Italian Network Research Articles

Teachers’ Perceived Impact of an Online Professional Development Course on Content and Language Integration and Pedagogical Translanguaging

Research has already shown that designing instruction that simultaneously develops students’ content and language competences is fundamental especially, but not only, when students are educated in a second, foreign or additional language. Unfortunately, content teachers working in different types of bilingual education programmes hold varying beliefs about the role of language for and in learning and often struggle to successfully integrate language and content objectives. This is particularly the case of content teachers working in the Italian network of educational institutions in the world who struggle to support students to learn content through Italian as the language of instruction, but also tend to fail to recognize the importance of validating their linguistic and cultural background. In this context, the dearth of training is accompanied by a dearth of research on the effects of professional development courses.This paper aims to fill this gap by reporting on the effectiveness of a short online teacher professional development (OTPD) course aimed at supporting both primary and secondary subject teachers working in Italian international schools abroad to integrate content and language learning from a plurilingual and pluricultural perspective. Specifically, it explores teachers’ perceptions in relation to the design and implementation features of the course and to its effects on their beliefs, teaching practice, and professional identity.

The Network of Services for COVID-19 Vaccination in Persons With Mental Disorders: The Italian Social Health System, Its Organization, and Bioethical Issues.

The adoption of restrictive measures aimed at curtailing the spread of SARS-CoV2 has had a harmful impact on socio-affective relationships, while limiting the scope of interventions and activities to promote social inclusion, with considerable negative repercussions for patients with mental disorders. Vaccination has been and will continue to be a valid tool to overcome the barriers of social isolation and to protect the health of this category of patients. In this paper we present an overview of the Italian network of social and healthcare services for COVID-19 vaccination among patients with mental disorders. Some aspects of medical ethics are discussed in order to share good practices for improving the health of this vulnerable group of people. We then consider the measures implemented by the health system in Italy to deal with the phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy before addressing the issue of autonomy and restricted access to vaccination points. Finally, we illustrate some of the perspectives already adopted by the Italian system, which may be useful to the global scientific community.

Influence of corrosion effects on the seismic capacity of existing RC bridges

Recent collapse events of existing reinforced concrete bridges have increased the attention on the mandatory and suitable maintenance of these strategic constructions. In fact, most of these failures were due to an inadequate scheduling of maintenance interventions. One of the main issues concerning the load-bearing capacity of existing reinforced concrete structures is related to the steel reinforcement corrosion caused by carbonation phenomenon. Such aspect should not be even more overlooked considering the strategic role of infrastructures like the bridges of the Italian motorway network, mainly built around the 1960′s and widely used even right now. Consequently, reinforced concrete bridges require the execution of maintenance interventions in order to guarantee an adequate safety level under both serviceability conditions and exceptional loads, also considering that they were often designed without taking into account seismic actions.This paper investigates the seismic performance of five existing reinforced concrete bridges under several corrosion scenarios of piers steel reinforcement caused by carbonation phenomenon. In particular, three different corrosion levels (slight, moderate and high) are considered by analysing the evolution of the phenomenon effects for a structure lifetime equal to 75 years. The seismic vulnerability is evaluated by defining appropriate risk indices expressed in terms of peak ground acceleration and corresponding return period. The risk indices are determined by performing modal pushover analyses on finite element models of the bridges, considering the corrosion effects in terms of steel rebars cross section reduction. Some correlations between corrosion levels and risk indices are drawn.

Urban Seismic Network Based on MEMS Sensors: The Experience of the Seismic Observatory in Camerino (Marche, Italy).

Urban seismic networks are considered very useful tools for the management of seismic emergencies. In this work, a study of the first urban seismic network in central Italy is presented. The urban seismic network, built using MEMS sensors, was implemented in the urban district of Camerino, one of the cities in central Italy with the greatest seismic vulnerability. The technological choices adopted in developing this system as well as the implemented algorithms are shown in the context of their application to the first seismic event recorded by this innovative monitoring infrastructure. This monitoring network is innovative because it implements a distributed computing and statistical earthquake detection algorithm. As such, it is not based on the traces received by the stations from the central server; rather, each station carries out the necessary checks on the signal in real time, sending brief reports to the server in case of anomalies. This approach attempts to shorten the time between event detection and alert, effectively removing the dead times in the systems currently used in the Italian national network. The only limit for an instant alarm is the latency in the tcp/ip packages used to send the short reports to the server. The presented work shows the infrastructure created; however, there is not enough data to draw conclusions on this new early warning approach in the field, as it is currently in the data collection phase.

Personal Health Budget: a new rehabilitation approach for severe mental illness within a caring community

IntroductionPersonal Health Budget (PHB) has been provided to consumers with severe mental illness within a policy shift toward a person-tailored mental healthcare treatment based on individual unmet needs. PHB is an amount of money to support patient’s health and wellbeing needs, which is planned and agreed between patients and their local NHS team. It is not new money, but it may mean spending money differently so that patients can get the care that they need. However, evidence of beneficial effects of PHB is still scarce.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to provide preliminary data on clinical and social benefits of adding PHB to a standard pharmacotherapy in patients with severe mental illness across a 24-month follow-up period.Methods137 individuals with severe mental illness (aged 18–50 years) were recruited in one of the adult mental health services of an Italian Department of Mental Health. They completed the Global Assessment of Functioning scale, the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Friedman’s test for repeated measure was used to assess the longitudinal stability of functioning and clinical parameters. A linear regression analysis was also performed.ResultsA significant decrease in all GAF scale, HoNOS and BPRS scores along the 24 months of follow-up was observed. Regression analysis results specifically showed a relevant association between a PHB multiaxial intervention and the longitudinal reduction in BPRS ‘Negative Symptoms’ and HoNOS ‘Social Problems’ subscores.ConclusionsOur findings support the useful implementation of a PHB approach for severe mental illness patients within the Italian mental health service network.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Italian alliances between commoning and law

The “commons” have become a rallying point of social mobilization against privatization and a linchpin of collective civic empowerment and democratic renewal in several countries. What singles out the Italian “laboratory” of urban commons in recent years is the coalescence of pro-commons lawyers with activists, movements, and grassroots collectives. The central role played by law in the Italian commons network must be read in the light of the distinctive forms that regulations and rules assume in specific contexts. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted between 2018 and 2019, this article focuses on the case of Naples and the reinvention of the legal tradition of “civic use.” Our account of the daily practices pursued by a Neapolitan community of commoners—L’Asilo—delves into the role played by the law and its representatives in a political context that has always been the subject of stigmatization.

Gender differences in clinical and psychosocial features in a large sample of Italian patients with schizophrenia

IntroductionAn extensive literature regarding gender differences relevant to several aspects of schizophrenia is nowadays available. It includes some robust findings as well as some inconsistencies. The identification of gender differences and the understanding of their explanations may help to clarify the underlying etiopathogenetic mechanisms of specific aspects of the disorder.ObjectivesThe present study aimed at investigating gender differences on premorbid, clinical, cognitive and outcome indices, as well as their impact on recovery, in a large sample of patients with schizophrenia recruited within the multicenter study of the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses.MethodsState-of-the-art instruments were used to assess the investigated domains. Group comparisons between male and female patients were performed on all considered indices. The associations of premorbid, clinical and cognitive indices with recovery in the two patient groups were investigated by means of multiple regressions.ResultsMales with respect to females had a worse premorbid adjustment – limited to the academic dimension – an earlier age of onset, a higher frequency of history of substance and alcohol abuse, more severe negative symptoms (both avolition and expressive deficit), positive symptoms and impairment of social cognition. No gender difference was observed in neurocognition nor in the rates of recovery.ConclusionsAlthough males showed some disadvantages in the clinical picture, this was not translated into a worse outcome. This finding may be related to the complex interplay of several factors acting as predictors or mediators of outcome.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

The Evidence Base For Psychiatric Support For Living Independently And Being Included In The Community

Functional recovery of subjects with schizophrenia remains an unmet need despite the availability of effective pharmacological and psychosocial treatments. The focus of recovery-oriented approaches is on fostering hope and resilience, fighting self-stigma, supporting self-determination and promoting social inclusion. The implementation of recovery-oriented plans requires an in depth understanding of key factors influencing real-life functioning, health status and quality of life. Recently published data from the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses have provided evidence that baseline variables associated with functional outcome at follow-up included domains not routinely assessed and targeted by intervention programs in community mental health services. As pointed out by experts in schizophrenia research and care, the management of subjects with schizophrenia has not significantly improved and only a minority of them receives integrated and personalized treatments. Shared decision-making and integrated pharmacological and psychosocial treatments, tailored on subjects’ needs, might significantly improve the outcome of subjects with schizophrenia, supporting independent living and inclusion in the community.DisclosureHonoraria, advisory board, or consulting fees from Angelini, Astra Zeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gedeon Richter Bulgaria, Innova-Pharma, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Lundbeck, Otsuka, Pfizer, and Pierre Fabre, for services not related to this abstract

Network Analyses: Understanding the Pathways of Functional Improvement in Schizophrenia

Improving real-life functioning is the main goal of the most advanced integrated treatment programs in people with schizophrenia. The Italian Network for Research on Psychoses used network analysis in a four-year follow-up study to test whether the pattern of relationships among illness-related variables, personal resources and context-related factors differed between patients who were classified as recovered at follow-up versus those who did not recover. In a large sample (N=618) of clinically-stable, community-dwelling subjects with schizophrenia, the study demonstrated a considerable stability of the network structure. Functional capacity and everyday life skills had a high betweenness and closeness in the network at both baseline and follow-up, while psychopathological variables remained more peripheral. The network structure and connectivity of non-recovered patients were similar to those observed in the whole sample, but very different from those in recovered subjects, in which we found few connections only. These data strongly suggest that tightly coupled symptoms/dysfunctions tend to maintain each other’s activation, contributing to poor outcome in subjects with schizophrenia. The data suggest that early and integrated treatment plans, targeting variables with high centrality, might prevent the emergence of self-reinforcing networks of symptoms and dysfunctions in people with schizophrenia.DisclosureHonoraria, advisory board, or consulting fees from Angelini, Astra Zeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gedeon Richter Bulgaria, Innova-Pharma, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Lundbeck, Otsuka, Pfizer, and Pierre Fabre, for services not related to this abstract

Integrating mammography screening programmes into specialist breast centres in Italy: insights from a national survey of Senonetwork breast centres

BackgroundDespite recommendations, mammography screening is often insufficiently integrated into specialist breast centres. A national, cross-sectional, voluntary, online survey on this issue was carried out among the Italian breast centres associated with Senonetwork, the Italian network of breast cancer services.MethodsA 73-item questionnaire was created, pre-tested and piloted. Centres integrating and not integrating a screening programme were compared using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model. Centres’ clustering was performed using the Gower’s distance metric. Groups and clusters were compared with the equality-of-means test.ResultsThe response rate was 82/128 (65%). Overall, 84% (69/82) breast centres reported a collaboration with a screening programme in performing and/or reading mammograms and in the diagnostic work-up of women with abnormal screening results. The same proportion was observed among those centres responding to all questions (62/74). Performance expectancies (or the perceived usefulness of integration in terms of clinical quality, patient convenience, ease of job, and professional growth), satisfaction and motivation were higher in those centres collaborating with the screening programme. Effort expectancy indicators (or the degree to which the respondents believe that the integration is easy to implement) and those concerning the existence of facilitating conditions were lower both in centres collaborating and not collaborating with the screening programme. Among the former, six clusters of centres, distributed from ‘no integration’ to ‘high’, were identified. In cluster analysis, the highest level of integration was associated with higher agreement that integration eases the job, offers better opportunities for professional growth, and makes the working environment more satisfactory. The least integrated cluster assigned the lowest score to the statement that local health authority made available the resources needed.ConclusionsWhile confirming the positive effects of integrating screening programmes into breast centres, this survey has brought to light specific difficulties that must be faced. The results provide insights into the importance of integration focusing on the perspectives of professional career and motivation. The deficiency of facilitating conditions to integration is modifiable. Screening professionals’ societies may have a role as initiators of the integration. Other supporting actions may be included in health laws at the national and regional level.

The Italian tremor Network (TITAN): rationale, design and preliminary findings

IntroductionThe recently released classification has revised the nosology of tremor, defining essential tremor (ET) as a syndrome and fueling an enlightened debate about some newly conceptualized entities such as ET-plus. As a result, precise information of demographics, clinical features, and about the natural history of these conditions are lacking. MethodsThe ITAlian tremor Network (TITAN) is a multicenter data collection platform, the aim of which is to prospectively assess, according to a standardized protocol, the phenomenology and natural history of tremor syndromes.ResultsIn the first year of activity, 679 patients have been recruited. The frequency of tremor syndromes varied from 32% of ET and 41% of ET-plus to less than 3% of rare forms, including focal tremors (2.30%), task-specific tremors (1.38%), isolated rest tremor (0.61%), and orthostatic tremor (0.61%). Patients with ET-plus were older and had a higher age at onset than ET, but a shorter disease duration, which might suggest that ET-plus is not a disease stage of ET. Familial aggregation of tremor and movement disorders was present in up to 60% of ET cases and in about 40% of patients with tremor combined with dystonia. The body site of tremor onset was different between tremor syndromes, with head tremor being most commonly, but not uniquely, associated with dystonia.ConclusionsThe TITAN study is anticipated to provide clinically relevant prospective information about the clinical correlates of different tremor syndromes and their specific outcomes and might serve as a basis for future etiological, pathophysiological, and therapeutic research.

First atmospheric mercury measurements at a coastal site in the Apulia region: seasonal variability and source analysis

In the framework of the Italian Special Network for Mercury (ISNM) “Reti Speciali”, a sampling campaign to monitor atmospheric mercury (Hg) was carried out at Monte Sant’Angelo (MSA). This is a coastal monitoring station in the Apulia region, representative of the Southern Adriatic area, within the Mediterranean basin. This work presents continuous Gaseous Elemental Mercury (GEM) measurements over about three years at MSA, using the Lumex RA-915AM mercury analyzer. The aim was to obtain a dataset suitable for the analysis of Hg concentrations in terms of source and transport variation. Diurnal cycles of GEM were evaluated to observe the influence of local atmospheric temperature and wind speed on potential re-emissions from surrounding sea and soil surfaces. Data were also analyzed in terms of long-range transport, using backward trajectory cluster analysis. The spatial distribution of potential sources, contributing to higher measured GEM values, was obtained employing Potential Source Contribution Function (PSCF) statistics. The influence of major Hg anthropogenic point sources, such as mining activities and coal-fuel power plants, both regionally and continentally, from mainland Europe, was observed. The role of the vegetation GEM uptake in modulating the seasonal GEM variability was also investigated. The potential of wildfire influence over the highest detected GEM levels was further examined using active fire data and the evaluation of the vegetation dryness index during the selected episodes.Graphical abstract

La ricerca italiana ed il ruolo della comunità scientifica nella realizzazione dell’Albo nazionale delle “Foreste vetuste”

With the publication of a Decree that has established a List of the Italian old-growth forests, we have analyzed, using text mining software, the state of the art of Italian research in this field. We have analyzed 188 ISI and 72 non-indexed papers or reports. The analysis has identified 165 locations of which more than 50% are on pure beech or mixed beech and silver fir stands. The analysis was focused mainly on structural characteristics and bio-indicators. The current knowledge represents reliable support for the establishment of an Italian network of old-growth forests and this green infrastructure offers important opportunities for research and collaboration between research, natural resource management, and local, regional, and state administrations.

Assessment of the Lightning Performance of overhead distribution lines based on Lightning Location Systems data

This article presents the Lightning Performance (LP) assessment of a realistic portion of the Italian distribution network with the use of probability distributions for lightning parameters inferred from local data recorded by a Lightning Location System (LLS). The procedure considers downward negative first, negative subsequent, and positive return strokes, taking into account the number of strokes per flash (flash multiplicity) and the distance among return stroke impact points within the same flash (stroke terminations distance). The analysis of the effect produced using LLS data on the estimated number of flashovers per year on the test line is achieved by replacing one by one the standard distributions and parameters typically adopted in the literature, with those inferred from the LLS, when they can be considered reliable. Results show that adopting LLS-inferred parameters and distributions produces significant (positive or negative) variations in the estimated number of flashovers with respect to values computed with the standard approach.

Evaluation of the impact of green hydrogen blending scenarios in the Italian gas network: Optimal design and dynamic simulation of operation strategies

Blending hydrogen (H2) produced from PEM electrolysis coupled to Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in the existing Natural Gas (NG) network is a promising option for the deep decarbonization of the gas sector. However, blending H2 with NG significantly affects the thermophysical properties of the gas mixture, changing the gas supply requirements to meet the demand. In this work, different scenarios of green hydrogen blending (Blend Ratio BR equal to 5/10/15/20%vol) are analyzed at the national level with different temporal constraints (hour/day/week/month/year) based on real gas demand data in Italy, addressing both design requirements (RES and PEM electrolyzer capacity) via Linear Programming (LP) and carrying out dynamic simulations of different operational strategies (constant or variable blend). Although H2/NG blending provides a huge opportunity in terms of deployed H2 volume, higher BRs show rapidly increasing design requirements (1.3-1.5 GWe/%vol and 2.5-3 GWe/%vol for PEM electrolyzers and RES capacity, respectively) and a significative increase of the total gas mixture volume (0.83%/%vol) which hinders the CO2 reduction potential (0.37%/%vol). A variable blend operation strategy (allowing a variation of BR within the analyzed period) allows to balance a variable H2 production from RES. Wider temporal constraints imply several beneficial effects such as relaxing design constraints and avoiding the implementation of an external storage. The Levelized Cost Of Hydrogen (LCOH) is preliminarily estimated at around 7.3 $/kg for yearly scenarios (best-case), although shorter temporal constraints entail significant excess hydrogen which would increase the LCOH if not deployed for other applications.

Ground Displacements Estimation through GNSS and Geometric Leveling: A Geological Interpretation of the 2016–2017 Seismic Sequence in Central Italy

Between August 2016 and January 2017, a very energetic seismic sequence induced substantial horizontal and vertical ground displacements in the Central Italian Apennines. After this event, the Italian Military Geographical Institute (IGM), owner and manager of the Italian geodetic networks, executed several topographic surveys in the earthquake area in order to update the coordinates of vertices belonging to the IGM95 geodetic network. The measurements began in the areas where the most significant deformation occurred: the localities of Amatrice and Accumoli, in the Rieti Province, and the area covering Norcia and Castelluccio, in the Province of Perugia, all the way to Visso (Province of Macerata). The activities described in this paper focused on the updated measurement of the IGM95 network points through GNSS and the restatement of extensive parts of the high precision geometric lines that were levelled until reaching stable zones. This unprecedented amount of data was used for a new geological interpretation of the seismic sequence, which confirms some of the previous hypotheses of the scientific community. In the analyzed territory, the latest estimate of the geodetic position points has allowed for an accurate determination of the east and the north and of the altitude components of the displacement induced by the earthquake through a comparison with the previous coordinates. The results confirm that the seismicity was induced by normal faults system activity. Still, they also indicate the possible influence of a significant regional thrust that conditioned the propagation of the seismicity in the area. The obtained maps of the displacement are coherent with other geodetic works and with a rupture propagation driven by the documented geotectonic structure.

Scientific Literacies for Change Making: Equipping the Young to Tackle Current Societal Challenges

Dealing with the threatening challenges and profound changes that characterise our era requires the development of knowledge and skills to navigate the uncertainty and complexity of science as part of society and everyday life. How can we support school students in transforming the base of knowledge and experiences to face the ongoing crises and contribute as individuals, citizens, and active participants in a democratic society to enable the transformation that is called for? We address this broader question through a study framed within the Horizon 2020 project titled Science Education for Action and Engagement toward Sustainability (SEAS), aimed at promoting new forms of scientific literacy and skills to empower students to become agents of change. Most centrally, SEAS aims at incorporating a transformative dimension that is often lacking in current conceptions of scientific literacy. In SEAS, school and school science are conceived as involving learning and transformation across three spheres—the practical, the political, and the personal—where both individuals and their institutional contexts are subject to change as participants gain agency over their learning processes. In this study, we illustrate this approach and present the analysis of a first pilot iteration within the project’s Italian Local Network, which shows the kind of individual/collective dynamic that the project’s transformative activities afford.

Spanish Airport Network Structure: Topological Characterization

Applied complex network theory has become an interesting research field in the last years. Many papers have appeared on this subject dealing with the topological description of real transport systems, from small networks like the Italian airport network to the worldwide air transportation network. A comprehensive topological description of those critical structures is relevant in order to understand their dynamics, capacities, and vulnerabilities. In this work, for the first time, we describe the Spanish airport network (SAN) as a complex network. Nodes are airports, and links are flight connections weighed by traffic flow. We study its topological features and traffic dynamics. Our analysis shows that SAN has complex dynamics similar to small-size air transportation networks of other developed economies. It shares properties of small-world and scale-free networks, and it is highly connected and efficient and has a disassortative pattern for high-degree nodes.

Brivaracetam as add-on treatment in patients with post-stroke epilepsy: real-world data from the BRIVAracetam add-on First Italian netwoRk Study (BRIVAFIRST).

Post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) is one of the most common causes of acquired epilepsy and accounts for about 10-15% of all newly diagnosed epilepsy cases. However, evidence about the clinical profile of antiseizure medications in the PSE setting is currently limited. Brivaracetam (BRV) is a rationally developed compound characterized by high-affinity binding to synaptic vesicle protein 2A. The aim of this study was to assess the 12-month effectiveness and tolerability of adjunctive BRV in patients with PSE treated in a real-world setting. This was a subgroup analysis of patients with PSE included in the BRIVAracetam add-on First Italian netwoRk Study (BRIVAFIRST). The BRIVAFIRST was a 12-month retrospective, multicentre study including adult patients prescribed adjunctive BRV. Effectiveness outcomes included the rates of seizure response (≥50% reduction in baseline seizure frequency), seizure-freedom, and treatment discontinuation. Safety and tolerability outcomes included the rate of treatment discontinuation due to adverse events (AEs) and the incidence of AEs. Patients with PSE included in the BRIVAFIRST were 75 and had a median age of 57 (interquartile range, 42-66) years. The median daily doses of BRV at 3, 6, and 12 months from starting treatment were 100 (100-150) mg, 125 (100-200) mg and 100 (100-200) mg, respectively. At 12 months, 32 (42.7%) patients had a reduction in their baseline seizure frequency by at least 50%, and the seizure freedom rates was 26/75 (34.7%). During the 1-year study period, 10 (13.3%) patients discontinued BRV. The reasons of treatment withdrawal were insufficient efficacy in 6 (8.0%) patients and poor tolerability in 4 (5.3%) patients. Adverse events were reported by 13 (20.3%) patients and were rated as mild in 84.6% and moderate in 15.4% of cases. Adjunctive BRV was efficacious and generally well-tolerated when used in patients with PSE in clinical practice. Adjunctive BRV can be a suitable therapeutic option for patients with PSE.

Beta-blockers are associated with better long-term survival in patients with Takotsubo syndrome

ObjectiveThe advantage of beta-blockers has been postulated in patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) given the pathophysiological role of catecholamines. We hypothesised that beta-blocker treatment after discharge may improve the long-term...