improvement of the public health monitoring systems in United States. It assesses the utilization of superior technologies and considers the observed enhancement of general health status together with the problems identified in the application of technologies. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was filled by 400 participants from the PH and technology workers working throughout the USA in the public health sector. Community and purposive sampling techniques were used and data were self-administered from the participants through an online structured questionnaire. The survey included questions about participants’ degrees of awareness of AI, IoTs, Big Data and blockchain, concerning their applicability to public health surveillance and the potential challenges to their application. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, independent sample t test, one way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were conducted in SPSS V 26. Results: The current study revealed that the use of AI, IoT, Big Data and blockchain technologies has accelerated the enhancement of public health surveillance, including disease detection and vaccination management. Awareness of these technologies was directly related to perceived impact on public health to the extent of r = 0.75, p &lt; 0.001. Other issues like lack of funding, lack of technical knowledge and issues surrounding privacy were cited as major reasons for inadequate scaling up. Conclusion: The results point out that new technology has a potential for advancing the system for monitor public health in the United States but there are some barriers. Challenges that prevent expansion and growth of these technologies include inadequate infrastructure, funding and data protection must be overcome in order to enhance the efficiency of the technologies to deliver on their intended health benefits. More work is necessary to expand understanding of longevity of these phenomena and ways of preventing these challenges.

Affective motivations for substance misuse differentially relate to consideration of multiple costs during effortful decision making.

Heightened sensitivity to costs during decision making consistently has been related to substance use. However, no work in this area has manipulated cost information to examine how people evaluate and compare multiple costs. Furthermore, limited work has examined how affective motivations for substance use modulate the evaluation of cost information. We administered a loss-frame variant of the Effort Expenditure for Rewards Task in a diverse community sample (N = 126). Individuals who use substances to avoid negative affect allocated comparable effort across varying likelihoods of loss and computational modeling parameters indicated that they did not systematically consider cost information, which ultimately led these individuals to exert effort when it was disadvantageous to do so. Individuals who use substances to enhance positive affect allocated effort when loss magnitudes were small, suggesting that they effectively compared costs and worked to minimize those costs. Motivations for substance use differentially relate to the comparison of costly information, ultimately influencing effective decision making. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).