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Che la storia non sia costruita esclusivamente dal contributo degli storici è un fatto noto: vari media, in primis il cinema, sono attivamente coinvolti nella produzione di oggetti culturali di carattere storico che incorporano - e a cui si legano - una varietà di immaginari, discorsi e pratiche (Chapman, 2016). Queste forme di popular history possiedono un grande potenziale proprio perché sono accessibili, coinvolgenti e ampiamente sperimentate. Negli ultimi anni in particolare i digital historical games (i.e giochi digitali che danno un senso alla storia) hanno guadagnato grande notorietà, diventando uno dei medium principali di interazione con il passato: si consideri ad esempio la serie di Assassin’s Creed (Ubisoft, 2007-2020), che dal lancio ha venduto oltre 155 milioni di copie in tutto il mondo. Videogiochi di questo tipo, sebbene vari e progettati con obiettivi e stili differenti, consentono agli utenti di negoziare i significati e configurare attivamente la loro esperienza della storia. Questa non solo viene giocata, ma risulta attivamente interpretata e ‘ricostruita’ nei discorsi che si sviluppano all’interno della community dei giocatori su piattaforme di video-sharing, social media e forum dedicati (Consalvo, 2017). Nonostante questi aspetti, sono ancora pochi i contributi accademici che analizzano il ruolo dei digital historical games nella costruzione delle percezioni del passato (Chapman, 2016), le quali a loro volta contribuiscono alla formazione delle nostre identità e alla comprensione della cultura e della società in cui viviamo, e persino dell'umanità (Landsberg, 2009). Il presente capitolo mira quindi a colmare, almeno in parte, questo vuoto focalizzandosi sulle rappresentazioni e sulla ricezione da parte del pubblico di titoli riguardanti fatti storici divisivi e polarizzanti. Verranno a tal fine esaminati due casi studio: Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm (Firaxis Games, 2019) per analizzare un fenomeno estremamente attuale e

This paper investigates the risk of failure of loans guaranteed by public credit guarantee schemes. We analyse the determinants of the time to default of approximately 15,000 loans guaranteed by the Italian Central Guarantee Fund between 2007 and 2009. Using the Cox proportional hazards model, we test the role of the financial intermediary that requests the guarantee on a firm’s behalf, while distinguishing between banks and mutual guarantee institutions (MGIs) and controlling for a set of variables that characterise each guaranteed loan. The findings confirm that loans are more likely to default when a bank—rather than an MGI—is involved in the guarantee process. Considering some elements (e.g. age, size and sector) that affect opacity among small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), banks seem to perform better than MGIs in screening and monitoring loans requested by firms in the manufacturing sector.

Il rischio di caduta (RdC) e una lesione correlata aumentano con l'età e con l'associazione di patologie neurologiche. Le cadute sono un evento temibile per le conseguenze traumatiche e psicologiche, il loro costo sta diventando insostenibile e la loro prevenzione negli anziani è una priorità di sanità pubblica. Le linee guida internazionali raccomandano la rimozione dei fattori di RdC modificabili e l'attuazione di interventi efficaci. Tuttavia, non sono state utilizzate classificazioni univoche dei fattori di RdC, quindi l'uso delle Classificazioni Internazionali dell'OMS come riferimento universale può essere la soluzione più logica e naturale. Lo screening del RdC è la prima componente di programmi di prevenzione delle cadute efficaci. Ad oggi, nonostante l'utilizzo di numerosi strumenti di valutazione, non è possibile rilevare e prevedere il RdC con un’accuratezza diagnostica ottimale. Gli obiettivi della tesi sono stati: 1) validare un algoritmo di screening seriale del RdC con alta accuratezza diagnostica in un campione di anziani in comunità, anche con PD e ictus, nella predizione di una, due e tre cadute nei successivi dodici mesi; 2a) valutare l'effetto delle patologie neurologiche sui test di screening; 2b) validare un core set ICD&ICF per il RdC nella stessa popolazione. Utilizzando i dati raccolti nello studio PRE.C.I.S.A., abbiamo eseguito le seguenti analisi: 1) per validare un algoritmo di screening seriale abbiamo calibrato le scale VAE, VOE1 e VOE2 con tecniche classiche e Rasch analysis, calcolato i due FRAT-up e studiato l’accuratezza diagnostica degli strumenti e degli algoritmi di screening, ottenuti con combinazioni seriali delle scale e dei due FRAT-up e con modelli di regressione logistica, nella predizione degli outcome descritti; abbiamo confrontato le loro proprietà per validazione esterna; 2a) per valutare l'effetto delle patologie neurologiche sui test abbiamo condotto l’analisi del Differential Item Functioning (DIF) per le s, The fall risk (FR) and a related injury increase with age and with the association of neurological diseases (Parkinson’s Disease (PD) or stroke). Falls represent a fearsome event for an elderly for traumatic and psychological consequences, and costs are becoming unsustainable. Hence, fall prevention in elderly at risk is a public health priority. All international guidelines recommend removing the modifiable FR factors and implementing effective interventions on people at risk. Nevertheless, investigators have not used consistent classifications for FR factors, so using the WHO Family of International Classifications can be the more natural and logical solution to cover the lack of a universal reference framework. FR screening is the first component of effective fall prevention programs. To date, despite the use of numerous FR assessment tools, it is not possible to detect and predict elderly fallers with optimal diagnostic accuracy. The aims of the thesis were: 1) to validate a FR serial screening algorithm with high diagnostic accuracy in a sample of community-dwelling elderly, also with PD and stroke, in the prediction of at least one, two, and three falls in the following twelve months; 2a) to assess the neurological disease's effect on FR tests; 2b) to validate an ICD& ICF core set for FR in the same population. Using data collected in the PRE.C.I.S.A. trial on fall risk, we performed the following analyses: 1) to validate a FR screening algorithm we calibrated the VAE, VOE1 and VOE2 scales with classical and Rasch analysis and we calculated the two FRAT-up; we studied the diagnostic accuracy of single tools and screening algorithms, obtained with serial combinations of the scales and the two FRAT-up tools, and with logistic regression models, in the prediction of the described outcomes; we compared their properties for external validation; 2a) to assess neurological disease’s effect on the tools we conducted a Differential Item Functioning (DIF) analysis for t

Improved clinical care has led to an increase in the number of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) eng

Among the causes of pathological gambling, the main theoretical reference models identify several conditions of greater individual vulnerabilities, underlined and sustained by a combination of biological, environmental, clinical, psychological, behavioural, economic and social predictive factors. This study aims to highlight aspects that motivate gambling. It provides a comparison between “heavy gamblers” (those who played more than 100 euro per week in the last three months), and “moderate risk gamblers” (those who gambled on average up to 100 euro a week in the last three months). In addition, the study aims to define characteristics of gambling, as well as of the gambler, which may facilitate the emergence of problematic addiction. Out of 1717 questionnaires administered, 1258 subjects filled the questionnaire stating that they had gambled at least once in the last three months: 41 (3%) were classifiable as “strong gamblers”, while 1157 (92%) were “moderate risk gamblers”. In the study, 80 subjects (6%) gambled on average more than 3 times a week, while 1140 subjects (91%) played up to 3 times a week. The family context also plays a fundamental role: 44% of “strong gamblers” and 19% of “moderate risk gamblers” reported having a family member who gambles.

L’articolo presenta il report di una ricerca sul tema dell’identità (IP) dell’Educatore professionale (EP), identificandone alcuni tratti essenziali che sono stati sottoposti all’opinione dei professionisti. Concettualizzare, individuare una tecnica di rilevamento e misurazione, valutare se esista un’identità professionale diffusa tra i professionisti EP in Italia, sono state le tre domande di ricerca. Un campione di 1579 Educatori professionali ha compilato un questionario “on-line” fornendo utili suggerimenti per comprendere i tratti distintivi dell’identità di questo professionista. È stato proposto un modello di IP come variabile unidimensionale, costituito da quattro sottodimensioni, dodici elementi qualificanti e trentadue item d’indagine. La validazione del questionario, con tecniche psicometriche moderne, ha consentito di costruire una scala di misurazione dell’identità professionale dell’Educatore denominata Id-Prof_EP-32. Successive ricerche condotte anche su differenti professioni con l’utilizzo del medesimo strumento e modello di riferimento potrebbe consentire lo sviluppo di una riflessione condivisa sul tema dell’identità professionale, tratto distintivo e motore di sviluppo delle professioni in ambito riabilitativo.

Background: Previous analyses demonstrated a lack of unidimensionality, item redundancy, and substantial administrative burden for the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust Personality Questionnaires (BIRT-PQs). Objective: To use Rasch Analysis to calibrate five short-forms of the BIRT-PQs, satisfying the Rasch model requirements. Methods: BIRT-PQs data from 154 patients with severe Acquired Brain Injury (s-ABI) and their caregivers (total sample = 308) underwent Rasch analysis to examine their internal construct validity and reliability according to the Rasch model. Results: The base Rasch analyses did not show sufficient internal construct validity according to the Rasch model for all five BIRT-PQs. After rescoring 18 items, and deleting 75 of 150 items, adequate internal construct validity was achieved for all five BIRT-PQs short forms (model chi-square p-values ranging from 0.0053 to 0.6675), with reliability values compatible with individual measurements. Conclusions: After extensive modifications, including a 48% reduction of the item load, we obtained five short forms of the BIRT-PQs satisfying the strict measurement requirements of the Rasch model. The ordinal-to-interval measurement conversion tables allow measuring on the same metric the perception of the neurobehavioral disability for both patients with s-ABI and their caregivers.

Objective: To assess the internal construct validity (ICV) of the five Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust Personality Questionnaires (BIRT-PQ) with Classical Test Theory methods. Methods: Multicenter cross-sectional study involving 11 Italian rehabilitation centers. BIRT-PQs were administered to patients with severe Acquired Brain Injury and their respective caregivers. ICV was assessed by the mean of an internal consistency analysis (ICA) and a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Results: Data from 154 patients and their respective caregivers were pooled, giving a total sample of 308 subjects. Despite good overall values (alphas ranging from 0.811 to 0.937), the ICA revealed that several items within each scale did not contribute as expected to the total score. This result was confirmed by the CFA, which showed the misfit of the data to a unidimensional model (RMSEA ranging from 0.077 to 0.097). However, after accounting for local dependency found within the data, fitness to a unidimensional model improved significantly (RMSEA ranging from 0.050 to 0.062). Conclusion: Despite some limitations, our analyses demonstrated the lack of ICV for the BIRT-PQ total scores. It is envisaged that a more comprehensive ICV analysis will be performed with Rasch analysis, aiming to improve both the measurement properties and the administrative burden of each BIRT-PQ.

Contains fulltext : 209356.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access), Myocardial diseases are associated with an increased risk of potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death/cardiac arrest during exercise, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, left ventricular non-compaction, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, and myo-pericarditis. Practicing cardiologists and sport physicians are required to identify high-risk individuals harbouring these cardiac diseases in a timely fashion in the setting of preparticipation screening or medical consultation and provide appropriate advice regarding the participation in competitive sport activities and/or regular exercise programmes. Many asymptomatic (or mildly symptomatic) patients with cardiomyopathies aspire to participate in leisure-time and amateur sport activities to take advantage of the multiple benefits of a physically active lifestyle. In 2005, The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) published recommendations for participation in competitive sport in athletes with cardiomyopathies and myo-pericarditis. One decade on, these recommendations are partly obsolete given the evolving knowledge of the diagnosis, management and treatment of cardiomyopathies and myo-pericarditis. The present document, therefore, aims to offer a comprehensive overview of the most updated recommendations for practicing cardiologists and sport physicians managing athletes with cardiomyopathies and myo-pericarditis and provides pragmatic advice for safe participation in competitive sport at professional and amateur level, as well as in a variety of recreational physical activities.

Item does not contain fulltext, Owing to its undisputed multitude of beneficial effects, European Society of Cardiology guidelines advocate regular physical activity as a class IA recommendation for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Nonetheless, competitive athletes with arterial hypertension may be exposed to an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Guidance to physicians will be given in this summary of our recently published recommendations for participation in competitive sports of athletes with arterial hypertension.

The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of the Italian State Credit Guarantee Scheme (Central Guarantee Fund). The paper analyzes the impact of the program on SMEs’ profitability considering the firm size and sector. The analysis is performed using propensity-score matching estimators and the Difference in Differences regressions on a proprietary sample of about 38,000 SMEs in the period 2007–2009. Overall, the Central Guarantee Fund generated an increase in the profitability of guaranteed firms during the period of economic downturn. However, significant differences emerged across firms by size and sector. The effect is positive and robust only for micro- and small-sized firms, and the most relevant improvement in the profitability is recorded for firms operating in the manufacturing sector. This implies that more customized programs are necessary to reach a higher value for money in entrepreneurial policies

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Item does not contain fulltext, Current guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology advocate regular physical activity as a Class IA recommendation for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Despite its undisputed multitude of beneficial effects, competitive athletes with arterial hypertension may be exposed to an increased risk of cardiovascular events. This document is an update of the 2005 recommendations and will give guidance to physicians who have to decide on the risk of an athlete during sport participation.

Due to the importance played by SMEs in the european economy, national authorities and govenrments have made recourse to measures to help SMEs in access to credit, in particular by using loan guarantee programs, grants, or subsidized loans. In this chapter we test whether bank-lending constraints increase firm's demand for government aid. We use a sample of euro area SME derived form ECB/EC survey on access to finance for small and medium enterprise (SAFE) for the years 2009-2014 across 11 euro area countries. First we test what type of firms is accessing financial aid and then we verify the relevance of financial constraints. In doing so, we focus the attention on government measures put into practice since 2011. We divide countries that implemented or expanded only guarantee schemes from those that supported firms also with grants and loans.