Linguistic markers of processing the first months of the pandemic COVID-19: a psycholinguistic analysis of Italian university students' diaries

A longitudinal psycholinguistic study was conducted with 107 students from different Italian universities that produced daily photo-diary entries for two weeks, one at the beginning and the other at the end of the first Italian lockdown period, imposed in view of the rapid dissemination of COVID -19. The task was to take a daily photo accompanied by a short description (text). The texts accompanying the photos were analysed using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) software to analyze linguistic markers representing psychological processes related to the experience of the pandemic and the lockdown, identifying potential changes in psycholinguistic variables useful for understanding the psychological impact of such harsh and extended restricted living conditions on Italian students. LIWC categories related to negation, anger, cognitive mechanisms, tentative discourse, past, and future increased statistically significantly between the two time points, while word count, prepositions, communication, leisure, and home decreased statistically significantly. While male participants used more articles at both time points, females used more words related to anxiety, social processes, past, and present at T1 and more related to insight at T2. Participants who lived with their partner showed higher scores on negative emotions, affect, positive feelings, anger, optimism, and certainty. Participants from southern Italy tended to describe their experiences from a collective and social perspective rather than an individual perspective. By identifying, discussing, and comparing these phenomena with the broader literature, a spotlight is shed for the first time on the psycholinguistic analysis of students at the national level who faced the first COVID -19 lockdown in Italy.

Udder health-related traits in cow milk: phenotypic variability and effect on milk yield and composition

The milk differential somatic cell count (DSCC) has been proposed in recent years as a mean by which to better monitor the udder health status (UHS) in dairy cows. Milk DSCC is the amount of polymorphonuclear neutrophils and lymphocytes contributing to the total somatic cell count (SCC) and can be determined on a routine basis in individual milk samples subjected to official analysis. In the present study, 522 865 milk test-day records of 77 143 cows were scrutinised to identify factors affecting the variability of both DSCC and SCC in Holstein Friesian, Jersey, Simmental and Rendena cows through linear mixed models. The fixed effects were breed, parity, lactation stage, sampling season, and all the first-order interactions of breed. Cow and herd-test-date were considered as random. Subsequently, four UHS groups were created (1: SCC ≤ 200 000 cells/mL and DSCC ≤ 65%; 2: SCC ≤ 200 000 cells/mL and DSCC > 65%; 3: SCC > 200 000 cells/mL and DSCC > 65%; 4: SCC > 200 000 cells/mL and DSCC ≤ 65%) to compare milk yield and quality. Milk SCS and DSCC differed across lactation, parity, sampling season and breed. In particular, Simmental cows had the lowest SCC and Jersey the lowest DSCC. Depending on the breed, UHS affected daily milk yield and composition to a different extent. The UHS group 4, i.e. the one grouping test-day records with high SCC and low DSCC, presented the lowest estimate of milk yield and lactose content no matter the breeds. Our findings support that udder health-related traits (SCS and DSCC) are useful information to improve udder health at individual cow and herd levels. Moreover, the combination of SCS and DSCC is useful to monitor milk yield and composition.

Exploring potential risk factors of antimicrobial use in beef cattle

Livestock species are major contributors to the increase of antimicrobial (AM) resistance which is a worldwide concern for both human and animal health. The over-use of AM is widely acknowledged, however, unlike pigs, poultry and dairy cattle, knowledge on potential risk factors affecting AM usage (AMU) in beef industry is limited. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the impact of farm, breed, sex and season of arrival of purchased beef cattle on AMU in Italian beef cattle. Data on 1063 batches were collected from January 2016 to April 2019 from specialised beef fattening farms located in the north of Italy. Information on breed, sex, date of arrival, performance traits and AM agents used on farm was collected, and the treatment incidence 100 (TI100) indexes per batch were calculated using the defined daily dose animal estimated according to Italian summaries of product characteristics. Factors affecting TI100 indexes were investigated using a cross-classified multilevel model. Farms largely differed in terms of AMU. Males had greater AMU than females (P < 0.001), likely due to their higher susceptibility to disease. Statistically significant differences were observed between seasons of arrival with summer and spring having lower TI100 indexes than winter and autumn (P < 0.001). Indeed, winter is commonly linked to an increase in respiratory diseases in beef cattle. Finally, the TI100it indexes tended to be different among breeds with Blonde d'Aquitaine and Limousine having greater AMU compared to the other breeds. Results of this study provided valuable information on potential risk factors of AMU in beef production which may be useful to address its reduction. For instance, the development of tailored management strategies for specific breeds, targeted approaches to improve the health of males as well as greater care towards batches purchased in winter are possible advice to implement on-farm for a more responsible AM stewardship.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices about homelessness and willingness-to-pay for housing-first across 8 European countries: a survey protocol

Background

Most European countries report rising numbers of people experiencing homelessness. For those with mental disorders, interventions are centered on achieving mental health and drug rehabilitation alongside housing readiness, often to the detriment of access to housing. Notwithstanding, more European countries are investing in a new model, Housing First (HF), which postulates immediate access to permanent housing with no initial requirements for treatment. While results of the European HF programs are published on individual-level data, little is known about the opinions of the general population about homelessness and the societal value of the HF model, which can represent barriers to the model's dissemination. Therefore, we present the protocol of a study designed for the following objectives: 1) to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) about homelessness within the general population of 8 European countries, 2) to assess the valuation of the HF model by European citizens, and 3) to estimate the lifetime prevalence of homelessness in the targeted countries.

Methods

A telephone survey was conducted from March to December 2017 among adults selected from opt-in panels from France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Poland, and Sweden. A total sample of 5600 interviews was expected, with 700 per country. The interviews included three sections: first, the KAP about homelessness; second, the valuation of the HF model by measuring a respondent's willingness-to-pay (WTP) through the contingent valuation method; and third, an assessment of the lifetime prevalence of homelessness among the general population. Descriptive analyses and comparisons between countries will be conducted. KAP indicators will be created and their psychometric properties assessed. Determinants of WTP will be assessed through regression models.

Discussion

This survey will highlight Europeans' views of homelessness, especially their level of tolerance towards homelessness, potential misconceptions and the most important barriers for the implementation of the HF model. Additionally, the results on the valuation of the HF model by citizens could be instrumental for key stakeholders in understanding the level of support from the general population. Ethics approval has been obtained from the Aix-Marseille University Ethics Committee (n° 2016-01-02-01) for this study, which is part of HOME_EU: Reversing Homelessness in Europe H2O20-SC6-REVINEQUAL-2016/GA726997.

Unemployment and smoking: does psychosocial stress matter?

AIM

Research indicates that cigarette smoking is strongly associated with unemployment. However, little is known regarding the underlying mechanisms explaining this relationship. The aim of this study is to examine the role of psychosocial factors as potential mediators between unemployment and smoking.

PARTICIPANTS

4002 non-institutionalised, civilian adults living in the Veneto region of Italy.

DESIGN

The study was based on a computer assisted telephone interview (CATI). Linear by linear association tests were used to examine bivariate associations between unemployment, psychosocial factors, and smoking. Logistic regression models were developed to analyse the relationship between unemployment and smoking when adjusting for psychological factors.

RESULTS

The odds of smoking among the unemployed was 2.78 times (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.68 to 4.62) greater than that of higher managers and professionals controlling for demographic factors. The relationship between unemployment and smoking weakened (odds ratio 2.41, 95% CI 1.43 to 4.05) when psychosocial factors were entered into the analysis. The odds of the inability to control important things in life was 1.39 times (95% CI 1.11 to 1.75) greater, and the odds of emotional isolation was 1.45 times (95% CI 1.06 to 1.99) greater, among smokers compared to non-smokers controlling, for all other factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Given that the data were cross sectional, firm conclusions cannot be drawn regarding the causal pathway connecting unemployment and smoking. However, this study suggests that psychosocial factors such as the inability to control and emotional isolation may be plausible mediators for the relationship.

Stress and burnout among teachers in Italy and France

The aim of the present study was to show differences between culture-bound stress levels in two samples of elementary and junior high school teachers in Italy (N = 299) and in France (N = 217), using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI; Maslach & Jackson, 1981) as a questionnaire. The results confirmed the influence of sociocultural background on stress levels in both samples in relation to age. Personal accomplishment was the most discriminating indicator in the two groups.

[The head nurse and conflicts]

The management of organizational conflicts is one of the most relevant skills for headnurses. The data were collected from a sample of 97 headnurses of general hospitals, using the "Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventories". The results show that the most important type of conflict measured is the "intragroup". The ways of handling interpersonal conflict used most often are "integrating" and "obliging". Besides verifying the validity and the reliability of the inventories, the differences connected with sex and age are analyzed. "Integrating" style is more widely used with increasing age while with increasing working years, interpersonal conflicts decrease.

[Stress and nursing. Comparison of the levels of burnout between surgical departments and intensive care units]

Burnout is a state of workers of helping professions that results from a situation of work stress and is characterised by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and low personal accomplishment. Burnout levels were measured in three nursing staffs: two of them working in intensive care units and one in a surgical department. The results show significant statistical differences between the two staffs of intensive care units. Such differences seem to be connected with the psychological climate evaluated in the units.

[Protection and risk factors with respect to "burnout" of operatives. A comparative study of the psychosocial centers of Milan and Trieste]

The Maslach Burn Out Inventory (1981) has been applied to a group of workers at three Psychosocial Centres at Milan and Trieste characterised by differing work styles. Point scores were related to a number of variables relative to the professional situation and work organisation. The same scores were related to the results of a questionnaire (Contessa 1987) on the operator's perception of his activity and on motivational factors with respect to the professional choice in actuality and at the beginning of the career. It was therefore possible to identify a set of positive correlations that indicate the presence of factors which increase or reduce B.O. Level.