Scuole in azione. Nuovi protagonisti della rigenerazione urbana a base culturale ed educativa

Dopo essere stata trascurata per lungo tempo, la relazione tra scuole e città è tornata al centro del dibattito pubblico e scientifico nell’ottica della rigenerazione urbana. Tale rinnovato interesse è stato attivato dalle urgenti necessità di ripensare il sistema degli spazi per l’istruzione nell’ottica di garantire una maggior sicurezza durante la pandemia, ma, ancor prima del 2020, dall’esigenza di ripensare gli standard urbanistici e di contrastare le povertà educative che si concentrano soprattutto nelle periferie. Sebbene la relazione scuole/città venga ancora trattata nelle politiche urbane prevalentemente in relazione agli aspetti infrastrutturali, all’interno del frammentato quadro delle politiche urbane italiane dell’ultimo decennio sono emerse nuove azioni integrate promosse dalla Direzione Generale Creatività Contemporanea del Ministero della Cultura indirizzate a rigenerare le periferie attraverso la cultura e alcune di queste iniziative coinvolgono in modo diretto le istituzioni scolastiche, non trattando solo la dimensione materiale delle questioni. La tesi prende in esame una di queste iniziative, Scuola attiva la cultura, approfondisce le idee sottese al disegno di policy ed evidenzia come esse si connettano sia ai fenomeni che favoriscono la costruzione di alleanze tra le istituzioni scolastiche e il territorio, sia alla sempre maggior consapevolezza di come la città possa essere un ambiente di apprendimento. In particolare, la ricerca analizza i processi di implementazione di due progetti finanziati all’interno dell’iniziativa Scuola attiva la cultura promossi da istituzioni scolastiche di secondo grado a Padova e a Lecce. L’analisi tende a comprendere da un lato come i concetti chiave dell’iniziativa nazionale vengano interpretati nei contesti locali, e dall’altro a rilevare i meccanismi che contribuiscono alla rigenerazione urbana dei quartieri in stato di bisogno. Infine la ricerca si interroga se e in che modo tali progettualità si relazionano con gli strumenti tradizionali di governo del territorio e con i processi di pianificazione. La ricerca adotta la metodologia della collezione dei casi di studio selezionati in quanto significativi di alcuni aspetti specifici di policy con lo scopo di aumentare la comprensione dei processi e la validità delle interpretazioni. Le tecniche di indagine utilizzate sono di tipo qualitativo e l'attività di ricerca tende al trespassing sconfinando in alcune occasioni nell’ambito disciplinare della pedagogia per cercare una migliore spiegazione dei processi. La tesi riflette a fondo anche sul posizionamento di campo del ricercatore nel corso delle fasi di indagine con una tensione verso l'equilibrio tra coinvolgimento e distacco. La tesi contribuisce alla riflessione sui processi di rigenerazione urbana nei quartieri in cui si addensano problemi di deprivazione socioeconomica e culturale, suggerisce alcuni fattori utili per lo sviluppo di azioni integrate che fanno leva sulla cultura e l’educazione, e propone infine alcune traiettorie di indagine per futuri approfondimenti

The Effect of Physical Activity Interventions Carried Out in Outdoor Natural Blue and Green Spaces on Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review

In the last few years, interest about the natural environment and its influences on health conditions has been growing. In particular, physical activity interventions carried out in blue and green environment are being investigated as a potential strategy to increase health outcomes in people with and without chronic conditions. Many recent studies reported positive results, but a high number of these studies were focused on people with mental or physical disorders. In this scenario, the present systematic review, conducted according to the PRISMA statement, was aimed at investigating the existing evidence regarding the effects of physical activity interventions carried out in green-blue space settings involving healthy people. A literature search was performed through PubMed, Cochrane, Cinahl, and Psychinfo, and the quality of each study was assessed. Out of 239 identified articles, 75 full texts were screened. Six eligible studies showed an improvement in health outcomes, such as well-being, mood, and physical performance, in the experimental group compared with the control group. No exhaustive conclusion can be drawn based on available evidence. However, this systematic review highlighted the need to extend this kind of intervention to reveal more robust evidence that green and blue exercises benefit health

Maturity Related Differences in Body Composition Assessed by Classic and Specific Bioimpedance Vector Analysis among Male Elite Youth Soccer Players

The aim of this study was to analyze the efficiency of classic and specific bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) in the assessment of maturity related differences in body composition among male elite youth soccer players, and to provide bioelectrical impedance reference data for this category. A group of 178 players (aged 12.1 ± 1.6 years) were registered in a professional Italian soccer team participating in the first division (Serie A). They were divided into three groups according to their maturity status while bioelectrical resistance and reactance were obtained. The classic and specific BIVA procedures were applied, which correct bioelectrical values for body height and body geometry, respectively. Percentage of fat mass (FM%) and total body water (TBW (L)) were estimated from bioelectrical values. Age-specific z-scores of the predicted age at peak height velocity identified 29 players as earlier-, 126 as on time-, and 23 as later-maturing. TBW was higher (p < 0.01) in adolescents classified as “early” maturity status compared to the other two groups and classic BIVA confirmed these results. Conversely, no differences in FM% were found among the groups. Specific vector length showed a higher correlation (r = 0.748) with FM% compared with the classic approach (r = 0.493). Classic vector length showed a stronger association (r = −0.955) with TBW compared with specific (r = −0.263). Specific BIVA turns out to be accurate for the analysis of FM% in athletes, while classic BIVA shows to be a valid approach to evaluate TBW. An original data set of bioelectric impedance reference values of male elite youth soccer players was provide

Effects of Eight-Week Circuit Training with Core Exercises on Performance in Adult Male Soccer Players

Core exercises have been widely promoted in the last 25 years. However, the scientific debate about its efficacy for improving individual and team sports performance is still open. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the effects of circuit training with a core exercise program on physical performance in competitive amateur soccer players. The training was conducted during the off-season period, two times per week for 8 weeks. Pre- and post-evaluations were conducted using the following tests: Y-Balance Test (YB), standing long jump (SLJ), medicine ball chest press (MBC), curl-up (CU), and Illinois Agility Test (IAT). A total of 19 adults were divided into an experimental group (EG, n = 11, age 22 years, weight 71.2 ± 4.8 kg, height 174 ± 5.8 cm) and a control group (CG, n = 8, age 22 years, weight 73.2 ± 4.1 Kg, height 176 ± 6.3 cm). The EG showed significant improvements in lower and upper body strength, core endurance and balance, whereas the CG did not report significant changes in the pre- and post-test comparison. Despite study limitations, our positive results show that circuit training with core exercises appears to be a good strategy for performance improvement in adult soccer player

Le reti di solidariet\ue0 urbana come antidoto per le epidemie globali

Urban solidarity networks as antidote for global epidemics. \u2013 The Covid-19 emergency leads us to reflect upon the issues related to the unpredicta-bility and exceptionality of the phenomenon, introducing new reforms that are in stark contrast with the practices of local contexts. In this sce-nario the city can become the place where the \u201cmetabolization\u201d of crisis phenomena takes place through widespread forms of adaptation. The study aims to analyze the practices that are being experimented in this period in order to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. We speak of tactics aimed at building networks of urban solidarity, guaranteeing subsistence services to citizens and promoting practices of mutualism and collaboration aimed at codifying new forms of social capital. Through solidarity networks examples, the research highlights how forms of active territoriality can contribute to the resilience of the urban system in times of crisis

Electrochemical behavior of Inhcf in alkali metal electrolytes

The paper characterizes electrochemical properties of indium hexacyanoferrates (Inhcf). The cyclic voltammetric response in the presence of different metal alkali cations of divalent cations and of hydronium has been investigated. The Inhcf can exchange reversibly with all of these cations. This feature makes the Inhcf a good candidate for many electrochemical applications where a source or sink of metal cations is needed, e.g., electrochromic and energy storage devices. A prototype electrochromic system based on an Inhcf and Cohcf couple has been assembled and tested

Effects of a 12-Week Suspension versus Traditional Resistance Training Program on Body Composition, Bioimpedance Vector Patterns, and Handgrip Strength in Older Men: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This investigation aimed to compare the effects of suspension training versus traditional resistance exercise using a combination of bands and bodyweight on body composition, bioimpedance vector patterns, and handgrip strength in older men. Thirty-six older men (age 67.4 ± 5.1 years, BMI 27.1 ± 3.3 kg/m2) were randomly allocated into suspension training (n = 12), traditional training (n = 13), or non-exercise (n = 11) groups over a 12-week study period. Body composition was assessed using conventional bioelectrical impedance analysis and classic and specific bioelectric impedance vector analysis, and handgrip strength was measured with a dynamometer. Results showed a significant (p < 0.05) group by time interaction for fat mass, fat-free mass, total body water, skeletal muscle index, classic and specific bioelectrical resistance, classic bioelectrical reactance, phase angle, and dominant handgrip strength. Classic and specific vector displacements from baseline to post 12 weeks for the three groups were observed. Handgrip strength increased in the suspension training group (p < 0.01, ES: 1.50), remained stable in the traditional training group, and decreased in the control group (p < 0.01, ES: -0.86). Although bodyweight and elastic band training helps to prevent a decline in muscle mass and handgrip strength, suspension training proved more effective in counteracting the effects of aging in older men under the specific conditions studied

Atrial natriuretic factor in essential hypertension : echocardiographic and humoral correlates

Aim of this study was to assess the relationship between plasma concentration of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and its two-dimensional echocardiographic (left ventricular mass, left atrium diameter) and humoral (plasma renin and aldosterone) variables in essential hypertension (EH). We evaluated 32 patients with uncomplicated mild to moderate EH and 10 controls. They were studied in the supine position after 7 days of constant dietary sodium intake and were off therapy since at least 3 weeks. ANF values overlapped between EH patients and controls (27.8 +/- 11.5 vs. 19.5 +/- 7.4 pg/ml, p = NS). In EH, no significant correlation was found between ANF values and left ventricular mass (r = 0.29), left atrial diameter (r = 0.04), mean arterial blood pressure (r = 0.26), plasma renin activity (r = 0.00), and aldosterone (r = 0.26). In EH, ANF values overlapped between the 15 patients with hypertrophy and the 17 patients with normal ventricular mass: 30.3 +/- 17 vs. 25.6 +/- 10.6 pg/ms (p = NS). We conclude that there is a substantial overlap in plasma ANF values between mild to moderate uncomplicated EH and controls, and left ventricular hypertrophy is not a major independent stimulus to ANF release in EH

Galactosylated Prodrugs: A Strategy to Improve the Profile of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Carbohydrates are one of the most abundant and important classes of biomolecules. The variety in their structures makes them valuable carriers that can improve the pharmaceutical phase, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of well-known drugs. D-galactose is a simple, naturally occurring monosaccharide sugar that has been extensively studied for use as a carrier and has proven to be valuable in this role. With the aim of validating the galactose-prodrug approach, we have investigated the galactosylated prodrugs ibuprofen, ketoprofen, flurbiprofen and indomethacin, which we have named IbuGAL, OkyGAL, FluGAL and IndoGAL, respectively. Their physicochemical profiles in terms of lipophilicity, solubility and chemical stability have been evaluated at different physiological pH values, as have human serum stability and serum protein binding. Ex vivo intestinal permeation experiments were performed to provide preliminary insights into the oral bioavailability of the galactosylated prodrugs. Finally, their anti-inflammatory, analgesic and ulcerogenic activities were investigated in vivo in mice after oral treatment. The present results, taken together with those of previous studies, undoubtedly validate the galactosylated prodrug strategy as a problem-solving technique that can overcome the disadvantages of NSAIDs