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The dynamic model of the distributed propulsion vehicle faces significant challenges due to several factors. The primary difficulties arise from the strong coupling between multiple power units and aerodynamic rudder surfaces, the interaction between thrust and vehicle dynamics, and the complexity of the aerodynamic model, which includes high-dimensional and high-order variables. To address these challenges, wind tunnel tests are conducted to analyse the aerodynamic characteristics and identify variables affecting the aerodynamic coefficients. Subsequently, a deep neural network is employed to investigate the influence of the power system and aerodynamic rudder on the aerodynamic coefficients. Based on these findings, a multi-dynamic coupled aerodynamic model is developed. Furthermore, a control-oriented nonlinear dynamics model for the distributed propulsion vehicle is established, and a flight controller is designed. Finally, closed-loop simulations for the climb, descent and turn phases are performed, validating the effectiveness of the established model.
In recent years, the rapid convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and low-altitude flight technology has driven significant transformations across various industries. These advancements have showcased immense potential in areas such as logistics distribution, urban air mobility (UAM) and national defense. By adopting the AI technology, low-altitude flight technology can achieve high levels of automation and operate in coordinated swarms, thereby enhancing efficiency and precision. However, as these technologies become more pervasive, they also raise pressing ethical or moral concerns, particularly regarding privacy, public safety, as well as the risks of militarisation and weaponisation. These issues have sparked extensive debates. In summary, while the integration of AI and low-altitude flight presents revolutionary opportunities, it also introduces complex ethical challenges. This article will explore these opportunities and challenges in depth, focusing on areas such as privacy protection, public safety, military applications and legal regulation, and will propose strategies to ensure that technological advancements remain aligned with ethical or moral principles.
Aiming at the problem of fast and consensus obstacle avoidance of multiple unmanned aerial systems in undirected network, a multi-quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicles UAVs (QUAVs) finite-time consensus obstacle avoidance algorithm is proposed. In this paper, multi-QUAVs establish communication through the leader-following method, and the formation is led by the leader to fly to the target position automatically and avoid obstacles autonomously through the improved artificial potential field method. The finite-time consensus protocol controls multi-QUAVs to form a desired formation quickly, considering the existence of communication and input delay, and rigorously proves the convergence of the proposed protocol. A trajectory segmentation strategy is added to the improved artificial potential field method to reduce trajectory loss and improve the task execution efficiency. The simulation results show that multi-QUAVs can be assembled to form the desired formation quickly, and the QUAV formation can avoid obstacles and maintain the formation unchanged while avoiding obstacles.
Weeds are one of the greatest challenges to snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) production. Anecdotal observation posits certain species frequently escape the weed management system by the time of crop harvest, hereafter called residual weeds. The objectives of this work were to (1) quantify the residual weed community in snap bean grown for processing across the major growing regions in the United States and (2) investigate linkages between the density of residual weeds and their contributions to weed canopy cover. In surveys of 358 fields across the Northwest (NW), Midwest (MW), and Northeast (NE), residual weeds were observed in 95% of the fields. While a total of 109 species or species-groups were identified, one to three species dominated the residual weed community of individual fields in most cases. It was not uncommon to have >10 weeds m−2 with a weed canopy covering >5% of the field’s surface area. Some of the most abundant and problematic species or species-groups escaping control included amaranth species such as smooth pigweed (Amaranthus hybridus L.), Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), and waterhemp [Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) Sauer]; common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.); large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.]; and ivyleaf morningglory (Ipomoea hederacea Jacq.). Emerging threats include hophornbeam copperleaf (Acalypha ostryifolia Riddell) in the MW and sharppoint fluvellin [Kickxia elatine (L.) Dumort.] in the NW. Beyond crop losses due to weed interference, the weed canopy at harvest poses a risk to contaminating snap bean products with foreign material. Random forest modeling predicts the residual weed canopy is dominated by C. album, D. sanguinalis, carpetweed (Mollugo verticillata L.), I. hederacea, amaranth species, and A. ostryifolia. This is the first quantitative report on the weed community escaping control in U.S. snap bean production.
To explore the source, message, channel, and receiver effects on patient concern for antibiotic resistance, willingness to reduce antibiotic use, and expectations for an antibiotic prescription in a prepandemic sample.
Methods:
We used data reported from a national cross-sectional survey of adults who had visited an urgent care center within the last year. Data were collected from April 4 to April 9, 2017. The survey included an embedded experimental design to test changing effects before versus after message exposure.
Participants:
A national sample of adult participants (n = 610) who had used urgent care at least once in the past year were recruited through GfK’s KnowledgePanelTM. KnowledgePanel survey response rates are typically about 65%. Respondents ranged in age from 18 to 85 and were more likely to be female (377/610; 62%), White (408/610; 67%), and covered by private insurance (414/610; 68%).
Results:
Outcome variables were measured on 4-point scales 1–4 scale, and t-tests were conducted for measures that were collected pre and postmessaging. The majority of participants trusted their doctor and desired them as the source for information regarding antibiotic resistance, followed by field experts (eg, CDC). Direct messaging (eg, email) and targeted advertisements were least preferred.
Conclusions:
This study provides foundational data on patient communication preferences in terms of source, message content, and channel when receiving information on antibiotics and antibiotic resistance, as well as how these factors affect patient concern, willingness, and expectations. Follow-up work is needed to replicate these findings in a postpandemic sample.
Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a common cause of disability and decreased quality of life. The Saskatchewan Spine Pathway classification (SSPc) is a method for triaging patients who are candidates for surgery. Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent lumbosacral instrumented fusion for degenerative spinal pathology from Jan 1, 2012, to Sept 20, 2018, by a single surgeon at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were stratified by SSPc into 4 groups based on pain pattern. Demographic and clinical data were collected. Outcomes were compared between cohorts both for absolute values and achieving MCID. Results: 169 consecutive patients were included in our study. After stratifying by SSPc grouping, there were 61 SSPc I patients, 45 SSPc III patients, and 63 SSPc IV patients. Patients in all groups had clinical improvement following surgery. Patients classified as SSPc III had superior outcomes in ODI, EQ-5D and EQ-VAS, and were more likely to achieve the MCID for ED-5D. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that SSPc grouping is an independent predictor of final VAS back, ODI, EQ-5D, and EQ-VAS as well as achieving the MCID for EQ-5D. Conclusions: The SSPc classification is associated with outcomes following lumbosacral fusion. In particular, patients with SSPc pattern 3 had better outcomes and improved QALY.
Background: The fragility index (FI) is the minimum number of patients whose status would have to change from a nonevent to an event to turn a statistically significant result to a non-significant result. We used this to measure the robustness of trials comparing carotid endarterectomy (CEA) to carotid artery stenting (CAS). Methods: A search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, and PubMed on RCTs comparing CEA to CAS. The trials need to have statistically significant results and dichotomous primary endpoints to be included. Results: Our literature search identified 10 RCTs which included 9382 patients (4734 CEA, 4648 CAS). The primary end points of all included trials favoured CEA over CAS. The median FI was 9.5 (interquartile range 2.25 - 21.25). All of the studies that reported lost-to-follow-up (LTFU) had LTFU greater than its fragility index, which raises concern that the missing data could change the results of the trial from statistically significant to statistically insignificant. Conclusions: A small number of events (FI, median 9.5) were required to render the results of carotid artery stenosis RCTs comparing CEA to CAS statistically insignificant. All of the studies that reported LTFU had LTFU greater than its fragility index.
Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak is a common complication of minimally invasive tubular microdiscectomy (MIM). However, it is not known whether patients with CSF leak can be safely discharged home the same day. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with incidental durotomy after MIM from January, 2009 to August, 2023. Patient demographic information, surgery information, CSF leak management, and postoperative outcomes were recorded. Results: There were 16 patients (53%) who were admitted to hospital and 14 (47%) patients discharged home the same day post CSF leak. There were no differences in patient demographics between the two groups at baseline. Twenty-nine out of 30 (97%) of the patients had onlay duraplasty, and one (3%) patient was repaired using sutures. The hospitalized group was kept on bed rest overnight or 24 hours. The discharge group was kept on best rest for 2 hours or mobilized immediately after surgery. The average length of admission for the hospitalized group was 2.4 ± 4.0 days. No patients in either group required readmission or revision surgery for CSF leak. Conclusions: Patients with CSF leak post minimally invasive tubular microdiscectomy can be safely discharged home the same day provided that duraplasty or primary repair was performed intraoperatively.
Despite advances in incorporating diversity and structural competency into medical education curriculum, there is limited curriculum for public health research professionals. We developed and implemented a four-part diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training series tailored for academic health research professionals to increase foundational knowledge of core diversity concepts and improve skills.
Methods:
We analyzed close- and open-ended attendee survey data to evaluate within- and between-session changes in DEI knowledge and perceived skills.
Results:
Over the four sessions, workshop attendance ranged from 45 to 82 attendees from our 250-person academic department and represented a mix of staff (64%), faculty (25%), and trainees (11%). Most identified as female (74%), 28% as a member of an underrepresented racial and ethnic minority (URM) group, and 17% as LGBTQI. During all four sessions, attendees increased their level of DEI knowledge, and within sessions two through four, attendees’ perception of DEI skills increased. We observed increased situational DEI awareness as higher proportions of attendees noted disparities in mentoring and opportunities for advancement/promotion. An increase in a perceived lack of DEI in the workplace as a problem was observed; but only statistically significant among URM attendees.
Discussion:
Developing applied curricula yielded measurable improvements in knowledge and skills for a diverse health research department of faculty, staff, and students. Nesting this training within a more extensive program of departmental activities to improve climate and address systematic exclusion likely contributed to the series’ success. Additional research is underway to understand the series’ longer-term impact on applying skills for behavior change.
Using bentonites to adsorb aflatoxin is an effective method of minimizing the toxicity of aflatoxin to animals and humans. Early studies indicated a more than 10-fold difference in aflatoxin adsorption capacity among different bentonites. The determining mineralogical and chemical properties of the clays in aflatoxin adsorption are still poorly understood. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that a bentonite’s selectivity and adsorption capacity for aflatoxin is mainly determined by the ‘size matching’ requirement, on a nm scale, between the non-polar interlayer surface domains and the aflatoxin molecules. The non-polar surface domain size of smectites was varied by (1) selecting smectites with different charge densities; and (2) changing the valence and the size of exchange cations to control the amount of water in the hydration shells of the cations. Infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were also used to characterize the aflatoxin-smectite complexes to investigate if layer-charge density would affect the bonding strength between aflatoxin and the minerals. A large aflatoxin adsorption capacity and high selectivity for aflatoxin were achieved by selecting smectites that had low charge density as represented by their <110 meq/100 g cation exchange capacity. An individual smectite’s selectivity and adsorption capacity for aflatoxin could be enhanced or weakened by replacing the exchange cation. When the smectite was saturated with divalent cations that have smaller hydrated radius (e.g. Ba2+), the smectite’s adsorption capacity and affinity for aflatoxin were enhanced. Aflatoxin entered the interlayer of all six smectites tested. The strength of its bonding to the smectites was not affected by the layer-charge density of the smectites. The results confirmed the importance of nm-scale polarity and size match between aflatoxin molecules and the adsorbing sites on smectite. The high selectivity for aflatoxin can be achieved by selecting a smectite with adequate charge density or by replacing the exchange cations with divalent cations that have low hydration energy.
Neurocognitive decline is prevalent in patients with metastatic cancers, attributed to various disease, treatment, and individual factors. Whether the presence of brain metastases (BrMets) contributes to neurocognitive decline is unclear. Aims of this study are to examine neurocognitive performance in BrMets patients and compare findings to patients with advanced metastatic cancer without BrMets. Here, we present baseline findings from an ongoing, prospective longitudinal study.
Participants and Methods:
English-speaking adults with advanced metastatic cancers were recruited from the brain metastases and lung clinics at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Participants completed standardized tests (WTAR, HVLT-R, BVMT-R, COWAT, Trailmaking test, WAIS-IV Digit Span) and questionnaires (FACT-Cog v3, EORTC-QLQ C30 and BN20, PROMIS Depression(8a) and Anxiety(6a)) prior to cranial radiotherapy for those who required it. Test scores were converted to z-scores based on published normative data and averaged to create a composite neurocognitive performance score and domain scores for memory, attention/working memory, processing speed and executive function. Neurocognitive impairment was defined according to International Cancer and Cognition Task Force criteria. Univariate and multivariate regressions were used to identify individual, disease and treatment variables that predict cognitive performance.
Results:
76 patients (mean (SD) age: 63.2 (11.7) years; 53% male) with BrMets were included. 61% experienced neurocognitive impairment overall; impairment rates varied across domains (38% memory, 39% executive functioning, 13% attention/working memory, 8% processing speed). BrMets quantity, volume, and location were not associated with neurocognitive performance. Better performance status (ECOG; ß[95%CI];-0.38[-0.70,-0.05], p=0.021), higher premorbid IQ (0.34[0.10,0.58], p=0.005) and greater cognitive concerns (0.02[-3.9e-04,0.04], p=0.051) were associated with better neurocognitive performance in univariate analyses. Only premorbid IQ (0.37[0.14,0.60], p=0.003) and cognitive concerns (0.02[0.0004, 0.03], p=0.05) remained significant in multivariate analysis. We also recruited 31 patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) with no known BrMets (age: 67.5 (8.3); 32% male) and compared them to the subgroup of BrMets patients in our sample with mNSCLC (N=32; age: 67.8 (11.7); 53% male). We found no differences in impairment rates (BrMets/non-BrMets: Cognitive Composite, 59%/55%; Memory, 31%/32%; Executive Functioning, 35%/29%; Attention/working memory, 16%/13%; Processing speed, 7%/6%; Wilcoxon rank-sum test, all p-value’s > 0.5). The presence or absence of BrMets did not predict neurocognitive performance. Among patients with mNSCLC, higher education (0.11[0.03,0.18], p=0.004) and premorbid IQ (0.36[0.12,0.61], p=0.003), fewer days since primary diagnosis (0.00290[-0.0052,-0.0005], p=0.015) fewer pack-years smoking history (0.01[0.02,-0.001], p=0.027) and greater cognitive concerns (0.02[7e-5,0.04], p=0.045) were associated with better neurocognitive performance in univariate analyses; only premorbid IQ (0.26[0.02,0.51], p=0.04) and cognitive concerns (0.02[0.01,0.04], p=0.02) remained significant in multivariate analysis.
Conclusions:
Cognitive impairment is prevalent in patients with advanced metastatic cancers, particularly affecting memory and executive functioning. However, 39% of patients in our sample were not impaired in any domain. We found no associations between the presence of BrMets and neurocognitive function in patients with advanced cancers prior to cranial radiation. Premorbid IQ, a proxy for cognitive reserve, was associated with cognitive outcomes in our sample. Our longitudinal study will allow us to identify risk and resilience factors associated with neurocognitive changes in patients with metastatic cancers to better inform therapeutic interventions in this population.
In this paper, we investigate the constrained attitude control problem of hypersonic vehicles (HVs). An improved prescribed performance dynamic surface control method is proposed based on an adaptive scaling strategy. Because of the uncertain time-varying disturbances, the controlled state may violate the constraint in the prescribed performance control (PPC) framework. An adaptive scaling strategy is introduced in the PPC method to avoid state violation. The performance function is scaled with respect to the state adaptively. Moreover, a nonlinear disturbance observer is used to compensate the sum of external and other internal disturbances of the system. The proposed method improves the system dynamic performance while ensuring the system robustness. Furthermore, the stability of the closed-loop system is proved by Lyapunov analysis. Finally, numerical simulations are implemented to verify the effectiveness of the PPC method and superiority over other methods.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with cognitive impairments. It is unclear whether problems persist after PTSD symptoms remit.
Methods
Data came from 12 270 trauma-exposed women in the Nurses' Health Study II. Trauma and PTSD symptoms were assessed using validated scales to determine PTSD status as of 2008 (trauma/no PTSD, remitted PTSD, unresolved PTSD) and symptom severity (lifetime and past-month). Starting in 2014, cognitive function was assessed using the Cogstate Brief Battery every 6 or 12 months for up to 24 months. PTSD associations with baseline cognition and longitudinal cognitive changes were estimated by covariate-adjusted linear regression and linear mixed-effects models, respectively.
Results
Compared to women with trauma/no PTSD, women with remitted PTSD symptoms had a similar cognitive function at baseline, while women with unresolved PTSD symptoms had worse psychomotor speed/attention and learning/working memory. In women with unresolved PTSD symptoms, past-month PTSD symptom severity was inversely associated with baseline cognition. Over follow-up, both women with remitted and unresolved PTSD symptoms in 2008, especially those with high levels of symptoms, had a faster decline in learning/working memory than women with trauma/no PTSD. In women with remitted PTSD symptoms, higher lifetime PTSD symptom severity was associated with a faster decline in learning/working memory. Results were robust to the adjustment for sociodemographic, biobehavioral, and health factors and were partially attenuated when adjusted for depression.
Conclusion
Unresolved but not remitted PTSD was associated with worse cognitive function assessed six years later. Accelerated cognitive decline was observed among women with either unresolved or remitted PTSD symptoms.
There is a paucity of research examining the patterning of socioeconomic disadvantages and mental health problems across multiple generations. The significance of research on multigenerational processes is based on a concern with if and how (dis)advantages are generated and sustained across generations, and how socioeconomic, mental health, and gender inequalities evolve over a longer period of time.
Objectives
The current study therefore aimed to investigate the interconnected transmissions of socioeconomic disadvantages and mental health problems from grandparents to grandchildren through the parents, as well as the extent to which these transmissions differ according to lineage (i.e., through matrilineal/patrilineal descent) and grandchild gender.
Methods
Drawing on the Stockholm Birth Cohort Multigenerational Study, the sample included 21,416 unique lineages by grandchild gender centered around cohort members born in 1953 (parental generation) as well as their children (grandchild generation) and their parents (grandparental generation). Based on local and national register data, socioeconomic disadvantages were operationalized as low income, and mental health problems as psychiatric disorders. A series of path models based on structural equation modelling were applied to estimate the associations between low income and psychiatric disorders across generations and for each lineage-G2 gender combination.
Results
We found a multigenerational transmission of low income through the patriline to grandchildren. Psychiatric disorders were transmitted through both the patriline and matriline, but only to grandsons. The patriline-grandson transmission of psychiatric disorders was partially operated via low income of the fathers. Furthermore, grandparents’ psychiatric disorders influenced their children’s and grandchildren’s income.
Conclusions
We conclude that there is evidence of transmissions of socioeconomic disadvantages and mental health problems across three generations, although these transmissions differ by lineage and grandchild gender. Our findings further highlight that grandparents’ mental health problems could cast a long shadow on their children’s and grandchildren’s socioeconomic outcomes, and that socioeconomic disadvantages in the intermediate generation may play an important role for the multigenerational transmission of mental health problems.
The target backsheath field acceleration mechanism is one of the main mechanisms of laser-driven proton acceleration (LDPA) and strongly depends on the comprehensive performance of the ultrashort ultra-intense lasers used as the driving sources. The successful use of the SG-II Peta-watt (SG-II PW) laser facility for LDPA and its applications in radiographic diagnoses have been manifested by the good performance of the SG-II PW facility. Recently, the SG-II PW laser facility has undergone extensive maintenance and a comprehensive technical upgrade in terms of the seed source, laser contrast and terminal focus. LDPA experiments were performed using the maintained SG-II PW laser beam, and the highest cutoff energy of the proton beam was obviously increased. Accordingly, a double-film target structure was used, and the maximum cutoff energy of the proton beam was up to 70 MeV. These results demonstrate that the comprehensive performance of the SG-II PW laser facility was improved significantly.
As an effective drag reduction and thermal protection technology, the opposing jet can guarantee the flight safety of the hypersonic vehicle. In this paper, the jet mode transition is realised by controlling the total jet pressure ratio value (PR) with a function. The jet mode transition from the long penetration mode (LPM) to the short penetration mode (SPM) uses an increasing function. However, the jet mode transition from SPM to LPM uses a decreasing function. The flow field reconstruction process of a two-dimensional axisymmetric blunt body model in the hypersonic flow is studied when the jet mode transition between SPM and LPM changes into each other. The flow field structures and wall parameters of the LPM and SPM transition processes are obtained. The results indicate that the drag and Stanton number both decrease in the transition stage from LPM to SPM, and this is beneficial for the improvement of the drag reduction and thermal protection effect. The peak values of drag and Stanton number fall by 36.39% and 46.40%, respectively. When the jet mode transforms from SPM to LPM, the Stanton number increases, and the drag force first increases and then decreases. However, the final drag reduction effect is not obvious. With the increase in the change rate of the total pressure ratio of the two jet transformation modes, the jet mode transition time is advanced, and the flow field changes more violently.
To assess the potential cost-effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for treatment of mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Methods
A decision-analytic Markov model was developed to estimate health state progression, incremental cost, and quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gain of NMES compared to no treatment, continuous airway pressure (CPAP), or oral appliance (OA) treatment. The base case assumed no cardiovascular (CV) benefit for any of the interventions, while potential CV benefit was considered in scenario analyses. Therapy effectiveness was based on a recent multi-center trial for NMES, and on the TOMADO and MERGE studies for OA and CPAP. Costs, considered from a United States payer perspective, were projected over lifetime for a 48-year-old cohort, 68% of whom were male. An incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) threshold of USD150,000 per QALY gained was applied.
Results
From a baseline AHI of 10.2 events/hour, NMES, OA and CPAP reduced the AHI to 6.9, 7.0 and 1.4 events/hour respectively. Long-term therapy adherence was estimated at 65-75% for NMES and 55% for both OA and CPAP. Compared to no treatment, NMES added between 0.268 and 0.536 QALYs and between USD7,481 and USD17,445 in cost, resulting in ICERs between USD15,436 and USD57,844 per QALY gained. Depending on long-term adherence assumptions, either NMES or CPAP were found to be the preferred treatment option, with NMES becoming more attractive with younger age and assuming CPAP was not used for the full night in all patients.
Conclusions
NMES might be a cost-effective treatment option for patients with mild OSA.
Background: Basilar fenestration is a rare congenital anomaly. When present, it is commonly found at the proximal portion of the artery near the vertebrobasilar junction. Methods: This is a case report of a ruptured basilar fenestration aneurysm in a 47-year-male successfully treated with endovascular coiling. Results: A 47-year-old male presented with sudden onset headache, neck pain, blurry vision, nausea, vomiting, and diaphoresis. Cerebral angiogram revealed a saccular basilar fenestration aneurysm located at the vertebrobasilar junction measuring 3.1 x 2.6 x 3.4 mm with a 2.3 mm neck. Multiple coils were placed including Target 360 Nano 2mm x 4 cm (Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI, US), Target 360 Nano 1.5 mm x 2 cm (Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI, US), and Target Helical Nano 1.5 mm x 1 cm (Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI, US). A repeat angiogram revealed complete exclusion of the aneurysm with preservation of both vertebral arteries. Conclusions: A literature review was conducted on basilar fenestration aneurysms which included 158 patients from 39 studies. Overall, complete exclusion of the aneurysm was achieved in 75.8% of cases, with 22.4% of cases having residual flow and 1.8% of cases with unreported exclusion status.
It is unknown how much variation in adult mental health problems is associated with differences between societal/cultural groups, over and above differences between individuals.
Methods
To test these relative contributions, a consortium of indigenous researchers collected Adult Self-Report (ASR) ratings from 16 906 18- to 59-year-olds in 28 societies that represented seven culture clusters identified in the Global Leadership and Organizational Behavioral Effectiveness study (e.g. Confucian, Anglo). The ASR is scored on 17 problem scales, plus a personal strengths scale. Hierarchical linear modeling estimated variance accounted for by individual differences (including measurement error), society, and culture cluster. Multi-level analyses of covariance tested age and gender effects.
Results
Across the 17 problem scales, the variance accounted for by individual differences ranged from 80.3% for DSM-oriented anxiety problems to 95.2% for DSM-oriented avoidant personality (mean = 90.7%); by society: 3.2% for DSM-oriented somatic problems to 8.0% for DSM-oriented anxiety problems (mean = 6.3%); and by culture cluster: 0.0% for DSM-oriented avoidant personality to 11.6% for DSM-oriented anxiety problems (mean = 3.0%). For strengths, individual differences accounted for 80.8% of variance, societal differences 10.5%, and cultural differences 8.7%. Age and gender had very small effects.
Conclusions
Overall, adults' self-ratings of mental health problems and strengths were associated much more with individual differences than societal/cultural differences, although this varied across scales. These findings support cross-cultural use of standardized measures to assess mental health problems, but urge caution in assessment of personal strengths.