L'istruzione è sempre più rosa. La conferma delle migliori performances scolastiche delle ragazze: un'indagine in provincia di Pisa

Dalla fine del XIX secolo le ragazze italiane hanno progressivamente ridotto la distanza dai ragazzi per quanto riguarda l'istruzione. Attualmente terminano in tempo l'intero ciclo della scuola secondaria, senza interruzioni o ritardi, molto più frequentemente dei ragazzi. Attraverso l'applicazione di un modello logistico si sono studiate le performanes scolastiche della coorte di iscritti nel 2005 alle scuole secondarie di primo gradoo della provincia di Pisa, seguita fino alcompletamento dell'intero ciclo secondario nel 2013. Il risultato scolstico (successo, fallimento) è stato messo in funzione di una serie di predittori quali il sesso, la cittadinanza, il giudizio al termine della secondria di primo grado, tipo di scuola e titolo di studio dei genitori. I risultati mostrano chiaramente come le ragazze abbiano una propensione ad una carriera di successo sensibilmente maggiore (89% più alta di quella dei ragazzi

Il quartiere stazione di Pisa fra trasformazione e conflitto

The city of Pisa (Italy) has experienced in the last decade a high level of migration from countries of Northern and Central Africa, Eastern Europe and China. As often happens , the migrants of different ethnic groups are located in the neighborhood around the train station, both as regards the commercial activities and the housing. In addition, several areas of the district are used by migrants as a meeting place. From the point of view of the urban landscape, the district has experienced considerable demographic and visual transformations, which are an indication of conflict and the level of integration of migrants among themselves and with Italians residents. This article aims to show, in a diachronic perspective, the changes in the urban landscape occurred in the neighborhood and the elements of conflict that results, among other elements, from the analysisof the ordinances of the police recently posted in the district.

Comunicazione in famiglia e processi di integrazione

L'analisi sulle competenze linguistiche degli immigrati qui riportata si basa sull'indagine multiscopo "Condizioni e integrazione sociale degli stranieri in Italia, 2011-2012" condotta da Istat e Ministero dell'Interno. In particolare si è distinta la popolazione immigrata in Italia sulla base della "lingua parlata in famiglia", come presupposto del livello di integrazione effettivamente conseguito dagli stranieri in un paese ospitante. Sotto questo profilo, allora, già da questa prima analisi emerge come per la sottopopolazione parlante italiano in famiglia a la lingua citaliana non sia un semplice veicolo di comunicazione -a differenza di chi parla italiano solo al di fuori dell'ambito familiare ma al suo interno usa la lingua del paese di origine- bensì un passo sostanziale per la costruzione ed il "transfert" del senso di appartenenza ad una identità nazional

Il quartiere stazione di Pisa fra trasformazione e conflitto

Abstract – The city of Pisa (Italy) has experienced in the last decade a high level of migration from countries of Northern and Central Africa, Eastern Europe and China. As often happens, the migrants of different ethnic groups are located in the neighborhood around the train station, both as regards the commercial activities and the housing. In addition, several areas of the district are used by migrants as a meeting place. From the point of view of the urban landscape, the district has experienced considerable demographic and visual transformations, which are an indication of conflict and the level of integration of migrants among themselves and with Italians residents. This article aims to show, in a diachronic perspective, the changes in the urban landscape occurred in the neighborhood and the elements of conflict that results, among other elements, from the analysis of the ordinances of the police recently posted in the district

Assessment of three Resistance-Nodulation-Cell Division drug efflux transporters of Burkholderia cenocepacia in intrinsic antibiotic resistance

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Burkholderia cenocepacia </it>are opportunistic Gram-negative bacteria that can cause chronic pulmonary infections in patients with cystic fibrosis. These bacteria demonstrate a high-level of intrinsic antibiotic resistance to most clinically useful antibiotics complicating treatment. We previously identified 14 genes encoding putative Resistance-Nodulation-Cell Division (RND) efflux pumps in the genome of <it>B. cenocepacia </it>J2315, but the contribution of these pumps to the intrinsic drug resistance of this bacterium remains unclear.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To investigate the contribution of efflux pumps to intrinsic drug resistance of <it>B. cenocepacia </it>J2315, we deleted 3 operons encoding the putative RND transporters RND-1, RND-3, and RND-4 containing the genes <it>BCAS0591</it>-<it>BCAS0593</it>, <it>BCAL1674</it>-<it>BCAL1676</it>, and <it>BCAL2822</it>-<it>BCAL2820</it>. Each deletion included the genes encoding the RND transporter itself and those encoding predicted periplasmic proteins and outer membrane pores. In addition, the deletion of <it>rnd-3 </it>also included <it>BCAL1672</it>, encoding a putative TetR regulator. The <it>B. cenocepacia rnd-3 </it>and <it>rnd-4 </it>mutants demonstrated increased sensitivity to inhibitory compounds, suggesting an involvement of these proteins in drug resistance. Moreover, the <it>rnd-3 </it>and <it>rnd-4 </it>mutants demonstrated reduced accumulation of N-acyl homoserine lactones in the growth medium. In contrast, deletion of the <it>rnd-1 </it>operon had no detectable phenotypes under the conditions assayed.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Two of the three inactivated RND efflux pumps in <it>B. cenocepacia </it>J2315 contribute to the high level of intrinsic resistance of this strain to some antibiotics and other inhibitory compounds. Furthermore, these efflux systems also mediate accumulation in the growth medium of quorum sensing molecules that have been shown to contribute to infection. A systematic study of RND efflux systems in <it>B. cenocepacia </it>is required to provide a full picture of intrinsic antibiotic resistance in this opportunistic bacterium.</p

Abnormal Glucose Tolerance Is Associated with a Reduced Myocardial Metabolic Flexibility in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is characterized by a metabolic shift from fat to carbohydrates and failure to increase myocardial glucose uptake in response to workload increments. We verified whether this pattern is influenced by an abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT). In 10 patients with DCM, 5 with normal glucose tolerance (DCM-NGT) and 5 with AGT (DCM-AGT), and 5 non-DCM subjects with AGT (N-AGT), we measured coronary blood flow and arteriovenous differences of oxygen and metabolites during Rest, Pacing (at 130 b/min), and Recovery. Myocardial lactate exchange and oleate oxidation were also measured. At Rest, DCM patients showed a reduced nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) myocardial uptake, while glucose utilization increased only in DCM-AGT. In response to Pacing, glucose uptake promptly rose in N-AGT (from 72 ± 21 to 234 ± 73 nmol/min/g, p<0.05), did not change in DCM-AGT, and slowly increased in DCM-NGT. DCM-AGT sustained the extra workload by increasing NEFA oxidation (from 1.3 ± 0.2 to 2.9 ± 0.1 mol/min/gO2 equivalents, p<0.05), while DCM-NGT showed a delayed increase in glucose uptake. Substrate oxidation rates paralleled the metabolites data. The presence of AGT in patients with DCM exacerbates both the shift from fat to carbohydrates in resting myocardial metabolism and the reduced myocardial metabolic flexibility in response to an increased workload. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrial.gov NCT02440217

Rendimento a scuola: quanto penalizza essere stranieri? Un’indagine nella provincia di Pisa

I grandi flussi di immigrazione iniziati dopo gli anni ottanta stanno trasformando l’Italia in una società multietnica. Nell’attuale fase storica in cui, a causa della persistente crisi economica e dei conflitti internazionali, l’intolleranza e l’integralismo stanno aumentando è prioritario promuovere un’efficace interazione tra differenti culture, in un quadro di reciproco rispetto. In questa prospettiva, la scuola può giocare un ruolo fondamentale contrastando le discriminazioni contro i nati stranieri, attraverso il contenimento delle disuguaglianze nell’istruzione, come premessa per ridurre le frustrazioni e l’emarginazione ed alimentare un’armonia sociale e culturale

FEED BUNK HEIGHT IMPACT ON DAIRY COW'S FRONT CLAWS. IMPACTO DA ALTURA DO COMEDOURO NAS PATAS DIANTEIRAS DE VACAS LEITEIRAS.

ABSTRACTClaw horn lesions are believed to develop from increased pedal bone mobility induced by changes in the corium tissue. During the planning of barns herd owners are faced with choices of materials and dimensions, as well as feed bunk heights. Among the causes that may lead to front claw injuries there is the height of the feed bunk, as the cow changes its postural behavior in order to reach the food. This research aimed to study the dairy cows' front claws force exerted during eating for determiningthe lesion risk factor of the feed bunk height. Eight dairy cows were placed in front of the feed bunk, their front claws stepped on the pressure assessment system, and the forces exerted on front claws due to the eating postural change were recorded. The mean pressure, the maximum pressure, the floor contact area, and the mean force per region were calculated. While the cow was eating, the highest mean pressure shifted slightly towards the sole. In the lateral claw the maximum pressurewas also shifted slightly towards the toe. No difference was found in the variables analyzed for both lateral and medial sides, as well for the force distribution in the left and right claws. Results of this experiment were not conclusive, not allowing explaining either laminitis or the corkscrew deformity as a result of the force exerted in the claws by means of height of the feed bunk being a risk factor.Keywords: lameness, animal welfare, feed bunk design