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Cittadinanza multiscalare e identità dinamiche. Rappresentazione letteraria di una visione pedagogica attraverso il racconto fattuale di un’esperienza
No full textUna scrittura fattuale a cavallo tra letteratura, pratica scolastica e comunicazione scientifica, al servizio della condivisione e della riflessione in materia di ricerca-azione per il rilancio di una pedagogia critica della cittadinanza democratica, prendendo spunto da un’esperienza di cooperazione italo-francese ma con un paradigmatico e innovativo orientamento epistemologico “multiscalare”. Citoyenneté à plusieurs échelles et identités dynamiques è stato anzitutto un progetto Erasmus+ finanziato dall’Unione Europea, promosso da Francesco Pigozzo e Daniela Martinelli, con il loro Centro di Ricerca CITOYEN.NE.S presso l’Università eCampus, e coordinato dall’Istituto Comprensivo Statale “Viale Legnano” di Parabiago (MI). Il coinvolgimento di altre scuole a Milano e a La Colle-sur-Loup in Provenza, con la partnership strategica dell’Association Européenne des Enseignants – France e delle rispettive autorità locali, ha permesso di realizzare una sperimentazione pilota basata sull’originale curricolo verticale di educazione civica elaborato dai ricercatori-formatori per contribuire alla costruzione di uno Spazio Europeo dell’Istruzione che non sia mera architettura tecnico-burocratica, bensì reale occasione di rilancio per l’educare inteso come sviluppo di autonomie soggettive e solidali di fronte a questioni e problemi comuni. Questo libro è il racconto commentato di un’esperienza pratica e intellettuale che mira a ispirare insegnanti e scuole di ogni ordine e grado in tutta Europa
Pedagogy and artificial intelligence. Exploring uncharted territories in the pursuit of a human-centered existence
No full textThe advent of artificial intelligence (AI) presents a significant challenge to contemporary pedagogy. However, it also offers a valuable opportunity to rethink and expand the possibilities of education. AI can contribute to the formation of competent and aware citizens in the digital age, and it can also serve as a promoter of a new humanism, in which technology is at the service of human and social growth. In this context, education can be conceived as a means of harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence to advance a vision of the world that is more just, inclusive and oriented towards collective well-being. In this way, pedagogy is constituted as a field of action and reflection that, in dialogue with AI, paves the way for an educational future in which the human and the technological coexist in a dynamic and creative relationship, capable of generating new models of knowledge, responsibility and a good life, with and for others
Development of a prediction model of conversion to Alzheimer’s disease in people with mild cognitive impairment: the statistical analysis plan of the INTERCEPTOR project
No full textBackground: In recent years, significant efforts have been directed towards the research and development of disease-modifying therapies for dementia. These drugs focus on prodromal (mild cognitive impairment, MCI) and/or early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Literature evidence indicates that a considerable proportion of individuals with MCI do not progress to dementia. Identifying individuals at higher risk of developing dementia is essential for appropriate management, including the prescription of new disease-modifying therapies expected to become available in clinical practice in the near future. Methods: The ongoing INTERCEPTOR study is a multicenter, longitudinal, interventional, non-therapeutic cohort study designed to enroll 500 individuals with MCI aged 50-85 years. The primary aim is to identify a biomarker or a set of biomarkers able to accurately predict the conversion from MCI to AD dementia within 3 years of follow-up. The biomarkers investigated in this study are neuropsychological tests (mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and delayed free recall), brain glucose metabolism ([18F]FDG-PET), MRI volumetry of the hippocampus, EEG brain connectivity, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers (p-tau, t-tau, Aβ1-42, Aβ1-42/1-40 ratio, Aβ1-42/p-Tau ratio) and APOE genotype. The baseline visit includes a full cognitive and neuropsychological evaluation, as well as the collection of clinical and socio-demographic information. Prognostic models will be developed using Cox regression, incorporating individual characteristics and biomarkers through stepwise selection. Model performance will be evaluated in terms of discrimination and calibration and subjected to internal validation using the bootstrapping procedure. The final model will be visually represented as a nomogram. Discussion: This paper contains a detailed description of the statistical analysis plan to ensure the reproducibility and transparency of the analysis. The prognostic model developed in this study aims to identify the population with MCI at higher risk of developing AD dementia, potentially eligible for drug prescriptions. The nomogram could provide a valuable tool for clinicians for risk stratification and early treatment decisions. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03834402. Registered on February 8, 2019
The impact of Leader-Member exchange on the job satisfaction and civic virtue relationship: insights from Italian service organisations
No full textBuilding on the social exchange theory, this study explores the moderating role of leader-member exchange (LMX) quality in the relationship between job satisfaction and organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB), specifically civic virtue. Hayes’ regression approach was used to analyse data from fifteen Italian service organisations. The results reveal a significant positive association between job satisfaction and civic virtue. Furthermore, LMX quality was found to amplify this relationship, with a more pronounced effect observed when LMX quality was high. This underscores the crucial role of fostering positive leader-member relationships to promote OCB directed toward the organisation, such as civic virtue. The study also enhances the theoretical understanding of civic virtue and its relationship with job satisfaction and LMX quality, thereby enriching the academic discourse in the field of OCB. Lastly, the study provides practical implications for organisations aiming to improve workplace dynamics and enhance employee engagement in extra-role behaviours
Intelligent Human–Computer Interaction: Combined Wrist and Forearm Myoelectric Signals for Handwriting Recognition
No full textRecent studies have highlighted the possibility of using surface electromyographic (EMG) signals to develop human–computer interfaces that are also able to recognize complex motor tasks involving the hand as the handwriting of digits. However, the automatic recognition of words from EMG information has not yet been studied. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of using combined forearm and wrist EMG probes for solving the handwriting recognition problem of 30 words with consolidated machine-learning techniques and aggregating state-of-the-art features extracted in the time and frequency domains. Six healthy subjects, three females and three males aged between 25 and 40 years, were recruited for the study. Two tests in pattern recognition were conducted to assess the possibility of classifying fine hand movements through EMG signals. The first test was designed to assess the feasibility of using consolidated myoelectric control technology with shallow machine-learning methods in the field of handwriting detection. The second test was implemented to assess if specific feature extraction schemes can guarantee high performances with limited complexity of the processing pipeline. Among support vector machine, linear discriminant analysis, and K-nearest neighbours (KNN), the last one showed the best classification performances in the 30-word classification problem, with a mean accuracy of 95% and 85% when using all the features and a specific feature set known as TDAR, respectively. The obtained results confirmed the validity of using combined wrist and forearm EMG data for intelligent handwriting recognition through pattern recognition approaches in real scenarios
Omega-3 Index as a Sport Biomarker: Implications for Cardiovascular Health, Injury Prevention, and Athletic Performance
No full textThe composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the cell membrane plays a crucial role in cell signaling and function. Physical activity can induce shifts in PUFA metabolism, potentially altering their membrane composition. Given the multifaceted regulatory and structural roles of PUFA, training-related fluctuations in PUFA concentrations may impact health and athletic performance in both elite and non-elite athletes, highlighting the critical role of these fatty acids’ nutritional intake. The ω-3 index (O3I), a biomarker reflecting the proportion of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in red blood cell membranes, is considered a marker of cardiovascular risk, gaining increasing interest in sports medicine. Dietary interventions aimed at maintaining an optimal O3I may offer several benefits for elite and non-elite athletes, including cardiovascular health performance optimization, recovery, and injury prevention. Here, we discuss emerging evidence on the application of O3I in sports and physical exercise, highlighting its promising role as a biomarker in a wide range of sports practices
A Minimal and Multi-Source Recording Setup for Ankle Joint Kinematics Estimation During Walking Using Only Proximal Information From Lower Limb
No full textIn this study, a minimal setup for the ankle joint kinematics estimation is proposed relying only on proximal information of the lower-limb, i.e. thigh muscles activity and joint kinematics. To this purpose, myoelectric activity of Rectus Femoris (RF), Biceps Femoris (BF), and Vastus Medialis (VM) were recorded by surface electromyography (sEMG) from six healthy subjects during unconstrained walking task. For each subject, the angular kinematics of hip and ankle joints were synchronously recorded with sEMG signal for a total of 288 gait cycles. Two feature sets were extracted from sEMG signals, i.e. time domain (TD) and wavelet (WT) and compared to have a compromise between the reliability and computational capacity, they were used for feeding three regression models, i.e. Artificial Neural Networks, Random Forest, and Least Squares - Support Vector Machine (LS-SVM). BF together with LS-SVM provided the best ankle angle estimation in both TD and WT domains (RMSE < 5.6 deg). The inclusion of Hip joint trajectory significantly enhanced the regression performances of the model (RMSE < 4.5 deg). Results showed the feasibility of estimating the ankle trajectory using only proximal and limited information from the lower limb which would maximize a potential transfemoral amputee user's comfortability while facing the challenge of having a small amount of information thus requiring robust data-driven models. These findings represent a significant step towards the development of a minimal setup useful for the control design of ankle active prosthetics and rehabilitative solutions
Assessing the Impact of Fencing on Postural Parameters: Observational Study Findings on Elite Athletes
No full textThe aim of the study was to evaluate whether the static stabilometric parameters among
elite fencers, were affected by prolonged, asymmetric training regimen. A sample of 26 elite fencers
of both genders, aged 19.15 ± 2.24 years, practising one of the three disciplines foil, épée, or sabre,
was recruited for the study. Anthropometric measurements including thigh and calf circumferences
and postural assessment based on the weight distribution on a stabilimeter platform were per-
formed. Postural tone, as indicated by measures such as sway length and sway area ratio was cal-
culated.. No notable anthropometric asymmetries were detected within the examined group The
weight distribution patterns on the support quadrants in static stabilometric measurements did not
suggest clinically significant issues. There were no significant differences among subgroups based
on gender and lower limb dominance for both anthropometric and stabilimeter variables. However,
30.8% of participants showed anomalies in postural tone (hypertonic and hypotonic condition). Five
out of eight athletes found with abnormal postural tone were foil fencers, suggesting a potential
discipline-specific effect. Individual adjustments were found in foil fencers. These findings provide
insights into the potential effects of fencing training on postural parameters among elite athlete
Effects of cervical transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation on spinal excitability
No full textObjective: To investigate the effects of transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) on spinal cord excitability using neurophysiological methods. Methods: Spinal cord motoneuron excitability was assessed using various neurophysiological techniques in a sham-controlled randomized experiment, which involved delivering 2 mA tsDCS and testing four different montages. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), F-waves to supramaximal ulnar nerve stimulation and somatosensory evoked potentials to upper limb nerves stimulation were measured in the participants with the electrode configuration that yielded the greatest effect, for a total of about 18 min. 18 young volunteers were recruited. Results: Among the tested ones, the most promising tsDCS montage was the one with the anode placed on the 7th cervical spinous process and the cathode on the glottis. With this configuration, a significant enhancement of motor responses in the hand muscles to TMS of the contralateral hand motor area was observed during tsDCS (p<0.00001), reaching a plateau after 6 min. This facilitation rapidly declined within a few minutes after the tsDCS was stopped. Conclusion: Results of the different techniques suggest a possible contribution to facilitatory neuromodulation of the motoneurons at the cervical spine level. Significance: The occurrence of enhanced excitability after tsDCS suggests potential application in individuals with partial corticospinal fiber impairment affecting hand motor function
Social dimensions as resources in promoting academic well-being: the case study of the University of Foggia
No full textRecently, scholars have focused more on changes in higher education, leading to significant insights into the working lives of academics and certain related processes, such as stress or well-being. The interest in academia is also justified by the role of universities as institutions that promote health and well-being, serving as a bridge between society, the world of work, and the local community. This study aims to identify social factors that can enhance the well-being of academic workers (lecturers and technical–administrative staff), highlighting how processes linked to social identity, based on the dynamics of identification with a territory or an organization, can serve as resources that promote well-being. Researchers conducted the survey on 198 workers at the University of Foggia (South Italy). Correlation and reliability assessments were first performed between the variables. Finally, a SEM study was completed. The goodness of fit of the model seems to be sufficient. The social aspects examined in the study, namely, organization identification, territorial well-being, and place attachment, were positively and significantly correlated with general well-being. Findings of the study demonstrated that for teaching and technical–administrative staff, among the key components for enhancing well-being in the academic setting was the social dimension of relationships, understood both inside and outside the university. Therefore, acting the belonging process to an area, implementing and strengthening relations with the social actors involved, as well as on the sense of belonging and identification with an organization, can have precise impact in enhancing well-being