The loess deposits of Buca Dei Corvi section (Central Italy): Revisited

Loess deposits have been described in the past for the upper section of Buca Dei Corvi succession (Central Italy). In this paper the depositswere re-analysed to clarify the depositional environment and to attempt a paleoclimate reconstruction. Two radiocarbon dates on pedogenic carbonate constrain the ages to the Late Glacial, and are consistent with previous OSL dating of the top of the succession. The non-marine mollusc assemblage shows typical character of cold and dry climatic conditions, testified by strong oligotypical composition. Mineralogy and geochemistry of the sediments indicate the abundant presence of exotic quartz mineral which can be explained only by wind transport. Probably,wind transportwas also responsible of deposition of carbonatewhich then dissolved and re-precipitated producing pedogenic concretions. Stable isotopes (13C/12C and 18O/16O ratios) of the concretions are consistent with a climate drier than present conditions, with an environment characterized by sparse vegetation

Atmospheric and Oceanic Pathways Drive Separate Modes of Southern Hemisphere Climate in Simulations of Spontaneous Dansgaard‐Oeschger‐Type Oscillations

Dansgaard-Oeschger (DO) events are a dominant mode of millennial-scale climate variability during the last glacial period with most pronounced impacts in the North Atlantic region. In Antarctica, they manifest primarily as a muted and phase-shifted temperature signal, but recent studies suggest an additional in-phase component. Here, we analyze the Southern Hemisphere (SH) response to spontaneous DO-type oscillations in a general circulation model. The dominant Antarctic temperature mode is phase-shifted compared to Greenland temperature variations and consistent with the oceanic pathway described by the bipolar seesaw model. However, the leading SH atmospheric circulation mode varies synchronously with Greenland temperatures. A westward-shifted Walker circulation and strengthened Hadley cell during Greenland temperature maxima cause zonally heterogeneous jet stream anomalies differing from the Southern Annular Mode pattern. Comparison of simulated δ18O with speleothems and ice cores indicates a good agreement in the tropics and SH mid-latitudes but deviations in Antarctica warrant further research

The Focal Play Therapy: A Clinical Approach to Promote Child Health and Family Well-being

Eating and evacuation disorders can cause serious health problems for children. Early recognition and early treatment require a multifactor intervention based on a collaborative relationship between pediatricians, psychotherapists and other health professionals. In this context the Focal Play Therapy (FPT) with children and parents is a psychodynamic model of intervention that improves parental ability to cope with child's difficulties. Parental engagement in child interventions allows to understand child's symptoms within family dynamics and to build an alliance with parents that represents a crucial variable of an effective psychological support for children and families. In the present study data were collected from 17 parental couples and their preschool children at two time points (1st and 6th FPT sessions) marking the first phase of this intervention. This phase was aimed to the assessment of child's symptoms within family relationships and to the promotion of the alliance with parents. Families were in treatment at the Psychological Consultation Center for Children and Parents located at the Department of Psychology of the University of Bologna (Italy). This Center provides health assessment and intervention services to children and their families. We investigated the alliance from both parents and therapist points of view along with other parental and child outcome variables implied in clinical works with children and families. Alliance scores were obtained through the Working Alliance Inventory and the System for Observing Family Therapy Alliances, two measures used in individual and family settings, respectively. Parenting stress and parent-child interactions were investigated using the Parenting Stress Index and the Emotional Availability Scales. Furthermore, paired t-tests were run to detect changes on parental and child variables. Findings advise that special attention should be paid to the building of an early alliance with parents. In this regard the FPT is specifically designed to promote the parent-therapist alliance in the context of child health and family well-being

The relationship between knowing sign language and quality of life among Italian people who are deaf : a cross-sectional study

Deafness is a medical condition with important relational implications. This condition could affect well-being and self-esteem and cause social anxiety. Sign language is not only a simple mimic but can be considered as a different kind of communication that could be protective for those who have learned it. However, some people do not use sign language because they think it can be marginalizing. The present study aimed to compare the quality of life (QoL) between people who learned Italian sign language as their first language with those who had never learned it or learned it later. This cross-sectional study involved 182 deaf Italian adults (70.3% females) who were recruited from Ente Nazionale Sordi (ENS) and by the main online deafness groups. The present results suggest that the deaf condition does not seem to significantly affect the dimensions of QoL pertaining to satisfaction and self-esteem, while it could have an effect on preventing high levels of social anxiety and in particular, the group who learned Italian sign language showed significantlyless social anxiety than those who had never learned it

Parental personality traits and changes in parenting stress after a parent- child psychodynamic intervention

Introduction The Focal Play Therapy with Children and Parents (FPT-CP) is a psychodynamic treatment originally developed for eating and evacuation disorders and then adapted to a wide range of parent–child relationship problems during preschool years. It is based on both the active engagement of parents in the diagnostic-therapeutic process and the use of play as a narrative dimension of the family history. Aim The present study wants to investigate the relationship between parental personality traits and changes in parenting stress after the first seven sessions of FPT-CP. Material and Method Parents accessed the Psychological Consultation Centre for Children and Parents (Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Italy) for their child’s (0-5 years) behavioral, eating, or evacuation problems.Sixty Italian parents (30 mothers; M = 39.9, SD = 4.9, and M = 42.1, SD = 5.1, for mothers and fathers respectively) participated to the study. The FPT-CP is structured into weekly alternate play sessions with children and parents together and sessions with parents only. At the end of the first session parents were asked to fill in a demographic questionnaire and two self-reports on parenting stress and the Big Five personality traits, while at the end of the seventh session only the questionnaire on parenting stress was completed. Conclusion Results show an association between variation in parenting stress from the first to the seventh FPT session and personality traits. Different patterns were detected in mothers compared to fathers. For example, neuroticism was involved in both mothers and fathers parental stress levels but for fathers had a significant positive association only with post-intervention stress levels. Personality traits should be taken into consideration when treating child-related problems

The Focal Play Therapy: A Clinical Approach To Promote Child Health and Family Well-being

Eating and evacuation disorders can cause serious health problems for children. Early recognition and early treatment require a multifactor intervention based on a collaborative relationship between pediatricians, psychotherapists and other health professionals. In this context the Focal Play Therapy (FPT) with children and parents is a psychodynamic model of intervention that improves parental ability to cope with child\u2019s difficulties. Parental engagement in child interventions allows to understand child\u2019s symptoms within family dynamics and to build an alliance with parents that represents a crucial variable of an effective psychological support for children and families. In the present study data were collected from 17 parental couples and their preschool children at two time points (1st and 6th FPT sessions) marking the first phase of this intervention. This phase was aimed to the assessment of child\u2019s symptoms within family relationships and to the promotion of the alliance with parents. Families were in treatment at the Psychological Consultation Center for Children and Parents located at the Department of Psychology of the University of Bologna (Italy). This Center provides health assessment and intervention services to children and their families. We investigated the alliance from both parents and therapist points of view along with other parental and child outcome variables implied in clinical works with children and families. Alliance scores were obtained through the Working Alliance Inventory and the System for Observing Family Therapy Alliances, two measures used in individual and family settings, respectively. Parenting stress and parent-child interactions were investigated using the Parenting Stress Index and the Emotional Availability Scales. Furthermore, paired t-tests were run to detect changes on parental and child variables. Findings advise that special attention should be paid to the building of an early alliance with parents. In this regard the FPT is specifically designed to promote the parent-therapist alliance in the context of child health and family well-being

The Focal Play Therapy: An Empirical Study on the Parent–Therapist Alliance, Parent–Child Interactions and Parenting Stress in a Clinical Sample of Children and Their Parents

The present study aims to investigate the outcomes of the Focal Play Therapy with Children and Parents (FPT-CP) in terms of parent–therapist alliance, parent–child interactions, and parenting stress. Thirty parental couples (N = 60; 30 mothers and 30 fathers) and their children presenting behavioral, evacuation and eating disorders took part to the study. Through a multi-method longitudinal approach, data were collected at two time points (first and seventh sessions) marking the first phase of the intervention specifically aimed to build the alliance with parents, a crucial variable for the remission of the child’s symptoms (and to the assessment of the child’s symptoms within family dynamics.) Therapeutic alliance was assessed by the Working Alliance Inventory by therapists and parents. Parent–child interactions and parenting stress were evaluated using the Emotional Availability Scales and the Parenting Stress Index, respectively. Results showed that a positive parent–therapist alliance was developed and maintained during the first seven sessions. Furthermore, parent–child interactions significantly improved on both parents’ and child’s dimensions. However, parenting stress levels remained unchanged between the two time points. The findings should enrich scientific knowledge about the role of parental engagement in preschool child-focused treatments as to better inform practice and improve the quality of care for children and their families

The Focal Play Therapy: An Empirical Study on the Parent–Therapist Alliance, Parent–Child Interactions and Parenting Stress in a Clinical Sample of Children and Their Parents

The present study aims to investigate the outcomes of the Focal Play Therapy with Children and Parents (FPT-CP) in terms of parent–therapist alliance, parent–child interactions, and parenting stress. Thirty parental couples (N = 60; 30 mothers and 30 fathers) and their children presenting behavioral, evacuation and eating disorders took part to the study. Through a multi-method longitudinal approach, data were collected at two time points (first and seventh sessions) marking the first phase of the intervention specifically aimed to build the alliance with parents, a crucial variable for the remission of the child’s symptoms (and to the assessment of the child’s symptoms within family dynamics.) Therapeutic alliance was assessed by the Working Alliance Inventory by therapists and parents. Parent–child interactions and parenting stress were evaluated using the Emotional Availability Scales and the Parenting Stress Index, respectively. Results showed that a positive parent–therapist alliance was developed and maintained during the first seven sessions. Furthermore, parent–child interactions significantly improved on both parents’ and child’s dimensions. However, parenting stress levels remained unchanged between the two time points. The findings should enrich scientific knowledge about the role of parental engagement in preschool child-focused treatments as to better inform practice and improve the quality of care for children and their families.</jats:p

Thermodynamic assessment of simulations of the last deglaciation with an Earth system model of intermediate complexity

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;span dir=&amp;quot;ltr&amp;quot; role=&amp;quot;presentation&amp;quot;&amp;gt;As we observe and expect severe changes in the Earth&amp;amp;#8217; climate, the analyses of past climate state transitions is of &amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;span dir=&amp;quot;ltr&amp;quot; role=&amp;quot;presentation&amp;quot;&amp;gt;major value for improving our Earth system understanding. Under this objective, the last deglaciation (&amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;span dir=&amp;quot;ltr&amp;quot; role=&amp;quot;presentation&amp;quot;&amp;gt;~&amp;lt;/span&amp;gt; &amp;lt;span dir=&amp;quot;ltr&amp;quot; role=&amp;quot;presentation&amp;quot;&amp;gt;21 ka to &amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;span dir=&amp;quot;ltr&amp;quot; role=&amp;quot;presentation&amp;quot;&amp;gt;9 ka before present), the transition from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to the Holocene, is an ideal case study. &amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;span dir=&amp;quot;ltr&amp;quot; role=&amp;quot;presentation&amp;quot;&amp;gt;During this transition, the orbital configuration gradually changed and greenhouse gases have risen, which caused &amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;span dir=&amp;quot;ltr&amp;quot; role=&amp;quot;presentation&amp;quot;&amp;gt;a sharp decline in northern hemisphere ice sheets and an increase in the global mean surface temperature.&amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt; &amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;span dir=&amp;quot;ltr&amp;quot; role=&amp;quot;presentation&amp;quot;&amp;gt;We create an ensemble of deglaciation simulations with a modified version of the Planet Simulator, an Earth &amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;span dir=&amp;quot;ltr&amp;quot; role=&amp;quot;presentation&amp;quot;&amp;gt;system model of intermediate complexity (EMIC). We produce single and combined forcing simulations for further &amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;span dir=&amp;quot;ltr&amp;quot; role=&amp;quot;presentation&amp;quot;&amp;gt;investigation from a thermodynamic perspective.&amp;lt;/span&amp;gt; &amp;lt;span dir=&amp;quot;ltr&amp;quot; role=&amp;quot;presentation&amp;quot;&amp;gt;The response to the transiently changing radiative forcing is &amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;span dir=&amp;quot;ltr&amp;quot; role=&amp;quot;presentation&amp;quot;&amp;gt;investigated in terms of energy and entropy budgets of the atmosphere. Here, we focus on the deglacial evolution &amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;span dir=&amp;quot;ltr&amp;quot; role=&amp;quot;presentation&amp;quot;&amp;gt;of the material entropy production (MEP). Its contributions represent the strength of major climate features such &amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;span dir=&amp;quot;ltr&amp;quot; role=&amp;quot;presentation&amp;quot;&amp;gt;as the kinetic energy generation rate, vertical and horizontal heat transport and the hydrological cycle. Preliminary &amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;span dir=&amp;quot;ltr&amp;quot; role=&amp;quot;presentation&amp;quot;&amp;gt;results show an increase of the global mean MEP from the LGM to the Holocene because of a strengthening of &amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;span dir=&amp;quot;ltr&amp;quot; role=&amp;quot;presentation&amp;quot;&amp;gt;the hydrological contribution. In contrast, the relative importance of kinetic energy dissipation and turbulent heat &amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;span dir=&amp;quot;ltr&amp;quot; role=&amp;quot;presentation&amp;quot;&amp;gt;diffusion in the boundary layer decrease. Our work can provide the basis for investigating the MEP as a diagnostic &amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;span dir=&amp;quot;ltr&amp;quot; role=&amp;quot;presentation&amp;quot;&amp;gt;quantity with other models and for other climate state transitions.&amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;</jats:p