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Nowadays, we face a profound fragmentation of knowledge, which is addressed in distinctive ways, conforming to the specifics of each field of knowledge and having a specific lexicon and ways to interpret reality. To better understand and communicate the complexity of the reality of motor and sports sciences in Italy, it is necessary to study its ontology based on a holistic and comprehensive approach such as System Thinking (ST). So, this preliminary review aimed to verify the coherence of terminology used by Italian academics (who study methodologies related to teaching) and practical communities (who live the reality of daily teaching) in motor and sports sciences, specifically regarding the didactic of physical and sports education. For this purpose, according to Design Based Research (DBR), a first investigation of the interpretative semantics of the discipline's specific terms was accomplished with the support of multiple sources of information such as documents, databases, and brainstorming performed by experts (representing the guiding team and stakeholders from all considered communities). Moreover, the frequency of some terms and keywords considered in European (ERC) and Italian (CUN) legislation was assessed to contextualize better the impact of common practice community keywords on the scientific and regulatory community. Successively, the studies that analyzed the terms from 2000 to 2020 in the leading scientific search engines (SCOPUS and Web of Science) were also investigated. Results indicate that in the CUN and ERC areas, there is a total absence of the most relevant lemma to the community of practice. Furthermore, significant terms such as play, sports education, psychomotricity, and gymnastics are less considered or unconsidered in the specific scientific and didactic fields. Possible solutions for a specific semantic model to reduce the gap are finally hypothesized and presented.

Students at Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) faced significant hardships while trying to learn through emergency remote teaching (ERT) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our research aims to investigate if science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) instructors thought about and enacted more learner-centered teaching practices to alleviate some of this stress encountered by their students. Using semi-structured interviews and classroom observations, we utilized inductive and deductive qualitative research methods to examine two questions: (1) To what extent were STEM instructor's perceived pedagogical changes learner-centered during ERT?; and (2) To what extent were STEM instructor's teaching behaviors and discourse practices learner-centered during ERT? Our findings revealed that during ERT, STEM instructors described using a variety of pedagogical changes that we identified as learner-centered under the Weimer framework, including ideas such as enacting flexible late policies and increased usage of formative assessment. Interestingly, we found that many of these learned-centered changes were happening outside of the classroom. Classroom observations assessing instructor behaviors and discourse demonstrated that STEM instructors enacted practices that aligned with Weimer's five constructs of learner-centered teaching. Our research highlights implications of learner-centered teaching practices for STEM instructors as well as researchers.

Students at Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) faced significant hardships while trying to learn through emergency remote teaching (ERT) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our research aims to investigate if science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) instructors thought about and enacted more learner-centered teaching practices to alleviate some of this stress encountered by their students. Using semi-structured interviews and classroom observations, we utilized inductive and deductive qualitative research methods to examine two questions: (1) To what extent were STEM instructor's perceived pedagogical changes learner-centered during ERT?; and (2) To what extent were STEM instructor's teaching behaviors and discourse practices learner-centered during ERT? Our findings revealed that during ERT, STEM instructors described using a variety of pedagogical changes that we identified as learner-centered under the Weimer framework, including ideas such as enacting flexible late policies and increased usage of formative assessment. Interestingly, we found that many of these learned-centered changes were happening outside of the classroom. Classroom observations assessing instructor behaviors and discourse demonstrated that STEM instructors enacted practices that aligned with Weimer's five constructs of learner-centered teaching. Our research highlights implications of learner-centered teaching practices for STEM instructors as well as researchers.

OBJETIVOS: Pouco se sabe sobre a participação cívica da pessoa idosa no Brasil, por isso propôs-se investigar os fatores associados à participação dos idosos nas eleições presidenciais de 2010. MÉTODOS: Foram analisados os dados do inquérito epidemiológico, transversal e observacional realizado no período de 2010 a 2011, com 7.315 idosos identificados por visita domiciliar usando amostragem aleatória dos setores censitários de 59 cidades do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Análise de regressão logística usou como variável dependente a informação dicotômica se o idoso teria ou não votado na eleição de 2010 (votou) e como variáveis independentes: sociodemográficas, hábitos de vida, dificuldades de locomoção, autopercepção de saúde e número de morbidades. RESULTADOS: Independente da idade, 71% dos entrevistados idosos votou. O percentual de idosos entre 60 e 69 anos que votaram foi maior do que o observado na população geral. Homens e mulheres apresentaram frequências semelhantes. Foram fatores significativos para ter votado nas eleições de 2010: idade, escolaridade, autopercepção de saúde, morbidades, característica da locomoção, segurança, ler jornais, assistir noticiário na televisão, atividades comunitárias, atividade física regular, atividade econômica e conhecer o Estatuto do Idoso. CONCLUSãO: Idosos votantes no Rio Grande do Sul são mais jovens, casados, com ótima ou boa autopercepção de saúde, com maior número de morbidades, sem dificuldades de locomoção, se mantém informados, conhecem o Estatuto do Idoso e são ativos, tanto social, quando física e economicamente.

Abstract Background There is no ubiquitous definition of Emergency Department (ED) crowding and several indicators have been proposed to measure it. The National ED Overcrowding Study (NEDOCS) score is among the most popular, even though it has been severely criticised. We used the waiting time for the physician’s initial assessment to evaluate the performance of the NEDOCS and proposed a new crowding indicator based on this objective measure. Methods To evaluate the NEDOCS, we used the 2022 data of all the Lombardy EDs and compared the distribution of waiting times across the five levels of the NEDOCS at ED arrival. To construct the new indicator, we estimated the centre-specific relationship between the total number of ED patients and the waiting time of those with minor or deferrable urgency. We defined seven classes of waiting times and calculated how many patients corresponded to an average waiting time in the classes. These centre-specific cutoffs were used to define the 7-level crowding indicator. The indicator was then compared to the NEDOCS score and validated on the first six months of 2023 data. Results Patients’ waiting time did not increase at the increase of the NEDOCS score, suggesting the absence of a relationship between this score and the effect of ED crowding on the ED capacity of evaluating new patients. The indicator we propose is easy to estimate in real-time and based on centre-specific cutoffs, which depend on the volume of yearly accesses. We observed minimal agreement between the proposed indicator and the NEDOCS in most EDs, both in the development and validation datasets. Conclusions We proposed to quantify ED crowding using the waiting time for physician’s initial assessment of patients with minor or deferrable urgency, which increases in crowding situations due to the prioritization of urgent patients. The centre-specific cutoffs avoid the problem of the heterogeneity of the volume of accesses and organization among EDs, while enabling a fair comparison between centres.

Introduction Children with septo-optic-pituitary dysplasia (SOD) may experience a range of visual impairments and hormonal dysfunctions beyond developmental delay/intellectual disability. The literature describes sleep fragmentation, circadian rhythm disruptions and reduced sleep efficiency. These manifestations are believed to be closely linked to both structural and functional abnormalities associated with SOD, potentially disrupting the natural circadian rhythm. Both anomalies in midline brain structures and decreased visual input could potentially impact melatonin secretion, although a distinct melatonin profile for SOD patients has yet to be identified. Furthermore, the specific contribution of these factors to sleep disturbances in SOD remains unexplored. The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of sleep and its characteristics, along with the melatonin profile, among paediatric patients diagnosed with SOD. A comparison will be made between these findings and those of children with isolated bilateral visual impairment, as well as patients with agenesis of the corpus callosum.Methods and analysis Participants aged between 3 and 18 years previously diagnosed with SOD will be recruited prospectively. Each participant will be assessed at baseline and at each follow-up visit scheduled to evaluate the clinical course. Sleep quality and daytime sleepiness changes will be tracked using actigraphic assessment, standardised sleep questionnaires and a sleep EEG. Additionally, plasma and salivary melatonin profiles will be assessed for each participant.Ethics and dissemination This study has been approved by local Ethics Committee (N°0049187/23). The study findings will be shared through publication in an international peer-reviewed journal and presented at both national and international conferences.Trial registration number NCT06262152.

Abstract This article proposes a framework for integrating agricultural zoning data into insurance risk analysis. It is based on combining official public information from the Brazilian zoning program, ZARC, with open insurance data provided by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. The methodology presented in this article transforms ZARC information into distributional data and integrates it into a Bayesian model alongside insurance indemnities data, allowing for comprehensive risk analysis. It uses information on soil types from ZARC to develop basic best- and worst-case scenarios and calculate posterior distributions using insurance data. The resulting framework enables the comparison of municipalities, crop types, and overall risk classification. The study applies the framework to analyze the risk of soybeans, corn, wheat, and corn double-crop in Paraná State, resulting in consistent risk classifications across all crops and municipalities. The proposed framework has the potential to enhance agricultural risk management analysis for reinsurers, insurers, government agencies, and private companies. Future research could explore the use of this methodology to compare insurers, analyze risk in structured operations of credit and insurance, and evaluate risks at the farm level. This article presents a potential tool for improving risk analysis and decision-making in the agricultural sector.

Summary: A Delphi consensus-seeking procedure was conducted to validate a list of ICD-9-CM codes that could help identify hospital admissions in which antimicrobials are more likely to be prescribed. The panel agreed to include 2967 codes out of 16229 (18.28%). Such codes could support AMS strategies by large-scale monitoring of drug consumption.

Hybrid externally-bonded reinforcements are considered a viable technique for strengthening existing concrete structures. They combine high-performance impregnated textiles with matrices containing dispersed microfibres to foster the ductility and toughness of the composite system. In this paper, the mechanical performance of textile-reinforced strain-hardening cement-based composites (TR-SHCC) is investigated in detail. A novel high-performance inorganic binder based on limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) is reinforced with both polyethylene (PE) dispersed microfibres and carbon fibre (CF) textiles as continuous biaxial reinforcement. The CF yarns are impregnated by an automated process to improve the monolithic response under uniaxial tensile loading and to ensure high production consistency. Fully inorganic suspensions, i.e., geopolymer and cement-based, are being investigated, as they can provide superior thermal stability compared to traditional polymeric impregnating agents. Interphase adhesion is investigated by single-yarn pull-out tests, microscopy and µCT at various micro scales. On the one hand, the improved adhesion promoted by cement impregnation resulted in the finest and most diffuse crack pattern. Conversely, the strength of the overall composite is mainly governed by the tensile failure of the yarns, irrespective of the bond, and dispersed fibres consistently improve the post-cracking stage and the strength of the hybrid composites.

Background: Stress and trauma significantly contribute to various psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, particularly abnormal cortisol secretion, is implicated in schizophrenia's pathophysiology. Salivary cortisol, a convenient measure, provides insights into HPA axis activity. This systematic review and meta-analysis assess salivary cortisol levels in individuals with schizophrenia compared to healthy controls, evaluating its potential as a biomarker for schizophrenia. Aim: To assess the differences in salivary cortisol levels at baseline and in response to stress between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls, determining the reliability of salivary cortisol as a biomarker for schizophrenia. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines. We searched MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Central, and EMBASE for human studies on schizophrenia and controls published from January 1, 2013, to July 1, 2023, reporting baseline or post-stress salivary cortisol levels. Exclusions were non-human studies, non-specific schizophrenia diagnoses, or missing cortisol data. Two reviewers independently extracted data and appraised quality, resolving discrepancies by consensus. Due to significant heterogeneity (I² = 94 % for baseline, 75 % for stress response), a random effects model was used. Results: Nineteen studies were initially selected, with twelve excluded due to non-specific schizophrenia diagnoses and missing cortisol data. The final meta-analysis included seven studies with 507 schizophrenia patients and 175 healthy controls. Key findings include: Baseline cortisol levels: No significant difference in baseline salivary cortisol levels between schizophrenia patients and healthy controls (pooled estimate: −0.02, 95 % CI: −0.47–0.42). Cortisol response to stress: No significant difference in post-stress cortisol levels between the two groups (pooled estimate: 0.03, 95 % CI: −1.84–1.79). Study variability: High variability across studies due to differences in design, patient characteristics, and cortisol measurement techniques. Despite some evidence of altered cortisol dynamics in schizophrenia, high variability in methodologies and confounding factors like medication use and psychosocial stressors complicate definitive conclusions. Conclusion: The review underscores the potential of cortisol as a biomarker for stress response; however, its use in diagnosing schizophrenia remains inconclusive. Individual variability and methodological differences limit the diagnostic accuracy of salivary cortisol. Future research with larger sample sizes, uniform methodologies, and comprehensive control for confounding variables is essential to elucidate the role of salivary cortisol in schizophrenia and its potential clinical applications.

Background and Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate the economic impact of the device Navina Smart on patients affected by neurogenic bowel dysfunction and dependent on transanal irrigation within the Italian context. This study employs the perspective of the Italian National Health Service. Methods: The analysis was conducted through a Markov model, comparing two scenarios: standard bowel care vs. transanal irrigation. The model operates on a 30-year time period. The results were reported in terms of net monetary benefit. Results: Transanal irrigation therapy was dominant in all scenarios with lower costs and higher effectiveness. The population was assumed to be composed of 1,000 subjects. Setting the willingness to pay at €35,000.00/QALYs (quality-adjusted life years), the analysis yielded a net monetary benefit of €81,087 and cost savings of €66,101 per patient over 30 years. Conclusion: The results of this study substantiate that transanal irrigation therapy treatment employing the Navina Smart device can significantly benefit patients suffering from neurogenic bowel dysfunction by relieving their symptoms. In addition, this therapy offers important cost savings for the Italian National Health Service by reducing resource utilization.

Nowadays, we face a profound fragmentation of knowledge, which is addressed in distinctive ways, conforming to the specifics of each field of knowledge and having a specific lexicon and ways to interpret reality. To better understand and communicate the complexity of the reality of motor and sports sciences in Italy, it is necessary to study its ontology based on a holistic and comprehensive approach such as System Thinking (ST). So, this preliminary review aimed to verify the coherence of terminology used by Italian academics (who study methodologies related to teaching) and practical communities (who live the reality of daily teaching) in motor and sports sciences, specifically regarding the didactic of physical and sports education. For this purpose, according to Design Based Research (DBR), a first investigation of the interpretative semantics of the discipline's specific terms was accomplished with the support of multiple sources of information such as documents, databases, and brainstorming performed by experts (representing the guiding team and stakeholders from all considered communities). Moreover, the frequency of some terms and keywords considered in European (ERC) and Italian (CUN) legislation was assessed to contextualize better the impact of common practice community keywords on the scientific and regulatory community. Successively, the studies that analyzed the terms from 2000 to 2020 in the leading scientific search engines (SCOPUS and Web of Science) were also investigated. Results indicate that in the CUN and ERC areas, there is a total absence of the most relevant lemma to the community of practice. Furthermore, significant terms such as play, sports education, psychomotricity, and gymnastics are less considered or unconsidered in the specific scientific and didactic fields. Possible solutions for a specific semantic model to reduce the gap are finally hypothesized and presented. Premise A new semantic concept of physical education and sport as means of an integrative approach between theory and practice (design of the preliminary research). The preliminary research presented in this paper is based on design-based research (DBR) (Easterday et al., 2014). It integrates eight phases of analysis (focus, understand, aims definitions, conceive a plan, Global Education Review is a publication of The School of Education at Mercy University, New York. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting all non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Citation: Invernizzi, Pietro Luigi, Scurati, Raffaele, Signorini, Gabriele, Mauro, Franco, Rigon, Marta, D'Elia, Francesca, & Raiola, Gaetano. (2024). Semantic gaps in the theory and the practice of physical and sports education in the Italian context. Global Education Review, 11 (1), 23-54. preliminary evidence, design - evaluation and improvement, future investigation, summary) to draw attention to physical education's semantics with the aim of highlighting possible language gaps in practice and research applied to physical and sports education. Keywords Semantic knowledge, syntax, teaching, etymological identity, academic community, community of practice; integration of knowledge; normative etymology; design-based research, Introduction Phase 1--Focus on topics: the multilevel socioecological model and the system thinking applied to physical and sports education. The cultural scenario inherited from the past and that we face [...]