Violent behavior of patients living in psychiatric residential facilities: A comparison of male patients with different violence histories

People with severe mental disorders and a history of violence are often seen as a difficult-to-manage segment of the population. In addition, this group is usually characterized by a high risk of crime recidivism, and poor compliance with community and aftercare programs. To investigate a sample of male patients living in Residential Facilities (RFs) with a history of violent behavior against people and to compare their characteristics with those of never-violent residents; to analyze the associations between aggressive behaviors in the last two years and a history of previous violence; and, to assess the predictors of aggressive behaviors. This study is part of a prospective observational cohort study which involved 23 RFs in Northern Italy. A comprehensive set of sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment-related information was gathered, and standardized assessments were administered to each participant. Also a detailed assessment of aggressive behaviors in the past two years was carried out. The study involved 268 males: 81 violent and 187 never-violent. Compared to never-violent patients, violent patients were younger, with a higher proportion of personality disorders, and have displayed an increased number of aggressive behaviors in the last two years. The presence of a history of violent behavior in the past significantly increases the probability of committing aggressive acts in the future

The effect of service satisfaction and spiritual well-being on the quality of life of patients with schizophrenia.

Quality of life (QOL) has been considered an important outcome measure in psychiatric research and determinants of QOL have been widely investigated. We aimed at detecting predictors of QOL at baseline and at testing the longitudinal interrelations of the baseline predictors with QOL scores at a 1-year follow-up in a sample of patients living in Residential Facilities (RFs). Logistic regression models were adopted to evaluate the association between WHOQoL-Bref scores and potential determinants of QOL. In addition, all variables significantly associated with QOL domains in the final logistic regression model were included by using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). We included 139 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum. In the final logistic regression model level of activity, social support, age, service satisfaction, spiritual well-being and symptoms' severity were identified as predictors of QOL scores at baseline. Longitudinal analyses carried out by SEM showed that 40% of QOL follow-up variability was explained by QOL at baseline, and significant indirect effects toward QOL at follow-up were found for satisfaction with services and for social support. Rehabilitation plans for people with schizophrenia living in RFs should also consider mediators of change in subjective QOL such as satisfaction with mental health services

Developmental and environmental effects on the assembly of glutenin polymers and the impact on grain quality of wheat

Wheat kernel development can be divided into three phases i.e. cell division, cell enlargement and dehydration. Accumulation of gluten proteins continues till the end of the cell enlargement phase. During the dehydration phase, post-translational polymerization of the glutenin subunits occurs to form very large glutenin polymers. Assembly of the glutenin polymers has been monitored by increase in the unextractable polymeric protein. Lines possessing HMW-GS related to dough strength (e.g. 5+10) started accumulating large polymers several days earlier than lines with HMW-GS related to dough weakness (e.g. 2+12) and maintained their higher amounts till maturity. This may be explained by faster polymerization resulting from a higher concentration of cysteine residues in the x-type HMW-GS. Sulphur deficiency leads to an increase in the ratio of HMW- to LMW-GS, causing a shift in the MWD to higher MWs, resulting in bucky dough properties. High temperature during grain development appears to shift the MWD to lower MWs with corresponding lowering of dough strength but the presence of strength-associated HMW-GS appears to confer greater tolerance to heat stress. Since sulphur deficiency and higher global temperatures may be expected to increase in the future, some suggestions how breeders may use strategies to counter these effects are put forward

Statistical analysis of the effect of mineral admixtures on the strength of the interfacial transition zone

Microscopic evidence indicates that the thickness of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between the aggregate and the cement paste is modified when mineral admixtures partially replace portland cement. Unfortunately, there is limited information on the significance of these microscopic modifications to the mechanical properties of the ITZ. This research reports experimental results on the shear and tensile strength of the ITZ as affected by the addition of the following mineral admixtures: silica fume, fly ash, and natural pozzolan. Statistical analysis was used to identify the significant parameters affecting the tensile and shear strength of the ITZ. Experimental results indicate that not only does the incorporation of silica fume and fly ash increase the strength of the ITZ, these mineral admixtures have a greater influence on the strength increase of the ITZ than in the strength increase of the cement paste.12439941

Developmental and environmental effects on the assembly of glutenin polymers and the impact on grain quality of wheat

Wheat kernel development can be divided into three phases i.e. cell division, cell enlargement and dehydration. Accumulation of gluten proteins continues till the end of the cell enlargement phase. During the dehydration phase, post-translational polymerization of the glutenin subunits occurs to form very large glutenin polymers. Assembly of the glutenin polymers has been monitored by increase in the unextractable polymeric protein. Lines possessing HMW-GS related to dough strength (e.g. 5. +. 10) started accumulating large polymers several days earlier than lines with HMW-GS related to dough weakness (e.g. 2. +. 12) and maintained their higher amounts till maturity. This may be explained by faster polymerization resulting from a higher concentration of cysteine residues in the x-type HMW-GS.Sulphur deficiency leads to an increase in the ratio of HMW- to LMW-GS, causing a shift in the MWD to higher MWs, resulting in bucky dough properties. High temperature during grain development appears to shift the MWD to lower MWs with corresponding lowering of dough strength but the presence of strength-associated HMW-GS appears to confer greater tolerance to heat stress. Since sulphur deficiency and higher global temperatures may be expected to increase in the future, some suggestions how breeders may use strategies to counter these effects are put forward. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd

How to play a MOOC: Practices and simulation

Massive Open Online Courses are important online study resources. They aim at providing online education to an increasingly large and heterogeneous audience: school pupils, university students or professionals who intend to acquire or develop their skill to better respond to market needs. The growing number of learners (more than 100 million globally at the moment, https://www.classcentral.com/report/mooc-stats-2019/) and courses (over 11 thousand, ibidem) reveals new and unprecedented scenarios in lifelong learning paths. Offering educational products to such an audience requires producers \u2013 not only private individuals but also public entities \u2013 to evaluate new teaching methods and methodologies for distance learning, in order to encourage participation and reduce their dropping out. Using gamification within an online course seems to contribute to the growth of users\u2019 participation rate, as well as to increase the course completion rate. In this work, the authors will show the interactive solutions that two Italian universities, the University of Naples Federico II \u2013 with its Federica Web Learning branch \u2013 and the University of Padua set up for their MOOC-based courses