The moderating role of stigma in the relationship between depression and resilience: results of a cross-sectional study in university students

Background/objective: Depression is a growing concern in university students and resilience has shown to play a protective role. The impact of stigma is still under-explored, with reference to its moderating role between depression and resilience. The present study investigate such a relationship among Italian university students. Methods: A cross-sectional design was applied in a simple of 1,912 students to examine the interrelationships between depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), resilience (Nicholson McBride Resilience questionnaire), and stigma (Stigma-9). Correlation, predictor, and moderation analyses were applied in RStudio. Results: A negative correlation was found between depressive symptoms and resilience (r = −0.455, p < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between depressive symptoms and stigma (r = 0.207, p < 0.001). Lower levels of resilience and higher levels of stigma were significant predictors of depressive symptoms [F(df, n) = 190.8(3, 1884), p < 0.001, R2 = 0.236]. The moderation analysis showed a weakening of resilience protective effect against depression as stigma levels increase [F(df,n) = 186.7(3,1908), p < 0.001, R2 = 0.226]. Conclusion: Stigma influences the relationship between depression and resilience. Anti-stigma interventions and programs empowering resilience, should be implemented in university settings to protect students from depression

The fusion approach – applications for understanding local government and European integration

The article explores the theoretical capabilities of the fusion approach as a conceptual ‘kit’ to explain the ‘bigger picture’ of European integration from a local government perspective. Fusion addresses the rationales and methods facilitating the transfer of policy-making competences to the European level. It understands European integration as a merging of public resources and policy instruments from multiple levels of government, whereby accountability and responsibilities for policy outcomes become blurred. The article argues that the fusion approach is useful to explain the systemic linkages between macro-trajectories and the corresponding change at the local level; the fusion dynamics of the local and European levels in a common policy-cycle; and the attitudes of local actors towards the EU. Although the article concludes that local government is rather modestly ‘fused’ into the EU, fusion approaches allow examining the extent to which the local level has become integrated into the European governance system

Strength-ductility behaviour of Al-Si-Cu-Mg casting alloys in T6 temper

A comparative study of the mechanical properties of 20 experimental alloys has been carried out. The effect of different contents of Si, Cu, Mg, Fe and Mn, as well as solidification rate, has been assessed using a strength-ductility chart and a quality index-strength chart developed for the alloys. The charts show that the strength generally increases and the ductility decreases with an increasing content of Cu and Mg. Increased Fe (at Fe/Mn ratio 0.5) dramatically lowers the ductility and strength of low Si alloys. Increased Si content generally increases the strength and the ductility. The increase in ductility with increased Si is particularly significant when the Fe content is high. The charts are used to show that the cracking of second phase particles imposes a limit to the maximum achievable strength by limiting the ductility of strong alloys. The (Cu + Mg) content (at.%), which determines the precipitation strengthening and the volume fraction of Cu-rich and Mg-rich intermetallics, can be used to select the alloys for given strength and ductility, provided the Fe content stays below the Si-dependent critical level for the formation of pre-eutectic alpha-phase particles or beta-phase plates

The Europeanization of UK Government: From Quiet Revolution to Explicit Step-Change?

In this paper we review - from a UK perspective - how the UK government and its policy process have adapted to European integration. Has adaptation been a quiet revolution, a step-change, or both? In exploring this puzzle we draw upon the conceptual literature of Europeanisation. We employ it to shed light on the longer-term pattern of UK adaptation as well as to put into context the domestic changes currently under way. Although commentators frequently alight upon continued non-membership of the euro as an indicator of the UK's continued incomplete adaptation to integration, we argue that there is a step-change under way in the Europeanisation of UK EU policy making, though not necessarily in its outcomes

Controlling the microstructure of Hastelloy-X components manufactured by selective laser melting

AbstractSelective Laser Melting (SLM) is steadily gaining acceptance across the manufacturing industry. Techniques for manufacturing components with complex geometries layer by layer have proven to be very effective in accelerating product development and hence reducing time to market. To build components by SLM from a nickel based super-alloy requires an understanding of process parameters and how they influence the microstructure, the degree of porosity and the properties. In this work, it was found that the as-fabricated density of parts manufactured from Hastelloy-X by SLM could be increased from 77 to 99% by decreasing the laser scan speed, and that the degree of cracking can be reduced by decreasing the amount of minor alloying additions such as Mn and Si

Quench Sensitivity in a Dispersoid-Containing Al-Mg-Si Alloy

The quench sensitivity of a 6000 series alloy with a high content of dispersoids was studied over a wide range of cooling rate and natural-aging (NA) time. Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the clustering and precipitation reactions. The alloy showed significant quench sensitivity after short NA (2 and 30 minutes), but the quench sensitivity was lower after long NA (24 hours). The quench sensitivity after the long NA can be accounted for by the solute loss due to the formation of nonhardening β′ precipitates on the dispersoids during cooling from solution treatment. For short NA, however, quenched-in vacancies and modifications to the precipitation sequence also have substantial contributions to the quench sensitivity. The current study provides new insight into the quench sensitivity of 6000 series alloys that contain a high dispersoid density