Indagine sperimentale dell’influenza delle connessioni sulle prestazioni acustiche di sistemi di isolamento a cappotto.

I sistemi di isolamento a cappotto (ETICS) vengono sempre più utilizzati per l’adeguamento termico e acustico di vecchi edifici, nonché per l'isolamento di edifici di nuova costruzione. La parete è isolata termicamente e acusticamente mediante pannelli di isolante termico (in genere lana di roccia o polistirene espanso) applicati sul lato esterno del paramento murario e fissati ad esso tramite incollaggio e ancoraggio mecca-nico. I pannelli isolanti sono protetti sul lato esterno da uno strato di intonaco armato con rete in fibra minerale ed infine da un trattamento superficiale di finitura. Sono di-versi i fattori che determinano le prestazioni di un sistema di isolamento a cappotto; tra questi fattori sicuramente la presenza delle connessioni strutturali dovute ai tasselli di ancoraggio porta ad un peggioramento della curva di potere fonoisolante a frequenze medio-alte. Nel presente articolo vengono riportati e discussi i risultati di un’indagine sperimentale condotta su provini di piccole dimensioni utilizzando misure accelerome-triche e scansioni intensimetriche per la determinazione dell’efficienza di radiazione di sistemi a cappotto caratterizzati da diversi materiali isolanti con la presenza o meno di connessioni strutturali

A parellel Compliant Meso-Manipulator for Finger Rehabilitation Treatments: Kinematic and Dynamic Analysis

A parallel and flexible meso-manipulator for finger rehabilitation treatments is presented in this paper. The work deals with the study of a meso-robot’s kinematic and dynamic peculiar behavior, aimed at allowing its application to muscular activity and tendon tension, in those patients with even a partial lack of the fingers functionality, for instance due to a stroke. As a result of its structural compliance, the mesomanipulator results particularly suitable for a rehabilitative application: after having coupled the manipulator to a common cloth-glove joined to the mobile platform of the robot, the patient’s finger can be driven to the required movement. As external loads can also be imposed to the involved tendons, the realized motion parts performed by the robot and by the patient can be quantified. In this way, the surgeon can constantly monitor the therapy trend, but also the patient has an objective quantification of his/her improvement

Sound transmission loss of ETICS cladding systems considering the structure-borne transmission via the mechanical fixings: Numerical prediction model and experimental evaluation

Nowadays it is common to increase the acoustic and thermal performance of building facades using the External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS). In this paper a prediction model to evaluate the sound transmission loss provided by such systems, also considering the mechanical bridges that connect the insulating slabs to the basic wall, is presented. The model is developed within the transfer matrix method framework and it is based on a well established decoupled approach. The different formulations presented by several authors to take into account the structure-borne sound transmission through the mechanical connections in multilayer and double-plate elements are not suitable to analyse these kind of building partitions, since they are addressed only to thin plate elements and lightweight porous or fibrous materials. Unfortunately, the different layers that the ETICS consists of need a more sophisticated definition within the transfer matrix method. Therefore, a new model, developed for these specific elements, is proposed. The computation of all the terms and the necessary assumptions are accurately described and their validity is verified with experimental data. Finally, the reliability of the model is investigated by comparing the numerical results with measured transmission loss. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Giuliano Prati (1931-2003). Una vita in punta di matita

Dell'illustratore dell'editrice La Scuola, dagli anni Sessanta al 2000, si presenta la crescita artistica e l'attività professionale, sostanziate da una mostra personale.The essay explains the artistic growth and professional activity, based on a personal exhibition, of the illustrator of the publisher, La Scuola, from the sixties to 2000

Meta-analytic prevalence of comorbid mental disorders in individuals at clinical high risk of psychosis: the case for transdiagnostic assessment

: Comorbid mental disorders in subjects at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P) may impact preventive care. We conducted a PRISMA/MOOSE-compliant systematic meta-analysis, searching PubMed/PsycInfo up to June 21st, 2021 for observational studies/randomized controlled trials reporting on comorbid DSM/ICD-mental disorders in CHR-P subjects ( protocol ). The primary and secondary outcomes were baseline and follow-up prevalence of comorbid mental disorders. We also explored the association of comorbid mental disorders compared with CHR-P versus psychotic/non-psychotic control groups, their impact on baseline functioning and transition to psychosis. We conducted random-effects meta-analyses, meta-regression, and assessed heterogeneity/publication bias/quality (Newcastle Ottawa Scale, NOS). We included 312 studies (largest meta-analyzed sample = 7834, any anxiety disorder, mean age = 19.98 (3.40), females = 43.88%, overall NOS > 6 in 77.6% of studies). The prevalence was 0.78 (95% CI = 0.73-0.82, k = 29) for any comorbid non-psychotic mental disorder, 0.60 (95% CI = 0.36-0.84, k = 3) for anxiety/mood disorders, 0.44 (95% CI = 0.39-0.49, k = 48) for any mood disorders, 0.38 (95% CI = 0.33-0.42, k = 50) for any depressive disorder/episode, 0.34 (95% CI = 0.30-0.38, k = 69) for any anxiety disorder, 0.30 (95% CI 0.25-0.35, k = 35) for major depressive disorders, 0.29 (95% CI, 0.08-0.51, k = 3) for any trauma-related disorder, 0.23 (95% CI = 0.17-0.28, k = 24) for any personality disorder, and  50% in 71.01% estimates). The prevalence of any comorbid mental disorder decreased over time (0.51, 95% CI = 0.25-0.77 over 96 months), except any substance use which increased (0.19, 95% CI = 0.00-0.39, k = 2, >96 months). Compared with controls, the CHR-P status was associated with a higher prevalence of anxiety, schizotypal personality, panic, and alcohol use disorders (OR from 2.90 to 1.54 versus without psychosis), a higher prevalence of anxiety/mood disorders (OR = 9.30 to 2.02) and lower prevalence of any substance use disorder (OR = 0.41, versus psychosis). Higher baseline prevalence of alcohol use disorder/schizotypal personality disorder was negatively associated with baseline functioning (beta from -0.40 to -0.15), while dysthymic disorder/generalized anxiety disorder with higher functioning (beta 0.59 to 1.49). Higher baseline prevalence of any mood disorder/generalized anxiety disorder/agoraphobia (beta from -2.39 to -0.27) was negatively associated with transition to psychosis. In conclusion, over three-quarters of CHR-P subjects have comorbid mental disorders, which modulate baseline functionig and transition to psychosis. Transdiagnostic mental health assessment should be warranted in subjects at CHR-P

Favorire la comprensione del parlato (Cap. 5 - par. 5.1, 5.2)

Al fine di garantire i requisiti di benessere acustico negli edifici scolastici, fin dalla progettazione preliminare è necessario prevedere strategie e interventi finalizzati alla riduzione del rumore esterno, e per ogni singolo ambiente scolastico deve essere assicurato un basso livello di rumore interno, ottenuto grazie ad un buon grado di isolamento acustico e al controllo del rumore delle sorgenti interne, come gli impianti, e una riverberazione ottimale. Tali condizioni sono finalizzate principalmente ad una buona comprensione verbale tra allievi e insegnanti. I parametri acustici di riferimento per i diversi requisiti e i relativi valori ottimali sono riportati nei documenti legislativi e nelle norme tecniche di settore, nazionali e internazionali. In queste linee guida si indicano gli aspetti progettuali a cui porre attenzione per soddisfare i requisiti acustici per i diversi ambienti scolastici, nei quali l’obiettivo principale è l’apprendimento, soprattutto ai livelli iniziali del percorso formativo. Risvolti positivi si hanno anche per gli insegnanti, per i quali la buona acustica riduce i rischi di patologie della voce e della sintomatologia ad esse correlate. Condizioni acustiche particolarmente restrittive sono previste in caso di allievi con deficit uditivi e con disturbi di attenzione o di linguaggio, e nel caso di allievi non di madre lingua