Globalization in mathematics education: Integrating indigenous and academic knowledge

A globalized world ask for mobilization of educators in view of the design of new curricula. Investigation and analysis of indigenous knowledge are needed in view of their possible integration with academic knowledge, to create an educational context where different cultures are equally valued and granted dignity. The investigation and the analysis are to refer also to mathematics, a discipline which cannot anymore be considered culture-free. In the paper, we try to give the readers the opportunity to ask themselves and answer the following questions: What is mathematics? How look like today’s classrooms? Which is the needed mathematics education? The author suggests a possible answer to the last question by the proposal of three teaching units originated by the analysis of examples of the mathematics of professionals, the mathematics of indigenous people, the history of mathematics Introduction

L'ernia diaframmatica nel gatto: possiamo saperne di piu'?

Nell'elaborazione della tesi è stata fatta un'indagine di tutta la casistica relativa all'ernia diaframmatica nel gatto dal 2001 ad oggi presso il Dipartimento di Clinica Veterinaria di Pis

Fostering the importance of language awareness through CLIL-Mathematics teaching/learning

This contribution investigates the role played by a second language in teaching/learning mathematics and how it could strengthen the importance of natural language in mathematics. It is particularly significant to deepen this issue since many European Countries have already introduced or are going to introduce the Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) methodology. CLIL pursues a dualfocused goal promoting at the same time teaching/learning of both a foreign language and a non-linguistic content. This new trend in education asks for analysing limits and potential for using a second language in mathematics education

Web-Based Assessment of the Phenomenology of Autobiographical Memories in Young and Older Adults

Autobiographical memories (ABMs) produce rich phenomenological experiences. Although few standardized and comprehensive measures of the phenomenology of ABMs have been developed, a web-based assessment of the full range of phenomenological properties is still missing. In the present study, we aimed to fill this gap and tested the psychometric properties of a web-based version of the Assessment of the Phenomenology of Autobiographical Memory (APAM) in a group of young and older adults. Specifically, taking advantage of the flexibility of web-based assessment methodology, we tested the rating consistency of APAM items, asking participants to rate the phe-nomenology of their ABMs with respect to seven cues, administered in one per day in seven different days. In each session, we also collected ratings of mood and arousal. Using linear mixed modeling (LMM), we could examine whether the phenomenology ratings differed with respect to age group while controlling for sex, age of the memory, arousal, mood, and specificity of the memory. Results revealed an adequate level of consistency of ratings in both young and older adults. Moreover, LMMs revealed a more intense experience of recollection and reliving (i.e., sensory and emotional) and a higher confidence in memory accuracy in older compared to younger adults. The theoretical and practical usefulness of a web-based assessment of the phenomenology of ABMs are discussed

An Information System for Product Development Planning

Companies in every industry segment that design and manufacture products can benefit of a variety of information system solutions proposed by researchers and also available on the market. To reduce the possible negative impact of Product Data Management (PDM) systems into an organisation, we propose an incremental introduction based on a low-level Project Management (PM) and a Business Intelligence (BI) module respectively for planning and to monitor scheduling in new products development. A high-level PM package has also been considered. We have simulated and tested our solution within a two-wheel vehicle manufacturer and have evaluated possible extension to other medium-large traditional production companies by benchmarking

Towards a network around civic agriculture in the Province of Pisa

This paper aims at exploring the pathway towards the creation of a network around the principles of civic agriculture in the Province of Pisa (Tuscany, Italy). The research is part of the process towards a local Food Plan, aimed at coordinating public policies, civil society and private initiatives, to foster the access to a healthy and sustainable diet. In this context, the experiences of civic agriculture have played an important role, highlighting the centrality of agriculture in the animation of rural areas and in the rural-urban relationship and becoming a point of intersection amongst several vital areas for local communities. The research methods consisted in a first monitoring of civic agriculture experiences, a second round of in-depth interviews and in a more targeted focus group. The research has confirmed the presence of an expressed willingness to create a network of farms engaged on issues of sustainable food and sustainable local development. However, some critical points emerged with respect to the process of network building. Brokerage activities appear crucial to reinforce the relationships amongst the farmers and civil and institutional actors engaged in food related issues