Mindfulness, age and gender as protective factors against psychological distress during COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: Mindfulness disposition is associated with various psychological factors and prevents emotional distress in chronic diseases. In the present study, we analyzed the key role of mindfulness dispositions in protecting the individual against psychological distress consequent to COVID-19 social distancing and quarantining. Methods: An online survey was launched on March 13, 2020, with 6,412 responses by April 6, 2020. Socio-demographic information, exposure to the pandemic, and quarantining were assessed together with psychological distress and mindfulness disposition. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to study the influence of predictive factors on psychological distress and quality of life in Italian responders during the early days of lockdown. Pearson correlations were calculated to study the relationship between mindfulness and psychiatric symptoms. Results: Multivariate linear regression run on socio-demographics, COVID-19-related variables, and mindfulness disposition as moderators of overall psychological distress showed that mindfulness was the best predictor of psychological distress (β = −0.504; p < 0.0001). High negative correlations were found between mindfulness disposition and the overall Global Severity Index (r = −0.637; p < 0.0001), while moderate to high associations were found between mindfulness and all SCL-90 sub-scales. Discussion: Findings showed that high dispositional mindfulness enhances well-being and helps in dealing with stressful situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Mindfulness-based mental training could represent an effective intervention to stem post-traumatic psychopathological beginnings and prevent the onset of chronic mental disorders

Design and Performance Evaluation of a High Power-Density EMI Filter for PWM Inverter-Fed Induction-Motor Drives

This paper presents the design of an electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter for a low-voltage high-current induction-motor drives supplied by dc power grids. In order to effectively design the EMI filter, a suitable common-mode/differential-mode (CM/DM) separation technique has been used. Due to the high operating currents, the software-based separation technique using time-domain measurements has been applied. The proposed technique allows the CM and DM sections of the EMI filter to be properly selected in a more economical way, i.e., without the need of a dedicated hardware or costly radio frequency (RF) instrumentation. The design has been done according to a power-density criterion. The effectiveness of the proposed CM/DM separation technique and the EMI filter features/performance has been assessed by experimental tests, carried out with an 1.1-kW pulsewidth modulation (PWM) inverter-fed induction-motor drive, supplied by a 48-V dc power grid

Modeling the Acceptance and Use of Telecenters in Brazil

This article describes the modeling of factors that affect the adoption and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Telecenters context. For such, some conceptual dimensions are used, such as a potential demand model (PDM), which aims at characterizing processes that determine the technological acceptance, and an acceptance dynamics model (ADM). Together, PDM and ADM constitute a simulation combined model based on agents that allow the analysis of the effect of different aspects related to Telecenters and the users’s individual profile, according to the target audience behavior. This modeling approach intends to constitute an analysis tool that is able to help formulate digital inclusion public policies.This article describes the modeling of factors that affect the adoption and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Telecenters context. For such, some conceptual dimensions are used, such as a potential demand model (PDM), which aims at characterizing processes that determine the technological acceptance, and an acceptance dynamics model (ADM). Together, PDM and ADM constitute a simulation combined model based on agents that allow the analysis of the effect of different aspects related to Telecenters and the users’s individual profile, according to the target audience behavior. This modeling approach intends to constitute an analysis tool that is able to help formulate digital inclusion public policies.This article describes the modeling of factors that affect the adoption and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Telecenters context. For such, some conceptual dimensions are used, such as a potential demand model (PDM), which aims at characterizing processes that determine the technological acceptance, and an acceptance dynamics model (ADM). Together, PDM and ADM constitute a simulation combined model based on agents that allow the analysis of the effect of different aspects related to Telecenters and the users’s individual profile, according to the target audience behavior. This modeling approach intends to constitute an analysis tool that is able to help formulate digital inclusion public policies

PROGETTAZIONE OTTIMIZZATA DI FILTRI EMI AD ELEVATA POWER DENSITY PER CONVERTITORI ELETTRONICI DI POTENZA

In molti dei campi di impiego dei convertitori elettronici di potenza (aeronautico, aerospaziale, automotive, etc.) è richiesta la realizzazione di sistemi di conversione che, in relazione a stringenti vincoli di progetto, presentino, a parità di potenza, dimensioni sempre più compatte e pesi ridotti. In tale ottica, l’ottimizzazione della densità di potenza (power density) del convertitore diventa un obiettivo essenzial