354 research outputs found
On the Optimal Preliminary Design of High-Altitude Airships: Automated Procedure and the Effect of Constraints
Digital mental health interventions for anxiety and depressive symptoms in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials
University students are particularly vulnerable to mental health issues, with anxiety and depression identified as the most common conditions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing, self-isolation, and difficulties linked to online teaching and learning have increased their burden of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Thus, the urgent need to intervene in favour of these vulnerable subjects, together with the difficulties in delivering in-person interventions because of lockdowns and restrictions, has led to prioritize digital mental health strategies. This study aimed at systematically reviewing the existing literature on digital mental health interventions targeting anxiety and depressive symptoms in university students during the COVID-19 emergency. Systematic searches of Medline, Embase, and PsycInfo databases identified eight randomized controlled trials. Regarding anxiety symptoms, digitally delivered cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, and mind-body practice techniques emerged as valid strategies, while digital positive psychology and mindfulness-based interventions showed mixed results. On the other hand, digitally delivered dialectical behaviour therapy and positive psychology interventions have shown some efficacy in reducing depressive symptoms. Overall, the available literature, albeit of low quality, seems to support the role of digital interventions in promoting the mental health of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic
Mental Health and COVID-19 in University Students: Findings from a Qualitative, Comparative Study in Italy and the UK
Introduction: COVID-19 restrictions introduced several changes in university academic and social experience. Self-isolation and online teaching have amplified students’ mental health vulnerability. Thus, we aimed to explore feelings and perspectives about the impact of the pandemic on mental health, comparing students from Italy and the UK.
Methods: Data were collected from the qualitative portion of “the CAMPUS study”, longitudinally assessing mental health of students at the University of Milano-Bicocca (Italy) and the University of Surrey (UK). We conducted in-depth interviews and thematically analysed the transcripts.
Results: The explanatory model was developed from four themes identified across 33 interviews: anxiety exacerbated by COVID-19; putative mechanisms leading to poor mental health; the most vulnerable subgroups; and coping strategies. Generalised and social anxiety resulted from COVID-19 restrictions by being associated with loneliness, excessive time online, unhealthy management of time and space and poor communication with the university. Freshers, international students, and people on the extremes of the introversion/extroversion spectrum, were identified as vulnerable, while effective coping strategies included taking advantage of free time, connection with family and mental health support. The impact of COVID-19 was mostly related to academic issues by students from Italy, whereas to the drastic loss of social connectedness by the UK sample.
Conclusions: Mental health support for students has an essential role, and measures that encourage communication and social connectedness are likely to be beneficial
Optimization and first electronic implementation of the Constant-Fraction Time-Over-Threshold pulse shape discrimination method
In this contribution we report on further investigations of the
recently-evaluated Constant-Fraction Time-over-Threshold (CF-ToT) method for
neutron/gamma-ray pulse shape discrimination (PSD). The superiority of the
CF-ToT PSD method over the constant-threshold (CT-ToT) method was previously
demonstrated, down to low neutron energy thresholds of 100 keVee. Here, we
report on a quantitative comparison between the traditionally used Charge
Comparison (CC) method and the CF-ToT method using a stilbene scintillator
coupled to a silicon photomultiplier, implementing an offline analysis of
recorded fast-neutron and gamma-ray waveforms. An optimization of the constant
fraction value indicates that a 20%-fraction yields the optimum figure-of-merit
(FOM) and gamma-ray peak-to-valley (P/V) ratio. The results obtained for a
particle energy threshold of 100 keVee show that the FOM and P/V values
achieved with the CF-ToT method are superior to those obtained using the
standard CC method. In addition, a first electronic implementation of the
CF-ToT method was performed using simple circuitry suitable for multichannel
architecture. Initial results obtained with this circuit prototype are
presented.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures. To be submitted to JINS
Glucose and triglyceride excursions following a standardized meal in individuals with diabetes: ELSA-Brasil study
The PARIS cluster coupled to the BaFPro electronic module: data analysis from the NRF experiment at the ELBE facility
International audience; The first cluster of the constructed PARIS calorimeter was assembled and tested atthe ELBE facility at HZDR, Dresden, Germany. The experiment was aimed at the evaluationof the performance of each detector separately as well as the whole PARIS cluster with discrete-ray energies seen by the PARIS ranging up to 8.9 MeV. As the detectors use phoswichconfiguration, with 2'' x 2'' x 2'' LaBr3(Ce) crystal coupled to 2'' x 2'' x 6'' NaI(Tl) one, greatcare must be taken during the data analysis process to obtain the best possible values for energyresolution. Two algorithms for data transformation from matrices created with slow vs fastpulse shaping to energy spectra were tested from which one was chosen for further analysis. Analgorithm for adding back energies of -rays scattered inside the cluster was prepared, as well.Energy resolution for -rays in 2–8 MeV range was estimated and is presented in this paper
Background free search for neutrinoless double beta decay with GERDA Phase II
The Standard Model of particle physics cannot explain the dominance of matter
over anti-matter in our Universe. In many model extensions this is a very
natural consequence of neutrinos being their own anti-particles (Majorana
particles) which implies that a lepton number violating radioactive decay named
neutrinoless double beta () decay should exist. The detection
of this extremely rare hypothetical process requires utmost suppression of any
kind of backgrounds.
The GERDA collaboration searches for decay of Ge
(^{76}\rm{Ge} \rightarrow\,^{76}\rm{Se} + 2e^-) by operating bare detectors
made from germanium with enriched Ge fraction in liquid argon. Here, we
report on first data of GERDA Phase II. A background level of
cts/(keVkgyr) has been achieved which is the world-best if
weighted by the narrow energy-signal region of germanium detectors. Combining
Phase I and II data we find no signal and deduce a new lower limit for the
half-life of yr at 90 % C.L. Our sensitivity of
yr is competitive with the one of experiments with
significantly larger isotope mass.
GERDA is the first experiment that will be background-free
up to its design exposure. This progress relies on a novel active veto system,
the superior germanium detector energy resolution and the improved background
recognition of our new detectors. The unique discovery potential of an
essentially background-free search for decay motivates a
larger germanium experiment with higher sensitivity.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures, 1 table; ; data, figures and images available at
http://www.mpi-hd.mpg/gerda/publi
The background in the neutrinoless double beta decay experiment GERDA
The GERmanium Detector Array (GERDA) experiment at the Gran Sasso underground
laboratory (LNGS) of INFN is searching for neutrinoless double beta decay of
76Ge. The signature of the signal is a monoenergetic peak at 2039 keV, the
Q-value of the decay, Q_bb. To avoid bias in the signal search, the present
analysis does not consider all those events, that fall in a 40 keV wide region
centered around Q_bb. The main parameters needed for the neutrinoless double
beta decay analysis are described. A background model was developed to describe
the observed energy spectrum. The model contains several contributions, that
are expected on the basis of material screening or that are established by the
observation of characteristic structures in the energy spectrum. The model
predicts a flat energy spectrum for the blinding window around Q_bb with a
background index ranging from 17.6 to 23.8*10^{-3} counts/(keV kg yr). A part
of the data not considered before has been used to test if the predictions of
the background model are consistent. The observed number of events in this
energy region is consistent with the background model. The background at Q-bb
is dominated by close sources, mainly due to 42K, 214Bi, 228Th, 60Co and alpha
emitting isotopes from the 226Ra decay chain. The individual fractions depend
on the assumed locations of the contaminants. It is shown, that after removal
of the known gamma peaks, the energy spectrum can be fitted in an energy range
of 200 kev around Q_bb with a constant background. This gives a background
index consistent with the full model and uncertainties of the same size
Limits on uranium and thorium bulk content in GERDA Phase I detectors
Internal contaminations of U, U and Th in the bulk of
high purity germanium detectors are potential backgrounds for experiments
searching for neutrinoless double beta decay of Ge. The data from GERDA
Phase~I have been analyzed for alpha events from the decay chain of these
contaminations by looking for full decay chains and for time correlations
between successive decays in the same detector. No candidate events for a full
chain have been found. Upper limits on the activities in the range of a few
nBq/kg for Ra, Ac and Th, the long-lived daughter
nuclides of U, U and Th, respectively, have been
derived. With these upper limits a background index in the energy region of
interest from Ra and Th contamination is estimated which
satisfies the prerequisites of a future ton scale germanium double beta decay
experiment.Comment: 2 figures, 7 page
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