DIGITAL STORYTELLING FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES: AN INTERMEDIATE LANGUAGE FOR EXECUTABLE REPRESENTATIONS

Many approaches to the definition of animated story exist, but a good “one size fits all” solution is difficult to adopt and implement. Software for the creation of simple animated stories is often more complex than necessary. Moreover, usually, it is not possible to personalize the functionalities provided by the User Interface to the specific users’ needs. This, in turn, affects the effectiveness of such software. To address these problems, we defined, implemented, and tested a methodology to simplify the process of designing software for animated stories. We defined an Intermediate Language (IL) that abstracts basic concepts useful for the description of a story. The components and concepts of the IL were inspired by the Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) and the Scratch language. To validate our approach, we applied it to the design and implementation of an app for storytelling. The app we created permits to define the story by means of a simple graphical language; then, a first translation module generates an IL representation; finally, a second translation module produces a Scratch executable file. We tested our app with subjects with intellectual disability. Psychologists supervised the experiments and observed improvements in subjects’ vocal expression, attention level and narration quality

Electronically ordered ultrathin Cr2O3 on Pt(1 1 1) in presence of a multidomain graphene intralayer

In the last decade, reducing the dimensionality of materials to few atomic layers thickness has allowed exploring new physical properties and functionalities otherwise absent out of the two dimensional limit. In this regime, interfaces and interlayers play a crucial role. Here, we investigate their influence on the electronic properties and structural quality of ultrathin Cr2O3 on Pt(111), in presence of a multidomain graphene intralayer. Specifically, by combining Low-Energy Electron Diffraction, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy, we confirm the growth of high-quality ultrathin Cr2O3 on bare Pt, with sharp surface reconstructions, proper stoichiometry and good electronic quality. Once a multidomain graphene intralayer is included at the metal/oxide interface, the Cr2O3 maintained its correct stoichiometry and a comparable electronic quality, even at the very first monolayers, despite the partially lost of the morphological long-range order. These results show how ultrathin Cr2O3 films are slightly affected by the interfacial epitaxial quality from the electronic point of view, making them potential candidates for graphene-integrated heterostructures

Hepatic pseudocystic metastasis of well-differentiated ileal neuroendocrine tumor: a case report with review of the literature

ABSTRACT: Imaging appearance of cyst-like changes is most frequently described in primary neuroendocrine lesions, especially pancreatic NETs. The imaging finding of a pseudocystic lesion of the liver puts in differential diagnosis many pathologies such as infectious diseases, simple biliary cysts up to biliary cystadenomas and eventually to primary or metastatic malignancies. Primary or metastatic hepatic malignancies with pseudocystic aspects are rare, and a pseudocystic aspect is reported only after neo-adjuvant treatment. Liver metastasis of untreated neuroendocrine tumors are usually solid and, to our knowledge, only two cases of neuroendocrine cystic hepatic metastases of ileal atypical carcinoids have been reported so far. We present a case of a 67 years old man with synchronous finding of an untreated hepatic pseudocystic lesion and an ileal mass histologically diagnosed as a well differentiated (G1) neuroendocrine tumor. VIRTUAL SLIDES: The virtual slides for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1443883503102967

Sleep actigraphic patterns and cognitive status

none9noWe performed an actigraphic assessment of sleep characteristics in healthy subjects and patients with cognitive impairment. Thirty subjects were included and classified into controls (10 subjects), mild cognitive impairment (10 patients) and mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease (10 patients). Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Participants had a 7-day actigraphic record. Sleep parameters collected were time in bed, total sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep latency, wakefulness after sleep onset, number of awakenings, and mean motor activity. Significant differences between mild cognitive impairment and controls patients were found for sleep latency (p = 0.05); Alzheimer's disease patients had significantly worse scores for Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (p = 0.01), time in bed (p = 0.001), total sleep time (p = 0.04), sleep latency, sleep efficiency, motor activity (p = 0.0001) and wakefulness after sleep onset (p = 0.001) compared to controls. When comparing Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment, differences were significant for sleep latency (p = 0.01), wakefulness after sleep onset (p = 0.004), sleep efficiency, number of awakenings and motor activity (p = 0.0001). In addition to showing a high prevalence of sleep alterations in subjects with cognitive impairment, our data suggest that they are evident from the earliest stages of cognitive decline. Further studies are needed to assess whether early correction of sleep alterations can positively influence the evolution of cognitive impairment. The opportunity to provide clinically meaningful information with a simple assessment of sleep characteristics based on actigraphy suggests that wider use of the approach in patients with cognitive decline should be considered.openBuratti, Laura; Camilletti, Roberta; Pulcini, Alessandra; Rocchi, Chiara; Viticchi, Giovanna; Falsetti, Lorenzo; Baldinelli, Sara; Fiori, Chiara; Silvestrini, MauroBuratti, Laura; Camilletti, Roberta; Pulcini, Alessandra; Rocchi, Chiara; Viticchi, Giovanna; Falsetti, Lorenzo; Baldinelli, Sara; Fiori, Chiara; Silvestrini, Maur

Delivery of Active Peptides by Self-Healing, Biocompatible and Supramolecular Hydrogels

Supramolecular and biocompatible hydrogels with a tunable pH ranging from 5.5 to 7.6 lead to a wide variety of formulations useful for many different topical applications compatible with the skin pH. An in vitro viability/cytotoxicity test of the gel components demonstrated that they are non-toxic, as the cells continue to proliferate after 48 h. An analysis of the mechanical properties demonstrates that the hydrogels have moderate strength and an excellent linear viscoelastic range with the absence of a proper breaking point, confirmed with thixotropy experiments. Two cosmetic active peptides (Trifluoroacetyl tripeptide-2 and Palmitoyl tripeptide-5) were successfully added to the hydrogels and their transdermal permeation was analysed with Franz diffusion cells. The liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analyses of the withdrawn samples from the receiving solutions showed that Trifluoroacetyl tripeptide-2 permeated in a considerable amount while almost no transdermal permeation of Palmitoyl tripeptide-5 was observed

Synchronous liver and peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer: Is cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy combined with liver resection a feasible option?

BackgroundTraditionally, synchronous liver resection (LR), cytoreductive surgery (CRS), and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for colorectal liver and peritoneal metastases have been contraindicated. Nowadays, clinical practice has promoted this aggressive treatment in selected cases. This study aimed to review surgical and survival results of an extensive surgical approach including CRS with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and LR. MethodsPubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases were matched to find the available literature on this topic. The search period was limited to 10 years (January 2010-January 2021). A threshold of case series of 10 patients or more was applied. ResultsIn the search period, out of 114 studies found about liver and peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer, we found 18 papers matching the inclusion criteria. Higher morbidity and mortality were reported for patients who underwent such an extensive surgical approach when compared with patients who underwent only cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC. Also, survival rates seem worse in the former than in the latter. ConclusionThe role of combined surgical strategy in patients with synchronous liver and peritoneal metastases from colorectal cancer remains controversial. Survival rates and morbidity and mortality seem not in favor of this option. A more accurate selection of patients and more restrictive surgical indications could perhaps help improve results in this subgroup of patients with limited curative options

¿A ver cuándo nos enseñan Educación Física? : Reflexiones sobre la politicidad de la educación y la educación física

El texto que sigue es una incipiencia de intercambios y preocupaciones que nos involucran como parte de la comunidad universitaria del PUEF en la delegación San Fernando de la UNLu. Las reflexiones aquí planteadas parten de nuestras miradas sobre ciertas imágenes que perduran y otras que se renuevan en la institución. Frecuentemente nos encontramos con representaciones (verbales, gráficas, más o menos explícitas) que “justifican” un carácter pretendidamente despolitizado de la carrera, o que reniegan de la politicidad de la educación como práctica social, especialmente dentro del ámbito universitario. Debates, tensiones que se dan en espacios tanto físicos como virtuales en estos últimos meses, nos hicieron volver a preguntarnos por el carácter de la educación física - y de la formación docente en ella- como práctica pedagógica y política. La realización del ritual de entrega de la “I”, como refuerzo a la pertenencia de una institución, que paradójicamente, ya no tiene existencia como tal, fue uno de los elementos que nos llamó la atención para reflexionar acerca de la persistencia de ciertos discursos y acciones que legitiman -todavía hoy- un abordaje de la formación docente en educación física centrado en el disciplinamiento corporal, la apelación al “honor” y la selección mediante la adscripción a un código de comportamiento para acceder a formar parte de un cuerpo social conformando un “currículum oculto” sobre la forma de ser estudiante y profesor de Educación Física.Mesa 10: Educación física y cuerpoFacultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

¿A ver cuándo nos enseñan Educación Física? : Reflexiones sobre la politicidad de la educación y la educación física

El texto que sigue es una incipiencia de intercambios y preocupaciones que nos involucran como parte de la comunidad universitaria del PUEF en la delegación San Fernando de la UNLu. Las reflexiones aquí planteadas parten de nuestras miradas sobre ciertas imágenes que perduran y otras que se renuevan en la institución. Frecuentemente nos encontramos con representaciones (verbales, gráficas, más o menos explícitas) que “justifican” un carácter pretendidamente despolitizado de la carrera, o que reniegan de la politicidad de la educación como práctica social, especialmente dentro del ámbito universitario. Debates, tensiones que se dan en espacios tanto físicos como virtuales en estos últimos meses, nos hicieron volver a preguntarnos por el carácter de la educación física - y de la formación docente en ella- como práctica pedagógica y política. La realización del ritual de entrega de la “I”, como refuerzo a la pertenencia de una institución, que paradójicamente, ya no tiene existencia como tal, fue uno de los elementos que nos llamó la atención para reflexionar acerca de la persistencia de ciertos discursos y acciones que legitiman -todavía hoy- un abordaje de la formación docente en educación física centrado en el disciplinamiento corporal, la apelación al “honor” y la selección mediante la adscripción a un código de comportamiento para acceder a formar parte de un cuerpo social conformando un “currículum oculto” sobre la forma de ser estudiante y profesor de Educación Física.Mesa 10: Educación física y cuerpoFacultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació