177,397 research outputs found
"Prudentissima et diligentissima femina". Servilia, M. Bruti mater, tra Cesariani e Cesaricidi
No full textIl contributo analizza la personalità di Servilia, matrona vissuta nella tarda Repubblica romana, madre di M. Giunio Bruto, sorellastra di Catone Uticense, amante e intima amica di Giulio Cesare. Nel corso della sua vita, Servilia fu al centro di una rete di relazioni che collegava uomini appartenenti a diverse fazioni politiche. In particolare, lo studio intende ricostruire il suo comportamento politico ‘dietro le quinte’ in occasione degli eventi che intercorsero tra l’assassinio di Cesare, quando Servilia giocò un ruolo di particolare rilievo per la fazione cesaricida, fino alla morte di Bruto e Cassio. L’analisi delle testimonianze letterarie, soprattutto dell’epistolario di Cicerone, permette di evidenziare, da una parte, l’operato che la qualifica come matrona extra mores, sebbene legittimata dalla pietas che manifestò per il figlio; dall’altra, l’uso di media tradizionalmente maschili, soprattutto quello verbale, che allontana Servilia dal canone femminile stilato dal mos maiorum ma che giustifica la sua intraprendenza per il particolare contesto storico della tarda Repubblica.
This paper concerns the figure of Servilia, a matrona who lived in the late Roman Republic and who was the mother of M. Junius Brutus, the half-sister of Cato of Utica, the mistress and close friend of Julius Caesar. During her existence, she was the focus of a web of relationships with politicians belonging to different parties. In particular, the study aims to reconstruct her political behaviour ‘behind the curtain’ during the historical events that occurred after Caesar’s assassination, when she played a leading role for the faction or Caesar's murderers, until the death of Brutus and Cassius. The analysis of literary sources, in particular Cicero’s correspondence, enables to shedding light, on the one hand, the actions that qualify her as a woman extra mores, though legitimized by the pietas that she displayed in her son’s interest; on the other hand, the use of traditionally masculine media, especially the verbal one, which alienates Servilia from the feminine canon of the mos maiorum but which justifies her enterprise because of the particular historical context of the late Roman Republi
Sustainability of palm oil: Drivers of consumers' preferences
No full textIn recent years, the public debate on the health and sustainability of palm oil and its use by food industries has strongly influenced consumer choices. Consequently, palm oil-free products have asserted their image as healthier and more sustainable food products. The current paper contributes to the extant knowledge on consumers' perception of palm oil, particularly concerning preferences for food products carrying a "palm oil-free" label on their packaging. A web survey with a sample of 291 individuals was performed. Determinants of consumers' preferences towards the "palm oil-free" label were estimated with an ordered logistic model using as the dependent variable the purchasing frequency of palm oil-free foods and a set of independent variables. Results show that respondents generally prefer palm oil-free products, perceiving these products as healthier or eco-friendly. Furthermore, individuals are strongly influenced by the available information on these foods that may guide their choices for palm oil-free foods, which may be perceived as cleaner. Findings also highlight the low degree of information on this ingredient, underlining the need for public information and communication campaigns through different media, in order to emphasize that no scientifically proven negative health effect is currently attributed to palm oil consumption
Spontaneous resolution of a shallow detachment of the macula in a highly myopic eye
No full textPURPOSE: To report a case of pathologic myopia with shallow detachment of the macula and anatomic reattachment after spontaneous posterior vitreous separation. DESIGN: Observational case report. METHODS: A 66,year-old woman with pathologic myopia presented with decreased vision of 20/400 in her left eye. Biomicroscopy showed myopic chorioretinal changes, posterior staphyloma, and a shallow macular elevation. Optical coherence tomography was performed at the initial and follow-up examinations. RESULTS: Initial optical coherence tomography revealed a retinal detachment, retinoschisis, and incomplete poste, rior vitreous detachment. One and one half years after the initial visit the patient's best-corrected visual acuity improved to 20/200, and optical coherence tomography disclosed macular reattachment, release of vitreous adhesions, and restoration of normal retinal tomographic appearance. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous resolution of chronic shallow detachment of the macula in highly myopic eyes may occur and can be attributed to spontaneous posterior vitreous detachment. (C) 2003 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved
The seven challenges for transitioning into a bio-based circular economy in the agri-food sector
No full text<p>Background: Closed-loop agri-food supply chains have a high potential to reduce environmental and economic costs resulting from food waste disposal. This paper illustrates an alternative to the traditional supply chain of bread based on the principles of a circular economy. Methods: Six circular interactions among seven actors (grain farmers, bread producers, retailers, compostable packaging manufacturers, insect breeders, livestock farmers, consumers) of the circular filière are created in order to achieve the goal of "zero waste". In the model, two radical technological innovations are considered: insects used as animal feed and polylactic acid compostable packaging. Results: The main challenges for the implementation of the new supply chain are identified. Finally, some recent patents related to bread sustainable production, investigated in the current paper, are considered. Conclusion: Recommendations are given to academics and practitioners interested in the bio-based circular economy model approach for transforming agri-food supply chains.</p
Potere e libertà nella rete
No full textIl contributo si propone di analizzare alcune linee di tendenza nel rapporto rapporti tra potere e libertà in Internet: dopo aver sottoposto a critica alcune recenti ricostruzioni che enfatizzano la dimensione sociale e comunitaria della rete, lo scritto si sofferma su alcune problematiche attinenti al rapporto tra i privati utenti della rete, i grandi intermediari e i gestori delle piattaforme, e il potere pubblico. In particolare, per quanto attiene al ruolo di provider e gestori, si evidenzia l’esigenza di superare il mito della loro neutralità senza per questo configurare in capo ad essi forme di responsabilità editoriale, e valorizzando il ruolo che in questo senso può essere svolto dalle procedure c.d. di notice and take down; per quanto attiene al rapporto col potere pubblico, si valuta favorevolmente il tendenziale abbandono del ricorso allo strumento penale, e si evidenzia l’esigenza di privilegiare interventi normativi sulle modalità di diffusione dei contenuti, con specifico riferimento al tema della profilazione degli utenti finalizzata all’invio di materiale informativo, e all’esigenza di contrastare modalità non trasparenti di diffusione, quali quelle che si avvalgono di bot e fake account.The paper analyzes current trends in the relationship between Public Power and Internet Freedom. After having challenged recent theories about the social dimension of the Internet, the paper focuses on issues related to the relationship between private users, Internet intermediaries and platform providers, and Public Power. In particular, as far as the role of Internet intermediaries and providers is concerned, the Author argues that time is ripe to dispel the myth of their neutrality but warns that they should held liable as editors/publishers not just for this reason, and that the so called “notice and take down procedures” may play an important role in the field. As far as the relationship between Internet providers and Public Power is concerned, the Author agrees with those recommending setting aside the use of criminal law and highlights the need to support regulation on how contents are shared −considering the specific issue of users profiling− and to contrast non-transparent methods of dissemination of information such as those using bots and fake accounts
Mundus patet! Roma e le sue porte
No full textNel rito di fondazione il termine “porta” indica letteralmente l’atto di sollevare l’aratro intento a incidere il solco primigenio, il pomerium, lasciando pertanto una porzione di suolo non marcato. Laddove il muro segna un continuum, la porta suggerisce in questo senso un’interruzione, una discontinuità inseparabile nella limitatio. Lo stesso rito individuava, al centro della città romulea, la realizzazione di un particolarissimo spazio: il mundus. Si trattava di una cavità ctonia che metteva in comunicazione il mondo dei vivi con quello dei morti, una porta col passato su cui la città era fondata, e che veniva aperta 3 volte l’anno con la formula mundus patet!, “il mondo è aperto”: in questo modo ciò che era stato rimosso e obliato dalla città nell’istante stesso della sua fondazione riemergeva dal sottosuolo. Se è vero che il muro è ciò che sancisce un dentro dal fuori, un estraneo da un familiare, un interno da un esterno, esso è tuttavia inseparabile dalla porta, la quale si darebbe pertanto come un resto di spazio, vestigia di un “aperto” preistorico, in-diviso, il-limitato, in-appropriabile. Esattamente come il mundus, la porta sembrerebbe dunque essere vocata ad un patire, ad un essere patente (da pateo, “aprire, essere aperto”), configurandosi come spazio liminale che fa da varco e con cui il passato non cessa mai di riaffiorare ed essere accessibile qui e ora: una soglia in-fondata, trattenuta e rappresentata dal meccanismo dell’uscio, del muro e del solco. I Romani avevano una parola antichissima per definirla: limen, un ambito integralmente profano, in-appropriabile e, come tale, irrimediabilmente irrappresentabile.
La seguente proposta vuole proporre un’indagine geo-grafica sulle porte della città di Roma, rintracciando i loro guardiani, i loro paesaggi, la loro storia, il loro immaginario e i loro attraversamenti. Attraverso la stratificazione iconografica e cartografica che ci consegnano e tramandano le Imago Urbis, questa lettura vuole rinvenire ed esporre i frammenti di una Roma letteralmente interrotta. Un’operazione che restituisca le sospensioni, le scorie e le erranze nel tracciato, nel di-segno e nella rappresentazione, esplorandone il carattere intrinsecamente liminale, indicibile e irrappresentabile, proponendo una lettura della città eterna come palinsesto potenziale di “soglie”
Simulation of thermal plant optimization and hydraulic aspects of thermal distribution loops for large campuses
No full textFollowing an introduction, the author describes Texas A&M University and its utilities system. After that, the author presents how to construct simulation models for chilled water and heating hot water distribution systems. The simulation model was used in a $2.3 million Ross Street chilled water pipe replacement project at Texas A&M University. A second project conducted at the University of Texas at San Antonio was used as an example to demonstrate how to identify and design an optimal distribution system by using a simulation model. The author found that the minor losses of these closed loop thermal distribution systems are significantly higher than potable water distribution systems. In the second part of the report, the author presents the latest development of software called the Plant Optimization Program, which can simulate cogeneration plant operation, estimate its operation cost and provide optimized operation suggestions. The author also developed detailed simulation models for a gas turbine and heat recovery steam generator and identified significant potential savings. Finally, the author also used a steam turbine as an example to present a multi-regression method on constructing simulation models by using basic statistics and optimization algorithms. This report presents a survey of the author??s working experience at the Energy Systems Laboratory (ESL) at Texas A&M University during the period of January 2002 through March 2004. The purpose of the above work was to allow the author to become familiar with the practice of engineering. The result is that the author knows how to complete a project from start to finish and understands how both technical and nontechnical aspects of a project need to be considered in order to ensure a quality deliverable and bring a project to successful completion. This report concludes that the objectives of the internship were successfully accomplished and that the requirements for the degree of Degree of Engineering have been satisfied
The social and cultural impact of tourism
No full textThis research focus on the social and cuktural impact of tourism, in particular on the relationship between tourists and residents and how these two social actors perceive tourism and their reciprocal image. In this research, the concept of social and cultural impact generally means the way in which tourism contributes to modify system of values, individual behavior, community organization in the resort visited. The research investigates the tourist-resident relationship through a scale of measuremente of attitudes - TIA
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