Search

In this paper the authors report different experiences in the use of board games as learning tools for complex and abstract scientific concepts such as Quantum Mechanics, Relativity or nano-biotechnologies. In particular we describe "Quantum Race," designed for the introduction of Quantum Mechanical principles, "Lab on a chip," concerning the immune system and the nano-biotechnologies, "Time Race", created to explain Relativistic concepts such as time dilation. The main idea is to choose a core of few basic concepts to be explained, and to design the game mechanisms and rules completely around them. Each game has been played by about 1000 participants, mainly students, with excellent results concerning growth of interest and comprehension on the considered themes. In a second phase (still in progress) the authors are considering the possibility to use the direct engagement of learners in the creation of games of this kind as a learning tool for scientific subjects, in particular for light and photonics. They present in detail these activities with obtained and expected results and issues.

Research to detect changes in precipitation variables has become a topic of particular interest to understand modifications in water resources availability. The review is focused on the Italian territory, outlining the "state of the art" of changes in precipitation regime through a review of 54 published studies on observed rainfall trend analyses, in the period 1999–2018. The aim is to combine a large body of knowledge in a single review and to explain the main patterns of rainfall changes occurred in Italy over the last decades. The analysis focused on the Total Precipitation (TP) and the number of Wet Days (WDs) indices at the annual and seasonal scale. A weight factor is introduced to take into account the differences among studies in geographical area, time series length, and number of stations. The review is accompanied by the discussion of other rainfall related variables, that is, precipitation intensity, extreme rainfall events and meteorological droughts, which are useful to provide a broader picture of rainfall changes. Overall, there is an agreement about the tendency of a decrease in wet days on the entire Italy, with limited discrepancies in the various regions. A decrease in wet days is accompanied by a negative trend (although less evident) in total precipitation, especially in winter. Nevertheless, a univocal direction of trends (or lack of thereof) in annual total precipitation and mostly hydrological extreme events is difficult to achieve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Coronavirus epidemic quickly spread in Italy from China. In particular, it affected Bergamo province where Romano di Lombardia hospital is situated. Therefore, this hospital felt the urgency to requalify its activity in no time. It transformed itself into a unique centralized subintensive department to treat COVID-19 patients. The factors that made it possible to adequately face the stress due to patients' hospitalization were human resources and innovative elements to provide oxygen therapy. It is to underline that the logistic and methodological reality was not planned to cope with this emergency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Italian SWAL-QOL (I-SWAL-QOL). The study consisted of five phases: item generation, reliability analysis, normative data generation, validity analysis, and responsiveness analysis. The item generation phase followed the five-step, cross-cultural, adaptation process of translation and back-translation. A group of 92 dysphagic patients was enrolled for the internal consistency analysis. Seventy-eight patients completed the I-SWAL-QOL twice, 2 weeks apart, for test-retest reliability analysis. A group of 200 asymptomatic subjects completed the I-SWAL-QOL for normative data generation. I-SWAL-QOL scores obtained by both the group of dysphagic subjects and asymptomatic ones were compared for validity analysis. I-SWAL-QOL scores were correlated with SF-36 scores in 67 patients with dysphagia for concurrent validity analysis. Finally, I-SWAL-QOL scores obtained in a group of 30 dysphagic patients before and after successful rehabilitation treatment were compared for responsiveness analysis. All the enrolled patients managed to complete the I-SWAL-QOL without needing any assistance, within 20 min. Internal consistency was acceptable for all I-SWAL-QOL subscales (α > 0.70). Test-retest reliability was also satisfactory for all subscales (ICC > 0.7). A significant difference between the dysphagic group and the control group was found in all I-SWAL-QOL subscales (p < 0.05). Mild to moderate correlations between I-SWAL-QOL and SF-36 subscales were observed. I-SWAL-QOL scores obtained in the pre-treatment condition were significantly lower than those obtained after swallowing rehabilitation. I-SWAL-QOL is reliable, valid, responsive to changes in QOL, and recommended for clinical practice and outcome research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the case of the largest steel plant in Europe, located in Taranto (Italy), to argue that its current crisis is not simply dictated by technological or managerial failings. Rather, the article contends that its problems stem from a regulatory crisis and, specifically, from the failure of the deregulation model pursued after the industry’s process of privatization. Such a model has hinged upon the logic of a big private firm that, on the one hand, has sought to disembed itself from the socio-institutional context and, on the other, has set and followed its own rules with disruptive effects on the local society and environment, as well as on the plant’s economic viability. Such a model entered a crisis when the other socio-institutional actors started to react to the disastrous situation existing in Taranto. To use Polanyian language, a ‘double movement’ has emerged: disruptive pressures have triggered defensive reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We still know little about the role of higher education in the digital transformation. If on one side the labor market is constantly evolving and is asking for an up-skilling process of the workforce, higher education institutions struggle to be agile enough. Therefore, it is necessary to measure and to better understand this gap. In this paper, we describe a quantitative approach to deal with this problem, focusing on the marketing sector. Through text mining, we develop a model of automatic job competencies extraction from Italian texts. We use it to retrieve the skills expressed both in the exam's descriptions of universities and the job vacancies. The results allow us to compare the skills offered by higher education with the labor market's needs in Italy, exploring and highlighting the digital gaps existing between the two. • A measure of alignment between job vacancies and HEIs' course descriptions • The method extracts skills using ESCO and marketing related scientific papers. • We analyzed 1252 documents and collected 377 skills. • The results show an overview on skills' needs for marketing professionals. • We highlight the need for increasing soft and digital skills in marketing courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Sociologia del Lavoro is the property of FrancoAngeli srl and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: The total area of public green spaces in the city of Bari, Italy is more limited than in most other Italian cities (2.9m2/inhabitant). This fact makes it an interesting subject for research into the general perception that the residents of the city have of green spaces and their behaviour patterns when using them. A questionnaire (27 questions) was presented by telephone to a representative sample () of the population of Bari. The aims of the study were: (a) to gain insight in the perception of green spaces with particular reference to those green areas within the city itself; (b) to examine behaviour during visits to parks and gardens and means of transport used to reach them; (c) to investigate what kind of relationship should be set up between the local authority and the population regarding information and participation. The results show that respondents perceive the green areas as a life quality enhancer in accordance with some previous studies carried out in Italy and in other countries. Citizens are moreover conscious of the limitations in quality and quantity of green areas in their own city, although this result needs to be more closely analysed in the future. Patterns in the use of public green areas proved to be strictly connected with age, sex, marital status, area of residence. Another conditioning factor was the system of mobility. The results moreover underline how citizens see the public and private green areas as single beneficial system. The research also demonstrates the potentials of applying telephone surveys in studies concerning urban forests. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To analyze the German, Austrian, Italian and Spanish Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG)-systems regarding burns. Methods: We analyzed 78 cases of inpatients with burns which were processed by national DRG-groupers. DRGs were linked to thresholds concerning length of stay as well as reimbursement tables of the respective countries. Main findings: Fifty-one % of cases showed higher reimbursement in Germany compared to Austria, 55% compared to Italy and 67% as against Spain. Total proceeds are highest in Austria with 1577000 €, followed by Italy with 1569000 €, Germany with 1502000 € and Spain with 902596 €. No correlation was found between macroeconomic key figures and our data. Conclusions: International comparison of reimbursement of burns by DRG could be a useful instrument for benchmarking while not depending solely on political decisions or country-specific cost data. For better comparability, hospital indices based on healthcare baskets should be discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]