The digital inclusion of vulnerable people in the community development process. Action research in Reggio Calabria in southern Italy

This paper presents the first results of a research action in progress in the Pellarodistrict of Reggio Calabria (South Italy). This action research aimed to activate a process of community development within a city district with both a large vulnerable population and a high density of organised crime employing a theoretical approach thatrefers to urban and media practices and the mediated construction of social reality (Blokland, 2017; Couldry, 2004; 2012; Couldry & Hepp, 2017; Stephansen & Trerè, 2020).The activation of the community development process focused on the interweaving of deep mediatisation and the daily life of people in the district (Hepp,2015; 2020). In particular, actions have been developed that have allowed the growth of social skills and digital/social skills among the most vulnerable people. From anedu-communication perspective (Barbas,2020), these people have been facilitated to become protagonists of the process of territorial and digital relational development also thanks to the use of participation and community platforms both of a commercial nature (e.g., Google Maps with some tweaks) and co-constructed by citizens and made easily accessible also to those who had fewer basic digital skills. Despite a high density of organised crime (’ndrangheta), no obstacles were impairing the development of digital/social relations, at least in this first phase of the work.We will examine three aspects, with particular attention within the paper: a) the ability to develop dual relationships (social and digital) within a peripheral, marginal and vulnerable community context such as that of Southern Italy; b) the deep interweaving between traditional and mediated communities (Hepp,2020) even if these mainly consist of vulnerable people; c) the potential of the digital media to meet specific needs of the population (Couldry,2012) ensures its realisation with the most vulnerable part of the population only if the latter is made the protagonist of its actions through voice processes (Couldry,2010) and bottom-up empowerment and edu-communication (Freire,1970; Barbas,2020)

Mythopoiesis And Collective Imagination In Videogames

As videogames become more and more popular, their ability to generate and communicate mythologies (mythopoiesis) appears clearer. Pokémon, The Legend of Zelda, and Halo are just a few of the specific transmedial storyworlds created through (relatively few) years of reiteration. At the same time, recent examples of massively diffused products also picture remediations of heritage, folk tales, architecture, and other cultural elements, reaching users of any background. Franchises like Assassin’s Creed, God of War, or Final Fantasy take large inspiration from various cultural heritages. By doing so, video-ludic remediations add to previously shared imaginary some peculiar interactive (ergodic) features: since video games have specific features that imply interaction by (and with) the user, the remediated cultural elements acquire properties that were not present in any previous representation. The interest of this study is to enlighten how it is possible for blockbuster videogames to build over previous archetypes and imaginaries, creating common knowledge about certain cultural objects, myths, and figures, among players on a global scale. The main focus of this research will be Japanese cultural heritage representation in recent popular videogames such as Nioh, Ghost of Tsushima, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. In a comparative analysis of these products, the study will try to underline the common elements of blockbuster remediations, while exploring the emerging interactive (ergodic) features that the mentioned videogames add to previously shared imaginary of portrayed cultural elements. Any emerging evidence will then serve to build a tentative framework or method to remediate and represent any given cultural element in future videogame projects that aim to properly communicate heritage on a large scale such as the global digital game market

Ritmi e algoritmi

L’articolo riflette sulla natura intrinseca degli oggetti digitali e cosa accade se questi oggetti vengono calati in un contesto formativo. Partendo da un’analisi delle caratteristiche principali dei MOOCs e da quelle dei videogiochi utilizzati con finalità educative, si giunge ad identificare una doppia natura, dicotomica, del digitale: da un lato la possibilità di esplorare liberamente ed autonomamente un percorso formativo; dall’altro la serie di vincoli infrastrutturali che sembrano costringere ad un’impostazione didattica pre-impostata, pre-ventivata. Si tratta di una dicotomia intrinseca, che impone a chi si occupa di formazione ed istruzione un’attenta riflessione sul proprio ruolo e sul proprio approccio metodologico, inducendo a ragionare su un compromesso che dovrebbe trovarsi tra i vincoli che la tecnologia sembra imporre e le libertà che invece forniscono ancora un valore aggiunto rispetto alla formazione in aula

Videogiochi e apprendimento tra medium e messaggio. Considerazioni sull’uso didattico dei videogiochi

Questo lavoro si propone di riflettere sul rapporto tra videogiochi e apprendimento, analizzando i risultati delle ricerche effettuate in merito agli effetti, negativi e/o positivi, che i videogiochi sembrano avere a livello cognitivo/comportamentale. L’idea di base è che gli effetti positivi si riferiscano per lo più al medium in quanto tale, mentre quelli negativi siano legati per lo più al loro contenuto e all’uso che se ne fa. Si passa quindi a ragionare sulle modalità in cui i videogiochi possano essere coinvolti nell’attività didattica comune: quella più ovvia e auspicabile si propone di integrare i videogiochi (e i media digitali in genere) con gli altri media “tradizionali”, nella prospettiva di un controbilanciamento che salvaguardi le diverse abilità cognitive stimolate dai diversi media

Effects of Field Simulated Marine Heatwaves on Sedimentary Organic Matter Quantity, Biochemical Composition, and Degradation Rates

Since rising temperature (T) will enhance biochemical reactions and coastal marine sediments are hotspots of carbon cycling, marine heatwaves’ (MHWs’) intensification caused by climate change will affect coastal biogeochemistry. We investigated the effects of MHWs on sediment organic matter (OM) in a nearshore locality (NW Sardinia, Mediterranean Sea) receiving an artificial warm water plume generating T anomalies of 1.5–5.0 °C. Sediments were collected before and after 3 and 11 weeks from the initial plume release. Both MHWs influenced sedimentary OM quantity, composition, and degradation rates, with major effects associated with the highest T anomaly after 3 weeks. Both MHWs enhanced sedimentary OM contents, with larger effects associated with the highest T anomaly. Phytopigment contents increased in the short term but dropped to initial levels after 11 weeks, suggesting the occurrence of thermal adaptation or stress of microphytobenthos. In the longer term we observed a decrease in the nutritional quality of OM and a slowdown of its turnover mediated by extracellular enzymes, suggestive of a decreased ecosystem functioning. We anticipate that intensification of MHWs will affect benthic communities not only through direct effects on species tolerance but also by altering benthic biogeochemistry and the efficiency of energy transfer towards higher trophic levels

Effects of Current and Future Summer Marine Heat Waves on Posidonia oceanica: Plant Origin Matters?

Marine heat waves (MHWs), prolonged discrete anomalously warm water events, have been increasing significantly in duration, intensity and frequency all over the world, and have been associated with a variety of impacts including alteration of ecosystem structure and function. This study assessed the effects of current and futureMHWs on the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica performance, also testing the importance of the thermal environment where the plant lives. The effects of current MHWs were studied through a mensurative experiment in a cold and in a warm site (West and North-West Sardinia, Italy, respectively). Future MHWs effects were tested through a manipulative experiment using P. oceanica shoots collected fromthe cold and warmsites and transplanted in a common garden in front of a power plant (North-West Sardinia): here plants were exposed to heat longer in duration and stronger in intensity than the natural MHWs of the last 20 years, resembling the future scenario. Morphological (total # of leaves, maximum leaf length, and percentage of total necrotic leaf length per shoot) and biochemical variables (leaf proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids) were considered. Plants had similar sublethal responses in both the experiments for most of the variables, revealing that current and future MHWs had similar effect types, but different in magnitude depending on the intensity of the waves: in general, the number of leaves, the maximum leaf length and lipid content decreased, while the leaf necrosis and carbohydrates increased. However, also the origin of the plants affected the results, corroborating the hypothesis that the thermal context the plants live affects their tolerance to the heat. Overall, this study provided evidence about the importance of biochemical variations, such as carbohydrate and lipid levels, as potentially good indicators of seagrass heat stress

Effects of Current and Future Summer Marine Heat Waves on Posidonia oceanica: Plant Origin Matters?

Marine heat waves (MHWs), prolonged discrete anomalously warm water events, have been increasing significantly in duration, intensity and frequency all over the world, and have been associated with a variety of impacts including alteration of ecosystem structure and function. This study assessed the effects of current and future MHWs on the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica performance, also testing the importance of the thermal environment where the plant lives. The effects of current MHWs were studied through a mensurative experiment in a cold and in a warm site (West and North-West Sardinia, Italy, respectively). Future MHWs effects were tested through a manipulative experiment using P. oceanica shoots collected from the cold and warm sites and transplanted in a common garden in front of a power plant (North-West Sardinia): here plants were exposed to heat longer in duration and stronger in intensity than the natural MHWs of the last 20 years, resembling the future scenario. Morphological (total # of leaves, maximum leaf length, and percentage of total necrotic leaf length per shoot) and biochemical variables (leaf proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids) were considered. Plants had similar sublethal responses in both the experiments for most of the variables, revealing that current and future MHWs had similar effect types, but different in magnitude depending on the intensity of the waves: in general, the number of leaves, the maximum leaf length and lipid content decreased, while the leaf necrosis and carbohydrates increased. However, also the origin of the plants affected the results, corroborating the hypothesis that the thermal context the plants live affects their tolerance to the heat. Overall, this study provided evidence about the importance of biochemical variations, such as carbohydrate and lipid levels, as potentially good indicators of seagrass heat stress.En prens

Effects of seagrasses and algae of the Caulerpa family on hydrodynamics and particle-trapping rates

The widespread decline of seagrass beds within the Mediterranean often results in the replacement of seagrasses by opportunistic green algae of the Caulerpa family. Because Caulerpa beds have a different height, stiffness and density compared to seagrasses, these changes in habitat type modify the interaction of the seafloor with hydrodynamics, influencing key processes such as sediment resuspension and particle trapping. Here, we compare the effects on hydrodynamics and particle trapping of Caulerpa taxifolia, C. racemosa, and C. prolifera with the Mediterranean seagrasses Cymodocea nodosa and Posidonia oceanica. All macrophyte canopies reduced near-bed volumetric flow rates compared to bare sediment, vertical profiles of turbulent kinetic energy revealed peak values around the top of the canopies, and maximum values of Reynolds stress increased by a factor of between 1.4 (C. nodosa) and 324.1 (P. oceanica) when vegetation was present. All canopies enhanced particle retention rates compared to bare sediment. The experimental C. prolifera canopy was the most effective at particle retention (m2 habitat); however, C. racemosa had the largest particle retention capacity per structure surface area. Hence, in terms of enhancing particle trapping and reducing hydrodynamic forces at the sediment surface, Caulerpa beds provided a similar or enhanced function compared to P.oceanica and C. nodosa. However, strong seasonality in the leaf area index of C. racemosa and C. taxifolia within the Mediterranean, combined with a weak rhizome structure, suggests that sediments maybe unprotected during winter storms, when most erosion occurs. Hence, replacement of seagrass beds with Caulerpa is likely to have a major influence on annual sediment dynamics at ecosystem scales.This research was funded by the European Network of Excellence ‘‘Marine Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function’’ (MarBEF); FP6, EC contract no. 505446 and a grant from the Fundacio ´n BBVA. EPM was supported by a European Union Marie Curie host fellowship for transfer of knowledge, MTKD-CT-2004-509254, the Spanish national project EVAMARIA (CTM2005-00395/MAR) and the regional government of Andalusia project FUNDIV(P07-RNM-2516)

Genetic lesions disrupting calreticulin 3′-untranslated region in JAK2 mutation-negative polycythemia vera

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Between a rock and a hard place: Environmental and engineering considerations when designing coastal defence structures

Coastal defence structures are proliferating as a result of rising sea levels and stormier seas. With the realisation that most coastal infrastructure cannot be lost or removed, research is required into ways that coastal defence structures can be built to meet engineering requirements, whilst also providing relevant ecosystem services—so-called ecological engineering. This approach requires an understanding of the types of assemblages and their functional roles that are desirable and feasible in these novel ecosystems. We review the major impacts coastal defence structures have on surrounding environments and recent experiments informing building coastal defences in a more ecologically sustainable manner. We summarise research carried out during the THESEUS project (2009–2014) which optimised the design of coastal defence structures with the aim to conserve or restore native species diversity. Native biodiversity could be manipulated on defence structures through various interventions: we created artificial rock pools, pits and crevices on breakwaters; we deployed a precast habitat enhancement unit in a coastal defence scheme; we tested the use of a mixture of stone sizes in gabion baskets; and we gardened native habitat-forming species, such as threatened canopy-forming algae on coastal defence structures. Finally, we outline guidelines and recommendations to provide multiple ecosystem services while maintaining engineering efficacy. This work demonstrated that simple enhancement methods can be cost-effective measures to manage local biodiversity. Care is required, however, in the wholesale implementation of these recommendations without full consideration of the desired effects and overall management goals