4,102 research outputs found
Borderline personality in patients with poly-diagnoses treated for a Bipolar Disorder
Some patients with dysphoria, explosive behaviour, or suicidal ideation, may receive a diagnosis of, and treatment for Bipolar Disorder (BD) and, not infrequently. The coexistence of these two diagnoses has been explained in different ways. Some authors include the BPD in the bipolar spectrum; others are sceptical about the existence of real comorbidity, suggesting a misdiagnosis. This study aimed to assess the personality of this group of poly-diagnosed patients (PolyD) and hypothesised they had a pathological borderline organisation. Via the administration of the Schedler Westen Assessment Procedure (SWAP-200), we compared PolyD patients with those suffering from BPD or BD only. We performed two different MANCOVAs to test PolyD, BPD and BD patients' differences in PD-factors, Q-traits and age. The sample comprised 45 patients (Mean age=43.3, SD=15.7; Females 57.7%, N=26). BD patients (N=15) did not present any personality disorder, they had a higher functioning and Obsessive Q-traits, and a lower Histrionic PD-factor than both PolyD (N=20) and BPD (N=10) patients. Compared to PolyD patients, BD had inferior PD-Borderline, PD-Antisocial factor and Dependent-Masochistic Q-traits, but there were no other differences with BPD patients. PolyD did not differ from BPD patients in any of the PD-factors and Q-traits. Our results suggest that PolyD patients are different from BD patients and propose to consider the pathological borderline personality as a central core of their disease
Active shape correction of a thin glass/plastic X-ray mirror
Optics for future X-ray telescopes will be characterized by very large
aperture and focal length, and will be made of lightweight materials like glass
or plastic in order to keep the total mass within acceptable limits. Optics
based on thin slumped glass foils are currently in use in the NuSTAR telescope
and are being developed at various institutes like INAF/OAB, aiming at
improving the angular resolution to a few arcsec HEW. Another possibility would
be the use of thin plastic foils, being developed at SAO and the Palermo
University. Even if relevant progresses in the achieved angular resolution were
recently made, a viable possibility to further improve the mirror figure would
be the application of piezoelectric actuators onto the non-optical side of the
mirrors. In fact, thin mirrors are prone to deform, so they require a careful
integration to avoid deformations and even correct forming errors. This however
offers the possibility to actively correct the residual deformation. Even if
other groups are already at work on this idea, we are pursuing the concept of
active integration of thin glass or plastic foils with piezoelectric patches,
fed by voltages driven by the feedback provided by X-rays, in intra-focal setup
at the XACT facility at INAF/OAPA. In this work, we show the preliminary
simulations and the first steps taken in this project
Break in volition: a virtual reality study in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder
Research in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) produced inconsistent results in demonstrating an association between patients' symptom severity and their cognitive impairments. The process involved in volition aspects of behavioral syndromes can be extensively analyzed using specific tests developed in virtual environments, more suitable to manipulate rules and possible breaks of the normal task execution with different, confusing or stopping instructions. The study involved thirty participants (15 OCD patients and 15 controls) during task execution and the relative interferences. At this purpose, the virtual version of Multiple Errands Test was used. Virtual reality setting, with a higher ecological validity respect to a classic neuropsychological battery, allowed us to take into account deficits of volition and the relative dysexecutive functions associated with OCD patients. The proposed paradigm also allows the development of innovative prototypes of coevolving technologies based on new theories and models and deeper understanding of human behavior
PETROLOGICAL CHARACTERS OF THE EARLY CRETACEOUS BOEOTHIAN FLYSCH, (CENTRAL GREECE)
This paper is aimed to study the petrographic characters of the Boeothian Flysch, an Early Cretaceous turbidite deposit which marks the boundary between the External/Internal Hellenides in central-southern Greece, in order to define a preliminary palaeogeographic reconstruction of the Pindos segment of the Alpine Tethys. The Boeothian Flysch is mainly made up by basal conglomerates and arenaceous-pelitic lithofacies, locally interlayered with Calpionellid micrite limestones. This formation is here supposed to belong to the Early Cretaceous flysch family, which marks the contact between the internal and external areas along all the western and central European Alpine Chains for more than 7,000 km, from the Gibraltar Arc to the Balkans via the Calabria-Peloritani Arc. Provenance of these flysch is commonly connected to internal areas, mainly made up by Hercynian crystalline basements and, locally, by ophiolitic complexes. The petrographic data obtained from representative sandstones of the Boeothian Flysch suggest a provenance from internal sources, formed by a Jurassic carbonate platform, metamorphic basements and by ophiolitic complexes, which can be identified with the Pelagonian Terranes (Auct.). An Early Cretaceous uplift and rejuvenation processes, probably related to the late Cretaceous tectogenesis, widely recorded in almost all the central-western Alpine Tethis, affected these internal domains with consequent production of abundant detrital supply in the innermost sector of the Pindos Ocean, whose external margin was bounded by the Parnassos microcontinent
Modular implant design affects metal ion release following metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty: a retrospective study on 75 cases
Metal-on-Metal (MoM) total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been associated to wear and metal-ions release, controversially related to a variety of clinical complications. Little is known about the relevant design-dependent parameters involved in this process. The present study investigated the correlation between metal ion release in blood and revision rate as a function of: (i) specific MoM implant modular design parameters, (i.e. acetabular cup and femoral head diameters, taper adapter material and size, femoral neck material and modularity and stem size); (ii) MoM bilaterality. Co and Cr ions concentration levels in blood of 75 patients were retrospectively-evaluated with a mean follow-up of 4.8 years (range: 1.8-6.3). Patients were divided in a unilateral and a bilateral group. Statistical analysis was performed to find any significant difference related to acetabular cup diameter, femoral head diameter, taper adapter material/size, neck material/size and stem size. The bilateral MoM group had 4-times higher metal ion levels in blood than the unilateral one (p=0.017 only Cr), related to a higher revision rate (30% vs 20%): differences were 10-times higher particularly with a 48 mm femoral head diameter (p=0.012) and a Ti-alloy neck (p=0.041). Within the monolateral group using a shorter taper adapter and a shorter neutrally-oriented neck demonstrated higher ion levels (p=0.038 only Cr and p=0.008 only Co, respectively). The aforementioned design-features and MoM bilaterality are important risk-factors for metal-ion release in modular MoM THA
Efficacy of a functional therapy program for depression and c-reactive protein: A pilot study
Objective: Affecting more than 264 million people, depression is a systemic and multifactorial disorder that represents one of the leading causes of illness and disability worldwide. Several studies showed an inflammatory response in depressed patients, including the involvement of both chronic low-grade inflammatory response and activation of cell-mediated immunity. The present study aimed to verify the efficacy of a structured functional therapy program for patients with depressed mood, and to determine whether this program can significantly reduce levels of C-reactive protein. Method: 28 outpatients with depressed mood received 20 individual sessions of Functional therapy. Data about socio-demographic variables, depression, self-esteem, and quality of life were collected; moreover, blood specimens were collected before and after treatment, and CRP measurement was performed by immunoenzymatic method. All measures were administered at baseline, at the end of treatment (i.e., 3 months after baseline), and at followâup (i.e., 6 months after baseline). Results: A repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant difference after treatment on depression levels, levels of selfâesteem, and all dimensions of quality of life, such as physical, psychological, social relationships, and environment. Furthermore, a statistically significant difference on levels of CRP was found. Moreover, at followâup, improvements were maintained. Conclusions: The study revealed initial evidence of the efficacy of a functional therapy program on treating depression and its psychological and inflammation-related markers
The role of different game-genres in predicting internet gaming disorder (IGD)
Introduction: Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is a new diagnosis in
DSM 5 worth of research. New potentially addictive features are
emerging in pay- and free-to-play videogames, involving different
at-risk populations of gamers. However, few studies have examined
whether and how different game-genres can contribute to the risk
of IGD.
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate how game-genres can
predict IGD, accounting for alexithymia scores, time-related play-
ing habits, and other predictors.
Methods: Participants were gamers joining online communities,
surveyed about which games they played more than 20 hours in
their lifetime, time-variables, other stressors and alexithymia
scores. A six-steps linear regression with IGD scores and a post
hoc logistic regression (outcome: IGD>=21) were performed.
Results: 5,979 subjects (88.7% males, 14-18 years), playing at
different games (Figure-1). The game-genre explained the 1% of
variation only. WoW and similar MMORPGs confirmed their
potentiality in promoting IGD, regardless of alexithymia features
(B=0.50, p=0.005). However, time-variables completely absorbed
the WoW effect (B=0.01, p=0.951). LoL resulted addictive, even if
considering time-variables and alexithymia (B=0.88, p<0.001).
Minecraft emerged when time-variables were inserted (B=0.359,
p=0.041) and stayed significant if removing alexithymia scores
(B=0.48, p=0.010). Playing at Diablo3 and similar RPG did not
increase IGD (B=-0.99, p>0.001). None of the different game-
genres was able to push the subject over the threshold of IGD,
because other characteristics interacted as additive risk-factors.
Conclusions: Alexithymia traits and time-related playing habits
mostly moderated the effect of different games in increasing IGD
risk. A videogame could engage people with specific characteristics
that may, in turn, differentially predispose to IGD
Differences between female and male gamers and gender-specific risk-factors for internet gaming disorder (IGD)
Introduction: Videogames have become more popular across
females, although their widespread diffusion among males. How-
ever, few studies have examined differences between female and
male gamers and gender-specific risk factors for Internet Gaming
Disorder (IGD).
Objectives: The study aimed to describe males and femalesâ differ-
ences in a sample of gamers, and to identify gender-specific risk-
factors for IGD, accounting for alexithymia, playing habits, and
other perceived stressors.
Methods: Participants were gamers joining online communities,
tested by IGDS-SF9 and TAS-20 for alexithymia. To explore
isk-factors for IGD (outcome: IGD>=21), we set a binary logistic
regression stratified by gender.
Results: 5,305 males and 674 females differed in most of the descrip-
tive characteristics (Figure-1) and game-genres preferences (Figure-
2). Higher DIF scores increased the risk of IGD in both males
(OR=1.8 95% C.I. 1.6, 2) and females (OR=1.3 95% C.I. 1.1, 1.7)
while higher EOT in males only (OR=1.2 95% C.I. 1.1, 1.3). Having
another hobby apart from gaming was protective for males (OR=0.5,
95% C.I. 0.4, 0.6). Having started playing before their ten-years was a
risk factor for females (OR=2.3 95% C.I. 1.2, 4.6). Loneliness and
boredom feelings predicted IGD in males (OR=1.7 95% C.I. 1.5, 2)
and, even more, in females (OR=2.7 95% C.I. 1.8, 4.2). Playing more
than six hours/per day increased IGD-risk up to seven times in males
(OR=7.3 95% C.I. 5.1, 10.3) and of almost sixteen times in females
(OR=15.9 95% C.I. 5.4, 46.7) (Figure-3).
Conclusions: Female gamers presented specific characteristics and
a greater vulnerability to the increased time spent playing as a risk-
factor for IG
Unified View of Scaling Laws for River Networks
Scaling laws that describe the structure of river networks are shown to
follow from three simple assumptions. These assumptions are: (1) river networks
are structurally self-similar, (2) single channels are self-affine, and (3)
overland flow into channels occurs over a characteristic distance (drainage
density is uniform). We obtain a complete set of scaling relations connecting
the exponents of these scaling laws and find that only two of these exponents
are independent. We further demonstrate that the two predominant descriptions
of network structure (Tokunaga's law and Horton's laws) are equivalent in the
case of landscapes with uniform drainage density. The results are tested with
data from both real landscapes and a special class of random networks.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures, 4 tables (converted to Revtex4, PRE ref added
Children and Families' mental health during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Italy
Background: This study aimed to screen a wide range of emotional and behavioural variables emerging during the first COVID-19 pandemic-lockdown in a sample of parents and children, residents in the southern part of Italy, and explore which variables could predict children's wellbeing. We hypothesised that difficulties in adapting routines to pandemic restrictions, parents' emotional wellbeing, and attitude towards the pandemic could influence the children's behavioural attitudes. Methods: 221 parents completed the survey and gave information about 246 children. Ad hoc questionnaires were created and then exploratory reduced in factors. Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for parents assessed positive and negative behavioural attitudes in children. Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (Italian DASS-21) scored depression, anxiety and stress in parents. Results: Children presented higher emotional distress (Mean difference (Mdiff)=0.6, 95% C.I. 0.2, 0.9, p=0.013) and better prosocial behaviour (Mdiff=0.5, 95% C.I. 0.1, 0.9, p=0.011) than the Italian normative sample. Parents were more depressed than expected in the general population (Mdiff=1.0, 95% C.I. 0.3, 1.6, p=0.005). Having developed a morbid attachment to an adult (B=0.37, 95% CI 0.05, 0.69, p=0.024), a higher parental depression (B=0.1, 95% CI 0.02, 0.18, p=0.014), and children's suffering from nightmares (B=0.35, 95% CI 0.03, 0.67, p=0.032) explained the 31.9% of the total variance in children's emotional distress. Children's anxiety was related to parents' fear of the pandemic effects (r=0.32, p=0.001) and avoiding communicative approach (r=0.24, p=0.011). Conclusion: The first lockdown determined emotional distress and regressive mechanisms in children in the contest of higher parental discomfort, fear of the infection and avoidant communication. Following parents' indications, it could be helpful to provide families with informative and age-appropriate support
- âŠ