Educazione finanziaria

Il contributo analizza il contenuto della Direttiva 2023/2225/UE sul credito ai consumatori (CCD II), con particolare riguardo all’art. 34, che promuove l’educazione finanziaria dei consumatori come strumento essenziale per prevenire il sovraindebitamento e favorire scelte consapevoli nel mercato del credito.The contribution analyses the content of Directive 2023/2225/EU (CCD II), with particular reference to Article 34, which promotes financial education for consumers as an essential tool to prevent over-indebtedness and support informed decision-making in the credit market

Facial attractiveness increases the likelihood of choosing a psychotherapist, irrespective of sexual preferences and perceived trustworthiness

Objectives: Existing research suggests that a psychotherapist's physical attractiveness can shape patients’ initial evaluation. However, less is known about how facial attractiveness affects the decision to select one psychotherapist over another prior to therapy. In this study, conducted with a Spanish-speaking sample (N = 108, 63 females, Mage = 32.08 years, SD = 17.50), we examined whether facial attractiveness influenced the likelihood of choosing a psychotherapist and whether this effect was moderated by sexual differences. Methods: The experimental design closely replicated an online professional therapist directory to enhance ecological validity. Participants were instructed to rate the likelihood of selecting each individual as their therapist. Results: Results demonstrated that psychotherapists with attractive facial features were chosen more frequently, even when perceived trustworthiness and competence were controlled for. No significant differences were observed between profiles featuring unattractive faces and those with no profile picture. Crucially, neither the therapist's nor the patient's gender and sexual preferences (i.e., sexual attraction) moderated the observed effect. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the preference for attractiveness in therapist selection is not driven by mating intentions nor by a “halo effect” related to trustworthiness or competence. Practical implications for therapist selection and patient decision-making are discussed

Efficient Modeling and Simulation of Large PMUT Arrays for Biomedical Applications

This paper presents three innovative numerical modeling techniques tailored to meet the substantial computational demands of high-density Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (PMUT) arrays, increasingly utilized in medical ultrasound imaging. The first strategy adopts first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) to model the thin multilayered structure of PMUTs as equivalent 2D-shell elements, addressing the ultra-thin nature of these devices while maintaining the inherent 3D properties of the piezoelectric materials. The second, being an FE-based modeling technique, leverages Model Order Reduction (MOR) to condense the dynamic behavior of PMUTs into a limited set of piezo-mechanical eigenmodes, drastically reducing computational load during coupled acoustic analysis by minimizing the degrees of freedom (DOF) to those of the precomputed eigenmodes. The third approach likewise employs these modes while introducing the Discontinuous Galerkin Spectral Element Method to enhance accuracy and handle nonconforming grids effectively across extensive PMUT arrays. Validation of these models was conducted via simulation of a 1-D PMUT array, fabricated using sol-gel PZT thin-film-based MEMS technology, exhibiting a high correlation between the experimental hydrophone measurements and simulated acoustic pressures and spectra, thus confirming the efficacy of the proposed methods. These models substantially decrease computing demands while preserving excellent accuracy, offering a rapid and reliable framework that is particularly advantageous during the PMUT design process

Intervening nuclear obscuration changing the X-ray look of the z ??? 6 quasi-stellar object CFHQS J164121+375520

X-ray observations of the optically selected z = 6.025 quasi-stellar object (QSO) CFHQS J164121+375520 (hereafter J1641) revealed that its flux dropped by a factor of &7 between 2018, when it was a bright and soft X-ray source, and 2021. Such a strong variability amplitude has not been observed before among z > 6 QSOs, and the underlying physical mechanism was unclear. We carried out a new X-ray and rest-frame UV monitoring campaign of J1641 over 2022–2024. We detected J1641 with Chandra in the 2–7 keV band, while no significant emission is detected at softer X-ray energies, making J1641 an X-ray changing-look QSO at z > 6. Compared with the 2018 epoch, the 0.5–2 keV flux dropped by a factor of >20. We ascribe this behavior to intervening, and still ongoing, obscuration by Compton-thick gas intercepting our line of sight between 2018 and 2021. The screening material could be an inner disk or a failed nuclear wind whose thickness increased. Another possibility is that we have witnessed an occultation event due to dust-free clouds located at parsec or subparsec scales, similar to those recently invoked to explain the remarkable X-ray weakness of active galactic nuclei discovered by JWST. These interpretations are also consistent with the lack of strong variations in the QSO rest-frame UV light curve over the same period. Future monitoring of J1641 and the possible discovery of other X-ray changing look QSOs at z > 6 will return precious information about the physics of rapid supermassive black hole growth at high redshifts

Emotional epigenetics in educational support of hate speech and violence.

The educational risk represented by the Social Web often materializes in the direct or indirect introduction of highly hateful and violent content in the children's imagination, which sow and feed feelings of discrimination, oppression, expulsion and dissociality responsive to trauma. The need for awareness is clarified that the emotions conveyed by the mental images made available induce epigenetic solicitations. Through genetic mechanisms they put each individual in the condition of drawing on the genetic heritage of the Species by activating the phenotypic expression of unpredictable behaviors. An adequate and necessary awareness can guide the Professionals of the educational relationship towards an effective its for mative use. The knowledge and dissemination of effective theoretical models to prevent hate trauma must necessarily start from a pedagogical proposal of experimental structure that is outlined with a transversal and transdisciplinary method for a systemic and transgenerational observation

Exposure to Noise and Vibrations for Workers Involved in Mechanized Almond Harvesting

Noise and vibration are important risk factors for agricultural operators. In fact, musculoskeletal disorders of occupational origin linked to exposure to vibrations in the workplace have continuously increased in recent years and are followed, in terms of reported cases, by pathologies of the auditory system linked to noise exposure. In agriculture, the use of machinery for various cultivation operations involves exposure to these risk factors at levels that are often higher than the action values defined by the laws transposing European directives. In almond cultivation, as in other crops, harvesting is one of the most mechanized operations. The objective of this research is to carry out a comparison on workers’ exposure to noise and vibrations during almond harvesting organized in three different harvest yards: 1. Harvesting with a FACMA Semek 1000 self-propelled harvester; 2. Harvesting with Vimar MK2 shaker operated by John Deere 5105 GF tractor; 3. Harvest with Berardinucci Yellow Devil Vini 260 P self-propelled harvester. The average equivalent noise levels detected in the field, during harvesting in farms in central Italy, were respectively 84.6, 79.2 and 83.2 dB(A) with very similar maximum peak levels (137.7, 137.3 and 137.9 dB(C) respectively). The weighted accelerations transmitted to the whole body, detected on the most stressed axis (mainly y in yard 1 and x in 3, while in 2 the two axes are equally stressed) were, respectively, 0.29, 0.40 and 0.24 ms−2. The results show how the factor that most penalizes workers’ exposure is noise and, in particular, the peak values that exceed the upper action value of 137 dB(C) and which entail the application of specific prevention obligations towards exposed workers. Even with regards to exposures for prolonged periods, it is the noise which, in the case of harvest yards 1 and 3, can cause the action values to be exceeded, in the case of use of the machines for daily times exceeding 435 and 305 min respectively

Early Life Social Isolation Dysregulates Social Reward Processing, BDNF Signaling, and Intracellular Vesicular Sorting in the Nucleus Accumbens of Male and Female Rats

Early-life social deprivation negatively impacts brain development and behavior, increasing susceptibility to neuropsychiatric disorders. In social species such as rats, interactions with the mother and conspecifics are crucial for offspring survival and proper neurobehavioral maturation. However, the mechanisms underlying sex-dependent vulnerability to early-life social stressors, such as social isolation, remain unclear. This study aimed to (i) investigate the effects of early-life social isolation (ESI) on social and depressive-like behaviors in female and male rats during adolescence and adulthood and (ii) explore the molecular mechanisms involved, focusing on the BDNF system in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a key brain region for social behavior and reward processing. To this aim, we implemented an ESI protocol involving brief periods of repeated social isolation from postnatal day (PND) 14–21 to mimic an adverse early social environment, and then we tested female and male rats across development (i.e., during adolescence and adulthood). Our findings revealed that ESI impaired social reward processing in male rats, whereas general social and depressive-like behaviors remained unaffected in both sexes. These behavioral deficits were accompanied by sex-dependent effects on the BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway in the NAc. Specifically, males exhibited a persistent ESI-induced downregulation of BDNF signaling paralleled by alterations in endocytic-recycling mechanisms mediated by Rab5-Rab11, suggesting increased TrkB sorting and reduced neuroplasticity. Conversely, females showed increased BDNF signaling and enhanced early endosome-recycling mechanisms. These results suggest that male and female rats rely on distinct neurobiological mechanisms to modulate reward processing in response to early-life stress. Overall, our study highlights sex-specific, long-lasting effects of ESI on social reward processing and molecular pathways, providing insight into differential susceptibility to social adversity. (Figure presented.)

Effects of Soft Encapsulation on the Receive Performance of PMUTs for Implantable Devices

Ultrasound (US) is a promising modality for wirelessly powering implantable devices, requiring encapsulated receivers to ensure long-term stability. Traditional hermetic packaging often limits acoustic transmission, making polymer-based encapsulation a more suitable alternative. This study investigates how implant-grade polymers, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), parylene-C, and medical-grade silicones (MED-1000 and MED2-4213), affect the receive performance of piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers (PMUTs). Simulations and measurements between 1 and 7 MHz show that all tested materials exhibit transmission coefficients above 94% at nanometer- and micrometer-scale thicknesses, confirming their acoustic transparency. The results show that although coated PMUTs are acoustically well matched with the surrounding water medium, the added mechanical load of the coating can hinder membrane motion and reduce the energy transferred to the PMUTs. Modeling and experimental data demonstrate that stiffer coatings, such as parylene-C, lead to a reduced sensitivity when similar thicknesses are used. Likewise, residual stress in materials like MED-1000 can also degrade the performance. These effects are not evident from acoustic transmission measurements alone, underscoring the need to assess both acoustic and mechanical properties when selecting encapsulation materials. In general, softer materials offer excellent acoustic performance for PMUT encapsulation, while stiffer materials must be applied in thinner layers to avoid impairing PMUT function

Synergies among ownership forms and cooperating territories: The case of wine

This paper investigates the effectiveness of cooperative ownership and its enhancement through territorial cooperation by analysing Italian wine firms (2012–2022) using a novel dataset and matching strategies. Results reveal that, when economic performances are properly measured, cooperative ownership generates more economic benefits and can thus become a driver of local development. The effect of cooperating territories goes above and beyond institutional quality, capturing a different measure of firm-level territorial cooperation, not strictly and only mediated by better public institutions. The paper supports the relevance of cooperative ownership for local economies and advocates policies fostering social networks and community-led initiatives