Gli indicatori internazionali dell'istruzione dell'OCSE

Sulle strade della complessit\ue0 del sistema scolastico e della dirigenza che ne interpreta la componente manageriale e decisionale, il saggio dell\u2019autrice si concentra sull\u2019analisi riflessioni in merito alle sempre pi\uf9 rilevanti importanza e influenza assunte dagli indicatori internazionali dell\u2019istruzione, in ambito nazionale e, soprattutto, in una prospettiva internazionale e transnazionale, illustrandone i processi e le caratteristiche, sviluppandone concettualit\ue0 e criticit\ue0 dell\u2019istruzione e della formazione umana e proponendo prospettive per sviluppi futuri. Ampia condivisione viene accordata, infatti, a livello internazionale, in merito al ruolo da deputare a istruzione, educazione e formazione, ritenute questioni chiave e strategiche per rispondere in maniera efficace alle sfide attuali che si trovano a dover affrontare le societ\ue0, le economie, le culture, in mondo globalizzato, quello attuale, contraddistinto da sempre pi\uf9 veloci mutamenti. Istruzione, educazione e formazione sono ritenute altres\uec fondamentali sia per gli individui sia per le societ\ue0, per il benessere socio-economico dei paesi. Conoscenze, competenze e abilit\ue0 sono ritenute essenziali per una effettiva e proficua partecipazione attiva e cooperazione tra cittadini, contribuendo in tal modo alla crescita economica del proprio paese e al progresso nelle conoscenze scientifiche e nella cultura

Lifelong learning nell\u2019era della globalizzazione

Con sempre maggiore consapevolezza si guarda all'istruzione e all'educazione come un tesoro cui attingere perch\ue9 ogni persona, nella pienezza del proprio essere, possa vivere in dignit\ue0 e libert\ue0 la propria vita. Tra le ragioni di questa tendenza vi \ue8 l\u2019impatto sociale dei cambiamenti e dei problemi posti dalla globalizzazione, dalle tecnologie dell\u2019informazione e della comunicazione, dai modi e dalle forme in cui si produce il lavoro, si diffonde e si consuma la cultura, insieme all\u2019esplosione del fenomeno della mobilit\ue0 di soggetti comunitari e extracomunitari, che pone in primo piano il rapporto tra cultura e popoli diversi. Le scienze pedagogiche sono specificatamente chiamate a dare il proprio contributo per lo studio delle situazioni e delle problematiche, per individuare risposte e possibili soluzioni concrete e praticabili. Il volume fa riferimento al tema generale per una Paideia del terzo millennio, nel nome e nell'impegno di Mario Mencarelli, suggerendo analisi, riflessioni e proposte perch\ue9 ciascuno possa costruire un proprio discorso, sul piano teorico e/o operativo con la chiave del "dissenso costruttivo" e del "consenso critico". Il contributo del\u2019autrice si concentra sull\u2019analisi dei processi di lifelong learning nell\u2019attuale era della globalizzazione, in relazione anche agli obiettivi dell\u2019Unione Europea di Lisbona, da raggiungere entro il 2010 e con il proposito di promuovere l\u2019impegno di dedicarsi alla promozione di tutto il potenziale educativo e formativo della persona, coniugando tradizione e innovazione

Pedagogia del corpo e dello sport nella prospettiva del lifelong learning

Lo sport appare saldamente legato ai processi di industrializzazione e di razionalizzazione, avendo il primo conosciuto la rinascita proprio in concomitanza dell\u2019avvento dei secondi, e considerando che la competizione e la competitivit\ue0 sembrano caratterizzare in maniera decisiva sia lo sport sia le societ\ue0 industrializzate. In tale prospettiva, viene analizzata la dimensione pedagogico-educativa dello sport all\u2019interno di complesse dinamiche sociali, antropologiche, politiche, culturali, economiche, ecc. , cercando di coglierne anche le dimensioni e i contenuti valoriali, specialmente in un contesto di democrazia, cercando di delineare i fondamenti per una pedagogia dello sport. Lo sport offre pertanto immense possibilit\ue0 alla pedagogia, all\u2019incessante percorso di crescita e sviluppo integrale che coinvolge la persona lungo l\u2019intero arco della propria vita inserita in una, si auspica finalmente compiuta, comunit\ue0 educante in prospettiva lifelong e lifewide

New architectural design of delivery room reduces morbidity in preterm neonates: a prospective cohort study

Background: A multidisciplinary committee composed of a panel of experts, including a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Institute of Architects, has suggested that the delivery room (DR) and the neonatal intensive care units (NICU) room should be directly interconnected. We aimed to investigate the impact of the architectural design of the DR and the NICU on neonatal outcome. Methods: Two cohorts of preterm neonates born at < 32weeks of gestational age, consecutively observed during 2years, were compared prospectively before (Cohort 1: "conventional DR") and after architectural renovation of the DR realized in accordance with specific standards (Cohort 2: "new concept of DR"). In Cohort 1, neonates were initially cared for a conventional resuscitation area, situated in the DR, and then transferred to the NICU, located on a separate floor of the same hospital. In Cohort 2 neonates were assisted at birth directly in the NICU room, which was directly connected to the DR via a pass-through door. The primary outcome of the study was morbidity, defined by the proportion of neonates with at least one complication of prematurity (i.e., late-onset sepsis, patent ductus arteriosus, intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity and necrotizing enterocolitis). Secondary outcomes were mortality and duration of hospitalization. Statistical analysis was performed using standard methods by SPSS software. Results: We enrolled 106 neonates (56 in Cohort 1 and 50 in Cohort 2). The main clinical and demographic characteristics of the 2cohorts were similar. Moderate hypothermia (body temperature ≤ 35.9° C) was more frequent in Cohort 1 (57%) compared with Cohort 2 (24%, p = 0.001). Morbidity was increased in Cohort 1 (73%) compared with Cohort 2 (44%, p = 0.002). No statistically significant differences in mortality and median duration of hospitalization were observed between the 2 cohorts of the study. Conclusions: If realized according to the proposed architectural standards, renovation of DR and NICU may represent an opportunity to reduce morbidity in preterm neonates

The adherent/invasive escherichia coli (AIEC) strain LF82 invades and persists in human prostate cell lineRWPE-1 activating a strong inflammatory response

Adherent/invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) strains have recently been receiving increased attention because they are more prevalent and persistent in the intestine of Crohn's disease (CD) patients than in healthy subjects. Since AIEC strains show a high percentage of similarity to extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC), neonatal meningitis-associated E. coli (NMEC), and uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) strains, here we compared AIEC strain LF82 with a UPEC isolate (strain EC73) to assess whether LF82 would be able to infect prostate cells as an extraintestinal target. The virulence phenotypes of both strains were determined by using the RWPE-1 prostate cell line. The results obtained indicated that LF82 and EC73 are able to adhere to, invade, and survive within prostate epithelial cells. Invasion was confirmed by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. Moreover, cytochalasin D and colchicine strongly inhibited bacterial uptake of both strains, indicating the involvement of actin microfilaments and microtubules in host cell invasion. Moreover, both strains belong to phylogenetic group B2 and are strong biofilm producers. In silico analysis reveals that LF82 shares with UPEC strains several virulence factors: namely, type 1 pili, the group II capsule, the vacuolating autotransporter toxin, four iron uptake systems, and the pathogenic island (PAI). Furthermore, compared to EC73, LF82 induces in RWPE-1 cells a marked increase of phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and of NF-κB already by 5 min postinfection, thus inducing a strong inflammatory response. Our in vitro data support the hypothesis that AIEC strains might play a role in prostatitis, and, by exploiting host-cell signaling pathways controlling the innate immune response, likely facilitate bacterial multiplication and dissemination within the male genitourinary trac

Bacterial biofilm associated with a case of capsular contracture

Capsular contracture is one of the most common complications of implant-based breast augmentation. Despite its prevalence, the etiology of capsular contracture remains controversial although the surface texture of the breast implant, the anatomical position of the prosthesis and the presence of bacterial biofilm could be considered trigger factors. In fact, all medical implants are susceptible to bacterial colonization and biofilm formation. The present study demonstrated the presence of microbial biofilm constituted by cocci in a breast implant obtained from a patient with Baker grade II capsular contracture. This suggests that subclinical infection can be present and involved in low-grade capsular contracture

Characterization of the ear canal bacterial flora present in hearing Aids (HA) wearing subjects

The use of hearing aids (HA) is considered a predisposing factor for ear microbial infections. We undertook this study to compare the presence and nature of the microbial flora inhabiting of ears of HA and non-HA (nHA) users. Swab samples of the ears of HA and nHA users were collected from the Institute of Otolaryngology, “Cattolica del Sacro Cuore” University “Agostino Gemelli”, Rome, Italy. Swab samples were taken from the ear canal of 57 HA and 33 nHA users. The components of the microbial flora present on each swab sample were identified and characterized at the level of species. A total of 41 different bacterial species were identified. A statistically significant prevalence of polymicrobial communities was found in ears presenting signs of inflammation (2.5 ± 1.7 vs 2.1 ± 1.3; P = 0.02) and in HA users (2.3 ± 1.2 vs 1.7 ± 1.0; P = 0.002). Few putative pathogens were detected. Candida albicans spp. was not isolated in our study. A small number of swab samples presented no microbial growth. Bacterial species isolated from HA users with and without inflammation were assayed for the ability to form a biofilm. Among gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, S. aureus, CoNS, P. aeruginosa, and K. pneumoniae were found to be strong biofilm producers. S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, isolated only from the ears of HA and nHA users presenting signs of inflammation, were further analyzed for their antibiotic-resistance profile and characterized by the Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) assay. The highest rates of antibacterial resistance were in S. aureus to a penicillin (75.5%) and in P. aeruginosa, to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, cefotaxime, ertapenem, tigecycline and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (100%). Moreover, three S. aureus strains (37.5%) were methicillin-resistant (MRSA). Of the eight S. aureus isolates, we identified six sequence types (ST) indicating that 75% are likely independent clones. For what it concerned P. aeruginosa, six different STs were assigned. Interestingly, two out of the six strains presented newly identified ST values. This study sheds new light on the combined effect of the presence of HA devices and signs of external ear inflammation on the composition of the ear bacterial flora. Our results reinforce the need to practice careful hygiene of HA devices to prevent serious ear canal infections

Synthesis and characterization of reduced ternary alkali metal molybdenum oxides

A series of novel layered reduced Na and Li Mo-oxides is reported. The two dimensional framework is quite unique among the structure types previously observed for reduced molybdenum oxides;Synthetic exploration of oxides related to Na[subscript]2Mo[subscript]3O[subscript]6 (Hubert, P. H. C. R. Acad. Sc. Paris 1966, 262, 1189) led to the isolation of a series of monoclinic layered Na-Mo-oxides, Na[subscript]0.41MoO[subscript]2, Na[subscript]0.51MoO[subscript]2, and Na[subscript]0.66MoO[subscript]2. The basic framework of these compounds consists of oxide layers alternating with sheets of Na and Mo atoms. Within the Mo layers, the metal atoms shift from ideal octahedral sites toward neighboring Mo atoms to form extended chains of fused rhomboidal clusters;Structurally, from Na[subscript]0.41MoO[subscript]2 to Na[subscript]0.66MoO[subscript]2, the Na ions shift from octahedral to trigonal prismatic sites; and oxygen packing changes from nonsequential to ABBCCA;The stacking of layers toward cubic close packing, ABCABC, was realized in the analogous Li-Mo-oxide system. A material with ccp oxygen layers, LiMoO[subscript]2, was isolated as the product from the high temperature reaction between Li[subscript]2MoO[subscript]4 and Mo metal. Neutron powder diffraction Rietveld analysis shows that LiMoO[subscript]2 is isomorphous with [alpha]-NaFeO[subscript]2 and reveals for Mo-Mo bonded compounds an unprecedented arrangement, an infinite hexagonal sheet. DOS and COOP curves from extended Huckel band calculations indicate that all Mo-Mo bonding states are filled within the O-Mo-O layers;The results of the extended Huckel calculations suggest that as the Mo bonding states are emptied, via oxidation by delithiation, the Mo sheet should rearrange to form Mo ribbons or some other type of clustering favored by the lower electron to Mo ratio. Indeed, such a structural transition of the hexagonal structure, in partially delithiated Li[subscript] 1-xMoO[subscript]2, to a monoclinic framework with infinite Mo bonded zig-zag chains has been observed;Synthetic efforts in the heavier alkali metal ternary system, K-Mo-oxide, have led to a novel compound containing Mo octahedral clusters. Partial characterization through single crystal diffraction data suggests the structure contains discrete segments of chains comprised of edged shared Mo[subscript]6 units. ftn*DOE Report IS-T-1330. This work was performed under contract No. W-7405-Eng-82 with the U.S. Department of Energy