Mental health problems and help-seeking behaviours of Syrian refugee adolescents: mediating role of self-stigma.

BACKGROUND: Although common mental health problems have been widely studied with self-stigma, few studies have focused on the mediating effect of self-stigma in the relationship between mental health problems and help-seeking behaviours of refugee adolescents. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine whether self-stigma mitigates the adverse effects of stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms on the help-seeking behaviours of Syrian adolescents living in Turkey. METHODS: The participants of this study included 488 Syrian refugee adolescents (boys, 63.73%; girls, 3627%) living in Turkey. Participants completed the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale and General Help-Seeking Scale and Self-Stigma of Seeking Psychology Help Scale. RESULTS: The findings revealed that stress (ß = 0.19, p < 0.01), anxiety (ß = 0.12, p < 0.05), and depression (ß = 0.17, p < 0.01) had significant and positive predictive effects on self-stigma, but not on help-seeking behaviours. Also, self-stigma (ß = -0.12, p < 0.01) had a significant negative predictive effect on help-seeking behaviours. With regard to the indirect effects, the findings showed that self-stigma fully mediated the associations between stress - help-seeking [effect = -0.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.11 to -0.01], anxiety - help-seeking (effect = -0.04, 95% CI -0.09 to -0.01)], and depression - help-seeking (effect = -0.05, 95% CI -0.12 to -0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the potential negative effects of self-stigma on the help-seeking behaviours of Syrian refugee adolescents, both directly and indirectly. These results can be used to develop and implement effective and efficient interventions to address the unmet mental health needs of refugee adolescents.

Mixtures of strategies underlie rodent behavior during reversal learning.

In reversal learning tasks, the behavior of humans and animals is often assumed to be uniform within single experimental sessions to facilitate data analysis and model fitting. However, behavior of agents can display substantial variability in single experimental sessions, as they execute different blocks of trials with different transition dynamics. Here, we observed that in a deterministic reversal learning task, mice display noisy and sub-optimal choice transitions even at the expert stages of learning. We investigated two sources of the sub-optimality in the behavior. First, we found that mice exhibit a high lapse rate during task execution, as they reverted to unrewarded directions after choice transitions. Second, we unexpectedly found that a majority of mice did not execute a uniform strategy, but rather mixed between several behavioral modes with different transition dynamics. We quantified the use of such mixtures with a state-space model, block Hidden Markov Model (block HMM), to dissociate the mixtures of dynamic choice transitions in individual blocks of trials. Additionally, we found that blockHMM transition modes in rodent behavior can be accounted for by two different types of behavioral algorithms, model-free or inference-based learning, that might be used to solve the task. Combining these approaches, we found that mice used a mixture of both exploratory, model-free strategies and deterministic, inference-based behavior in the task, explaining their overall noisy choice sequences. Together, our combined computational approach highlights intrinsic sources of noise in rodent reversal learning behavior and provides a richer description of behavior than conventional techniques, while uncovering the hidden states that underlie the block-by-block transitions.

The effect of ileal resection length on postoperative complications and prognosis in right colon cancer.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of literature on the length of the terminal ileum to be resected in right hemicolectomy for colon cancer. Therefore, we aimed to determine the mean ileal loop length and the effect of this variation on postoperative complications and long-term oncological outcomes in patients who underwent right hemicolectomy. METHODS: Right hemicolectomy surgeries performed for colon cancer in a tertiary care hospital between January 2011 and December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed from a prospective database. Two patient groups were established based on the mean length of the resected ileum above and below 7 cm. The two groups were compared for clinicopathological data, postoperative complications, mortality, long-term overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). The factors contributing to OS and DFS were analyzed. RESULTS: The study included 217 patients. Body mass index (BMI) values were significantly higher in the ileum resection length > 7 cm group (p = 0.009). Pathological N stage, tumor diameter, and number of metastatic lymph nodes were significantly higher in the ileum resection length > 7 cm group (p = 0.001, p = 0.001, and p = 0.026, respectively). There was no significant difference for postoperative complication and mortality rates between the two groups. The mean follow-up period was 61.2 months (2-120) in all patients. The total number of deaths was 29 (11.7%) while the 60-month OS was 83.5% and 50-month DFS was 81.8%. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of OS and DFS rates (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Excessive resection of the distal ileum in right hemicolectomy does not provide any benefit in terms of prognosis and complications.The ileum resection length and values close to it in our study appear to be sufficient.

Patients' sense of security from clinical factors in Iran: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: One of the clinical responsibilities and goals of hospitals is to provide patients with comfort and security. The present study aims to assess patients' sense of security among patients in Iranian hospitals. METHODS: The present research employed a cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of 830 patients visiting public, private, and social security hospitals in Mazandaran in the North of Iran. The required data were collected using a questionnaire developed by the researcher of this study.This questionnaire consisted of 4 dimensions:nursing, medical, advanced facilities and patient rights. The participants were selected using a proportional stratified random sampling method. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, descriptive statistics, and ANOVA were used for data analysis using SPSS version 22. RESULTS: The mean scores of patients' sense of security in social security, private, and public hospitals were 4.16 ± 0.89, 3.78 ± 0.67, and 3.60 ± 0.89, respectively. Medical factors with a mean and standard deviation of 3.92 ± 0.76, advanced facilities and equipment with 3.89 ± 0.89, nursing factors with 3.87 ± 0.73, and patient rights with 3.71 ± 0.90 were the highest to the lowest scores, respectively. The results showed that the type of hospital significantly affected the mean dimensions of security (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed variations in the sense of securityacross the sampled hospitals. Particularly, the sense of security attributed to the patient rights factors was lower than other factors. Therefore, to enhance the sense of security for patients, it is recommended to focus on staff training and fostering a culturethat emphasizes obtaining informed consent, demonstrating respect for the patient, and introducing the medical team to the patient before initiating any treatment.

Investigating perceived core disaster competencies of nurses in Iran: A case study of northwest hospitals.

AIM: This study was carried out to investigate the perception of the main competencies of disaster management in Iranian emergency department nurses in 2023 in hospitals affiliated with Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. The present study was conducted to explore the perceived core disaster competencies in nurses of hospitals affiliated with Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in 2023. BACKGROUND: Due to the rise in natural disasters, their escalating severity and associated regulatory response necessitate a closer look at the preparedness and core competencies of nursing personnel. The main competencies of nurses are necessary to deal with disasters in unexpected events, and they are expected to use their professional expertise to provide the required nursing services to reduce the risks caused by disasters. METHODOLOGY: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted cross-sectionally between May and September 2023. In the study, a sample of 384 nurses working in the departments of four hospitals affiliated with Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences was selected through a random stratification. The data collection instrument was a 45-item scale of nurses' perceived core competencies (NPDCC) in handling disasters. The data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and independent samples t-test. The significance level was set at 5%. RESULTS: The mean total score of perceived core disaster competencies was 139.11 ± 37.65. The technical skills subscale got the highest score (51.81 ± 11.28) and critical thinking skills received the lowest (9.74 ± 3.92). Also, "technical skills" had the highest average and "critical thinking skills" had the lowest average in all three age groups. The results found a significant difference between the scores of nurses in perceived core disaster competencies in age groups, work environments, education degrees, marital statuses, and experiences of attending disaster workshops (p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that nurses had different levels of core disaster competencies in the department. There are gaps in the core disaster nursing competencies that need to be filled. Nursing managers should consistently evaluate the core nursing competencies to achieve efficacious disaster preparedness. To this aim, it is recommended that authorities implement training courses and programs to enhance the preparedness of nurses in responding to disasters.

Adolescent smoking patterns: Associations with sociodemographic factors, cyberbullying, and psychiatric diagnoses in an outpatient clinical sample.

There is a scarcity of research on smoking in adolescents within a clinical (outpatient) sample, and there is no existing knowledge on the relationship between cyberbullying and smoking in this population. The primary aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of smoking among adolescents in a clinical sample. Additionally, it aims to examine the potential associations between smoking status and factors such as socioeconomic characteristics, psychiatric diagnoses, and cyberbullying levels. A cross-sectional study was performed on 200 adolescents who visited a tertiary child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinic. Participants were assessed using the DSM-5 based psychiatric evaluation, the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version-DSM-5 Turkish Adaptation (K-SADS-PL-DSM-5-T), the Revised Cyber Bullying Inventory-II, and the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence. The study found that 21% of the sample consisted of regular smokers, with a higher prevalence observed among older adolescents. The prevalence of depression and disruptive behavior disorders was significantly greater in the smoking group compared to other groups (p:0.043, p < 0.001, respectively). There was a significant difference in the scores for the cyberbullying bully subdimension among smokers (p = 0.013). The results of the multinomial logistic regression analysis indicated significant associations between smoking and age, maternal smoking status, friends smoking status, and a diagnosis of disruptive behavior disorder (p < 0.05 for all variables). This study reveals a significant prevalence of adolescent smoking in an outpatient clinic. These findings highlight the necessity of implementing focused smoking cessation interventions for this specific population.

Perceptions and usage of traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and waterpipes among young and middle-aged adults in Iraq: A descriptive study.

Tobacco use poses significant public health concerns, linked to various mental and physical health outcomes. Iraq has a high prevalence of smoking, predominantly with traditional cigarettes, but there is also growing popularity of electronic cigarettes and waterpipes among younger and middle-aged adults. This study aims to explore the perceptions and usage of traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and waterpipes among this population in Iraq. A descriptive study was conducted among 402 young and middle-aged adults (50.25% females), aged between 18 and 45 years, with a mean age of 25.88 (SD = 7.27). For the data collection, an online questionnaire was developed utilizing distribution channels on common social networking platforms. The results showed that 41.79% of respondents have used traditional cigarettes, while 31.1% of participants reported that they use electronic cigarettes. Ninety-four per cent of respondents acknowledged that they use waterpipes. The results also indicated that a significant proportion believe that using electronic cigarettes is either much more harmful or more harmful than traditional cigarettes. Participants commonly perceived all three types of tobacco products as highly harmful, including secondhand smoke, addictive qualities, and popularity among peers. Additionally, significant differences in perceptions emerged between smokers and nonsmokers regarding electronic cigarettes and traditional cigarettes, although no such differences were observed for waterpipes. These findings contribute to understanding the attitudes toward different forms of tobacco use among respondents, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address the perceived harm associated with tobacco products.

Challenging experiences of the elderly with heart failure in the COVID-19 pandemic: a phenomenological study in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Patients with heart failure (HF), especially the elderly, faced many challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, which need to be explored. The present study aimed to analyse the challenging experiences facing the elderly with heart failure during the pandemic in Iran. To achieve this aim, a qualitative approach to research was employed. METHODS: The present qualitative research employed a phenomenological approach to study 12 elderly with heart failure visiting Imam Ali Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kermanshah, Iran. The data collection occurred between August 5, 2022, and November 21, 2022. The participants were selected through a purposive sampling method and interviewed using a semi-structured interview. MAXQDA10 software was used for data organisation and the Colizzi analytical technique for data analysis. Guba and Lincoln's criteria were also used to evaluate the trustworthiness of the qualitative research. RESULTS: A total of two categories, 8 subcategories, and 110 primary codes were extracted from the data. The two categories were challenges and coping strategies. The former included the sub-categories of economic issues, fear, anxiety, and fear of death; limited access to health care; quarantine issues; disruption of family life; and medication non-adherence. The subcategories of the latter were faith in God, social support, and self-care behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed the challenges experienced and the coping strategies employed by elderly patients with heart failure during the pandemic in Iran. A knowledge of these challenges and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic can raise healthcare workers' awareness of the elderly patients' strategies used to cope with the virus.

Analysis of ethical considerations of COVID­19 vaccination: lessons for future.

BACKGROUND: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, different countries sought to manufacture and supply effective vaccines to control the disease and prevent and protect public health in society. The implementation of vaccination has created many ethical dilemmas for humans, which must be recognized and resolved. Therefore, the present study was conducted to analyze the ethical considerations in vaccination against COVID-19 from the perspective of service providers. METHODS: The present qualitative research was conducted in 2022 in the north of Iran. The participants included 23 health workers with at least five years of work experience and members of the COVID-19 vaccination team. The data were initially collected through systematic semi-structured interviews, then snowball sampling and finally continued until data saturation. The next steps were transcription of interviews, identification of meaning units, coding, categorization based on similarity and symmetry, extraction of themes and the analysis of themes through content analysis. RESULTS: The analysis of participants' experiences led to the extraction of five main categories of themes and fifteen sub-categories of the ethical considerations of COVID-19 vaccination. Safe and standard vaccine production, vaccine supply, fairness, respect for autonomy, and accountability were the main categories. The subcategories included compliance with scientific and ethical procedures, effectiveness and profitability of vaccine, absence of severe adverse effects, allocation of resources for vaccine supply, vaccine availability, diversity and comprehensiveness of alternative vaccines, vaccination prioritization, prioritization of the vulnerable populations of society, autonomy of patient (equal rights), autonomy of community, autonomy of service providers, reporting correct information, reporting vaccine side effects, public trust and acceptance. CONCLUSION: The health system managers should be adequately prepared to solve the ethical problems posed by COVID-19 vaccination. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid haste in vaccination and pay more attention to vaccination safety standards, provide sufficient resources for a comprehensive vaccine supply, pay close attention to collective interests versus individual interests, and meet community needs.

Understanding the effect of fear of COVID-19 on COVID-19 burnout and job satisfaction: a mediation model of psychological capital.

Healthcare professionals are more at risk than others of being affected by the negative psychological consequences of COVID-19. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the factors protecting healthcare professionals from the negative psychological consequences of the pandemic. The purpose of the present study is to examine the mediating role of psychological capital in the relationship of fear of COVID-19 with COVID-19 burnout and job satisfaction among Turkish healthcare professionals. Participants included 313 healthcare professionals (52.7% females) ranged in age between 22 and 59 years (mean age = 34.41 ± 6.59) and completed measures of fear of COVID-19, psychological capital, job satisfaction and burnout. A mediation model indicated that fear of COVID-19 was negatively associated with psychological capital and job satisfaction but positively associated with COVID-19 burnout. The model also indicated that psychological capital was negatively associated with COVID-19 burnout and positively associated with job satisfaction. Additionally, psychological capital mitigated the effect of fear of COVID-19 on COVID-19 burnout. Finally, the results indicated that fear of COVID-19 did not only have a direct effect on reduced job satisfaction but also had an indirect effect on it through increased psychological capital. Findings elucidate our understanding of the role of psychological capital in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and COVID-19 burnout and job satisfaction. The results are useful for developing and implementing intervention programs to reduce the negative psychological effects of COVID-19 on healthcare professionals.

Perceived stress and life satisfaction during COVID-19 pandemic: the mediating role of social adaptation and the moderating role of emotional resilience.

The present study mainly focused on college students during the COVID-19 outbreak and aimed to develop and examine a moderated mediation model between perceived stress and life satisfaction, with social adaptation during COVID-19 as a mediator, and emotional resilience as a moderator. A sample of 1032 college students participated in this study and completed questionnaires regarding perceived stress, social adaptation during COVID-19, emotional resilience, and life satisfaction. Findings indicated that 1) social adaptation during COVID-19 partially mediated the association between perceived stress and life satisfaction; and 2) emotional resilience moderated the relationship between perceived stress and social adaptation during COVID-19 as well as perceived stress and life satisfaction. These two relationships became stronger for college students with lower levels of emotional resilience. The results were discussed to illuminate the mechanism in relation to theoretical and practical implication for improving college students' life satisfaction during the period of the COVID-19 outbreak.

A longitudinal study of depression, anxiety, and stress among Indians during COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 has caused significant public health chaos. Whether infected or uninfected, people have reported significant mental health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study explored symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress of uninfected people with the disease over three time periods. A total of 132 participants took part in all the three phases. Data at Time 1 and Time 2 were collected during the national lockdown with 1 month apart, while data at Time 3 were collected immediately once the lockdown was uplifted in India. Participants completed the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 online. The results indicated that despite an increase in the average number of COVID-19 cases, depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms decreased over time with the lowest level once the lockdown was ended. These results suggest that the restrictions implemented during the national lockdown led to distress, and not an increase in COVID-19 cases per se.

Effect of Blood Groups on Clinical Presentations and Treatment Outcomes in Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Patients with Severe ADAMTS13 Deficiency: A Multi-Center Experience.

Introduction: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a thrombotic microangiopathy caused by accumulation of ultra-large von Willebrand factor (vWF) due to the significantly reduced activity ADAMTS13. Limited studies have been published examining the blood group as an epidemiological factor that can contribute to development of TTP. It has been suggested that due to low vWF levels, the distribution of the "O" blood group among TTP patients may be lower than anticipated compared to the blood group distribution rates in the normal population. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between blood groups and the clinical outcome of immune TTP (iTTP). Methods: Thirty patients with iTTP with severe ADAMTS13 deficiency were enrolled. Data collection commenced in January 2011 and was completed by June 2020. It was analyzed whether there was a difference between the blood groups in terms of frequency of iTTP, response to treatment, frequency of relapse, and clinical and laboratory results. Results and Conclusions: The distribution of group "A" among patients with iTTP was higher than expected. Although not statistically significant, patients with blood group "O" required more TPE for the treatment and relapse rate was statistically higher than other blood groups. Mortality rate in all patients was 6.7%. Although blood group "A" is a risk factor for iTTP, the frequency of relapse is higher in the blood group "O."

Mediating effect of work stress in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and nurses' organizational and professional turnover intentions.

Nursing is one of the most stressful and high-risk professions. It is important to identify the psychological problems experienced by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic and examine the relationship between these problems to devise measures that can properly address them. This study examined mediating effect of work stress in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and nurses' organizational and professional turnover intentions. Using a cross-sectional research design, this study was conducted on 486 nurses working in seven hospitals in Turkey. The mean age of the participants was 35.24 ± 6.81 and 59.9 % of them were women. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the General Work Stress Scale, and the Turnover Intention Scale were used to collect data. A mediation model showed that fear of COVID-19 was positively associated with work stress and organizational and professional turnover intentions. The model also revealed that work stress was positively associated with organizational and professional turnover intentions. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that fear of COVID-19 did not only have a direct effect on organizational and professional turnover intentions but also had an indirect effect on it via increased work stress. Findings improve our understanding of the role of work stress in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and organizational and professional turnover intentions. The findings are fruitful for tailoring and implementing intervention programs to reduce the adverse psychological impacts of COVID-19 on nurses.

Fear of COVID-19, intolerance of uncertainty, psychological capital, and positive future expectations: Tests of mediating relationships with healthcare workers.

COVID-19 has a profound impact on the mental health of healthcare workers, especially those combatting the disease. The current study examined the mediating role of psychological capital in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and intolerance of uncertainty and positive future expectations in healthcare workers during the pandemic. 310 healthcare workers (51.9 % males, Mage = 34.2 ± 7.6) completed measures of fear of COVID-19, psychological capital, intolerance of uncertainty, and positive future expectations The results showed that fear of COVID-19 had a significant negative predictive impact on psychological capital and a significant positive predictive impact on intolerance of uncertainty. Psychological capital had a significant negative predictive impact on intolerance of uncertainty and a significant positive predictive impact on positive future expectations. Most importantly, the results indicated that psychological capital mediated the association of fear of COVID-19 with intolerance of uncertainty and positive future expectations. The results improve our understanding of the role of psychological capital in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and intolerance of uncertainty and positive future expectations. Also, results have possible wider implications for equipping healthcare workers with the psychological tools to cope with stressors, including those linked to public health threats such as pandemics.

Psychological state and predictors of psychiatric morbidity in COVID-19 patients six weeks after discharge.

To be able to detect possible psychological distress and long-term deterioration caused by COVID-19, following the patient, who has recovered, is crucial. Therefore, this study (i); aims to examine the ongoing fear-loss of control, the rate of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder levels following the 6th week after discharge; (ii) to examine the effect of post-traumatic stress disorder on anxiety, and depression and (iii) within the same context to reveal the developmental markers of psychiatric morbidity and the risk group. The study includes 180 patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19 diagnosis. Sociodemographic Data Form, the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised were used in the current study. High rates of symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD were reported by the inpatients, as more than one-third scored above the anxiety and depression cut-off scores of borderline abnormal and abnormal. Also, 37.22 % of the participants reported the likely presence of PTSD symptoms. Anxiety and depression were significantly positively related to the symptoms of PTSD. The results suggest that there is psychiatric morbidity in anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder and that especially posttraumatic stress poses a risk for other psychopathologies.

Family Communication and Psychological Distress in the Era of COVID-19 Pandemic: Mediating Role of Coping.

This study aims to examine the association between family communication and psychological distress with coping as a potential mediator. The study also developed and validated the Family Communication Scale (FCS) in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. Participants (n = 658; 74.9% female) were general public ranged in age between 18 and 58 years (mean age = 26.38, SD = 10.01). The results showed that family communication directly influenced psychological distress and indirectly influenced through approach coping. However, avoidant coping was not directly associated with psychological distress, nor did it mediate the association between family communication and psychological distress. The findings suggest that people, who have better family communication, highly engage in approach coping which in turn leads to better psychological health in face of adversity. The findings have important empirical and theoretical implications.

The mediating role of outgroup perspective-taking in the relationship of the sense of global social responsibility with negative stereotypes and intergroup anxiety.

Existing literature has extensively explored attitudes toward refugees; however, to the best of our knowledge, no study has specifically examined the relationship between the sense of global social responsibility and attitudes toward refugees. Therefore, this study investigated the mediating role of outgroup perspective-taking in the relationship of the sense of global social responsibility with negative stereotypes and intergroup anxiety. The data for this study were collected from a sample of 325 participants, with 53.5% males, aged between 18 and 47 years (Mage = 28.90 ± 7.08). The findings revealed that the sense of global social responsibility was positively related to outgroup perspective-taking and inversely related to negative stereotypes and intergroup anxiety. Also, perspective-taking exhibited negative relationships with negative stereotypes and intergroup anxiety. Mediation analyses showed that the sense of global social responsibility not only directly influenced the reduction of negative stereotypes and intergroup anxiety but also indirectly affected these attitudes through increased outgroup perspective-taking. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms that can effectively mitigate negative attitudes toward refugees. Findings also highlighted the potential of the sense of global social responsibility and outgroup perspective-taking in designing intervention programs aimed at reducing negative attitudes toward outgroup members, including refugees.

Mediating and moderating effects of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between social media addiction and phubbing.

Presently, social media is widely used worldwide among different populations. Therefore, phubbing rapidly became a popular phenomenon in our daily life. However, little is known about the underlying mechanism and interaction between social media use and phubbing. Therefore, this research examines the mediating and moderating role of cognitive flexibility in the association between social media addiction and phubbing. Participants were 385 university students (280 females) studying at a state university in eastern Turkey and completed the self-reported measures of cognitive flexibility, social media addiction, and phubbing. The results showed that cognitive flexibility mediated and moderated the effect of social media addiction on phubbing. These findings may contribute to the discussion around the psychological consequences of using social media alongside increasing awareness about factors affecting and explaining the association between social media use and phubbing, which have important implications for research and practice.

Reliable Sensory Processing in Mouse Visual Cortex through Cooperative Interactions between Somatostatin and Parvalbumin Interneurons.

Intrinsic neuronal variability significantly limits information encoding in the primary visual cortex (V1). However, under certain conditions, neurons can respond reliably with highly precise responses to the same visual stimuli from trial to trial. This suggests that there exists intrinsic neural circuit mechanisms that dynamically modulate the intertrial variability of visual cortical neurons. Here, we sought to elucidate the role of different inhibitory interneurons (INs) in reliable coding in mouse V1. To study the interactions between somatostatin-expressing interneurons (SST-INs) and parvalbumin-expressing interneurons (PV-INs), we used a dual-color calcium imaging technique that allowed us to simultaneously monitor these two neural ensembles while awake mice, of both sexes, passively viewed natural movies. SST neurons were more active during epochs of reliable pyramidal neuron firing, whereas PV neurons were more active during epochs of unreliable firing. SST neuron activity lagged that of PV neurons, consistent with a feedback inhibitory SST→PV circuit. To dissect the role of this circuit in pyramidal neuron activity, we used temporally limited optogenetic activation and inactivation of SST and PV interneurons during periods of reliable and unreliable pyramidal cell firing. Transient firing of SST neurons increased pyramidal neuron reliability by actively suppressing PV neurons, a proposal that was supported by a rate-based model of V1 neurons. These results identify a cooperative functional role for the SST→PV circuit in modulating the reliability of pyramidal neuron activity.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Cortical neurons often respond to identical sensory stimuli with large variability. However, under certain conditions, the same neurons can also respond highly reliably. The circuit mechanisms that contribute to this modulation remain unknown. Here, we used novel dual-wavelength calcium imaging and temporally selective optical perturbation to identify an inhibitory neural circuit in visual cortex that can modulate the reliability of pyramidal neurons to naturalistic visual stimuli. Our results, supported by computational models, suggest that somatostatin interneurons increase pyramidal neuron reliability by suppressing parvalbumin interneurons via the inhibitory SST→PV circuit. These findings reveal a novel role of the SST→PV circuit in modulating the fidelity of neural coding critical for visual perception.