Emotional intelligence (EI) represents an attribute of contemporary attractiveness for the scientific psychology community. Of particular interest for the present thesis are the conundrum related to the representation of this construct conceptualized as a trait (i.e., trait EI), which are in turn reflected in the current lack of agreement upon its constituent elements, posing significant challenges to research and clinical progress. Trait EI is defined as an umbrella personality-alike construct reflecting emotion-related dispositions and self-perceptions. The Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue) was chosen as main measure, given its strong theoretical and psychometrical basis, including superior predictive validity when compared to other trait EI measures. Studies 1 and 2 aimed at validating the Italian 153-items forms of the TEIQue devoted to adolescents and adults. Analyses were done to investigate the structure of the questionnaire, its internal consistencies and gender differences at the facets, factor, and global level of both versions. Despite some low reliabilities, results from Studies 1 and 2 confirm the four-factor structure of the TEIQue. Study 3 investigated the utility of trait EI in a sample of adolescents over internalizing conditions (i.e., symptoms of anxiety and depression) and academic performance (grades at math and Italian language/literacy). Beyond trait EI, concurrent effects of demographic variables, higher order personality dimensions and non-verbal cognitive ability were controlled for. Study 4a and Study 4b addressed analogue research questions, through a meta-analysis and new data in on adults. In the latter case, effects of demographics, emotion regulation strategies, and the Big Five were controlled. Overall, these studies showed the incremental utility of the TEIQue in different domains beyond relevant predictors. Analyses performed at the level of the four-TEIQue factors consistently indicated that its predictive effects were mainly due to the factor Well-Being. Findings are discussed with reference to potential implication for theory and practice.

Abstract Background: Turner syndrome (TS) is a chromosomal abnormality (total or partial absence of one of the sexual chromosomes in some or all cells of the body), which affects approximately 1:2000 female. Principal characteristics are short stature and gonadal disgenesis. Clinical management consist of Growth Hormone (GH) treatment and oestrogen replacement therapy (HRT), to induce development of secondary characteristics and to avoid the sequelae of oestrogen deficiency. Aim of the study: To assess clinical management, quality of life (QoL) and general psychosocial adjustment of women with TS. Population: 70 adult Caucasian females with TS (mean age: 27.8, ± 7.6; range 18-48 y.). Setting: Specialist service for Rare Disease care, University Hospital. Methods: Subjects were required to fill in questionnaires collecting ASR, WHOQOL, and 8 open questions. Data were compared with those of the Italian population or to those collected in a comparison group (70 healthy females, mean age: 27.9, ±7.3, range 21-48 y.). Results: Women with TS are educated as well as the Italian Population, but they have a less successful professional life. They show good QoL in general, but they appeared less satisfied in social area. They had statistically higher scores than the comparison group for depression, anxiety and withdrawal. Are less involved in a love relationship. Diagnosis communication was mostly performed by doctors or parents, satisfaction was higher when information was given by parents. Main preoccupation about TS are infertility, feeling of being different and future health problem. Conclusions: Italian people with TS were generally well adapted and have a good QoL, but lived more often with parents and show impaired sentimental and sexual life. They have higher degree of psychological distress compared to a comparison group. Psychological intervention should firstly address parents in order to encourage an open communication on diagnosis issues and on sexual education.

La prima parte del nostro studio riguarda la tecnica LAMP (Loop-mediated isothermal amplification), una tecnica di amplificazione isotermica recentemente inventata (Notomi et al., 2000). Essa presenta notevoli vantaggi rispetto alle tradizionali PCR: non necessita di strumentazioni sofisticate come i termociclatori, può essere eseguita da personale non specializzato, è una tecnica altamente sensibile e specifica ed è molto tollerante agli inibitori. Tutte queste caratteristiche fanno sì che essa possa essere utilizzata al di fuori dei laboratori diagnostici, come POCT (Point of care testing), con il vantaggio di non dover gestire la spedizione del campione e di avere in tempi molto brevi risultati paragonabili a quelli ottenuti con la tradizionale PCR. Sono state prese in considerazione malattie infettive sostenute da batteri che richiedono tempi molto lunghi per la coltivazione o che non sono addirittura coltivabili. Sono stati disegnati dei saggi per la diagnosi di patologie virali che necessitano di diagnosi tempestiva. Altri test messi a punto riguardano malattie genetiche del cane e due batteri d’interesse agro-alimentare. Tutte le prove sono state condotte con tecnica real-time per diminuire il rischio di cross-contaminazione pur riuscendo a comprendere in maniera approfondita l’andamento delle reazioni. Infine è stato messo a punto un metodo di visualizzazione colorimetrico utilizzabile con tutti i saggi messi a punto, che svincola completamente la reazione LAMP dall’esecuzione in un laboratorio specializzato. Il secondo capitolo riguarda lo studio dal punto di vista molecolare di un soggetto che presenza totale assenza di attività mieloperossidasica all’analisi di citochimica automatica (ADVIA® 2120 Hematology System). Lo studio è stato condotto attraverso amplificazione e confronto dei prodotti di PCR ottenuti sul soggetto patologico e su due soggetti con fenotipo wild-type. Si è poi provveduto al sequenziamento dei prodotti di PCR su sequenziatore automatico al fine di ricercare la mutazione responsabile della carenza di MPO nel soggetto indicato. / The first part of the present study concerns the LAMP technique (Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification), an isothermal amplification technique recently developed (Notomi et al., 2000). LAMP has many advantages over traditional PCR: it doesn’t require sophisticated instruments like thermal cyclers, it can be performed by unskilled staff, it is a highly sensitive and specific technique and it is very tolerant to inhibitors. All these characteristics make it suitable to be used outside diagnostic laboratories, as POCT (Point-of-care testing), with the advantage of not having to send the sample and obtaining results as accurate as PCR tests and in very short times. We designed and optimized assays to detect bacteria that require a very long time for cultivation or that are not even cultivable. We drew assays for the diagnosis of viral diseases that require to be diagnosed as soon as possible. We developed a test to assess two genetic diseases of the dog and two food contaminating bacteria. All tests were carried out using real-time technique to decrease the risk of cross-contamination. Finally, we developed a colorimetric method for showing results which can be applied to all of the assays we optimized. The second section presents the molecular study of a subject who had myeloperoxidase deficiency at the automated cytochemistry analysis (ADVIA ® 2120 Hematology System). The study was conducted through amplification and comparison of the PCR products obtained from the pathological subject and on two subjects with wild-type phenotype. The products were sequenced using an automated sequencer in order to find the responsible mutation for the MPO deficiency in the indicated subject.

Beside the traditional paradigm of "centralized" power generation, a new concept of "distributed" generation is emerging, in which the same user becomes pro-sumer. During this transition, the Energy Storage Systems (ESS) can provide multiple services and features, which are necessary for a higher quality of the electrical system and for the optimization of non-programmable Renewable Energy Source (RES) power plants. A ESS prototype was designed, developed and integrated into a renewable energy production system in order to create a smart microgrid and consequently manage in an efficient and intelligent way the energy flow as a function of the power demand. The produced energy can be introduced into the grid, supplied to the load directly or stored in batteries. The microgrid is composed by a 7 kW wind turbine (WT) and a 17 kW photovoltaic (PV) plant are part of. The load is given by electrical utilities of a cheese factory. The ESS is composed by the following two subsystems, a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and a Power Control System (PCS). With the aim of sizing the ESS, a Remote Grid Analyzer (RGA) was designed, realized and connected to the wind turbine, photovoltaic plant and the switchboard. Afterwards, different electrochemical storage technologies were studied, and taking into account the load requirements present in the cheese factory, the most suitable solution was identified in the high temperatures salt Na-NiCl2 battery technology. The data acquisition from all electrical utilities provided a detailed load analysis, indicating the optimal storage size equal to a 30 kW battery system. Moreover a container was designed and realized to locate the BESS and PCS, meeting all the requirements and safety conditions. Furthermore, a smart control system was implemented in order to handle the different applications of the ESS, such as peak shaving or load levelling.

Environmental decay in porous masonry materials, such as brick and mortar, is a widespread problem concerning both new and historic masonry structures. The decay mechanisms are quite complex dependng upon several interconnected parameters and from the interaction with the specific micro-climate. Materials undergo aesthetical and substantial changes in character but while many studies have been carried out, the mechanical aspect has been largely understudied while it bears true importance from the structural viewpoint. A quantitative assessment of the masonry material degradation and how it affects the load-bearing capacity of masonry structures appears missing. The research work carried out, limiting the attention to brick masonry addresses this issue through an experimental laboratory approach via different integrated testing procedures, both non-destructive and mechanical, together with monitoring methods. Attention was focused on transport of moisture and salts and on the damaging effects caused by the crystallization of two different salts, sodium chloride and sodium sulphate. Many series of masonry specimens, very different in size and purposes were used to track the damage process since its beginning and to monitor its evolution over a number of years Athe same time suitable testing techniques, non-destructive, mini-invasive, analytical, of monitoring, were validated for these purposes. The specimens were exposed to different aggressive agents (in terms of type of salt, of brine concentration, of artificial vs. open-air natural ageing, …), tested by different means (qualitative vs. quantitative, non destructive vs. mechanical testing, punctual vs. wide areas, …), and had different size (1-, 2-, 3-header thick walls, full-scale walls vs. small size specimens, brick columns and triplets vs. small walls, masonry specimens vs. single units of brick and mortar prisms, …). Different advanced testing methods and novel monitoring techniques were applied in an integrated holistic approach, for quantitative assessment of masonry health state.

No description available.

In this work, the Generalized Beam Theory (GBT) is used as the main tool to analyze the mechanics of thin-walled beams. After an introduction to the subject and a quick review of some of the most well-known approaches to describe the behaviour of thin-walled beams, a novel formulation of the GBT is presented. This formulation contains the classic shear-deformable GBT available in the literature and contributes an additional description of cross-section warping that is variable along the wall thickness besides along the wall midline. Shear deformation is introduced in such a way that the classical shear strain components of the Timoshenko beam theory are recovered exactly. According to the new kinematics proposed, a reviewed form of the cross-section analysis procedure is devised, based on a unique modal decomposition. Later, a procedure for a posteriori reconstruction of all the three-dimensional stress components in the finite element analysis of thin-walled beams using the GBT is presented. The reconstruction is simple and based on the use of three-dimensional equilibrium equations and of the RCP procedure. Finally, once the stress reconstruction procedure is presented, a study of several existing issues on the constitutive relations in the GBT is carried out. Specifically, a constitutive law based on mirroring the kinematic constraints of the GBT model into a specific stress field assumption is proposed. It is shown that this method is equally valid for isotropic and orthotropic beams and coincides with the conventional GBT approach available in the literature. Later on, an analogous procedure is presented for the case of laminated beams. Lastly, as a way to improve an inherently poor description of shear deformability in the GBT, the introduction of shear correction factors is proposed. Throughout this work, numerous examples are provided to determine the validity of all the proposed contributions to the field.

Disorders of the somatosensory system causing neuropathic pain (NP) are common in people. In small animals medicine, this condition remains underestimated probably due to the lack of standardized assessment methods and studies focused on the description of structures playing a key role in developing and maintaining neuropathic pain, such as dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Hence, the aims of the present research project, structured in three different studies, were: a) investigate the possible effects of the reduction in radicular blood flow on the vascular density, ganglionic and endoneurial ischemia and shift in neuronal metabolism, in fifteen L7-DRG from a total of eight dogs suffering from painful compressed spinal L7 nerve roots (NRs) and DRG; b) perform a preliminary characterization of the expression of substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, calbindin D-28k, neuronal nitric oxide synthase and the colocalization of those molecules in lumbosacral DRG neurons of three neurologically normal dogs; c) Investigate the prevalence, risk factors and owners’ perception of their pets quality of life of the Phantom Complex (PC) in a client-owned population of 107 dogs with limb amputation through an online survey. Main results were: a) Our findings highlight a significant neuronal distress in compressed DRG. Despite the similarity of vascular density between controls and compressed L7-DRG, we found a significant increased in neuronal immunoreactivity for hypoxia-related markers and for markers related to glycolytic cellular metabolism. b) The wide variability of CGRP-, SP-, CALB-, and nNOS-immunoreactivity among different species was confirmed. Further studies are required in order to better define the characterization of those markers in canine DRG. c) Our study demonstrates for the first time the presence of PC.Significant risk factors associated with the frequency of post-amputation pain episodes are duration of pain before amputation and time between diagnosis and amputation.

In this work, the Generalized Beam Theory (GBT) is used as the main tool to analyze the mechanics of thin-walled beams. After a brief introduction to the subject, the attention is focused on the constitutive relations both for the isotropic and the orthotropic cases. In particular, a novel approach based on energetic arguments , able to automatically select appropriate constitutive relations in accordance with the GBT kinematics, is presented. Furthermore, the concept of consistency of a GBT-based model is introduced and a consistency analysis is conducted. This provides a formal basis to investigate the effects of various families of cross-section deformation modes in terms of predictive capabilities of the GBT model. Later, a new finite element for GBT beams is presented. The element is based on the hybrid complementary energy functional, involving nodal displacements and equilibrating stresses within the element as indipendent variables. Assumed stresses are rationally derived basing on the stresses associated to analytical solutions of some particular cases. The numerical results show the high performance of the proposed element. Subsequently, in the framework of cold-formed stability verification, a verification approach called Embedded Stability Analysis is shown. The verification approach, based on the GBT, is an interesting alternative to the simplified procedures provided by current standards and it is applicable in a simple and general way. A synthetic parameter allows the designer to evaluate when it is more appropriate to consider the distortional effects in thin-walled stability check. Finally, in the framework of cold-formed stability analysis, a new version of the so-called approach ECBL (Erosion of the Critical Load Bifurcation), based on the GBT, is presented. The numerical results show an excellent agreement between the new version ECBL approach and the experimental results.

The present research expanded on the literature investigating mother-child feeding and playing interactions during the transition to self-feeding (18-30 months) in the preterm population. Maternal and infant factors were also considered. A total of 69 mother-child dyads (44 preterm and 25 full-term) participated in the research. Assessments took place at 18, 24, and 30 months of the child. At each assessment, mother-child interactions during feeding (Study 1) and during a doll-play (DP) situation representing feeding (Study 2) were video recorded and later coded, respectively through the SVIA (Ammaniti et al., 2006) and the EAS (Biringen, 2008). Moreover, the child’s development was assessed through the Griffiths Scale (Griffiths, 1996, 2006) and mothers filled the BDI-II (Beck & Steer, 1996), the STAI (Spielberg, 1983), and an anamnestic questionnaire built Ad-Hoc. Results of Study 1 showed a greater occurrence of dysfunctional feeding interactions in the preterm compared to the full-term group from 18 to 30 months. Specifically, preterm dyads reported greater maternal negative affective state, greater interactional conflict and lower dyadic reciprocity. Moreover, a significantly lower percentage of children in the preterm group reached eating autonomy compared to the full-term group during the 18-30 months period. Furthermore, adverse past feeding history (difficult breastfeeding and reflux) and lower total scores on the Griffiths were associated to a higher risk of child’s food refusal. Results of Study 2 showed that the preterm group displayed lower emotional availability than the full-term group during mother-child DP interactions from 18 to 30 months, with lower maternal sensitivity, greater maternal intrusiveness, and lower child’s involvement. These findings indicate that special attention should be paid to support mother-child interactions during the transition to self-feeding in the preterm population in order to foster the mother-child relationship and promote the child’s healthy eating behavior and affective development.