Maternal reflexive functions and parent training in children with oppositional defiant disorder

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disorders in preschool children. Parental self-regulation is critical for maintaining positive parenting practices. However, to the best of our knowledge, existing parental trainings for ODD do not focus on the enhancement of parental reflective functions. In the present study, we compare two models of behavioral Parent Training (PT) for duration of six months: one, already consolidated, is based on the principles of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), the other, innovative, integrates with the model of the regulatory and reflective parental function of Fonagy. Outcomes revealed that the innovative training was more effective as compared to the ABA training shopping that an improvement into the ability of parents to imagine the subjective experience of their developing children increases the development of children's self-regulation

Modelling the Quality of Bathing Waters in the Adriatic Sea

The aim of this study is to develop a relocatable modelling system able to describe the microbial contamination that affects the quality of coastal bathing waters. Pollution events are mainly triggered by urban sewer outflows during massive rainy events, with relevant negative consequences on the marine environment and tourism and related activities of coastal towns. A finite element hydrodynamic model was applied to five study areas in the Adriatic Sea, which differ for urban, oceanographic and morphological conditions. With the help of transport-diffusion and microbial decay modules, the distribution of Escherichia coli was investigated during significant events. The numerical investigation was supported by detailed in situ observational datasets. The model results were evaluated against water level, sea temperature, salinity and E. coli concentrations acquired in situ, demonstrating the capacity of the modelling suite in simulating the circulation in the coastal areas of the Adriatic Sea, as well as several main transport and diffusion dynamics, such as riverine and polluted waters dispersion. Moreover, the results of the simulations were used to perform a comparative analysis among the different study sites, demonstrating that dilution and mixing, mostly induced by the tidal action, had a stronger effect on bacteria reduction with respect to microbial decay. Stratification and estuarine dynamics also play an important role in governing microbial concentration. The modelling suite can be used as a beach management tool for improving protection of public health, as required by the EU Bathing Water Directive

Handcrafted and learning-based tie point features-comparison using the EuroSDR RPAS benchmark datasets

The identification of accurate and reliable image correspondences is fundamental for Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry. Alongside handcrafted detectors and descriptors, recent machine learning-based approaches have shown promising results for tie point extraction, demonstrating matching success under strong perspective and illumination changes, and a general increase of tie point multiplicity. Recently, several methods based on convolutional neural networks (CNN) have been proposed, but few tests have yet been performed under real photogrammetric applications and, in particular, on full resolution aerial and RPAS image blocks that require rotationally invariant features. The research reported here compares two handcrafted (Metashape local features and RootSIFT) and two learning-based methods (LFNet and Key.Net) using the previously unused EuroSDR RPAS benchmark datasets. Analysis is conducted with DJI Zenmuse P1 imagery acquired at Wards Hill quarry in Northumberland, UK. The research firstly extracts keypoints using the aforementioned methods, before importing them into COLMAP for incremental reconstruction. The image coordinates of signalised ground control points (GCPs) and independent checkpoints (CPs) are automatically detected using an OpenCV algorithm, and then triangulated for comparison with accurate geometric ground-truth. The tests showed that learning-based local features are capable of outperforming traditional methods in terms of geometric accuracy, but several issues remain: few deep learning local features are trained to be rotation invariant, significant computational resources are required for large format imagery, and poor performance emerged in cases of repetitive patterns

Comparing the effects of combined numerical and visuospatial psychoeducational trainings conducted by curricular teachers and external trainers. Preliminary evidence across kindergarteners

The aim of this study was to verify the efficacy of two pencil-and-paper trainings empowering numerical and visuo-spatial abilities in Italian five-year-old kindergarteners. Specifically, the trainings were respectively carried out by the curricular teacher or by an external trainer. The former received a specific training in order to use the psychoeducational programmes with her pupils, whereas the latter received a specific education about the role of numerical and visuo-spatial abilities for school achievement and she was also trained to use psychoeducational trainings in kindergarten schools. At pre-test and post-test nonverbal functions and numeracy knowledge were assessed through a battery of standardized tests. The results show that both the numerical psychoeducational programme and the visuo-spatial one are useful tools to enhance mathematical achievements in kindergarteners. However, when the trainings were proposed by the external trainer, the efficacy of the psychoeducational programmes was more significant. These outcomes seem to be related both to the expertise and the novelty effect of the external trainer on the classroom

Assessment of spatio-temporal variability of faecal pollution along coastal waters during and after rainfall events.

More than 80% of wastewaters are discharged into rivers or seas, with a negative impact on water quality along the coast due to the presence of potential pathogens of faecal origin. Escherichia coli and enterococci are important indicators to assess, monitor, and predict microbial water quality in natural ecosystems. During rainfall events, the amount of wastewater delivered to rivers and coastal systems is increased dramatically. This study implements measures capable of monitoring the pathways of wastewater discharge to rivers and the transport of faecal bacteria to the coastal area during and following extreme rainfall events. Spatio-temporal variability of faecal microorganisms and their relationship with environmental variables and sewage outflow in an area located in the western Adriatic coast (Fano, Italy) was monitored. The daily monitoring during the rainy events was carried out for two summer seasons, for a total of five sampling periods. These results highlight that faecal microbial contaminations were related to rainy events with a high flow of wastewater, with recovery times for the microbiological indicators varying between 24 and 72 h and influenced by a dynamic dispersion. The positive correlation between ammonium and faecal bacteria at the Arzilla River and the consequences in seawater can provide a theoretical basis for controlling ammonium levels in rivers as a proxy to monitor the potential risk of bathing waters pathogen pollution

Produção e composição do leite de ovelhas Santa Inês e mestiças Lacaune e Santa Inês e desenvolvimento de seus cordeiros.

Na ovinocultura, a raça Santa Inês, amplamente explorada no território brasileiro, possui índices de produção compatíveis com sistemas europeus de exploração leiteira (Susin et al., 2005), e o bom desempenho de animais na fase de cria está diretamente relacionado com a produção de leite das mães (Peeters et al., 1992). A raça Lacaune tem sua origem atrelada à produção de animais de boa carcaça em diversas regiões da França e passou por um programa de melhoramento genético que resultou em aumento da produção de leite e melhora da composição da carcaça dos cordeiros destinados ao abate (Barillet et al., 2001). O presente trabalho teve o objetivo de avaliar a produção e a composição do leite de três genótipos de ovelhas Santa Inês, ½ Lacaune x ½ Santa Inês e ¾ Lacaune x ¼ Santa Inês ? e o desenvolvimento de seus cordeiros durante os quatro primeiros meses de lactação

Produção de seis híbridos de sorgo com capim-sudão avaliados em três cortes e em duas épocas de semeadura.

Foram avaliados quatro híbridos experimentais e duas cultivares comerciais de Sorghum bicolor cv bicolor X Sorghum bicolor cv sudanense quanto à produção de matéria verde (MV), matéria seca (MS) e matéria seca digestível (MSD), altura das plantas e população por hectare. Os híbridos foram semeados em duas épocas e submetidos a três cortes sucessivos. Foi empregado o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com parcelas subdivididas, e a comparação de médias foi efetuada pelo teste de SNK, a 5% de probabilidade. O híbrido ATF 53 x CMSXS 912 apresentou valores médios de produção de MV, MS e MSD superiores aos demais, nas duas épocas de semeadura, sem diferir da testemunha AG2501-C. Os valores médios da 2ª época foram superiores aos da 1ª época quanto às produções de MV, MS e altura das plantas

Mudanças na biota vaginal de cabras submetidas a protocolo de indução de estro sincronizado.

Resumo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as mudanças na biota vaginal de cabras submetidas a protocolo curto de indução de estro sincronizado. [Changes on the vaginal biota of goats following protocol of estrus induction and synchronization]