Go-no go avoidance discriminations in rats with simple “go” and compound “no go” signals: Stimulus modality and stimulus intensity

Four groups of 16 rats were trained in a go-no go discrimination with symmetrical negative reinforcement (active-passive avoidance task). A 2 by 2 design was used with stimulus combinations as one factor [light-go, noise/light-no go, (L⁺ NL^?) vs noise-go, light/noise-no go (N⁺ LN^?)] and noise intensity as the other factor (90 dB, high, vs 70 dB, low). The two N⁺ LN^? groups learned both active and passive avoidance responses much more rapidly than the L⁺ NL^? groups. In later phases of training, high noise intensity facilitated passive avoidance in the L⁺ NL^? condition and exerted a slight effect in the opposite direction in the other condition. While the differences in active avoidance learning were the same as in previous work on light and noise CSs, the interactions between stimuli of different modalities appeared to be more important than stimulus modality or stimulus intensity per se in determining rate of passive avoidance learning.     

Some Cognitive Difficulties Related to the Representations of two Major Concepts of Set Theory

The main focus of this paper is on the study of students' conceptual understanding of two major concepts of Set Theory – the concepts of inclusion and belonging. To do so, we analyze two experimental classroom episodes. Our analysis rests on the theoretical idea that, from an ontogenetic viewpoint, the cognitive activity of representation of mathematical objects draws its meaning from different semiotic systems framed by their own cultural context. Our results suggest that the successful accomplishment of knowledge attainment seems to be linked to the students' ability to suitably distinguish and coordinate the meanings and symbols of the various semiotic systems (e.g. verbal, diagrammatic and symbolic) that encompass their mathematical experience.     

Serving Others and Gaining Experience: A Study of University Students Participation in Service Learning

Unlike other countries, Italy has no 'service learning', the method enabling students to join accredited voluntary organisations in order to gain experience in serving others. An investigation was conducted in 2006 and 2007 to understand the opportunity that service learning provides to young adults, community and volunteer associations. The objectives were, first, to determine whether there is a need to forge links between the university and the world of volunteer work and, second, to describe the specific areas of action in the local context. A total of 603 video-recorded interviews were conducted. The findings show that there is a need to create a network for helping institutions, neighbourhoods and young adults to assess the demand and provide an organised response for educational and community needs. As a result, starting from this year, Turin University will be operating the first service learning in Italy.     

Power production of the lower limbs in flutter-kick swimming

This study aimed to compare the power produced by the flutter-kick action at different swimming velocities. Eighteen high-level male swimmers completed a maximal 15-m flutter-kicking sprint and underwent two tests (one passive and one with maximal flutter-kicking) in which they were towed at six velocities ranging from 1.0 to 2.0 m/s. Power values were computed for each velocity, and selected kinematic indices were evaluated at 1.2 and 2.0 m/s. The highest power (54 ± 8 W) was observed at the velocity at which the drag equaled the propulsive force (1.27 ± 0.08 m/s), which was similar to that recorded in the flutter-kicking sprint (1.26 ± 0.09 m/s). Thereafter, power decreased significantly with increasing velocity, up to 17 ± 10 W (at 2.0 m/s). The angle between the horizontal and the line connecting the highest and lowest points of the malleolus trajectory was significantly wider at 1.2 m/s than at 2.0 m/s (75 ± 4° vs. 63 ± 6°). This could explain the change of power with velocity because all the other kinematic indices considered were similar at the two velocities. These results suggest that the propulsive role of the flutter-kick increases as the swimming velocity decreases.     

Motion analysis of front crawl swimming applying CAST technique by means of automatic tracking

Abstract

Kinematic analysis of swimming is of interest to improve swimming performances. Although the video recordings of underwater swimmers are commonly used, the available methodologies are rarely precise enough to adequately estimate the three dimensional (3D) joint kinematics. This is mainly due to difficulties in obtaining the required kinematic parameters (anatomical landmarks, joint centres and reference frames) in the swimming environment. In this paper we propose a procedure to investigate the right upper limb’s 3D kinematics during front crawl swimming in terms of all elbow and shoulder degrees of freedom (three rotations of the shoulder, two of the elbow). The method is based upon the Calibrated Anatomical Systems Technique (CAST), a technique widely used in clinics, which allows estimation of anatomical landmarks of interest even when they are not directly visible. An automatic tracking technique was adopted. The intra-operator repeatability of the manual tracking was also assessed. The root mean squared difference of three anatomical landmarks, processed five times, is always lower than 8 mm. The mean of the root mean squared difference between trajectories obtained with the different methodologies was found to be lower than 20 mm. Results showed that complete 3D kinematics of at least twice as many frames than without CAST can be reconstructed faster and more precisely.     

Knowledge flows - Analyzing the core literature of innovation, entrepreneurship and science and technology studies

This paper applies network analysis to a citation database that combines the key references in the fields of Entrepreneurship (ENT), Innovation Studies (INN) and Science and Technology Studies (STS). We find that citations between the three fields are relatively scarce, as compared to citations within the fields. As a result of this tendency, a cluster analysis of the publications in the database yields a partition that is largely the same as the a priori division into the three fields. We take this as evidence that the three fields, although they share research topics and themes, have developed largely on their own and in relative isolation from one another. We also apply a so-called ‘main path’ analysis aimed at outlining the main research trajectories in the field. Here we find important differences between the fields. In STS, we find a cumulative trajectory that develops in a more or less linear fashion over time. In INN, we find a major shift of attention in the main trajectory, from macroeconomic issues to business-oriented research. ENT develops relatively late, and shows a trajectory that is still in its infancy.     

In vitro diagnostic company recalls and medical laboratory practices: an Italian case

Introduction

In vitro human diagnostic (IVD) company recalls are a common practice aimed to either minimize a potential error or eliminate an existing failure. In this case report, we aim to provide a critical analysis of a recent IVD recall and to provide a practical framework about what to do when an IVD company recalls product(s) based on the International Organization for Standardization - ISO 15189:2012 standard.

Case report

In 2014, Abbott Laboratories® (Green Oaks, IL) published an urgent field safety notice regarding a product recall (Architect Intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) Assay List Number 8K25) with immediate action required. The IVD company explained the reasons for the recall as follows: i) Abbott has confirmed that a performance shift in the Architect Intact PTH assay has the potential to generate falsely elevated results on patient samples; ii) results generated with impacted lots may demonstrate a positive shift relative to those generated with previous reagent and/or calibrator lots. This issue may also impact established Architect Intact PTH reference ranges; iii) the magnitude of shift averages approximately 13% to 45%; iv) Abbott Architect Intact PTH controls do not detect the shift; and v) all current reagent, calibrator, and control inventory are impacted. The recall could have resulted in ~40,000 inaccurate laboratory tests reported by 18 laboratories from Italy (Lombardy region).

Conclusion

IVD company recalls have a serious impact on the patient safety and require a thorough investigation and responsible approach to minimize the possible damage. Medical laboratories accredited according to the ISO 15189 standard have procedures in place to manage such situations and ensure that patient safety is maintained when such recalls are issued.Key words: clinical laboratory techniques, patient safety, laboratory variability, reference standards, quality control, parathyroid hormone     

The researcher in Italy: A profession in search of recognition

This article deals with the “teething, problems” of the profession of researchers in Italy.This group of professionals in fact has grown very rapidly over the last two decades, but they still seem to be striving to find their proper place in the organization they work in and recognition from society in general. At the same time they have acquired a sufficiently self-awareness as an emerging group and started claiming their own “rights”.The article examines some problems researchers encounter in their specific working setting (industry, university, public research agencies), such as mobility, status, and career prospects.Mobility within the Italian science and technology (S&T) system is very low and is essentially one way, from industry. the professions, and public research agencies, to university, This peculiarity is very closely linked to the high prestige enjoyed by university professors in this country. Moreover. recent laws concerning university teaching staff havede facto saturated the permanent staff, severely restricting both mobility to university and the intake of new blood.An indication of the self-awareness of the profession may he found in the mobilisation of researchers in public research agencies and their claim to their “ecological niche”.It is concluded that researchers, who may he considered a substantially homogeneous group, feel mature and numerous enough to demand the slalus and prestige adequate to their contribution to a modern society; it is also asserted that the delay in granting recognition is due to the organizations and institutions.     

The white colour in Etruscan polychromes on terracotta: Spectroscopic identification of kaolin

The present work reports on a spectroscopic study of white colour samples collected from Etruscan polychromes on terracotta from the Cerveteri area. In particular, both white-on-red potsherds of the Orientalising period and high-value polychromes of the Archaic period were considered. The white pigment, a fundamental element in this class of artworks, was not clearly identified in previous archaeological and analytical studies, although the use of kaolin was tentatively proposed. Therefore, samples from the Monte Sughereto kaolin quarry in the Cerveteri area were also studied. The results of detailed analyses carried out using micro-Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy first show that the quarry material is a high-purity kaolin containing quartz. Raman results strongly suggest that the same kind of kaolin was employed in the polychromes of the Archaic period. As to white-on red potsherds, infrared results have a key role in showing that the white pigment is a kaolin closely corresponding to the quarry material since a particular kaolin polytype (dickite) is dominant in both cases. The present work thus provides the first definitive identification of the white pigment used in Etruscan polychromes on terracotta from the Cerveteri area, and suggests that the source of kaolin might be the Monte Sughereto quarry.     

Degree flexibility and university drop-out: The Italian experience

How to reduce university drop-out is a topic of increasing concern. Although several measures have been the subject of numerous debates, little attention has been given to those impacting on the duration, structure and content of the supply of university education. This paper looks at the Italian experience to see what can be learnt about the effectiveness of these measures. In 2001, the Italian university system embarked on a process of reform that introduced greater flexibility in the degree programme structure along with a wider range of services offered to students. Employing a decomposition analysis, we find that this reform is associated with changes in student behaviour leading to a decline in drop-out risk.