1,079 research outputs found
The pictorial wit of Domenico Tiepolo
No full textThis thesis takes a new approach to Domenico Tiepolo’s (1727-1804), Divertimento Per li Regazzi (c.1795-1804), it is arguably the artists most enigmatic graphic work, which features the commedia dell’arte character Pulcinella. The drawings have hitherto been subject to rigorous connoisseurial analysis. Indeed, in his introduction to ten of the drawings in a catalogue of Italian Eighteenth-Century Drawings in The Robert Lehman Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, James Byam Shaw states that this particular series of drawings has now become so famous ‘that it is hardly necessary to add to the literature of the series.’1 In my opinion it would be a great pity if future generations of scholars were discouraged by this remark, for I believe the drawings still have much to ‘tell’ the contemporary art historian and would further benefit from increasingly interpretative readings. Previously, scholars have regarded Domenico Tiepolo as an imitator of his father, Giambattista Tiepolo (1696-1770), and interpreted the re-appropriation of motifs in the Divertimento as signs of old age and fatigue. I suggest, on the contrary, that in this series of drawings in particular, Domenico was an innovator.
This project carves out new territories within the study of the series in that it focuses on the playful nature of the drawings, and how the suite can be understood in relation to contemporary theory concerning games and play, and ludic musical/improvisatory forms. Additionally, the drawings are discussed as a case history in a now popular emerging dialectic on the late works of aged artists: here I consider how these drawings, often funny, poignant, sensitive and delicate reveal how the elderly painter reconciles himself not only to the passing of his own life and the extinction of his family line but to an entire political, cultural and visual tradition
Osteoclast-specific Tsc2 deletion in mice increases bone mass: a model for the study of sclerotic bone lesions in Tuberous Sclerosis
No full textLa maggior parte dei pazienti affetti da Sclerosi Tuberosa mostra lesioni ossee di tipo sclerotico, la cui patogenesi e’ sconosciuta. Le lesioni sclerotiche potrebbero rappresentare un eccessivo e focale accumulo di osso. Lo scheletro e’ continuamente rimodellato dall’azione di osteoblasti, le cellule che producono tessuto osseo e osteoclasti (OC), che lo degradano. Evidenze dimostrano che la perdita di TSC1 o TSC2 negli osteoblasti ha effetto negativo nella maturazione dello scheletro, ma la funzione del complesso TSC1-TSC2 negli OC non e’ noto.
Per identificare il ruolo di TSC2 negli OC abbiamo incrociato un topo CtskCRE, in cui Cre e’ espresso negli OC, con un topo Tsc2fl/fl per generare un topo CtskCre; Tsc2fl/fl ora in avanti chiamato Tsc2ΔOC. I topi Tsc2ΔOC maschi presentano un incremento di 3 volte della quantita’ di osso trabecolare a 9 mesi di eta’ (p< 0.01), cosi’ come dello spessore della corticale ossea (1.5 volte, p<0.05). Caratteristiche simili sono osservate a 3 mesi di eta’. Come pronosticato, gli OC derivati da topi Tsc2ΔOC hanno elevazione di mTORC1 ma presentano una normale maturazione ed una normale attivita’ secretoria in vitro. Per studiare la funzione degli OC in vivo, abbiamo misurato i livelli sierici di CTX1, un marker della loro attivita’, trovandolo normale sia nei topi maschi che nelle femmine a 3 mesi di eta’, normale nelle femmine a 9 mesi di eta’ ed aumentato nei maschi a 9 mesi di eta’. La concentrazione sierica di P1NP, un marker di attivita’ degli osteoblasti e’ stata trovata elevata in tutti i gruppi considerati. Gli OC aumentano l’attivita’ degli osteoblasti mediante la secrezione di clastochine, un meccanismo chiamato coupling. L’ RNA messaggero di CTHRC1 (una clastochina) e’ aumentato di 11 volte (p<0.001) nei femori di topi Tsc2ΔOC a 3 mesi cosi come a 9 mesi di eta’. Il nostro modello suggerisce che la perdita di TSC2 negli OC possa stimolare gli osteoblasti a produrre osso tramite la mTORC1 dipendente secrezione di CTHRC1.The majority of TSC patients have sclerotic bone lesions, the pathogenesis of which is unknown. Sclerotic lesions may represent focal accumulation of excess bone. Normal bone is continuously remodeled by the actions of bone forming osteoblasts and bone resorbing osteoclasts (OC). A growing body of evidence suggests that loss of TSC1 or TSC2 in osteoblasts impacts normal skeletal growth, but the function of the TSC protein complex in OC is unknown. To examine the impact of the TSC2 protein in OC, we crossed the Cathepsin K-Cre (Ctsk-Cre) mice, where Cre is expressed in OC, with Tsc2fl/fl mice to generate CtskCre; Tsc2fl/fl mice, subsequently denoted as Tsc2ΔOC. Tsc2ΔOC male mice have strikingly elevated trabecular bone mass at 9 months of age (~3-fold increase, p<0.01) as well as increased cortical thickness (1.5-fold, p<0.05). Similar characteristics were observed at 3 months of age. As expected, OCs from Tsc2ΔOC mice had increased mTORC1 activity, consistent with the loss of TSC2, however they show normal maturation and secretory function in vitro. To assess OC function in vivo, we measured serum levels of the degradation products of C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I), an established bone resorption marker. CTX-I was found normal in male and females at 3 months of age and in 9 months old female; slightly elevated in male at 9 month of age meaning OCs are not responsible for the phenotype. The serum concentration of procollagen type I N propeptide (P1NP), a marker of osteoblast activity, was elevated in Tsc2ΔOCmice in both sex at 3 and 9 months of age. OCs increase osteoblast activity through the secretion of Clastokines, a mechanism called coupling. CTHRC1 (a clastokine) mRNA was found increased (11 fold, p< 0.001) in the femurs of 3 months old Tsc2ΔOC mice, as well as at 9 months old. Our model suggests that loss of Tsc2 in OCs may stimulate osteoblastic bone formation through the mTORC1 dependent secretion of CTHRC1
Transcending Giambologna: Domenico Pieratti and his experiments
No full textThe author maps out the career of Domenico Pieratti (Florence, 1600 - Rome, 1656), sheding light on this remarkable brilliant and highly original sculptor at the service of the Medici and Barberini
Domenico Venier's Poetics and Petrarchism in Sixteenth-Century Veneto
No full textreservedIl presente elaborato si propone di indagare il fenomeno del petrarchismo cinquecentesco in area veneta, concentrandosi in particolare sulla figura di Domenico Venier, tra i più rappresentativi interpreti della lirica petrarchesca nel contesto veneziano del XVI secolo. Attraverso un’analisi delle principali istanze tematiche e stilistiche rintracciabili nella sua produzione poetica, la tesi intende delineare un profilo letterario dell’autore che tenga conto non solo della tradizione petrarchesca, ma anche delle caratteristiche culturali e sociali del contesto lagunare. Particolare attenzione è riservata al cenacolo venieriano, luogo privilegiato di scambio intellettuale e di sperimentazione poetica, che svolse un ruolo significativo nella diffusione e nella rielaborazione del canone lirico stabilito da Pietro Bembo nella prima metà del Cinquecento. La tesi prende inoltre in esame la ricezione critica della poesia di Venier, con l’obiettivo di ricostruire le diverse prospettive interpretative che hanno contribuito a delineare l’immagine letteraria del poeta nel corso dei secoli.This thesis aims to investigate the phenomenon of sixteenth-century Petrarchism in the Veneto region of Northern Italy, with a particular focus on the figure of Domenico Venier, one of the most prominent exponents of Petrarchan lyric poetry of the time. Through an analysis of the main thematic and stylistic features that characterize his poetic production, the study seeks to outline a literary profile of the author, considering not only the Petrarchan tradition but also the cultural and social characteristics of the Venetian context. Special attention is given to Venier’s social circle, a privileged space for intellectual exchange and poetic experimentation, which played a significant role in the dissemination and reworking of the lyric canon established by Pietro Bembo in the first half of the sixteenth century. The thesis also examines the critical reception of Venier’s poetry, aiming to reconstruct the various interpretative perspectives that have contributed to shaping the poet’s literary image throughout the centuries
Renewable energies, business models and local growth
No full textEnergy is one of the driving factors of the world economy: energy consumption is closely linked to quality of life and environmental impact. Reducing the use of fossil fuels, curtailing greenhouse gas emissions, and cutting energy dependence from traditional energy producing countries are the cornerstones of European policies for safe, competitive, sustainable, and renewable energy. In addition, the pressing need to provide new and diversified opportunities for supplementary income for the agricultural sector has fueled the desire to engage rural areas in this process. Biogas, derived from the anaerobic digestion of biomass, is one of the renewable energy sources that has been very successful in these areas recently. This paper describes a practical example of the implementation of a biogas plant at a farm in the Madonie Mountain area of Sicily, Italy; by estimating the costs and revenues that will result from its management, we demonstrate how the bioenergy sector presents a great opportunity for farm supplementary income. Through cost-benefit analysis, we show that the investment is cost-effective both in terms of Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR)
Improved primary stability and load transfer of a customized osseointegrated transfemoral prosthesis compared to a commercial one
No full textAbstract Background Transfemoral osseointegrated prostheses, like other uncemented prostheses experience the risk of aseptic loosening and post-operative periprosthetic fractures, with an incidence between 3% and 30%. To date, however, osseointegrated off-the-shelf prostheses are manufactured in a limited number of sizes, and some patients do not meet the strict eligibility criteria of commercial devices. A customized osseointegrated stem was developed and a pre-clinical in vitro investigation of the stem was performed, to evaluate its biomechanical performance. Materials and methods Six human cadaveric femurs were implanted with commercial stems, while the six contralateral were implanted with customized stems. Three more femurs that did not meet the eligibility criteria for the commercial stems were implanted with the customized stems. Two different loading scenarios (compression-flexion, and torsion) were simulated to measure the primary implant stability and the load transfer. For both loading scenarios, the displacements of the implant with respect to the host bone, and the strains on the bone surface were measured using digital image correlation (DIC). To measure the pull-out force, a tensile force was applied to the prostheses. Results The translational inducible micromotions during the compression-flexion test of the OsteoCustom stem were more than 4 times smaller than the commercial one (p < 0.05). The rotational inducible micromotions of the OsteoCustom stem were more than 3 times smaller than the commercial one (p < 0.05). Similar results were found from the torsional test. The full-field strain distribution of the commercial stem showed a slightly higher strain concentration near the stem tip (maximum principal strain = 1928±127 µɛ) than the OsteoCustom (maximum principal strain = 1758±130 µɛ). Similar results were found for the femurs that did not meet the eligibility criteria for the commercial stems and could be implanted with the OsteoCustom. No statistically significant difference was found in the extraction force between the two groups. Discussion and conclusion These results support the hypothesis that the OsteoCustom stem can offer better primary stability and load distribution compared to commercial implants. The outcome highlighted the potential benefits of the OsteoCustom prosthesis, which is capable of including a wider range of femoral anatomies than the current standard
Domenico Gerosolimitano a Venezia
No full textIn this article, the author provides the Hebrew name of Domenico Gerosolimitano, a famous ecclesiastical censor of Hebrew books who lived in Italy from the end of the sixteenth through the second decade of the seventeenth centuries. Based on the discovery of his baptismal act, recorded in Venice, Domenico Gerosolimitano's Hebrew name was Rabbi Samuel Vivas, of Jerusalem. The aforementioned act determines the exact date of his conversion to Catholicism, as 6 August, 1593. The author presents new information concerning Domenico´s life in Venice as well as his activities as censor of Hebrew books.El artículo se ocupa de la identificación hebrea de Domenico Gerosolimitano, célebre censor de libros hebreos que trabajó en Italia entre fines del siglo XVI y los primeros veinte años del XVII. Gracias a haber descubierto en Venecia el acta de bautismo, el autor ha logrado identificar a Domenico Gerosolimitano con el rabino Samuel Vivas de Jerusalén y precisar la fecha exacta de su conversión al catolicismo (6 de agosto de 1593). El estudio arroja además nueva luz sobre la estancia en Venecia de Domenico y sobre sus inicios como censor de libros hebreos
Does Implant Design Influence Failure Rate of Lateral Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty? A Meta-Analysis
No full textBackground: Lateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is a viable solution for isolated lateral compartment arthritis. Several prosthetic designs are available such as fixed-bearing metal-backed (FB M-B), fixed-bearing all-polyethylene (FB A-P), and mobile-bearing metal-backed (MB M-B) implants. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to compare failure rates of different prosthetic designs. Methods: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses systematic review was conducted using 4 databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, and PubMed) to identify all studies that investigate outcomes of lateral UKA. Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria, and failure rates were compared by implant type and follow-up time separately in order to assess potential confounding factors. Two separate analyses have been performed among different implant designs (FB M-B vs FB A-P vs MB M-B) and different follow-ups (<5 years, between 5 and 10 years, >10 years). Results: The failure rate of FB M-B lateral UKA was significantly lower compared to other lateral UKA designs present in the market (0.8% vs 8.6% and 7.1% for FB M-B, FB A-P, and MB M-B, respectively). No significative difference among groups has been detected when comparing all implants with regard to follow-up time. Conclusion: Considering actual evidence, for a surgeon approaching lateral UKA, the FB M-B design is preferable, given the lower failure rates and subsequently a longer implant survivorship
Almost 79% survival rate at 10‐year follow‐up for the patellofemoral joint arthroplasty: An Italian prosthetic registry study
No full textPurposeThe aims of the present study were (1) to evaluate the survival of patellofemoral joint (PFJ) arthroplasty in a large cohort of patients using data obtained from an Italian regional arthroplasty registry and (2) to collect clinical outcomes of a subgroup of patients, with a minimum follow-up of 4 years. The hypotheses were that PFJ arthroplasty is a procedure that had good survival and clinical outcomes, not inferior to those reported in the literature for primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA).MethodsThe Register of Orthopaedic Prosthetic Implants (RIPO) of Emilia-Romagna (ER) (Italy) database was searched for the inclusion of all PFJ arthroplasties implanted between 2003 and 2019. PFJ arthroplasties were excluded if they were implanted in patients who lived outside of the ER. The survival information was extrapolated from the RIPO considering the partial or total revision of the implant as failure; moreover, a subgroup of patients was contacted and interviewed by telephone to collect clinical outcomes. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the data. The survival curve was calculated and plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method.ResultsA total of 126 arthroplasties in 114 patients were included in the final analysis (mean age at surgery 60.1 +/- 11.5 years old). The main causes of patellofemoral arthroplasty were primary osteoarthritis (88%) and posttraumatic arthritis (7%). The survival was 90.4 +/- 30.6 and 78.8 +/- 51.5 at 5 and 10 years of follow-up, respectively. At the latest follow-up, 23 implants failed (18.3%). The main cause of revision was osteoarthrosis progression (34.8%). A total of 44 patients were contacted by telephone to collect clinical outcomes: Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, functional Knee Society Score, Forgotten Joint Score and Oxford Knee Score. These patients reported good to excellent scores at a medium follow-up of 10.3 +/- 4.7 years.ConclusionsThe PFJ showed good survival and clinical outcomes and could be considered a valuable option for patients affected by isolated patellofemoral osteoarthritis.Level of EvidenceLevel IV
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