A three-wave longitudinal study on the underlying metacognitive mechanism between depression and Internet gaming disorder

AbstractBackground and aims: Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and depression have negative consequences on individuals' mental health, but their relationships are complex. This three-wave longitudinal study aimed to detect the metacognitive mechanisms underlying the association between IGD tendency and depression based on the self-regulatory executive function model. Methods: A total of 1,243 Chinese undergraduate student gamers (57% female, M = 19.77, SD = 1.29) were recruited at the baseline survey (Wave 1 [W1]), with 622 and 574 of them taking part in the two follow-up surveys (Wave 2 [W2] at 6 and Wave 3 [W3] at 12 months later), respectively. Results: The three-wave path model demonstrated, after controlling for the autoregressive effect of each variable, that depression consistently predicted IGD tendency but not vice versa, while negative but not positive metacognitions about online gaming (MOG) significantly predicted both depression and IGD tendency. Moreover, two statistically significant mediation paths: (i) negative MOG [W1] → depression [W2] → IGD tendency [W3]; and (ii) depression [W1] → negative MOG [W2] → IGD tendency [W3] were identified. Discussion and conclusions: These findings extend the understanding of the associations among depression, IGD tendency, and MOG, highlighting how negative MOG has a stronger prospective effect than positive MOG on depression and IGD tendency, and also reveal the mutual mediation effects of depression and negative MOG on IGD tendency. Integrated programmes with both emotional regulation training and Metacognitive Therapy are recommended for IGD treatment

Biotic and abiotic factors affecting the microbiota of Chrysomelidae inhabiting wetland vegetation

A subject of particular interest concerns the understanding of which biotic and/or abiotic factors shape the insect’s microbiota composition and diversity. In this study, we focus our attention on the microbiota associated with leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) inhabiting a freshwater wetland in Northern Italy for investigating which factors shape it in this peculiar environment. A DNA metabarcoding approach targeting the 16S rRNA has been used to characterize the bacteria associated with seven leaf beetles species living in different zones of the wetland (trees/shrubs, meadow and emergent vegetation zones). The obtained results suggest that three factors potentially affecting microbiota diversity and composition are species membership in the first place, then living zone in the wetland and sex. Within the studied species, males were found possibly more prone to acquire bacteria from the surrounding environment, while females’ microbiota of most of the species resulted dominated by symbiotic bacteria (reproductive manipulators, e.g. Wolbachia, or other symbionts with functional roles in the species, e.g. Candidatus Macropleicola in Donacia genus). The present study, even if based on a limited sample size, contributed to exploring the factors affecting the composition and diversity of bacteria associated with Chrysomelidae

Post glacial readjustment, sea level variations, subsidence and erosion along the Italian coasts

Ongoing sea level variations and vertical land movements measured by tide gauges and continuous GPS stations along the Italian coasts stem from several factors acting on different spatiotemporal scales. Conversely to tectonics and anthropogenic effects, which are characterized by a heterogeneous signal, the adjustment of solid Earth and geoid to the melting of the late– Pleistocene ice sheets results in a smooth long–wavelength pattern of sea level variation and vertical deformation across the Mediterranean, mostly driven by the melt water load added to the basin. In this work we define upper and lower bounds of the effects of glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) on current sea level variations and vertical ground movements along the coasts of Italy. For plausible mantle viscosity profiles we explore to what extent the spatial variability of observed rates may be attributed to delayed isostatic recovery of both solid Earth and geoid. In addition, we show that long–wavelength patterns of sea level change are tuned by the effects of GIA, and that coastal retreat in Italy is broadly correlated with the expected ongoing rates of post–glacial sea level variations

Crustal Velocity Structure in Italy from Analysis of Regional Seismic Waveforms

In this paper, we use regional seismic waveforms recorded by the recently-installed Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) national network and the Mediterranean Very Broadband Seismographic Network (MedNet) stations to develop one-dimensional (1-D) crustal velocity models for the Italian peninsula. About 55,000 P -wave and 35,000 S -wave arrival times from 4,727 events are used to derive average seismic parameters in the crust and uppermost mantle. We define four regions, according to geological constraints and recent travel-time tomography results. Based on the average seismic parameters, we combine broadband seismic waveforms and travel-times of regional phases to model crustal structures for the four regions by applying the genetic algorithm. Our results indicate smooth velocity gradients with depth beneath the Apennines, and a deep Moho beneath the central Alps. Green’s functions from the regionalized 1-D velocity models are used to determine source depths and focal mechanisms for 37 events with magnitude larger than 3.5 by a grid search technique. Our results show that normal and strike-slip faulting source mechanisms dominate the Apenninic belt and most thrust faulting events occur in the Adriatic sea and the outer margin of the northern Apennines

Advanced 3D “Modeling” and “Printing” for the Surgical Planning of a Successful Case of Thoraco-Omphalopagus Conjoined Twins Separation

The surgical separation of two Conjoined Twins is a particularly complex operation. Surgical times are particularly long and post-operative complications are very frequent in this type of procedure. We report a clinical case of surgical separation of two thoraco-omphalopagus conjoined twins in which, thanks to the use of (3D) three dimensional technologies, we were able to significantly reduce operative times and improve clinical outcomes

Self-Expandable Metal Stent for Closure of a Large Leak after Total Gastrectomy

In recent years, self-expandable metallic stents (SEMSs) have emerged as a promising treatment alternative for the bridging and sealing of esophageal perforations and extensive anastomotic leaks after esophageal resection or total gastrectomy. A 56-year-old woman underwent a total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y end-to-side esophagojejunostomy for a gastric signet ring cell carcinoma. Ten days later, esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed a 2 cm fistula in the distal end of the Roux limb of the anastomosis. This was confirmed by gastrografin esophagography. The patient was started on total parenteral nutrition. Having deemed clipping treatment for this fistula unfeasible, we decided to insert a partially silicone-coated SEMS (Evolution Controlled Release Esophageal Stent System, Cook Medical, Winston-Salem, N.C., USA). The stent was removed after ten days. Gastrografin esophagography showed no further contrast extravasation, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed closure of the fistula. No clinical complications were observed, and the patient was able to start normal per os nutrition. In conclusion, the treatment of symptomatic leaks in patients who have undergone esophagojejunostomy is challenging, and leakage from the jejunal stump can be a potentially serious complication. In the treatment of leakage after total gastrectomy, plastic stents (which are either too light or exercise too little radial force) and totally covered metallic stents may not adhere sufficiently to the esophagojeujunal walls and, as a result, migrate beyond the anastomosis. The promising results of this report suggest that early stenting, using a partially silicone-coated SEMS, is a feasible alternative to surgical treatment in this category of patients

Modulatory effect of nicotinic acid on the metabolism of Caco-2 cells exposed to IL-1β and LPS

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are the most common gastrointestinal inflammatory pathologies. Previous work evidenced a lower content of nicotinic acid (NA) in feces of IBD patients compared to healthy subjects. In the present study, we aimed to understand the effects of NA on intestinal inflammation, as several studies reported its possible beneficial effect, and investigate its influence on inflammation-driven metabolism. NA was tested on a Caco-2 in-vitro model in which inflammation was induced with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), two mayor proinflammatory compounds produced in IBD, that stimulate the production of cytokines, such as interleukin 8. A metabolomics approach, with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and nuclear proton magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), was applied to study the metabolic changes. The results showed that NA significantly reduced the level of IL-8 produced in both LPS and IL-1β stimulated cells, confirming the anti-inflammatory effect of NA also on intestinal inflammation. Moreover, it was demonstrated that NA treatment had a restoring effect on several metabolites whose levels were modified by treatments with IL-1β or LPS. This study points out a possible use of NA as anti-inflammatory compound and might be considered as a promising starting point in understanding the beneficial effect of NA in IBD

Comparison of cross-matching method for detection of DEA 7 blood incompatibility

We compared 3 major cross-match (XM) tests to identify dog erythrocyte antigen (DEA) 7 blood incompatibilities in dogs as a result of anti\u2013DEA 7 antibodies: gel (GEL), standard tube (TUBE) agglutination, and immunochromatography strips (STRIP). Blood samples from 42 dogs were typed for DEA 7; 2 tested DEA 7\u2013positive (DEA 7+). The 40 DEA 7\u2013negative (DEA 7\u2013) plasma samples were cross-matched against the 2 DEA 7+ and 3 DEA 7\u2013 red blood cell (RBC) samples by GEL to identify samples with anti\u2013DEA 7 antibodies. Twenty DEA 7\u2013 plasma samples without and with anti\u2013DEA 7 antibodies were cross-matched with samples of the 2 DEA 7+ RBCs in a double-blind fashion using the TUBE and STRIP XM methods. GEL results were used as the reference method for comparison. To determine relationships between results, 2 7 2 tables were used. Cohen kappa coefficient (\u3ba) was calculated between results of GEL and the other 2 methods. With GEL, 21 of 40 XM tests were positive and 19 of 40 negative for anti\u2013DEA 7 antibodies. The same results were obtained by TUBE, whereas only 1 of 40 XM tests was positive by STRIP. There was a statistically significant relationship between results of GEL and TUBE (p < 0.000) with perfect agreement (\u3ba = 1.000), but not between GEL and STRIP results (p = 1.000) in which agreement was equivalent to chance (\u3ba = 0.0453). The GEL and TUBE XM tests, but not STRIP, are useful methods for identification of DEA 7 incompatibilities caused by anti\u2013DEA 7 antibodies