The Clinical Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Treatments for Alcohol and Drugs Use Disorders: A Meta-Analytic Review of Randomized and Nonrandomized Controlled Trials

Introduction: The current study aims to evaluate if and to what extent mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) could promote an incremental effectiveness compared to interventions usually provided in clinical practice to treat Alcohol and Drugs Use Disorders. In line with this aim, we accomplished a meta-analytic review of randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials, considering primary and secondary outcomes that comprehensively operationalize treatment efficacy. Methods: We conducted the online research up to August 31st 2017. Adequate procedures for Cohen's d computation were applied. Heterogeneity indexes, moderators, bias of publication, and Orwin's fail-safe number were also estimated. Results: Thirty-seven studies were included (n = 3,531 patients). We observed null effect sizes for attrition rate and overall mental health. Small effect sizes were detected in abstinence, levels of perceived stress, and avoidance coping strategies. Moderate effect sizes were revealed in anxiety and depressive symptoms. Large effect sizes were associated to levels of perceived craving, negative affectivity, and post-traumatic symptoms. Conclusion: MBIs seemed to show clinically significant advantages compared to other clinical approaches in relation to specific primary and secondary outcomes. Conversely, treatment retention was independent of the therapeutic approach

Accounting and risk special issue: editorial

Editoria

Determinants of financial instruments risk disclosure: An empirical analysis in the banking sector

This study investigates the effects of firm and country factors, considered as determinants of the financial instruments risk disclosure (FIRD) proxied by IFRS 7 in the European banking system. We select 582 banks-year observations based on the largest five European economies (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK) as provided by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Our analysis covers a period of 8 years (2007-2014) and adopts an OLS model. Results show that both firm (the type of auditor, board size and profitability) and country factors (financing environment, regulatory environment, and organizational status) affect FIRD. Limitations for this paper could relate to country selection, as well as on the breadth of the sample. Nevertheless, these aspects could unveil possible areas of future inquiry. The contribution of the study is twofold. It enriches the literature about firm and country determinants on financial instruments risk disclosure, as combined rather than single-standing variables. Yet, it draws the attention of banks' management and investors on what the crucial factors to reach an optimal level of FIRD are and gain the confidence of capital markets, reducing information asymmetries. This is the first empirical investigation on the determinants of FIRD, using IFRS 7, in the European banking sector that adopts firm and country factors in a combined effort

WPSE: Fortifying Web Protocols via Browser-Side Security Monitoring

We present WPSE, a browser-side security monitor for web protocols designed to ensure compliance with the intended protocol flow, as well as confidentiality and integrity properties of messages. We formally prove that WPSE is expressive enough to protect web applications from a wide range of protocol implementation bugs and web attacks. We discuss concrete examples of attacks which can be prevented by WPSE on OAuth 2.0 and SAML 2.0, including a novel attack on the Google implementation of SAML 2.0 which we discovered by formalizing the protocol specification in WPSE. Moreover, we use WPSE to carry out an extensive experimental evaluation of OAuth 2.0 in the wild. Out of 90 tested websites, we identify security flaws in 55 websites (61.1%), including new critical vulnerabilities introduced by tracking libraries such as Facebook Pixel, all of which fixable by WPSE. Finally, we show that WPSE works flawlessly on 83 websites (92.2%), with the 7 compatibility issues being caused by custom implementations deviating from the OAuth 2.0 specification, one of which introducing a critical vulnerability

Dupilumab for Treatment of Prurigo Nodularis: Real-Life Effectiveness for up to 84 Weeks

: (1) background: prurigo nodularis (PN) is a persistent and inflammatory dermatological condition characterized by chronic itching and the formation of hardened nodules, significantly impacting the affected individuals' quality of life and psychological well-being. the management of PN poses challenges due to the limited efficacy and undesirable side effects associated with current interventions. (2) methods: this article examines sixteen patients affected by PN treated with dupilumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin IL-4 and IL-13 signaling. this involves a retrospective descriptive statistical analysis. (3) results and (4) conclusions: In all patients, dupilumab proves to be an effective drug in achieving disease clearance, as indicated by all the parameters considered as assessed by both physicians and patients at each evaluation point (Week 6, Week 16, Week 32, Week 52, Week 68, and Week 84), in comparison to the initial baseline

The antidepressant fluoxetine acts on energy balance and leptin sensitivity via BDNF

Leptin and Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) pathways are critical players in body weight homeostasis. Noninvasive treatments like environmental stimulation are able to increase response to leptin and induce BDNF expression in the brain. Emerging evidences point to the antidepressant selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor Fluoxetine (FLX) as a drug with effects similar to environmental stimulation. FLX is known to impact on body weight, with mechanisms yet to be elucidated. We herein asked whether FLX affects energy balance, the leptin system and BDNF function. Adult lean male mice chronically treated with FLX showed reduced weight gain, higher energy expenditure, increased sensitivity to acute leptin, increased hypothalamic BDNF expression, associated to changes in white adipose tissue expression typical of "brownization". In the Ntrk2tm1Ddg/J model, carrying a mutation in the BDNF receptor Tyrosine kinase B (TrkB), these effects are partially or totally reversed. Wild type obese mice treated with FLX showed reduced weight gain, increased energy output, and differently from untreated obese mice, a preserved acute response to leptin in terms of activation of the intracellular leptin transducer STAT3. In conclusion, FLX impacts on energy balance and induces leptin sensitivity and an intact TrkB function is required for these effects to take place

Financial Versus Sports Performance: The Missing Link

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between the financial and the sports performance of Italian football teams. To achieve this aim, a panel data analysis was performed, using financial statements and data from sports results. The panel dataset covers seven seasons (from 2007–2008 to 2013–2014) and 29 clubs that belong to the Italian "Serie A." The results indicate positive effects between the expenses for football players' salaries and the clubs' sports performance but no significant effects between player transfer fees and sports performance

The Effect of Perceived Corruption on Entrepreneurial Intention: Evidence from Italy

This paper aims to examine the entrepreneurial intention of undergraduate students, using a modified version of Ajzen's theory of planned behavior (TPB), considering the perception of corruption. We conducted a questionnaire survey with Italian students. There were a total of 350 student participants. In order to analyze the data collected with the questionnaire, structural equation modeling is provided. Our results indicate that the majority of students have strong entrepreneurial intention but due to the effect of corruption students are dissuaded from engaging in entrepreneurship. Corruption has a negative effect on students' entrepreneurial behavior. This paper provides a new model that helps to understand the students' entrepreneurial intentions considering the corruption perception