ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISM AS IDENTITY PROJECT: THE CASE OF STUDENT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS IN CHINA

Il progetto di ricerca analizza i tratti distintivi dell'identità ecologica promossa da associazioni ambientaliste cinesi e le relative pratiche coinvolte nel processo di gestione delle identità all’interno di piattaforme di social networking. Un secondo livello di analisi indaga le modalità con cui gli attivisti negoziano la loro identificazione con i progetti identitari ecologici attivati dalle organizzazioni di appartenenza. La ricerca etnografica si focalizza su dieci associazioni studentesche attive a Pechino. La metodologia qualitativa include interviste in profondità a membri delle organizzazioni, osservazioni partecipanti delle loro attività, l’analisi qualitativa del contenuto di post condivisi sui loro profili Sina Weibo e Wechat; e dei contenuti condivisi dai membri sui loro profili WeChat Moments tra febbraio e luglio 2016. I risultati rivelano identità ecologiche complesse ed elaborate. Lo studio propone una tassonomia tripartita dei progetti identitari, che include ‘sustainable lifestyle-related identities’, in riferimento alla responsabilità degli studenti nel ridurre il loro impatto ambientale (in relazione alla conservazione di acqua, energia, cibo e pratiche di viaggio sostenibili); ‘investigation-related identities', indicando l'impegno degli studenti nella comprensione delle questioni ambientali e nel contributo alla soluzione delle relative problematiche attraverso azioni concrete; ‘social identities’, riferendosi alla determinazione delle associazioni a occuparsi di questioni sociali, impegnandosi in progetti di beneficenza.The study explores the distinctive features of the environmental identity promoted by Chinese students environmental associations (SEAs), and the social media practices involved in their identity management processes. A second level of analysis investigates how activists negotiate their identification with the environmental identity projects fostered by their organizations. The ethnographic research focuses on ten SEAs located in Beijing. The data collection process is based on extensive usage of in-depth interviews with staff members, participant observations of activities, and content analysis of materials posted on SEAs’ social media accounts (Sina Weibo, WeChat), and materials shared by members on their WeChat Moments over a six-month period (February- July 2016). Results reveal that SEAs environmental identities are plural and composite in themselves. I propose a tripartite taxonomy, which includes sustainable lifestyle-related identities, referring to the responsibility of students to reduce their carbon footprint, by addressing the sources of their impact (in relation to water, energy, food conservation, green travel practices); investigation-related identities, consisting in students’ meaningful engagement in the understanding of environmental issues, and contribution to their solution through concrete action; and social identities, referring to SEAs determination to be concerned about social issues, by engaging in charity projects

Reliability and Validity of the Italian Translation of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale in a Sample of Consecutively Admitted Psychotherapy Patients

The present study examined the reliability and validity of the Italian translation of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale (UPPS-P) in a clinical sample of 268 consecutively admitted psychotherapy patients (43.3% male; mean age = 40.48 (SD = 12.52); 38.8% inpatient). The Italian UPPS-P replicated the internal consistency coefficients of the original UPPS-P (0.84 to 0.92 across the five subscales). Moreover, confirmatory factor analyses evidenced an adequate fit for the a-priori five-factor model of the scale (WLSMV CFA χ2(1642) = 2833.06, p .10; CFI = .90; TLI = .90). Furthermore, the UPPS-P scales were significantly related to the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 total score (rs = 0.23 to 0.60 across the five scales). Finally, the five UPPS-P scales showed distinct associations with domain scores and interview-based dimensional scores of personality disorders. These findings suggest that the Italian version of the UPPS-P can be considered a valid and reliable alternative to the original UPPS-P and can be a useful diagnostic tool in a clinical sample

Glyco-metabolic Effects of Ranolazine: A truly Multifaceted Drug?

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Lutein and zeaxanthin intake during pregnancy and visual function in offspring at 11-12 years of age

Funding: This study has been funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III through the projects “CP14/00108, PI16/00261 and PI21/00266” (Co-funded by European Regional Development Fund “A way to make Europe”). Jordi Julvez holds the Miguel Servet-II contract (CPII19/00015) awarded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (co-funded by the European Social Fund “Investing in your future”). This study was also funded by grants from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Red INMA G03/176; CB06/02/0041; PI041436; PI081151 incl. FEDER funds; PI12/01890 incl. FEDER funds; CP13/00054 incl. FEDER funds; PI15/00118 incl. FEDER funds; CP16/00128 incl. FEDER funds; PI16/00118 incl. FEDER funds; PI16/00261 incl. FEDER funds; PI17/01340 incl. FEDER funds; PI18/00547 incl. FEDER funds), CIBERESP, Generalitat de Catalunya-CIRIT 1999SGR 00241, Generalitat de Catalunya-AGAUR (2009 SGR 501, 2014 SGR 822), Fundació La marató de TV3 (090430), Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (SAF2012-32991 incl. FEDER funds), Agence Nationale de Securite Sanitaire de l’Alimentation de l’Environnement et du Travail (1262C0010; EST-2016 RF-21), EU Commission (261357, 308333, 603794 and 634453). We acknowledge support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the State Research Agency through the “Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa 2019-2023” Program (CEX2018-000806-S), and support from the Generalitat de Catalunya through the CERCA Program.(1) Background: Lutein and zeaxanthin (L&Z) are essential dietary nutrients that are a crucial component of the human macula, contributing to visual functioning. They easily cross the placental barrier, so that retinal deposition commences during foetal development. This study aims to assess associations between maternal L&Z intake during pregnancy and offspring visual function at 11-12 years. (2) Methods: Using the Spanish INfancia y Medio Ambiente Project (INMA) Sabadell birth cohort, 431 mother-child pairs were analysed. L&Z data were obtained from food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) at week 12 and 32 of pregnancy, alongside other nutritional and sociodemographic covariates. Contrast vision (CS) and visual acuity (VA) were assessed using the automated Freiburg Acuity and Contrast Testing (FRACT) battery. Low CS and VA were defined as being below the 20th cohort centile. Associations were explored using multiple logistic regression. (3) Results: After controlling for potential confounders, L&Z intake during the 1st and 3rd trimester did not reveal any statistically significant association with either CS or VA in offspring at age 11/12 years. (4) Conclusions: No evidence of a long-term association between L&Z intake during pregnancy and visual function in offspring was found. Further larger long-term studies including blood L&Z levels are required to confirm this result.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Post Traumatic Reactions as Individual Differences: Latent Structure Analysis of the International Trauma Questionnaire in Italian Trauma-Exposed and Non-Trauma Exposed Adults

To evaluate the internal consistency and factor structure of the Italian translation of the 12-item International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ), 382 trauma-exposed and 366 non-trauma exposed Italian community-dwelling Italian adults from a total group of 748 volunteers completed the ITQ. The ITQ Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Disorder of Self-Organization scales showed adequate Cronbach’s as in both trauma-exposed and non-trauma-exposed participants. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the a priori model of item-to-scale assignment of the ITQ items was consistently reproduced in both trauma-exposed and non-trauma-exposed participants, even when measurement invariance was formally assessed. Finally, taxometric analyses showed that the latent distribution of the six ITQ PTSD symptom items should be conceived as a latent dimension rather than a categorical latent construct. As a whole, our findings supported to the cross-cultural validity of the ITQ while extending its clinical usefulness

Impact of Ozone-initiated Terpene Chemistry on Indoor Air Quality and Human Health

The ECA Report no. 26 on ¿Ozone-Initiated Chemistry and Its impact on Indoor Air Quality and Human Health¿ summarises the current state-of-the-art concerning indoor air pollution and health due to chemical reactions occurring indoors makes recommendation for research priorities for the future. More sepcifically, a state-of-the-art review on the scientific evidence concerning ozone-initiated terpene chemistry and related human health effects is given along with measurements methods so far developed to monitor the concentration of the key reactants ozone and terpene and finally a risk assessment methodology for indoor ozone-initiated terpene chemistry is described.JRC.I.5-Physical and chemical exposure

Social inequalities, green and blue spaces and mental health in 6–12 years old children participating in the INMA cohort

Availability of green and blue spaces in the area of residence has been related to various health outcomes during childhood, including mental health. These environmental exposures are not evenly distributed among socioeconomic groups, which may increase social inequalities in mental health. The mechanisms through which natural environments may promote mental health are numerous and diverse. This study aimed to explore 1) the potential associations of socioeconomic variables (SES and maternal education attainment) with mental health scores and residential greenness, blueness and NO2 metrics, and, 2) the association between greenness and blueness metrics and mental health scores of children in the Spanish INfancia y Medio Ambiente (INMA) birth cohort at two different time points. The study samples were composed of 1738 six-to eight-year-olds (49% female) and 1449 ten-to twelve-year-olds (living in Asturias, Gipuzkoa, Sabadell and Valencia, Spain. Individual Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values in 100-, 300- and 500-m buffers and availability of green and blue spaces &gt;5000 m2 in 300-m buffers were calculated using Geographic Information Systems software. Residential NO2 values were estimated using land use regression models. Internalizing, externalizing and total problems scores were obtained with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Linear and logistic mixed-effects models revealed unequal distribution of environmental exposures by SES and maternal education but did not show statistically significant associations between greenness and blueness metrics and mental health indicators. The protective effect of green and blue spaces on children's mental health could not be confirmed in this study and therefore further research is required.</p

Urban environment during pregnancy and childhood and white matter microstructure in preadolescence in two European birth cohorts

Growing evidence suggests that urban environment may influence cognition and behavior in children, but the underlying pollutant and neurobiological mechanisms are unclear. We evaluated the association of built environment and urban natural space indicators during pregnancy and childhood with brain white matter microstructure in preadolescents, and examined the potential mediating role of air pollution and road-traffic noise. We used data of the Generation R Study, a population-based birth cohort in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (n = 2725; 2002-2006) for the primary analyses. Replication of the main findings was attempted on an independent neuroimaging dataset from the PELAGIE birth cohort, France (n = 95; 2002-2006). We assessed exposures to 12 built environment and 4 urban natural spaces indicators from conception up to 9 years of age. We computed 2 white matter microstructure outcomes (i.e., average of fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) from 12 white matte tracts) from diffusion tensor imaging data. Greater distance to the nearest major green space during pregnancy was associated with higher whole-brain FA (0.001 (95%CI 0.000; 0.002) per 7 m increase), and higher land use diversity during childhood was associated with lower whole-brain MD (-0.001 (95%CI -0.002; -0.000) per 0.12-point increase), with no evidence of mediation by air pollution nor road-traffic noise. Higher percentage of transport and lower surrounding greenness during pregnancy were associated with lower whole-brain FA, and road-traffic noise mediated 19% and 52% of these associations, respectively. We found estimates in the same direction in the PELAGIE cohort, although confidence intervals were larger and included the null. This study suggests an association between urban environment and white matter microstructure, mainly through road-traffic noise, indicating that greater access to green space nearby might promote white matter development

Urban environment during pregnancy and lung function, wheezing, and asthma in school-age children.:The generation R study

The urban environment during pregnancy may influence child's respiratory health, but scarce evidence exists on systematic evaluation of multiple urban exposures (e.g., air pollution, natural spaces, noise, built environment) on children's lung function, wheezing, and asthma development. We aimed to examine the association of the urban environment during pregnancy with lung function, preschool wheezing, and school-age asthma. We included 5624 mother-child pairs participating in a population-based prospective birth cohort. We estimated 30 urban environmental exposures including air pollution, road traffic noise, traffic, green spaces, blue spaces, and built environment during pregnancy. At 10 years of age, lung function was measured by spirometry. Information on preschool wheezing and physician-diagnosed school-age asthma was obtained from multiple questionnaires. We described single-exposure associations with respiratory outcomes using an exposome-wide association study. We also identified patterns of urban exposures with hierarchical clustering on principal components analysis and examined their associations with respiratory outcomes using multivariate regression models. Single-exposure analyses showed associations of higher particulate matter (PM) with lower mid-expiratory flow (FEF25–75%) (e.g., for PM &lt; 2.5 μm of diameter [PM2.5] z-score = −0.06 [-0.09, −0.03]) and higher forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) (e.g., for PM2.5 FEV1 0.05 [0.02, 0.08]) after correction for multiple-hypothesis testing. Cluster analysis described three patterns of urban exposures during pregnancy and showed that the cluster characterised by higher levels of air pollution, noise, walkability, street connectivity, and lower levels of natural spaces were associated with lower FEF25–75% (−0.08 [-0.17, 0.00]), and higher odds of preschool wheezing (1.21 [1.03, 1.43]). This study shows that the characteristics of the urban environment during pregnancy are of relevance to the offspring's respiratory health during childhood.</p