Background Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists (SCRA), also known as “K2” or “Spice,” have drawn considerable attention due to their potential of abuse and harmful consequences. More research is needed to understand user experiences of SCRA-related effects. We use semiautomated information processing techniques through eDrugTrends platform to examine SCRA-related effects and their variations through a longitudinal content analysis of web-forum data. Method English language posts from three drug-focused web-forums were extracted and analyzed between January 1st 2008 and September 30th 2015. Search terms are based on the Drug Abuse Ontology (DAO) created for this study (189 SCRA-related and 501 effect-related terms). EDrugTrends NLP-based text processing tools were used to extract posts mentioning SCRA and their effects. Generalized linear regression was used to fit restricted cubic spline functions of time to test whether the proportion of drug-related posts that mention SCRA (and no other drug) and the proportion of these “SCRA-only” posts that mention SCRA effects have changed over time, with an adjustment for multiple testing. Results 19,052 SCRA-related posts (Bluelight (n=2,782), Forum A (n=3,882), and Forum B (n=12,388)) posted by 2,543 international users were extracted. The most frequently mentioned effects were “getting high” (44.0%), “hallucinations” (10.8%), and “anxiety” (10.2%). The frequency of SCRA-only posts declined steadily over the study period. The proportions of SCRA-only posts mentioning positive effects (e.g., “High” and “Euphoria”) steadily decreased, while the proportions of SCRA-only posts mentioning negative effects (e.g., “Anxiety,” “Nausea,” “Overdose”) increased over the same period. Conclusion This study's findings indicate that the proportion of negative effects mentioned in web forum posts and linked to SCRA has increased over time, suggesting that recent generations of SCRA generate more harms. This is also one of the first studies to conduct automated content analysis of web forum data related to illicit drug use.
In domain-specific search systems, knowledge of a domain of interest is embedded as a backbone that guides the search process. But the knowledge used in most such systems 1. exists only for few well known broad domains; 2. is of a basic nature: either purely hierarchical or involves only few relationship types; and 3. is not always kept up-to-date missing insights from recently published results. In this paper we present a framework and implementation of a focused and up-to-date knowledge-based search system, called Scooner, that utilizes domain-specific knowledge extracted from recent bioscience abstracts. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt in the field to address all three shortcomings mentioned above. Since recent introduction for operational use at Applied Biotechnology Branch of AFRL, some biologists are using Scooner on a regular basis, while it is being made available for use by many more. Initial evaluations point to the promise of the approach in addressing the challenge we set out to address.
This study developed a protocol to identify in a sporting activity the developmental stages in differentiating effort and ability derived by Nicholls in 1978 from cognitive tasks. 32 boys aged 8 to 13 years were shown videoclips depicting two performers on a split-screen shooting at off-screen baskets with unequal effort. False scores were presented to indicate that the sporadic worker scored the same as or higher than the consistent worker. Subjects were then interviewed about the performers' ability and effort, and their responses were categorized using Nicholls' criteria for developmental level. The responses showed the same developmental stages derived from cognitive tasks, with some new interpretations specific to this psychomotor task. Issues of generalizability are discussed and alternative protocols recommended.
An usually cold spell between Christmas and New Year's Day resulted in the postponement of several counts and the cancellation of at least four others. This caused a decline in the number of counts conducted from 82 in 2020-21 to only 78 this past winter. More strikingly, the number of observers dropped from 853 to 729. Hours spent in the field fell from 1,824 to 1,571, but it was no surprise that the number of hours spent in the warm indoors watching feeders remained about the same (570 and 560 hours, respectively). The WeatherAverage minimum and maximum temperatures for the count period (with 2020-21 records in brackets) were -22 to -17ºC (-11 to -6ºC), wind speeds 11 to 22 km/h (9 to 20 km/h), and snow depths 15 to 29 cm (12 to 26 cm). Weather conditions were on average harsher this winter compared to the previous winter; lower temperatures and slightly higher winds combined to produce higher wind chill values. This, along with deeper average snow depths, combined to make it more difficult to find birds. NoteFor the purposes of Saskatchewan Counts, as published herein, the count period extends from 14 December to 5 January; Audubon counts include only those species recorded three days prior to and after the count day.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.