Responsabilità e merito nel mondo antico. Retorica, Giustizia, Società. Atti del Convegno di Palermo, 10-11 febbraio 2016

"Merit and Responsability. A Study in Greek Values" è il titolo di un volume pubblicato ormai cinquant’anni or sono da W.H. Adkins. L’autore metteva in evidenza il mancato sviluppo, nel mondo greco, del concetto di responsabilità morale a vantaggio della nozione di arete, postulando la distanza irriducibile tra l’etica greca e quella contemporanea. Quelle di responsabilità e merito sono in effetti categorie su cui la cultura contemporanea si è notevolmente esercitata e continua a interrogarsi, soprattutto in questi anni caratterizzati da un sentimento di incertezza in tutti gli aspetti della nostra esistenza e in particolare nell’agire quotidiano e nelle relazioni sociali. E tuttavia si tratta di un insieme di riflessioni su cui il pensiero antico molto ha ancora da dirci, spesso con una complessità e una sensibilità sorprendenti

Presentazione

Introduzione agli atti del convegno Responsabilit\ue0 e merito nel mondo antico. Retorica, Giustizia, Societ\ue0 (Palermo, 10-11 febbraio 2016)Introduction to the proceedings of the conference "Responsibility and Merit in the Ancient World. Rhetoric, Justice, Society (Palermo, 10-11 February

Responsabilit\ue0 e merito nel mondo antico. Retorica, Giustizia, Societ\ue0. Atti del Convegno di Palermo, 10-11 febbraio 2016

"Merit and Responsability. A Study in Greek Values" \ue8 il titolo di un volume pubblicato ormai cinquant\u2019anni or sono da W.H. Adkins. L\u2019autore metteva in evidenza il mancato sviluppo, nel mondo greco, del concetto di responsabilit\ue0 morale a vantaggio della nozione di arete, postulando la distanza irriducibile tra l\u2019etica greca e quella contemporanea. Quelle di responsabilit\ue0 e merito sono in effetti categorie su cui la cultura contemporanea si \ue8 notevolmente esercitata e continua a interrogarsi, soprattutto in questi anni caratterizzati da un sentimento di incertezza in tutti gli aspetti della nostra esistenza e in particolare nell\u2019agire quotidiano e nelle relazioni sociali. E tuttavia si tratta di un insieme di riflessioni su cui il pensiero antico molto ha ancora da dirci, spesso con una complessit\ue0 e una sensibilit\ue0 sorprendenti

Electromagnetic Compatibility Testing of Implantable Neurostimulators Exposed to Metal Detectors

This paper presents results of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing of three implantable neurostimulators exposed to the magnetic fields emitted from several walk-through and hand-held metal detectors. The motivation behind this testing comes from numerous adverse event reports involving active implantable medical devices (AIMDs) and security systems that have been received by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). EMC testing was performed using three neurostimulators exposed to the emissions from 12 walk-through metal detectors (WTMDs) and 32 hand-held metal detectors (HHMDs). Emission measurements were performed on all HHMDs and WTMDs and summary data is presented. Results from the EMC testing indicate possible electromagnetic interference (EMI) between one of the neurostimulators and one WTMD and indicate that EMI between the three neurostimulators and HHMDs is unlikely. The results suggest that worst case situations for EMC testing are hard to predict and testing all major medical device modes and setting parameters are necessary to understand and characterize the EMC of AIMDs

Restoration practices in Mediterranean habitats using native woody species

Since the beginning of the XXI century, Legambiente (a national environmental association), supported by the University of Palermo, has launched several naturalization projects within three Sicilian nature reserves: 1)Isola di Lampedusa (Agrigento Province); 2)Macalube di Aragona (Agrigento Province); 3)Lago Sfondato (Caltanissetta Province). Interventions were carried out on bare lands and degraded sites where natural vegetation cover was almost completely disappeared. The main aim was to restore native habitats following the principles of ecological restoration. Accordingly, differently from the classical approach, consisting in the use of preparatory species, usually Pines, native shrubs and trees were selected and used in the field

Restoration practices in Mediterranean habitats using native woody species

Since the beginning of the XXI century, Legambiente (a national environmental association), supported by the University of Palermo, has launched several naturalization projects within three Sicilian nature reserves: 1)Isola di Lampedusa (Agrigento Province); 2)Macalube di Aragona (Agrigento Province); 3)Lago Sfondato (Caltanissetta Province). Interventions were carried out on bare lands and degraded sites where natural vegetation cover was almost completely disappeared. The main aim was to restore native habitats following the principles of ecological restoration. Accordingly, differently from the classical approach, consisting in the use of preparatory species, usually Pines, native shrubs and trees were selected and used in the field

The Melbourne epidemic thunderstorm asthma event 2016: an investigation of environmental triggers, effect on health services, and patient risk factors.

BACKGROUND: A multidisciplinary collaboration investigated the world's largest, most catastrophic epidemic thunderstorm asthma event that took place in Melbourne, Australia, on Nov 21, 2016, to inform mechanisms and preventive strategies. METHODS: Meteorological and airborne pollen data, satellite-derived vegetation index, ambulance callouts, emergency department presentations, and data on hospital admissions for Nov 21, 2016, as well as leading up to and following the event were collected between Nov 21, 2016, and March 31, 2017, and analysed. We contacted patients who presented during the epidemic thunderstorm asthma event at eight metropolitan health services (each including up to three hospitals) via telephone questionnaire to determine patient characteristics, and investigated outcomes of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. FINDINGS: Grass pollen concentrations on Nov 21, 2016, were extremely high (>100 grains/m3). At 1800 AEDT, a gust front crossed Melbourne, plunging temperatures 10°C, raising humidity above 70%, and concentrating particulate matter. Within 30 h, there were 3365 (672%) excess respiratory-related presentations to emergency departments, and 476 (992%) excess asthma-related admissions to hospital, especially individuals of Indian or Sri Lankan birth (10% vs 1%, p<0·0001) and south-east Asian birth (8% vs 1%, p<0·0001) compared with previous 3 years. Questionnaire data from 1435 (64%) of 2248 emergency department presentations showed a mean age of 32·0 years (SD 18·6), 56% of whom were male. Only 28% had current doctor-diagnosed asthma. 39% of the presentations were of Asian or Indian ethnicity (25% of the Melbourne population were of this ethnicity according to the 2016 census, relative risk [RR] 1·93, 95% CI 1·74-2·15, p <0·0001). Of ten individuals who died, six were Asian or Indian (RR 4·54, 95% CI 1·28-16·09; p=0·01). 35 individuals were admitted to an intensive care unit, all had asthma, 12 took inhaled preventers, and five died. INTERPRETATION: Convergent environmental factors triggered a thunderstorm asthma epidemic of unprecedented magnitude, tempo, and geographical range and severity on Nov 21, 2016, creating a new benchmark for emergency and health service escalation. Asian or Indian ethnicity and current doctor-diagnosed asthma portended life-threatening exacerbations such as those requiring admission to an ICU. Overall, the findings provide important public health lessons applicable to future event forecasting, health care response coordination, protection of at-risk populations, and medical management of epidemic thunderstorm asthma. FUNDING: None

A multiple case study analysis exploring how less selective, tuition-dependent colleges and universities approached an undergraduate tuition price reset strategy

This comparative case study provides a qualitative exploration of how four private tuition-dependent colleges approached a tuition price reset, including the organizational context, approaches, and strategies involved. As evidenced by the literature reviewed, there is an increasing awareness that the traditional business model of “high tuition/high aid” is no longer viable for less selective, tuition dependent colleges and universities caught in the middle of the market. Some of these colleges and universities are trying to innovate to remain competitive and financially sustainable. One innovation is to drastically reduce undergraduate tuition sticker price; a trend referred to as tuition price resets. A tuition price reset is a strategy that shifts the pricing model for an institution from “high tuition/high aid” to “low tuition/low aid” by lowering published tuition and financial aid awards, often in similar, but not necessarily equal proportion. There are a number of tuition dependent colleges that either have or will consider resetting tuition. This study provides valuable insight for those individuals and institutions seeking to understand the process that colleges and universities go through in evaluating the tuition price reset strategy. Critical factors in each institution’s motivations, challenges and lessons learned are explored, including the background behind the analysis and decision, planning and implementation, as well as the outcomes of the decision