192 research outputs found
Epigenetics and the Development of Cognitive Functions: Literacy as a Case-study
No full textIn contemporary cognitive neurosciences contingency referes to the importance of individual experience – sociocultural environment and interpersonal relationships – in the continuous molding of our bodies, brains and individual minds. The so-called ‘social and cultural neurosciences’ (‘interpersonal neurobiology’ in Siegel’s words) are clearly aimed to study the essential connection between cognition, brain, body and environment (Siegel 2014; Aglioti e Berlucchi 2013).
Looking at the brain as an intrinsically dynamic and plastic organ, with an ‘open architecture’ sculpted over the time by individual’s history and experience, the neurobiological basis of our behavior, our neuronal pathways, today are viewed in terms of ‘epigenetic lanscapes’ (Bateson 2011). And the development of many cognitive functions and emotional capacities – from learning and memory to individual resilience and coping with stress – is deeply grounded in epigenetic processes.
From within this theoretical framework, literacy will be adopted as a case-study, being a specie-specific cognitive function with an essential role in human biological and cultural evolution (Changeux 2012). And in the epigenetic and developmental neuronal pathways and circuits in the brain we’ll find the neurobiological foundations of our ability to write and to read the linguistic code. Assuming ‘Neural Darwinism’ as a paradigm, one of the fundamental euristic tools of the proposed analysis will be the concept of ‘neural recycling’ (Dehaene 2007) in the context of the contemporary ‘neuroplasticy revolution’ (Doidge 2015)
Sulle tracce di un motivo patristico nella letteratura slava ecclesiastica serba
No full textA Pratistic Motif in Serbian Church Slavic Literature
In manuscript 159 MSPC the author verifies the presence of the same text that preceded Slovo ljubve in ms 29 of Narodna Biblioteka Srbije, lost during the bombardments of 1941. The motif of a fishermen enlightened by God that dates back to Emphrem Syrus’ Parenaesis appears in it. The author follows this motif in its tracks in older Serbian Church Slavonic literature (in the lives of St. Simeun and St. Sava by Domentijan), in Slavic and Byzantine liturgy, and in patristic literature (John Chrysostom) and hymnography (Roman the Melodist)
Sky View Factor layer of the metropolitan plain of Florence (Tuscany, Italy)
No full textSky View Factor (SVF) is a dimensionless parameter that returns, with values between 0 and 1, the degree of exposure of a surface to the celestial vault, or the portion of the sky visible from a certain point located at ground level (Oke, 1981). This factor is influenced by urban elements geometry: values close to 1 correspond to a large visible portion, while values close to 0 indicate a limited vision of the sky.
The Florence SVF layer is a raster data (Reference System ETRS89-extended / LAEA Europe - EPSG:3035; extent: 4384619.05 - 4437783.05; columns number/rows number: 53164 / 36411) with 1 m spatial resolution: it was calculated by the Digital Surface Model (DSM), obtained from the Lidar dataset of the 2007-2010 period of the Tuscany Region. Lidar-DSM layers are available on the GEOscopio platform.
Please cite as
Giulia Guerri, Alfonso Crisci, & Marco Morabito. (2021). Sky View Factor layer of the metropolitan plain of Florence (Tuscany, Italy) [Data set]. Zenodo. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.443242
The birth of clinical psychology in the scientific work of Lightner Witmer [La nascita della psicologia clinica nell'opera di Lightner Witmer sui bambini con ritardo mentale.]
No full textThe paper deals with the beginning of Clinical Psychology in the first years of XX century, when a central role was played by the theoretical and practical approach on mental retardation and behavioural disorders of L. Witmer. The author describes the cultural formation of Witmer, between Structural Psychology and Functionalism, and the special attention he devoted to the management and education of children affected by mental retardation and behavioural problems. ... Any child, the functions of whose brain are not developed up to the normal limit for his age, is suffering from retardation ... Retardation must be defined in terms of individual capacity for physical and mental development...
“Il dono della ninfa e la ragione umana. Riflessioni sull’etica nel teatro di Marino Darsa”
No full textThe author studies the development of the ethic framework of Marin Držić ‘s theatre. By delineating evolution of the “ratio mundane” concept, particularly in the Pastoral Tirena and in the Comedy “Skup”, She shows the maturation of the writer’s pessimism which will lead Him to give up theatre and literature, to project a “coup d’etat” in His Country and after to finish in exile
RITMIčESKA PAMET I FORMALNI STRUKTURI (BELEŽKI V"RHU PROIZVEDENIJATA, PRIPISVANI NA EVFIMIJA)
No full textThe author went through some formal frames in texts written by the Serbian nun Euphemia, traditionally labelled as poetic works. Due to the lack of clear matrical patterns, an analysis on the basis of logical-syntactic scanning was performed. The scansion, as well as partial accentual regularity (isocolic constructions), showed a clear well organized rhetorical speech with several devices of an ornate prose style. The second work of Euphemia's, especially, revealed a rich phonical-rhytmical tissue
Integration and differentiation at the basis of metaphor
No full textCognitive neurosciences indicate that integration and differentiation are two fundamental properties of conscious experience as well as of the nervous system.
The Author analyses Bernstein’s idea of dexterity (1946-47) and Edelman’s idea of degeneracy (2001) in their historical and theoretical context, and suggests that these brain-mind characteristics are at the basis of the neurobiological mechanisms of metaphor creation
Riccardo Picchio sulle lingue letterarie degli Slavi
No full textSUMMARY
According to Riccardo Picchio’s vision of Slavic cultures, the history of literary languages
represents a leading axis of Slavic cultural history. This theme has been developed
from the beginning of his scientific activity in a strictly comparative way.
The Author delineates the development of Picchio’s researches in this branch,
emphasizing how they offered a fundamental contribution to international Slavistics,
especially as regards the study of the wide Church Slavonic linguistic community in
its long duration and under a supranational point of view.
Picchio’s interpretation of Slavic linguistic and cultural history, his methodology
and his terminology represent a heritage continuing to urge debates among scholars in
national and international Slavic studies
RECONSTRUCTING PHOENICIAN POTTERY PRODUCTION IN SARDINIA: A MULTI ANALYTICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SAMPLES FROM THE SITE OF PANI LORIGA (8-7TH CENTURY BC) AND MONTE SIRAI (6-5TH CENTURY BC)
No full textThis study contains the results of a multi-analytical archaeometric characterization of 53 pottery samples from two archaeological sites, Monte Sirai and Pani Loriga. Both sites are Phoenician-Punic colonies (7th-8th century BCE for Pani Loriga and 5th-6th century BCE for Monte Sirai) located in southwestern Sardinia, Italy. The analyses aimed to unveil the archaeological context, with provenance, raw materials and production processes.
Seven amphora samples from Monte Sirai were first analysed as comparative materials for the largest group of samples from Pani Loriga, including amphoras, jugs, cups, plates, and pots, representative of the various shapes and types found at the site.
Investigations were firstly focused on microstructure, matrix composition, and inclusion types, as well as to identify newly formed phases resulting from firing. Based on these analyses, five fabric groups were identified. Two of these groups, encompassing most of the samples, are characterized by coarse inclusions, suggesting minimal processing or purification of raw materials during the ceramic body preparation. In contrast, the other three groups display purified clay, with minimal inclusions. Optical petrography, combined with X-ray diffraction analysis, provided insights into the mineralogical associations, firing temperatures, and rock inclusions. In the most populated groups, the presence of minerals such as quartz, plagioclases, feldspars, and hydro-silicates, compatible with igneous rocks from pyroclastic and epiclastic deposits (including dacites and rhyolites), suggests the local production of these samples. Conversely, a high calcite content, along with microfossils observed in thin sections, indicates that some samples were likely imported. These imported specimens exhibit distinct features, suggesting different manufacturing techniques and, possibly, a higher level of production quality, if compared to the local ceramics. X-ray diffraction analyses further identified three distinct mineralogical groups based on their assemblages. The identification of minerals such as hydro-silicates, (primary) calcite, gehlenite, and diopside reflect different firing conditions and allow the estimation of firing temperature ranges. Such temperature ranges are further supported by archaeomagnetic analyses, which provided additional insights into the thermal history of the pottery confirming the firing process reconstructions based on XRD data (and the mineral stability fields). This first characterization allowed to select some samples to perform micromorphological analyses by scanning electron microscopy (with SEM-EDS), in order to describe matrix structure, slips and engobes, inclusion types, and degree of vitrification. SEM-EDS investigation was also combined with a portable X-ray fluorescence analysis to obtain the chemical composition of the ceramic samples. Even this approach provided experimental evidence to distinguish locally produced ceramics from potential imported ones
The future of historical villages in Sardinia (Italy) facing the challenge of Climate Change: Research experience at University College of Dublin
No full textThis doctoral research addresses historical small villages in Sardinia (Italy), fragile but unique contexts at risk due to built heritage abandonment and climate change impacts. Employing methodologies such as surveys, archival research, and participatory mapping, the study aims to find a strategy to balance urban regeneration and heritage conservation. After a brief overview of the PhD project, the paper shifts focus to the ongoing experience at University College Dublin (UCD) in Ireland. Despite differences in history, climate, and demographic dynamics, both Ireland and Sardinia share future challenges, as well as the potential of small villages as a catalyst for low carbon transition and for the creation of sustainable communities
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