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The transition from hedonic to compulsive use in Substance Use Disorders (SUD) is a critical point in SUD progression and hence relevant for assessment and treatment. To measure the habitual patterns of substance consumption, the Craving Automated Scales (CAS) for alcohol (CAS-A), substances (CAS-S) and cigarette smoking (CAS-CS) were developed and introduced to different countries. In this study, we aimed to investigate the structural stability of CAS across substances and cultures. This study analyzed the CAS-scores of a sample of 370 participants in Germany, China and the UK, including 262 opioid-users, 65 smokers and 43 alcohol-users. We performed stability analyses to check the stability (i. e. factorial invariance) of factor solutions. Based on confirmed stability of the general factor (gfactor) solution and the calculations rule obtained in the previous validation of CAS-alcohol (CAS-A), the factor structures of CAS-A, CAS-S and CAS-CS were compared. The gfactor solutions based on calculations rule shows good stability, with the mean stability coefficients of 0.990 and 0.977 for CAS-S and CAS-CS respectively. The gfactor patterns were similar for CAS-A, CAS-S and CAS-CS, as well as across samples (Germany, China and the UK), with most factor-loadings larger than 0.7. Based on these findings, CAS-S and CAS-CS were also associated with established clinical measures of SUD. Our findings suggest the two-gfactor solution based on a proposed calculation rule has a high stability across substances and cultures. This could be in line with common neurobiological mechanisms underlying habitual substance use. Moreover, comparing CAS with established clinical tools suggests that CAS might assess the automated behavior in substance consumption in a more sophisticated way. • The two-gfactor solution of the Craving Automated Scale has a good stability. • The Craving Automated Scale can be used across substances. • The Craving Automated Scale is associated with established SUD measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study's aim was to investigate iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) concentration in the soil, forage crops, and sheep blood with respect to the seasonal availability of these metals. Soil, forage, and sheep blood samples were sampled from five different locations in Chakwal (Pidh, Tobar, Ratoccha, Choa Saiden Shah-Kalar Kahar road, and Choa Saiden Shan-Chakwal Road) during two seasons, i.e., winter and summer. All the samples were processed through wet acid digestion for evaluation of metal contents. Because of proximity of site-1 and site-2 to coal mines, higher Fe concentration was observed than Zn. Overall, varied Fe concentrations obtained in soil were 12.95-24.31 mg/kg, 1.29-9.61 mg/kg in forage and 1.17-24 mg/l in blood, whereas Zn values were 1.04-31.9 mg/kg, 1.96-7.02 mg/kg, and 0.16-6.52 mg/l for soil, forages, and blood respectively. The pollution load index value for both Fe (0.01-0.14 mg/kg) and Zn (0.02-0.72 mg/kg) was lesser than 1. Bio-concentration (0.09-2.64mg/kg) and enrichment factor (0.08-7.51 mg/kg) were showing efficient transfer of metals through the food chain. Daily intake and health risk index values of iron were ranged from 0.01 to 1.1 mg/kg/day and 0.02 to 1.05 mg/kg/day. There was a probable chance of upsurge in metal values in coming years due to continued mining activities. Anthropogenic input, mainly mining activities in the study area, have increased the Fe and Zn content in the environment which can ultimately find their way up the food chain, thereby risking the health of grazing livestock., (© 2021. This is a U.S. government work and not under copyright protection in the U.S.; foreign copyright protection may apply.)

Introduction: Little is known about the genetic and morphological characters of Paramphistomum epiclitum. For the first time in Pakistan, adult flukes were morphologically characterized and the sequence variation in the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) region, including the first internal transcribed spacers (ITS1) and the 5.8S gene of the Paramphistomum epiclitum were studied., Methods: Adult amphistomes were examined by light microscopy and sequences of ITS1 and 5.88S rDNA genes were obtained., Results: Twenty adult flukes were measured, 13.17 ± 1.19 mm in length and 5.28 ± 1.34 mm in width. Seventeen adult flukes were sequenced and high sequence variability was observed in 5' end of ITS1 region. The 5.8S and 3' end of ITS1 sequences had 100% identity among the samples. A comparative analysis revealed that different types and numbers of repeats were found within each ITS1 region. The 3' end of ITS1 region from P. epiclitum showed 98% homology with P. cervi from China and formed a subclade with genetic distance of 0.1663. The 5.8S gene showed 100% identity within Paramphistomidae family and formed a sub-clade with P. epiclitum, P. leydeni, P. cervi and Cotylophoron cotylophorum species isolated from China, India and Uruguay., Conclusion: This work provides new information on morphological identity and genetics of P. epiclitum from Pakistan.