A multistage design procedure for planning and implementing public charging infrastructures for electric vehicles

Presented in this paper is a Multistage Design Procedure (MSDP) for planning and implementing Public Charging Infrastructures (PCIs) to satisfy intracity charging demand of Electric Vehicles (EVs). The proposed MSDP splits planning and design processes into multiple stages, from macroscale to fine-scale levels. Consequently, the preliminary results achieved at each stage can be refined at the subsequent stages, leading to determine the accurate number and precise geographical location of each charging point. The main advantage of the proposed approach is that it splits a very complicated procedure into multiple and simpler stages, at each of which appropriate goals, targets and constraints can be included. As a result, the iterative interactions among all the stakeholders involved in the PCI design process are significantly simplified. The proposed MSDP has been employed in the planning and design of the PCI of the Italian island of Sardinia, accordingly to all the public bodies

Follicular thyroid carcinoma: Differences in clinical relevance between minimally invasive and widely invasive tumors

Evidence on the biological behavior and clinical courses of minimally invasive and widely invasive follicular thyroid carcinoma (MI-FTC, WI-FTC) is still debatable. The current study was conducted to identify differences between MI and WI tumors and those prognostic parameters influencing late outcome such as local recurrence and survival

Stress among medical students: Factor structure of the University Stress Scale among Italian students

Objectives The main purpose of the current study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the University Stress Scale (USS) among Italian medical students. Design, setting and participants A cross-sectional observational study based on data from an online cross-sectional survey from 11 to 23 December 2018. A total of 1858 Italian medical students participated in the study. Outcome measures We measured perceived stress among medical students using the USS, the Effort-Reward Imbalance Student Questionnaire (ERI-SQ) and the Kessler-10 (K10). Results Results showed that a bifactor-Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling solution provided excellent levels of fit to the data. Our results suggest that the modified version of 19 items of the Italian version of the USS does not have a simple unidimensional structure. Overall, an inspection of ancillary indices (omega indices, ECV and percentage of uncontaminated correlations) revealed that these were too low to suggest the use of the USS as a composite measure of university stress. We tested an alternative unidimensional short form (eight items; USS-S) that assessed all the five sources of stress. This version provided a good fit to the data. Evidence of convergent validity of the USS-S was observed by analysing the correlations between the USS and ERI-SQ (ranging from-0.34 to 0.37, all p<0.01). Finally, based on the clinical cut-off recommended on the K10, results from receiver operating characteristic showed that considering the clinical cut-off of the USS is 7.5 and that 59.70% of medical students reported stress levels in the clinical range. Conclusion Finally, our results showed a lack of support for using the USS to measure a general university stress factor, as the general USS factor accounted for little variance in our sample. In this sense, stress scores among Italian students can be better assessed by the use of the USS-S

Type 2 diabetes mellitus, physical activity, exercise self-efficacy, and body satisfaction. An application of the transtheoretical model in older adults

Physical activity (PA) is a relevant component of the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, to prevent its related morbidities, PA requires an immediate and lasting change of lifestyle. Exercise self-efficacy and body satisfaction were used in a sample of older adults with T2DM, classified in different stages of change, to predict levels of PA. Results show that exercise self-efficacy increases linearly from precontemplation to maintenance stage, while body satisfaction shows an inverted U shape. However, only stages of change, other than exercise self-efficacy, add a significant and noticeable contribution to prediction of levels of PA. This evidence claims a tailored approach to PA in older adults with T2DM and advises behavioural health interventions based on exercise self- efficacy

Stress among medical students: factor structure of the University Stress Scale among Italian students

OBJECTIVES: The main purpose of the current study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the University Stress Scale (USS) among Italian medical students. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A cross-sectional observational study based on data from an online cross-sectional survey from 11 to 23 December 2018. A total of 1858 Italian medical students participated in the study. OUTCOME MEASURES: We measured perceived stress among medical students using the USS, the Effort-Reward Imbalance Student Questionnaire (ERI-SQ) and the Kessler-10 (K10). RESULTS: Results showed that a bifactor-Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling solution provided excellent levels of fit to the data. Our results suggest that the modified version of 19 items of the Italian version of the USS does not have a simple unidimensional structure. Overall, an inspection of ancillary indices (omega indices, ECV and percentage of uncontaminated correlations) revealed that these were too low to suggest the use of the USS as a composite measure of university stress. We tested an alternative unidimensional short form (eight items; USS-S) that assessed all the five sources of stress. This version provided a good fit to the data. Evidence of convergent validity of the USS-S was observed by analysing the correlations between the USS and ERI-SQ (ranging from -0.34 to 0.37, all p<0.01). Finally, based on the clinical cut-off recommended on the K10, results from receiver operating characteristic showed that considering the clinical cut-off of the USS is 7.5 and that 59.70% of medical students reported stress levels in the clinical range. CONCLUSION: Finally, our results showed a lack of support for using the USS to measure a general university stress factor, as the general USS factor accounted for little variance in our sample. In this sense, stress scores among Italian students can be better assessed by the use of the USS-S

Mental health among university students: The associations of effort-reward imbalance and overcommitment with psychological distress

Background: Mental health problems are highly prevalent among university students, but little is known about their underlying determinants. This study explores mental health among university students, the association between “effort-reward imbalance” (ERI), overcommitment and mental health, and to what extent ERI and overcommitment explain gender differences in mental health. Methods: Cross-sectional data were analyzed from 4760 Italian university students. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-10 was used to measure self-reported psychological distress, as an indicator of mental health, and the ERI – Student Questionnaire to measure effort, reward and overcommitment. The associations between ERI and overcommitment with psychological distress were estimated with multinomial logistic regression analyses. Results: 78.5% of the respondents experienced psychological distress, with 21.3%, 21.1%, and 36.1% reporting respectively mild, moderate and severe psychological distress. Female students were more likely to report moderate and severe psychological distress. ERI and overcommitment were strongly associated with severe psychological distress with ORs respectively up to 19.9 (95% CI: 12.2–32.5) and 22.2 (95% CI: 16.1–30.7). ERI and overcommitment explained part of the higher odds of severe psychological distress among female students comparing to males, attenuating the ORs from 2.3 (95% CI: 1.9–2.7) to 1.4 (95% CI: 1.2–1.7). Limitations: This cross-sectional study was performed on a large, but convenient sample. Discussion: More than one out of three students reported severe psychological distress. Decreasing ERI and overcommitment may be beneficial in the prevention of psychological distress among university students and may reduce gender differences in psychological distress. Longitudinal studies are needed to further investigate these associations

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

Associations of university student life challenges with mental health and self-rated health: A longitudinal study with 6 months follow-up

Background: Mental health problems are highly prevalent among university students. Stress due to student life challenges may be a risk factor for poorer health. This study investigates to what extent student life challenges and changes therein are associated with mental health and self-rated health. Methods: In a longitudinal study with 568 Italian university students mental health was assessed using the Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5) and self-rated health with a single item from the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF36) (score ranges: 0-100) at baseline and at six months follow-up. Student life challenges were investigated using six subscales (score ranges: 1-4) of the Higher Education Stress Inventory (HESI). A between-within linear regression model was used to investigate whether a higher exposure to life challenges was associated with poorer health (between individuals) and whether changes in student life challenges were associated with changes in health (within individuals). Results: Higher exposure to student life challenges was associated with poorer mental health (b ranging from -5.3 to -10.3) and self-rated health (b ranging from -3.1 to -9.6). An increase in student life challenges within individuals was associated with poorer mental health and self-rated health, in particular for high workload (b up to -5.9), faculty shortcomings (b up to -5.7), and unsupportive climate (b up to -5.6). Discussion: Exposure to student life challenges and changes therein are associated with university students’ health. Our findings suggest that student life challenges may be a target for interventions to improve mental health and self-rated health among university students

Role of nucleus accumbens μ opioid receptors in the effects of morphine on ERK1/2 phosphorylation

Rationale: Despite the critical role attributed to phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated kinase (pERK1/2) in the nucleus accumbens (Acb) in the actions of addictive drugs, the effects of morphine on ERK1/2 phosphorylation in this area are still controversial. Objectives: In order to investigate further this issue, we studied (1) the ability of morphine to affect ERK1/2 phosphorylation in the shell (AcbSh) and core (AcbC) of Sprague-Dawley and Wistar rats and of CD-1 and C57BL/6J mice and (2) the role of dopamine D1 and μ-opioid receptors in Sprague-Dawley rats and CD-1 mice. Methods: The pERK1/2 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Results: In rats, morphine decreased AcbSh and AcbC pERK1/2 expression, whereas in mice, increased it preferentially in the AcbSh compared with the AcbC. Systemic SCH 39166 decreased pERK1/2 expression on its own in the AcbSh and AcbC of Sprague-Dawley rats and CD-1 mice; furthermore, in rats, SCH 39166 disclosed the ability of morphine to stimulate pERK1/2 expression. Systemic (rats and mice) and intra-Acb (rats) naltrexone prevented both decreases, in rats, and increases, in mice. Conclusions: These findings confirm the differential effects of morphine in rats and mice Acb and that D1 receptors exert a facilitatory role on ERK1/2 phosphorylation; furthermore, they indicate that, in rats, removal of the D1-dependent pERK1/2 expression discloses the stimulatory influence of morphine on ERK1/2 phosphorylation and that the morphine’s ability to decrease pERK1/2 expression is mediated by Acb μ-opioid receptors. Future experiments may disentangle the psychopharmacological significance of the effects of morphine on pERK1/2 in the Acb

Metabolic Bile Acid Profile Impairments in Dogs Affected by Chronic Inflammatory Enteropathy

Bile acids (BAs), endogenous acidic steroids synthetized from cholesterol in the liver, play a key role in the gut–liver axis physiopathology, including in hepatotoxicity, intestinal inflammatory processes, and cholesterol homeostasis. Faecal Oxo-BAs, relatively stable intermediates of oxidation/epimerization reactions of the BA hydroxyls, could be relevant to investigating the crosstalk in the liver–gut axis and the relationship between diseases and alterations in microbiota composition. A paucity of information currently exists on faecal BA profiles in dogs with and without chronic inflammatory enteropathy (CIE). Comprehensive assessment of 31 molecules among faecal BAs and related microbiota metabolites was conducted with high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Odds ratios (ORs) for associations of BAs with CIE were estimated using logistic regression. Principal component analysis was performed to find differences between the control and pathological dogs. Higher levels of primary BAs and muricholic acids, and lower levels of secondary BAs were found in pathological dogs. Higher concentrations in faecal oxo-metabolites were associated with the absence of CIE (OR &lt; 1). This study shows a marked difference in faecal BA profiles between dogs with and without CIE. Further research will be needed to better understand the role of oxo-BAs and muricholic acids in CIE dogs