Getting better acquainted with Auditory Voice Hallucinations (AVHs): A need for clinical and social change

The phenomenon of hearing voices (AVHs) is very much a subject of current scientific interest, both clinically1 and socially. For a long time, auditory hallucinations—perceiving sounds without external stimuli (David, 2004)—were considered an obvious sign of schizophrenic or psychotic psychopathology (Goodwin et al., 1971; Larøi et al., 2012), but these days such an association is no longer taken for granted. Various recent studies in the areas of psychology, psychiatry, and neuroscience have brought a renewal of interest in AVHs. First of all, the move beyond Kraepelinian logic (van Os, 2009; Fusar-Poli et al., 2014) has led us to see AVHs as a phenomenon in their own right, and not just a characteristic of schizophrenia (Fernyhough, 2004). Furthermore, a number of studies in imaging techniques have allowed us to study the phenomenon live, as it occurs, collecting various new data (Shergill et al., 2000). On the other hand, psychological studies with attempts at modeling, have boosted the idea that AVHs are linked to the linguistic and verbal qualities of the subject, thus reducing the association between voice hallucinations and signs of pathology (Johns and van Os, 2001; Pearson et al., 2001; Stanghellini and Cutting, 2003). Other researchers have theorized that hearing voices is a different manifestation of self-awareness (Salvini and Bottini, 2011; Salvini and Quarato, 2011). Even DSM-5 has modified the importance it attaches to hallucinations, in fact although the 4th edition diagnosed “schizophrenia” simply on the basis of the symptom “hallucinations,” in the new edition hallucinations on their own are not considered a sufficient symptom to diagnose the specter of schizophrenia” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Many of those suffering from this condition are not under treatment and are not diagnosable in psychopathological terms, which asks ever more questions of health professionals (Iudici, 2015), and which brings with it the risk that the phenomenon of hearing voices may be considered pathological because of a lack of understanding of the problem. One direct implication of this risk concerns non-psychotic and non-schizophrenic hearers of voices who are afraid of being considered mad or disturbed, who very often live in fear for years without talking about it with anyone, although realizing that hearing voices causes no general maladjustment in their lives (Andrew et al., 2008). In the long term this can lead to feelings of alarm in some of them, and when such situations result in a visit to a clinic or a psychiatrist, there are often “suffering and conflicted confessions” about such experiences, especially by people who have never had psychiatric experience (Iudici and Gagliardo Corsi, 2017). These people consequently do not have appropriate information to help them understand their experiences (Faccio et al., 2013). This fact raises further doubts about the direct juxtaposition of auditory hallucinations and diagnoses of mental disturbance, and consequently our interest is in sensitizing clinicians to a broader interpretation of the phenomenon than the traditional view, highlighting the importance of considering more perspectives

Terapia aereosolica con adrenalina nelle reazioni allergiche in corso di desensibilizzazione orale al latte

2007/2008206 bambini, allergici al latte vaccino, sono stati sottoposti a desensibilizzazione orale per il latte vaccino. Di questi 86 hanno presentato uno o più episodi di reazione allergica trattati con aereosol di adrenalina, con un totale di 129 reazioni trattate. Solo a 5 bambini, dopo aver effettuato un aereosol con adrenalina, è stata somministrata adrenalina per via intramuscolare.XXI Cicl

A study on the impact of AL-FEC techniques on TV over IP Quality of Experience

Abstract In this contribution, an evaluation of the effectiveness of Application Layer-Forward Error Correction (AL-FEC) scheme in video communications over unreliable channels is presented. In literature, several AL-FEC techniques for reducing the effect of noisy transmission on multimedia communication have been adopted. Recently, their use has been proposed for inclusion in TV over IP broadcasting international standards. The objective of the analysis performed in this paper is to verify the effectiveness of AL-FEC techniques in terms of perceived Quality of Service (QoS) and more in general of Quality of Experience (QoE), and to evaluate the trade-off between AL-FEC redundancy and video quality degradation for a given packet loss ratio. To this goal, several channel error models are investigated (random i.i.d. losses, burst losses, and network congestions) on test sequences encoded at 2 and 4 Mbps. The perceived quality is evaluated by means of three quality metrics: the full-reference objective quality metric NTIA-VQM combined with the ITU-T Rec. G.1070, the full-reference DMOS-KPN metric, and the pixel-wise error comparison performed by using the PSNR distortion measure. A post-processing synchronization between the original and the reconstructed stream has also been designed for improving the fidelity of the performed quality measures. The experimental results show the effectiveness and the limits of the Application Layer protection schemes

A study on the impact of AL-FEC techniques on TV over IP Quality of Experience

Abstract In this contribution, an evaluation of the effectiveness of Application Layer-Forward Error Correction (AL-FEC) scheme in video communications over unreliable channels is presented. In literature, several AL-FEC techniques for reducing the effect of noisy transmission on multimedia communication have been adopted. Recently, their use has been proposed for inclusion in TV over IP broadcasting international standards. The objective of the analysis performed in this paper is to verify the effectiveness of AL-FEC techniques in terms of perceived Quality of Service (QoS) and more in general of Quality of Experience (QoE), and to evaluate the trade-off between AL-FEC redundancy and video quality degradation for a given packet loss ratio. To this goal, several channel error models are investigated (random i.i.d. losses, burst losses, and network congestions) on test sequences encoded at 2 and 4 Mbps. The perceived quality is evaluated by means of three quality metrics: the full-reference objective quality metric NTIA-VQM combined with the ITU-T Rec. G.1070, the full-reference DMOS-KPN metric, and the pixel-wise error comparison performed by using the PSNR distortion measure. A post-processing synchronization between the original and the reconstructed stream has also been designed for improving the fidelity of the performed quality measures. The experimental results show the effectiveness and the limits of the Application Layer protection schemes

H2 detection mechanism in chemoresistive sensor based on low-cost synthesized WO3 nanorods

Abstract Nanostructured WO3 represents a promising material for fast and reliable molecular hydrogen detection through chemo-resistive effect. Here, an extended experimental investigation of WO3-H2 interaction is presented and modeled. A powder of WO3 nanorods (400 nm long, 50 nm large) is produced by hydrothermal technique and drop casted on Pt interdigitated electrode. H2 sensing tests at different concentrations (2000–50,000 ppm) and temperatures (250–400 °C) are reported. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction analysis (XRD), and electrical measurements were performed. The response and recovery kinetics of H2 sensing are carefully described by using a two-isotherms Langmuir model, and kinetics barriers for WO3-H2 interaction are evaluated. Two microscopic processes lead to gas detection. A fast process (shorter than 4 s) is attributed to H2 interaction with adsorbed oxygen at WO3 nanorods surface. A slow process (20–1000 s), with activation energy of 0.46 eV, is attributed to oxygen vacancy generation in WO3. H intercalation in WO3 is ruled out. The recovery of WO3 after H2 exposure is also modeled. The chemo-resistive effect leading to H2 sensing by WO3 is explained through the above processes, whose kinetic barriers have been quantified. These data open the route for the development of fast, sensitive, and low-temperature operating H2 sensors based on WO3

The ecological footprint accounting of products: when larger is not worse

One of the main goals of any (sustainability) indicator should be the communication of a clear, unambiguous, and simplified message about the status of the analyzed system. The selected indicator is expected to declare explicitly how its numerical value depicts a situation, for example, positive or negative, sustainable or unsustainable, especially when a comparison among similar or competitive systems is performed. This aspect should be a primary and discriminating issue when the selection of a set of opportune indicators is operated. The Ecological Footprint (EF) has become one of the most popular and widely used sustainability indicators. It is a resource accounting method with an area based metric in which the units of measure are global hectares or hectares with world average bio-productivity. Its main goal is to underline the link between the (un)sustainability level of a product, a system, an activity or a population life style, with the land demand for providing goods, energy, and ecological services needed to sustain that product, system, activity, or population. Therefore, the traditional rationale behind the message of EF is: the larger EF value, the larger environmental impact in terms of resources use, the lower position in the sustainability rank. The aim of this paper was to investigate if this rationale is everywhere opportune and unambiguous, or if sometimes its use requires paying a special attention. Then, a three-dimensional modification of the classical EF framework for the sustainability evaluation of a product has been proposed following a previous work by Niccolucci and co-authors (2009). Finally, the potentialities of the model have been tested by using a case study from the agricultural context

The Representation of the “Science” Construct in the Diagnostic Manuals. An Exploratory Research on the Use of the Scientific Term in the icd-10, in the dsm-5 and in the pdm

Ogni disciplina e approccio teorico si caratterizzano per la ricerca di un definito grado di scientificità che li possa legittimare. Nella comprensione dei fenomeni psicologici e nel campo  terogeneo della psicologia clinica si possono trovare espressioni linguistiche e criteri legati alla scienza differenti tra loro, con altrettante ricadute pragmatiche. In questa ricerca si sono esplorati i significati legati all’uso del termine “scientifico” in alcuni manuali diagnostici: icd-10, dsm-5 e pdm. Il método usato è stato quello della rappresentazione perspicua, ovvero un sistema di analisi linguistica volta a individuare alcune unità simboliche presenti nei manuali. I risultati hanno  onsentito di sottolineare i significati legati ai diversi modi di intendere la scientificità e di avanzare  lcune proposte operative. In conclusione, si può mettere in evidenza come l’uso del costrutto “scienza” e le espressioni linguistiche ad esso collegate sia molto differente nei tre manuali indagati e fa riferimento a campi di significato molto differenti l’uno dalle altre. Si evidenzia infine l’importanza di fondare il costrutto “scienza” in funzione dei propri specifici riferimenti concettuali.Parole chiave: linguaggio, diagnosi, epistemología, rappresentazione perspicua.Cada disciplina teórica se caracteriza por la búsqueda de un grado definido de carácter científico que la puede legitimar. En la comprensión de los fenómenos psicológicos en psicología se pueden encontrar expresiones lingüísticas, criterios científicos e implicaciones pragmáticas diferentes. En  sta investigación intentamos de explorar los significados de la utilización del término “científico”  en  algunos manuales diagnósticos: icd-10,  dsm-5 y pdm. El método utilizado fue el de la representación perspicaz, es decir, un sistema de análisis lingüístico destinado a identificar algunas unidades simbólicas presentes en los manuales. Los resultados obtenidos permitieron subrayar los significados relacionados con diferentes formas de entender la cientificidad y presentar algunas propuestas prácticas. En conclusión, puede destacarse cómo el uso de la construcción “ciencia” y las expresiones lingüísticas relacionadas con esta, son muy diferentes en los tres manuales investigados y se refieren a campos de significado muy diferentes entre sí. Finalmente, se subraya la importancia de fundar la construcción “ciencia” según sus propias referencias conceptuales específicas.Palabras clave: ciencia, lenguaje, diagnosis, epistemología, representación perspicua.Disciplines and theoretical approaches are characterized by the research of a defined scientific status in order to legitimate them. To understand psychological phenomena in the heterogeneous field of clinical psychology, different linguistic expressions and scientific criteria can be found, as well as many pragmatic consequences. In this research we tried to explore the meanings related to the use of the term “scientific” in some diagnostic manuals: the icd-10, the dsm-5 and the pdm. The method used was that of perspicuous representation, i.e. a system of linguistic analysis aimed at identifying some symbolic units present in the manuals. The results allowed to highlight the meanings related to the different understandings of science and to advance some operative suggestions. In conclusion, it can be highlighted how the use of the construct “science” and the linguistic expressions related to it are very different in the three manuals investigated and refers to fields of meaning very different from each other. Finally, the importance of founding the construct “science” according to its own specific conceptual references is underlined.Keywords: Science, language, diagnosis, epistemology, perspicuous representation

Battery- and Petrol-Powered Chainsaws: An Investigation of Productivity in Conifer Thinning

In recent years, battery technology has been greatly improved and some types of battery chainsaws are currently comparable with light-type petrol machines, suggesting their possible introduction into forest operations. In this context, the aim of this study was to test and compare the performance, in a Douglas-fir thinning, of two chainsaws similar in terms of weight and power, the Stihl MS 220 CB battery-powered saw and the Stihl MS 201 CM petrol-powered saw, measuring the working times and calculating the productivities. The results showed that, within a working day (about 6 h gross time), an average of 15 trees of 0.56 m3 was felled in each area. No statistically significant differences between the two chainsaws were found in terms of gross and net productivity; and the same result was obtained when focusing the analysis only on operations conducted using the chainsaws. Moreover, the average battery charge duration was 1.04 h, while the full tank duration for the petrol model was 1.12 h. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that, on the basis of their performance, battery chainsaws can be introduced into thinning operations, but a solution is needed to manage batteries in the forest, since the actual need is for 7–8 charges per workday

Depressive Symptoms in Fathers during the First Postpartum Year: The Influence of Severity of Preterm Birth, Parenting Stress and Partners' Depression

Although preterm birth constitutes a risk factor for postpartum depressive symptomatology, perinatal depression (PND) has not been investigated extensively in fathers of very low (VLBW) and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. This study explored paternal depression levels at 3, 9, and 12 months of infant corrected age, investigating also the predictive role played by the severity of prematurity, maternal and paternal PND levels, and parenting stress. We recruited 153 fathers of 33 ELBW, 42 VLBW, and 78 full-term (FT) infants, respectively. Depression was investigated by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and distress by the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form-PSI-SF (Total and subscales: Parental Distress, Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction, and Difficult Child). ELBW fathers showed a significant decrease (improvement) in EPDS, total PSI-SF, and Parental Distress mean scores after 3 months. Paternal EPDS scores at 12 months were significantly predicted by VLBW and FT infants' birth weight categories, fathers' EPDS scores at 3 and 9 months, Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction subscale at 3 months, and Difficult Child subscale at 9 months. This study strengthens the relevance of including early routine screening and parenting support for fathers in perinatal health services, with particular attention to fathers who might be more vulnerable to mental health difficulties due to severely preterm birth