331 research outputs found
Assessing Gender Equality in Italian Animal Science: A Case Study on Academic Careers and Research Outcomes
No full textThis paper focuses on gender issues within the Italian Animal Science and Production Association (ASPA), which includes both academic and non-academic researchers involved in animal sciences. Data from the association’s archives in 2023 and bibliometric data obtained from Scopus and Web of Science were used. This study highlighted how within the ASPA and in that part of the academic realm falling within the field of animal science, a noticeable gender gap still exists, albeit decreasing over time at a very slow pace. There is clear vertical segregation, with a minority of women occupying full professor positions, and horizontal segregation with a low percentage of women involved in animal science disciplines closer to STEM fields, such as “Animal breeding and genetics”. At the bibliometric level, gender differences in bibliometric indicators are observed, favouring men, although these differences are not significant when considering the academic position, scientific sector, and age. In the official journal of the ASPA (Italian Journal of Animal Science), women are under-represented in prestigious positions such as first, last, and corresponding authors. Scientific societies, academic institutions, and research organizations are called upon to do their part to accelerate the process of overcoming these inequalities
Decision-making, risk-taking, and divergent thinking: differences between Italians and the US
No full textToday's society is characterized by complexity and uncertainty. Risk dominates individual and social consciousness, increasing the challenge of answering the question, “How do people make decisions?” (Nyhlen and Liden, 2014). Several variables are known to influence decision-making (DM) process and
styles, including uncertainty avoidance and tolerance (Hofstede, 2007) as well as creativity (particularly Divergent Thinking, DT), although the data are controversial (Collins & Koeklin, 2012; Crepaldi et al., 2024
Expression of HLA class I antigens in human tumors and their involvement in tumor growth.
No full textA decreased expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigens is a common feature of many experimental and human tumors and can often be correlated with malignancy grade. In fact, reduction of class I antigens is associated in most tumors with an enhanced ability to elude immune surveillance. Loss of HLA-A,B,C antigens ranges from a decrease in the percentage of A,B,C-positive cells to selective loss of particular antigens and total loss of class I molecule expression. In man, this has been documented in melanomas, carcinomas, lymphomas, neuroblastoma and acute leukemias. The reduction in membrane antigens is generally associated with a parallel fall in immunoprecipitable intracellular proteins and the corresponding mRNAs in the absence of structural changes in the coding genes. The literature concerning the above mentioned topics is reviewed and discussed
L'educazione finanziaria per potenziare le competenze di progettazione dei soggetti autori di reato
No full textIl presente articolo descrive un percorso di educazione economico e finanziaria, "Nulla osta per una progettazione consapevole", ideato per la popolazione carceraria che attraverso l’utilizzo di una metodologia interattiva e di un gioco di società (Projetto), ha l’intento di pro-muovere la consapevolezza dei soggetti autori di reato nella progettazione del loro futuro lavorativo, favorendo l’autovalutazione e l’automonitoraggio delle condizioni di fattibilità di un proprio progetto personale. L’articolo presenta anche una descrizione sintetica della prima rea-lizzazione di tale percorso presso la sezione maschile della casa di reclusione di Bollate e le ri-flessioni emerse in conclusione.The current article describes a training in financial education, “Nulla osta per una progettazione consapevole”, proposed to a prison population. This training, through an interactive methodology and the use of a board game (Proj€tto), aims to increase prisoners’ awareness in planning their future working activity, promoting the self-assessment and self-monitoring of the feasibility conditions of their own future project. The article alsopresents a synthetic description of the first edition of this training in the 32male section of Prison of Bollate (Milan) and reflections emerged from it
Where Are Goats Going? The Future of Goats for Farming and Other Purposes
No full textGoats are a species of growing interest all over the world, and their role is evolving beyond their mere use for production purposes, now including also educational, therapeutic, recreational, and companion purposes. Most of the goats are located in developing countries, where farming conditions are often challenging for their welfare. At the same time, welfare-friendly production systems, such as extensive and organic systems, are spreading in developed countries in response to consumers’ demand, with positive effects on goats’ welfare. Nowadays, the species is facing a number of environmental challenges, such as climate change and the return of large predators, for which it is necessary to implement proper management and breeding strategies. New welfare issues are emerging in relation to the increasing presence of goats in zoos, pet farms, schools, sanctuaries, and private settings, as people interacting with goats might not always be sufficiently informed on how to manage these animals. Information and training of people who take care of goats should therefore be strongly encouraged, in order to guarantee that animals receive adequate care
Where Do Goats Come From?
No full textThis chapter describes the history and biodiversity of the goat species, whose worldwide distribution demonstrates its great adaptability to a wide range of environmental conditions. We explain the genomic evidence clarifying the contribution of wild ancestors, the dynamics of the domestication process, and the post-domestication evolutionary history of this species, also reviewing the signals that both natural and human-mediated selection have left in goats’ genomes. Animal welfare is related to the mental and physical state of a single subject, whereas genomic tools deal with populations. Hence, in the context of genetics, the concept of “fitness” depends on the interaction between genotype/phenotype and environments and is estimated as the individual’s contribution of descendants to the next generation. During the domestication process, goats adapted to a new environment created by human activities and that differed substantially from the natural conditions in which they evolved. Similar to what happens in the natural context, also under anthropogenic conditions an increase in fitness comes at a cost, i.e., the morphological and physiological changes induced by the adaptation to human management and to the new environmental and nutritional conditions, which likely generated stress in the animals, particularly at the beginning of the process
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