Perché Feuerstein nel 21 secolo è ancora importante: per migliorare le abilità di pensiero e l’educazione inclusiva – Riflessioni in occasione del centenario dalla nascita

Although Feuerstein’s theory of Structural Cognitive Modifiability and Mediated Learning Experience and its applied systems Learning Propensity Assessment and Instrumental Enrichment are already 70 years old, and do not have modern 21st century looks, Feuerstein’s approach remains highly relevant for the needs of teachers and learners in our times: inclusive education, the need to attend to a diversity of pupils at school, increasing numbers of children with learning or behaviour difficulties, ADHD or otherwise, the increasing digitalisation of society, the loss of social cohesion. These are hard challenges for teachers. This article starts making a critical cultural-historical reflection on the so-called “21st century cognitive challenges” and of characteristics of the Feuerstein programme. Then three case studies are presented were LPAD followed by a cognitive-mediational intervention made a turning point in their educational trajectory: a child and an adolescent with Down syndrome, and a recent African immigrant. The case studies underpin a further reflection why the Feuerstein approach offers a suitable answer to the discussed challenges.Benché le teorie di Feuerstein (la Modificabilità Cognitiva Strutturale e l’Esperienza di Apprendimento Mediato) e i relativi sistemi applicativi (la valutazione della propensione all’apprendimento LPAD e il Programma di Arricchimento Strumentale) abbiano già 70 anni, e non abbiano un’apparenza “moderna” in linea coi dettami del XXI secolo, essi sono ancora importanti per indirizzare i bisogni di insegnanti e studenti. Da un lato essi rispondono alle necessità di un’educazione inclusiva, sapendo accompagnare gli studenti nella loro diversità, in contesti educativi che vedono numeri crescenti di discenti con difficoltà di apprendimento o comportamentali, a volte affetti da iperattività o altre patologie. Dall’altro lato essi rispondono ai bisogni delle nostre società sempre più digitalizzate, e alla mancanza di coesione sociale. Il contributo intende indirizzare queste sfide appena evidenziate; si inizia con una riflessione critica e storico-culturale sulle “sfide cognitive del 21 secolo” e sul metodo Feuerstein. Successivamente si illustrano tre casi di studio dove la valutazione LPAD e il successivo intervento di mediazione cognitiva hanno rappresentato un punto di svolta nella traiettoria educativa dei discenti (un bambino e un adolescente con sindrome di Down, e un adolescente immigrato recentemente dall’Africa). Questi tre casi di studio offrono una base ulteriore per una riflessione su come il Feuerstein si proponga come risposta alle sfide mostrate sopra

Education for all- Inclusive education

Education for all is the slogan of UNESCO. During the last decades a worldwide movement towards inclusive education is taken place. The idea is to make the school accessible to all children, whatever their differences or background. Not only accessible but also to give every child, together with its peers, a good education. Inclusive education also means that children with special needs and/or disability are integrated into regular education settings. Article 24 of the 2006 United Nations Convention on the rights of people with disability states that children with a disability have the right to be educated in regular school settings together with non-disabled peers, and that governments should take measures to grant them that right. A number of countries have adapted their laws to make education more inclusive. But practice is lagging behind policies: teachers hardly know how to deal with the diversity of student´s needs and performance levels and there are many organizational gaps

The use of the international classification of functioning, disability and health in primary care: Findings of exploratory implementation throughout life

__Purpose:__ The International Classification of Functioning (ICF) has found widespread acceptance since it was launched in 2001. Yet, little is known about its use in Primary Care. This paper aims to contribute to the dialogue about the practical use of the ICF by exploring how this framework constitutes a supplementary source to inform disability-related decision making in integrated Primary Care. __Method:__ The implementation process of the ICF in a Latin American Primary Care and Community-Based Rehabilitation setting is described and the ICF diagram is applied to a life story as an example of its current use. Participant observation, in-depth study of reports of team meetings and the review of clinical files are the main data collection methods. Data analysis is enabled by the combination of single-case study with theory testing, which facilitates the generation of hypotheses in this exploratory study. __Results:__ A valuable time component of the ICF may support continuity in Primary Care and the universal application of the ICF framework can promote comprehensiveness by integrating individual rehabilitation and collective disability prevention. A way to mitigate the perceived dominance of biomedical disease and deficiency thinking is proposed in order to encourage the biopsychosocial focus of Primary Care. Finally, the implementation of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) in the health condition domain of the ICF highlights the importance of social responsibility towards disability. __Conclusion:__ This study suggests that a creative implementation of the ICF during life course to everyone who uses universally accessible healthcare may strengthen the integrative functions of Primary Care, and may be at the heart of the information system of this essential part of the healthcare system. Further research on the complementary use of ICF and ICD-10 is suggested in order to support community-based multisectoral intervention which may be coordinated by Primary Care

Re-assessing the Current Assessment Practices of Children with Special Education Needs in Europe

Introduces the study developed countries that comprise the project DAFFODIL about assessment practices used frequently with children and young people with special educational needs. Apresenta o estudo desenvolvido nos países que integram o projecto DAFFODIL acerca das práticas de avaliação mais frequentes com crianças e jovens com necessidades educativas especiais

Food supplements to mitigate detrimental effects of pelvic radiotherapy

Pelvic radiotherapy has been frequently reported to cause acute and late onset gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although the underlying mechanisms of pelvic radiation-induced GI toxicity are poorly understood, they are known to involve a complex interplay between all cell types comprising the intestinal wall. Furthermore, increasing evidence states that the human gut microbiome plays a role in the development of radiation-induced health damaging effects. Gut microbial dysbiosis leads to diarrhea and fatigue in half of the patients. As a result, reinforcement of the microbiome has become a hot topic in various medical disciplines. To counteract GI radiotoxicities, apart from traditional pharmacological compounds, adjuvant therapies are being developed including food supplements like vitamins, prebiotics, and probiotics. Despite the easy, cheap, safe, and feasible approach to protect patients against acute radiation-induced toxicity, clinical trials have yielded contradictory results. In this review, a detailed overview is given of the various clinical, intestinal manifestations after pelvic irradiation as well as the role of the gut microbiome herein. Furthermore, whilst discussing possible strategies to prevent these symptoms, food supplements are presented as auspicious, prophylactic, and therapeutic options to mitigate acute pelvic radiation-induced GI injury by exploring their molecular mechanisms of action

High mannose-specific lectin Msl mediates key interactions of the vaginal Lactobacillus plantarum isolate CMPG5300

To characterize the interaction potential of the human vaginal isolate Lactobacillus plantarum CMPG5300, its genome was mined for genes encoding lectin-like proteins. cmpg5300.05_29 was identified as the gene encoding a putative mannose-binding lectin. Phenotypic analysis of a gene knock-out mutant of cmpg5300.05_29 showed that expression of this gene is important for auto-aggregation, adhesion to the vaginal epithelial cells, biofilm formation and binding to mannosylated glycans. Purification of the predicted lectin domain of Cmpg5300.05_29 and characterization of its sugar binding capacity confirmed the specificity of the lectin for high-mannose glycans. Therefore, we renamed Cmpg5300.05_29 as a mannose-specific lectin (Msl). The purified lectin domain of Msl could efficiently bind to HIV-1 glycoprotein gp120 and Candida albicans, and showed an inhibitory activity against biofilm formation of uropathogenic Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella Typhimurium. Thus, using a combination of molecular lectin characterization and functional assays, we could show that lectin-sugar interactions play a key role in host and pathogen interactions of a prototype isolate of the vaginal Lactobacillus microbiota

Trabajadoras del sector de la limpieza : precariedad en el empleo, desigualdades temporales y división sexual del trabajo

A partir de los resultados de un estudio cualitativo efectuado en distintos centros de trabajo belgas, este artículo muestra la importancia que tienen las desigualdades de género dentro del sector de la limpieza, analizando al mismo tiempo su dinámica específica en el ámbito de los regímenes de trabajo, de las modalidades concretas de organización de tareas y de la gestión de la mano de obra. El artículo pone en evidencia que el empleo de mujeres en el sector de la limpieza refleja los efectos de una doble segregación. En primer lugar, la segregación derivada de las condiciones específicas de subordinación que caracterizan al trabajo de limpieza efectuado - cada vez más - en el marco de relaciones de subcontratación. En segundo lugar, aquella que se desprende de las tensiones, padecidas especialmente por las mujeres, entre regímenes y horarios de trabajo no negociables - trabajo a tiempo parcial no elegido voluntariamente, jornadas partidas de trabajo y con horarios desincronizados - y obligaciones de la vida privada.A partir dos resultados de um estudo qualitativo conduzido em diversos locais de actuação de empresas do sector das limpezas na Bélgica, este artigo mostra a importância das desigualdades de género no sector e decompõe os mecanismos inerentes aos regimes de trabalho e às modalidades específicas de organização do trabalho e de gestão da mão-de-obra. Este estudo coloca também em evidência o facto de o emprego das mulheres neste tipo de actividade registar os efeitos de uma dupla segregação : antes de mais, uma segregação que se reporta às condições particulares de subordinação que caracterizam o trabalho de limpeza, cada vez mais exercido no quadro de relações de subcontratação e, depois, uma segregação decorrente de tensões que afectam mais particularmente as mulheres, entre regimes e horários de trabalho não negociáveis – trabalho a tempo parcial imposto e horários segmentados e dessincronizados – e os constrangimentos da vida privada.Au départ des résultats d’une étude qualitative menée dans plusieurs chantiers de nettoyage en Belgique, cet article montre l’importance des inégalités de genre dans le secteur et en décompose les mécanismes, propres aux régimes de travail et aux modalités spécifiques de l’organisation du travail et du management de la main d’œuvre. Il met en évidence que l’emploi des femmes dans le nettoyage enregistre les effets d’une double ségrégation : tout d’abord, celle due aux conditions particulières de subordination qui caractérisent le travail du nettoyage exercé de plus en plus souvent dans le cadre de relations de sous-traitance et ensuite celle découlant des tensions que subissent plus particulièrement les femmes entre des régimes et des horaires de travail non négociables – temps partiel non choisi et horaires coupés et décalés - et les contraintes de la vie privée.From the results of a qualitative study conducted in several sites of cleaning in Belgium, this article shows the importance of gender inequalities in the sector and decomposes the mechanisms, related to the specific work regimes and to the specific modalities of work organization and management. It brings to light that women’s employment in cleaning records the effects of a double segregation : first of all, that due to the particular conditions of subordination which characterize the work of the cleaning exercised more and more often within the framework of relations of subcontracting and then that ensuing from the tensions which undergo more particularly the women between not negotiable work regimes and working schedules - not chosen part-time and cut and shifted schedules - and the constraints of the private life

A network-based approach to identify substrate classes of bacterial glycosyltransferases

Background: Bacterial interactions with the environment-and/or host largely depend on the bacterial glycome. The specificities of a bacterial glycome are largely determined by glycosyltransferases (GTs), the enzymes involved in transferring sugar moieties from an activated donor to a specific substrate. Of these GTs their coding regions, but mainly also their substrate specificity are still largely unannotated as most sequence-based annotation flows suffer from the lack of characterized sequence motifs that can aid in the prediction of the substrate specificity. Results: In this work, we developed an analysis flow that uses sequence-based strategies to predict novel GTs, but also exploits a network-based approach to infer the putative substrate classes of these predicted GTs. Our analysis flow was benchmarked with the well-documented GT-repertoire of Campylobacter jejuni NCTC 11168 and applied to the probiotic model Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG to expand our insights in the glycosylation potential of this bacterium. In L. rhamnosus GG we could predict 48 GTs of which eight were not previously reported. For at least 20 of these GTs a substrate relation was inferred. Conclusions: We confirmed through experimental validation our prediction of WelI acting upstream of WelE in the biosynthesis of exopolysaccharides. We further hypothesize to have identified in L. rhamnosus GG the yet undiscovered genes involved in the biosynthesis of glucose-rich glycans and novel GTs involved in the glycosylation of proteins. Interestingly, we also predict GTs with well-known functions in peptidoglycan synthesis to also play a role in protein glycosylation

Shared mechanisms among probiotic taxa: implications for general probiotic claims

Strain-specificity of probiotic effects has been a cornerstone principle of probiotic science for decades. Certainly, some important mechanisms are present in only a few probiotic strains. But scientific advances now reveal commonalities among members of certain taxonomic groups of probiotic microbes. Some clinical benefits likely derive from these shared mechanisms, suggesting that sub-species-specific, species specific or genus-specific probiotic effects exist. Human trials are necessary to confirm specific health benefits. However, a strain that has not been tested in human efficacy trials may meet the minimum definition of the term ‘probiotic’ if it is a member of a well-studied probiotic species expressing underlying core mechanisms and it is delivered at an effective dose

The need for a more dynamic and ecological assessment of children experiencing barriers to learning to move towards inclusive education: a summary of results of the Daffodil project.

Although governments have recognized the need to make education more accessible to children with developmental disabilities and/or learning difficulties, many children remain excluded from participation in regular school settings, let alone receive adequate education. Though every country which ratified the United Nations (UN) 2006 Convention on the Rights of People with Disability has committed itself to inclusive education, there are many obstacles. One of them is the currently preferred way of assessing children with standardized, psychometric diagnostic tests, with a comparative and classifying purpose. This type of assessment, based on a medical impairment model and a static model of intelligence, results in reports which are sometimes not very useful for educational advice. This paper reports an overview of the results of the DAFFODIL project (Dynamic Assessment of Functioning and Oriented at Development and Inclusive Learning), created by a consortium of eight European partners in order to research more inclusive alternatives and suggest reforms to assessment and coaching procedures. It starts with a critical review of current assessment practices; then it presents criteria for good practices for assessing children with additional educational needs in a more dynamic, inclusion-oriented and contextual way. A Delphi procedure was used by 150 professionals and parents to develop a consensus for guidelines for assessment procedures oriented at mapping functional difficulties, context, interaction and possibilities for learning, with the objective to understanding learning processes, to develop more inclusive, challenging and suitable educational programmes and more useful recommendations for teachers, parents and rehabilitation staff