The null result of December 2004 Sub-threshold photoproduction of J/$psi$ experiment has motivated this thesis. This monte-carlo predicts the cross-section for sub-threshold photoproduction process and provides an insight on the cross-section range of these processess. The experiment was also conducted as a calibration run for Omega and Eta mesons for the verification of correctness of experimental procedure. The results from this experiment are compared with the monte-carlo simulation for the number of omega meson events. This is primarily done as the models for photoproduction of omega meson are well tested. The monte-carlo provides satisfactory results for the photoproduction models and with a crude a spectrometer model predicts the number of events which are off by a factor less than two. A refined model from Jefferson lab will eliminate this discrepancy.

No description available.

The success of many of our activities depends on how we learn to adapt cognitive control: Usually, we focus and redirect our behavior towards our objectives when facing a particularly challenging task or when irrelevant information activates a response that conflicts with our goals, while we relax and let events guide us when the task is familiar or undemanding. Although most of the theories defining cognitive control tend to describe it as a domain-general construct, several researchers posit that each task elicits different types of control adaptations, thus implying that the control adjustments learned in one task might be purely task-specific. Indeed, some studies failed to find a transfer of control preparation strategies between tasks, while others have even questioned whether individuals can prepare for response conflict overall. To provide clarification, this project aims to (1) understand whether people can learn to employ prior control demands to prepare for subsequent task’s demands and (2) understand whether control adaptation rules (or strategies) devised in one task are indeed task-specific, or they can be transferred to other paradigms. In summary, our results provide evidence of transfer of control adaptation rules between tasks requiring control, and maltransfer of these control strategies towards tasks that do not involve variations in control demands. Moreover, our findings suggest that control adaptations rely on potentially generalizable learning strategies, which can encompass both bottom-up associative learning and a top-down strategic proactive mechanism. Overall, the outcomes of this research project are consistent with a domain-general view of cognitive control adaptations.

One of the main aims of awake surgery for glioma patients is to preserve quality of life, while maximizing tumor resection. Focusing on an important yet understudied aspect of quality of life, this thesis investigates to what extent written language may be affected by a glioma or glioma surgery. By reviewing current assessments of reading and spelling in awake surgery studies, we aimed to provide a better understanding of how neuroanatomical theories may guide neurosurgical practice, and to evaluate how examinations of written language in glioma patients can be improved. To provide a direct clinical application for this knowledge, we developed a theory-driven written language battery specifically for glioma patients. Lastly, we tested its efficacy and evaluated reading and spelling performance in neurosurgical practice. The studies in this thesis have provided a better understanding of written language in neurosurgical practice. In particular, it has contributed to prediction and prevention of written language disorders in glioma patients undergoing awake surgery, and it has resulted in a valid examination tool to carefully monitor reading and spelling in this patient group.

In dieser Arbeit wird die Erzeugung der Charmonium-Zustände J/psi und psi(2S) in Proton-Kern-Reaktionen bei Schwerpunktsenergien von 42 GeV untersucht. Die Daten wurden mit dem HERA-B-Experiment aufgenommen, das in HERA den Protonstrahl nutzt, um Protonen an den Kernen verschiedener Drahttargets zu streuen. Mehr als 150 000 J/psi und 2400 psi(2S)-Zerfälle in Myon-Paare wurden beobachtet. Die HERA-B-Daten decken den kinematischen Bereich in Feynman-x (x_F) zwischen -0.36 und 0.10 und im Transversalimpuls (p_T) bis 4.5 GeV/c ab. Die x_F - und p_T-Verteilungen für die Produktion von J/psi und psi(2S) wurden für Kohlenstoff- und Wolfram-Targets gemessen. Die x_F-Verteilung stimmt gut mit nicht-relativistischen QCD-Rechnungen überein. Bei der p_T-Verteilung findet man einen klaren Anstieg des mittleren p_T für schwerere Kerne: Kohlenstoff = 1.244 +- 0.003 +- 0.034 GeV/c und Wolfram = 1.336 +- 0.004 +- 0.041 GeV/c. Der Vergleich der Erzeugungsraten von psi(2S) und J/psi ergibt: (B''_{muon muon} sigma(psi(2S)) ) / (B_{muon muon} sigma(J/psi)) = 165 +- 9 +- 4 ( x 0.0001) für Kohlenstoff und 154 +- 16 +- 8 ( x 0.0001) für Wolfram. Diese Verältnisse wurden auch für die x_F - und p_T-Verteilungen bestimmt. / In this thesis the production of the charmonium states J/psi and psi(2S) in proton-nucleus collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 42 GeV is studied. The data have been taken by the HERA-B experiment which uses the HERA proton beam to scatter protons off the nuclei of different wire targets. Over 150 x 10^3 J/psi and 2400 psi(2S) decaying to muon pairs are observed. The HERA-B data cover the kinematical range in Feynman x (x_F) between -0.36 and 0.10 and in transverse momentum (p_T) up to 4.5 GeV/c. The x_F and p_T differential distributions for the production of J/psi and psi(2S) mesons are measured for carbon and tungsten target materials. The J/psi x_F distribution agrees well with non-relativistic QCD calculations. From the p_T distributions we find a clear increase of the average p_T for heavier nuclei: Carbon = 1.244 +- 0.003 +- 0.034 GeV/c and Tungsten = 1.336 +- 0.004 +- 0.041 GeV/c. We compared the production rates of psi(2S) to J/psi mesons: (B''_{muon muon} sigma(psi(2S)) ) / (B_{muon muon} sigma(J/psi)) = 165 +- 9 +- 4 ( x 0.0001) for carbon and 154 +- 16 +- 8 ( x 0.0001) for tungsten. These ratios have also been determined for the x_F and p_T distributions.

Estuda as experiências anômalas (EAs), as quais podem ser definidas como incomuns e irregulares, ainda que vivenciadas por uma grande parcela da população. Dentre a variedade de EAs, concentra-se nas experiências relacionadas a psi, que incluem duas categorias. A primeira abrange relatos de percepção extra-sensorial (ESP), ou seja, indicativos da capacidade de se obter informação sem a utilização dos canais sensoriais ou de inferências lógicas. A segunda é chamada de Psicocinesia (PK) e refere-se a relatos da ação ou efeito da mente sobre a matéria, ou seja, quando as preferências ou pensamentos de pessoas parecem afetar o ambiente físico, sem a mediação do sistema muscular ou outra força física ou mecanismo físico reconhecido. Investiga se: a) é possível treinar pessoas para estarem mais aptas para perceber e utilizar os fenômenos psi no contexto experimental e b) se a manipulação de certos fatores pode aumentar significativamente os índices de psi em laboratório. Para tanto, revisa e discute por meio de sistematização a eficácia das pesquisas de treinamentos psi (TP) e os resultados de estudos que manipulam variáveis consideradas psicondutivas (VCP). Agrupa os estudos nestas duas categorias (TP e VCP), considerando variáveis específicas e comuns para os dois grupos. Avalia os estudos em blocos, segundo as variáveis consideradas, com ênfase nos dados estatísticos e do método. A revisão da literatura ocorre de março de 2007 a fevereiro de 2008 e abrange livros e artigos científicos relacionados ao tema. 128 estudos são revisados, sendo 87 deles relacionados a manipulação de VCP e 41 relacionados ao TP, totalizando 9.153 participantes em 845.815 ensaios. Avalia que 37% dos estudos TP são criticados, sendo a maior parte das críticas endereçada a problemas de método, enquanto que 16% dos estudos VCP recebem críticas. Conclui que os estudos não são eficazes em treinar psi ou manipular variáveis psi-condutivas, ainda que a maior parte deles obtenha resultados significativos e na direção esperada. De uma forma geral eles falham em termos da elaboração de métodos capazes de excluir hipóteses alternativas àquelas testadas, sendo que as principais falhas são: 1. falta de grupos controle; 2. controle inadequado da variável crença, tanto em relação aos sujeitos como aos pesquisadores; 3. falha em avaliar o real aprendizado; a maioria dos estudos são de curta ou curtíssima duração e sem a avaliação e/ou correlação dos fatores, aos quais se atribui aprendizado, com os escores psi. Com exceção de um estudo, os demais não apresentam testes posteriores para verificar a possível manutenção dos níveis de psi alcançados; 4. o efeito experimentador psi e psicológico é amplamente ignorado pela maioria dos estudos; 5. falta de parâmetros padrões para avaliar determinadas características ou estados (ex. hipnose, meditação, ganzfeld); 6. falta de uma abordagem sistêmica e integrada em relação aos fenômenos psi, aos métodos para testá-los e as múltiplas variáveis passíveis de influenciá-lo. Considera estas falhas apresentando sugestões para superá-las e uma proposta inicial exploratória de treinamento psi / This dissertation is about studies of anomalous experiences (AEs), which can be defined as uncommon and irregular, but reported by a large segment of the population. Among the variety of AEs, this work concentrates on psi-related experiences, which includes two categories. The first are reports of extrasensory perception (ESP), which suggest the capacity of obtaining information without the use of the sensory channels or logical inference. The second is called of psychokinesis (PK), which refers to reports of the action or effect of the mind on matter, or when people\'s thoughts seem to affect the physical environment, without the mediation of the muscular system, a physical force, or a recognized physical mechanism. The study explores if: a) it is possible to train people to be more capable to perceive and use psi phenomena in the experimental context and, b) if the manipulation of some factors can increase psi scores significantly in the laboratory. A review of the research on the effectiveness of psi trainings (PT) and of studies that manipulate psi-conductive variables (PCV) is presented. The studies are grouped in these two categories (PT and PCV), considering specific and common variables for both groups. Studies are evaluated in subgroups, according to specific variables, with emphasis on statistics and methods. The literature review was conducted from March 2007 to February 2008, and it includes books and scientific papers on the topic. 128 studies are reviewed; 87 of them about the manipulation of VCP and 41 of TP, for a total of 9.153 participants in 845.815 trials. 37% of the TP studies are criticized, mostly on methodological grounds, while the same was the case for 16% of the VCP studies. Although most of the studies obtained significant results in the expected direction, it is concluded that they are not effective to train psi or to manipulate psiconductive variables. In general they fail in terms of the elaboration of methods capable to exclude alternative hypotheses, and the main flaws are: 1. lack of control groups; 2. inappropriate control of the variable of belief, for both the subjects and researchers; 3. lack of evaluation of learning; most of the studies were of brief duration and without the evaluation and/or correlation of the factors to which learning is attributed, and in relation to psi scores. With the exception of one study, the rest do not present subsequent analyses to verify the possible maintenance of the psi levels obtained; 4. the experimenter effect (psi and psychological) is ignored completely in most of the studies; 5. lack of standard parameters to evaluate certain characteristics or states (for example hypnosis, meditation, ganzfeld); 6. lack of a systemic and integrated approach in relation to psi phenomena, to the methods used to test them, and to multiple variables that may influence them. In addition to discussing these problems, suggestions are presented to improve the situation, together with an exploratory initial proposal for psi training

All'interno di questo lavoro sono presentate due differenti ricerche: la prima è l'applicazione pratica degli studi di Seligman sull'ottimismo: la ricerca ha avuto lo scopo di valutare l'efficacia di un training rivolto all'apprendimento di uno stile esplicativo ottimistico come proposto da diversi studi (vedi Seligman 1990, 2002); la seconda è un contributo per la taratura della versione italiana del VIA (Values in action Strenghts Survey): Peterson e Seligman (2004), seguendo l'esempio del Manuale Statistico e diagnostico dei disturbi mentali (APA, 2006), proposero uno schema di classificazione delle forze di carattere che contribuiscono a rendere maggiormente soddisfacente e felice la vita delle persone. All'opposto del DSM il loro scopo è quello di offrire un "manuale delle sanità mentale". Il loro studio può essere usato per supportare delle ricerche nell'ambito della psicologia cognitiva fornendo un vocabolario comune e una operazionalizzazione dei tratti, includendo i criteri che definiscono le forze del carattere. Scopo del lavoro di ricerca è di illustrare la traduzione italiana del value in action strenghts survey e di testare su un campione italiano iniziale le sue caratteristiche psicomentriche.

Le ricerche esistenti in letteratura negli ultimi quarant’anni si sono occupate dello studio sistematico dello sviluppo dell’empatia e della prosocialità nei bambini e adolescenti, da diverse prospettive. In questo ambito di studi un settore ancora poco esplorato è quello dello studio delle relazioni esistenti tra le risposte prosociali e le componenti della resilienza, che intervengono nel comportamento di aiuto e sostegno agli altri. Il presente lavoro di tesi esplora in che modo vi sia una relazione tra i costrutti dell’empatia, prosocialità e resilienza, sia nei fanciulli che negli adulti. Il primo studio ha come campione 203 bambini della scuola primaria (8-11 anni) e indaga la predisposizione alla sintonizzazione empatica, alla condivisione, collaborazione e al comportamento resiliente di gruppo, tramite un questionario che utilizza scale standardizzate sia a livello internazionale che nazionale. Il secondo studio ha come obiettivo la comprensione della predisposizione empatica dei genitori dei bambini considerati e la loro capacità di perspective-taking rispetto alla resilienza dei figli. Inoltre, si valuta la relazione esistente tra il comportamento genitoriale e l’atteggiamento dei bambini, per verificarne il grado di imitazione vissuto. / In the last forty years researches on literature dealt with systematic study of development of empathy and prosocial behaviors in children and adolescence, which were examined from different perspectives. In this context an unexplored sector is the study of existing connection between prosocial answers and resilience components which occur in helping behavior and support of the others. The present work explore the modalities of the connection among constructs of empathy, prosociality and resilience, both in childhood and in adults. 203 children of primary school (8-11years old) are the samples of the first study and the research investigates predisposition of emphatic feeling, of sharing, and of resilient behaviors of the group. It uses a questionnaire of standardize scales both an international and national level. The main goal of the second study is the comprehension of empathic predisposition of children’s relatives of the sample and their perspective-taking in respect to children’s resilience. In addition, it evaluates the relation between relatives behavior and children attitude, in order to verify the type of experienced imitation.

Questo lavoro si articola in tre studi condotti con approcci qualitativi. Nel primo studio si è deciso di prendere in considerazione le teorie dell’apprendimento legate all’area socio-culturale e psicodinamica. In questo studio si utilizza la narrative review come metodologia per l’analisi della letteratura. L’obiettivo è quello di dare al lettore un inquadramento concettuale che lo aiuti a comprendere meglio ciò che verrà esposto negli studi successivi. Nel secondo studio si intende mappare le concezioni di apprendimento presenti nei master. A tale fine sono state effettuate interviste ai ai coordinatori didattici dei master, è stata fatta un’etnografia sui documenti dei master e quattro focus group con i partecipanti ai master, con l’obiettivo di mappare le concezioni di apprendimento e di conoscenza sottese. Nel terzo studio si intendono mappare le pratiche di tutorship all’interno dei master presi in esame, con l’obiettivo di comprendere quale sia il ruolo del tutor nell’accompagnare i partecipanti ad apprendere e cambiare nel percorso del master. Dalle pratiche emerse si evidenzia quanto questo ruolo sia un ruolo chiave nell’accompagnamento all’apprendimento nelle diverse fasi del master. In chiusura si è effettuata una rilettura psicodinamica della funzione di tutorship come possibile aiuto a costituire uno statuto del ruolo di tutor. / This work has been structured in three studies conducted with qualitative methods. In the first study, learning theories related to socio-cultural and psychodynamics area have been taken into consideration and narrative review has been used as a methodology for the literature analysis. The aim was to give a conceptual framework to better understand what will be further present. In the second study, the main purpose was to map the different conceptions of learning and knowledge in master programmes. For this purpose, interviews has been submitted to didactic coordinators of masters; an ethnography on the documents of masters and four focus groups with the participants have been conducted. In the third study, the goal was to map the tutorship practices within the master programmes examined, in order to understand the role of the tutor in the learning and changing processes of participants during the master programmes. From the emergent practices, has been highlighted that tutor has a key role in the learning process during different stages. In closing, has been realized a psychodynamic rereading of the tutorship function as a possible aid to constitute a statute of the role of tutor.

Il presente lavoro si è proposto di indagare il concetto di razionalità limitata nel contesto delle scelte mediche. Sono stati reclutati 80 adulti, senza una storia clinica particolare a cui è stato dapprima somministrato un test virtuale che richiedeva di prendere delle decisioni su alcuni trattamenti e, successivamente, è stata somministrata una intervista semi-strutturata per approfondire il tema della scelta. I principali risultati: in primis, le persone adottano l’uso di euristiche veloci e frugali. In particolare, le persone adottano l’euristica del “Prendi il meglio” considerando, per ogni scelta, un numero limitato di caratteristiche. In secondo luogo, l'uso di euristiche è legato a una razionalità ecologica che adatta le strategie decisionali alla struttura delle informazioni disponibili del contesto ambientale. In questo contesto, se il consiglio del o le informazioni rispetto ai rischi/effetti indesiderati sono disponibili allora essi saranno sempre valutati perché sono caratteristiche fondamentali del processo di scelta. Il consiglio del medico è espressione della fiducia tra medico e paziente. La fiducia è rappresentata da segnali semplici e onesti che il medico è capace di trasmettere e questi segnali formano un canale di comunicazione tra le persone. Infine un altro risultato riguarda la comprensione del rischio associato al consumo di un farmaco che è risultato di difficile comprensione e rappresentazione. / This research aimed at applying the concept of bounded rationality in common medical choices in order to analyse the process by which laypersons make decisions in the field of health. Eighty adults, without a particular disease history were recruited and they were asked to manage both some virtual situations of medical choices and to discuss face to face about their past experiences in medical choices.Three major findings emerged. Firstly, people often use fast and frugal heuristics. In particular, people adopt the rule of the ‘take the best” considering, for each choice, a very limited number of elements to make their decisions. Secondly, the use of heuristics is related with the principle of ecological rationality in which strategies are chosen in connection with the available information of the environmental context. In this context, if “doctor’s advice” as well as “side effects information” are available, they will be always considered because they represent fundamental features of the decision making process. Doctor’s advice is expression of the trust between patient-doctor relationship. Trust is represented by simple and honest signals that the doctor communicates and these signals form an unconscious channel of communication between people. Thirdly, we found that risks associated with treatments are not easy to be conceived by laypersons. It was that people have not in mind a clear definition of the risk implied by medicines and treatment and they show, in average, a scarce interest in risk comprehension.