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This paper dates back to 2009 (it was first presented at the CRLL Conference at Stirling University) and deals with the advances in lifelong learning introduced by an ERASMUS LLP-IP named Interdisciplinary Course of Intercultural Competences (ICIC). The programme, that involves academic and non-academic institutions concerned with higher education of six different European countries, worked out an intensive international learning pathway aimed at developing intercultural competences in three professional fields: education, social work and health care. The paper focuses on the programme's innovative combination of formal and informal learning as a strategic lever to: (1) enhance a holistic concept of "competence" that puts human relationship at the centre of professional skills; (2) assume intercultural competences as key competences transversal to different professions; (3) introduce social skills and reflection as key factors for developing a transformative model of lifelong learning (Jarvis, 2005) that able to match the needs of the current complex, ever-changing societies; and (4) develop experiential learning without giving up to a strong theoretical framework of reference. The programme introduces an educational model that matches the main goals of higher educational priorities started by Bologna Process and relies upon a solid theoretical framework developed in the field of intercultural research at a sociological, socio-psychological and pedagogical level (Bennett, 1993; Gudykunst & Ting, 2002; Camilleri & Cohen, 1989; Hall, 1959; Hofstede 2001; Beck & Grande, 2006; Farr, 1984), as well as in one of the lifelong learning (Le Boteurf, 1997; Illeris, 2005; Jarvis, 2005; Schon, 1983). (Contains 3 figures.)

This article presents the results of a survey on sustainable food consumption in Italy during COVID-19 times. The study examines the changes triggered by the pandemic, both in sustainable food practises and in consumers' value-based priorities. The goal is to identify the structuring of an ecological dietary habitus and even a culinary ethos as attention is paid to the reflexive, axiological dimensions of emerging eating habits. The complexity of the phenomenon has suggested a multi-paradigmatic research approach that accounts for the role of human agency in restructuring eating practises in transitional times. The results highlight an emerging nonlinear axiology in which biospheric universalism ambiguously coexists with the lionizing of locavorism and the glorification of food origins, and the direct provision of local food gains prominence despite the increasing mediatization of food choices. A deglobalizing eating style is emerging, where ecological instantiations seem to indulge culinary nationalism and conservative communitarianism. One of the challenges of the "new normal" will be to endow these dispositions with the axiological coherence of an appropriate ecological culinary ethos, as well as to create the conditions for younger generations to prioritize forward-looking ecological values over conservative gastronationalism to promote the sustainable regeneration of food systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: COPD is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The health and economic burden of COPD may in part be reduced by early disease case finding and a correct therapy. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of a community pharmacy programme for COPD case finding among previously undiagnosed subjects and for monitoring and enhancing adherence to prescribed pharmacological therapies among patients with confirmed COPD. Methods: The intervention was conducted in hundred community pharmacies in Piedmont (northwest Italy) and developed in two different arms: a case finding one through the administration of a specific questionnaire and the spirometry measurement and the adherence one through the administration of a questionnaire exploring the impact of the disease and the therapy adherence. Persons considered at risk to develop the COPD disease or non-controlled patients were referred to the GP or were invited to return in the pharmacy for a follow-up interview. Results: Overall, 844 subjects, out of 934 enrolled, completed the baseline interview. 103 subjects (25.7% of the 401 enrolled in the case finding arm) were considered at risk of suffering from COPD. Lower educated subjects and those without social support were more frequently at very high risk. Five returned to the pharmacy with a confirmed medical diagnosis. Among the 443 patients interviewed we found non-adherence value (depending on the drug) varying from 31% to 46%. A significant protection from non-adherence to bronchodilators was found among patients with comorbidities and among people living alone. Conclusions: We showed that opportunistic screening for COPD is feasible in community pharmacies. Concerning adherence to therapy in pharmacies, it would be necessary to identify different methods of enrolment in order to involve only those patients who are less adherent or who have difficulties in the management of therapy and chronic pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A research project has been performed to the request of the RAMOGE Executive Secretariat to identify differences between dispersant approval procedures in France and Italy and propose ways to harmonize them. A collaborative study has been conducted by CEDRE (Centre of Documentation, Research and Experimentation on Accidental Water Pollution) and ISPRA (Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) to: a) compare current approval procedures in Italy and France with identification of differences and commonalities; b) carry out toxicity tests using both procedures on two selected dispersants; c) propose a common approach between Italy and France. The results showed that, because of the differences in ecotoxicological tests and in the evaluation criteria used, the outcomes on the same products could be different in Italy and in France. Both tested dispersants met the French requirements for approval (LC 50 ≥ 10 times reference toxicant), while only one dispersant met the Italian approval criterion (EC 50 > 10 mg/L). A possible way of harmonizing the approval procedures could be to increase the number of test organisms in the French procedure, which currently only uses one crustacean species. Furthermore, a common criterion for toxicity assessment should be discussed and agreed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Article number 16 of the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC) lays down the community strategy for establishment of harmonised quality standards for the priority substances and other substances posing a significant risk to the aquatic environment. In order to achieve the protection objectives of the Directive 2000/60/EC, the Italian Ministry of the Environment proposed the quality standards for surface water, sediments and biota related to the priority substances listed in the decision No. 2455/2001/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of November 20 (2001) [Decision N. 2455/2001/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2001. The list of priority substances in the field of water policy and amending Directive 2000/60/EC. Official Journal of the European Communities, 15.12.2001, p. 5]. Particularly, for the protection of the marine environment, the proposed Italian rules state that, from 1 January 2021, the concentrations of the hazardous priority substances in Italian marine and lagoon waters must be near the natural background for natural substances, like metals, and near zero for the anthropogenic one. According to Directive 2000/60/EC, the Italian Ministry of Environment issued in 2003 Decree 367 in which has derived 160 Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) for water and 27 Environmental Quality Objective (EQO) for sediment of marine coastal area, lagoons and coastal ponds. Biota quality standards have still to be fixed. The paper illustrates the criteria applied for the definition of the quality standards and some comments are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]