Reciprocity among teachers from different language and cultural backgrounds A pivotal strategy to develop an interculturally sensitive attitude in education professionals

One of the most crucial competences required to face our modern multicultural society is the capacity to establish a fruitful relationship with otherness, especially when the other is from a different cultural background and when interculturaldialogue seems to be difficult. This implies that education has to provide the young generation with the right instruments to interact with diversity, understand the motivation behind differences in behaviour, thoughts and feelings and learn to govern the emotional dimensions of fear and anxiety towards otherness.In this paper, reciprocity is illustrated in its theoretical frame. In addition to this, its role between education professionals from different cultural backgrounds is investigated through the analysis of data collected after an international seminar. On the basis of this analysis and the scientific literature developed on the construct of reciprocity, it seems reasonable to conceive of it as a strategy togenerate teachers’ intercultural sensitivity and, consequently, their intercultural approach to education.Una delle competenze più important e necessarie per affrontare la nostra moderna società multiculturale è la capacità di stabilire un proficuo rapporto con l'alterità, soprattutto quando l'altro proviene da un diverso background culturale e quando il dialogo interculturale sembra essere difficile. Ciò implica che l'educazione deve fornire alle giovani generazioni gli strumenti adeguati per interagire con la diversità, comprendere le motivazioni alla base delle differenze di comportamento, pensieri e sentimenti, così come imparare a governare le dimensioni emotive di paura e di ansiaverso l'alterità. In questo lavoro, il concetto di reciprocità è illustrato nella sua cornice teorica, puntando a spiegare ulteriormente il ruolo di tale concetto tra i professionisti dell'istruzione provenienti da diversi background culturali. Questo aspetto viene indagato attraverso l'analisi dei dati raccolti dopo un seminario di scambio internazionale fra insegnanti. Sullabase della suddetta analisi bibliografica e successiva evidenza raccolta nell’indagine empirica, sembra ragionevole concepire che l’incidenza sulla sensibilità interculturale degli insegnanti abbia, di conseguenza, impatto sul loro approccio interculturale nellapropria pratica professionale

Osmotic fragility model for red cell populations

A model that predicts the osmotic fragility curve of a red cell population is developed by relating the critical osmotic pressure to the size distribution of the cells, determined by resistive pulse spectroscopy. Two of the parameters involved, namely the normalized osmotic volume correction, B, and the swelling index, k, are previously determined from the experimental average properties of the population. From these values the critical volume of the cell is obtained, and is shown to be 6–12% larger than the first spherical volume, obtained from an independent experiment. A new parameter, n, a measure of the surface area distribution of the cells, is incorporated through a simple function that relates the critical volume to the size of the cells, and is theoretically shown to be linked to parameters k and B. The model is used to fit and interpret fragility data obtained in this laboratory for normal and sickle cell samples. From the values of n obtained for normal samples, the model predicts an essentially constant surface-to-volume ratio within an individual's cell population. For sickle cell samples, instead, the value of index n is negative, thereby supporting an increase in excess surface area as cell size decreases. Both findings are in agreement with direct observations reported in the literature. It is concluded that this set of parameters may be used to develop an index classification of blood disorders

Border adjustment mechanisms :Elements for economic, legal, and political analysis

This paper examines, from a multidisciplinary perspective, plausible hypotheses for implementation of border carbon adjustment mechanisms, seen as a complement to strong environmental regulation. It highlights economic, legal, and political difficulties raised by border carbon adjustments. After thoroughly reviewing their economic practicability, it analyses these mechanisms from an International Trade Law perspective, particularly vis-à-vis the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, sustainable development, and the principle of shared but differentiated responsibilities. It concludes with an assessment of policy-related implications of such mechanisms and outlines, in particular, how border carbon adjustments may be used as an engine of economic and energy transition, for developed and developing countries equally

Recensioni

-Matthews Gerald, Zeidner Moshe, Roberts Richard D., Emotional Intelligence di Cristina Richieri;-Rita Minello, Umberto Margiotta, Sei gradi di separazione.Una lettura critica di POIEIN. La pedagogia e lescienze della formazione di Luisa Salmas

The development of a virtual learning environment in genetic syndromes

Objetivo: desenvolver um ambiente virtual de aprendizagem (AVA) para alunos do ensino \ud fundamental sobre síndromes genéticas. Método: o AVA, conhecido como Cybertutor, possibilita o \ud aprendizado do aluno pela internet de forma interativa. A metodologia deste estudo foi composta de \ud duas etapas, a de desenvolvimento e a de disponibilização do AVA. O desenvolvimento do conteúdo \ud educacional, gráfico e audiovisual do Cybertutor contou com o auxílio de um geneticista do HRAC/\ud USP e de informações científicas disponibilizadas em livros, artigos, teses e dissertações nacionais \ud e internacionais. O Cybertutor foi disponibilizado na plataforma do Projeto Jovem Doutor (http://www.\ud jovemdoutor.org.br/jdr/) pela equipe técnica da DTM/FMUSP. Resultados: o Cybertutor elaborado\ud possibilitou estruturar o conteúdo educacional, gráfico e audiovisual em tópicos, inserir questões de \ud reforço, lista de discussão e verificar o desempenho dos alunos. Conclusão: o AVA desenvolvido \ud pode ser uma importante ferramenta de educação em saúde em Síndromes Genéticas, abrangendo \ud as mais diversas regiões do país.Purpose: to develop a virtual learning environment (VLE) for elementary school students about \ud genetic syndromes. Method: VLE, known as Cybertutor enables student learning through the Internet \ud interactively. The methodology of this study consisted of two stages, the development and availability \ud of the VLE. The development of educational content, graphic and audiovisual Cybertutor’s counted \ud on the help of a geneticist at the HRAC/USP and scientific information available in books, articles, \ud thesis and national and international dissertations. The Cybertutor was available on the platform of \ud the Young Doctor Project (http://www.jovemdoutor.org.br/jdr/) by the technical staff of DTM/FMUSP. \ud Results: elaborated Cybertutor enabled the structure of educational content, graphics and audiovisual \ud topics, to insert reinforcing issues, mailing list and check the performance of students. Conclusion:\ud the VLE developed can be an important tool for health education in Genetic Syndromes, covering \ud various regions of the country.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

INVENTÁRIO DA ARBORIZAÇÃO URBANA DO MUNICÍPIO DE SOCORRO – SP E PROPOSTA DE UM ÍNDICE DE DANOS À INFRA-INFRAESTRUTURA DAS CIDADES

As cidades concentram 80% da população brasileira, muitas vezes de forma inadequada causando grandes problemas. A arborização urbana, quando feito de forma correta atenua alguns efeitos negativos como, poluição sonora, visual, atmosférica e hídrica. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram quantificar e qualificar a vegetação urbana do município de Socorro – SP, sugerindo formas mais adequadas e ecológicas para a arborização urbana e propor uma forma de quantificar as espécies que causam maiores danos ao calçamento e fiação. Foram percorridas todas as ruas e praças do limite urbano do município e registrados todos os indivíduos arbóreos que possuíam no mínimo 50 cm de altura.  Foi criado um índice de danos causado por cada espécie na arborização e proposta uma lista de espécies que podem ser utilizadas na arborização para ruas e praças. Foram encontradas ao todo 6829 árvores, pertencente a 48 famílias, 118 gêneros e 148 espécies. As famílias com maior quantidade de espécies foram Fabaceae e Myrtaceae. As espécies mais freqüentes foram Largestroemia indica L.e Murraya panículata (L.) Jack, 36 espécies causaram algum tipo de dano, sendo Hovenia dulcis Thumb que teve mais alto índice de danos.  A conclusão foi que o município de Socorro precisa de uma grande reestruturação em sua arborização

Effects of the Convention on trade negotiations

peer reviewedThe UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (CDCE) was adopted in 2005 and designed to allow States to protect and promote cultural policies. This book examines the effectiveness of the CDCE and offers ways by which its implementation may be improved to better attain its objectives. The book provides insight in how the normative character of the CDCE may be strengthened through implementation and increasingly recurrent practice based on its provisions. Hailing from various fields of international law, political and social sciences, the book’s contributors work to promote discussions on the practical and legal influence of the CDCE, and to identify opportunities and recommendations for a more effective application. Part One of the book assesses the effectiveness of the CDCE in influencing other areas of international law and the work conducted by other intergovernmental organizations through the recognition of the double nature (cultural and economic) of cultural goods and services. Part Two focuses on the practice of the CDCE beyond the recognition of the specificity of cultural goods and services in international law by addressing the CDCE’s call for greater international cooperation and stronger integration of cultural concerns in development strategies at the national and regional levels. The book will be of great use and interest to academics and practitioners in law, social and political sciences, agents of governmental and international organizations, and cultural sector stakeholders

Building air leakage databases in energy conservation policies: analysis of selected initiatives in 4 European countries and the USA

Fulltext is available at http://tightvent.eu/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/TightVentReport03.pdfWe collected information on existing envelope air leakage databases from countries that are involved in the AIVC-TightVent project “Development and applications of building air leakage databases”. This document summarizes the information from five countries: Czech Republic, France, Germany, UK, and USA. Even though our summary is not exhaustive of all existing data on whole-building envelope air leakage, it provides an overview of recent efforts from a number of countries. There are many reasons why different countries are collecting these data. We will summarize their motivations, which drive some of the differences in the types of data being gathered and how the data are analysed. Detailed information from each country is provided at the end of this document in the form of tables