The crucial role of atomic corrugation on the flat bands and energy gaps of twisted bilayer graphene at the "magic angle" θ∼1.08∘\theta\sim 1.08^\circ

We combine state-of-the-art large-scale first principles calculations with a low-energy continuum model to describe the nearly flat bands of twisted bilayer graphene at the first magic angle $\theta =1.08^\circ$. We show that the energy width of the flat band manifold, as well as the energy gap separating it from the valence and conduction bands, can be obtained only if the out-of-plane relaxations are fully taken into account. The results agree both qualitatively and quantitatively with recent experimental outcomes.Comment: Published in Phys. Rev. B 99, 195419 (2019

Simulating the Effects of Alternative Management Measures of Trawl Fisheries in the Central Mediterranean Sea: Application of a Multi-Species Bio-economic Modeling Approach

In the last decades, the Mediterranean Sea experienced an increasing trend of fish stocks in overfishing status. Therefore, management actions to achieve a more sustainable exploitation of fishery resources are required and compelling. In this study, a spatially explicit multi-species bio-economic modeling approach, namely, SMART, was applied to the case study of central Mediterranean Sea to assess the potential effects of different trawl fisheries management scenarios on the demersal resources. The approach combines multiple modeling components, integrating the best available sets of spatial data about catches and stocks, fishing footprint from vessel monitoring systems (VMS) and economic parameters in order to describe the relationships between fishing effort pattern and impacts on resources and socio-economic consequences. Moreover, SMART takes into account the bi-directional connectivity between spawning and nurseries areas of target species, embedding the outcomes of a larvae transport Lagrangian model and of an empirical model of fish migration. Finally, population dynamics and trophic relationships are considered using a MICE (Models of Intermediate Complexity) approach. SMART simulates the fishing effort reallocation resulting from the introduction of different management scenarios. Specifically, SMART was applied to evaluate the potential benefits of different management approaches of the trawl fisheries targeting demersal stocks (deepwater rose shrimp Parapenaeus longirostris, the giant red shrimp Aristaeomorpha foliacea, the European hake Merluccius merluccius, and the red mullet Mullus barbatus) in the Strait of Sicily. The simulated management scenarios included a reduction of both fishing capacity and effort, two different sets of temporal fishing closures, and two sets of spatial fishing closures, defined involving fishers. Results showed that both temporal and spatial closures are expected to determine a significant improvement in the exploitation pattern for all the species, ultimately leading to the substantial recovery of spawning stock biomass for the stocks. Overall, one of the management scenarios suggested by fishers scored better and confirms the usefulness of participatory approaches, suggesting the need for more public consultation when dealing with resource management at sea

Transizione alla genitorialità nelle donne con patologie autoimmuni: individuazione di fattori psicosociali protettivi e di rischio

In presenza di patologia autoimmune materna, la nascita di un figlio è un evento complesso da un punto di vista sia fisico sia psicologico. Questo studio, rivolto a coppie in cui la donna è affetta da malattia autoimmune, intende individuare variabili personali, relazionali e contestuali in grado di influenzare il benessere dei futuri genitori e il loro legame con il figlio. Il disegno è longitudinale, con somministrazione di questionari e interviste in gravidanza (2°-3° trimestre) e nella fase postnatale (3-4 mesi dopo il parto). Il contributo illustra dei risultati preliminari, relativi a 34 gestanti su misure di attaccamento prenatale (PAI, Müller 1993; MAAS, Condon, 1993) e romantico (ECR–R, Fraley et al., 2000), adattamento diadico (DAS, Spanier 1976), disregolazione emotiva (DERS, Gratz & Roemer, 2004), caregiving dei propri genitori (PBI, Parker et al., 1979), supporto sociale (MSPSS, Zimet et al., 1988), depressione (CES-D, Radloff 1977), fiducia nelle figure sanitarie (HCR Trust Scale, Bova et al., 2006). È emersa una correlazione significativa positiva tra attaccamento prenatale e cura fornita dalla figura paterna durante infanzia e adolescenza. Inoltre, a livelli più alti di disregolazione emotiva sono associati livelli più alti di depressione, ansia ed evitamento relazionale, livelli più bassi di supporto sociale percepito, cura parentale nell’infanzia e nell’adolescenza, consenso e coesione nella relazione di coppia. Questi primi dati suggeriscono che il ricordo di un caregiving paterno caratterizzato da affetto, calore, empatia e intimità funge da fattore protettivo rispetto al formarsi dell’attaccamento prenatale materno, mentre la disregolazione emotiva rappresenta un fattore di rischio in grado di minare il benessere psicologico delle gestanti. Emerge l’importanza di comprendere l’impatto della malattia autoimmune sulla ridefinizione degli equilibri psichici genitoriali al fine di migliorare le buone prassi nell’assistenza psicologica alle gestanti

PREGNANCY AND AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES: EXPLORING THE MOTHER’S MENTAL WORLD

Autoimmune disease mainly affects women in their reproductive years and has a significant impact on childbearing. Pregnancy can induce an improvement of the mother’s symptomatology in some kinf of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, while exacerbating or having no effect on other autoimmune diseases as sclerosys multiple (Borchers et al, 2010). This “uncertainty” can affect the process of psychological transformation and reorganization, which leads to the acquisition of a maternal identity sustained by a mental representation of the self as a mother and of the future baby, although he or she is still unborn (Ammaniti et al, 1999; RaphaelLeff, 2010). The quality of the mother-fetus emotional bond is considered particularly important for the subsequent attachment relationship and the psychological development of the infant (Ammaniti et al, 2013; Benoit et al, 1997). At the last thrimester of pregnancy 10 women with different autoimmune diseases (sclerosys multiple, lupus erythematosus, type 1 diabetes), and 10 nonrisk women were interviewed using the “Interview of Maternal Representations during Pregnancy-Revised Version” (IRMAG-R; Ammaniti & Tambelli, 2010). All interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed by using qualitative content analysis in Atlas.ti. Two independent judges coded 5/20 interviews; agreement was >80%. The women with autoimmune disease, compared to nonrisk women, were more ambivalent toward pregnancy, were less able to recognize physical and psychological changes and to imagine the child. These are considered risk factors which could negatively affect the postnatal caregiving system (Van Bussel et al, 2009). These results focus on the importance of early multidisciplinary interventions that can support expectant women when they show signs of relationship difficulties with their infants prior to his/her birth

A Pilot Study of the Relationship Between Pregnancy and Autoimmune Disease: Exploring the Mother’s Psychological Process

Autoimmune disease mainly affects women in their reproductive years and has a significant impact on childbearing. Pregnancy can induce an improvement of the mother’s symptomatology in some diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis while exacerbating or having no effect on other autoimmune diseases as multiple sclerosis (Borchers et al., 2010). This uncertainty can affect the process of psychological reorganization, which leads to the achievement of a maternal identity. The quality of the mother-fetus emotional bond is considered particularly relevant for the subsequent attachment relationship and the psychological development of the infant (Ammaniti et al., 2013). In the last trimester of pregnancy, 15 women with different autoimmune diseases were interviewed using the IRMAG-R (Ammaniti and Tambelli, 2010). They also completed a battery comprising: PAI (Della Vedova et al., 2008); MAAS (Busonera et al., 2016); DAS (Gentili et al., 2002); PBI (Scinto et al., 1999); MSPSS (Prezza and Principato, 2002); DERS, (Giromini et al., 2012); CES-D (Fava, 1983); HCR-TS (Bova et al., 2012). All interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed by Atlas.ti. The results show that women with autoimmune disease were ambivalent toward pregnancy, had high levels of depression, had difficulties in recognizing physical and psychological changes, and had difficulties in imagining the child. These are considered risk factors that could negatively affect the postnatal mother-infant relationship. These results focus on the importance of early multidisciplinary interventions that can support expectant women when they show signs of relationship difficulties with their infants prior to his/her birth

Barrett's Esophagus: Still Much to Learn, But "Yes, We Can!"

I.F. 6.10

Quality of Life and Psychological Disorders in Coeliac Disease: A Prospective Multicentre Study

Coeliac disease (CeD) has been associated with psychological disorders and reduced quality of life. Our prospective study evaluated the changes in the quality of life, anxiety and depression in CeD patients up to two years after diagnosis. We recruited adult patients residing in the Veneto region with a new diagnosis of CeD. Several validated questionnaires were administered to measure quality of life, psychological symptoms and adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD) at the time of diagnosis and after 1 and 2 years. Ninety-three patients reached the 1-year follow-up (81.7% were females with a median age at diagnosis of 35 years), and 55 patients reached the 2-year follow-up. We observed a significant improvement in quality of life, anxiety and depression scores at 1 year after diagnosis, particularly in patients who complied with a GFD. The improvements among classical CeD patients were similar to those observed in nonclassical patients except for anxiety, which improved only in patients with a classical presentation at diagnosis. Age, sex and other disease factors did not affect the change in quality of life (QoL) or other mood disorders. Most of the improvements measured 1 year after diagnosis and 2 years after diagnosis were not significant. In conclusion, QoL and mood disorders must be considered, and psychological counselling should be used when needed