«Children go touch»: note sulle pratiche di appropriazione delle tecnologie («touch») dei più piccoli (0-10 anni) e sulla necessità di una didattica digitalmente aumentata

Our paper is divided into three parts: the first, analyzing the results of a recent report of the Academy of Sciences of France concerning the interactions between children and touch-screens, clarifies the epistemological-evolutionary background within which we develop our research about the way children manage this kind of technology. The second part begins with an analysis of the digital revolution impact on the macro-economic scenarios in order to better understand the following review of the most recent international and Italian researches concerning the use of touch-technology by children (0-10) in informal contexts such as family and peers. This review aims to demonstrate how the age of children access to technology in general – and especially to smartphone and tablet based on touch-screen interfaces – has significantly lowered. The third is concerned with understanding how and why the new educational models culturally enhanced by digital technology can't ignore the new informal touch-culture of children

A user view of the EURECA ground segment

The European Retrievable Carrier (EURECA) was launched on 31 Jul. 1992. It is the largest ESA spacecraft ever launched, and the first one to be launched and retrieved by the NASA Space Shuttle. This paper describes the lessons learned during the first months of utilization of the EURECA ground segment from the point of view of the flight control team

Experience with the EURECA Packet Telemetry and Packet Telecommand system

The European Retrieval Carrier (EURECA) was launched on its first flight on the 31st of July 1992 and retrieved on the 29th of June 1993. EURECA is characterized by several new on-board features, most notably Packet telemetry, and a partial implementation of packet telecommanding, the first ESA packetised spacecraft. Today more than one year after the retrieval the data from the EURECA mission has to a large extent been analysed and we can present some of the interesting results. This paper concentrates on the implementation and operational experience with the EURECA Packet Telemetry and Packet Telecommanding. We already discovered during the design of the ground system that the use of packet telemetry has major impact on the overall design and that processing of packet telemetry may have significant effect on the computer loading and sizing. During the mission a number of problems were identified with the on-board implementation resulting in very strange anomalous behaviors. Many of these problems directly violated basic assumptions for the design of the ground segment adding to the strange behavior. The paper shows that the design of a telemetry packet system should be flexible enough to allow a rapid configuration of the telemetry processing in order to adapt it to the new situation in case of an on-board failure. The experience gained with the EURECA mission control should be used to improve ground systems for future missions

MOOC, didattica universitaria digitale e Learning analytics. Opportunità e prospettive

This article has the aim to outline the current state of the art regarding the worldwide diffusion of MOOCS phenomenon. It is focused on the “disruptive” impact of MOOCS on the traditional University System in the most developed countries nations and on the way of using Learning Analytics to evaluate MOOCS quality, effectiveness and the learning value. The adoption of MOOCS as course material and the growing of MOOCSbased degrees in many universities is changing dramatically the way of teaching and learning inside the Accademia. The article outlines also some methodological approach to use Learning Analytics to evaluate MOOCS quality, effectiveness and the educational value. In the first part we present, a review of the most recent studies on the MOOC phenomenon. In the second part we will deal with the characteristics and peculiarities of the MOOC phenomenon, with particular attention to the increasing number of graduated degrees with MOOC or Blended Learning format. In the third part we will analyze how the use of Learning Analytics can increase the quality of learning and teaching through the MOOC.Questo articolo si propone l’obiettivo di tratteggiare uno stato dell’arte relativamente al fenomeno della diffusione dei MOOC. Si concentra sull’impatto “disruptive” dei MOOCS sistemi universitari tradizionali delle nazioni più sviluppate, così come sul modo di utilizzare la metodologia dei Learning Analytics per valutare la qualità dei corsi MOOC, l’efficacia e la valenza formativa. L’adozione dei MOOCS come materiali didattici e la crescita delle lauree basate su percorsi di MOOC sta cambiando drasticamente, in molte università, il modo di insegnare e apprendere. L’articolo delinea anche un approccio metodologico all’uso di Learning Analytics per valutare la qualità, l’efficacia e il valore didattico dei MOOCS. Nella prima parte verrà proposta una review dei più recenti studi relativi al fenomeno dei MOOC. Nella seconda parte ci si occuperà di tratteggiare le caratteristiche odierne del fenomeno MOOC, con una particolare attenzione al moltiplicarsi recente dell’accreditamento di lauree “in formato” MOOC. Si tratta di un fenomeno che presenta caratteristiche altamente "disruptive" rispetto alle attuali metodologie e forme istituzionali dell’istruzione universitaria. Nella terza parte si analizzerà in che modo l’utilizzo dei Learning Analytics possa incrementare la qualità dei MOOC e permetterne una valutazione più efficiente e sostenibile

On The Sensitivity Characteristics in Novel Automatic Wheatstone Bridge-Based Interfaces

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Uncalibrated operational amplifier-based sensor interface for capacitive/resistive sensor applications

In this paper, a new configuration of operational amplifier -based square-wave oscillator is proposed. The circuit performs an impedance-to-period (Z–T) conversion that, instead of a voltage integration typically performed by other solutions presented in the literature, is based on a voltage differentiation. This solution is suitable as first analogue uncalibrated front-end for capacitive and resistive (e.g. relative humidity and gas) sensors, working also, in the case of capacitive devices, for wide variation ranges (up to six capacitive variation decades). Moreover, through the setting of passive components, its sensitivity can be easily regulated. Experimental measurements, conducted on a prototype printed circuit board, with sample passive components and using the commercial capacitive humidity sensor Honeywell HCH-1000, have shown good linearity and accuracy in the estimation of capacitances, having a baseline or reaching a value ranging in a wide interval [picofarads–microfarads], as well as, with a lower accuracy, in the evaluation of more reduced variations of resistances, ranging from kiloohms to megaohms, also when compared with other solutions presented in the literature

A Novel Uncalibrated Read-Out Circuit for Floating Capacitive and Grounded/Floating Resistive Sensors Measurement

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Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling-3 (SOCS-3) induces Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin Kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) expression in hepatic HepG2 cell line

The suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins are negative regulators of the JAK/STAT pathway activated by proinflammatory cytokines, including the tumor necrosis factor (TNF-\u3b1). SOCS3 is also implicated in hypertriglyceridemia associated to insulin resistance. Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) levels are frequently found to be positively correlated to insulin resistance and plasma very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) triglycerides concentrations. The present study aimed to investigate the possible role of TNF-\u3b1 and JAK/STAT pathway on de novo lipogenesis and PCSK9 expression in HepG2 cells. TNF-\u3b1 induced both SOCS3 and PCSK9 in a concentration-dependent manner. This effect was inhibited by transfection with siRNA anti-STAT3, suggesting the involvement of the JAK/STAT pathway. Retroviral overexpression of SOCS3 in HepG2 cells (HepG2SOCS3) strongly inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation and induced PCSK9 mRNA and protein, with no effect on its promoter activity and mRNA stability. Consistently, siRNA anti-SOCS3 reduced PCSK9 mRNA levels, whereas an opposite effect was observed with siRNA anti- STAT3. In addition, HepG2SOCS3 express higher mRNA levels of key enzymes involved in the de novo lipogenesis, such as fattyacid synthase, stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD)-1, and apoB. These responses were associated with a significant increase of SCD-1 protein, activation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1), accumulation of cellular triglycerides, and secretion of apoB. HepG2SOCS3 show lower phosphorylation levels of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) Tyr896 and Akt Ser473 in response to insulin. Finally, insulin stimulation produced an additive effect with SOCS3 overexpression, further inducing PCSK9, SREBP-1, fatty acid synthase, and apoB mRNA. In conclusion, our data candidate PCSK9 as a gene involved in lipid metabolism regulated by proinflammatory cytokine TNF- in a SOCS3-dependent manner

The effectiveness of team-based learning in nursing education: A systematic review

Aim: Team-Based Learning (TBL) is an active teaching methodology, recently implemented also in the field of nursing education. The main objective of this study was to identify, appraise and summarize primary studies on the effectiveness of TBL in achieving learning outcomes in undergraduate nursing students. The secondary objective was to explore the generic competencies the students developed, and their reactions and attitudes.Study design: A systematic review of experimental and quasi-experimental studies.Databases sources: Cochrane Library, Pubmed/Medline, Cinahl, PsycINFO, and Eric; Google Scholar was used to search for grey literature and the reference lists of the retrieved papers.Review methods: A research protocol was developed according to the PRISMA-P guidelines. Two reviewers conducted the selection process. The "JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist" was used to check the quality of the selected studies.Results: We included 12 studies: 2 monocentric randomized controlled trials and 10 quasi-experimental studies. Nine out of 12 studies produced significant results in favour of TBL in terms of academic performance and skills development, however results were divergent when TBL was compared with other teaching methods. The results of 7 studies highlighted the effectiveness of TBL in improving the development of communication skills, inter professional learning, and self-directed learning. Divergent results were obtained with regard to problem solving and critical thinking skills. TBL promoted classroom engagement, however it did not seem to be associated with better learning outcomes.Conclusions: Overall, TBL was found to be effective in achieving undergraduate nursing students' learning outcomes, but evidence was not sufficiently strong to warrant that it is more effective than other teaching methods. The results of this review are in favour of the implementation of TBL in nursing education, however studies with more rigorous methods and with a mixed method design are required to improve the transferability of results

High Density Lipoproteins Inhibit Oxidative Stress-Induced Prostate Cancer Cell Proliferation

Recent evidence suggests that oxidative stress can play a role in the pathogenesis and the progression of prostate cancer (PCa). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation is higher in PCa cells compared to normal prostate epithelial cells and this increase is proportional to the aggressiveness of the phenotype. Since high density lipoproteins (HDL) are known to exert antioxidant activities, their ability to reduce ROS levels and the consequent impact on cell proliferation was tested in normal and PCa cell lines. HDL significantly reduced basal and H2O2-induced oxidative stress in normal, androgen receptor (AR)-positive and AR-null PCa cell lines. AR, scavenger receptor BI and ATP binding cassette G1 transporter were not involved. In addition, HDL completely blunted H2O2-induced increase of cell proliferation, through their capacity to prevent the H2O2-induced shift of cell cycle distribution from G0/G1 towards G2/M phase. Synthetic HDL, made of the two main components of plasma-derived HDL (apoA-I and phosphatidylcholine) and which are under clinical development as anti-atherosclerotic agents, retained the ability of HDL to inhibit ROS production in PCa cells. Collectively, HDL antioxidant activity limits cell proliferation induced by ROS in AR-positive and AR-null PCa cell lines, thus supporting a possible role of HDL against PCa progression