Let’s learn together! The acquisition of Observational Learning repertoires as a function of peer-yoked contingencies in children with autism and other developmental disabilities

This work is about strategies to induce Observational Learning in children with autism or other developmental delays. Observational learning by individuals with disabilities has been the subject of research and inquiry over the past few decades (Browder, Schoen, & Lentz, 1987; Greer, Singer, & Gautreaux, 2006; Hallenbeck & Kauffman, 1995; Varni, Lovaas, Koegel, & Everett, 1979). The interest in this area could be attributed to the critical importance of observational learning in educational settings (Hallenbeck & Kauffman, 1995). Although observational learning appears to be unanimously considered as a fundamental requisite for individuals to successfully face different situations in everyday life, with special mention to students in classroom contexts, there seems to be poor agreement about its operational definition and its distinction from phenomena such as imitation, modeling and vicarious reinforcement (Greer, Dudek-Singer, & Gautreaux, 2006). The following review of the literature will try to summarize the most significant explanations and distinctions. Different studies tried to identify effective ways to induce observational learning (Davies-Lakey, 2005; Gautreaux, 2005; Greer et al., 2004; Pereira-Delgado, 2005; 2009; Rothstein & Gautreaux, 2007; Stolfi, 2005). The purpose of the experiments described in this dissertation was to test the relationship between a peer-yoked contingency and the acquisition of an observational learning repertoire in young children with developmental delays. Results and implications will be discussed

The academic network in the sector of psychology as a strategy of innovation for non profit enterprises

Aim: The present study aims to explore the issue of innovation and public-private partnership by presenting an analysis of the economic and non-economic effects produced by the collaboration between an Italian Social Cooperative and the academic sector. The main questions addressed by the study are: does the collaboration with the university sector boost the economic growth of social enterprises, both in their start up phase and afterwards? Does the collaboration with the university sector promote social innovation?Methods: The authors analyzed: (1) number of agreements (cumulative data) and number of interns, PhD students, and master students operating at the target Social Cooperative per year; (2) number of agreements (cumulative data) and number of internships per year for the target Social Cooperative and 4 other organizations replicating its model; (3) annual income from privates (in euros) per year for each organization; (4) awards and recognitions gained by the target Social Cooperative throughout the years. Results: Besides the existing differences among the observed organizations, data seem to confirm that the relationship with the university sector does not promote, at least in the initial phase, any important outcome in terms of income growth. Moreover, despite the description and amount of grants might not represent an "objective" measure of social innovation, it is undeniable that the target Cooperative shows a propensity to social innovation which is recognized by third parties too. Discussion: Although the data seem to disincentive, at least in the start up phase, the assumption that the university represents an economic or marketing boost, future studies might investigate other strategies to measure the qualitative and quantitative relationship between private companies and universities, in order to find different correlations with the social innovation issue and other economic and financial variables

Future orientation in adolescence: A literature review | L’orientamento al futuro in età adolescenziale: una rassegna della letteratura

L’orientamento al futuro in adolescenza costituisce un ambito di ricerca di grande interesse, poiché strettamente connesso ai compiti evolutivi del periodo, ampiamente indagato dalla letteratura a partire da diverse prospettive, con molteplici strumenti e in popolazioni differen-ti. L’obiettivo principale di questa rassegna è stato quello di organizza-re e sistematizzare gli studi focalizzati su una popolazione di età com-presa tra i 12 e i 18 anni, con l’intento di evidenziare quali componenti del costrutto possano costituire un fattore di protezione o di rischio per il benessere dell’adolescente. Un’analisi di 100 articoli ha mostrato che l’orientamento al futuro è stato prevalentemente studiato attraverso tre modelli teorici, il Modello a Tre Processi, la Prospettiva Temporale e i Sè Possibili, i quali tuttavia appaiono strettamente interconnessi nel de-finire il costrutto. Tra i vari strumenti utilizzati è stata evidenziata una molteplicità di scale di misurazione sia di tipo quantitativo sia di tipo qualitativo. Dall’analisi è emerso che l’orientamento al futuro, indagato in adolescenti sia a sviluppo tipico sia atipico e in contesti socio-culturali differenti, è associato a variabili di tipo protettivo, quali il supporto familiare percepito, il successo scolastico e nella carriera e a una diminuzione dei comportamenti “a rischio”. E’ stata infine eviden-ziata la necessità di incrementare lo studio del costrutto in popolazioni a rischio in ambito scolastico, quali ad esempio i ragazzi con Disturbi Specifici di Apprendimento

Elétron-micrografy of epididymal region of japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) in reproduction period.

O epidídimo em aves é uma estrutura de importância no transporte e estágios do metabolismo de espermatozóides. Investigou-se a ultra-estrutura do epidídimo nos segmentos cranial, médio e caudal de 10 codornas Coturnix coturnix japonica sexualmente maduras através da microscopia eletrônica de varredura e não foram observadas distinções nestes segmentos. Analisando-se todas as porções do epidídimo, observou-se um epitélio de revestimento e estroma peritubular, além de espermatozóides entre os estereocílios.The epididymis in birds is very important in transport and metabolism stage of spermatozoids. This study aimed the epididymis’ ultra-structure of 10 quails Coturnix coturnix japonica in sexually ripe. The epididymis´ portions (cranial, medium and caudal) were described through the scanning electronic microscopy and not finding distinction in these segments. It was observed all these portions of the epididymal region noticed that there are a revestiment epithelium and a peritubular stroma besides stock of spermatozoids in stereocilios

Usabilidade, Design e Interface para Usuários Idosos: uma experiência em uma Casa de Apoio

With the growing increase in the population’s life expectancy, it isnatural that more and more aged people make use of technologicaltools. Those tools need to meet the necessities of this public that, ingeneral, has more difficulties to deal with technologies. This paperdescribes the development process of a system built for a supporthome for elderly people and volunteers with little experience inusing computerized systems. It is a technological support tool thehelps the institution in a safe and reliable way. Usability problemsfor seniors have been minimized with specific guidelines

Beta-Blocker Use in Older Hospitalized Patients Affected by Heart Failure and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: An Italian Survey From the REPOSI Register

Beta (β)-blockers (BB) are useful in reducing morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure (HF) and concomitant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Nevertheless, the use of BBs could induce bronchoconstriction due to β2-blockade. For this reason, both the ESC and GOLD guidelines strongly suggest the use of selective β1-BB in patients with HF and COPD. However, low adherence to guidelines was observed in multiple clinical settings. The aim of the study was to investigate the BBs use in older patients affected by HF and COPD, recorded in the REPOSI register. Of 942 patients affected by HF, 47.1% were treated with BBs. The use of BBs was significantly lower in patients with HF and COPD than in patients affected by HF alone, both at admission and at discharge (admission, 36.9% vs. 51.3%; discharge, 38.0% vs. 51.7%). In addition, no further BB users were found at discharge. The probability to being treated with a BB was significantly lower in patients with HF also affected by COPD (adj. OR, 95% CI: 0.50, 0.37-0.67), while the diagnosis of COPD was not associated with the choice of selective β1-BB (adj. OR, 95% CI: 1.33, 0.76-2.34). Despite clear recommendations by clinical guidelines, a significant underuse of BBs was also observed after hospital discharge. In COPD affected patients, physicians unreasonably reject BBs use, rather than choosing a β1-BB. The expected improvement of the BB prescriptions after hospitalization was not observed. A multidisciplinary approach among hospital physicians, general practitioners, and pharmacologists should be carried out for better drug management and adherence to guideline recommendations

The “Diabetes Comorbidome”: A Different Way for Health Professionals to Approach the Comorbidity Burden of Diabetes

(1) Background: The disease burden related to diabetes is increasing greatly, particularly in older subjects. A more comprehensive approach towards the assessment and management of diabetes’ comorbidities is necessary. The aim of this study was to implement our previous data identifying and representing the prevalence of the comorbidities, their association with mortality, and the strength of their relationship in hospitalized elderly patients with diabetes, developing, at the same time, a new graphic representation model of the comorbidome called “Diabetes Comorbidome”. (2) Methods: Data were collected from the RePoSi register. Comorbidities, socio-demographic data, severity and comorbidity indexes (Cumulative Illness rating Scale CIRS-SI and CIRS-CI), and functional status (Barthel Index), were recorded. Mortality rates were assessed in hospital and 3 and 12 months after discharge. (3) Results: Of the 4714 hospitalized elderly patients, 1378 had diabetes. The comorbidities distribution showed that arterial hypertension (57.1%), ischemic heart disease (31.4%), chronic renal failure (28.8%), atrial fibrillation (25.6%), and COPD (22.7%), were the more frequent in subjects with diabetes. The graphic comorbidome showed that the strongest predictors of death at in hospital and at the 3-month follow-up were dementia and cancer. At the 1-year follow-up, cancer was the first comorbidity independently associated with mortality. (4) Conclusions: The “Diabetes Comorbidome” represents the perfect instrument for determining the prevalence of comorbidities and the strength of their relationship with risk of death, as well as the need for an effective treatment for improving clinical outcomes

Antidiabetic Drug Prescription Pattern in Hospitalized Older Patients with Diabetes

Objective: To describe the prescription pattern of antidiabetic and cardiovascular drugs in a cohort of hospitalized older patients with diabetes. Methods: Patients with diabetes aged 65 years or older hospitalized in internal medicine and/or geriatric wards throughout Italy and enrolled in the REPOSI (REgistro POliterapuie SIMI—Società Italiana di Medicina Interna) registry from 2010 to 2019 and discharged alive were included. Results: Among 1703 patients with diabetes, 1433 (84.2%) were on treatment with at least one antidiabetic drug at hospital admission, mainly prescribed as monotherapy with insulin (28.3%) or metformin (19.2%). The proportion of treated patients decreased at discharge (N = 1309, 76.9%), with a significant reduction over time. Among those prescribed, the proportion of those with insulin alone increased over time (p = 0.0066), while the proportion of those prescribed sulfonylureas decreased (p < 0.0001). Among patients receiving antidiabetic therapy at discharge, 1063 (81.2%) were also prescribed cardiovascular drugs, mainly with an antihypertensive drug alone or in combination (N = 777, 73.1%). Conclusion: The management of older patients with diabetes in a hospital setting is often sub-optimal, as shown by the increasing trend in insulin at discharge, even if an overall improvement has been highlighted by the prevalent decrease in sulfonylureas prescription