Combating early school leaving: A qualitative study of compulsory training in Italy

The rate of early school leavers became a benchmark for the European Union in 2008, as part of the strategy to make the EU the world’s most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy by 2010 (Lisbon Agenda). The objective to decrease the average share of early school leavers by at least 10%, and to guarantee a high number of 22 year-olds who have completed their secondary education, stated in 2008 during the Lisbon Council was re-confirmed in the Europe 2020 Strategy, when it was used as a proxy for social inclusion. The scientific literature on the subject shows how the phenomenon of early school leaving is influenced by education-related factors, individual circumstances and socio-economic conditions. To date, research studies have focused on the characteristics of dropouts or the characteristics of their schools. However, relatively few qualitative studies on the phenomenon in a specific setting have been carried out. The paper presents a small-scale qualitative study based on the concept of “Dropout Factories” (Balfanz, Letgers 2004). Our study founds as the Local Community Dropout Factories influences the translation process (Czarniawska, Joerges 1996) of the regulations dedicated to combating early school leaving, without hindering their positive effect, and increases the risk of becoming dropouts: this seems to have been confirmed by the presence of not-at-risk young people within the group of dropouts

The neuropeptide systems and their potential role in the treatment of mammalian retinal ischemia: a developing story

The multiplicity of peptidergic receptors and of the transduction pathways they activate offers the possibility of important advances in the development of specific drugs for clinical treatment of central nervous system disorders. Among them, retinal ischemia is a common clinical entity and, due to relatively ineffective treatment, remains a common cause of visual impairment and blindness. Ischemia is a primary cause of neuronal death, and it can be considered as a sort of final common pathway in retinal diseases leading to irreversible morphological damage and vision loss. Neuropeptides and their receptors are widely expressed in mammalian retinas, where they exert multifaceted functions both during development and in the mature animal. In particular, in recent years somatostatin and pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide have been reported to be highly protective against retinal cell death caused by ischemia, while data on opioid peptides, angiotensin II, and other peptides have also been published. This review provides a rationale for harnessing the peptidergic receptors as a potential target against retinal neuronal damages which occur during ischemic retinopathies

An update on somatostatin receptor signaling in native systems and new insights on their pathophysiology

The peptide somatostatin (SRIF) has important physiological effects (mostly inhibitory) which have formed the basis for the clinical use of SRIF compounds. SRIF binding to its five G-protein coupled receptors leads to the modulation of multiple transduction pathways. However, our current understanding of signalling exerted by receptors endogenously expressed in different cells/tissues reflects a rather complicated picture. On the other hand, the complexity of SRIF receptor signalling in pathologies, including pituitary and nervous system diseases, may be studied not only as alternative intervention points for the modulation of SRIF function but also to exploit new chemical space for drug-like molecules.L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore http://www.sciencedirect.com

Jacking Pits in Boston’s Central Artery Project

The jacking of the largest concrete tunnels ever built in the United States required the construction of jacking pits of unusual dimensions and requirements. The location of the pits posed the additional challenge of difficult ground conditions, since the bottom of the pits was in the Boston blue clay. The pits had to have an unsupported span of over 40 feet to accommodate the dimensions of the tunnel, have a solid base to carry the weight of the sections being built and provide lateral resistance to the thrust of the jacks. Treviicos met those challenges by constructing a four feet thick, post-tensioned slurry walls capable of spanning 55 feet without intermediate support and by creating a thirty feet thick jet grouted mass below the sub-grade which had the double function of contrasting the wall at its toe as well as providing a more competent foundation for the jacking operation

Recent advances in cellular and molecular aspects of mammalian retinal ischemia

Retinal ischemia is a common clinical entity and, due to relatively ineffective treatment, remains a common cause of visual impairment and blindness. Generally, ischemic syndromes are initially characterized by low homeostatic responses which, with time, induce injury to the tissue due to cell loss by apoptosis. In this respect, retinal ischemia is a primary cause of neuronal death. It can be considered as a sort of final common pathway in retinal diseases and results in irreversible morphological and functional changes. This review summarizes the recent knowledge on the effects of ischemia in retinal tissue and points out experimental strategies/models performed to gain better comprehension of retinal ischemia diseases. In particular, the nature of the mechanisms leading to neuronal damage (i.e., excess of glutamate release, oxidative stress and inflammation) will be outlined as well as the potential and most intriguing retinoprotective approaches and the possible therapeutic use of naturally occurring molecules such as neuropeptides. There is a general agreement that a better understanding of the fundamental pathophysiology of retinal ischemia will lead to better management and improved clinical outcome. In this respect, to contrast this pathological state, specific pharmacological strategies need to be developed aimed at the many putative cascades generated during ischemia

Multiple Signalling Transduction Mechanisms Differentially Coupled to Somatostatin Receptor Subtypes: a Current View.

Somatostatin (SRIF) is a cyclic peptide widely distributed throughout the body with important physiological effects (mostly inhibitory) on several organ systems. SRIF may act as a neurohormone, neurotransmitter, neuromodulator or as a local factor, and exhibits potent antiproliferative activity. SRIF effects have formed the basis for the clinical use of SRIF analogues in the treatment of endocrine tumours, acromegaly and gastrointestinal disorders. Several data suggest that SRIF may also be a therapeutic target in a number of different diseases. The binding of SRIF to its five G-protein coupled receptors leads to modulation of multiple transduction pathways, including adenylyl cyclase, guanylyl cyclase, phospholipase C, K+ and Ca2+ channels, phospholipase A2, nitric oxide, Na+/H+ exchanger, protein phosphatases and MAP kinases. The diversity of the transduction pathways reflects the pleiotropic actions of SRIF. However, our current understanding depicts a rather complicated picture and conflicting results have also been reported. Data are mostly based on in vitro experiments, and parallels with the real in vivo conditions are not so obvious. Due to the clinical relevance of the SRIF system, the elucidation of the intracellular role of endogenous SRIF receptors may offer new therapeutic perspectives. These will enable development of specific pharmacological signalling modulators which can be incorporated into the therapeutic arsenal. The present review represents a detailed and exhaustive summary which covers the latest advances in the transduction pathways of SRIF receptors.L'articolo è disponibile sul sito dell'editore http://www.benthamscience.com/index.ht