University of Bari Aldo Moro
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Evidence of Cross‐Cultural Differences in Maternal Mind‐Mindedness
No full textCross-cultural research on maternal mind-mindedness- the proclivity to view the child as a mental agent-can enhance our understanding of caregiving determinants and children's social-cognitive variations across cultures. However, cross-cultural studies on mind-mindedness remain limited. To address this gap, we examined mothers' use of appropriate (AMRCs) and non-attuned (NAMRCs) mind-related comments in Italy (N = 88), Germany (N = 64), and the Netherlands (N = 97) with their 12-month-old infants (N = 249; 133 girls and 116 boys). Cluster analysis revealed three maternal profiles: low use of both AMRCs and NAMRCs, high use of both AMRCs and NAMRCs, and high AMRCs with low NAMRCs. Almost half of the German mothers belonged to the first profile, most Italian mothers to the second, and Dutch mothers were equally distributed across the three. These findings highlight, for the first time, cultural influences on maternal mind-mindedness within Western countries and emphasize the need to move beyond a simplistic West-East comparison, recognizing that cultural differences can be observed even within similar contexts, and call for culturally sensitive psychoeducational interventions to enhance caregivers' mentalizing skills
How Do Vegetation Biomass, Area, and Shape Attributes Influence the Cooling Effect of Urban Green Spaces?
No full textDespite the increasing volume of research exploring the impact of various characteristics of urban green spaces (UGS) on land surface temperature (LST), findings remain inconsistent, particularly in arid climatic zones. In this research, we examined UGS change and their temperature and analyzed the relationship between pertinent variables of vegetation biomass, area, and shape of green patches and LST in Karaj city, an Iranian semi-arid urban area in 2000 and 2020. Linear regressions were used to model the relationship between green patches’ variables and LST. The results showed that vegetation biomass of green patches was more effective in reducing temperature in comparison with area and shape complexity. Moreover, larger patches with more vegetation biomass and higher shape complexity showed lower temperatures. These results can guide urban landscape optimization by providing a clear understanding of which factors contribute most significantly to temperature mitigation in arid and semi-arid urban areas. For instance, areas identified as green but thermally not significantly cold need to be prioritized for improvements such as planting denser vegetation or introducing more heat resilient species
L'espressione e la localizzazione dell'Acquaporina-4 modulano le risposte evocate dagli odoranti nell'epitelio olfattivo e l'attività neuronale basale nel bulbo olfattivo, influenzando il comportamento olfattivo
No full textL'Acquaporina-4 (AQP4) è un canale selettivo per l'acqua espresso nelle cellule gliali in tutto il sistema nervoso centrale, nonché il principale canale per l'acqua espresso nel neuropilo e coinvolto in diverse funzioni fisiologiche, che vanno dalla regolazione dell'omeostasi idrica, attraverso l'adeguamento del volume cellulare, alla modulazione dell'attività neuronale. Diverse isoforme di AQP4 sono espresse negli astrociti del bulbo olfattivo (OB) e nelle cellule simil-gliali conosciute come cellule di sostegno (SUSs) dell'epitelio olfattivo (OE). È interessante notare che i topi privi di tutte le isoforme di AQP4 mostrano un’abilità olfattiva compromessa.
Per questo motivo, il nostro obiettivo è stato investigare il ruolo fisiologico di due isoforme di AQP4: l'isoforma perivascolare AQP4ex e l'isoforma che forma l'Orthogonal Array of Particles (OAPs) (AQP4M23) nell'OE e nell'OB.
Abbiamo indagato l'impatto delle isoforme di AQP4 sull'OE, trovando una riduzione del numero di neuroni sensoriali olfattivi maturi (OSNs) nei topi privi di AQP4ex (AQP4ex-KO) o di OAPs (OAP-null). Inoltre, il numero ridotto di OSNs, SUSs e cellule basali globose (GBCs) suggerisce che le isoforme di AQP4 siano coinvolte nel mantenimento di un microambiente ottimale nell'OE, preservando la densità cellulare. Successivamente, abbiamo esplorato il ruolo di AQP4 nella modulazione delle risposte evocate dagli odoranti nell'OE attraverso l'uso dell'elettro-olfattogramma, rilevando risposte ridotte agli odoranti nei topi privi di isoforme di AQP4, insieme a una ridotta attività neuronale basale nell'OB dei topi OAP-null. Inoltre, le caratteristiche degli astrociti risultano drasticamente modificate nei due modelli KO sia durante l'attività basale che durante quella stimolata.
L'analisi delle abilità olfattive ha rivelato deficit nel cookie test nei topi AQP4ex-KO e OAP-null. Inoltre, i topi AQP4ex-KO hanno mostrato una ridotta capacità di discriminare tra diversi odoranti, mentre i topi OAP-null non sono stati in grado di riconoscerli come distinti. Anche l'apprendimento olfattivo associativo e la preferenza a diversi odoranti risultano modificati nei due modelli KO.
Nel complesso, i nostri dati evidenziano il ruolo delle isoforme di AQP4 nella modulazione dell'omeostasi neuronale, influenzando le risposte evocate dagli odoranti e la densità cellulare nell'OE. Inoltre, le isoforme di AQP4 sono coinvolte nella modulazione della morfologia degli astrociti, influenzando dunque l'attività neuronale nell'OB. Questi dati fanno luce sul ruolo delle SUSs e degli astrociti nel mediare questi processi e forniscono una base per una comprensione più approfondita della loro funzione nel controllo della funzionalità dell'OE e dell'OBAquaporin-4 (AQP4) is a water-selective channel expressed in glial cells throughout the central nervous system. It serves as the main water channel in the neuropil, and is involved in various physiological functions, ranging from regulating water homeostasis by adjusting cell volume to modulating neuronal activity. Different isoforms of AQP4 are expressed in the astrocytes of the olfactory bulb (OB) and glial-like cells known as sustentacular cells (SUSs) of the olfactory epithelium (OE). Interestingly, mice lacking all AQP4 isoforms exhibit impaired olfactory abilities. Hence, we aim to uncover the physiological role of two AQP4 isoforms, the perivascular AQP4ex isoform and the Orthogonal Array of Particle (OAP)-forming isoform (AQP4M23) in the OE and OB. Primarily, we investigated the impact of AQP4 isoforms on OE, finding reduced levels of mature olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) in mice lacking AQP4ex (AQP4ex-KO) or OAPs (OAP-null). Moreover, the reduced number of OSNs, SUSs, and globose basal cells (GBCs) suggests that AQP4 isoforms are involved in maintaining an optimal microenvironment in the OE, preserving the overall cell density. Then, we explored the role of AQP4 in modulating odorant-evoked responses in the OE through electro-olfactogram recordings, finding reduced odorant responses in mice lacking AQP4 isoforms, along with a reduced basal neuronal activity in the OB of OAP-null. Furthermore, astrocytes’ features are drastically modified in the two KO models when under basal and stimulated activity. Olfactory ability assessments revealed deficits in odor-guided food-seeking test in AQP4ex-KO and OAP-null mice. Furthermore, AQP4ex-KO mice showed a reduced ability to discriminate between different odorants, while OAP-null mice were unable to recognize them as distinct. Moreover, associative olfactory learning and odorant preference are even modified in the two KO models. Overall, our data highlight the role of AQP4 isoforms in modulating neuronal homeostasis, affecting odorant-evoked responses and cell density in the OE. On the other hand, AQP4’ isoforms are even involved in modulating the astrocytes’ morphology by affecting the neuronal activity in the OB. These results shed light on SUSs and astrocytes involvement in mediating these processes and establish a foundation for further understanding their role in controlling OE and OB physiolog
Teacher instructional practices and strategies for student self-assessment
No full textAs a fundamental component of formative assessment, student self-assessment is considered a sine qua non condition for autonomous learners. Despite the extensive body of literature regarding principles and practice guidelines for student self-assessment, scant is the evidence about what instructional practices teachers use in classroom to promote student self-assessment. This paper reports on a research study aimed to analyse how teachers approach practices and strategies to actively encourage students to self-assess their learning. A questionnaire on self-assessment instructional practices was administered to a sample of primary- and middle-school teachers in Italy. Drawing on data collected from 246 teachers, we found that teachers tend to use different practices to promote student’ self-assessment, although they resort more frequently to self-reflection strategies. This study represents a useful step in understanding teacher assessment practice and thinking about education paths for teacher assessment literacy
Physiological and molecular responses of two contrasting drought resistance pistachio interspecific hybrid rootstocks
Get PDFPistachio (Pistacia vera L.) is a valuable nut crop that faces significant challenges due to drought stress, which can severely impact its growth, yield, and quality. Understanding the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying drought tolerance is crucial for developing resilient pistachio rootstock. In this study, among nine-month-old saplings of seven clonal interspecies hybrids of Pistacia atlantica × Pistacia integerrima, two contrasting hybrids, ‘C4-2’ (sensitive) and ‘C9-4’ (resistant), were assessed for their morphological, physiological and molecular responses to 30 days of withholding irrigation. Water withholding induced alterations in root architecture in the resistant clone, accompanied by an increase in compatible solutes, including glycine betaine, proline, and total soluble carbohydrates. Enzyme activities of guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT) were elevated in the resistant clone under water stress. Both clones exhibited increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) during the stress period, with these changes being more pronounced in C4-2 compared to C9-4. In the resistant clone, both CDPK and ZEP genes were upregulated, suggesting their role in enhancing stress signaling and osmotic regulation under drought stress. The upregulation of CDPK indicates its involvement in calcium-mediated signaling pathways, which likely contribute to improved drought tolerance. Similarly, DHN expression was strongly influenced by CDPK activity, further emphasizing its role in maintaining cellular integrity during stress conditions. The findings provide valuable insights for developing more resilient pistachio rootstocks capable of thriving in water-limited environments. Specifically, C9-4 demonstrated significant drought tolerance in this study. Nonetheless, further research is necessary to validate the broader applicability of these findings and to evaluate its performance across various stress environments
Cooperative Banking for a sustainable Social Economy: Insights from Italy
No full textPurpose: This paper aims to assess the dual objective of financial and social efficiency with a focus on Raiffeisen Cooperative Banks in
Italy.
Method: An input-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis was used to estimate efficiency scores for each Raiffeisen Cooperative Bank. In
the second stage, a regression analysis is performed to relate efficiency scores to factors that investigate their influence on relative efficiency
in terms of both financial performance and social impact.
Findings: The study's findings revealed significant inefficiencies from a social perspective, while financial efficiency is generally strong,
there is room for improvement in social efficiency.
Implications: Cooperative banks are crucial in promoting social well-being and sustainable development by aligning operations with the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A commitment to social impact should represent a strategic priority, not merely stated in principle
but operationalized through measurable and accountable indicators. Raiffeisen Cooperative Banks should harness technological innovations
to elevate the effectiveness of their commercial activities. At the same time, they need to use these advancements to maintain and
strengthen client relationships across both digital and face-to-face channels, ensuring they remain responsive to the social dynamics and
specific needs of the local communities they serve.
Originality: The novelty of this research lies in its focus on a socio-economic sector in Italy that has not yet been studied in its dual
dimensions. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the only study that examines the social impact - and consequently the mission
coherence - of Raiffeisen Cooperative Banks, emphasizing the importance of the social mission in the sustainable development promoted
by the cooperative banking system
Data Subjects in European Private Law
No full textAimed at bridging a crucial gap in legal education, Uncovering European Private Law provides a comprehensive introduction to the evolving field of European private law. This innovative handbook addresses the interplay of national, European, and transnational rules governing relationships between private actors, including individuals and businesses. Designed with students in mind, this volume not only covers foundational concepts but also explores cutting-edge developments in areas such as contract, tort, property, and company law.
What sets this handbook apart is its contextual approach. By integrating societal and theoretical perspectives, it encourages students to critically evaluate private law's role in addressing global challenges like digitalization, sustainability, and globalization. Gathering the expertise of over twenty international law scholars, the handbook reflects the expertise of academics deeply engaged in teaching and research
Firms’ Innovation activities and Human Capital
No full textThe aim of this paper is to explore the effect of general and specific human capital on firms’ innovative activities across a set of countries which we classified into three groups: European Union countries, EU candidate and non-EU countries. Using cross-section data from the World Bank Enterprise Surveys conducted between 2018 and 2020, the results show a positive relation between specific human capital (training) and propensity to innovate, controlling for several firms’ characteristics such as employees’ education, R&D and managers’ experience. We also find a positive effect when considering other definitions of training
Beyond Peat: Wood Fiber and Two Novel Organic Byproducts as Growing Media—A Systematic Review
No full textThis review critically examines three agro-industry renewable byproducts—wood fiber, coffee silverskin, and brewer’s spent grain—as partial peat substitutes. We aimed to comprehensively analyze their origin, processing methods, current applications, and key physical, hydrological, and chemical properties relevant to horticultural use. In soilless culture, wood fiber can be used as a stand-alone substrate. When incorporated at 30–50% (v/v) in peat mixtures, it supports plant growth comparable to peat; however, higher proportions may restrict water and nutrient availability. Coffee silverskin demonstrates high water retention and nutrient content, but its inherent phytotoxicity requires pre-treatment (e.g., co-composting); at concentrations up to 20%, it shows promise for potted ornamental crops. Brewer’s spent grain is nutrient-rich but demands careful management due to its rapid decomposition and potential salinity issues; inclusion rates around 10% have shown beneficial effects. In conclusion, when used appropriately in blends, these bio-based byproducts represent viable alternatives to reduce peat dependence in vegetable and ornamental cultivation, contributing to more sustainable horticultural practices. Future research should optimize pre-treatment methods for coffee silverskin and brewer’s spent grain, investigate long-term stability in diverse cropping systems, and explore novel combinations with other organic waste streams to develop circular horticultural substrates