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As well known success in orthodontics is related to a correct diagnosis and to a carefull treatment planning. Our study aims to provide clinician with a reproducible and precise method, for orthodontic indirect bonding, thanks to CBCT images and due to a CAD-CAM process. Methods: A case of an orthodontic treatment plan, of a female patient, 37 years old, was selected. Plaster models were digitally acquired using the Extra-Oral scanner Maestro 3D and processed within the Studio Maestro 3D software. CBCT images in DICOM format were imported into the MIMICS software, in order to perform the segmentation of the dental elements, and to obtain a three-dimensional coronal-root dental arches model. The DICOM file thus processed was exported in an STL file, reworked with Meshmixer software to improve image quality, and imported into the 3D Maestro software to be superimposed on the digital model. In this way a three-dimensional real model of the dental arches was developed. After an accurate orthodontic virtual set-up, we proceeded to brackets positioning on the 3D model of the dental arches. Subsequently, a virtual transfer template was created, in order to carry out the digital printing of a thermo-printed mask necessary to perform an indirect bonding of the orthodontic appliance. Results: The original digital workflow proposed in this study allows the development of a real and non-ideal three-dimensional coronal-root model of the dental arches; this model can be used for indirect orthodontic bonding eliminating any errors in the expression of 1st, 2nd and 3rd order information of the pre-informed orthodontic appliance. Conclusions: Technological advancements in oral scanning and 3D printing will allow the achievement of an easy and reproducible ideal positioning of the orthodontic brackets.

The external purpose of Employer Branding is attraction, that is, the brand’s capability to be preferred to its competitors through attractiveness and reputation. This study aims to (1) propose the Italian adaptation of the Employer Attractiveness scale (EmpAt scale) in its “real” version; (2) propose a tool to evaluate employer reputation; and (3) measure the convergent and predictive validity of these two measures. An online survey was administered to a sample of convenience ( N = 407; 56% were women). The results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses are presented for both scales, including correlations and regression results to demonstrate reliability and validity. Organizations could use these two tools to perform preliminary analyses to improve their employer branding, being aware of their own image’s strengths and areas for improvement, and thus differentiating themselves from competitors.

The present study aims at testing whether: higher connection between subsymbolic and symbolic systems in expressing gratitude or envy may account for greater proneness to experience such feelings (1); differential effects exist when considering the (dis)connection among systems in expressing the opposite feelings (2). A convenience sample of 56 Italian participants was recruited (50% female; Mage = 44.16 years, SD = 16.07). A structured interview was used to compute some referential activity (RA) measures regarding the expression of gratitude and envy; as well, dispositional gratitude (GQ-6) and envy (DES) scales were administered. Multiple regression analyses were used to test the role of RA measures in explaining dispositional gratitude and envy, controlling for gender and age, whereas subgroup analyses for participants with low/high RA levels in envy and gratitude examined potential differential effect estimates. The results showed that envy-related RA may allow disclosing envious feelings, especially when there is a greater difficulty to get in touch with gratitude. Instead, gratitude-related RA does not necessarily result in greater grateful disposition, also because affect integration about envy can confound the relationship between emotional awareness and self-reported levels of gratitude. Limitations, suggestions for future research, and clinical implications are briefly discussed.

Abstract We consider an extension of the Standard Model with two right-handed singlet fermions with mass at the electroweak scale that induce neutrino masses, plus a generic new physics sector at a higher scale Λ. We focus on the effective operators of lowest dimension d = 5, which induce new production and decay modes for the singlet fermions. We assess the sensitivity of future Higgs Factories, such as FCC-ee, CLIC-380, ILC and CEPC, to the coefficients of these operators for various center of mass energies. We show that future lepton colliders can test the cut-off of the theory up to Λ ≃ 500–1000 TeV, surpassing the reach of future indirect measurements of the Higgs and Z boson widths. We also comment on the possibility of determining the underlying model flavor structure should a New Physics signal be observed, and on the impact of higher dimensional d = 6 operators on the experimental signatures.

The role of potential motivations for psychotherapy training is receiving growing attention in the context of psychotherapy research. The present study examines the entire decision-making process for undertaking psychotherapy training in Italian psychology graduates. This is a quali-quantitative study using mixed methods and recruiting from a convenience sample. An on-line questionnaire - with open-ended questions about problem/need recognition, information search, alternative evaluation, purchase, and post-purchase outcomes - was administered to psychology graduates interested in, undertaking or having already completed psychotherapy training (as types of respondents), overall including 549 participants (86 % females, Mage = 36.27 years). The strategy of analysis consisted of computer-aided text analysis (by using T-Lab software) and content analysis for examining responses and identifying the main themes for each open-ended question. Then, a cluster analysis was performed for grouping respondents from the previously detected themes. Three different clusters of participants were detected (respectively composed of 14.6 %, 51.2 % and 34.2 %) that were different by age, F (2, 455) = 11.878, p < .001, and type of respondents, χ² (4, N = 459) = 27.588, p < .001. Such clusters were mainly featured by different key factors for selecting a psychotherapy school, orientation preferences and motivations for psychotherapy training (p < .05, at 95 % confidence level). Overall, the results highlighted the perception of a gap in previous academic training, a reduced focus on professional development and the use of rigid strategies as critical issues related to the decision to undertake psychotherapy training.

Abstract Motivated by the recent XENON1T results, we explore various new physics models that can be discovered through searches for electron recoils in O $$ \mathcal{O} $$ (keV)-threshold direct-detection experiments. First, we consider the absorption of axion-like particles, dark photons, and scalars, either as dark matter relics or being produced directly in the Sun. In the latter case, we find that keV mass bosons produced in the Sun provide an adequate fit to the data but are excluded by stellar cooling constraints. We address this tension by introducing a novel Chameleon-like axion model, which can explain the excess while evading the stellar bounds. We find that absorption of bosonic dark matter provides a viable explanation for the excess only if the dark matter is a dark photon or an axion. In the latter case, photophobic axion couplings are necessary to avoid X-ray constraints. Second, we analyze models of dark matter-electron scattering to determine which models might explain the excess. Standard scattering of dark matter with electrons is generically in conflict with data from lower-threshold experiments. Momentum-dependent interactions with a heavy mediator can fit the data with dark matter mass heavier than a GeV but are generically in tension with collider constraints. Next, we consider dark matter consisting of two (or more) states that have a small mass splitting. The exothermic (down)scattering of the heavier state to the lighter state can fit the data for keV mass splittings. Finally, we consider a subcomponent of dark matter that is accelerated by scattering off cosmic rays, finding that dark matter interacting though an O $$ \mathcal{O} $$ (100 keV)-mass mediator can fit the data. The cross sections required in this scenario are, however, typically challenged by complementary probes of the light mediator. Throughout our study, we implement an unbinned Monte Carlo analysis and use an improved energy reconstruction of the XENON1T events.

Infertility-related psychological research is traditionally oriented to analyze the wellbeing of couples undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), than to study the job-related effects on the healthcare fertility staff. This piece of research aims at understanding the subjective perspective of the fertility professionals and contribute to identify their emotional dynamics in their work environment. An in-depth explorative research study was conducted on 12 healthcare professionals of an Italian ART hospital clinic. Structured interviews with open-ended questions were administered to explore their deep feelings about their professional experience. Emotional text analysis was then conducted to analyze the textual corpus of their narratives to grasp their affective symbolizations. Statistical multidimensional techniques were used to detect some thematic domains (cluster analysis) and latent factors organizing the contraposition between them (multiple correspondence analysis). Five thematic domains were detected which refer to different emotional dimensions, as follows: performance anxiety (Cluster 1), ambivalence between omnipotence and powerlessness (Cluster 2), care burden (Cluster 3), feeling of duty (Cluster 4), and sense of interdependence (Cluster 5). Then, four latent factors were identified dealing with the laborious attempt to remedy, the realistic sense of limitation, the incumbent feeling of pressure and the restorative sense of justice, respectively. The results are discussed based on the existing literature and some useful recommendations for staff education, training and clinical supervision are provided accordingly.

The aim of the present manuscript is to test and compare the theory of reasoned action (TRA), theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and prototype-willingness model (PWM) in predicting risky alcohol consumption among adolescents and to build an integrative model to get a more comprehensive understanding of such risky behaviour. A total sample of 518 adolescents (55% females; 13-19 aged) recruited from Italian schools (7th to 12th grade) participated in a cross-sectional research study and completed an online questionnaire. Risky alcohol use assessed through the AUDIT-C was the dependent variable; whereas, variables from the TRA, TPB, and PWM (i.e. attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, intention, prototype favourability and similarity, and willingness to alcohol use) were used as predictors. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM). The findings show that the integrative model had greater explanatory power and provided a better fit to the data, compared to the TRA, TPB, and PWM, indicating attitudes and subjective norms as the best predictors. In conclusion, perceived social approval from significant others and the volitional component have a central role in understanding adolescents’ alcohol consumption.

Abstract We consider an extension of the Standard Model with two singlet leptons, with masses in the electroweak range, that induce neutrino masses via the see-saw mechanism, plus a generic new physics sector at a higher scale, Λ. We apply the minimal flavor violation (MFV) principle to the corresponding Effective Field Theory (νSMEFT) valid at energy scales E ≪ Λ. We identify the irreducible sources of lepton flavor and lepton number violation at the renormalizable level, and apply the MFV ansätz to derive the scaling of the Wilson coefficients of the νSMEFT operators up to dimension six. We highlight the most important phenomenological consequences of this hypothesis in the rates for exotic Higgs decays, the decay length of the heavy neutrinos, and their production modes at present and future colliders. We also comment on possible astrophysical implications.

Objective To explore the subjective experience of physicians working in diabetic settings about their care relationships in order to find some unique clues contributing to physician professional health and capacity to manage patients’ adherence. Research design and methods An interview-based exploratory study has been carried out involving 18 physicians (77.8% female) with at least 3 years of clinical practice in diabetes care. In-depth interviews about the emotional experience with patients with diabetes were conducted and audio recorded. Interviews transcripts were analyzed through a computer-based text analysis which allowed the identification of thematic domains (Cluster Analysis) and latent factors (Correspondence Analysis) viewed through a psychodynamic and constructivist lens. Results Six thematic domains emerged respectively referring to: Concern (8.43%), Control (14.42%), Ambivalence (22.08%), Devotion (22.49%), Guilt (19.29%) and Strive for Achievement (13.30%). Moreover, three latent dimensions were taken into account, which explained 69.20% of data variance: Affect Repression (28.50%), Tendency to Repair (22.70%) and Anxiety Pattern (18.00%). Conclusions Overall, the results of the present study confirm the challenging nature of diabetes care. In particular, physicians ongoing effort to restore patients’ psychological integrity in chronic condition constitute the most novel finding above all. In this regard, the need for emotional labor in physicians’ education and training is suggested in order to both prevent burnout symptoms (e.g. depersonalization) and promote shared decision making in care relationships. However, findings should be treated as preliminary given the convenience nature of the sample and its reduced size.

The actinorhizal plant Datisca glomerata (Datiscaceae, Cucurbitales) establishes a root nodule symbiosis with actinobacteria from the earliest branching symbiotic Frankia clade. A subfamily of a gene family encoding nodule-specific defensin-like cysteine-rich peptides is highly expressed in D. glomerata nodules. Phylogenetic analysis of the defensin domain showed that these defensin-like peptides share a common evolutionary origin with nodule-specific defensins from actinorhizal Fagales and with nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptides (NCRs) from legumes. In this study, the family member with the highest expression levels, DgDef1, was characterized. Promoter-GUS studies on transgenic hairy roots showed expression in the early stage of differentiation of infected cells, and transient expression in the nodule apex. DgDef1 contains an N-terminal signal peptide and a C-terminal acidic domain which are likely involved in subcellular targeting and do not affect peptide activity. In vitro studies with E. coli and Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 showed that the defensin domain of DgDef1 has a cytotoxic effect, leading to membrane disruption with 50% lethality for S. meliloti 1021 at 20.8 μM. Analysis of the S. meliloti 1021 transcriptome showed that, at sublethal concentrations, DgDef1 induced the expression of terminal quinol oxidases, which are associated with the oxidative stress response and are also expressed during symbiosis. Overall, the changes induced by DgDef1 are reminiscent of those of some legume NCRs, suggesting that nodule-specific defensin-like peptides were part of the original root nodule toolkit and were subsequently lost in most symbiotic legumes, while being maintained in the actinorhizal lineages.

Background: Clinical psychological dynamics are known as effective in the onset of medical conditions. In this regard, alexithymia represents a well-recognized and studied phenomenon, whose study is attracting academic attention. Its relations with several conditions have found consistent resonance in the clinical fields, so that the application of clinical models to disregarded populations represents a relevant clinical opportunity. The current study was aimed at extending alexithymia study to a population consisting of State Forestry officers, including significant variables as age and years of tenure. Methods: The observation group consisted of 59 State Forestry officers, aged between 48 and 67 years old (SD=3.436). All subjects fully completed the protocol, consisting of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, correlational analyses, dependencies and statistical differences were performed in order to let significant relations emerge. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 24.0 for the Window package. Results: Descriptive statistics highlighted high scores related to all alexithymia factors (Difficulty Identifying Feelings, Difficulty Describing Feelings, Externally Oriented Thinking, TAS-20 Total score) in the considered individuals. Correlational analyses provided significant relations with reference to age, years of tenure and the whole set of alexithymic variables. Significant dependencies emerged among the selected predictors (age and years of tenure) and Tas-20 variables (including total score), as well as significant differences between two selected groups (38 and 38 years of tenure). Conclusion: Alexithymia emerged as particularly present in the considered population of State Forestry officers, demonstrating its sensibility with reference to age and years of tenure variables. The study of psychological phenomena affecting general subjects’ condition represent an extension of a present research field of high innovativeness, considering the lack of knowledge referred to the selected sample. Furter studies should increase the number of included individuals in order to favor the extension of the emerged results.

Although there are several studies in the literature that have examined how different types of music affect performance or other organisational outcomes, knowledge about how music affects individuals in the workplace is still limited, especially in terms of perceived music use. This study aims to examine the effects of three different uses of music—namely, emotional, cognitive, and background music—on individual perceptions of job satisfaction and performance. A sample of 244 workers from different backgrounds was included in the study. We tested a full structural equation model. The results show that (1) emotional use has a positive relationship to performance, both directly and indirectly through mediating job satisfaction; (2) cognitive use has no significant effect on satisfaction and performance (even indirectly); and (3) background use has a negative relationship to job satisfaction and no relationship to performance. This work suggests that listening to music during work activities could be a positive organisational practice. Future studies could further investigate the role of music listening as a resource, taking into account other personal and contextual characteristics.

The assessment of health-related quality of life (QoL) in chronic conditions is considered as relevant, especially in patients with hypothyroidism where a high comorbidity with depressive and anxiety issues is reported. The present cross-sectional pilot study aims at: i) examining the correlation of thyroid-specific and generic measures of QoL in patients with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (HT); ii) investigating the associations of generic and thyroid-specific measures of QoL with depression and anxiety in patients with HT; iii) comparing generic and thyroid-specific measures of QoL in patients with HT versus controls. Twenty-one patients with serologically and/or ultrasonographically verified HT and sixteen controls with non-toxic goiter or post-surgical hypothyroidism were recruited for this study. Generic and disease-specific QoL were assessed by Health Survey Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Thyroid Patient Reported Outcome (ThyPRO) questionnaires, respectively, whereas depression and anxiety were measured through Beck Depression Inventory-second edition (BDI-II) and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) questionnaires, respectively. Findings showed that ThyPRO and SF-36 scores were associated with each other only regarding the mental health domain, and that such QoL measures were consistently associated with depression levels but not with anxiety. Besides, no statistically significant difference was found between patients with HT and controls with regard to generic and thyroid-specific QoL. The present study suggests that generic and disease-specific measures of QoL can sufficiently assess the mental functioning domain and capture depressive symptoms, but only thyroid-specific measures (such as ThyPRO) can provide an accurate examination of physical aspects of QoL and the overall disease impact in patients’ lives. Besides, some methodological limitations should be taken into account in both using generic and disease-specific instruments with regard to their tendency to underestimate possible anxiety problems.

Emotion-processing impairment represents a risk factor for the development of somatic illness, affecting negatively both health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and disease management in several chronic diseases. The present pilot study aims at (i) investigating the associations between alexithymia and depression, anxiety, and HRQoL in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT); (ii) examining the association between these three psychological conditions together with HRQoL, and thyroid autoantibodies status as well as thyroid echotexture in patients with HT; and (iii) comparing the intensity of all these clinical psychological features in patients with HT versus controls. Twenty-one patients with serologically or ultrasonographically verified HT and 16 controls with non-toxic goiter or postsurgical hypothyroidism were recruited for this study. Serum thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroxine, as well as thyroid autoantibodies (thyroglobulin antibodies and thyroid peroxidase antibodies), were assayed. Alexithymia, depression, anxiety, and HRQoL were assessed with Toronto Alexithymia Scale; Beck Depression Inventory, second edition; Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale; and Health Survey Short-Form 36, respectively. A negative relationship between the difficulty to describe feelings and the cognitive component of depression was found (r = -0.46, p = 0.04). Besides, patients with seronegative HT had lower somatic anxiety than patients with HT who tested positive (r = -0.68, p = 0.01 and r = -0.59, p = 0.04, respectively). Besides, no statistically significant difference was found between patients with HT and controls with regard to somatic anxiety. The present study suggests the relevance of alexithymia in patients suffering from HT, which may be intertwined with a possible state of underreported depression that is mainly expressed through physical complaints. Promoting the capability to describe and communicate feelings could contribute to psychological elaboration and coping with the disease and, consequently, to the improvement of self-management and perceived HRQoL.

Abstract An extension of the Standard Model with Majorana singlet fermions in the 1–100 GeV range can explain the light neutrino masses and give rise to a baryon asymmetry at freeze-in of the heavy states, via their CP-violating oscillations. In this paper we consider extending this scenario to also explain dark matter. We find that a very weakly coupled $$B-L$$ B-L gauge boson, an invisible QCD axion model, and the singlet majoron model can simultaneously account for dark matter and the baryon asymmetry.

The problem of infertility and its consequent treatment (denoted as Assisted Reproductive Technology or ART) represent an increasing phenomenon, especially in industrialized countries. Confronting with one’s own procreative limitations can generate strong negative emotional reactions. This study aims at understanding how the desire for motherhood manifests itself in infertile women undergoing ART, studying their emotional and subjective perspective. An in-depth explorative research study was conducted on 17 infertile women attending an Italian hospital clinic for fertility treatment. Emotional text analysis was conducted to analyze the corpus of their interviews, allowing the identification of four thematic domains (clusters) which refer, respectively, to the following emotional dimensions: an inclination to self-sacrifice, seen as the price to be paid for the desired success of the treatment (Cluster 1), pursuit of inclusion in the world of procreative mothers (Cluster 2), precarious equilibrium between the deep desire for a baby and the withdrawal from the treatment (Cluster 3), surrender to any possible consequence in order to obtain the desired mother-child relationship (Cluster 4). The witness of the couples’ suffering for their condition of infertility and their strong desire for parenting can represent a source of high pressure for the fertility care staff, as they are the only ones responsible for the fulfillment of the great dream of biological parenthood. For these reasons, a multidisciplinary approach, which involves psychological as well as medical experts all working together, could benefit both the patients and the healthcare professionals and improve the quality of the reproductive healthcare services.

Starting in 2015, 169 states launched a series of initiatives aimed at pursuing achievement of the 2030 Agenda. In particular, one of the main sector interested by 2030 Agenda is represented by the Tourism sector. The centrality of Tourism enterprises is related to the considerable impacts on the landscapes in which they operate. On the point, academics and policy makers have started to discuss about the difficult for Tourism enterprises to adopt business model based on sustainable paradigms such as the circular economy. According to this evidence, this paper aims to analyze the scientific debate that has characterized the first 5 years after the introduction of the 2030 Agenda. Bibliometric analysis has been conducted on 101 articles about the relationship between SDGs and Tourism published during the period 2015–2019. The analysis reveals the existence of three independent clusters of research regarding the impacts on society (Red Cluster), business models (Blue Cluster) and policy implications (Green Cluster). An interpretative framework to evaluate the strategies adopted by tourism enterprises to contribute to the SDGs is then developed and discussed.

Background: This systematic review analyzed the relationship between alexithymia, considered as the inability to recognize and express thoughts and emotions, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), one of the most common chronic illness, characterized by a metabolic disorder burdened by high morbidity and mortality worldwide due to its outcomes.Methods: PRISMA guidelines were followed throughout this systematic review of the recent literature indexed in the databases PubMed, PsycInfo, Scopus, and Web of Science. Search terms for eligible studies were: “Type 2 diabetes” OR “T2DM” AND “Toronto Alexithymia Scale” OR “TAS-20”[All Fields].Results: The initial search identified 61 indexed scientific publications. After screening we found that seven publications met the established scientific inclusion and exclusion criteria. It emerged that alexithymic patients ranged from 25 to 50% across the examined publications and it appeared that patients with T2DM generally reflected greater values of alexithymia, revealing particular differences among TAS domains. Moreover, emlpoyed participants were alexithymic to a greater extent compared to non-working participants (77.8 vs. 35.4%) and alexithymia was 2.63 times more severe among working participants when examining predictors of alexithymia. When evaluating the correlations between alexithymia and HbA1c or fasting blood glucose levels we found strong associations equal to 0.75 and 0.77 for TAS-20 total scores, respectively. While alexithymic participants showed significantly higher levels of HbA1c and blood glucose when compared to the non-alexithymic participants.Conclusions: The results of this systematic review of the current literature highlight the need of alexithymia evaluation in patients with T2DM. The high prevalence in T2DM and strong associations with poorly regulated diabetes and psychological distress, indicate a significant relationship between poor glycemic control and psychological distress, such as anxiety and depression, and quality of life. Further studies are needed focusing on age and gender differences in order to be able to improve clinical psychological care and prevention.

Introduction. Increasing interest exists concerning the physical and mental wellbeing of patients with hyperthyroidism. Aim. This review aims at gathering the most updated literature on the quality of life (QoL) in patients with hyperthyroidism. Method: We searched PubMed from inception to May 20, 2020 for English language studies using the following entries: “hyperthyroidism AND quality of life”, “Graves’ disease AND quality of life”, “diffuse toxic goiter AND quality of life”, “toxic nodular goiter AND quality of life”, “subclinical hyperthyroidism AND quality of life”. Thirty-nine papers were finally reviewed. Results: Patients with hyperthyroidism have worse QoL than euthyroid subjects, especially if they have Graves’ disease and Graves’ orbitopathy. Treatment of hyperthyroidism with restoration of euthyroidism may not fully restore QoL even after many years, indicating that such patients have difficulties adapting to and coping with their illness, thus experiencing marked and longstanding limitations in physical, mental and psychosocial functioning. Conclusion. As differences exist on long-term outcomes between therapeutic options for hyperthyroidism, it is logical to hypothesize related differences in long-term changes in QoL. Future clinical and psychological studies could monitor QoL and its related domains across different stages of disease and deepen patients’ trajectories of illness experience and the use of coping strategies to face their condition.

Background: Given the role of alexithymia—as the inability to identify, differentiate, and express emotions—in chronic and immune-mediated illness, this systematic review analyzed the prevalence of alexithymia in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), mainly represented by Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).Methods: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed throughout this systematic review of the literature published between 2015 and 2020 in indexed sources from PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Search terms for eligible studies were: “Inflammatory bowel disease” AND “Alexithymia” [Titles, Abstract, Keywords]. Inclusion criteria were: articles written and published in English from 2015 and up to April 2020, reporting relevant and empirical data on alexithymia and IBD.Results: The initial search identified 34 indexed scientific publications. After screening, we found that five publications met the established scientific inclusion criteria. Overall, the mean value of alexithymia ranged from 39 to 53.2 [Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) score], thus mostly falling in non-clinical range for alexithymia (≤51). Comparisons of alexithymia between patients with UC and CD highlighted that patients with CD showed externally oriented thinking and difficulties identifying feelings to a greater extent. Regarding comparisons with other samples or pathologies, patients with IBD were more alexithymic than healthy controls and less alexithymic than patients with major depressive disorder, but no difference was found when compared with patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Then, regarding correlations with other variables, alexithymia was positively associated with anxiety and depression, as well as with psychopathological symptoms and somatic complaints.Conclusion: This systematic review suggests that patients with IBD cannot be generally considered alexithymic at a clinically relevant extent. However, their greater alexithymic levels and its associations with psychological variables and somatic distress may suggest a reactivity hypothesis, in which living with IBD may progressively lead to impaired emotion recognition over time. Specifically, the relationship between IBD and IBS should be further explored, paying deeper attention to the clinical psychological functioning of CD, as IBD requires more emotional challenges to patients.

Hikikomori is a form of social withdrawal affecting adolescents and young adults that prevents social, school and work activities. The present study aims at expanding qualitative narrative research on such a social withdrawal from the participants’ perspective, as to detect emotional and symbolic components of the hikikomori experience. Emotional Text Analysis was conducted on the narratives of 17 Italian people (9 men, 18-39 aged), who posted their hikikomori stories via an online forum. Statistical multidimensional techniques were performed to detect some thematic domains (Cluster Analysis) and latent factors organizing the contraposition between them (Multiple Correspondence Analysis). Five clusters emerged as follows: refusal of intimacy (cluster 1), retreat to passivity (cluster 2), search for comfort (cluster 3), interpersonal distress (cluster 4), and performance anxiety (cluster 5). Then, four latent factors were identified dealing with a complex of dependency, tendency to introversion, refusal of agency, and ambivalence towards intimacy, respectively. The results provide new insights on the complexity and awareness of the affective experience of hikikomori to be integrated with the existing evidence in the literature.

We consider a model of sub-GeV dark matter whose interaction with the Standard Model is mediated by a new vector boson (the dark photon) which couples kinetically to the photon. We describe the possibility of constraining such a model using a superfluid He-4 detector, by means of an effective theory for the description of the superfluid phonon. We find that such a detector could provide bounds that are competitive with other direct detection experiments only for ultralight vector mediator, in agreement with previous studies. As a byproduct we also present, for the first time, the low-energy effective field theory for the interaction between photons and phonons. Keywords: Light dark matter, Effective theory, Helium, Phonon, Dark photon

IntroductionClinical psychological features may impact a person’s aptitude to deal with chronic diseases, leading to emotional distress, suffering, and a worse perceived quality of life (QoL). Chronic diseases are largely represented, and their incidence is constantly increasing all over the world. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most common chronic diseases and it is very difficult to manage, demanding long term self-management, which improves the perceived QoL. The aim of this study was to explore defense mechanisms, depression, QoL, time since diagnosis, and metabolic control in T2DM patients.Methods51 patients with T2DM were assessed through a psychodiagnostic battery: Beck Depression Inventory-II, the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, including indexes of Physical and Mental Component Summary and the Defense Mechanisms Inventory. Times since DM diagnosis and glycated hemoglobin values were detected.ResultsParticipants were mainly female (62.74%), with a mean age of 66.1 years. T2M time since diagnosis was 11.77 years (SD = 7.1). Mild depression was detected (with an overall score between 13 and 19). Projection was significantly associated with higher depression and with lower physical well-being; Principalization was negatively associated with depression and positively with both physical and mental well-being. Turning Against Self correlated positively with physical well-being and negatively with mental well-being. Reversal was associated with lower depression and higher mental well-being. A negative high correlation emerged between depression and mental well-being. Finally, a significant relationship was found between Projection and higher time since diagnosis (r = 0.31, p < 0.05).ConclusionThe correlations between defense mechanisms, depression and health-related QoL highlight the potential personification and protagonization, which may increase over time due to the illness intrusiveness and worsening of diabetes symptoms. The positive association between defensive strategies and well-being measures should be cautiously considered.

Backgrounds: Psychological factors may affect patients’ ability to cope with chronic illness, which occur with a high incidence as they represent age related disorder. Anxiety, depression and alexithymia could specifically interfere with compliance and adherence leading to predictable consequences and predicting morbidity and mortality independently of several confounders. The present work aims at investigating the relationship between alexithymia and affective dimension such as anxiety and depression levels, and health related quality of life in T2DM patients. Particularly, alexithymia was analyzed in its three main facets and time since diagnosis was considered with also metabolic control. Methods: Forty seven patients with T2DM were consecutively enrolled and assessed with a gold standard interview and with a psycho-diagnostic evaluation. Clinical psychological exploration consisted of HAM-A, BECK-II, SF-36 and TAS-20 administration. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS statistical version 25. Data were analyzed anonymously. Results: 47 participants showed moderate depressive symptoms as confirmed by the mean BDI-II and HAMA-A score (15.14 ± 8.95 and 24.31 ± 6.95, respectively), suggesting a high prevalence of anxiety in the enrolled subjects. It was observed a lower perceived QoL as resulted by the MCS and PCS mean values (37.68 ± 9.41 and 39.31 ± 12.29, respectively) and TAS-20 highlighted considerable mean values of 60.53 ± 7.93 in the recruited participants with a prevalence in EOT values (27.51± 4.27), in comparison with mean DID and DDF values (17.26 ± 5.52 and 15.48 ± 3.84, respectively). Conclusions: Our study may suggest a predictive role of alexithymia in patients with T2DM. Moreover, lower PCS and MCS, revealing worst perceived QoL were associated to both higher anxiety and disease duration.

The usefulness of providing career interventions in the transition from university to labour market is more and more advocated, in order to increase young people’s competencies about career management and entrepreneurial skills. The present paper aims at focusing on the effectiveness of career interventions for university or graduate students and on its relationship with some study design and intervention characteristics. A meta-analysis was conducted on studies published between 2000 and 2015 which complied with the following inclusion criteria: university or graduate students as target population, the evaluation of specific career-related interventions or programs, and an experimental or quasiexperimental design. The selection procedure resulted in 9 eligible studies – overall assessing 12 interventions – out of 823 examined articles. The results indicated, on average, a large effect (weighted ES = .80; 95% CI = .54, 1.06) better outcomes from socio-constructivist interventions compared to those based on social cognition theory and person-environment fit model, and higher impact on the reduction of career indecision than on the increase of decision-making self-efficacy. Some recommendations for researchers and policy makers are provided, as well as methodological issues and practical implications for career interventions are discussed.

This paper aims at developing and validating a brief scale specifically assessing Attitude Toward Learning of Scientific Subjects (ATLoSS) and at testing its measurement invariance across genders. The scale was validated on a sample of 18,436 Italian students (51% males) attending middle schools at 7th grade by using both exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. The four item scale had good internal consistency with a Cronbach’s alpha of .864 and a one-factor solution characterized by measurement invariance across genders. Associations with other measures – in particular with math academic self-concept and interest/enjoyment in math – supported convergent and divergent validity of the scale; besides, good criterion validity based on student achievement and prospective choice of higher education was confirmed. The scale represents a brief and easy instrument which can be used in large scale student assessment and can provide teachers and educators with preliminary information on their students’ attitudes which are relevant for academic achievement.

Planck data robustly exclude the simple λϕ4 scenario for inflation. This is also the case for models of “Axion Inflation” in which the inflaton field is the radial part of the Peccei-Quinn complex scalar field. In this letter we show that for the KSVZ model it is possible to match the data taking into account radiative corrections to the tree level potential. After writing down the 1-loop Coleman-Weinberg potential, we show that a radiative plateau is easily generated thanks to the fact that the heavy quarks are charged under SU(3)c in order to solve the strong CP problem. We also give a numerical example for which the inflationary observables are computed and the heavy quarks are predicted to have a mass mQ≳102TeV.

This study explored the illness experience of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to widen narrative research on patients’ perspectives, adopting object relations theory as interpretative framework. A qualitative phenomenological analysis was conducted on the illness stories of 12 adult Italian patients with ALS, collected through an Internet-based database for the sharing of illness experiences of people with rare and chronic degenerative diseases. Three thematic areas were identified: “the experience of ALS from symptom onset to diagnosis”, “impact of illness”, and “coping with illness”. Overall, the central conflict experienced by people with ALS refers to the progressive loss of control on bodily experience, that is handled by means of denial and splitting defences to contrast such a process of somatic depersonalization. As well, the investment on interpersonal domain responds to a repairing strategy ensuring psychic vitality and sensorial integration to rebuild the relation between the self and the external world.

Background: Many people experience cancer as a chronic disease followed by adaptation to a new reality. Adjustment to cancer is a continuous process that follows the progression of the disease. Aims: We aimed to support the claim that patients in different stages of cancer develop different adjustment patterns, and that the stage of the disease modifies the interrelationships among social support, coping styles, and quality of life. We also hypothesized that greater perceived social support influence more adaptive coping strategies, which mediate the relationship between social support and adjustment, differently in the early and advanced stage of cancer. Methods. One-hundred-two consecutive cancer patients were recruited. Measures. We administered the Social Provision Scale, the Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer, the Brief-COPE, and the SF-12 health survey. Results. No differences emerged in adjustment to cancer, coping relate variables and quality of life between stage III and stage IV patients. Subsequent analyses revealed that the stage of the disease moderated the relationships between fatalism and fighting spirit and those between physical health and both avoidance and problem-solving. Regardless of the stage of illness, positive thinking mediated between social support and fighting spirit. Conclusion. Although the average adjustment pattern was the same for early-stage and advanced patients, adjustment processes were different according to cancer stage. The results confirm that social support and disease stage are important for adjustment to cancer. Favouring acceptance, positive reframing, and humour, social support helped patients to be more determined in fighting the disease and contrasted helpless-hopelessness and anxious preoccupations.

The aim of the present study is to investigate the role of emotional variables in diabetes adaptation. This is in order to develop and test a conceptual model simultaneously involving emotional variables consistent with a conceptual framework looking at chronic illness as a loss of good self. A convenience sample of 59 participants with a diagnosis of type 1 (n= 26) and type 2 (n=33) diabetes mellitus (Mean age= 57.17, SD=16.82) completed measures of diabetes distress, psychological adjustment to diabetes, diabetes self-care (as outcomes of diabetes adaptation) and depression, alexithymia and damaged ego-related strategies (as emotional variables). Correlation analyses among the examined measures were performed; as well, regression analyses were used to test the role of such emotional variables (as potential predictors) in accounting for diabetes adaptation outcomes. The results overall suggest that lower depression and higher mania contribute to diabetes adaption to a statistically significant extent, despite mania not being associated with self-care behaviors. The study raises a controversial debate about the meaningfulness of the psychological process of adjustment to diabetes without considering the role of underlying symbolic and less conscious dynamics.