Pedostratigraphical and geochronological characterization of late Pleistocene to Holocene depositional sequences from the Po Plain: loess and paleosols as paleoseismological markers.

Loess represents one of the main paleoenvironmental archives recording Quaternary environmental changes. This study demonstrates that in Italy, at the Po Plain Loess Basin (PPLB), the most developed loessial sequences are preserved in association with morphotectonic structures, i.e. isolated hills, uplifted terraces and topographic highlands formed due to tectonically-induced drainage diversion. These landforms represent the surface expression of the complex interplay between the Pleistocene climatic changes and the compressional active tectonics which characterize the Po Plain foredeep. Such morphotectonic features, emerging a few meters above the surrounding fluvial plain because their moderate tectonic uplift rates higher than regional denudation/sedimentation rates, acted as sedimentary traps for aeolian sediments and preserved them. Therefore, the preservation of loess-paleosols sequences in correspondence of morphotectonic landforms makes loess a suitable tool to investigate not only the Quaternary climate changes, but also the recent tectonic activity and paleoseismology of the Po Plain. Four key loess-paleosols sequences preserved in setting controlled by active compressional tectonics (Solero, Rivarone, Pecetto di Valenza, AL; Monte Netto, BS) are presented, analysed through an innovative paleoseismological approach, integrating pedostratigraphy/micropedology and OSL/TT-OSL dating to structural analysis that allow to reconstruct the environmental conditions and tectonic activity of the Po Plain

Pedostratigraphical and geochronological characterization of late Pleistocene to Holocene depositional sequences from the Po Plain: loess and paleosols as paleoseismological markers.

Loess represents one of the main paleoenvironmental archives recording Quaternary environmental changes. This study demonstrates that in Italy, at the Po Plain Loess Basin (PPLB), the most developed loessial sequences are preserved in association with morphotectonic structures, i.e. isolated hills, uplifted terraces and topographic highlands formed due to tectonically-induced drainage diversion. These landforms represent the surface expression of the complex interplay between the Pleistocene climatic changes and the compressional active tectonics which characterize the Po Plain foredeep. Such morphotectonic features, emerging a few meters above the surrounding fluvial plain because their moderate tectonic uplift rates higher than regional denudation/sedimentation rates, acted as sedimentary traps for aeolian sediments and preserved them. Therefore, the preservation of loess-paleosols sequences in correspondence of morphotectonic landforms makes loess a suitable tool to investigate not only the Quaternary climate changes, but also the recent tectonic activity and paleoseismology of the Po Plain. Four key loess-paleosols sequences preserved in setting controlled by active compressional tectonics (Solero, Rivarone, Pecetto di Valenza, AL; Monte Netto, BS) are presented, analysed through an innovative paleoseismological approach, integrating pedostratigraphy/micropedology and OSL/TT-OSL dating to structural analysis that allow to reconstruct the environmental conditions and tectonic activity of the Po Plain

Promoting learning practices: moving towards innovation

As many authors have stated, the importance of organizational learning is fundamental in order to gain competitive advantage and survive in a turbulent environment. Many learning models have been studied in recent years. They have been used to analyze practices or aspects of learning in many industries. This paper aims to develop a particular framework in order to understand the determinants for organizational learning, depending on the firm’s general approach towards information and knowledge management. The theoretical framework is derived from Blackler and McDonald’s study, which focused on organizational learning approaches, and from Duncan and Weiss’s work, which studied attitudes towards knowledge management. This is applied to a particular context characterized by a high level of bureaucracy: the Italian banking industry. In particular, the study is conducted on a sample of 54 banks. The empirical analysis is carried out through questionnaires and interviews. Data is analyzed using statistical analysis. Results are shown and empirical implications are discussed, also in order to explain the reasons for the current situation.The past and the future of information systems: 1976-2006 and beyondRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Analysis of Interrelations Between Business Models and Knowledge Management Strategies in Consulting Firms

Knowledge is an important matter for consulting firms - as a resource, as a product or service, and as a trigger for internal value creation processes. Therefore, a strategy for management and utilisation of knowledge in its different state is needed. It is sensible to assume, that this strategy is strongly influenced by a respective consulting firm’s business model. This paper provides an analysis of the interrelation between business model and Knowledge Management strategy. Four determinants are defined to allow a detailed description of different Knowledge Management strategies. Methods and techniques of Knowledge Management are subsumed under these determinants. The use of these methods determine, whether a Knowledge Management strategy is dominated by central or de-central elements. This article describes different types of business models and derives recommendations for corresponding Knowledge Management strategies. Case studies of four Grolik,Kalmring,Lehner,Frigerio KM Strategies in Consulting Firms international consulting firms with different business models and different Knowledge Management strategies are used to validate these recommendations

Efficacia del peer learning sulla capacità di ragionamento diagnostico, sulle capacità decisionali e sulla conoscenza degli studenti di infermieristica: uno studio pilota

Background: Peer learning is an important teaching strategy for nursing students, alongside more tradi-tional approaches, in the development of diagnostic reasoning and critical thinking, leadership, teaching and tutorship skills. Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of peer learning for nursing students in developing knowledge, diagnostic reasoning and decision making skills. Design: Randomized controlled single-centre pilot study. Setting: Degree Course in nursing in Turin, in June 2019. Participants: Nursing students were 113 (intervention group = 68, control group = 45) . Intervention: The peer learning method was used in sessions attended by 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students simultaneously. These students conducted a clinical case study without teacher supervision. Results: The intervention group students (IG) responded better than those of the control group (CG). Statistically significant differences were found in the percentages of correct answers given to questions requiring diagnostic reasoning (p=0.001; p=0.008). Two students of the intervention group were shown to have competence with regard to nursing diagnosis and to be at a higher level in terms of diagnostic rea-soning skills. Conclusion: Better diagnostic reasoning skills were demonstrated by students in the intervention group. There were, however, few items with statistically significant differences in favour of these stu-dents. This could be attributed to the limited available time for the experimentation and to the small number of students on the degree course.. A formal assessment with certification could also enhance the peer learning experience more than a simple training exercise. The fear of teacher's vote could lead students to a better performance Keywords: peer learning, studenti infermieristici, competenza, ragionamento diagnostico, strategie pedagogiche.Introduzione: L’apprendimento tra pari è una strategia didattica importante, insieme a quelle tradizionali, nello sviluppo di competenze di ragionamento diagnostico e pensiero critico, di leadership, di insegnamento e tutorship degli studenti infermieri. Obiettivo: valutare l’efficacia dell’apprendimento tra pari nello sviluppo delle competenze di ragionamento diagnostico, di capacità decisionale e conoscenza degli studenti infermieri. Disegno: Studio randomizzato controllato monocentrico di tipo pilota. Setting: Sede di un Corso di Laurea in Infermieristica di Torino, nel mese di giugno 2019.Partecipanti: 113 studenti infermieri (gruppo di intervento: n=68, gruppo di controllo: n= 45). Intervento: Applicazione dell’apprendimento tra pari in sessioni in cui erano presenti contemporaneamente studenti del primo, secondo e terzo anno. Questi studenti hanno condotto una discussione di un caso clinico senza la supervisione dei docenti. Risultati: Gli studenti del gruppo di intervento (GI) hanno risposto meglio rispetto al controllo (GC); sono state rilevate differenze statisticamente significative rispetto alle percentuali di correttezza delle risposte ai quesiti di ragionamento diagnostico e capacità decisionale (p=0,001; p=0,008). Rispetto alla diagnosi infermieristica, due studenti del gruppo di intervento hanno dimostrato di possedere questo tipo di competenza. Conclusioni: Gli studenti del GI hanno dimostrato competenze di ragionamento diagnostico più elevate. Sono pochi però gli items nei quali sono emerse differenze statisticamente significative a favore degli studenti del GI. Ciò potrebbe essere attribuito al poco tempo a disposizione della sperimentazione e al numero esiguo di studenti coinvolti nello studio. Una valutazione certificativa, e non solo formativa all’esperienza, potrebbe potenziare ulteriormente l’efficacia dell’apprendimento tra pari. Keywords: “peer learning”, “nursing students”, “competence”, “diagnostic reasoning”, “pedagogic strategie

Expression, intracellular targeting and purification of HIV Nef variants in tobacco cells

Background Plants may represent excellent alternatives to classical heterologous protein expression systems, especially for the production of biopharmaceuticals and vaccine components. Modern vaccines are becoming increasingly complex, with the incorporation of multiple antigens. Approaches towards developing an HIV vaccine appear to confirm this, with a combination of candidate antigens. Among these, HIV-Nef is considered a promising target for vaccine development because immune responses directed against this viral protein could help to control the initial steps of viral infection and to reduce viral loads and spreading. Two isoforms of Nef protein can be found in cells: a full-length N-terminal myristoylated form (p27, 27 kDa) and a truncated form (p25, 25 kDa). Here we report the expression and purification of HIV Nef from transgenic tobacco. Results We designed constructs to direct the expression of p25 and p27 Nef to either the cytosol or the secretory pathway. We tested these constructs by transient expression in tobacco protoplasts. Cytosolic Nef polypeptides are correctly synthesised and are stable. The same is not true for Nef polypeptides targeted to the secretory pathway by virtue of a signal peptide. We therefore generated transgenic plants expressing cytosolic, full length or truncated Nef. Expression levels were variable, but in some lines they averaged 0.7% of total soluble proteins. Hexahistidine-tagged Nef was easily purified from transgenic tissue in a one-step procedure. Conclusion We have shown that transient expression can help to rapidly determine the best cellular compartment for accumulation of a recombinant protein. We have successfully expressed HIV Nef polypeptides in the cytosol of transgenic tobacco plants. The proteins can easily be purified from transgenic tissue

Promoting learning practices: moving towards innovation

As many authors have stated, the importance of organizational learning is fundamental in order to gain competitive advantage and survive in a turbulent environment. Many learning models have been studied in recent years. They have been used to analyze practices or aspects of learning in many industries. This paper aims to develop a particular framework in order to understand the determinants for organizational learning, depending on the firm’s general approach towards information and knowledge management. The theoretical framework is derived from Blackler and McDonald’s study, which focused on organizational learning approaches, and from Duncan and Weiss’s work, which studied attitudes towards knowledge management. This is applied to a particular context characterized by a high level of bureaucracy: the Italian banking industry. In particular, the study is conducted on a sample of 54 banks. The empirical analysis is carried out through questionnaires and interviews. Data is analyzed using statistical analysis. Results are shown and empirical implications are discussed, also in order to explain the reasons for the current situation.The past and the future of information systems: 1976-2006 and beyondRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Promoting Learning Practices: Moving Towards Innovation

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Prenatal and childhood exposure to per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and its associations with childhood overweight and/or obesity: a systematic review with meta- analyses

Background. Per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent organic pollutants and suspected endocrine disrupters. Objective. The aim of this work was to conduct a systematic review with meta-analysis to summarise the associations between prenatal or childhood exposure to PFASs and childhood overweight/obesity. Methods. The search was performed on the bibliographic databases PubMed and Embase with text strings containing terms related to prenatal, childhood, overweight, obesity, and PFASs. Only papers describing a biomonitoring study in pregnant women or in children up to 18 years that assessed body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), or fat mass in children were included. When the estimates of the association between a PFAS and an outcome were reported from at least 3 studies, a meta-analysis was conducted; moreover, to correctly compare the studies, we developed a method to convert the different effect estimates and made them comparable each other. Results. In total, 354 and 565 articles were retrieved from PubMed and Embase, respectively, resulting in a total of 613 articles after merging duplicates. The papers included in this systematic review were 31: 18 evaluating prenatal exposure to PFASs, 11 childhood exposure, and 2 both. Overall, results were conflicting, with positive, negative, and null associations. 17 papers were included in meta-analyses (12 prenatal, 3 children, and 2 both). The method implemented for data conversion allowed a suitable comparison of different effect estimates. Meta-analyses evaluating the associations between prenatal exposure to PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and the outcomes BMI, WC, and Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) showed no significant results. Meta-analyses for the associations between childhood exposure to PFASs and the outcomes BMI showed no significant results except for a negative association between PFNA and BMI (pooled estimate from a random effect model: -0.045; 95%CI: -0.087, -0.002), however, more studies are required to confirm the strength of this association. Conclusion. To increase the reliability of meta-analyses in environmental epidemiology we suggest the conversion of effect estimates to compare different studies. The pooled evidence of the meta-analyses of the present study suggests that there is no overall association between exposure to PFASs and childhood overweight/obesity

Photosynthetic antenna size in higher plants is controlled by the plastoquinone redox state at the post-transcriptional rather than transcriptional level.

We analyze the effect of the plastoquinone redox state on the regulation of the light-harvesting antenna size at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. This was approached by studying transcription and accumulation of light-harvesting complexes in wild type versus the barley mutant viridis zb63, which is depleted in photosystem I and where plastoquinone is constitutively reduced. We show that the mRNA level of genes encoding antenna proteins is almost unaffected in the mutant; this stability of messenger level is not a peculiarity of antenna-encoding genes, but it extends to all photosynthesis-related genes. In contrast, analysis of protein accumulation by two-dimensional PAGE shows that the mutant undergoes strong reduction of its antenna size, with individual gene products having different levels of accumulation. We conclude that the plastoquinone redox state plays an important role in the long term regulation of chloroplast protein expression. However, its modulation is active at the post-transcriptional rather than transcriptional level