a cross-sectional study

Objective To investigate whether high levels of screen time exposure are associated with self-perceived levels of attention problems and hyperactivity in higher education students. Design Cross-sectional study among participants of the i-Share cohort. Setting French-speaking students of universities and higher education institutions. Participants 4816 graduate students who were at least 18 years old. Exposure Screen time was assessed by self-report of the average time spent on five different screen activities on smartphone, television, computer and tablet and categorised into quartiles. Main outcome measure We used the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) concerning students’ behaviour over the past 6 months to measure self-perceived levels of attention problems and hyperactivity. Responses were summarised into a global score as well as scores for attention problems and hyperactivity. Results The 4816 participants of this study had a mean age of 20.8 years and 75.5% were female. Multivariable ordinary regression models showed significant associations of screen time exposure with quintiles of the total score of self-perceived attention problems and hyperactivity levels as well as the individual domains. Compared to the lowest screen time exposure category, the ORs (95% CI) were 1.58 (1.37 to 1.82) for each increasing level of quintiles of the global score, 1.57 (1.36 to 1.81) for increasing quintiles of attention levels and 1.25 (1.09 to 1.44) for increasing quartiles of hyperactivity. Conclusions Results of this large cross-sectional study among French university and higher education students show dose-dependent associations between screen time and self-perceived levels of attention problems and hyperactivity. Further studies are warranted to evaluate whether interventions could positively influence these associations

Mental Health in Europe: the need for a common language, standard classification criteria and official communication. Four studies about communication in Mental Health.

Tra i principali obiettivi della strategia attuale della Commissione Europea 'Together for Health: A Strategic Approach for the EU 2008-2013' vi \ue8 la necessit\ue0 di produrre e diffondere i prodotti della ricerca in materia di Salute. Comunicare le scoperte scientifiche nel campo della Salute in generale e della Salute Mentale in particolare \ue8 di primaria importanza . Tale processo di comunicazione coinvolge ricercatori e pubblico - inclusi a) specialisti e personale medico , b ) policy-makers, c ) giornalisti, e d ) pubblico in generale - e in realt\ue0 questo \ue8 uno dei principali compiti dei ricercatori di oggi. Una comunicazione efficace della ricerca sulla Salute Mentale pu\uf2 proteggere il pubblico da ogni forma di stigmatizzazione, rovesciare preconcetti e influenzare le politiche pubbliche portando a ulteriori progressi e applicazioni cliniche. Attraverso quattro studi si riflette sul ruolo della comunicazione e delle sue diverse sfaccettature nella ricerca in Salute Mentale. L\u2019obiettivo \ue8 di capire quali strategie di comunicazione devono essere adottate in Salute Mentale e per le quali sfide . Nello Studio 1, viene analizzato lo strumento REMAST per il progetto REFINEMENT come esempio di classificazione e standardizzazione dei servizi di salute mentale in 9 paesi europei: Italia, Austria, Francia, Inghilterra, Spagna, Norvegia, Finlandia, Estonia e Romania. Nello Studio 2, il glossario prodotto dal progetto REFINEMENT viene presentato come esempio di uno strumento multilingue per promuovere un linguaggio comune per il confronto tra i servizi di Salute Mentale. Nello Studio 3 viene descritto il sondaggio sull'utilizzo di Internet per la ricerca di informazioni sulla Salute Mentale da parte degli adolescenti francesi che utilizzano il sito web Fil Sant\ue9 Jeunes. Infine, lo Studio 4 propone il questionario e-MentH, uno studio multicentrico (Francia, Irlanda, Italia, Spagna) sull'uso da parte dei giovani universitari di Internet per la ricerca di informazioni e supporto sui problemi di Salute Mentale. La standardizzazione e gli strumenti di classificazione per la valutazione dei servizi di Salute Mentale, una terminologia comune per il confronto di diversi sistemi di Salute Mentale e un'analisi esaustiva dell\u2019utilizzo di Internet per informarsi e ricevere consigli sulla Salute Mentale: questi sono tutti aspetti del ruolo fondamentale degli studi di comunicazione in Salute Mentale.Among the main objectives of the European Commission's current strategy 'Together for Health: A Strategic Approach for the EU 2008-2013' there is the need to produce and distribute Health knowledge. Communicating scientific findings in the domain of Health in general and of Mental Health in particular is then crucial. Such a communication process involves researchers and general audience -including a) peers and medical staff, b) policymakers, c) journalists and d) general public - and it is actually the main job of scientists today. Effective communication of Mental Health research can protect the public from being misled and from any form of stigmatization, overthrow previous misinformed beliefs, influence public policy and lead to further progress and clinical applications. Through 4 studies we reflect upon the role of communication and its different facets in Mental Health research trying to understand which communication strategies should be adopted in Mental Health and for which challenges. In the STUDY 1 the REMAST toolkit for the REFINEMENT project is analysed as an example of classification and standards for Mental Health services in 9 European countries: Italy, Austria, France, England, Spain, Norway, Finland, Estonia and Romania. In the STUDY 2 the REFINEMENT Glossary is provided as an example of a multilingual tool to promote a common language for comparisons among Mental Health services. In the STUDY 3 we describe the survey on the usage of the Internet for Mental Health information seeking in French teenagers using the Fil Sant\ue9 Jeunes website. Finally the STUDY 4 proposes the E-MentH Questionnaire, a multicenter study (France, Ireland, Italy, Spain) on young peoples\u2019 usage and views on using the Internet for seeking information and support on Mental Health problems. Standardazing and classification tools for evaluating Mental Health Services, a common terminology when comparing different Mental Health systems and an exhaustive analysis of the usage of Internet for Mental Health information and advice are all aspects of the essential role of Communication studies in Mental Health

Efficacy of an online video to promote health insurance literacy among students

This study describes the production and evaluation of an online video explaining health insurance functioning to university students in France. The video was produced by a multidisciplinary team following a design thinking approach. A qualitative evaluation was performed using semi-structured interviews with 30 students. Results showed that, after watching the video, students had remarkably improved their knowledge and obtained clear information on health insurance functioning. This study underscores the importance of using innovative digital communication tools to efficaciously promote health insurance literacy

S5 1803+78 Revisited

We report on our optical monitoring of the BL Lac object S5 1803+78 from 1996 to 2011. The source showed no clear periodicity, but a time scale of about 1 300 days between major flares is possibly present. No systematic trend of the color index with flux variations is evident, at variance with other BL Lacs. In one flare, however, the source was bluer in the rising phase and redder in the falling one. Two ?-ray flares were detected by Fermi-GST during our monitoring: on the occasion of only one of them we found simultaneous optical brightening. A one-zone Synchrotron Self Compton (SSC) model appears too simple to explain the source behavior

3D Reconstruction with Low Resolution, Small Baseline and High Radial Distortion Stereo Images

In this paper we analyze and compare approaches for 3D reconstruction from low-resolution (250x250), high radial distortion stereo images, which are acquired with small baseline (approximately 1mm). These images are acquired with the system NanEye Stereo manufactured by CMOSIS/AWAIBA. These stereo cameras have also small apertures, which means that high levels of illumination are required. The goal was to develop an approach yielding accurate reconstructions, with a low computational cost, i.e., avoiding non-linear numerical optimization algorithms. In particular we focused on the analysis and comparison of radial distortion models. To perform the analysis and comparison, we defined a baseline method based on available software and methods, such as the Bouguet toolbox [2] or the Computer Vision Toolbox from Matlab. The approaches tested were based on the use of the polynomial model of radial distortion, and on the application of the division model. The issue of the center of distortion was also addressed within the framework of the application of the division model. We concluded that the division model with a single radial distortion parameter has limitations

Variability Modes of Blazars from Intensive Optical Monitoring

We report the main results of our six year long intensive optical monitoring on blazars ON 231 (W Com), BL Lac, and 3C 273. Intensive optical monitoring is an indispensable tool to obtain well sampled light curves and thus to understand the correlation with the variability in other bands and to discriminate among the proposed emission models. The curves based on our work show different variability modes: intermittent mode, quasi-regular mode and mixed mode. It is not clear if different variability modes can be present, at various times, in the life of an object suggesting that their occurrence can be related to the evolution of blazars. An optimized and nearly continuous optical monitoring is the only way to know the activity status of the sources and to retrieve useful information on their physical dynamics. Also, the rapid availability of information about the luminosity of a source is very important to trigger space based observations and to activate large multifrequency collaborations. We stress that a significant sample of blazars can be observed with small size telescopes (0.35-0.80 cm) equipped with CCD cameras. A world-wide network of several instruments in different countries, is very useful to increase the time coverage and to reduce the number of nights lost for bad meteorological conditions.Comment: Paper submitted to the AIP Conference Proceedings "High Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy" - Conf. Proc. of the gamma-2000 symposium held in Heidelberg. 4 pages, doc format source (AIP Proc.), 1 gif figur

Transcription factor GATA6 and ISC gene SMOC2 in the regulation of BMP pathway in intestinal adenoma

The first chapter identifies the transcription factor GATA6 as negative regulator of a transcriptional circuit dedicated to prevent the expansion of Adenoma Stem Cells (AdSCs) during the onset of colorectal cancer (CRC). In particular, we show that GATA6 directly activates the expression of the WNT pathway component LGR5 and represses BMP levels in adenoma by competing with the β-catenin/TCF4 complex for the binding to BMP4 enhancer regions. As a result of this mechanism, two compartments are established within an adenoma: a BMP positive differentiated cell zone and a BMP negative undifferentiated cell zone, where AdSCs reside. Genetic deletion of Gata6 increases BMP levels in the AdSC compartment, inhibiting self-renewal and intestinal tumorigenesis. These findings represent a key contribution to understand the mechanisms that regulate tumor hierarchy and reveal for the first time the existence of a niche that protects AdSCs from BMP signals. The second chapter focuses on the functional characterization of Smoc2, a novel Intestinal Stem Cell (ISC) gene. We generated genetic mouse models in order to overexpress or ablate Smoc2 in the intestine. We found that SMOC2 acts as a BMP inhibitor in the intestine and that it is not only restricted to epithelial Stem Cells (SCs) but it is also expressed by the stroma. Although it is dispensable for normal ISC maintenance and intestinal homeostasis, high levels of SMOC2 are required for tumorigenesis. Indeed, Smoc2 overexpression leads to spontaneous development of hamartomas and enhances adenoma formation in mice with an Apc mutant background; inversely, Smoc2 deficiency decreases tumorigenesis and prolongs survival of Apc mutant mice. In particular, we observed that SMOC2-mediated BMP inhibition positively affects Insulin-like Growth Factor (Igf1) expression in adenoma endothelial cells (ECs). Our data suggest that SMOC2 could enhance tumor-associated inflammation through BMP-mediated Igf1 regulation in the stroma.El primer capítulo describe la identificación del factor de transcripción GATA6 como regulador negativo de un circuito transcripcional fisiológico dedicado a reprimir la expansión de las células madre de los adenomas (Adenoma Stem Cells o AdSCs) en el inicio de la tumorogénesis colorrectal. De manera específica, mostramos como el factor GATA6 activa directamente la expresión del componente de la ruta de WNT, LGR5, y también directamente reprime niveles de hormona BMP (Bone Morphogenetic Protein) a través de la competición directa con el complejo beta-catenina-TCF4 por la unión a regiones enhancer del gen BMP4. Como resultado de este circuito transcripcional que hemos descubierto, en los adenomas se generan dos compartimentos, una zona positiva para la señalización mediada por BMP que contiene las células diferenciadas de los adenomas, y un área negativa para BMP, donde residen y se expanden las AdSCs. La ablación genética de Gata6 incrementa los niveles de BMPs en el compartimento de las AdSCs, inhibiendo la autorenovación de las mismas y por ende la tumorogénesis. Este descubrimiento representa una aportación clave para entender los mecanismos que regulan la jerarquía tumoral y revelan por primera vez la existencia de un nicho que protege las AdSCs de las señales de BMP. El segundo capítulo describe la caracterización funcional de Smoc2, uno de los genes identificados en el laboratorio dentro del programa genético específico de las células madre del intestino (Intestinal Stem Cells o ISCs). Durante el transcurso de la tesi

Striving for optimal bronchodilation: focus on olodaterol

β2-agonists were introduced in the 1940s as bronchodilators to be used in obstructive respiratory diseases. Long-acting β2-agonists have been a mainstay of bronchodilating treatment for decades. Recently, agents extending their effect to 24 hours and thus allowing the once-daily administration were introduced, defined as very-long-acting β2-agonists. Olodaterol is a new very-long-acting β2-agonist that has been shown, in controlled trials, to improve lung function as well as clinical outcomes and quality of life. Most of these trials included patients with moderate, severe, or very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Olodaterol has a rapid onset of action (comparable to formoterol) and provides bronchodilation over 24 hours. In controlled trials, olodaterol was shown to be as effective as formoterol twice daily, but significantly superior in terms of quality of life in patients with COPD. The safety profile of olodaterol was very good, with a rate of adverse events, including the cardiac events that are particularly important for β2-agonists, comparable to placebo. Also, the efficiency of the Respimat® device concurs to the effectiveness of treatment

The Intra-Night Optical Variability of the bright BL Lac object S5 0716+714

We address the topic of the Intra-Night Optical Variability of the BL Lac object S5 0716+714. To this purpose a long term observational campaign was performed, from 1996 to 2003, which allowed the collection of a very large data set, containing 10,675 photometric measurements obtained in 102 nights. The source brightness varied in a range of about 2 mag, although the majority of observations were performed when it was in the range 13.0 < R < 13.75. Variability time scales were estimated from the rates of magnitude variation, which were found to have a distribution function well fitted by an exponential law with a mean value of 0.027 mag/h, corresponding to an e-folding time scale of the flux tau_F = 37.6 h. The highest rates of magnitude variation were around 0.10--0.12 mag/h and lasted less than 2 h. These rates were observed only when the source had an R magnitude < 13.4, but this finding cannot be considered significant because of the low statistical occurrence. The distribution of tau_F has a well defined modal value at 19 h. Assuming the recent estimate of the beaming factor delta about 20, we derived a typical size of the emitting region of about 5 times 10^{16}/(1 + z) cm. The possibility to search for a possible correlation between the mean magnitude variation rate and the long term changes of the velocity of superluminal components in the jet is discussed.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, accepted for Astronomy and Astrophysic