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La plusdotazione in Italia è un argomento ancora scarsamente affrontato. Nonostante il 5% circa della popolazione sia plusdotato, non esiste una formazione obbligatoria specifica per gli insegnanti, sebbene sia auspicabile un'individuazione precoce della plusdotazione. Tra gli strumenti più utilizzati a questo scopo, dopo il test del QI, troviamo le Gifted Rating Scales (GRS), ovvero le Scale di Valutazione della Plusdotazione, di Pfeiffer-Jarosewich (2003). Si tratta di uno strumento di screening diagnosticamente appropriato e concepito per essere utilizzato con semplicità ed efficacia dagli insegnanti. È disponibile in due versioni, GRS-P (fascia d'età prescolare 4-6 anni) e GRS-S (fascia d'età scolare 6-13 anni), tese a valutare la percezione dell'insegnante rispetto al livello di abilità dello studente in confronto ai pari, in differenti aree: abilità intellettiva, abilità accademica, talento artistico, creatività, motivazione e leadership (quest'ultima è presente soltanto nelle GRS-S). Data la loro elevata solidità psicometrica, sono state tradotte e validate in molte lingue. La validazione della versione italiana delle GRS-S è stata avviata da uno studio di Beretta-Zanetti su un campione di 449 soggetti, provenienti dalla Lombardia, cui si sono aggiunti successivamente altri 142 soggetti provenienti da Roma. Nel presente lavoro, che si inserisce nel medesimo filone, sono state somministrate le GRS-S, dopo opportuna formazione degli insegnanti, ad un campione di 204 bambini tra i 6 ed i 14 anni provenienti dal Centro Italia (Regione Umbria), ampliando quindi la numerosità del campione proveniente dall'Italia centrale. Sono state quindi indagate le seguenti proprietà: asimmetria, curtosi, affettività e correlazione item-totale corretta. La coerenza interna delle scale è stata valutata attraverso il coefficiente alfa di Cronbach e l'errore standard di misurazione. La validità è stata analizzata mediante correlazione tra scale e attraverso un'analisi fattoriale esplorativa. I risultati hanno mostrato adeguate proprietà psicometriche ed una consistenza interna soddisfacente, tuttavia sono emerse criticità (valori molto elevati dell'indice alfa di Cronbach e soluzione a 5 fattori nell'analisi fattoriale esplorativa) che sono state ampiamente discusse e per le quali sono state avanzate alcune ipotesi (ad esempio ridondanza di item e bias interpretativo degli insegnanti) pur considerando la scarsa ampiezza campionaria di questa ricerca e riconoscendo il valore degli studi sul medesimo strumento che l'hanno preceduta. Si conferma pertanto la attendibilità della versione italiana delle GRS-S, tuttavia, per maggiore completezza dei dati ed omogeneità del campione, si segnala la necessità di rilevare dati da un campione più ampio, auspicabilmente proveniente dalle scuole del Sud Italia.

In recent years, the authors have witnessed the rebirth of board games. This contribution aims to investigate the educational potential of non-random board games in two ways: the comparison of performances of “expert adult players” and “adult non-players” through a correlation study (n=45) and the comparison between the results achieved by a group of children after 26 hours of game training (n=10) and those of a control group that carried out traditional educational activities (n=10) by using a nonrandomized control group pretest-posttest. Specifically, the findings relating to fluid intelligence, analytical and converging cognitive processes and creativity were compared. The results suggest that non-random board games can be an important stimulus for the cognitive functions, with a particular focus on the creative side, and therefore have an important educational function.

Following our survey, we can appreciate that a variety of laser platforms exist to rejuvenate the skin by resurfacing the outer layer of the skin as well as heating the lower layers of the dermis. Based on reliable clinical effectiveness and a limited side effect profile, we can confirm that nonablative fractionated technologies greatly improve the appearance of lentigines, rhytids; eliminate sun damage, attenuate scarring due to acne and other causes; and treat hyperpigmentation. The Fraxel (Solta Medical) laser system delivers pulses across a wide range of density and energy levels. We determined that when increasing the pulse energy this led to an increase in thermolysis microzone depth and width without damaging the surrounding tissue. Due to its performance and various clinical applications, Fraxel laser can be optimally considered to be the gold standard for skin rejuvenation

On November 22, 2019, the UP-Aerospace Space Loft 14 (SL-14) sounding rocket was launched from Spaceport America in New Mexico, USA, on a suborbital flight with four payloads on board, including the GARHEO (GPS-GALILEO Receiver for Human Exploration & Operations) experiment to analyze GPS L1 and Galileo E1 signals under a highly dynamic environment. The mission followed a parabolic trajectory reaching 92 km altitude before returning to Earth. The experiment is a partnership agreement between ASI (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Qascom, a European aerospace company, contributed a space-qualified receiver capable of tracking multi- Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals. The objective is to validate the capability of GPS-Galileo signals to support launchers and space users. Being able to rely on signals from more than one GNSS constellation greatly improves signal coverage, and increases the diversity of system architecture, frequencies and geometry. SpaceLoft XL is a single-stage unguided sounding rocket. The standard configuration is 6.1 m in overall length, 26.4 cm in maximum diameter, and 354 kg maximum lift-off mass including the payloads. The nominal flight profile is a sub-orbital trajectory reaching 100 km altitude in 160 seconds, followed by four minutes under microgravity conditions. During the main flight phases (boost, re-entry, recovery, and landing), the payloads experience an axial acceleration up to 16G, and a radial acceleration up to 18.5G due to the spin of the launch vehicle. The GARHEO payload was installed in Payload Transportation System (PTS) slot number 4-1. A circular ring antenna was used for acquisition of the L-band GNSS signals. Preliminary analysis of the digitally-recorded GNSS signals indicates that the rapid acceleration was observed during lift off and booster separation. The results also demonstrate the impact to standard receivers under these dynamics and their difficulty to track signals. This paper presents how high-dynamics, including spin, impacts the signal-to-noise ratio (CN0) during acquisition and tracking, and how this affects the positioning performance. It includes the mission results and also provides recommendations for the design of future multi-GNSS receivers that are capable to track signals under high dynamics. The paper also discusses options for integrating GARHEO with the Autonomous Flight Termination Systems (AFTS). A key feature of the analysis is the ability to reproduce the recorded signals in a simulator to achieve realistic replay of mission scenarios. Validation of the capability of GPS-Galileo signals to support space users will, in turn, greatly improve the overall Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) performance. GARHEO builds on the success of another successful U.S.-Europe cooperation effort, the GARISS (GPS-Galileo Receiver for the International Space Station) project, which was completed in May 2019 and demonstrated a combined GPS/Galileo (L5/E5a) waveform on a software-defined radio on-board the space station.

Listening to narrative material stimulates and activates multiple areas in the cerebral cortex. It has been shown that such activations produce significant changes in the connectivity of th...

In recent years, the authors have witnessed the rebirth of board games. This contribution aims to investigate the educational potential of non-random board games in two ways: the comparison of performances of “expert adult players” and “adult non-players” through a correlation study (n=45) and the comparison between the results achieved by a group of children after 26 hours of game training (n=10) and those of a control group that carried out traditional educational activities (n=10) by using a nonrandomized control group pretest-posttest. Specifically, the findings relating to fluid intelligence, analytical and converging cognitive processes and creativity were compared. The results suggest that non-random board games can be an important stimulus for the cognitive functions, with a particular focus on the creative side, and therefore have an important educational function.

Who are the NEET? How much do we know about this? What do institutions and the media know about them? How different definitions could get to shared policies? This paper tries to provide an initial overview of the situation regarding the NEET, through an analysis of the emerging international literature on the subject. Different definitions across nations are analyzed in order to reflect on the cultural differences and economics-work policies, in order to then analyze more in deep the Italian situation. In Italy, the phenomenon is still little known in society and, often, not recognized by the acronym NEET, with the many variables that define it, despite statistics showing a rise in numbers (26 % of the total population for the age group considered).

Purpose: The article aims to evaluate methods currently used to monitor surgical performance. Different model’s advantages and limitations are analyzed to possibly identify the best model of assessment. Design/Methodology/Approach: An extensive online research took place, looking in particular for articles containing terms such as ‘surgical performance monitoring’, ‘forced ranking’, and ‘surgical outcomes’. The search was independently carried out by three medical doctors. References were screened to find more articles on this particular topic. A conceptual review was then performed. Findings: Among the current available methods, the RiskAdjusted Bernoulli Cumulative Sum (RA-CUSUM), set on a real time prospective monitoring, is preferred and might improve surgical outcomes. This is especially true when the RA-CUSUM is compared with the Variable Life Adjusted Display (VLAD) retrospective model, although VLAD is easier to interpret and it is more frequently used by surgeons. Practical Implications: Applying a standardized surgical performance assessment model identifies and manages practice variations in the same institution and among hospitals. Originality/value: RA-CUSUM applied to surgical practice can be an effective tool to determine variations in performance. You can submit your Manuscripts at: https://symbiosisonlinepublishing.com/submitManuscript.php

Jammers pose a threat to the reliability of satellite navigation systems. The vast majority of these devices generate broadband interference by rapidly sweeping wide bandwidths with continuous waves. Their waveforms fall into the set of nonstationary signals that can be conveniently analysed through timefrequency transforms. Based on a novel use of the S-transform, the present paper describes a framework for estimating the modulation characteristics of multiple jammers and therewith the respective locations. The performance are evaluated by means of numerical simulations for two jammers. When the jamming waveforms are well characterized, the locations of their sources can be estimated by trilateration with accuracies below ten meters within a square area of side of one kilometre.

Early school leaving is a real social emergency across Europe. Literature and field experience show that the factors leading to the decision to drop out of school are different: family problems, economic distress, territorial discomfort. In addition, there are individual characteristics such as: psychological dimensions, ease/difficulty of learning, ability/disability that may contribute to the rejection and to the school resistance, generating perception of inadequacy and failure. The school, in the short term, cannot affect in a profound way on non-school factors, but it can provide a positive atmosphere at school, allowing children to grow up in a serene environment, where relationships are proposing and stimulating. Aiming to make students feel comfortable at school is a way to diminish their risk to drop out. In this way, "going to school" becomes a choice "to feel well" and not a compulsory requirement. The NoOut project, which is presented here, was created with the main objective to model interventions for recovery and development, to be held during school hours, designed to prevent school dropout from primary school. The actions combine synergistically a teaching of basic skills, guidance, reading aloud (teaching of skills, direct experience, deployment of stimulating and engaging learning environments, personal narratives, narrative guidance paths, narrative training, and educational gaming). This article analyses the results outlined through the TVD test (discomfort evaluation test), which presents a drop on test outcome (that means reduction of risk of school dropout) for the first cycle of education in the first year of the NoOut project. The TVD is a tool that can provide a representation of the perceived school discomfort levels at individual and group level.

Interference detection and mitigation are important issues to guarantee the availability and service continuity of Global Navigation Satellite Systems. In this paper, a new method based on a joint spectral and time-frequency (TF) analysis is proposed for jamming excision. It localizes the time-varying energy spectral density of the interfering signal by using the S-transform, then employs a binary mask to filter out the interference power. This approach is not model-driven and is computationally efficient. These features make it a practical add-on for GNSS receivers. We evaluate the effectiveness of the method presented by testing the acquisition of a Galileo signal under jamming attack. Simulation results prove that the performance in terms of code acquisition are significantly enhanced, even under challenging reception conditions.

This paper describes a new method for the synchronisation of multiple low-cost open source software-defined radios (SDR). This solution enables the use of low-cost SDRs in interesting navigation applications, such as hybrid positioning algorithms, interference localisation, and cooperative positioning among others. Time synchronisation is achieved thanks to a time pulse that can be generated either by one of the SDRs or by an external source, such as a GNSS receiver providing 1PPS signal. Experimental results show that the proposed method effectively reduces the synchronisation offset between multiple SDRs, to less than one sampling period.

Many areas in the cortex are active during reading of narrative material, and these activations in the brain produce significant changes in connectivity. Following previous results showing cognitive benefits in memory domains of a narrative training program in nursing home patients living with dementia, the aim of the present study was to perform a more in depth investigation of the effects of this training on memory domains and other cognitive areas. Methods: An experimental group of eight patients underwent auditory narrative training of 60 hours. At the beginning and end of the training, subjects were tested with a neuropsychological battery to quantify any improvements in individual performance. Results: The results showed a statistically significant improvement in the list learning task (immediate memory) and list learning recognition for single tasks, and a statistically significant improvement in overall cognitive area scores for immediate and delayed memory. Conclusion: Results replicate and expand our previous findings, indicating that this type of intervention can increase performance on memory-related tests. RESUMO Muitas áreas no córtex são ativos durante a leitura do material narrativa, e essas ativações no cérebro podem produzir mudanças significativas na conectividade. Na sequência dos resultados anteriores mostrando os benefícios cognitivos em domínios de memória de um programa de treinamento narrativa em pacientes do lar de idosos que vivem com demência, o objetivo do presente estudo foi realizar uma investigação mais aprofundada dos efeitos desta formação sobre os domínios de memória e outras áreas cognitivas. Métodos: Um grupo experimental de oito pacientes foram submetidos a treinamento narrativa auditivo de 60 horas. No início e no final do treinamento, os participantes foram testados com uma bateria neuropsicológica para quantificar quaisquer melhorias no desempenho individual. Resultados: Os resultados mostraram uma melhoria estatisticamente significativa na tarefa lista de aprendizagem (memória imediata) e reconhecimento lista de aprendizagem para tarefas individuais e uma melhoria estatisticamente significativa na pontuação da área cognitivas gerais para a memória imediata e tardia. Conclusão: Replicar os resultados e expandir nossas descobertas anteriores, indicando que este tipo de intervenção pode aumentar o desempenho em testes relacionados à memória.

Internet of Things (IoT) application layer protocols are gaining popularity in a wide range of scenarios, where low-cost, low-power or resource constrained devices are present. The most diffused protocols are the Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) and MQTT. In order to ensure message delivery, CoAP features a retransmission mechanism based on exponential back-off and a finite number of retransmissions, while MQTT relies on TCP. In remote areas lacking fixed terrestrial network infrastructure, the only available Internet access technology is often represented by wireless or satellite links, usually affected by losses and significant delay. At this time, there is no information about MQTT and CoAP performance over high delay links in the literature. The goal of this paper is to provide a quantitative performance analysis of the mentioned IoT protocols over various conditions of offered traffic, packet loss probability and delay. Our findings show that, with default protocol parameters, MQTT offers better performance in terms of throughput in any of the considered scenarios. As far as latency is concerned, CoAP slightly outperforms MQTT in case of low offered traffic, low loss probability and high delay. We suggest to tune CoAP parameters in order to cope with high traffic and high loss probability: the new parameters result in improved latency and throughput in those conditions.

Practicing a visual task commonly results in improved performance. Often the improvement does not transfer well to a new retinal location, suggesting that it is mediated by changes occurring in early visual cortex, and indeed neuroimaging and neurophysiological studies both demonstrate that perceptual learning is associated with altered activity in visual cortex. Theoretical treatments tend to invoke neuroplasticity that refines early sensory processing. An alternative possibility is that performance is improved because of an altered attentional strategy and that the changes in early visual areas reflect locally altered top-down attentional modulation. To test this idea, we have used functional MRI to examine changes in attentional modulation in visual cortex while participants learn an orientation discrimination task. By examining activity in visual cortex during the preparatory period when the participant has been cued to attend to an upcoming stimulus, we isolated the top-down modulatory signal received by the visual cortex. We show that this signal changes as learning progresses, possibly reflecting gradual automation of the task. By manipulating task difficulty, we show that the change mirrors performance, occurring most quickly for easier stimuli. The effects were seen only at the retinal locus of the stimulus, ruling out a generalized change in alertness. The results suggest that spatial attention changes during perceptual learning and that this may account for some of the concomitant changes seen in visual cortex.