The Switch to Online Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Interplay between Personality and Mental Health on University Students

The switching from traditional to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic was challenging for students, determining an increase in physical and mental health problems. The current paper applied a two-step cluster analysis in a large sample of n = 1028 university students (Mage = 21.10 years, SD = 2.45 years; range: 18–30 years; 78.4% females). Participants responded to an online survey exploring neuroticism, trait/state anxiety, general self-efficacy, academic motivation, fear of COVID-19, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical and mental health, and the help requests. Results showed two significant clusters of students having a Maladaptive Academic Profile (n = 456; 44.4%) or an Adaptive Academic Profile (n = 572; 55.6%). Significant differences were found between the two clusters, where students belonging to the Maladaptive Academic Profile reported higher levels of neuroticism, higher dispositional and situational anxiety, and fear of COVID-19, and lower self-efficacy and academic motivation than students of the Adaptive Academic Profile cluster. In addition, more physical or mental health problems and help requests, mainly to partners during the COVID-19 pandemic, were found in the Maladaptive Academic Profile cluster compared to the Adaptive Academic Profile. Finally, the practical implications of the study’s results in implementing university counseling services as protective measures to contrast psychological distress in the long-term COVID-19 pandemic are discussed

Financial Contagion During Lehman Default and Sovereign Debt Crisis

An Empirical Analysis on Euro Area Bond and Equity Market

Parental Resources in Parents of Children with Special Needs (SNs) at the Time of COVID-19

Background. The limitations imposed by governments for containing the spread of COVID-19 have affected familial relationships, especially those of families dealing with children with special needs or chronic illness conditions. The current study aims to better understand what pathological/disability condition has impacted parental resources, sense of competence, and perception of children's executive functioning the most. Methods. A sample of 648 parents was asked to answer a survey assessing children's condition (typical development, specific learning disorder, autism spectrum syndrome, chronic illness), parental resources, parenting sense of competence (distinguished into parental satisfaction and self-efficacy), and parents' perception of their children's executive functioning. A MANOVA model was performed to assess differences in parental resources, sense of competence, and perception of the children's executive functions according to their condition. A path analysis model was performed to examine the impact of sense of competence and children's condition on parental resources and children's executive functions. Results. Parents with children with specific learning disorder reported lower scores of parental resources in terms of total scores, common antecedents, and specific antecedents compared to parents with typically developed children (total scores: MD = 56.45, p < 0.001; common antecedents: MD = 22.28, p < 0.00; specific antecedents: MD = 34.17, p < 0.001), parents with autistic children (total scores: MD = 62.79, p = 0.01; common antecedents: MD = 24.03, p = 0.01; specific antecedents: MD = 38.76, p = 0.02) and parents of children with chronic illness (total scores: MD = 37.42, p = 0.04; common antecedents: MD = 16.59, p = 0.01). The path analysis model shows a direct effect of parental satisfaction (beta = 0.26) and pathology/disability (beta = -0.10) on parental resources that, in turn, influence parents' perception of their children's executive functioning (beta = 0.24). Conclusion. Although no data about the prepandemic situation is available, the current study highlights that parental stress influence children's cognition. Moreover, parents of children with special needs seemed to be challenged during COVID-19, especially parents of children with specific learning disorders, that are already stressed out by their children's condition. Therefore, academic services should undertake preventive measures to preserve parental well-being and to provide a supportive environment for children, especially for those with atypical development

The mediating role of academic motivation in the relationship between self-efficacy and learning strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions imposed the use of Online Learning (OL) as the preferred tool for delivering school and academic lectures. Despite the flexibility of the OL tool, some features (such as the use of technology, lack of sense of belonging, and Internet connection) could have impacted the academic motivation of university students and their learning strategies. Therefore, the aim of the study is to clarify the role of academic motivation in the relationship between self-efficacy and learning strategies. A sample of 1069 university students (mean age: 21.72 years, SD: 4.05; 78.5% female, 20.9% male) completed self-report questionnaires about self-efficacy, learning strategies, and academic motivation. A mediation model with general SE directly predicting learning strategies considering the type of academic motivation (autonomous or controlling motivation) was run. The results showed that students’ level of academic motivation, as autonomous regulation, mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and learning strategies. Findings highlighted that in a stressful condition like the OL during the COVID-19 pandemic, low levels of self-efficacy could negatively impact strategic learning, especially with a controlled and low-regulated motivational style. Therefore, psychologists should cooperate with educators to implement clinical and psychoeducational programs aimed at fostering students’ self-efficacy

Reduction in grey matter atrophy in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis following treatment with cladribine tablets

Background and purpose Measures of atrophy in the whole brain can be used to reliably assess treatment effect in clinical trials of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Trials assessing the effect of treatment on grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) atrophy are very informative, but hindered by technical limitations. This study aimed to measure GM and WM volume changes, using a robust longitudinal method, in patients with relapsing MS randomized to cladribine tablets 3.5 mg/kg or placebo in the CLARITY study. Methods We analysed T1-weighted magnetic resonance sequences using SIENA-XL, from 0 to 6 months (cladribine, n = 267; placebo, n = 265) and 6 to 24 months (cladribine, n = 184; placebo, n = 186). Mean percentage GM and WM volume changes (PGMVC and PWMVC) were compared using a mixed-effect model. Results More GM and WM volume loss was found in patients taking cladribine versus those taking placebo in the first 6 months of treatment (PGMVC: cladribine: -0.53 vs. placebo: -0.25 [p = 0.045]; PWMVC: cladribine: -0.49 vs. placebo: -0.34 [p = 0.137]), probably due to pseudoatrophy. However, over the period 6 to 24 months, GM volume loss was significantly lower in patients on cladribine than in those on placebo (PGMVC: cladribine: -0.90 vs. placebo: -1.27 [p = 0.026]). In this period, volume changes in WM were similar in the two treatment arms (p = 0.52). Conclusions After a short period of pseudoatrophy, treatment with cladribine 3.5 mg/kg significantly reduced GM atrophy in comparison with placebo. This supports the relevance of GM damage in MS and may have important implications for physical and cognitive disability progression. © 2022 The Authors

Protein Hydrolysate Combined with Hydroponics Divergently Modifies Growth and Shuffles Pigments and Free Amino Acids of Carrot and Dill Microgreens

Microgreens are the new sophisticated commodity in horticulture that boost the human diet with bioactive metabolites and garnish it with colors and tastes. Microgreens thrive well when cultivated in soilless systems, of which closed-loop soilless systems combined with biostimulant application can provide a sustainable, innovative method of growing microgreens. Daucus carota L. and Anethum graveolens L. microgreens were grown in greenhouse conditions implementing a floating raft system combined with a protein hydrolysate of leguminous origin as root application (0.3 mL L−1 nutrient solution). Growth, colorimetric parameters, macronutrients, chlorophylls, carotenoids, carbohydrates, free amino acids, and soluble proteins were assessed. The use of a protein hydrolysate in the nutrient solution engendered an increase in anthocyanins (+461.7%) and total phenols (+12.4%) in carrot, while in dill, the fresh yield (+13.5%) and ascorbic acid (+17.2%) increased. In both species, soluble proteins and total free amino acids increased by 20.6% and 18.5%, respectively. The floating raft system proved to be promising for microgreens and can ease the application of biostimulants through root application. Future research should also investigate the yield and nutritional parameter responses of other species of microgreens with the aim of large-scale sustainable production

Expeditious damage index for arched structures based on dynamic identification testing

This paper presents a new damage detection index for arched structures, which can easily and quickly provide an estimate of their integrity. The results from eight laboratory tests performed on both reinforced and unreinforced adobe arches are used to define the index. The arches are damaged up to collapse using pseudo-static test cycles carried out by applying progressive controlled displacements at third span. The test records allow to follow the stiffness degradation of each arch by plotting the relative force-displacement curves, as well as to track their frequencies variation during the damage evolution by means of dynamic identification tests performed at the end of each cycle. The new index considers the bending moment as the main cause of damage for the analysed arches; therefore, starting from the bending stiffness, a damage indicator was developed and experimentally validated, as function of the frequency reduction, respect to the undamaged scenario. Finally, the index is also validated for diferente types of arch collapse mechanisms through Finite Element Modeling.(undefined

Cannabidiol in the acute phase of febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES)

Febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES) is a prolonged refractory status epilepticus (SE) that develops among healthy individuals after a febrile infection. FIRES treatment is challenging due to its poor response to antiseizure medications (ASMs) and anesthetic drugs. The use of cannabidiol (CBD) as an adjunctive treatment has been suggested, albeit data about its role in the acute phase is lacking. This report describes the use of purified CBD in the acute phase of two pediatric cases of FIRES and their long-term outcome. Both children were treated with several ASMs, immunomodulators, anesthetics, and nonpharmacological treatment (ketogenic diet). CBD was administered, as an adjunctive treatment, through nasogastric tube about 30 days after onset. SE resolved within 3 days of reaching the target dose and both were seizure-free for 1 year after. Although it is difficult to define the extent to which each previous therapy contributed to recovery, in both cases CBD therapy was a turning point, reinforcing its potential role as add-on treatment in the acute phase of FIRES

Nutrient Solution Deprivation as a Tool to Improve Hydroponics Sustainability: Yield, Physiological, and Qualitative Response of Lettuce

Hydroponics growing systems often contain excessive nutrients (especially nitrates), which could lead to a quality loss in ready-to-eat leafy vegetables and posing a health risk to consumers, if managed inadequately. A floating raft system was adopted to assay the production and quality performance of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv ‘Maravilla De Verano Canasta’) deprived of the nutrient solution by replacement with only water, three and six days before harvest. Yield and quality parameters, mineral composition, pigments, organic acids, amino acids profile, soluble proteins, and carbohydrate content were determined. Nutrient solution deprivation six days before harvest resulted in a significant reduction in leaf nitrate (−53.3%) concomitant with 13.8% of yield loss, while plants deprived of nutrient solution three days before harvest increased total phenols content (32.5%) and total ascorbic acid (102.1%), antioxidant activity (82.7%), anthocyanins (7.9%), sucrose (38.9%), starch (19.5%), and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA; 28.2%), with a yield reduction of 4.7%, compared to the control. Our results suggest that nutrient solution deprivation three days before harvest is a successful strategy to reduce nitrate content and increase the nutritional quality of lettuce grown in floating raft systems with negligible impact on yield. These promising results warrant further investigation of the potential effect of nutrient solution deprivation on the quality attributes of other leafy vegetables cultivated in floating raft systems and in a “cascade” growing system

Evolution from a first clinical demyelinating event to multiple sclerosis in the REFLEX trial: Regional susceptibility in the conversion to multiple sclerosis at disease onset and its amenability to subcutaneous interferon beta-1a

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In the REFLEX trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00404352), patients with a first clinical demyelinating event (FCDE) displayed significantly delayed onset of multiple sclerosis (MS; McDonald criteria) when treated with subcutaneous interferon β-1a (scIFNβ-1a) versus placebo. This post hoc analysis evaluated the effect of scIFNβ-1a on spatio-temporal evolution of disease activity, assessed by changes in T2 lesion distribution, in specific brain regions of such patients and its relationship with conversion to MS. METHODS: Post hoc analysis of baseline and 24-month MRI data from FCDE patients who received scIFNβ-1a 44 μg once or three times weekly, or placebo in the REFLEX trial. Patients were grouped according to McDonald MS status (converter/non-converter) or treatment (scIFNβ-1a/placebo). For each patient group, a baseline lesion probability map (LPM) and longitudinal new/enlarging and shrinking/disappearing LPMs were created. Lesion location/frequency of lesion occurrence were assessed in the white matter (WM). RESULTS: At Month 24, lesion frequency was significantly higher in the anterior thalamic radiation (ATR) and corticospinal tract (CST) of converters versus non-converters (p<0.05). Additionally, the overall distribution of new/enlarging lesions across the brain at Month 24 was similar in placebo- and scIFNβ-1a-treated patients (ratio: 0.95). Patients treated with scIFNβ-1a versus placebo showed significantly lower new lesion frequency in specific brain regions (cluster corrected): ATR (p=0.025), superior longitudinal fasciculus (p=0.042), CST (p=0.048), and inferior longitudinal fasciculus (p=0.048). CONCLUSIONS: T2 lesion distribution in specific brain locations predict conversion to McDonald MS and show significantly reduced new lesion occurrence after treatment with scIFNβ-1a in an FCDE population