Schengen: internal border checks must be a last resort

European flag outside the Commission (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Schengen Treaty Member States may reimpose checks at internal borders in the event of a serious threat to their public policy or to internal security, for up to ten days, after which the decision to do so must be collective, says draft legislation as amended by the Civil Liberties Committee on Wednesday. In a separate vote on visa legislation, MEPs also backed a clause allowing the emergency reimposition of visa requirements for third country nationals crossing the EU’s external frontiers.It was the reimposition of checks at the Franco-Italian border, in April 2011 (at a time of heightened mistrust among Member States), that led to the proposed reform now before Parliament. The reform seeks to strengthen security mechanisms so as to restore trust in the Schengen area.By approving a rapport by Renate Weber (ALDE, RO), with 47 votes in favour, 7 against and 2 abstentions, the committee gave her a mandate to negotiate with the Council. MEPs reiterate that “migration and the crossing of external borders by a large number of third-country nationals should not per se be considered a threat to public policy or internal security”. They stress that reimposing border checks must remain an exceptional measure, and a last resort. The report sets out several scenarios that might justify reimposing checks: in the event of a serious and imminent threat to public order or internal security, checks could be reimposed for up to six months. The initial text would have empowered the European Commission to take this decision, which is currently a matter for Member States. MEPs would prefer it to remain a matter for Member States, but propose that the decision-taking process should be better-coordinated and more collegial. In the event of an emergency requiring immediate action, a Member State may reimpose checks, on its own initiative, for up to five days. The committee inserted an amendment increasing this period to ten days. Finally, in the event of “persistent, serious deficiencies” in a Member State’s management of its portion of an EU external frontier, the Commission could decide that checks must be reimposed. New rules allowing temporary suspension of visa waivers The committee also approved a report by Agustín Díaz de Mera (EPP, ES), with 51 votes in favour, 3 against and 3 abstentions, on a proposal to insert a safeguard clause to allow the rapid, temporary suspension of visa waivers for third countries in emergencies.

MEPs describe this as a “mechanism for rapid, temporary suspension”, and stipulate that this, too, may be used only as a last resort. In the event of a “sudden and substantial” increase in the number of third-country nationals staying illegally on a Member State’s territory, or in the number of asylum requests rejected, and if this seriously affects the situation as regards migrants in the Member State concerned, then the European Commission may reimpose the visa requirement.
The proposal also seeks to strengthen the “reciprocity mechanism” which provides for the reimposition of visa requirements for the nationals of third countries that reimpose them for the nationals of a Member State.
After this straw vote, both rapporteurs will enter into talks with the Council, with a view to reaching a first-reading agreement.

Africa: istruzione adolescenti

Negli ultimi 20 anni, gli adolescenti hanno beneficiato di progressi nel campo dell’istruzione e della salute pubblica. Tuttavia, secondo un nuovo rapporto UNICEF, le necessità di molti adolescenti vengono trascurate, e ogni anno più di 1 milione perde la vita e decine di altri milioni non frequentano la scuola.Secondo il Rapportoin Africa sub-sahariana, il numero di adolescenti sta ancora crescendo e si prevede che, entro il 2015, sarà l’area al mondo con il maggior numero di adolescenti. Solo la metà dei bambini nell’Africa sub-sahariana completa la scuola primaria e l’occupazione giovanile è bassa. Il nuovo rapporto UNICEF “Progress for Children-a report card on adolescent” mette in evidenza altre conseguenze allarmanti dei benefici di un progresso che non ha raggiunto equamente il totale di 1,2 miliardi di adolescenti (le Nazioni Unite definiscono l’adolescenza un’età compresa tra i 10 e 19 anni). “Gli svantaggi dovuti alla povertà, alla propria condizione sociale, o appartenenza di genere o alla disabilità impediscono a milioni di adolescenti di realizzare il loro diritto ad avere un’istruzione di qualità, di ottenere assistenza sanitaria, protezione e partecipazione”, ha dichiarato il Vice Direttore generale dell’UNICEF Geeta Rao Gupta. “Questo rapporto rafforza la nostra comprensione dei problemi che affliggono gli adolescenti più poveri e svantaggiati. E’ tempo di soddisfare i loro bisogni, non dobbiamo lasciarli indietro “. Dati del rapporto- Ogni anno 1,4 milioni di adolescenti muoiono a causa di incidenti stradali, complicazioni dovute al parto, suicidi, AIDS, violenze e altre cause. In Africa, le complicazioni durante la gravidanza e il parto sono la principale causa di morte per le ragazze tra i 15 ai 19 anni. In un sondaggio effettuato nella Repubblica Democratica del Congo, il 70% delle ragazze sposate tra i 15 e i 19 anni ha detto di aver subito violenza dall’attuale (o ex) partner o coniuge. Oltre un terzo delle donne tra i 20 e i 24 anni nei paesi in via di sviluppo si sono sposate a 18 anni e circa un terzo di queste si sono sposate a 15 anni. In Niger, la metà delle giovani donne di età compresa tra i 20 e i 24 anni ha partorito prima di aver compiuto 18 anni. Globalmente, il 90% dei bambini in età scolare è iscritto alle scuole elementari. Pur con dei miglioramenti a livello mondiale, il tasso di iscrizione alla scuola secondaria rimane comunque basso nei paesi in via di sviluppo, soprattutto in Africa e in Asia. Molti alunni in età scolare secondaria frequentano le elementari. L’Africa Sub-sahariana ha i peggiori indicatori nell’istruzione secondaria di qualsiasi regione. In tutto il mondo, 71 milioni di bambini non vanno a scuola e 127 milioni di giovani tra i 15 ei 24 anni sono analfabeti – la maggior parte in Asia meridionale e Africa sub-sahariana.
Il rapporto sottolinea l’importanza di attuare interventi, programmi e politiche a sostegno dei diritti di tutti gli adolescenti. L’adolescenza è una fase critica dell’infanzia in cui il giusto investimento può interrompere il ciclo della povertà e portare vantaggi economici, sociali e politici a adolescenti, comunità e nazioni. Secondo il rapporto UNICEF, gli adolescenti devono essere riconosciuti come veri agenti di cambiamento nelle loro comunità. Programmi e politiche devono proteggere gli adolescenti e i bambini, ma anche riconoscere la loro capacità di creatività, innovazione, le loro energie- per risolvere i loro problemi.

L’azione dei raggi UV sul sistema immunitario

Veldhoven. Il sole influisce notevolmente sulla salute degli esseri umani, in moltissimi modi. Gran parte di questi effetti è data dalla vitamina D. La vitamina del sole, infatti, regola il sistema immunitario, difende dalle malattie autoimmuni quali il diabete e la sclerosi multipla e protegge contro le infezioni di natura batterica o virale. Tuttavia un gruppo di ricercatori australiani ha dimostrato che, anche in questo campo, il sole non ha sempre completamente bisogno della mediazione della vitamina D. Nello studio sinottico condotto, il gruppo di ricercatori si interroga su fino a che punto gli effetti immunoregolatori dei raggi UV siano innescati dalla sintesi a livello cutaneo della “vitamina del sole”. Gli studiosi hanno messo a confronto i risultati della ricerca estrapolati da studi sull’azione della vitamina D ed altri sull’esposizione ai raggi UV del sole o della luce artificiale. Il risultato: l’azione dei raggi UV sul sistema immunitario supera di gran lunga gli effetti della “vitamina del sole”. ” È assolutamente necessario esporsi alla luce solare o alle luci artificiali del solarium regolarmente, benché con moderazione, affinché i raggi UV possano sviluppare al massimo il proprio effetto benefico sul sistema immunitario” spiega Ad Brand del Sunlight Research Forum (SRF). Stando ai risultati di questa recente ricerca, prosegue Brand, evitare oltremodo di esporsi alla luce del sole e colmare il fabbisogno di vitamina D principalmente mediante integratori sono errori imperdonabili.
Il Sunlight Research Forum (SRF) è un’organizzazione senza scopo di lucro con sede nei Paesi Bassi. Il suo obiettivo è divulgare al pubblico le più recenti nozioni mediche e scientifiche relative agli effetti sugli esseri umani di un’esposizione moderata ai raggi UV.Fonte: Prue H. Hart, Shelley Gorman, John J. Finlay-Jones: “Modulation of the immune system by UV irradiance: more than just the effects of vitamin D?” pubblicato su: Nature Reviews Immunology 11, 584 (2011) (Thomas Schröter)

Fine settimana con eventi dedicata alla storia e alla natura

Iniziative tra Pozzuoli, Quarto, Bacoli e Monte di Procida. Il calendario dei prossimi giorni.
Venerdì 27 aprile (ore 20,30) a Pozzuoli, l’associazione Lux in Fabula presenta “Di-Segno In-Segno” con l’inaugurazione della mostra “L’Associazionismo a nudo” e asta fotografica delle opere di Francesco Cerqua e Gennaro Cimmino. Evento che si terrà nella sede dell’associazione in via Rampe dei Cappuccini, 5 Pozzuoli. Info: 081.0203 336 – info@luxinfabula.it
Venerdì 27 aprile (ore 21,00) a Pozzuoli, al Complesso Agave Club nell’ambito della kermesse”Stare insieme…per emozionarsi… sempre!” presenta: “Scatenatammorriamoci”. Serata napoletana con la Tammurriataband di Gianni Mobylia con giochi e tante altre iniziative di animazione. Info: 081.5249961 – info@agavehotel.it
Venerdì 27 aprile (dalle ore 16.00 alle ore 21.00) a Pozzuoli, nell’Aula Magna “Angelo D’Ambrosio” dell’Isis “Tassinari” in via Fasano, a Pozzuoli c’è “Viaggio nelle tradizioni dei Campi Flegrei: pesca, agricoltura e industria”.
Programma convegno su “Industrializzazione nell’area flegrea”. Intervengono: prof. Dario Sessa, Dirigente scolastico Isis “Tassinari”, don Fernando Carannante, responsabile Caritas Diocesana, Ciro Biondi, giornalista, prof. Raffaele Giamminelli (“le tradizioni nel settore primario”), prof. Nicola Arbia (“lo sviluppo industriale nei Campi Flegrei). Ore 18: spettacoli del 1° Circolo Didattico G. Marconi (“E la luna disse al sole”), 2° Circolo Didattico (“Anima e musica: alla riscoperta di alcuni antichi canti flegrei”, 3° Circolo Didattico (“Noi del Terzo: coro degli alunni), 6° Circolo Didattico (“Nettuno e ‘a Sirena. Versi di Salvatore Di Giacomo, musiche di Valente e Gambardella). Dalle ore 19,30: sagra del pesce. Gli allievi del Petronio prepareranno piatti della tradizione puteolana con i prodotti offerti dagli operatori del mercato ittico all’ingrosso e del mercato ortofrutticolo all’ingrosso. Nel corso della manifestazione sarà possibile visitare la mostra fotografica sullo sviluppo industriale dei Campi Flegrei a cura dell’associazione culturale “Oltre l’Averno”, mostra di ceramica “Scenari di vita a Puteoli” a cura del 6° Circolo Didattico, allestimento di stand con prodotti tipici dell’agricoltura e della pesca dei Campi Flegrei con la collaborazione degli operatori del mercato ittico all’ingrosso e del mercato ortofrutticolo all’ingrosso di Pozzuoli. Presentazione del progetto del sito HYPERLINK “http://www.bradisismoflegreo.it” \t “_blank” bradisismoflegreo.it per il recupero della memoria storica e lettura del territorio.
Sabato 28 aprile (ore 21,30) a Pozzuoli, l’Associazione “Jazz and Conversation”, sezione “Spring” del Pozzuoli Jazz Festival presenta, “Quartieri Jazz di Mario Romano” alla Caffetteria “Al Blamangieri”. Info: 081.3000024 – info@pozzuolijazzfestival.it
Sabato 28 aprile (ore 20,00) a Pozzuoli, a Villa di Livia, l’associazione Pozzuoli Crea Onlus presenta: “Goethe tra Paradiso e Inferno – Grand Tour nella canzone napoletana dal ‘700 a oggi” nel 180° anniversario dalla morte, l’imponente figura dell’intellettuale tedesco, estimatore dei Campi Flegrei, sarà ricordata con letture di brani tratti dal “Viaggio in Italia”. A seguire concerto di canzoni classiche napoletane intervallate da letture e aneddoti, con un repertorio dal ‘700 a oggi. Esposizione di quadri del Maestro Antonio Isabettini e degustazione di piatti preparati secondo le ricette del ‘700, e vini flegrei. Costo di 12 euro a persona. Info: 329.9249349 – pozzuolicreaonlus@libero.it
Sabato 28 aprile (ore 10,30) a Pozzuoli, il Circolo Legambiente Pozzuoli Campi Flegrei organizza: “Viaggio nel tempo nella foresta incantata”. La foresta di Cuma è un luogo veramente magico dove la storia degli antichi greci e romani è ancora così presente. Passeggiando all’interno del fantastico ecosistema della foresta di Cuma ripercorreremo, attraverso un cammino educativo ambientale, un viaggio nel tempo alla scoperta di quelle bellezze naturali che ancora oggi rendono questo sito unico al mondo. Costo ? 5 a persona. Info: 3498184313
Domenica 29 aprile a Pozzuoli, il Complesso Agave Club organizza “Cibus: i Sapori dell’antica Roma” per tutti gli amanti delle bellezze archeologiche e ricette dell’ Antica Roma. Dopo la visita al Museo di Baia, banchetto romano rivisitato dallo chef del Complesso Agave Club. Info: info@agavehotel.it – 081.5249961
Domenica 29 aprile (dalle ore 10,30 alle 13,30, break dalle 13,30 alle 14,30 e seconda parte dalle 14,30 alle 18,00) a Pozzuoli, l’associazione Flegrea Park organizza: “Workshop Fotografico sul Lago d’Averno dedicato al paesaggio” con il fotografo professionista Massimiliano Ricci. Info: info@flegreapark – 392.6421465
Domenica 29 aprile, a Pozzuoli, seconda adizione della “Straputeoli. Studenti..in corsa”, manifestazione podistica su strada organizzata dall’Isis Tassinari e dal Csi Pozzuoli. La gara si svilupperà su un percorso agonistico con una lunghezza di circa Km 15,00 tra La Pietra ed Arco Felice con partenza ed arrivo dal lungomare Pertini in via Napoli ed una stracittadina di Km 5,00 circa riservata agli studenti, agli Under 16 ed agli amatori. Info: 081.3658812 – 334.7717883 – csipozzuoli@libero.it
Fino a martedì 1° maggio c’è “Bussate alla porta degli inferi”, una festa che dura undici giorni intorno ai laghi d’Averno e di Lucrino per valorizzarne le bellezze naturali e paesaggistiche con escursioni e percorsi naturalistici ed archeologici, degustazioni di prodotti tipici enogastronomici, mercatino dell’artigianato locale, appuntamenti con l’arte, il teatro, la musica, attività sportive e ludico-didattiche, nel rispetto della sostenibilità economica ed ambientale. Il programma su bussateallaportadegliinferi.it
Fino a venerdì 11 maggio a Pozzuoli, Bacoli e Quarto si terrà la fase flegrea della ‘Gazzetta Cup 2012′ manifestazione di calcio a cinque riservata alle categorie Junior (i nati dal primo gennaio 2002 al 31 dicembre 2003) e Young (nati dal primi gennaio 1999 al 31 dicembre 2001). La manifestazione coordinata dal Csi Pozzuoli si svolgerà sui campi del Villaggio del Fanciullo (Pozzuoli), Gardenia (Licola), Divino Maestro (Quarto) e Castello di Baia (Bacoli). Le squadre vincenti della fase flegrea nelle due categorie partecipano alla fase cittadina. Info: 081.3658812 – 334.7717883 – csipozzuoli@libero.it
Fino a giugno, a Bacoli, l’associazione Circolo Sub Baia in collaborazione con la società Nudibranko organizza: “La Baia dei Cesari” tour costiero del Golfo di Pozzuoli con partenza da Baia. Sosta con aperitivo e frutti di mare crudi, descrizione del porto, pescherie, Castello Aragonese, Porto di Baia. Pranzo in ristorante tipico del porto di Baia. Costo: per gruppi (da 8 a 10 persone) ? 39,00 a persona. Info: dominic2010@libero.it – 334 3410793.
Fino a giugno, a Bacoli, l’associazione Culturavventura organizza tour a piedi, in canoa e in barca, navigando come gli antichi eroi. Un tour per conoscere le meraviglie archeologiche e naturalistiche della costa flegrea e Cibo Show su antica Roma. Partenze da Miseno e Baia. Prima partenza ore 11,00, ultima partenza ore 18,00. A partire da ? 5,00. Info: 3394195725 – culturavventura@gmail.com
Tutti i sabato, le domeniche e i festivi, a Bacoli, l’Associazione Misenum presenta: “Da Miseno alla Piscina Mirabile tra siti archeologici, natura e vigneti”. Partenza ore 10,00 (Sacello degli Augustali, Miseno) alla scoperta della Grotta della Dragonara, del Sacello degli Augustali, del Teatro Romano attraverso un itinerario terrestre che prevede anche l’illustrazione del Porto Romano, dalla terrazza del Sacello degli Augustali che affaccia sul mare (durata 1h e 30 circa). Ore 12,00 l’Azienda Agricola Piscina Mirabile propone visite alla Piscina Mirabile (la più grande cisterna che ci sia mai pervenuta dall’antichità, costruita in epoca augustea, tra il 27 a.C ed il 68 a.C, per rifornire di acqua la flotta dell’Impero ormeggiata nel porto di Misenum), ai vigneti e alla cantina dell’Azienda. Costo ? 10,00 a persona. Info: 081.5233977 – 3388911536 – misenum@libero.it
Tutti i sabato e le domeniche fino al 20 giugno, a Pozzuoli, il Centro Sub Campi Flegrei organizza, per i sub e non, Pozzuoli “Città sommersa porte aperte”, escursioni dalle ore 9,30 alle 14,00, con partenza dal Lido Montenuovo in via Miliscola n. 157 (Pozzuoli). Visita al Parco Archeologico Sommerso di Baia. Costi: Snorkeling ? 20,00. Immersione subacquea ? 35,00. Discover scuba diving (prima immersione subacquea): ? 50,00. Info: 081.8531563 – centrosubcampiflegrei.it
Fino a giugno, a Quarto, Tour a Grotta del Sole, alla scoperta di vini dei Campi Flegrei, visite ai vigneti ed alla cantina, degustazioni di vini e spumanti. Info: info@grottadelsole.it – 0818762566.
Fino a giugno, a Bacoli, al Pontile Lagovivo sul lago Miseno (Mare morto) a Bacoli varie iniziative alla scoperta del lago. Le proposte: “Storia, natura, tradizioni e divertimento” (in barca e in bici dal Lago ai Bagni di Bacco tra mare, pista ciclabile e vinoterapia); “A’ cozza, i cuzzucari e il lago Miseno” (escurisione alla scoperata delle miticultura, del relax e dei prodotti tipici); “Dal Lago Miseno alla Piscina Mirabile” (tra mare e vigneti), “La Classis Praetoria Misenensis”. Info: 392.4153474 – info@lagovivo.it
Oltre sessanta soggetti tra associazioni, cooperative, aziende turistiche, produttori agricoli locali, cantine, ristoranti, bar, diving, artisti, editori, scuole. È la “Primavera nei Campi Flegrei”, un intenso e ricco cartellone di eventi, partito il 21 marzo e che terminerà il 20 giugno. La kermesse è promossa e coordinata dall’Azienda di Cura, Soggiorno e Turismo di Pozzuoli, ma tutti gli eventi, autofinanziati, sono organizzati dai singoli soggetti. Alcune manifestazioni sono gratuite. Il “contenitore” prevede iniziative di cultura, sociale, enogastronomia, musica, sport, visite guidate. L’obiettivo: la valorizzazione dell’immenso patrimonio storico, archeologico e naturale dei Campi Flegrei. Coinvolti i comuni di Pozzuoli, Quarto, Bacoli, Monte di Procida e Marano.

Operazione antibracconaggio a Ischia

Intervento della senatrice Radicale Donatella Poretti E’ notizia di oggi che sei persone sono state bloccate dal personale del Nucleo Operativo Antibracconaggio (NOA) del Corpo forestale dello Stato con la collaborazione della Lipu, mentre cacciavano di frodo a Punta Pelara, in località Panza di Forio d’Ischia. Questa è la conferma di ciò che abbiamo denunciato lo scorso 16 Aprile con un’interrogazione rivolta ai Ministri delle politiche agricole alimentari e forestali, dell’interno e dell’ambiente e della tutela del territorio e del mare, evidenziando come a dispetto della legislazione europea e nazionale a tutela della fauna selvatica e delle rotte migratorie, nelle isole di Ischia e Procida pur essendo aree fondamentali per il transito e la sosta degli uccelli migratori, il bracconaggio risulta un fenomeno consolidato nel tempo e ancora in grado di incidere pesantemente sui contingenti migratori. Mi sento di dire, bene l’intervento del nucleo operativo che pur rilevando l’esistenza del problema spiana la strada per una possibile soluzione.

Lancope to Showcase Security Monitoring for BYOD Environments at Infosecurity Europe

Atlanta, (PRNewswire) Infosecurity Europe — Lancope, Inc., a leader in flow-based security and network performance monitoring, will showcase its solution for securing bring-your-own-device (BYOD) environments at Infosecurity Europe, taking place in London from April 24-26, 2012.
Unlike other BYOD security solutions that require organizations to install software on every new device, Lancope’s StealthWatch® System provides comprehensive security for any device entering the network, without having to install additional software on the device or deploy expensive probes. Instead, StealthWatch conducts sophisticated behavioral analysis on flow data from existing infrastructure to deliver end-to-end visibility and security across an organization’s entire network. In a recent industry poll conducted by Lancope, half of the respondents reported that mobile devices increase overall network traffic on average by 50 percent. The survey respondents also indicated that as mobile device traffic increased on their networks, confidence in their organization’s security posture decreased. Unfortunately, traditional threat detection mechanisms such as firewalls, antivirus and IDS/IPS quickly become cost prohibitive and ineffective within a BYOD environment. Now is the time for enterprises to revamp their security strategies to accommodate today’s explosive growth in mobile computing. Already inherent in routers, switches and other network infrastructure devices, the use of flow data to monitor network and host activity provides a cost-effective solution for analyzing the behavior of mobile devices. By leveraging flow data with enterprise-ready solutions like StealthWatch, organizations can proactively detect issues stemming from users’ personal smartphones, tablets or laptops.
Flow-based monitoring can uncover external attacks like botnets, worms, viruses or APTs, as well as internal risks such as network misuse, policy violations and data leakage. It can also be leveraged for other efforts including regulatory compliance and capacity planning, and for ensuring high levels of network and mobile device performance. Lancope will showcase its BYOD security capabilities at Infosecurity Europe Booth F61. Lancope and Cisco will also present a session at the show entitled “Network Visibility Today to Secure Tomorrow’s Network,” for which more details can be found at: http://www.infosec.co.uk/page.cfm/action=Seminars/SeminarID=49. For further information on StealthWatch, go to: http://www.lancope.com/products/.
About Lancope Lancope®, Inc. is a leading provider of flow-based monitoring solutions to ensure high-performing and secure networks for global enterprises. Unifying critical network performance and security information for borderless network visibility, Lancope provides actionable insight that reduces the time between problem identification and resolution. Enterprise customers worldwide, including healthcare, financial services, government and higher education institutions, rely on Lancope to make better network decisions, respond faster to network problem areas and avoid costly outages and downtime — at a fraction of the cost of conventional network monitoring solutions. With Lancope, you can know your network and run your business better. Privately held and venture-backed, Lancope is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, visit http://www.lancope.com.

Svolta in Trentino, contributi diretti in denaro ai pazienti celiaci

Ai soggetti celiaci in Trentino, primo caso in Italia, saranno erogate direttamente somme di denaro (a regime dal primo ottobre 2012). Il codice relativo alla diagnosi di malattia passerà da “rara” a “cronica e invalidante” e sarà approvato un protocollo per individuare un percorso diagnostico e terapeutico unico per tutto il territorio provinciale; infine verranno creati due ambulatori integrati, multidisciplinari e multiprofessionali. Queste le principali novità della delibera approvata il 20 apri le dalla Giunta provinciale, su indicazione dell’assessore alla Salute e politiche sociali, Ugo Rossi. Si attua così la legge provinciale relativa agli “Interventi a favore delle persone affette da celiachia” e sono previsti anche interventi di formazione degli operatori e di sensibilizzazione della cittadinanza, più un monitoraggio sull’applicazione del provvedimento, anche attraverso il confronto annuale con Aic (Associazione italiana celiachia) e le farmacie convenzionate con il servizio sanitario provinciale, per valutare eventuali criticità emerse. «Si tratta di una normativa all’avanguardia, che abbiamo messo a punto grazie anche al confronto con l’Aic trentino» ha spiegato Rossi «che dà finalmente anche risposta a un’esigenza molto sentita: potere acquistare i prodotti senza glutine anche nella grande distribuzione». I nuovi importi che verranno assegnati (minori per alcune fasce d’età rispetto ai limiti massimi finora rimborsati a lle farmacie) sono i seguenti: da 0 a 3 anni una somma trimestrale di 186 euro, annuale di 744; da 3 a 8 anni una somma trimestrale di 297 euro e annuale di 1.188; da 8 a 15 anni trimestrale di 420 euro e annuale di 1.680 euro; oltre i 15 anni una somma trimestrale di 435 euro e annuale di 1.740 euro.(fonte farmacista33)

Luciad Brings High Performance Situational Awareness to the Cloud

Leuvwen, Belgium,(PRNewswire) Luciad, the market leader in high performance visualization, is pleased to announce its support for Cloud based Geospatial Situational Awareness applications and services.Cloud computing is a rapidly emerging technology in the Defense, Security and Aviation domains, and an essential element of Geospatial Situational Awareness applications and services. Cloud computing brings many benefits in terms of flexibility, scalability and cost of maintenance which are essential in today’s world.Luciad has a complete product portfolio that enables the development of Cloud based Geospatial Situational Awareness applications and services. This offering ranges from mobile and web-browser applications to full desktop applications and Geospatial services:
LuciadFusion enables management of large Geospatial data sets which can be offered through the Cloud, for example through the support for standard web services from the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC).
LuciadLightspeed runs on a user’s desktop or mobile computer and can access data and services in the Cloud. LuciadLightspeed can also be used for Situational Awareness as a Service, by offering its wide range of analysis and visualization capabilities in the Cloud.
LuciadMobile runs on mobile devices and enables in-the-field users to instantly access data and services from the Cloud. LuciadRIA, Luciad’s Rich Internet Application product, enables easy access to Cloud based resources for both data and computing through the web browser.
Luciad is the supplier of choice for leading Systems Integrators, at both the National and International level, for their Situational Awareness applications in mission-critical C4ISR and ATC/ATM systems. Luciad’s International customer base includes AENA, Belgocontrol, Boeing, Cassidian, DFS, EADS, ENAV, EUROCONTROL, FAA, Frequentis, Lockheed Martin, LVNL, NATO, NATS, NavCanada, NLR, Saab, SAIC, Sagem, STNA, Thales and Thales Raytheon Systems. http://www.luciad.com

Website Yoofind.me Launches Offering the Chance to Win iPads and Other Prizes for Just One Pound

London, (PRNewswire)A completely new online concept where players have an opportunity to get their hands on the latest gadgets by working out where in the world a photograph was taken.YOOFIND.ME is a new tech. start-up based in London that has conceived and created a way to win prizes by playing an online game where players win based on skill, rather than chance.Officially Launched on April 24th 2012, this highly anticipated website has already received an overwhelming response from players across the globe who are tired of being over-charged by penny auctions and bidding sites.Founder Malcolm West says: “Our idea was to create a new game for people who are fed up with being ripped off in online competitions.”You go to our website, pick a prize you want to win and all you have to do is work out where a photograph was taken and pin-point the position on a map.
“That’s it! – It’s a simple concept but there is nothing like it online and players absolutely love it, we’ve already had an overwhelming response.”Unlike auctions, where the cost continues to rise, YOOFIND.ME has a limited number of entries. This gives a small number of entrants a fair chance of winning a prize of their choice.”Using your skill and judgement not only raises your chances, it also makes it good fun to play.”Easy to understand and with clearly laid-out rules, YOOFIND.ME offers online players the chance to win iPads, flat-screen TVs, cameras, and gaming consoles plus other gadgets and gizmos.

Federconsumatori, risparmi da farmaci monodose

Dispensare tutti i farmaci di fascia C in parafarmacie e corner salute e avviare l’entrata in produzione delle confezioni conformi e monouso. Tutte proposte, queste, che dovrebbero permettere un risparmio per i cittadini e che Federconsumatori ha rilanciato all’indomani della pubblicazione delle elaborazioni di Federfarma sui dati sulla spesa farmaceutica. «Dal consuntivo emerge una forte riduzione della spesa per il 2011», che però «non è andata a vantaggio dai cittadini a causa dell’aumento del ticket. Ora ci aspettiamo che il ministero della Salute operi in maniera decisa perché si riducano i costi che i cittadini sostengono per i farmaci di cui hanno bisogno». E così, tra i progetti che potrebbero avere un’incidenza in questo senso, per Federconsumatori c’è la vendita in parafarmacia e corner salute di tutti i farmaci di fascia C, «che comporterebbe possibili risparmi di oltre 42 euro annui a famiglia» e poi «una riforma strutturale, che avvii finalmente l’entrata in produzione e in commercio delle confezioni conformi e monouso, dando applicazione a norme già esistenti». Tale provvedimento garantirebbe «minori sprechi e farebbe evitare avanzi che poi devono essere eliminati, con ulteriori costi di smaltimento, consentendo complessivamente un importante risparmio ai cittadini, pari a 600-700 milioni di euri annui».(fonte farmacista33)

Blackboard Launches Learning Analytics Solution

Washington, (PR Newswire) At a time when education institutions are increasingly looking for ways to leverage data to improve performance and student outcomes, Blackboard Inc. today announced the launch of Blackboard Analytics for Learn™, a solution that gives education leaders an unprecedented view of teaching and learning across their institution. The application harnesses learning activity and data from the learning management (LMS) and student information systems (SIS) to give education stakeholders at all levels access to on demand information needed to improve academic success and student retention.
Armed with greater insight, campus leaders can better set and measure learning goals and assess the success of various programs. Instructors can quickly identify where students are falling behind and intervene to support them, and get better insight into course development approaches that can be more engaging for students. Even students can leverage the application to gain insight into course activity and progression measures of their peers to better understand activity patterns associated with peer performance.
Blackboard Analytics for Learn was built on the Blackboard Analytics™ platform and is one of six modules in the suite of solutions. Each module within Blackboard Analytics provides immediate access to data analytics and insight on areas including enrollment management, finance and human resources. Blackboard Analytics was launched in 2011 and is now used to guide data-driven decision making at more than 130 higher education institutions.Blackboard Analytics for Learn is currently available for clients using Blackboard Learn™ 9.1, with Service Pack 4 or later. The application integrates with the leading SIS solutions and can be customized to integrate with other SIS solutions.
Blackboard Inc. is a global leader in enterprise technology and innovative solutions that improve the experience of millions of students and learners around the world every day. Blackboard’s solutions allow thousands of higher education, K-12, professional, corporate, and government organizations to extend teaching and learning online, facilitate campus commerce and security, and communicate more effectively with their communities. Founded in 1997, Blackboard is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for Blackboard represent the Company’s views as of the date of this press release. Actual results may differ materially as a result of various important factors. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company’s views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so.

Nordion Announces Europe-Focused Phase III Clinical Trial for TheraSphere® Liver Cancer Treatment

Ottawa, Ontario, (PRNewswire) Study to evaluate and compare safety and efficacy of TheraSphere® vs. sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal vein thrombosis
Nordion Inc. (TSX: NDN) (NYSE: NDZ), a leading provider of products and services for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, today announced an additional randomized, multi-centre Phase III clinical trial for TheraSphere®, Nordion’s yttrium-90 (Y-90) glass microsphere treatment for liver cancer.The YES-P trial will be focused primarily in Europe, with additional locations to be identified globally, and is targeting enrolment of about 350 patients at approximately 24 sites. The trial will further evaluate the safety and efficacy of TheraSphere® in the treatment of patients with portal vein thrombosis (PVT) associated with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of primary liver cancer.PVT, a complication in which a clot forms in one of the blood vessels feeding the liver, occurs in approximately 30 to 40% of HCC cases. The presence of PVT is a contraindication for most embolic therapies, but TheraSphere® represents a safe alternative.”Nordion is excited to directly address the important question of whether TheraSphere® can extend the lives of this sub-group of HCC patients, where typical life expectancy remains unacceptably low,” said Mason Ross, MD, Nordion’s Vice President of Medical Affairs. “YES-P is our first major clinical trial that will be primarily conducted in Europe, thus supporting our commitment to increase our global clinical research footprint while building on the knowledge of how TheraSphere® may improve survival compared to sorafenib.”The trial will follow a two-armed design. In one arm, patients will undergo Y-90 radioembolization treatment with TheraSphere®, while patients in the other arm will receive sorafenib.In the last 13 months, Nordion has also announced two additional Phase III clinical trials for TheraSphere®: STOP-HCC, involving patients with HCC, and EPOCH, involving patients with colorectal cancer whose disease has metastasized to the liver. TheraSphere® is a liver cancer therapy that consists of millions of small glass beads (20 to 30 micrometers in diameter) containing radioactive Y-90. The product is injected by physicians into the artery of the patient’s liver through a catheter, which allows the treatment to be delivered directly to the tumour via blood flow. TheraSphere® is used in the European Union and in Canada for the treatment of hepatic neoplasia in patients who have appropriately positioned arterial catheters.
Nordion Inc. (TSX: NDN) (NYSE: NDZ) is a global health science company that provides market-leading products used for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. We are a leading provider of medical isotopes, targeted therapies and sterilization technologies that benefit the lives of millions of people in more than 60 countries around the world. Our products are used daily by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, medical-device manufacturers, hospitals, clinics and research laboratories. Nordion has more than 500 highly skilled employees in three locations. Find out more at http://www.nordion.com and follow us at http://twitter.com/NordionInc.

Cryo-Save Hires Stem Cell Expert in the Flagship Lab in Niel, Belgium

Zutphen, the Netherlands, (PRNewswire) In line with its continuous efforts to improve internal stem cell procedures, Cryo-Save proudly announces the appointment of the highly knowledgeable stem cell expert Dr. Marcin Jurga. Dr. Jurga will supervise new process validation at the Cryo-Save labs and study new processing techniques for umbilical cord blood, cord tissue and fat tissue, to ensure quality and use of the highest technology available on the market. Marcin Jurga is specialized in adult stem cells biology, neuroscience and tissue engineering. His field of interest focuses on developing new methods for adult stem cell applications in in-vitro toxicology and regenerative medicine. Part of his validation study and internal research at Cryo-Save includes studies on fresh and frozen cells isolated from fat tissue and cord tissue, to explain the quality of these and their ability for extensive growth in vitro and multilineage differentiation.Dr. Jurga is an experienced stem cell researcher with broad international experience; he was team leader and senior researcher at the Cell Therapy Research Institute in Lyon, France and previously completed a post doc at the Centre for Life, Newcastle University in the UK. He got Ph.D. degree in Poland, at the Mossakowski Medical Research Centre of Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw. In May, Dr. Jurga is also planning to get a habilitation degree at Lyon 1 Claude-Bernard University in France. The habilitation thesis entitled: “Stem Cell Therapy and Neutral Tissue Engineering in Regeneration of Central Nervous System”.Cryo-Save, the leading international family stem cell bank, stores more than 200,000 samples from umbilical cord blood, cord tissue and adipose tissue. There are already many diseases treatable by the use of stem cells, and the number of treatments will only increase. Driven by its international business strategy, Cryo-Save is now represented in over 40 countries on four continents, with ultra-modern processing and storage facilities in the United States, Belgium, Germany, Dubai, India, South Africa and France

TechSparks – India’s Biggest Discovery Platform for Tech Startups, is Back Again!

Bangalore, (PRNewswire) After creating large scale impact through vastly successful editions in 2011 and 2010, TechSparks, the largest nation-wide discovery platform for product technology startups, is back again this year in a bigger and better avatar. TechSparks, an initiative undertaken by YourStory.in, India’s leading online platform for startups and entrepreneurs, is aimed at bridging the gap between the potential of product technology companies in India and the opportunities for them to scale, by bringing together the entire technology ecosystem involving investors, experienced entrepreneurs, developers, corporates and the media. The theme of TechSparks 2012 is “The Smartest Way to Scale Your Startup”, focused on creating all that is required for the rapid growth of technology ventures. This theme will be taken forward at the regional rounds of TechSparks 2012, to be conducted in five cities – New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad between May and July 2012. Each regional round will bear witness to a first-of-its-kind product tech workshop conducted by experts, covering all the major decision areas such as design, technology, positioning, marketing, funding etc. that govern a startup’s lifecycle. All startups who register for TechSparks will receive free invites to these workshops. The TechSparks grand finale, where the spotlight will be on the 30 best Startups of the year, will be held in Bangalore in September 2012. Also the finale will see the launch of the second edition of the Tech 30 report, first benchmarking report for early stage ventures in India. This year’s edition, TechSparks 2012, is being supported by Intel in association with Amazon Web Services, Sequoia Capital and CNBC TV 18 Young Turks. So, if you’re an entrepreneur or if you’re looking forward to be a part of the technology innovation boom in India, do head over to http://www.techsparks.in and register at the earliest.
Founded in 2008, YourStory.in is India’s leading and the most comprehensive online media platform for entrepreneurs and startups having a strong readership of over 250,000 unique visitors per month. YourStory.in in a short span of time has featured over 4000 entrepreneurs and startups across sector and continues to provide 360 degree online visibility through extensive profile coverage, news coverage, social media, blogs, forum, access to investors and business opportunities. YourStory.in’s audience includes entrepreneurs, startup enthusiasts, investors, developers, students, corporates, influencers, PR and advertising agencies, bloggers and journalists. Research reports published by YourStory.in are regularly picked up by leading print media houses like Mint (exclusive partner The Wall Street Journal) and The Hindu Business Line

The Center for Green Schools at USGBC Announces Inaugural Green Apple Day of Service

Washington, (PR Newswire) The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council officially announces the first ever Green Apple Day of Service, a global call to take real action in support of healthy, sustainable schools. On Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, the Green Apple Day of Service will engage students, teachers, parents, business leaders, elected officials and others in volunteer activities at schools and campuses in their communities. “The Green Apple Day of Service is a perfect platform for empowering communities around the world to take real, measurable steps to improve learning environments,” said Rachel Gutter, director of the Center for Green Schools at USGBC. “By committing a single day to all work together, we underscore that the health and wellbeing of the billions of people who walk into schools and colleges every day are a top priority.”
More than 700 million children are enrolled in primary education worldwide according to the UNESCO 2011 Global Education Digest, and 25 percent of Americans go to schools and colleges every day. The Center is anticipating at least 2,500 service projects taking place with more than 20,000 volunteers around the world. The Center for Green Schools was established to drive the transformation of all learning environments into safe, engaging and comfortable facilities that enhance a student’s ability to learn and a teacher’s ability to teach, and the Green Apple Day of Service is a tangible way we are working to further advance our mission of green schools for everyone within this generation. To learn more about how you can get involved, sign up for service projects in your area, connect with other volunteers and share ideas around the Green Apple Day of Service, visit mygreenapple.org. Follow the Center for Green Schools on Facebook and Twitter (@mygreenschools) and join the conversation by using the #greenapple hashtag.

Medicina: rinnovati i vertici società italiana obesità

Enzo Nisoli, bresciano, 51 anni, è il nuovo Presidente della Società Italiana dell’Obesità (SIO), la società scientifica che si occupa della ricerca di soluzioni all’espansione della malattia obesità che colpisce oltre 6 milioni di persone in Italia, il 10.3% della popolazione.
Succede a Roberto Vettor che ha guidato l’associazione nel biennio 2010-2012. Il cambio della guardia è avvenuto a conclusione del Congresso Congiunto SIO SICOB di Abano Terme (Padova) che si è appena concluso. Laureato in Medicina e Chirurgia a Brescia, con specializzazione in Biochimica e Chimica Clinica, Enzo Nisoli è professore associato di farmacologia presso la Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell’Università degli Studi di Milano. È referente del Ministero della Salute per la valutazione di eventi scientifici nel settore Farmacologia e Tossicologia Clinica nell’ambito della Commissione per la Formazione Continua in Medicina (ECM). È autore di oltre 130 lavori scientifici pubblicati su riviste internazionali e nazionali, tra cui le autorevoli Science, Cell Metabolism, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A. (PNAS) eNature Medicine.

Incontro con Piera Aiello e Margherita Asta

Italiano: Panorama di Salsomaggiore Terme dalla frazione di San Rocchino English: Salsomaggiore Terme's panorama from San Rocchino (Parma - Italy) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Salsomaggiore Terme Sabato 28 aprile 2012 c/o sede Anpi Salsomaggiore. Libera associazioni nomi e numeri contro le mafie – coordinamento provinciale di Parma invita Sabato 28 aprile 2012 ore 17.30 a Salsomaggiore Terme all’incontro “Libera il coraggio” organizzato con le associazioni locali Anpi, Viva Salso Viva e Il Delfino presso la sede dell’Anpi (via Macello 3). Ospiti: Piera Aiello, testimone di giustizia e cognata di Rita Atria. Margherita Asta familiare vittima di mafia, figlia e sorella di Barbara Rizzo e Giuseppe e Salvatore Asta, uccisi nella strage di Pizzolungo il 2 aprile 1985.

Military and space applications at SPIE DSS 2012

Châtenay-Malabry (near Paris), France, Sofradir, the number one developer and manufacturer of a key class of infrared detectors for military, space and industrial applications, announces today that it will demonstrate a prototype of the first 10-micron pixel pitch infrared (IR) detector for tactical applications at SPIE DSS in Baltimore, April 23 – 27. The image quality of an infrared detector depends on its spatial resolution that is related to the size and number of pixels. This means the higher the number of pixels and the smaller the pixel size, the sharper the image. In regards to the 10-micron pixel pitch, the small pitch means that Sofradir can double the number of pixels on a standard size chip. With this significant increase in image resolution, fighter pilots and soldiers will be considerably more effective in distinguishing between small objects at long distances (up to ten km) during the day and night, and through fog and smoke. Targeted military applications of Sofradir’s 10-micron pixel pitch IR detector will include Infrared Search and Track Systems (IRST), targeting and reconnaissance pods, long-range surveillance and armored vehicles. The focal plane array prototype was developed with the support of DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement) by CEA-Leti at DEFIR, the joint laboratory of Sofradir and CEA-Leti. CEA-Leti is a leading European microtechnology, IT and health technology research center. Sofradir credits its Mercury Cadmium Telluride (MCT/HgCdTe), a cooled IR technology using a silicon-like photodiode implantation process, for enabling the development of the 10-micron pixel pitch IR detector.
MCT is extremely effective at controlling pixel diodes. Moreover, Sofradir’s indium bump positioning process (the bumps are connection pads that join the detection circuit and the read out integrated circuit together) is very accurate. This level of control offers Sofradir two options: It can fit more pixels on the IR chips currently in use and therefore further enhance image resolution or develop smaller IR chips for overall IR system cost-savings.
Sofradir develops and manufactures advanced infrared (IR) detectors for military, space and commercial applications. It specializes in cooled IR detectors based on a sophisticated high performance technology, Mercury Cadmium Telluride (MCT), for which it has the market lead. Its vast product portfolio of scanning and staring arrays covers the entire infrared spectrum. Sofradir also offers QWIP detectors developed in cooperation with Thales.
CEA-Leti is a leading French research-and-technology organization with activities in energy, IT, healthcare, defense and security. CEA-Leti is focused on creating value and innovation through technology transfer to its industrial partners. It specializes in nanotechnologies and their applications, from wireless devices and systems to biology, healthcare and photonics. NEMS and MEMS are at the core of its activities. An anchor of the MINATEC campus, CEA-Leti operates 8,000 square metres of state-of-the-art clean room space on 200mm and 300mm wafer platforms. It employs 1,400 scientists and engineers and hosts more than 190 Ph.D. students and 200 associates from partner companies. CEA-Leti owns more than 1,700 patent families. For more information, visit http://www.leti.fr.

Better working conditions and social rights for seasonal workers

Non-EU seasonal workers would enjoy basic working and living conditions, such as a minimum wage and decent accommodation, under draft legislation endorsed by the Civil Liberties Committee on Wednesday. These rules would tackle exploitation, while preventing temporary stays from becoming permanent. The Commission estimates that over 100,000 third-country seasonal workers come to the EU every year.The proposed rules are set to be the first on seasonal employment at EU level, but they will not affect Member States’ right to determine admission volumes or reject applications if workers could be hired locally to do the job. EU countries should also be free to define seasonal work beyond its traditional link to agriculture and tourism activities, such as fruit picking, say MEPs. This should be done in consultation with social partners and ensuring that all activities have a seasonal aspect.
An application to obtain a “seasonal worker permit” should include a work contract or a binding job offer specifying essential aspects, such as pay and working hours, say MEPs. It should also include evidence that the worker will benefit from adequate accommodation. Rent should not be excessive or automatically deducted from a worker’s wage, says the committee.
A seasonal worker permit will ensure minimum working conditions and social rights, for example related to pay or safety. Seasonal workers should have the right to join a trade union and have access to social security, pensions and public services, except for public housing and employment services. Travel documents will be granted according to length of the stay: a Schengen visa for stays up to 3 months and a long-stay visa or a residence permit for stays between 3 and 6 months.The adopted text says that employers should pay for travel costs from the place of origin to the place of work and vice versa. Employers should also pay the visa fee and the cost of health insurance before the start of the contract.MEPs amended the Commission proposal so a 6 month limit would apply over a 12 month period, instead of within a calendar year, to account for winter seasonal workers.Seasonal workers could extend their contracts or change employers within the 6-month limit. Seasonal workers who lodge a complaint against a first employer should be allowed to remain in the Member State while looking for another seasonal job, says the committee.The new rules aim at promoting non-EU workers’ movement between a third-country and the EU for temporary stay and work. This would be done either through a multi-season permit covering up to three consecutive years or by simplifying procedures for returning applicants.

The stars of world golf will be playing at the Alstom French Open!

The South African professional golfer Retief Goosen (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If Thomas Levet was looking for a tough task in trying to win the Alstom French Open for a second consecutive time, he will be particularly well served this year. Indeed, this year the roll call boasts the presence of some of the golfing world’s finest players. Here is an overview: For several years now, Amaury Sport Organisation and the French Federation of Golf have been working hard to improve the appeal of the Alstom French Open and cement its position as one of the major events on the European circuit. They are not lacking in assets to attract the stars of world golf and have them returning season after season. Often mentioned are the excellent level of prize money (more than 3 million euros in 2012), the quality of the Albatros course at the French National Golf Course, future host of the Ryder Cup 2018, as well as the prestige of Paris. The organisers are seeking to capitalise on these advantages whilst pursuing their efforts in fine-tuning the essential other details. The results are more than encouraging. Jean Van de Velde, the new director of the Alstom French Open, and Bruno Rebeuh, liaison officer for the professional golfers and their agents, have travelled the world over the last few weeks to hold discussions with the main international players golf and obtain confirmation of their participation in the tournament. This travel has borne fruit, because, to date, they have been able to announce in particular the presence of Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Justin Rose, the current world number 3, 6 and 10 respectively, as well as Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, Francesco Molinari and Paul Casey, all members of the top 50 in the world. Retief Goosen and Darren Clarke, the most recent winner of the British Open, will also be in attendance. Such a line-up is bound to whet the appetite of the crowds, who already came in their masses last year (52,000 spectators during the week), and instantly kick-start ticket bookings. A pass for the 4 days of competition is available for French Federation of Golf members at the special offer price only € 40 until 30th April, then € 45 until 31st May, before increasing to € 50. Day tickets will cost € 25 for federation members and € 35 for non-members, though until 31st May they will be available to non-members at a price of € 30.