Psychological, pedagogical and sociological models for learning and assessment in virtual communities

The keywords in this collective work include community of learning, inquiry or work, virtual environments and identity. This book presents the results of a biennial Italian research project (PRIN 2005-2007) which was coordinated nationally by the University of Padova, which Bianca M. Varisco as principal investigator. The research involved five units with local coordinators (Padova, Bari, Roma La Sapienza, Milano Cattolica Sacro Cuore, Macerata) and also the Universities of Trieste, Milano Bicocca, Valle d\u2019Aosta, Bologna, Udine e Cassino. The interdisciplinary nature of the research meant close collaboration between pedagogists, educational, communicational and social psychologists, and ICT technologists and scientists. The aim was to analyse, develop and verify online environments. The study was focussed on virtual communities and their internal actions and interactions. These communities vary greatly in nature, and were formal and informal, academic and professional, and comprised graduate students, post graduate students, teachers, patients and psychotherapists. The research developed, and the models studied also surveyed, deepened and reported on, the educative, cognitive, social, affective-conative and evaluative aspects of virtual communities. Indeed, from a theoretical point of view, an attempt was made to combine the psychological, pedagogic and social perspectives, identifying useful inter-connection point and deepening the cognitive, meta-cognitive, inter-subjective, identity creating and cultural aspects which take shape in the online community. Working tools and environments were studied, developed and field tested for supporting and promoting virtual communities. The modalities of personalization, co, self assessment and skills improvement were also invented or planned for these communities

Clinical pharmacology of antifungal agents to overcome drug resistance in pediatric patients

peer reviewedINTRODUCTION: Antifungal resistance is an emerging problem that increases morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed pediatric patients, who suffer from invasive fungal diseases. Optimal pharmacological management is critical for the successful treatment of invasive fungal infections by resistant strains. AREAS COVERED: This paper reviews the mechanisms of resistance of different classes of antifungal agents and the current understanding of pediatric antifungal pharmacology for overcoming antifungal resistance in children based on laboratory and clinical studies in the English literature. The therapeutic choices against fungal pathogens with intrinsic or acquired resistance are further reviewed. EXPERT OPINION: There is a paucity of data in the pediatric population regarding the epidemiology of the resistant organisms to different antifungal agents. It is also unknown if there are more prevalent molecular mechanisms that promote antifungal resistance. Selection and dosages of the most effective antifungal agent for overcoming the antifungal resistance is crucial. However, there are limited studies guiding the optimal dosage and duration of treatment for management of emergent antifungal resistance. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the optimal pharmacology of the current antifungal agents against resistant organisms and to advance the development of new antifungal agents

Effects of Parasitic Crustacea on Hosts

This chapter summarises our understanding of the direct effects that parasiticcrustaceans have on their invertebrate and vertebrate hosts. At the individual hostlevel, the effects of infection with parasitic Crustacea with respect to host pathologicalchanges and the development of disease states are reasonably well understood. However,we have a much poorer understanding of how infection affects the physiological,immunological and reproductive status of hosts, with much of what is known arisingfrom studies of sea lice (caligid copepods) infections of salmonids. Quantifyingsublethal impacts of parasitic Crustacea infection on the biology and ecology of hostsis especially challenging even under controlled laboratory conditions. This is due to thecomplex and poorly understood interactions between parasite, host and environmentaldeterminants, which ultimately influence the outcome and magnitude of the effect.There is very limited information on the effects that parasitic Crustacea have on theirhosts at a population level, as well as on the indirect effects that they may have onspecies that interact with their hosts (community level effects). Our relatively goodunderstanding of effects of sea lice on salmonids has been brought about due to thelarge economic impact that these parasites have on farmed salmonids and the necessityto develop new methods for their control. Unfortunately, the progress for other parasitesand hosts is much slower which is in part due to the lack of experimental systems,research tools and funding