Substance Name Research Articles

ANITA's text analysis services for fighting online illegal trafficking of drugs, weapons and false charity claims: A lateral thinking approach

ANITA platform aims at improving investigation capabilities of law enforcement agencies (LEAs) by delivering a set of tools and techniques to efficiently address online illegal trafficking of counterfeit/falsified medicines, novel psychoactive substances (NPS), drugs, and weapons with Artificial Intelligence (AI). Expert.ai has developed a dedicated written content analysis engine to support investigative activity. The market already offers several solutions adopting AI and in particular Machine Learning (ML) to support investigative activities. The particularity of the work carried out in the ANITA project is to adopt a lateral thinking approach and the supervised generation of knowledge from the analysed contents. Rather than focusing on searching for specific proper names of substances, weapons, NPS, etc. that are constantly evolving in considerable speed, we propose to concentrate on searching for precursors, namely collateral concepts related with the target of the investigation. Is the case of accessories for weapons such as sights for rifles or glass vessels used to produce the drugs themselves? This approach is not compatible with the use of ML, but the use of deep semantic analysis of the text is necessary. This article reports the system's ability to automatically identify precursors and generate stimuli and knowledge which the investigator must validate; that enhances the creative and intuitive approach (serendipity) to investigation combining the best of the detective's skills with the power of AI and in particular Natural Language Understanding (NLU).

Лексико-семантический анализ лексемы балтырған (с использованием материалов корпуса башкирского языка)

Identification of names of plant curatives and substances in folk and fiction texts shows close interactions between man and the world, attitudes of people towards nature. Research in phytonyms and medicinal plant names proper is most essential for the understanding of a nation’s cultural heritage. The paper examines the lexeme балтырған in Bashkir discourse. Materials. The analyzed materials include linguistic dictionaries, folklore and fiction texts of the Machine Fund of the Bashkir Language, and etymological dictionaries of Altaic languages. Goals. The study aims at a comparative investigation of the lexeme балтырған ‘hogweed’. Results. The term proves a widespread phytonym in Bashkir discourse, which is attested by that it denotes a wide range of plant species in Bashkir and has parallels in other Turkic and Mongolic languages. The lexeme is included in academic, explanatory, dialectal, phrasal, and mythological dictionaries of the Bashkir language. The comparative analysis shows that baltyrγan ‘hogweed’ usually denotes a plant of the order Apiales, a medicinal herb. Baltyrγan~ baltirγana contains the initial bal / baltïr / baldïr with the meaning ‘green, young, fresh’.

Study of the pattern, intent behind and outcome of acute poisoning in a tertiary care centre

Background: Acute poisoning is one of the major medical emergencies with significant morbidity and mortality. Appropriate planning, prevention and management techniques can be designed by knowing the nature, severity and outcome of acute poisoning cases. Most of the poisoning is due to the intention of deliberate self-harm. This study aimed to study the pattern and outcome of acute poisoning and the intent behind poisoning. Methods: This is a cross sectional study which included 100 acute poisoning cases in a tertiary care hospital. The study includes data regarding age, sex, time elapsed after intake of poison; name of the poisonous substance, duration of hospitalization, severity and outcome were collected in the prestructured proforma. Intent behind poisoning was calculated using Beck’s suicide intent score. Results: Incidence was more common among males (69%) but there was no significant correlation between gender and mortality. Mean age of presentation was 35.66 years but age of presentation and mortality correlation was not statistically significant (t=0.92, p=0.3). Organophosphorous compound poisoning (36%) was the most common type of poisoning. Total mortality was found to be 12%. Beck’s suicide intent scores were higher in patients who died and statistically significant (t=8.96, p=0.0001). Maximum patients expired when there was a delay in admission to hospital by more than 8 hours after exposure. Conclusions: Poisoning is more common in young males. The overall mortality depends on type of poison, time elapsed since exposure to hospital arrival, suicidal intent and many other factors. Early care in a tertiary care center may help to reduce mortality in India.

Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Medication Use in the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy account for approximately 22% of all maternal deaths in Latin America and the Caribbean. Pharmacotherapies play an important role in preventing and reducing the occurrence of adverse outcomes. However, the patterns of medications used for treating women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) living in this country is unclear. A population-based birth cohort study including 4262 women was conducted to describe the pattern of use of cardiovascular agents and acetylsalicylic acid between women with and without HDP in the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort. The prevalence of maternal and perinatal outcomes in this population was also assessed. HDP were classified according to Ministry of Health recommendations. Medications were defined using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System and the substance name. In this cohort, 1336 (31.3%) of women had HDP. Gestational hypertension was present in 636 (47.6%) women, 409 (30.6%) had chronic hypertension, 191 (14.3%) pre-eclampsia, and 89 (6.7%) pre-eclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension. Approximately 70% of women with HDP reported not using any cardiovascular medications. Methyldopa in monotherapy was the most frequent treatment (16%), regardless of the type of HDP. Omega-3 was the medication most frequently reported by women without HDP. Preterm delivery, caesarean section, low birth weight, and neonatal intensive care admissions were more prevalent in women with HDP. Patterns of use of methyldopa were in-line with the Brazilian guidelines as the first-line therapy for HDP. However, the large number of women with HDP not using medications to manage HDP requires further investigation.

Substance Abuse: From Abstinence to Relapse


 
 
 Objective: The current study objective was to identify and explore the common reasons of relapse after abstinence in drug addiction. Study Design: Cross sectional. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Department of Psychiatry Combined Military Hospital, Abbottabad from January to August 2019. Materials and Methods: Individuals who were drug dependent and reported for detoxification were included in the study. Individual interviews were conducted through thematic guide regarding demographic details, name of substance of abuse, duration of substance abuse, number of previous self-attempts to quit the drug, average period of abstinence after self-attempt, reason of relapse after self-attempt, previous assisted attempts to quit the habit, average period of abstinence after assisted attempt, reason of relapse after assisted attempts. The responses were analyzed by using content analysis. Results: Participants (N=34) were males, age range 25 to 40 years, 58% married, 11% uneducated, 79% employed, 47% heroin addiction and 11% were using cannabis. The common reasons of relapse among self –attempt and assisted-attempt addicts after abstinence in drug addiction were peer pressure (social pressure), negative emotions from family (aggression discouragement and lack of empathy/sympathy), stress (traumatic events,badphysical/mentalhealth)/lackofmotivationand easyavailabilityofdrugs(cheap,affordableand distributors are approachable). Resentment against confinement at rehabilitation centers was found only among assisted-attempt addicts after abstinence. Half of the self-attempt participants of the study, were abusing drugs for about last 5 years, 20% had tried to quit the drug on their own at least twice, 41.18 % for two weeks, 32.35 % for 1 month, and 26.47% remained abstinent after self-attempt to quit the drug for more than 6 months. On the contrary, 47 % of these individuals had two previous assisted attempts at rehabilitation centers to quit the drug. After assisted attempts 32.35 % remained abstinent for less than one day, 52.94% for one day, and 14.71 % for less than one week. Conclusion: It is concluded that the main reasons of relapse are emotional instability, lack of family cooperation and confinement at rehabilitation centers against the will of individual for longer time. Therefore, rehabilitation process should be initiated with the motivation of the individual, followed by psycho education of the family and avoidance of unnecessary prolongs admission without consent of the individual.
 
 

Семантична структура компаративем за об’єктом порівняння (на матеріалі збірки новел М. Дочинця „Хліб і шоколад”)

For a literary text, the use of comparative constructions is extremely important, because, in such a way, a writer shows his own worldview, subjective and evaluative attitude to the facts and phenomena of objective reality, figuratively and expressively specifying the distinctive features of a particular image. The topicality of the research is determined by the fact that comparative constructions are widely represented in the collection of short stories by M. Dochynets „Bread and Chocolate”, that is why they have become the subject of scientific research. The aim of the article is to analyze the semantic structure of comparative constructions by the object of comparison as a manifestation of the writer’s individual style. The factual material made it possible to divide the comparative constructions into seven lexical-semantic fields (LSF): „man”, „animate nature”, „man-made objects”, „inanimate nature”, „sensory feelings”, „time”, „demoniac creatures”. The structure of the LSF „man” includes the following constituents: names of personalities, somatisms, biblical expressions, features of the object; the LSF „animate nature” is represented by three lexical-semantic groups (LSG) – names of flora, zoonyms, ornithonyms. The components of the LSF „man-made objects” are the following LSGs: names of everyday objects, names of the parts of a building, the materials for construction, names of transport; the LSF „inanimate nature” – names of substances and materials, names of natural phenomena, locatives, hydronyms. The LSF „sensory feelings” includes three LSG – sounds, smells, taste. The LSF „time” and „demoniac creatures” are homogeneous in their structure and do not require differentiation into LSG. The distinguished comparative constructions by the object of comparison are interpreted as individually author’s ones and require further research. The analysis of comparative constructions by the subject and feature of comparison, the determination of their stylistic function in the author’s literary texts, in particular in the collection of short stories „Bread and Chocolate” are considered as an advanced research direction.

Военная лексика в деловых письмах хана Аюки и русских переводах 1714 г.

Vocabulary in the ethnolinguistic aspect is considered as a verbal manifestation of the national culture. A special layer of the lexical system of the Kalmyk language, the formation of which is associated with the conditions of the socio-political life of the Kalmyks, is represented by the vocabulary of military affairs. The study of military vocabulary in the Kalmyk language touches on various aspects: historical lexicology, lexical borrowings, lexicographical description. The military vocabulary of the Kalmyk language at the present stage is considered as part of socio-political vocabulary. As sources of the material for the study of military vocabulary, works of fiction, folklore texts, the epos “Dzhangar”, old Kalmyk business texts, lexicographic publications were used. At the same time, the military vocabulary of the Kalmyk language in synchronous and historical aspects remains insufficiently studied. Materials. The work is based on the material of letters of the Kalmyk Khan Ayuka (1714) and Russian translations of these letters (1714) stored in the National Archives of the Republic of Kalmykia. The transliteration and transposition to the modern Kalmyk graphics used in the article were made by D. B. Gedeeva. The author analyzes military vocabulary that is specific for that historical period under consideration and relates to several thematic subgroups: 1) names associated with the general concept of ceriq ‘army’; 2) representatives of a certain type of troops; 3) the type of military activity; 4) names of substances that are used for the manufacture of weapons (ammunition). Findings. The elements of the thematic group of military vocabulary analyzed in the article, recorded in business letters of Khan Ayuka for 1714, give a clearer picture of the history of the development of the lexical system of the Kalmyk language and the ethnolinguistic specificity of the business text — original and translated. An analysis of the use of the names of general concepts in business letters, representatives of a certain kind of troops, means for making ammunition reveals the specifics and patterns of functioning of one of the lexical subsystems of the Kalmyk language, confirms the possibility of replenishing existing dictionaries with outdated words and creating a separate dictionary of Kalmyk business letters of the 18th century.

Prescribing diamorphine in the United States: Insights from a nationally representative survey

BackgroundSome countries allow physicians to prescribe pharmaceutical-grade diamorphine to dependent users who have previously undergone treatment but are still using street-sourced heroin; this is not allowed in the US. This study provides the first nationally representative US data concerning public support for prescribing diamorphine to dependent users. We also test the hypothesis that calling it “diamorphine” instead of “heroin” increases support for this approach. MethodsThe RAND American Life Panel is a nationally representative, probability-based survey of US adults. Of the 3345 panel members invited to take the survey, 2530 (75.6%) provided a valid response to our question module. Respondents were randomly assigned to have the question refer to the prescribed drug as either “heroin” or “diamorphine.” The groups did not significantly differ on sex, age, race/ethnicity, or education. We compare the distribution of responses for the two groups and conduct Pearson’s chi-squared test with the Rao–Scott correction. ResultsFor those asked whether the US should try prescribing pharmaceutical-grade “heroin,” the share answering “Yes” (20.8%) was 15 percentage points lower than those responding “No” (35.8%). When the question asked about “diamorphine,” the results were nearly reversed: the share answering “Yes” (30.6%) was almost 12 percentage points higher than those responding “No” (18.9%). The distributions of responses were significantly different (p < 0.001). ConclusionsSupport for prescribing diamorphine to dependent users is low in the US. While the results are consistent with the hypothesis that referring to heroin as diamorphine may reduce stigma associated with the substance and increase support for prescribing it, opinions may change as individuals learn they are different names for the same substance.

АНГЛОЯЗЫЧНЫЕ НАЗВАНИЯ ПЕСЕН: ПРОТЕСТ ИЛИ ПРИЗЫВ К ДЕЙСТВИЮ?

The article focuses upon some aspects of the impact of English song names resulting from secondary nomination from the names of narcotic substances on young subjects. A large number and variety of song names of different genres encouraged us to introduce a special term «songonyms». As the research material, the name of the song LSD (performed by the rock band Hawkwind) has been chosen. It is difficult to clearly assume what effect song names have on the listener: whether they call for any actions, or, on the contrary, cause a protest and rejection. Therefore, in this study, it seemed important to verbalize the image of the LSD song name in the linguistic consciousness of young people and to reveal what implications this name carries - calling for actions or protest. By means of free associative experiment, according to the authors, individual meanings inserted by an individual into the song name are "revealed". The experiment has been conducted among 2-4-year students in one of the universities of Chelyabinsk. Through the making up of associative fields, it has been revealed that the song name LSD is perceived by young people not as calling for any actions, but as a protest element of rejection.

WHO Listed Small Molecule Kinase Inhibitors 2001-2017.

The World Health Organization (WHO) publishes quarterly reports listing Internationally recognized Non-proprietary Names (INNs) for substances that are to be marketed as a pharmaceutical. Each INN is also globally recognized as the unique generic name of a drug. The INN contains a specific suffix that defines what compound class the drug belongs to. This poster depicts the chemical structures, biological targets, most advanced indications and associated pharmaceutical companies of small molecule drug compounds with the “-nib” suffix which refers to kinase inhibitors. Kinases comprise one of the largest families of proteins encoded by the human genome. Furthermore, they are one of the most sought-after targets in current pharmaceutical research. Kinases catalyze the transfer of the γ-phosphate group of ATP onto a protein substrate. This phosphate transfer mediates signal transductions which in turn regulate an array of cellular processes, including proliferation, survival, apoptosis and metabolism. Consequently, cancer is a common indication for which kinase inhibitors are developed. Thirty-seven kinase inhibitors have received FDA approval for the treatment of malignancies, with twenty-six approvals occurring in the last 6 years.

TYPOLOGY OF SEMANTIC FIELDS OF COMPARISON FOR THE OBJECT VALUE (on the material of D. Keshelia's novel collage “Rodaky”)

Introduction. Artistic comparison is one of the most expressive trails, and it is oftenused by word masters to depict the appearance of characters, their way of thinking, peculiaritiesof speech, behavior, and others like that. Classical comparison has a three-component structure,which includes: 1) the subject of comparison; 2) the object of comparison; 3) a sign on the basisof which there is a comparison of objects. It is the object of comparison and the characteristicby which the unknown and well-known objects are compare are the most important componentsby which the writer manages to bring to the reader a certain emotion – sympathy, neglect,compassion, fear, laughter, etc.The purpose of this article is to distinguish the semantic fields (hereinafter SF) of thecomparative constructions used by the writer D. Keshelia in his novel Collage of the elementsof the national life of “Rodaky”, in terms of the object of comparison.Research methods. The continuous sampling method was used to collect actual material;the method of classification and systematization for referring the material to the correspondinglexical-thematic groups hereinafter LSG)), and the method of quantitative calculations was usedto detect the frequency of objects of comparison of a particular semantics.Research results. The analysis of the actual material (without taking into accountthe grammatical structure of the comparative construction) allowed to distinguish accordingto the value of the object of comparison such SP: “man”, “living nature”, “immortal nature”,“objects created by man”, “time”, “abstractness” , “Mythical names”.Conclusion. The best represented in the novel by D. Keshelia “Rodaky” from the pointof view of the object of comparison is SF “man”. This field is represent by 136 names that canbe attribute to five such LSGs: 1) persons; 2) body parts names; 3) the names of famous historicpersons; 4) names of persons – characters of the Bible; 5) the names of groups of people. Slightlyinferior to the number of items of comparison objects SF “wildlife”. It is make up of 124 titles,which refer to five such LSGs: 1) plant names; 2) names of animals and birds; 3) the names of insects. SF “items created by a person” is represent by 65 nominations, classified as such LSG:1) households; 2) the names of the transport, its parts, devices related to the regulation of trafficand the names of agricultural machinery; 3) the names of parts of buildings and materials.SF “Inanimate Nature” is represent by 32 names, which are divide among such LSG: 1) namesof substances and materials; 2) the names of the phenomena of nature; 3) locations; 4) cosmic;5) names of water objects. The least commonly used objects of comparison are the SF “abstract”,implemented by 11 examples of use, SF “mythical names”, also represented by 10 names, and SF“time”, formed by six tokens.

Epileptic Seizures Under Antidepressive Drug Treatment: Systematic Review.

This paper is a systematic review on seizures under treatment with substances licensed for major depression. Systematic review protocol is available in PROSPERO registration number CRD42016034010. Twenty-five substances were selected according to frequencies of prescriptions and publications. A PubMed search was conducted with "substance name" and "seizure." A total of 2291 articles were screened, out of which 164 fulfilled inclusion criteria. Data synthesis was possible only to a limited extent due to heterogeneity of included patients, observation periods, methods, and outcomes. Evidence for an at most moderate, but still low, risk (>0.1% under regular doses) was found highest for clomipramine, followed by quetiapine, amitriptyline, venlafaxine, citalopram, sertraline, trazodone, mirtazapine, paroxetine, bupropion, and escitalopram. For fluoxetine and duloxetine, the risk seems to be negligible. For the other, mostly newer, substances, sufficient evidence was not available. An increased risk for lithium, as reported in many reviews and textbooks, could not be confirmed. Antidepressive treatment is rather safe in terms of risk of seizures and also can be generally recommended in the treatment of patients with epilepsy.

個別性のある材質名称の獲得の程度と「存在論的カテゴリー」の影響 : 4歳児と6歳児の比較

個別性のある材質名称の獲得の程度と「存在論的カテゴリー」の影響 : 4歳児と6歳児の比較

Web search query data and prescription volumes of antidepressants

IntroductionPersons using the Internet generate large amounts of health-related data, which are increasingly used in modern health sciences.Objectives/aimsWe analysed the relation between annual prescription volumes (APV) of several antidepressants with marketing approval in Germany and corresponding web search query data generated in Google to test, if web search query volume may be a proxy for medical prescription practice.MethodsWe obtained APVs of several antidepressants related to corresponding prescriptions at the expense of the statutory health insurance in Germany from 2004–2013. Web search query data generated in Germany and related to defined search-terms (active substance or brand name) were obtained with Google Trends. We calculated correlations (Pearson's r) between the APVs of each substance and the respective annual “search share” values; coefficients of determination (R2) were computed to determine the amount of variability shared by the two variables.ResultsSignificant and strong correlations between substance-specific APVs and corresponding annual query volume were found for each substance during the observational interval: agomelatine (r = 0.968; R2 = 0.932; P = 0.01), bupropion (r = 0.962; R2 = 0.925; P = 0.01), citalopram (r = 0.970; R2 = 0.941; P = 0.01), escitalopram (r = 0.824; R2 = 0.682; P = 0.01), fluoxetine (r = 0.885; R2 = 0.783; P = 0.01), paroxetine (r = 0.801; R2 = 0.641; P = 0.01), and sertraline (r = 0.880; R2 = 0.689; P = 0.01).ConclusionsAlthough the used data did not allow to perform an analysis with a higher temporal resolution our results suggest that web search query volume may be a proxy for corresponding prescription behaviour. However, further studies analysing other pharmacologic agents and prescription data that facilitates an increased temporal resolution are needed to confirm this hypothesis.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Pattern of Acute Poisoning Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital of Western Nepal

Introduction: Poisoning with various substances is a major public health problem and a reason for significant morbidity and mortality throughout the globe. It is one of the most common presentation in an emergency department. This study was conducted to determine the sociodemographic, poisoning types, and mode of poisoning in cases attending a tertiary hospital of Western Nepal.&#x0D; &#x0D; Methods: A retrospective observational study of two years was conducted from July 2014 to June 2016. Demography details, name of poisonous substance, and reasons for poisoning were reviewed and analyzed using descriptive statistics.&#x0D; &#x0D; Results: A total of 65 cases of poisoning were recorded. The occurrence was more common in female (n=44, 67.7%) than in male (n=21, 32.3%) with a F:M ratio of 2.1:1. Poisoning was most common in the age group of 11-20 years (32.3%). Most of the cases were students (37%) followed by farmers (26%). The most commonly abused poisoning substance were organophosphorous compounds, zinc-phosphate, and kerosene in adults, adolescents, and children respectively. Oral route was the most common (99%) route of administration. Suicidal attempt, as a mode of poisoning, accounted for 70.8% of total poisoning cases.&#x0D; &#x0D; Conclusion: Female and young people are at greater risk of acute poisoning. Insecticide was the most common agent and self administer poisoning was the most common mode of poisoning. The occurrence of poisoning and its morbidity and mortality can be reduced by developing and implementation of effective prevention strategies like restricting easy poison sales, establishing drug and poison information centers, and community awareness programs.

Package Design Affects Accuracy Recognition for Medications.

Objective:Our aim was to test if highlighting and placement of substance name on medication package have the potential to reduce patient errors.Background:An unintentional overdose of medication is a large health issue that might be linked to medication package design. In two experiments, placement, background color, and the active ingredient of generic medication packages were manipulated according to best human factors guidelines to reduce causes of labeling-related patient errors.Method:In two experiments, we compared the original packaging with packages where we varied placement of the name, dose, and background of the active ingredient. Age-relevant differences and the effect of color on medication recognition error were tested. In Experiment 1, 59 volunteers (30 elderly and 29 young students), participated. In Experiment 2, 25 volunteers participated.Results:The most common error was the inability to identify that two different packages contained the same active ingredient (young, 41%, and elderly, 68%). This kind of error decreased with the redesigned packages (young, 8%, and elderly, 16%). Confusion errors related to color design were reduced by two thirds in the redesigned packages compared with original generic medications.Conclusion:Prominent placement of substance name and dose with a band of high-contrast color support recognition of the active substance in medications.Application:A simple modification including highlighting and placing the name of the active ingredient in the upper right-hand corner of the package helps users realize that two different packages can contain the same active substance, thus reducing the risk of inadvertent medication overdose.

Names of substances belonging to professional lexis in Khorezmian dialects borrowed from Iranian languages

Names of substances belonging to professional lexis in Khorezmian dialects borrowed from Iranian languages

WebPOISONCONTROL: can poison control be automated?

BackgroundA free webPOISONCONTROL app allows the public to determine the appropriate triage of poison ingestions without calling poison control. If accepted and safe, this alternative expands access to reliable poison control services to those who prefer the Internet over the telephone. This study assesses feasibility, safety, and user-acceptance of automated online triage of asymptomatic, nonsuicidal poison ingestion cases. MethodsThe user provides substance name, amount, age, and weight in an automated online tool or downloadable app, and is given a specific triage recommendation to stay home, go to the emergency department, or call poison control for further guidance. Safety was determined by assessing outcomes of consecutive home-triaged cases with follow-up and by confirming the correct application of algorithms. Case completion times and user perceptions of speed and ease of use were measures of user-acceptance. ResultsOf 9256 cases, 73.3% were triaged to home, 2.1% to an emergency department, and 24.5% directed to call poison control. Children younger than 6 years were involved in 75.2% of cases. Automated follow-up was done in 31.2% of home-triaged cases; 82.3% of these had no effect. No major or fatal outcomes were reported. More than 91% of survey respondents found the tool quick and easy to use. Median case completion time was 4.1 minutes. ConclusionwebPOISONCONTROL augments traditional poison control services by providing automated, accurate online access to case-specific triage and first aid guidance for poison ingestions. It is safe, quick, and easy to use.

Linking Annual Prescription Volume of Antidepressants to Corresponding Web Search Query Data: A Possible Proxy for Medical Prescription Behavior?

Persons using the Internet to retrieve medical information generate large amounts of health-related data, which are increasingly used in modern health sciences. We analyzed the relation between annual prescription volumes (APVs) of several antidepressants with marketing approval in Germany and corresponding web search query data generated in Google to test whether web search query volume may be a proxy for medical prescription practice. We obtained APVs of several antidepressants related to corresponding prescriptions at the expense of the statutory health insurance in Germany from 2004 to 2013. Web search query data generated in Germany and related to defined search terms (active substance or brand name) were obtained with Google Trends. We calculated correlations (Person's r) between the APVs of each substance and the respective annual "search share" values; coefficients of determination (R) were computed to determine the amount of variability shared by the 2 variables. Significant and strong correlations between substance-specific APVs and corresponding annual query volumes were found for each substance during the observational interval: agomelatine (r = 0.968, R = 0.932, P = 0.01), bupropion (r = 0.962, R = 0.925, P = 0.01), citalopram (r = 0.970, R = 0.941, P = 0.01), escitalopram (r = 0.824, R = 0.682, P = 0.01), fluoxetine (r = 0.885, R = 0.783, P = 0.01), paroxetine (r = 0.801, R = 0.641, P = 0.01), and sertraline (r = 0.880, R = 0.689, P = 0.01). Although the used data did not allow to perform an analysis with a higher temporal resolution (quarters, months), our results suggest that web search query volume may be a proxy for corresponding prescription behavior. However, further studies analyzing other pharmacologic agents and prescription data that facilitate an increased temporal resolution are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

The size-brightness correspondence: evidence for crosstalk among aligned conceptual feature dimensions.

The same core set of cross-sensory correspondences connecting stimulus features across different sensory channels are observed, regardless of the modality of the stimulus with which the correspondences are probed. This observation suggests that correspondences involve modality-independent representations of aligned conceptual feature dimensions and predicts a size-brightness correspondence in which smaller is aligned with brighter. This suggestion accommodates cross-sensory congruity effects where contrasting feature values are specified verbally rather than perceptually (e.g., where the words WHITE and BLACK interact with the classification of high- and low-pitch sounds). Experiment 1 brings these two issues together in assessing a conceptual basis for correspondences. The names of bright/white and dark/black substances were presented in a speeded brightness classification task, in which the two alternative response keys differed in size. A size-brightness congruity effect was confirmed, with substance names classified more quickly when the relative size of the response key needing to be pressed was congruent with the brightness of the named substance (e.g., when yoghurt was classified as a bright substance by pressing the smaller of two keys). Experiment 2 assesses the proposed conceptual basis for this congruity effect by requiring the same named substances to be classified according to their edibility (with all of the bright/dark substances having been selected for their edibility/inedibility, respectively). The predicted absence of a size-brightness congruity effect, along with other aspects of the results, supports the proposed conceptual basis for correspondences and speaks against accounts in which modality-specific perceptuomotor representations are entirely responsible for correspondence-induced congruity effects.