548 research outputs found
The psychologist
No full textThis chapter deals with the role and the competencies of the psychologist in a center for technical aid. The lapse of the psychologist’s role in AT assessment is probably due to the noncoding of personal factors in the ICF. In viewing the psychologist as the “specialist” on personal factors, the authors call for a revision of the ICF, so that in the biopsychosocial model, “psycho” does not continue as merely a prefix. The psychologist in a center for AT evaluation and provision has the goal of supporting the user’s request in the user-driven process, as well as acting as a mediator for users. The psychologist also acts to build a team spirit and enhance the relationship between the client and the home environment. Finally, an original study closes this chapter, focusing on the psychologists’ and professionals’ representations of disabled users and ATs.
Acknowledgments
Fabio Meloni, Stefano Federici, and Aldo Stella contributed equally to the study except for paragraph 6 edited by Claudia Mazzeschi and paragraph 7 edited by Barbara Cordella, Francesca Greco, and Massimo Grasso
Analysis and retrofitting design of a single-span R.C. bridge
No full textThis paper deals with the case history of a damaged one-span prestressed concrete bridge on a crucial artery near the city of Cagliari (Sardinia), along the sea-side. After being involved in a disastrous flood, attention has arisen on the worrying safety state of the deck, submitted to an intense daily traffic load. Evident signs of this severe condition were the deterioration of the beams concrete and the corrosion, the lack of tension and even the rupture of the prestressing cables. After performing a limited in situ test campaign, consisting of sclerometer, pull out and carbonation depth tests, a first evaluation of the safety of the structure was performed. After collecting the data of dynamic and static load tests as well, a comprehensive analysis have been carried out, also by means of a properly calibrated F.E. model. Finally the retrofitting design is presented, consisting of the reparation and thickening of the concrete cover, providing flexural and shear FRP external reinforcements and an external prestressing system, capable of restoring a satisfactory bearing capacity, according to the current national codes. The intervention has been calibrated by the former F.E. model with respect to transversal effects and influence of local and overall deformation of reinforced elements
Toccare lo spazio prospettico, “sentire” l’opera d’arte. Strategie per l’accessibilità dei dipinti prospettici per i non vedenti
No full textIl contributo propone un approccio metodologico-didattico per la traduzione dei dipinti fondati sull’uso della prospettiva in un linguaggio accessibile a fruitori con disabilità visiva. Comunicare tali opere a un pubblico non vedente non significa solo restituirne una forma tridimensionale apticamente esplorabile: il dipinto prospettico di epoca rinascimentale porta con sé un corpus di valori, di messaggi simbolici e di significati legati all’applicazione della prospettiva, il cui apprezzamento non passa attraverso gli occhi, ma attraverso intelletto e conoscenza. È necessario dunque lavorare su due fronti: in primis, la ricerca dell’equivalente rappresentativo dello spazio prospettico; in secondo luogo, la ricerca dell’equivalente estetico, che include il primo e lo completa, consentendo di accedere all’esperienza estetica vera e propria. Pertanto, la comunicazione aumentata ed inclusiva del bene deve prevedere un apparato didattico ben strutturato per veicolare non soltanto le qualità visive dell’opera tradotte in forma tattile ma tutti i significati ad esso connessi, compresi i possibili stimoli multisensoriali che è in grado di evocare. Si forniscono così strategie rappresentative e comunicative utili anche al largo pubblico, che ha l’occasione di sperimentare un modo alternativo di relazionarsi all’opera d’arte. La metodologia è basata su metodi tradizionali della geometria descrittiva (restituzione prospettica, prospettiva solida accelerata) ed è stata applicata a due casi studio, il Banchetto di Erode nelle versioni di B. Gozzoli e F. Lippi
Checking Flavour Models at Neutrino Facilities
No full textAbstractIn the recent years, the industry of model building has been the subject of the intense activity, especially after the measurement of a relatively large values of the reactor angle. Special attention has been devoted to the use of non-abelian discrete symmetries, thanks to their ability of reproducing some of the relevant features of the neutrino mixing matrix. In this Letter, we consider two special relations between the leptonic mixing angles, arising from models based on S4 and A4, and study whether, and to which extent, they can be distinguished at superbeam facilities, namely T2K, NOνA and T2HK
A protein-coated micro-sucker patch inspired by octopus for adhesion in wet conditions
No full textIn medical robotics, micromanipulation becomes particularly challenging in the presence of blood and secretions. Nature offers many examples of adhesion strategies, which can be divided into two macro-categories: morphological adjustments and chemical adaptations. This paper analyzes how two successful specializations from different marine animals can converge into a single biomedical device usable in moist environments. Taking inspiration from the morphology of the octopus sucker and the chemistry of mussel secretions, we developed a protein-coated octopus-inspired micro-sucker device that retains in moist conditions about half of the adhesion it shows in dry environments. From a robotic perspective, this study emphasizes the advantages of taking inspiration from specialized natural solutions to optimize standard robotic designs
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