The use of distance learning and e-learning in students with learning disabilities: A review on the effects and some hint of analysis on the use during covid-19 outbreak

Even if the use of distance learning and E-learning has a long tradition all over the world and both have been used to keep in contact with students and to provide lessons, support and learning materials, there is an open debate on the balance between advantages and disadvantages in the use of distance learning. This debate is even more central in their use to support students with Learning Disabilities (LDs), an overarching group of neurodevelopmental disorders that affect more than 5% of students. The current COVID-19 outbreak caused school closures and the massive use of E-learning all over the world and it put higher attention on the debate of the effects of E-learning. This paper aims to review papers that investigated the positive and negative effects of the use of Distance Learning and E-learning in students with LDs. We conducted a literature review on the relationship between Distance Learning, E-learning and Learning Disabilities, via Scopus, Eric and Google Scholar electronic database, according to Prisma Guidelines. The findings are summarized using a narrative, but systematic, approach. According to the data resulting from the papers, we also discuss issues to be analyzed in future research and in the use of E-learning during the current pandemic of COVID-19

Visualising accessibility: an interactive tool and two applications to empirical case studies of urban development and public engagement

While a substantial body of literature exists on the theoretical definitions and measures of accessibility, the extent to which such measures are applied into practice to assess project alternatives is less frequent (Geurs and Van Wee, 2004). Recent studies affirm that one of the main barriers to the usability of accessibility measure is the lack of visualisation quality and mapping tool for accessibility representation (te Brömmelstroet et al, 2014), while visualisation tools are commonly recognised as the most effective methodology to facilitate knowledge sharing, particularly in those processes involving public stakeholders and non-experts with different expertise. Starting form this consideration, this paper presents an application of the Interactive Visualisation Tool, named InViTo (Pensa and Masala, 2014a; 2014b; Pensa, et al., 2014; Pensa, Masala and Lami, 2013; Pensa, Masala and Marina, 2013) able to generate maps of the level of perceived accessibility (i.e. “desirability”) of different urban areas. Desirability is here computed as the perceived level of access to different urban items as transport supply (metro and rail stations, public transport stops, parking) and urban activities such as hospitals, schools, museums. In this respect, the concept of desirability encompasses a measure of accessibility to several urban facilities, and the perception that residents of the study area have of such facilities. The InViTo tool allows to build up maps of desirability interactively, by making selection of the chosen items and by giving differential weights to each items. This makes the tools powerful and very useful particularly when discussing and showing analysis results to stakeholders, who could have the opportunity to see in real time the results of different scenario alternatives and assumptions. In the paper two applications are presented. The first one to the empirical case study of Rome, presents the steps to undertake in order to apply the tool: from data gathering, maps coding, and results representation. The second application aims at exploring the potential usability of the tool in engaging public stakeholders into the assessment of different urban development options. Furthermore, the results of a workshop held in Turin, in which public and private stakeholders were interactively involved, are discussed. The paper is organised as follows. In section 2, an overview of the InViTo tool is given with a focus on its applicability formeasuring accessibility. In section 3 the results of the two InViTo applications are discussed. Conclusions are drawn in section 4, with an outlook to undergoing research issues

GPCALMA: a Grid Approach to Mammographic Screening

The next generation of High Energy Physics experiments requires a GRID approach to a distributed computing system and the associated data management: the key concept is the "Virtual Organisation" (VO), a group of geographycally distributed users with a common goal and the will to share their resources. A similar approach is being applied to a group of Hospitals which joined the GPCALMA project (Grid Platform for Computer Assisted Library for MAmmography), which will allow common screening programs for early diagnosis of breast and, in the future, lung cancer. HEP techniques come into play in writing the application code, which makes use of neural networks for the image analysis and shows performances similar to radiologists in the diagnosis. GRID technologies will allow remote image analysis and interactive online diagnosis, with a relevant reduction of the delays presently associated to screening programs.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures; to appear in the Proceedings of Frontier Detectors For Frontier Physics, 9th Pisa Meeting on Advanced Detectors, 25-31 May 2003, La Biodola, Isola d'Elba, Ital

Characterization of Recombinant Human PRG4 as an Ocular Surface Boundary Lubricant

Introduction: Dry-eye disease involves tear film instability that can result in surface-to-surface contact between the cornea and eyelid or contact lens, where boundary lubrication can be dominant1. Motivated by the recent discovery that proteoglycan 4 (PRG4, a mucin-like glycoprotein originally discovered in synovial fluid as a boundary lubricant2), functions as an ocular surface boundary lubricant3, advances in recombinant protein expression technology4, and PRG4’s potential use as a friction-reducing contact lens coating, the objectives of this study were to: 1) biochemically characterize recombinant human PRG4 (rh- PRG4); and 2) assess the boundary lubricating properties of rh-PRG4, both before and after autoclave sterilization, at a cornea-contact lens material (PDMS) biointerface. Methods: SDS-PAGE western blot analysis using a variety of anti-PRG4 antibodies and lectins was performed on native PRG4 (nPRG4) and rh-PRG4 samples, both nonreduced and reduced, with and without enzymatic removal of O-linked glycosylations. Human corneas and PDMS were articulated against each other, subject to physiological loads of 8-25 kPa, at effective sliding velocities of 0.3-30 mm/s. Test lubricant sequences were A) saline, rh-PRG4 @300μg/mL, nPRG4 @300μg/mL, and saline; and B) saline, autoclaved rh-PRG4 @300μg/mL, rh-PRG4 @300μg/mL, and saline. Static and kinetic coefficients of friction were calculated. Results: rh-PRG4 demonstrated similar immunoreactivity to nPRG4, and effectively lowered friction at the cornea-PDMS biointerface. Western blotting indicated immunoreactive rh-PRG4 bands had a similar apparent molecular weight (MW) to nPRG4, and decreased appropriately upon reduction as well as enzymatic removal of glycosylations. Kinetic friction coefficients, which were highest in saline (0.31±0.06 to 0.40±0.06, mean±SEM), were similar in rh-PRG4 (0.12±0.01 to 0.25±0.03) and nPRG4 (0.19±0.02 to 0.28±0.03) across all velocities. Autoclaved rh-PRG4 had similar values to rh-PRG4 as well (0.19±0.02 to 0.26±0.04, 0.16±0.02 to 0.26±0.02, respectively). Conclusions: rh-PRG4 demonstrates similar biochemical and ocular surface lubricating properties to nPRG4, and may function as an effective friction-reducing contact lens coating

An MRI volumetric study for leg muscles in congenital clubfoot

PURPOSE: To investigate both volume and length of the three muscle compartments of the normal and the affected leg in unilateral congenital clubfoot. METHODS: Volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (VMRI) of the anterior, lateral and postero-medial muscular compartments of both the normal and the clubfoot leg was obtained in three groups of seven patients each, whose mean age was, respectively, 4.8 months, 11.1 months and 4.7 years. At diagnosis, all the unilateral congenital clubfeet had a Pirani score ranging from 4.5 to 5.5 points, and all of them had been treated according to a strict Ponseti protocol. All the feet had percutaneous lengthening of the Achilles tendon. RESULTS: A mean difference in both volume and length was found between the three muscular compartments of the leg, with the muscles of the clubfoot side being thinner and shorter than those of the normal side. The distal tendon of the tibialis anterior, peroneus longus and triceps surae (Achilles tendon) were longer than normal on the clubfoot side. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that the three muscle compartments of the clubfoot leg are thinner and shorter than normal in the patients of the three groups. The difference in the musculature volume of the postero-medial compartment between the normal and the affected side increased nine-fold from age group 2 to 3, while the difference in length increased by 20 %, thus, showing that the muscles of the postero-medial compartment tend to grow in both thickness and length much less than the muscles of the other leg compartments

Fish Consumption and Colorectal Cancer Risk: Meta-Analysis of Prospective Epidemiological Studies and Review of Evidence from Animal Studies

SIMPLE SUMMARY: We meta-analyzed prospective epidemiological studies reporting on the association between fish consumption and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk among humans and reviewed preclinical studies that examined the link between fish components and colorectal carcinogenesis in animals. By pooling results from 25 studies (encompassing over 25,000 CRC cases) published up to November 2020, we found convincing evidence that increased fish consumption may protect from CRC development among humans. The review of animal studies allowed identifying several biological mechanisms able to explain the associations that have emerged in human populations. Dietary recommendations for cancer prevention should incorporate the evidence from this literature review and meta-analysis. ABSTRACT: Background: Epidemiological studies on the association between fish consumption and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk have yielded inconsistent results, despite evidence from preclinical studies that long-chain ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids inhibit colorectal carcinogenesis. We conducted a meta-analysis of prospective epidemiological studies investigating the association between fish consumption and CRC risk among humans and reviewed studies examining the link between fish components and colorectal carcinogenesis in animal models. Methods: We included studies published until November 2020. We calculated the summary risk ratio (SRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) through random effects meta-analysis models in order to summarize evidence from studies among humans. Results: Twenty-five prospective epidemiological studies encompassing 25,777 CRC cases were included. Individuals in the highest (vs. lowest) category of fish consumption had a significantly reduced risk of CRC (SRR 0.94, 95%CI 0.89–0.99). In dose–response meta-analysis, a 50-g increment in the daily consumption of fish was associated with a statistically significant 4% reduction in CRC risk (SRR 0.96, 95%CI 0.92–0.99). Preclinical studies (n = 25) identified multiple mechanisms of action of fish and fish components on colorectal carcinogenesis. Conclusions: Dietary recommendations for cancer prevention should take into account the evidence from epidemiological and preclinical studies that increasing fish consumption may be effective in preventing CRC

Teaching in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Study on Teachers’ Self-Esteem and Self-Efficacy in an Italian Sample

The aim of this research was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on teachers, particularly on their self-esteem and self-efficacy, their difficulty in the transition to distance learning, the difficulty of students, and specially of students with learning disabilities (LDs students), as perceived by teachers. 226 teachers were invited to complete an online questionnaire. Our results showed lower self-esteem and lower self-efficacy by the teachers compared with the normative sample. Self-esteem and self-efficacy also decrease in teachers with greater service seniority at work. Teachers perceived a greater difficulty in students than in their own difficulty. The concentration of the school system’s efforts on the massive and, for long periods, exclusive organisation of distance learning risks favouring only cognitive aspects to the detriment of affective dynamics. This aspect could make teaching more complex for teachers and learning poorer for students, impoverishing the complex relational process that forms the basis of the learning process

Artificial Intelligence Applications in Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Are We on the Path to Avoiding the Administration of Contrast Media?

In recent years, cardiovascular imaging examinations have experienced exponential growth due to technological innovation, and this trend is consistent with the most recent chest pain guidelines. Contrast media have a crucial role in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, allowing for more precise characterization of different cardiovascular diseases. However, contrast media have contraindications and side effects that limit their clinical application in determinant patients. The application of artificial intelligence (AI)-based techniques to CMR imaging has led to the development of non-contrast models. These AI models utilize non-contrast imaging data, either independently or in combination with clinical and demographic data, as input to generate diagnostic or prognostic algorithms. In this review, we provide an overview of the main concepts pertaining to AI, review the existing literature on non-contrast AI models in CMR, and finally, discuss the strengths and limitations of these AI models and their possible future development

Percutaneous combined therapy for painful sternal metastases: a radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFTA) and cementoplasty protocol

Radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFTA) has recently been introduced for the treatment of painful bone metastases. We report the outcome of one combined protocol session of percutaneous RFTA and cementoplasty on a painful sternal breast cancer metastasis of a 66-year-old patient