99 research outputs found
I mots-fiction in Jules Verne
No full textNella Science-Fiction l'invenzione linguistica introduce il "senso del meraviglioso"; si tratta di una pratica semiotica che produce "mots-fiction", cioè ponti verbali che collegano il reale all'immaginario. Le recenti versioni italiane di due racconti avveniristici di Jules Verne, sono occasione per confronti e proposte di traduzione dove sia conservata la funzione straniante del "merveilleux instrumental
Gendering the comic body: Physical humour in <i>Shirley</i>
No full textThe mock-battles and slap-stick scenes that arise at pivotal moments in Shirley encourage us to reexamine Brontë’s sense of humour, which is neither as grim, nor as naively crude as critics from George Henry Lewes to Virginia Woolf have deemed it. Drawing on Brontë’s engagement with the theatrical traditions of European Carnival and British pantomime, this chapter demonstrates how physical humour in Shirley satirises the gendered dictates of literary realism that Lewes had laid out for the author in public reviews and private correspondence. By rejecting the witty drawing-room comedy often associated with her predecessor Jane Austen, and adopting the brash language of the body common to both popular performance and the work of her male peers Charles Dickens and William Makepeace Thackeray, Brontë participates in important mid-nineteenth-century debates about gendered authorship and the literary marketplace.<br/
Sr isotope variations in the Upper Triassic succession at Pizzo Mondello, Sicily: Constraints on the timing of the Cimmerian Orogeny
No full texthe Late Triassic Cimmerian Orogeny was a result of the final closure of the Palaeotethys Ocean and the ac- cretion of Gondwana-derived (Cimmerian) continents to southern Eurasia. Determining the timing of the Cimmerian Orogeny is crucial to our understanding of the large-scale climate changes driven by the uplift of the Cimmerian Mountains. Here we present stratigraphic variations in 87Sr/86Sr values of Upper Triassic pelagic limestone from the Pizzo Mondello section, Sicily, Italy, that constrain the timing of uplift of the Cimmerian Mountains. The 87Sr/86Sr values remain relatively constant in the lower part of the section, decreasing slightly in the Tuvalian (upper Carnian) and Lacian (lower Norian). However, 87Sr/86Sr ratios rise sharply at the Lacian–Alaunian (lower–middle Norian) boundary and continue to rise through to the Sevatian (upper Norian). This observation indicates an increased input of radiogenic strontium derived from continental weathering, which resulted from the rapid uplift and erosion of the Cimmerian Mountains at this time. The climatic and environmental changes following the uplift of the Cimmerian Mountains provide an explanation for (1) an intense sea-surface-temperature warming event in the western Tethys Ocean, and (2) a rapid increase in pre- cipitation on the northern coast of the Tethys during the Alaunian–Sevatian
Ca2+ and cAMP cross-talk in mitochondria.
No full textWhile mitochondrial Ca(2+) homeostasis has been studied for several decades and many of the functional roles of Ca(2+) accumulation within the matrix have been at least partially clarified, the possibility of modulation of the organelle functions by cAMP remains largely unknown. In this contribution we briefly summarize the key aspects of Ca(2+) and cAMP signalling pathways in mitochondria. In particular, we focus on recent findings concerning the discovery of an autonomous cAMP toolkit within the mitochondrial matrix, its crossroad with mitochondrial Ca(2+) signalling and its role in controlling ATP synthesis. The discovery of a cAMP signalling, and the demonstration of a cross-talk between cAMP and Ca(2+) inside mitochondria, open the way to a re-evaluation of these organelles as integrators of multiple second messengers. A description of the main methods presently available to measure Ca(2+) and cAMP in mitochondria of living cells with genetically encoded probes is also presented
Smart-Puffin Project Smart Positioning Underwater System for Environmental Field Using Artificial Intelligence
No full textA critical evaluation of the degradation state of dry archaeological wood from Egypt by SEM, ATR-FTIR, wet chemical analysis and Py(HMDS)-GC-MS
No full textAn in-depth investigation was undertaken of the chemical changes to wood induced by degrading agents in dry burial environments. The degradation state of eleven wood samples from dry archaeological sites in Egypt was evaluated by combining the information obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), wet chemical analysis (WCA), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and analytical pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry with in situ silylation (Py(HMDS)-GC-MS). The samples belonged to five different wood species (Faidherbia albida, Ficus sycomorus, Taxus baccata, Pinus sylvestris and Tamarix sp.) and came from three different archaeological sites corresponding to three different time periods (from ca. 1700 BC to ca. 1700 AD). The results were compared with sound reference wood of the same species. SEM enabled a fungal attack to be identified in some of the samples. WCA highlighted the preferential loss of lignin or carbohydrates in these samples, but also showed unusually high values of water-soluble substances in most of them. FTIR spectra acquired before and after the extraction of the samples revealed that this soluble fraction generally contained depolymerised carbohydrates and/or lignin units. Py(HMDS)-GC-MS was applied without any sample pre-treatment and was used to assess the alteration/depolymerisation of the individual wood components, thus complementing the picture regarding the chemical changes. The results showed that, unlike waterlogged archaeological wood, most of the degraded wood components â depolymerised carbohydrates and/or lignin â had not leached away from the dry wood matrix, and thus complicated the interpretation of data. The commonly used parameters, such as the H/L (holocellulose/lignin) ratio, failed to give a correct evaluation of the wood degradation when both carbohydrates and lignin were degraded. The preservation conditions of the samples were very variable, from very good to a high depletion of carbohydrates, to the preferential depletion of lignin, or comparable levels of carbohydrate and lignin degradation. This was sometimes observed within the same wood species and the same archaeological site. This highlighted how difficult the interpretation can be in order to correctly evaluate the multiple causes of degradation affecting dry archaeological wood. An analytical approach using complementary techniques appears to be essential
Comparison of thermal expansion of wood and epoxy adhesives
No full textEpoxy-based adhesives are used both in the consolidation of decayed timbers and for new structural joints. Investigating the compatibility of wood and epoxy adhesives provides a better knowledge of the long-term behaviour of wood-epoxy joints. Besides mechanical compatibility, also temperature-related parameters are relevant in this context. The values of the thermal expansion coefficients (TEC) of two wood species (Spruce, Picea abies and Iroko, Clorophora excelsa) and four different epoxy resins have been compared using a modified test method that allows for nearly iso-hygric conditions of the wood specimens. Minor differences in TEC have been observed between wood in the transversal-to-the-grain direction and an experimental epoxy adhesive, which is considered highly compatible with wood on the basis of mechanical and ageing tests. Other commercial epoxy adhesives show greater differences in terms of TEC and a proportionally decreasing mechanical compatibility. According to these results, the evaluation of thermal properties can be considered very useful for a modelling approach to predict the long term behaviour of wood-epoxy adhesive interface
ADAMTS13 Autoantibodies and Burden of Care in Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic purpura: New Evidence and Future Implications
No full textThe introduction Caplacizumab in the management of Immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) has raised different questions, considering its cost-efficacy and the optimal immunosuppressive treatment (IST) to associate. A retrospective multicenter collection of 42 first iTTP cases was conducted to identify variables associated with a higher burden of care and necessity of an implemented IST with early Rituximab (RTX) rescue. A significant correlation resulted between ADAMTS13 inhibitors (ADAMTS13inh) at diagnosis with total plasma exchange (PEXtot) and PEX needed to achieve clinical response (PEXtoCR, r = 0.46; r = 0.48), along with age (r = - 0.31; r = -0.35), platelet count (r = -0.30; r = -0.30), LDH (r = 0.44; r = 0.41) and total bilirubin (r = 0.54; r = 0.35). ADAMTS13inh also correlated with number of days of hospitalization (DoH, r = 0.44). A significant difference was observed in terms of median ADAMTS13inh titer at diagnosis in patient treated with RTX rescue and those responding to only steroid treatment. Thus, ADAMTS13inh titer resulted a marker of iTTP burden of care, associated with higher number of PEXtot, PEXtoCR, DoH and higher probability of needing RTX rescue to achieve clinical response and could be a useful tool for management of new iTTP cases and an interesting variable to optimize iTTP cases stratification in future Caplacizumab cost-efficacy analysis
Durability of five native Argentine wood species of the genera Prosopis and Acacia decayed by rot fungi and its relationship with extractive content
No full textThe natural durability of four Argentinean species of Prosopis and one of Acacia was evaluated in laboratory tests, according to European standards, using three brown rot and one white rot fungi. These tests were complemented by assessing the wood chemical composition. All the species were from moderately slightly durable to very durable (classes 4–1), and in all cases the heartwood was the most resistant to fungal attack. Chemical extractives content (organic, aqueous, tannic and phenolic) was higher in the heartwood. However, species durability was not related to extractive contents nor with wood density. Instead, it is possible that extractives could contribute to natural durability in different ways, including the effects related to the antioxidant properties of some of them.Fil: Pometti, Carolina Luciana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Palanti, Sabrina. Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche. Istituto Per La Valorizzazione Del Legno E Delle Specie Arboree; ItaliaFil: Pizzo, Benedetto. Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche. Istituto Per La Valorizzazione Del Legno E Delle Specie Arboree; ItaliaFil: Charpentier, Jean Paul. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; FranciaFil: Boizot, Nathalie. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; FranciaFil: Resio, Claudio. SILVACHIMICA; ItaliaFil: Saidman, Beatriz Ofelia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin
Alle radici del dibattito Post-Growth. La lezione di Emilio Sereni
No full textSi evidenzia il contributo seminale di Emilio Sereni al superamento della dicotomia economico/ecologico in una prospettiva di sviluppo fortemente ancorata al territorio e ai luoghi.
Cinquant’anni prima che si iniziasse a discutere di paradigmi post-growth come alternativa a forme di crescita insostenibili, irresponsabili e in realtà senza sviluppo, Sereni aveva proposto di guardare al paesaggio agrario, con l’evidenza delle sue stratificazioni di saperi plurisecolari, come prospettiva ottimale per riflettere sulla crisi che nel 1962 appare pervadere le forme assunte dal boom economico postbellico: quella diffusa devastazione del territorio che ha condotto, da un lato, all’ipertrofia delle rendite urbane speculative, dall’altro all’abbandono di interi comprensori interni con esiti fortemente intrecciati che, di lì a pochi anni, mostreranno il tragico volto delle alluvioni, del dissesto idrogeologico, della marginalizzazione territoriale.
La sua prospettiva ha per noi una valenza non solo analitica, ma anche interpretativa e propositiva, messa in luce già negli anni ’60 da Italo Insolera che, per la recensione della Storia del paesaggio agrario, scriveva sulle colonne di Urbanistica: “Nel processo di integrazione delle nozioni proprie di diverse discipline che caratterizza l’attuale preparazione culturale in funzione della pianificazione territoriale e della programmazione economica, il testo di Sereni ha un posto insostituibile”. Infatti, “l’autore ha raccolto una serie di appunti mirabilmente precisi su come, nelle varie epoche, l’organizzazione della proprietà e della conduzione generasse certi tipi e modi di coltura e come poi questi trasformassero la natura, o l’eredità delle precedenti generazioni agrarie, fino a quello che è oggi il paesaggio caratteristico delle varie regioni della Penisola”; “un compendio di storia rurale” che “qui ci interessa per la grande importanza che riveste per l’urbanistica”, e che si dovrebbe “intitolare “Saper vedere l’agricoltura”.
Ad accomunare i due studiosi, è il ricorso alla storia come chiave di lettura del presente: Sereni nei termini dell’analisi marxista, Insolera come arena privilegiata di ricerca interdisciplinare per individuare, nel complesso delle trasformazioni strutturali, quelle “invarianti” delle pratiche spaziali che ne rappresentano il patrimonio collettivo, e in quanto tali, il perno dell'azione pianificatoria.Aim of this proposal is to highlight the seminal contribution of Emilio Sereni to overcoming the economic/ecological dichotomy in a development perspective strongly anchored to the territory and places.
Fifty years before post-growth paradigms began to be discussed as an alternative to unsustainable, irresponsible forms of growth, Sereni proposed to look at the agricultural landscape, with the evidence of its centuries-old stratifications of knowledge, as an optimal perspective to reflect on the crisis that in 1962 appears to pervade the forms assumed by the post-war economic boom: that widespread devastation of the territory which led, on the one hand, to the hypertrophy of speculative urban rents, on the other to the abandonment of entire internal districts with strongly intertwined results which, within a few years, will show the tragic face of floods, hydrogeological instability, territorial marginalization.
Sereni perspective has for us an analytical value, and an interpretive and propositional value. Indeed, they have been highlighted already in the 60s by Italo Insolera who, in reviewing for Urbanistica his “Storia del Paesaggio Agrario Italiano”, wrote: "In the process of integration of the notions of different disciplines that characterizes the current cultural preparation as a function of territorial planning and economic programming, Sereni's text has an irreplaceable place”. In fact, "the author has collected a series of admirably precise notes on how, throughtout time, the organization of ownership and management generated certain types and methods of cultivation and how these then transformed nature, or the inheritance of the previous generations of farmers, up to what is today the characteristic landscape of the various regions of the Peninsula”; “a compendium of rural history” which “interests us here due to the great importance it has for urban planning”, and which should be “entitled ‘Learning to see agriculture’”.
What joined the two scholars is the use of history as a key to understanding the present: Sereni in terms of Marxist analysis, Insolera as a privileged arena of interdisciplinary research to identify, in the complex of structural transformations, the "invariant" ones of spatial practices that they represent its collective heritage, and as such, the core of planning action
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