170,572 research outputs found
Introduzione
No full textIl presente volume nasce dalla sinergia tra associazioni, istituzioni e ONG sviluppata nell’ambito della XVII settimana d’azione contro i razzismi, organizzata dall’Ufficio Nazionale Antidiscriminazioni della Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri. Nel testo sono riportate le trascrizioni delle relazioni tenute da docenti, militanti e practitioners che si occupano di richieste di protezione internazionale per motivi di identità sessuale durante il Convegno “I Have a Dream – Studi e strumenti per il lavoro con migranti LGBTI”.
La prima sezione raccoglie gli interventi delle istituzioni a vari livelli e delle organizzazioni non governative, dalla Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri, alla Regione, fino al Comune e dell’Alto Commissariato delle Nazioni Unite per i Rifugiati. Gli interventi sono intervallati da commenti e riflessioni critiche.
La seconda sezione contiene gli studi e le ricerche sul tema delle migrazioni queer in vari settori scientifico-disciplinari, dal- la sociologia, all’antropologia al diritto. Pur affrontando il tema prevalentemente in relazione alle migrazioni forzate, quindi alle richieste di asilo, sono riportati anche i risultati di riflessioni teoriche ed evidenze empiriche su migranti di prima e seconda generazione, non necessariamente asilanti o rifugiati. Ogni saggio breve è corredato da quattro testi di riferimento bibliografico.
Nella terza sezione sono riportate le relazioni di persone migranti LGBTIQ attiviste e di figure professionali che lavorano negli sportelli per richiedenti la protezione internazionale per motivi SOGIGESC
Minority stress in transgender people: A moderated mediation model of stigma, internalized transphobia, resilience, and health
No full textIntroduction: Transgender people often experience stigma because of their gender nonconformity, and this might negatively affect their mental health through internalized transphobia. The ability of coping with stigma depends on protective factors, such as resilience, which might reduce the detrimental effect of stigma on mental health. This study was aimed at applied, as an extension of the Minority Stress Perspective (MSP), the Psychological Mediation Framework (PMF) to a sample of Italian transgender people.
Method: This study assessed different hypotheses based both on MSP and PMF. The main hypothesis concerns a moderated mediation model in which the indirect effect of anti-transgender discrimination on mental health through shame and alienation as indicators of internalized transphobia was hypothesized as being moderated by resilience. All the study’s hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling.
Results: The results suggest that alienation mediated the relationship between anti-transgender discrimination and both anxiety and depression, bs = .91 and .60, 95% C.I.s [.17, 2.28] and [.08, 1.56], respectively, whereas shame operated as a mediator of the relationship between anti-transgender discrimination and depression, b = .55, 95% C.I. [.08, 1.55]. Additionally, only one significant moderated indirect effect was found, ω = -.70, 95% C.I. [-1.60, -.14], indicating that the indirect relation of anti-transgender discrimination with anxiety through alienation was conditional on low and moderate levels of resilience, bs = 1.73 and .96, 95% C.I.s [.54, 3.60] and [.22, 2.33].
Conclusion: The moderated-mediation model sheds light on psychological processes that lead both anti-transgender discrimination to affect mental health and protective factors to alleviate the negative effect of stigma on mental health. This model has important implications for clinical practice and psycho-social interventions to reduce stigma and stress
Heterosexist microaggressions, student academic experience and perception of campus climate: Findings from an Italian higher education context
No full textWhile overt instances of harassment and violence towards LGBQ+ individuals have decreased in recent years, subtler forms of heterosexism still shape the social and academic experience of students in higher education contexts. Such forms, defined as microaggressions, frequently include environmental slights that communicate hostile and derogatory messages about one's sexual-minority status. However, there is some evidence suggesting that environmental microaggressions have deleterious effects on all students, regardless of their sexual orientation. The aim of the current study was to examine how heterosexist environmental microaggressions on campus contributed to heterosexual and non-heterosexual students' negative perceptions of campus climate. We also analyzed whether the effect of microaggressions on campus climate was mediated by student social integration on campus. Data were collected in 2018 through an anonymous web-based survey that involved students from a large university of Southern Italy. The sample consisted of 471 students from 18 to 33 years old. Thirty-eight (8.1%) students self-identified as non-heterosexual. Measures included self-reported experiences of environmental microaggressions on campus, student degree of satisfaction with peer-group and student-faculty interactions, perceptions of faculty concern for student development, and of the overall campus climate. The structural equation model showed that heterosexist environmental microaggressions on campus were associated with negative perceptions of campus climate through lowered satisfaction with peer-group interactions and perceptions of faculty concern for student development, for both heterosexual and nonheterosexual students. Overall, the findings of this study suggest that heterosexist microaggressions within campus environments are negatively associated with students' perceptions of campus climate, regardless of their sexual orientation. Both faculty and peers play an important role in creating an environment that supports the inclusivity of diversity and fosters a greater sense of belonging to the campus community
Gender identity as a civil right: Vanguard of Argentina, “underdevelopment” of Italy
No full textIn this paper we are interested in highlighting differences between Argentina and Italy about recognition of LGBT civil rights. Regarding this matter, Argentina is certainly one of the most evolved country of Latin America. In May 2012, the Argentine Senate unanimously approved a reform of Civil Code, which guarantees the right of recognition of gender identity change, allowing freedom to change sex on ID card. The small solution (the change of name and gender on ID card without need of surgery and subsequent ruling of the Court) in this country is a real solution. In Argentina, the government takes on also the expenses related to hormone treatments and surgeries recognizing that “... gender identity is an intimate and personal experience which can correspond or not with the sex assigned at birth”. The law is consistent with the previous one - passed in 2010 - that allows marriage to same-sex couples, the first one in Latin America. The comparison with Italy cannot stand up. In our Country is till unthinkable even to allow gay civil unions and an anti-homophobia and transphobia law. Referring to transgenderism, the Italian law 164 was established in 1982: 30 years ago! Transgender Italian Movement considers that law very restricting because it legally recognizes transgender people just after undergone Sex Reassignment Surgery. That is expression of social rejection of transgender identity. Italian law seems to deny the right of individual freedom as it recognizes transgender people as mental “disordered” and not as human beings with human rights. Surgery appears the only way to avoid becoming a dead hand
Il ruolo del genere nel lavoro con gli uomini autori di violenza: Affetti e rappresentazioni dei professionisti della salute
No full textIl lavoro di contrasto alla violenza maschile contro le donne ha recentemente spostato il proprio focus dalla donna vittima di violenza all’uomo maltrattante. Questo cambio di paradigma ha portato all’implementazione di programmi di trattamento rivolti agli autori di violenza e all’impegno di professionisti uomini nel contrasto alla violenza. Il presente studio ha l’obiettivo di esplorare gli affetti e le rappresentazioni di 7 professionisti della salute (3 uomini e 4 donne) che si occupano di trattare uomini autori di violenza, con un focus specifico sul genere di appartenenza. L’analisi semiotica quali-quantitativa applicata alle interviste semi-strutturate analizzate tramite il software T-LAB ha consentito di individuare la presenza di 5 cluster: 1) Riconoscimento delle emozioni; 2) Posizionamento di genere; 3) Competenze lavorative; 4) Percezione del rapporto tra i generi; e 5) Rapporto con il lavoro. I risultati sembrano confermare che il genere di appartenenza degli operatori giochi un ruolo fondamentale nell’esperienza lavorativa con gli uomini maltrattanti
Safer school with near-UV technology: novel applications for environmental hygiene
No full textSystems capable of disinfecting air and surfaces could reduce the risk of infectious diseases transmission. Aim: to evalu-ate the effectiveness of near-UV LED ceiling lamps, with a wavelength of 405 nm, in improving environmental hygiene. Between November and December 2020, we conducted an experimental study having a pre-post design in a kindergarten room in Siena where 4 ceiling lamps with 405 nm LED technology were installed. Twice per day, sampling was performed before (T0) and after treatment with near-UV (T1). We used between 8 and 12 pairs of contact plates to sample at various random spots each day. Air samplings were also performed. The plates were incubated at 22 and 36 degrees C. Significance was set at 95% (p < 0.05). The mean level of Colony Forming Unit (CFU) at T(0) was 249 (95% CI 193.1 - 305.0) at 36 degrees C and 535.2 (374.3 - 696.1) at 22 degrees C. The reduction was significant at T(1): by 65% at 36 degrees C and, 72% at 22 degrees C. Also, for air contamination: 95.3% (98.4 & mdash;92.3). A dose threshold of about 5 J/cm2 was identified to have an 80% CFU abatement and remains nearly constant. The advantage of being able to use this technology in the presence of people is very important in the context of controlling environmental contamination. © 2023, The Author(s)
NEUROINFLAMMATORY BIOMARKERS: CLINICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS IN BIPOLAR DISORDER
No full textSeveral studies have attempted to identify the neuroinflammatory mechanisms of bipolar disorder, with the aim of understanding the degree to which these mechanisms could impact on the progression of the disease and on the efficacy of drug treatment. Most of the results pointed to a low-grade inflammatory state of central nervous system during the acute phases of bipolar disorder (depressive or manic episode). The present study aimed to evaluate the levels of protein C reactive (CRP) and leukocytes during the acute phase of bipolar disorder. Our hypothesis was that patients with bipolar disorder would show increased neuroinflammatory biomarkers during the acute phase of the disease. Therefore, we recruited 104 patients with bipolar disorder, consecutively admitted to our inpatient unit, and evaluated the blood levels of protein C reactive (CRP) and the white blood cell count at the following time points: 1) admission to the inpatient unit (T0), a setting where all patients are experiencing acute symptoms; 2) 7 ± 4 days after admission (T1), 3) in the stabilized-post-acute phase (T2).
Consistent with our hypothesis, we found significantly higher levels of inflammatory biomarkers at T0, compared to T1. T2 was performed on a smaller sample both for CRP (n=40) and leukocytes (n=57). Specifically, at T0 we found that 21,5% of subjects had CRP values greater than 0,5 mg/dl, and 11,5 % of subjects had leukocyte alteration. At T1: we found that 14,4 % of subjects had CRP values greater than 0,5 mg/dl, and 13,46% of subjects had leukocyte alteration. At T2, 72,7% of patients who had abnormal CRP and 75% of patients who had abnormal leukocytes at T0, reverted to normal values.
Patients who were already in treatment with one or more mood stabilizers (valproic acid, carbamazepine, lithium) at T0 had mean values of CRP of 0,22 mg/dl (DS ±0,32). Patients who were not already treated with mood stabilizers (valproic acid, carbamazepine, lithium) at T0 had mean values of CRP of 0,42 mg/dl (DS ±0,52). The difference was statistically significant (p=0.026).
CRP and leukocytes average values tended to decrease from T0 to T2 and this was statistically significant (p 0,0036 for CRP and p 0,0039 for leukocytes) for those patients who showed abnormal values upon intake to the inpatient unit. Patients with increased leukocytes at T0 and started a mood stabilizers therapy upon admission, showed a statistically significant decrease in leukocytes count (p 0,0037).
We conclude that a sub-population of bipolar patients shows a low-grade of systemic inflammation during the acute phase of illness. Mood stabilizers may exert a protective role against CRP and leukocytes alterations, as suggested by the lower levels of CRP and lower degree of leukocyte alteration in patients who were already treated with this drugs at intake to the inpatient unit and as suggested by their improvement in those patients who were not already treated with mood stabilizers and started these medications at admission. It remains to be established if the improvement was due to the mood stabilizers or, more in general, to the amelioration of their psychiatric symptoms.
The limits of our study include: relatively small sample size, short duration, inability to control for all the other variables that may have influenced our study results
Structural determinants of salmon calcitonin bioactivity -the role of the leu-based amphipatic alfa-helix
No full textSalmon calcitonin (sCT) forms an amphipathic helix in the region 9-19, with the C-terminal decapeptide interacting with the helix (Amodeo, P., Motta, A., Strazzullo, G., Castiglione Morelli, M. A. (1999) J. Biomol. NMR 13, 161-174). To uncover the structural requirements for the hormone bioactivity, we investigated several sCT analogs. They were designed so as to alter the length of the central helix by removal and/or replacement of flanking residues and by selectively mutating or deleting residues inside the helix. The helix content was assessed by circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopies; the receptor binding affinity in human breast cancer cell line T 47D and the in vivo hypocalcemic activity were also evaluated. In particular, by NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics calculations we studied Leu(23),Ala(24)-sCT in which Pro(23) and Arg(24) were replaced by helix inducing residues. Compared with sCT, it assumes a longer amphipathic alpha-helix, with decreased binding affinity and one-fifth of the hypocalcemic activity, therefore supporting the idea of a relationship between a definite helix length and bioactivity. From the analysis of other sCT mutants, we inferred that the correct helix length is located in the 9-19 region and requires long range interactions and the presence of specific regions of residues within the sequence for high binding affinity and hypocalcemic activity. Taken together, the structural and biological data identify well defined structural parameters of the helix for sCT bioactivity
Identity complexity and integration in lesbian, gay, bisexual and heterosexual adolescents and emerging adults: Implications for clinical practice
No full textThe present study aimed at assessing whether differences exist in identity complexity and integration between 31 lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) and 33 heterosexual youths (mean age 21.47, SD = 3.27), both Italian and US. Participants completed a newly created questionnaire, the Identity Labels and Life Contexts Questionnaire (ILLCQ), which assesses the interplay between identity dimensions and life contexts. The ILLCQ assesses identity integration on three levels: (a) integration among the different domains of identity in their intersection with the various life contexts (assessed through salience and centrality); (b) integration between an individual’s self-definition and the definition of self made by others (perceived self-recognition); and (c) the integration between how the person perceives her/himself to be and the way she/he shows her/himself to others. Results suggest that identity salience varies significantly across life contexts for both LGB and heterosexual youths. The only significant difference between the LGB and heterosexual groups was higher salience and centrality of the sexual orientation domain for LGB youths. Sexuality represents a core identity domain for LGB participants, and perhaps less so for heterosexual participants. LGB youths reported lower general identity recognition from other people. Implications for clinical practice are discussed
La cittadinanza e l'immigrazione. Idee per una nuova disciplina italiana
No full textIl saggio analizza i possibili riferimenti di una nuova disciplina dei modi d'acquisto della cittadinanza in un contesto caratterizzato dall'immigrazione di massa e dalla crisi dei connotati della tradizionale idea di nazion
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