Prima e durante la pandemia: pratiche didattiche e di formazione degli insegnanti nei diversi ordini e gradi scolastici

How did the teaching practices of teachers change during the Covid-19 emergency? How did the teachers train to deal with it? The case study presented in this article is based on data collected through an online questionnaire administered to a sample of almost 1000 teachers (from kindergarten to upper secondary school) participating in a MOOC (“massive” online course) made available by HOC-LAB of the Politecnico di Milano between March and June 2020. The results tell us that remote teaching is significantly adopted when the pandemic arrives, with an increase in the synchronous mode compared to the asynchronous one as the school level increases. New forms of interaction between teacher and pupils are born (individual meetings, small group meetings in extra-school hours); there is a correlation between the commitment to guarantee synchronous lessons and the availability for these further meetings (proactive approach), as well as between the sharing of videos (found on the internet) and the sharing of asynchronous materials compared to synchronous meetings (more “traditional” approach). As for training, teachers have resorted to forms that are not particularly institutionalized (MOOCs, web resources, colleagues...), confirming an already existing pre-pandemic trend.Come sono cambiate le pratiche didattiche dei docenti durante l'emergenza Covid-19? Come si sono formati i docenti per affrontarla? Lo studio di caso presentato in questo articolo si basa su dati raccolti tramite un questionario online somministrato a un campione di quasi 1000 docenti (dalla scuola dell’infanzia alla se-condaria di secondo grado) partecipanti a un MOOC (corso online “massivo”) reso disponibile da HOC-LAB del Politecnico di Milano tra marzo e giugno del 2020. I risultati ci dicono che la didattica remota viene significativamente adottata all’arrivo della pandemia, con aumento di quella sincrona rispetto all’asincrona al crescere del livello scolastico. Nascono nuove forme di interazione tra docente e allievi (incontri individuali, incontri a piccoli gruppi in orari extra-scolastici); si riscontra una correlazione tra l’impegno nel ga-rantire lezioni sincrone e la disponibilità per questi incontri ulteriori (approccio proattivo), come di contro tra la condivisione di video (rinvenuti su internet) e la condivisione di materiali asincrona rispetto ad incontri sincroni (approccio più “tradizionale”). Quanto alla formazione, i docenti hanno fatto ricorso a forme non particolarmente istituzionalizzate (MOOC, risorse web, colleghi...), confermando una tendenza già esistente pre-pandemia

The chemopreventive retinoid 4HPR impairs prostate cancer cell migration and invasion by interfering with FAK/AKT/GSK3β pathway and β-catenin stability

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Prostate cancer shows an extremely slow progression, appearing in its metastatic, hormone refractory phenotype mostly in elderly men. The chemopreventive targeting of this tumor could accordingly delay its malignancy over life expectancy. The cancer chemopreventive retinoid <it>N</it>-(4 hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4HPR) has already been shown to restrain prostate cancer growth in vitro and in vivo, though its mechanisms of action are only partially explained.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that 4HPR impairs DU145 and PC3 prostate cancer cells migration and invasion by down-regulating FAK and AKT activation and by enhancing β-catenin degradation, causing the downregulation of target genes like cyclin D1, survivin and VEGF. This non-migratory phenotype was similarly produced in both cell lines by stable silencing of β-catenin. 4HPR was able to decrease AKT phosphorylation also when powerfully upregulated by IGF-1 and, consequently, to impair IGF-1-stimulated cell motility. Conversely, the expression of constitutively active AKT (myr-AKT) overcame the effects of 4HPR and β-catenin-silencing on cell migration. In addition, we found that BMP-2, a 4HPR target with antiangiogenic activity, decreased prostate cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion by down-regulating the pathway described involving AKT phosphorylation, β-catenin stability and cyclin D1 expression.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data point to 4HPR as a negative regulator of AKT phosphorylation, effectively targeting the β-catenin pathway and inducing a relatively benign phenotype in prostate cancer cells, limiting neoangiogenesis and cell invasion.</p

Kaposi's Sarcoma and HIV-Tat: Challenges to Antiangiogenesis Research

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is characterized by an abnormal growth of blood vessels. KS was found mainly in older men of Mediterranean or African origin (classic KS) or in patients after organ transplantation (iatrogenic KS). However, in the early 1980s, an aggressive epidemic form, linked to AIDS, was noticed and was one of the first clues to the existence of HIV-1 pandemy. The link between KS occurrence and HIV has raised multiple hypotheses. The drastic reduction of KS after the introduction of HAART, suggests HIV as a powerful co-factor for KS progression. We and others have contributed to the elucidation of KS cell nature and the possible involvement of extracellular HIV Tat. Tat is proangiogenic and is a true promoter of KS lesions acting as a VEGFR2 ligand both on KS and endothelial cells, in addition Tat is able to bind and activate chemokine receptors on monocytes and granulocytes causing a pro-inflammatory status. Evaluation of the effects of extracellular Tat on KS cells by microarray analysis after 24 h of incubation shows an interesting clustering of gene products involved in signal transduction, especially GTP-ase, Kinase and cAMP activity, confirming that Tat acts extracellularly by ways that are probably unrelated to its nuclear activity. KS occurrence is reduced by HAART but still present and in Africa is one of the most frequent oncologic disease. To find suitable drugs with low toxic impact on KS patients, we have tested several drugs and gene therapy approaches in in vivo models. from 2005 International Meeting of The Institute of Human Virology Baltimore, USA, 29 August – 2 September 200

Italian teachers and Technology-Knowledge training

This article aims to answer the question “how are Italian teachers trained in technological skills (TK)?”, in the framework of the distributed TPACK model. According to this model, different supports and sources interplay in a learning context. The discussion is based on data collected through a questionnaire delivered to more than 1,300 teachers on the job; the focus is, in particular, on lower and upper secondary school teachers. The results show how teachers benefit from a plurality of sources, preferring the “informal” ones.   I docenti italiani e la formazione alle competenze tecnologiche Questo articolo mira a rispondere alla domanda “come i docenti italiani si formano alle competenze tecnologiche”, nel quadro di riferimento del modello TPACK distribuito, secondo il quale una varietà di supporti e fonti agisce in un contesto d’apprendimento. La discussione si basa sui dati raccolti attraverso un questionario erogato a più di 1300 docenti in servizio; il focus è in particolare sui docenti di scuola secondaria inferiore e superiore. I risultati mostrano come i docenti fruiscano di una pluralità di fonti, prediligendo quelle “informali”

Italian teachers and Technology-Knowledge training

This article aims to answer the question “how are Italian teachers trained in technological skills (TK)?”, in the framework of the distributed TPACK model. According to this model, different supports and sources interplay in a learning context. The discussion is based on data collected through a questionnaire delivered to more than 1,300 teachers on the job; the focus is, in particular, on lower and upper secondary school teachers. The results show how teachers benefit from a plurality of sources, preferring the “informal” ones. I docenti italiani e la formazione alle competenze tecnologicheQuesto articolo mira a rispondere alla domanda “come i docenti italiani si formano alle competenze tecnologiche”, nel quadro di riferimento del modello TPACK distribuito, secondo il quale una varietà di supporti e fonti agisce in un contesto d’apprendimento. La discussione si basa sui dati raccolti attraverso un questionario erogato a più di 1300 docenti in servizio; il focus è in particolare sui docenti di scuola secondaria inferiore e superiore. I risultati mostrano come i docenti fruiscano di una pluralità di fonti, prediligendo quelle “informali”

Italian teachers and Technology-Knowledge training = I docenti italiani e la formazione alle competenze tecnologiche

Questo articolo mira a rispondere alla domanda \u201ccome i docenti italiani si formano alle competenze tecnologiche\u201d, nel quadro di riferimento del modello TPACK distribuito, secondo il quale una variet\ue0 di supporti e fonti agisce in un contesto d\u2019apprendimento. La discussione si basa sui dati raccolti attraverso un questionario erogato a pi\uf9 di 1300 docenti in servizio; il focus \ue8 in particolare sui docenti di scuola secondaria inferiore e superiore. I risultati mostrano come i docenti fruiscano di una pluralit\ue0 di fonti, prediligendo quelle \u201cinformali\u201d.This article aims to answer the question \u201chow are Italian teachers trained in technological skills (TK)?\u201d, in the framework of the distributed TPACK model. According to this model, different supports and sources interplay in a learning context. The discussion is based on data collected through a questionnaire delivered to more than 1,300 teachers on the job; the focus is, in particular, on lower and upper secondary school teachers. The results show how teachers benefit from a plurality of sources, preferring the \u201cinformal\u201d ones

DOPAL derived alpha-synuclein oligomers impair synaptic vesicles physiological function

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the death of dopaminergic neurons and by accumulation of alpha-synuclein (aS) aggregates in the surviving neurons. The dopamine catabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL) is a highly reactive and toxic molecule that leads to aS oligomerization by covalent modifications to lysine residues. Here we show that DOPAL-induced aS oligomer formation in neurons is associated with damage of synaptic vesicles, and with alterations in the synaptic vesicles pools. To investigate the molecular mechanism that leads to synaptic impairment, we first aimed to characterize the biochemical and biophysical properties of the aS-DOPAL oligomers; heterogeneous ensembles of macromolecules able to permeabilise cholesterol-containing lipid membranes. aS-DOPAL oligomers can induce dopamine leak in an in vitro model of synaptic vesicles and in cellular models. The dopamine released, after conversion to DOPAL in the cytoplasm, could trigger a noxious cycle that further fuels the formation of aS-DOPAL oligomers, inducing neurodegeneration

Concerns and Expectations of Risk-Reducing Surgery in Women with Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome

Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer syndrome (HBOC) carriers face complex decisions, which might affect their fertility and body image. Using an anonymous 40-items questionnaire we evaluated the expectations and concerns about Risk-Reducing Surgery (RRS) in 204 carriers. Participants are well-informed about the options to manage cancer risk, and women with previous cancer are more concerned with screening failure. Satisfaction with RR Mastectomy is high, even if many carriers are unsatisfied with reconstructed breast feel and nipple-areola complex tactile sensation and those with previous breast cancer report a change in their sexual habits. The decrease of libido and vaginal dryness are the most complained symptoms after RR Salpingo-Oophorectomy. Nevertheless, most carriers would choose RRS again, due to cancer risk or screening-related stress reduction. Women who deferred RRS are more afraid of menopausal symptoms and cancer risk than those who had undergone or declined surgery. Women who declined RRS feel well-informed and trust screening procedures. In conclusion, HBOC carriers consider themselves well-informed and able to choose the best option for their condition, would choose RRS again because of cancer risk and screening-related stress reduction, and those who delay RRS face a higher preoperative level of concern and need support

Human serum albumin-bound selenium (Se-HSA) in serum and its correlation with other selenium species

Introduction: Selenium (Se) is a trace element with different toxicological and nutritional properties according to its chemical forms. Among the wide range of selenium species, human serum albumin-bound selenium (Se-HSA) has still uncertain composition in terms of organic or inorganic selenium species. This study aimed at investigating the relation between Se-HSA levels with total selenium and the specific organic and inorganic selenium species. Methods: We determined levels of total selenium and selenium species in serum of participants enrolled in two populations of the Emilia-Romagna region, in Northern Italy. Anion exchange chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma dynamic reaction cell mass spectrometry was used as quantification method. Correlations between Se-HSA and the other selenium compounds were analyzed using linear regression and restricted cubic spline regression models, adjusted for potential confounders. Results: The first cohort comprised 50 participants (men/women: 26/24) with median (interquartile range, IQR) age 50 (55-62) years, while the second was composed of 104 participants (M/W: 50/54), median (IQR) age 48 (44-53) years. Median (IQR) levels of total selenium were 118.5 (109-136) µg/L and 116.5 (106-128) µg/L, respectively, while Se-HSA was 25.5&nbsp;µg/L (16.2-51.5) and 1.1 (0.03-3.1) µg/L, respectively. In both populations, Se-HSA was positively associated with inorganic selenium species. Conversely, Se-HSA was inversely associated with organic selenium, especially with selenoprotein P-bound-Se (Se-SELENOP) and less strongly with selenomethionine-bound-Se (Se-Met), while the relation was null or even positive with other organic species. Evaluation of non-linear trends showed a substantially positive association with inorganic selenium, particularly selenite, until a concentration of 30&nbsp;µg/L, above which a plateau was reached. The association with Se-SELENOP was inverse and strong until 100&nbsp;µg/L, while it was almost null at higher levels. Conclusions: Our findings seem to indicate that Se-HSA incorporates more selenium when circulating levels of inorganic compounds are higher, thus supporting its mainly inorganic nature, particularly at high circulating levels of selenite

Y-chromosome polymorphisms and ethnic group – a combined STR and SNP approach in a population sample from northern Italy

Aim To find an association between Y chromosome polymorphisms and some ethnic groups. Methods Short tandem repeats (STR) and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) on the Y chromosome were typed in 311 unrelated men from four different ethnic groups – Italians from northern Italy, Albanians, Africans from the Maghreb region, and Indo-Pakistanis, using the AmpFlSTR® Yfiler PCR Amplification Kit and the SNaPshot Multiplex Kit. Results STRs analysis found 299 different haplotypes and SNPs analysis 11 different haplogroups. Haplotypes and haplogroups were analyzed and compared between different ethnic groups. Significant differences were found among all the population groups, except between Italians and Indo-Pakistanis and between Albanians and Indo-Pakistanis. Conclusions Typing both STRs and SNPs on the Y chromosome could become useful in determining ethnic origin of a potential suspec