DISTANCE LEARNING AND SPECIFIC LEARNING DISORDERS: A UNIVERSITY DIMENSION

This work aims to analyze and observe the world of Specifc Learning Disorders (SLDs) within the context of Distance Learning (DL), by introducing and including all the components, expressions and even the consequences that impact on the individual, projected into this different educational dimension. Learning disorders, to date and in the past, have achieved a great resonance in education and training, reaching the possibility of being recognized and supported adequately and appropriately. People with Specifc Learning Disorders can generally encounter, in their path of growth and evolution, diffculties in the processes of reading, writing or computing automation, and it often happens that these peculiarities are associated with each other. Frequently, these problems are linked to an experience of failure, assuming a rather relevant relational-emotional confguration and profle. In this sense, the use of distance learning should not in any way weigh on and constrain the educational path of these students, both in school and university; the basic educational goal should in all cases lead to the subject’s well-being and overall balance. Consequently, this assumption brings with it that the structuring of a poorly functional and inadequate educational condition could cause and represent an obstacle to the subject’s growth and knowledge path

INVESTIGATING THE NUCLEOTIDE DIVERSITY IN THE GLUTATHIONE S-TRANSFERASE GENE FAMILY ACROSS THE TOMATO GENE POOL AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE IN CONTROLLING PLANT RESPONSE TO STRESS

The agricultural sector faces a significant challenge in dealing with environmental stresses, which greatly reduce crop productivity. Due to global warming and climate change, abiotic stresses are predicted to become more frequent. In this scenario, to meet a growing global demand for food, breeding crops for enhanced tolerance to harsh environments is promising. The cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most important vegetable crops in the world and the genome of its wild relatives Solanum pimpinellifolium, Solanum lycopersicoides and Solanum pennellii have been sequenced and their effective tolerance to extreme environments well documented. However, knowledge about tomato genetic diversity is limited and its phenotypic significance dramatically unpredictable to make its exploitation proficient. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes have been identified in numerous plant species and are involved in various physiological, developmental, and stress modulation pathways. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive description of the GST nucleotide diversity in the tomato gene pool and contextual mining of functional significance for plant adaptability to challenging stresses. We identified 83 GST genes in Solanum lycopersicum (ITAG 4.1) and their orthologues within the wild relatives. Sequences were analyzed for their exon-intron structures, conserved protein motifs, putative subcellular locations, phylogenetic relationships and duplication events. Interaction networks, promoter and cis-regulatory elements and gene expression profiles were also identified. Phylogenetic analysis enabled grouping GST genes into ten subclasses. Furthermore, protein–protein interaction networks revealed the central role of GST genes controlling the cell redox state. A reference non redundant core collection of 75 tomato genotypes was selected from a larger collection of worldwide accessions genotyped by SSR markers. The core collection was screened for drought tolerance at the fruit set stage on the first flower truss. The leaves were assayed for gas exchange and colorimetric variations and profiled for H2O2, ascorbic acid and antioxidant capacity. The most tolerant and sensitive tomato accessions were selected. Plants were grown in lysimeters where the water supply was managed to apply two levels of soil water potential that is 10-20 kPa in the control treatment and 100-120 kPa for the drought treatment, respectively. To deepen our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms that control photo-assimilation, photo-assimilate allocation and fruit yield and quality under limited levels of available water, leaves, stems and fruit at different ripening stages were collected for RNA-seq analysis. Further bioinformatics analysis will allow us to validate the role of specific GSTs and other key genes in controlling the response of tomato plants to drought and modulating photo-assimilate allocation in sensitive and tolerant genomic backgrounds

Operation Soteria Rape and sexual assault survivors’ experience of the police in England and Wales Survey Report II: July 2023 – June 2024

This report is the second to document findings of an online survey of survivors of rape and sexual assault and their experiences of the police in England and Wales as part of Operation Soteria. This report contains the voices of the 2,858 survivors with police experience who completed the survey between 1 July 2023 – 30 June 2024. A further 345 survivors whose cases were not known to the police at the time they completed the survey shared their reasons for choosing not to report. This report follows on from the report “Rape and sexual assault survivors’ experience of the police in England and Wales. Survey Report I: January – June 2023” published last year containing findings from the data collection period of 16 January – 30 June 2023 of the same survey

The collaborative communication model for patient handover at the interface between high-acuity and low-acuity care

Background: Cross-unit handovers transfer responsibility for the patient among healthcare teams in different clinical units, with missed information, potentially placing patients at risk for adverse events. Objectives: We analysed the communications between high-acuity and low-acuity units, their content and social context, and we explored whether common conceptual ground reduced potential threats to patient safety posed by current handover practices. Methods: We monitored the communication of five content items using handover probes for 22 patient transitions of care between high-acuity ' sender units' and low-acuity 'recipient units'. Data were analysed and discussed in focus groups with healthcare professionals to acquire insights into the characteristics of the common conceptual ground. Results: High-acuity and low-acuity units agreed about the presence of alert signs in the discharge form in 40% of the cases. The focus groups identified prehandover practices, particularly for anticipatory guidance that relied extensively on verbal phone interactions that commonly did not involve all members of the healthcare team, particularly nursing. Accessibility of information in the medical records reported by the recipient units was significantly lower than reported by sender units. Common ground to enable interpretation of the complete handover content items existed only among selected members of the healthcare team. Conclusions: The limited common ground reduced the likelihood of correct interpretation of important handover information, which may contribute to adverse events. Collaborative design and use of a shared set of handover content items may assist in creating common ground to enable clinical teams to communicate effectively to help increase the reliability and safety of cross-unit handovers

Zucchini Plants Alter Gene Expression and Emission of (E)-β-Caryophyllene Following Aphis gossypii Infestation

Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) is widely cultivated in temperate regions. One of the major production challenges is the damage caused by Aphis gossypii (Homoptera: Aphididae), a polyphagous aphid, which can negatively affect its host plant, both directly by feeding and indirectly by vectoring viruses. To gain insights into the transcriptome events that occur during the zucchini-aphid interaction and to understand the early-to-late defense response through gene expression profiles, we performed RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) on zucchini leaves challenged by A. gossypii (24, 48, and 96 h post-infestation; hpi). Data analysis indicated a complex and dynamic pattern of gene expression and a transient transcriptional reconfiguration that involved more than 700 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including a large number of defense-related genes. The down-regulation of key genes of plant immunity, such as leucine-rich repeat (LRR) protein kinases, transcription factors, and genes associated with direct (i.e., protease inhibitors, cysteine peptidases, etc.) and indirect (i.e., terpene synthase) defense responses, suggests the aphid ability to manipulate plant immune responses. We also investigated the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from infested plants and observed a reduced emission of (E)-β-caryophyllene at 48 hpi, likely the result of aphid effectors, which reflects the down-regulation of two genes involved in the biosynthesis of terpenoids. We showed that (E)-β-caryophyllene emission was modified by the duration of plant infestation and by aphid density and that this molecule highly attracts Aphidius colemani, a parasitic wasp of A. gossypii. With our results we contributed to the identification of genes involved in cucurbit plant interactions with phloem feeders. Our findings may also help pave the way toward developing tolerant zucchini varieties and to identify molecules for sustainable management of harmful insect populations

Liquefied sites of the 2012 Emilia earthquake: a comprehensive database of the geological and geotechnical features (Quaternary alluvial Po plain, Italy)

This paper presents a comprehensive geological and geotechnical study of the whole area affected by liquefaction following the 2012 Emilia earthquakes, including all the available information from the field reconnaissance surveys, in situ tests, and laboratory analyses. The compilation was performed at 120 liquefied sites to verify and validate the reliability of liquefaction charts in alluvial sediments, and to assess liquefaction induced by the 2012 seismic sequence in the Emilia plain. The results reveal a wide range of grain sizes (from clean sands to sandy silts) and compositional characteristics (quartz-rich to litharenitic) in the 2012 ejecta, and show a strong relationship between the liquefaction and stratigraphic architecture of the subsurface. The availability of in situ tests at the liquefied sites makes it possible to verify and validate the reliability of the liquefaction charts in alluvial sediments with respect to the real observations. For the analyzed Emilia case studies, the use of non-liquefiable crust provides better estimations of the liquefaction manifestations when coupled with the thickness of the liquefiable layer rather than with the liquefaction potential index. Altogether, this work makes available to the international scientific community a consistent liquefaction database for in-depth earthquake studies

Prev Chronic Dis

IntroductionCount data are often collected in chronic disease research, and sometimes these data have a skewed distribution. The number of unhealthy days reported in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is an example of such data: most respondents report zero days. Studies have either categorized the Healthy Days measure or used linear regression models. We used alternative regression models for these count data and examined the effect on statistical inference.MethodsUsing responses from participants aged 35 years or older from 12 states that included a homeownership question in their 2009 BRFSS, we compared 5 multivariate regression models \u2014 logistic, linear, Poisson, negative binomial, and zero-inflated negative binomial \u2014 with respect to 1) how well the modeled data fit the observed data and 2) how model selections affect inferences.ResultsMost respondents (66.8%) reported zero mentally unhealthy days. The distribution was highly skewed (variance = 58.7, mean = 3.3 d). Zero-inflated negative binomial regression provided the best-fitting model, followed by negative binomial regression. A significant independent association between homeownership and number of mentally unhealthy days was not found in the logistic, linear, or Poisson regression model but was found in the negative binomial model. The zero-inflated negative binomial model showed that homeowners were 24% more likely than nonowners to have excess zero mentally unhealthy days (adjusted odds ratio, 1.24; 95% confidence interval, 1.08\u20131.43), but it did not show an association between homeownership and the number of unhealthy days.ConclusionOur comparison of regression models indicates the importance of examining data distribution and selecting models with appropriate assumptions. Otherwise, statistical inferences might be misleading.2014720

New coring study in Augusta Bay expands understanding of offshore tsunami deposits (Eastern Sicily, Italy)

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Smedile, A., Molisso, F., Chagué, C., Iorio, M., De Martini, P.M., Pinzi, S., Collins, P.E.F., Sagnotti, L. & Pantosti, D. 2019, "New coring study in Augusta Bay expands understanding of offshore tsunami deposits (Eastern Sicily, Italy)", Sedimentology, , which has been published in final form at doi:10.1111/sed.12581. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. © 2019 The Authors. Sedimentology © 2019 International Association of Sedimentologists.European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007‐2013). Grant Number: 60383

“I luoghi di Mercalli”: a travelling exhibition as a tool for scientists to dialogue with the public on volcanoes and earthquakes

On March 19, 1914 Giuseppe Mercalli, a seismologist and volcanologist, well-known around the world for the Intensity scale of earthquakes bearing his name, died tragically. A hundred years after, the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) has promoted a variety of activities and cultural events that will take place under the Patronage of the President of the Italian Republic within a year, the so called “Anno Mercalliano” (the Year of Mercalli). The opening ceremony took place in Naples, Italy, on March 19, 2014, in the Convitto Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele II. A scientific conference was held with the participation of experts from INGV and the university of Milano – Bicocca, and presentations of students. On that day the exhibition entitled “I luoghi di Mercalli” (Mercalli's places) was also inaugurated, at the presence of local authorities. The exhibition, organized by INGV, was realized in collaboration with the high school Vittorio Emanuele II, where Mercalli has been teaching for 19 years, and the Università degli Studi Suor Orsola Benincasa, where he was professor of natural sciences. A biographical and geographical description of the places where Mercalli operated introduces the exhibition, which is organized in sections: - Mercalli educator (he taught at high schools in Reggio Calabria and Naples); - Mercalli volcanologist (Mercalli studied Vesuvius volcanic activity for more than twenty years, he was a scientific witness of the Vesuvius 1906 eruption, and of the eruptions occurred at Vulcano (1888-90) and Stromboli (1891) islands. - Mercalli seismologist (Mercalli Intensity scale definition, based on his experience as witness of catastrophic earthquakes, such as Casamicciola in 1883 and Messina in 1908). Another section deals with the Vesuvius Observatory, directed by Mercalli between 1911 and 1914, and the description of the three active volcanoes of the Campania region (Vesuvius, Campi Flegrei and Ischia island), which have been the subject of studies by the well-known scientist. The exhibition is enriched by documents, manuscripts, photos and field notebooks of Mercalli. It is not intended to be only a celebratory exhibition; rather it is designed as a tool for dissemination of scientific culture and to raise awareness about seismic and volcanic hazards. In the exhibition path a continuous thread between the figure of Mercalli as a researcher and the role of an Earth Science researcher today is highlighted, pointing to the development of scientific knowledge in the past century. The goal is to improve the capability of learning from the disasters occurred in the past to implement preventive actions to safely deal with future events. The exhibition is travelling and will be provided on request to institutions and schools.PublishedMilano, Italia1V. Storia e struttura dei sistemi vulcaniciope

Learning to learn: a Pedagogical Proposal in Scientific field for SLD

Le molteplici modalità che contraddistinguono e caratterizzano l’apprendimento necessitano e richiedono nuove forme di insegnamento, che possano soddisfare le caratteristiche e le peculiarità di ogni persona. Contesti educativi come scuola ed università dovrebbero rispettare queste forme differenziali di apprendimento puntando a nuove strutture di insegnamento, che non si limitino a trasmettere il sapere come semplice accumulo di informazioni. Nasce la necessità, per soggetti con Disturbi Specifici dell’Apprendimento, di ricercare e predisporre adeguati strumenti e strategie didattiche, che possano supportare le principali necessità del soggetto in ambito personale, emotivo e relazionale. Ciò si ottiene fornendo agli studenti un ampio spettro di conoscenze che si rivolgono, da una parte all’ambito pragmatico e strategico della didattica, e dall’altra, alla consapevolezza, alla comprensione ed alla osservazione delle attitudini e abilità personali, che regolano e facilitano l’apprendimento cognitivo, incrementando, parallelamente, competenze individuali e sociali. Lo sviluppo, quindi, di abilità cognitive e metacognitive consente di raggiungere una maggiore consapevolezza e conoscenza delle proprie abilità, una rilevante capacità di gestire e condurre il proprio percorso di apprendimento, contribuendo all’evoluzione ed allo sviluppo del soggetto in ambito personale, relazionale ed educativo