Modelli virtuali, esperienze reali e pratiche didattiche: qualche riflessione

abstract not availabl

Characterization of a hybrid nano-silica waterborne polyurethane coating for clay bricks

A transparent hybrid organic–inorganic waterborne coating was evaluated for the protection of clay bricks. The nanocomposite film was prepared by combining an environmentally friendly process based on UV-curing of water-based acrylic resins and a mild thermal treatment to form nanosilica in situ from alkoxysilane precursors. Coated and uncoated facing bricks were compared by scanning electron microscopy, surface profilometry, water wettability, and capillary rise tests. The hybrid coatings act as a moderate water repellent; interestingly, no appreciable alteration of the aesthetic properties of the brick was observed, in particular no gloss or color change appeared after the treatment

GULUNAP: A project for teacher education between north Uganda and Italy,

The Project GULUNAP is an educational-scientific collaboration between Naples University “Federico II”, (funded in 1224) and Gulu University (funded in 2002). A Faculty of Medicine has been funded in 2004 to alleviate the local dramatic lack of doctors; the theme of teacher education has been addressed in 2005, via activities in Science Education to help preparing science teacher for Uganda secondary schools. The Science Education collaboration program has started in the Physics Bachelor curriculum. The goal is to help the teachers-to-be to build competences that will allow them to implement good quality class activities, even in the contexts of poor and remote locations. The rationale has been that of compact activities lasting for about 2.5 months, in Spring and Fall 2006. The authors have worked all day long, with about 50 freshmen, integrating presentation and lab-work and implementing a full immersion, peer-learning approach, where the main results of Physics Education Research (PER) have been adapted to the local context. The main aim is to favour a transition from a mnemonic study, using essentially lectures notes, to a learning approach based on active participation, peer learning, critical thinking, comparison between common sense and disciplinary knowledge and taking up of one’s own responsibility. The main features can be summarized as: a) critical analysis of common-robust learning difficulties; b) construction of a personal portfolio; c) lab-work based on low or no cost materials (e.g. hydrostatic via experiments using transparent plastic containers of physiological solution and syringes recycled from the local hospital; harmonic free and dumped oscillations via pendula realized with small unripe fruits and tree bark fibres; passive electric circuits via bulbs/batteries of the local markets; etc..); research based questionnaires. The lack of lab-work is most always attributed to missing traditional and costly apparatuses. To relay on local craftship in wood and recycled metal works in faster school lab-work and links with the local community. Some emblematic experiments and students reaction will also be discussed

Some problems encountered in the introduction of innovations in secondary school science education and suggestions for overcoming them

This paper discusses some problems in innovating in the context of the school system in Catalonia and Italy. The process leading to reform of secondary education is briefly described. The issue of teachers’ interpretations and reactions to the guidelines of reforms and innovations is focused on. For basic science education, two specific innovative teaching proposals about Energy and Motion/ Force are briefly described, together with a study of teachers’ interpretations of their rationale and guidelines. The main transforming trends of these interpretations are discussed: these indicate that since teachers are major actors in the school innovation process, unless they internalise the proposed approaches, no real, successful implementation in classroom practice will take place. Finally, some guidelines and recommendations are suggested, which will interest education policy makers and teacher education agencies.peer-reviewe

Assessing efficiency and innovation in the 3PL industry: an empirical analysis

The Third-party Logistics (3PL) industry is facing both important growth rates and increasing competitive pressure. 3PL providers are required to continuously sustain a more and more competitive cost structure (i.e. efficiency) and develop capabilities to improve their services (i.e. innovation); hence, the evaluation of these key success factors is considered a key issue. This paper develops a quantitative analysis of 71 Italian 3PL providers by using Data Envelopment Analysis to jointly assess efficiency and innovation. Furthermore, through a case study research, it corroborates the quantitative results by investigating the strategies of best-in-class companies. Results allowed identifying 13 3PL providers as efficiency leaders and 6 as leaders from both the efficiency and the innovation side. Their input composition indicates a diversification of the business models. A breakdown of the analysis by size and industry focus, along with empirical evidence on the strategies enhancing efficiency and innovation, is also provided

Hip subluxation in Italian cerebral palsy children and its determinants: a retrospective cohort study

The study's aim was two-fold: to describe the trend of hip subluxation in the largest sample of Italian nonambulatory cerebral palsy (CP) children ever published; to investigate its determinants. This single-centre retrospective cohort study included patients with spastic or dyskinetic CP, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level IV or V, age 0-18 years, having been referred to our unit before March 2020. The hip subluxation was measured by means of the migration percentage (MP). Other data were gathered such as sex, CP subtype, GMFCS level, presence of drug-resistant epilepsy, age, use of walkers with weight relief or standing devices, previous botulinum injection or hip surgery, oral or intrathecal baclofen and hip pain. Multiple linear stepwise regression was performed and descriptive statistics are provided. Spastic CP had MP maximum increase in early ages, with GMFCS level V values persistently higher than level IV. The dyskinetic subtype showed a slower increase of the MP, with GMFCS level IV presenting similar or higher values, compared to level V. Age, CP severity and spastic subtype are the main determinants. The stepwise multiple regression analysis demonstrated that weight relief walking and standing assistive devices, combined with botulinum contributed to reduce the MP progression. Dyskinetic CP showed overall lower MP values and a more variable behaviour relative to age and GMFCS level, compared to the spastic subtype. Standing and walking assistive devices, with partial or total weight relief, combined with individually targeted botulinum injections, should be considered in the management of bilateral nonambulatory CP patients, to prevent hip subluxation or its recurrence after surgery

Patient safety on the press in Italy, a preliminary investigation of the terms and trend

Patient safety is a public concern. In Italy, the wide majority of the citizens (97%) reported that medical errors are an important problem (Eurobarometer 241, 2006), but the proportion of those who reported to have suffered an adverse event (15%) is much below the EU average of 26% (Eurobarometer 3 27, 2010). Then we decided to systematically analyse the terms used on the press to report patient safety incidents and to look at eventual correlations between the trend of terms, catastrophic events occurred, regulations and practices to reduce risks