17 research outputs found
La formazione religiosa e culturale dei Fratelli delle Scuole Cristiane in Italia tra Sette e Ottocento. L’opera di Fratel Regolo
No full textContributo per una storia sociale della componente italiana dei Fratelli delle Scuole Cristiane nella prima metà dell’Ottocento. La corrispondenza di Fratel Regolo
No full textMatteo Noris, “L’animo eroe” (1689) e alcuni drammi per musica del secondo Seicento
No full textIl veneziano Matteo Noris (1640 ca. - 1714), figura di spicco nella storia del teatro d’opera – il suo nome è citato nei Gedancken von der Opera (1708) del librettista amburghese Barthold Feind (1687-1721) tra i maggiori drammaturghi del secondo Seicento –, compose oltre quaranta drammi per musica tra il 1666 e il 1713 nei maggiori teatri di Venezia.
Fin dai suoi primi lavori – Marcello in Siracusa (1670), Attila, Domiziano (entrambi del 1672), Numa Pompilio (1674), Diocleziano (1675) –, Noris ordisce intrecci basati su soggetti storici, sovente rimaneggiati secondo le esigenze e le convenzioni di scrittura dell’epoca: nel descrivere «l’invenzione» come «il primo scopo di chi compone» (si legga la prefazione del Greco in Troia, Firenze, Teatro della Pergola, 1688), il poeta rivendica per sé la piena libertà di manipolare miti e vicende della storia antica. Nel corso della sua carriera di drammaturgo, Noris mostra un interesse sempre più evidente per le fonti storiche: queste non forniscono solo uno sfondo alle vicende favoleggiate, bensì informano di sé l’intero dramma, sebbene vengano pressoché sistematicamente alterate dall’inserimento degli accidenti necessari all’obbligatorio lieto fine.
Gli interessi storiografici di Noris trovano sbocco in un voluminoso trattato intitolato L’animo eroe (Venezia, Girolamo Albrizzi, 1689), compendio di «attioni istoriche de’ più famosi antichi» greci e latini dedicato al principe Ferdinando di Toscana. Per espressa dichiarazione dell’autore, la ricerca dello storico non è disgiunta dalla scrittura drammatica («nel tempo che ho composto gli ultimi miei drami ... ho avute le due applicazioni»), tanto che sei delle personalità ritratte nell’Animo eroe sono eponimi d’altrettanti drammi: Marcello (Marcello in Siracusa), Furio Camillo, Attilio Regolo, Marc’Antonio, Catone l’uticense e Virginio (Virginio consolo). La presente relazione illustrerà questo stretto rapporto nelle tematiche comuni all’Animo eroe e ai sei drammi per musica appena elencati
Los dramas heroicos romanos de Metastasio
No full text1. OBJETIVOS
El objeto del estudio son los dramas heroicos romanos del poeta dramático italiano Pietro Metastasio (1698-1782). Todos los dramas metastasianos poseen un importante componente amoroso, como era costumbre: en un marco mítico, legendario o histórico prestigioso, perteneciente a la Antigüedad, surgen verosímiles aventuras amorosas de intrincado y complejo desarrollo. Si bien muchos de sus dramas son amorosos, hay otros, sin embargo, en los que el siempre presente componente amoroso cede protagonismo al heroico. En éstos se canta la heroicidad de sus protagonistas, que se ofrece como modelo ejemplar de conducta, desplazando así a un segundo plano las historias amorosas. Los dramas propiamente heroicos de asunto romano son el Catone in Utica, La clemenza di Tito y el Attilio Regolo. Cada uno de ellos está inspirado en un personaje de la historia de Roma, y, a su vez, pertenece a una etapa distinta de la creación literaria del poeta, a saber, el Catone in Utica, a la primera etapa o al llamado período italiano (1724-1730), La clemenza di Tito a la segunda o al llamado período del reinado de Carlos VI de Habsburgo (1730-1740), y el Attilio Regolo a la tercera y última o al llamado período teresiano (1740-1771).
El Catone in Utica es un drama inspirado en el episodio de la historia de Roma en que, vencido y muerto Pompeyo, Catón, acérrimo defensor de la república, se retira a Útica, donde antepone la muerte a ver la patria oprimida por César. En La clemenza di Tito, descubierta una conspiración de dos patricios contra el emperador, la infinita clemencia de éste los perdona. Por último, en el Attilio Regolo, el cónsul Régulo, hecho de los cartagineses prisionero, prefiere dar la vida por la patria a conservarla. En los tres dramas asistimos al heroico y sacrificado triunfo de las virtudes y principios de cada uno de sus protagonistas: Catón con su heroico suicidio hace que sus ideales políticos venzan y se perpetúen, al no doblegarse ante César; el emperador Tito, en el que todo es sacrificio y entrega a su pueblo y a Roma, y para quien la inopinada conjura supone una durísima prueba, obtiene finalmente el triunfo de su heroica virtud, la clemencia, dignísima y principal prez de príncipes; Atilio Régulo, con el fin de que no sea mancillada la dignidad de Roma, en nada tiene su propia vida.
2. METODOLOGÍA
El trabajo consiste fundamentalmente en un estudio de fuentes. Se tratarán principalmente las fuentes literarias clásicas que se hallan tras los argumentos de los citados dramas, tanto las citadas por el autor, cuanto aquéllas que, silenciadas, estén relacionadas con las obras. El fin es cotejar la versión del episodio histórico en cuestión, dada por las fuentes antiguas, y la versión que ofrece el drama, prestando especial atención a la particular recreación literaria que éste hace de los personajes históricos y de los distintos episodios de la historia de Roma.
3. CONCLUSIONES
El estudio muestra la fidelidad de los dramas metastasianos a las fuentes antiguas, lo cual constituirá la principal causa de la justificación de la clasificación de las obras estudiadas como dramas heroicos. Asimismo, se hace ver cómo tales dramas metastasianos responderían a la intencionalidad de creación de un drama nacional italiano de tema romano, cuyo referente clásico literario sería posible ya encontrar en la misma literatura romana antigua.
1. AIMS
The purpose of this project is to analyse the Roman heroic dramas written by the dramatic poet Pietro Metastasio (1698 – 1782). As it was costumary, a strong romantic element runs through all Metastasian works: a plausible love relationship begins and develops in intricate ways within a mythical, legendary or pseudo-historical background from ancient times. Although most of Metastasio's dramas are romantic in nature, some others give more importance to the heroic aspect. The main goal of these heroic dramas is to praise the characters' heroism and set an example, displacing the recurring love motifs. The proper heroic dramas depicting Roman themes are Catone in Utica, La clemenza di Tito and Attilio Regolo. Each one of these plays takes its inspiration from key figures from Rome's history and, on the other hand, each of them belongs to different periods in Metastasio's creative production, namely: Catone in Utica to the first period or Italian period (1724 – 1730), La clemenza di Tito to the second period or Emperor Charles IV of Habsburg's period (1730 – 1740) and finally Attilio Regolo to the third period or Theresian period (1740 - 1771).
Catone in Utica is a drama inspired by Rome's historical episode when, after Pompey's defeat and death, Cato, staunch supporter of the Republic, retires to Utica where he prefers death rather than seeing Caesar's opression on Rome. In La Clemenza di Tito, the emperor shows his infinite mercy and forgives two patricians involved in a conspiracy against himself. Last, in Attilio Regolo consul Regulus, taken prisoner by the Carthage army, chooses to die for his homeland.
All three plays display the heroic sacrife and triumph of the virtues and principles held by the three heroes: Cato succeeds in passing down his political ideals after his death and avoids submission to Caesar; emperor Tito, famous for his devotion for his people and Rome, despite suffering an unexpected strike in the shape of a conspiracy shows his mercy and respectable sense of justice; Atilio Regulus disdains his own life not to sully Rome's honour.
2. METHODS
This dissertation consists basically on source researching. Classical literary sources regarding this topic will be deeply analysed: both sources quotated by the author himself and sources unmentioned although related to the plays. The eventual aim is to compare the given version of this historical facts according to the ancient sources and the version according to Metastasio's works drawing special attention to the particular literary recreation that Metastasio infuses into his characters and their historical time.
3. CONCLUSIONS
This study proves the accuracy of the Metastasian drama in respect of the ancient sources: being this accuracy reason enough to label these case plays as heroic dramas. Likewise, it is obvious that Metastasio means to create an Italian national drama of Roman theme, whose main classical source can be traced back to the ancient Rome literature
Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor (Pan-NET) Presented by Abdominal Pain: A Case Report and Literature Review
No full textA pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (Pan-NET) is a rare neoplasm originating in the neuroendocrine system. Carcinoid syndrome occurs in approximately 19% of patients with functional Pan-NETs, typically when liver metastases occur. In this paper, we describe the case of a patient with a low-grade non-functional Pan-NET, but with a typical clinical presentation of carcinoid syndrome. An 81-year-old male was admitted to our Department of Internal Medicine at Cannizzaro Hospital (Catania, Italy) because of the onset of abdominal pain with nausea, loose stools, and episodic flushing. Firstly, an abdominal contrast-enhanced CT scan showed a small pancreatic hyper-vascular mass; then, a gallium-68 DOTATOC integrated PET/CT revealed an elevated expression of SSTR receptors. Serum chromogranin A and urinary 5-HIAA measurements were negative. We performed an endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) by a fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB), allowing the immunostaining of a small mass (0.8 cm) and the diagnosis of a low-grade (G1) non-functional Pan-NET (NF-Pan-NET). Surgery was waived, while a follow-up strategy was chosen. The early recognition of Pan-NETs, although rare, is necessary to improve the patient’s survival. Although helpful to allow for immunostaining, EUS-FNB needs to be warranted in future studies comparing EUS-FNB to EUS-FNA (fine-needle aspiration), which is, to date, reported as the tool of choice to diagnose Pan-NETs
Associations between Host Genetic Variants and Subgingival Microbiota in Patients with the Metabolic Syndrome
No full textHost genetic variants may affect oral biofilms, playing a role in the periodontitis–systemic disease axis. This is the first study to assess the associations between host genetic variants and subgingival microbiota in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS); 103 patients with MetS underwent medical and periodontal examinations and had blood and subgingival plaque samples taken. DNA was extracted and processed, assessing a panel of selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) first (hypothesis testing) and then expanding to a discovery phase. The subgingival plaque microbiome from these patients was profiled. Analysis of associations between host genetic and microbial factors was performed and stratified for periodontal diagnosis. Specific SNPs within RUNX2, CAMTA1 and VDR genes were associated with diversity metrics with no genome-wide associations detected for periodontitis severity or Mets components at p < 10−7. Severe periodontitis was associated with pathogenic genera and species. Some SNPs correlated with specific bacterial genera as well as with microbial taxa, notably VDR (rs12717991) with Streptococcus mutans and RUNX2 (rs3749863) with Porphyromonas gingivalis. In conclusion, variation in host genotypes may play a role in the dysregulated immune responses characterizing periodontitis and thus the oral microbiome, suggesting that systemic health-associated host traits further interact with oral health and the microbiome
Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) Is a Promising Predictor of Mortality and Admission to Intensive Care Unit of COVID-19 Patients
No full textThe neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is an inflammatory marker predicting the prognosis of several diseases. We aimed to assess its role as a predictor of mortality or admission to the intensive care unit in COVID-19 patients. We retrospectively evaluated a cohort of 411 patients with COVID-19 infection. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) of patients with COVID-19 were compared. The median age of our sample was 72 years (interquartile range: 70–75); 237 were males. Hypertension, diabetes and ischemic heart disease were the most common comorbidities. The study population was subdivided into three groups according to NLR tertiles. Third-tertile patients were older, showing significantly higher levels of inflammatory markers; 133 patients (32%) died during hospitalization, 81 of whom belonged to the third tertile; 79 patients (19%) were admitted to ICU. NLR showed the largest area under the curve (0.772), with the highest specificity (71.9%) and sensitivity (72.9%), whereas CRP showed lower sensitivity (60.2%) but slightly higher specificity (72.3%). Comparisons between NLR and CRP ROC curves were significantly different (p = 0.0173). Cox regression models showed that the association between NLR and death was not weakened after adjustment for confounders. Comparisons of ROC curves showed no significant differences between NLR, PLR, and CRP. Cox regression analysis showed that NLR predicted the risk of admission to ICU independently of demographic characteristics and comorbidities (HR: 3.9597, p < 0.0001). These findings provide evidence that NLR is an independent predictor of mortality and a worse outcome in COVID-19 patients and may help identify high-risk individuals with COVID-19 infection at admission
Assessing Humoral Immuno-Inflammatory Pathways Associated with Respiratory Failure in COVID-19 Patients
No full textAll severe cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections are characterized by a high risk of disease progression towards ARDS, leading to a bad outcome. Respiratory symptoms in COVID-19 patients often do not correspond to disease’s worsening. In our sample, median age was 74 years (72–75) and 54% were men. The median period of hospitalization was 9 days. Firstly, we observed a significant asynchronous trend of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in 764 selected among 963 patients, who were consecutively recruited in two hospitals (Cannizzaro, S. Marco) in Catania, Italy. NLR values in deceased patients showed an increase from baseline over time. By contrast, CRP tended to fall from baseline to median day of hospitalization in all three subgroups, but steeply increased at the end of hospitalization only in ICU-admitted patients. Then, we evaluated the relationships between NLR and CRP as continuous variables with PaO2/FiO2 ratio (P/F). NLR was an independent predictor of mortality (HR: 1.77, p < 0.0001), while ICU admission was more significantly associated with CRP (HR: 1.70, p < 0.0001). Finally, age, neutrophils, CRP, and lymphocytes are significantly and directly linked to P/F, while the influence of inflammation on P/F, reflected by CRP, was also mediated by neutrophils
Targeted axillary dissection: worldwide variations in clinical practice
No full textPurpose: Targeted axillary dissection (TAD) for the axillary staging of clinically node-positive (cN +) breast cancer patients converting to clinically node negative post neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), has gained popularity due to its minimal false negative rate and low arm morbidity. The aim of this study is to shed more light on the variation in the clinical practice globally in terms of indications and perceived limitations of TAD. Methods: A panel of expert breast surgeons constructed a structured questionnaire comprising of 18 questions and asked surgeons worldwide for their opinions and routine practice on TAD. The questionnaire was electronically distributed and answers were collected between May 1st and August 1st 2022. Results: Responses included 137 entries from 36 countries. Of them, 73.7% consider TAD for cN + patients planned to receive NAC. Among them, the greatest number of respondents (45%) perform the procedure for tumours up to T3, whereas 27% regardless of T-stage. The majority (42%) perform TAD on patients with 1–3 positive nodes and only 30% consider TAD when matted nodes are present. HER2 positive and Triple Negative subtypes are more likely to undergo TAD than Luminal A and B (86%, 79.1%, 39.5%, and 62.8%, respectively). Maximum acceptable lymph node burden is median 3 nodes for any subtype with a tendency to accept more positive nodes for Triple Negative. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the differences in current practice regarding TAD as well as the fact that the biology of the tumour heavily affects the method of axillary staging. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024
Scienziati europei per la bomba atomica: dall'Europa ad Hiroshima. Realizzazione ed uso
No full textScienziati europei per la bomba atomica: dall’Europa ad Hiroshima, realizzazione ed uso
Col. G. di F. Marco Valli
matr. 375713
ABSTRACT (versione in Italiano)
La tesi “Scienziati europei per la bomba atomica: dall’Europa ad Hiroshima, realizzazione ed uso” discute la questione degli scienziati europei pacifisti, costretti dalle circostanze a lavorare per l’atomica con la conseguente presunta “colpa americana” per le stragi di Hiroshima e Nagasaki con la condanna morale dei “generali americani macellai di civili innocenti”.
La tesi si sviluppa in senso interdisciplinare su più livelli: tecnologico, storico, politico e militare
Il primo, sviluppato nel I (Prometeo) e II capitolo (Il Dottor Frankenstein) partendo dagli inizi filosofico-religiosi, si estende fino alla tecnica degli ordigni. Per questa ragione , trattando di argomenti ancora in parte segreti, le fonti sono obbligatoriamente già pubblicate o desegretate quali ad esempio le allegate ” Note basate su una serie di cinque lezioni tenute da Serber durante le prime due settimane di aprile 1943 come corso di indottrinamento in connessione con l’inizio del Progetto a Los Alamos . Trascritte da E.U. Condon” o il documento del l’United States Department of Energy sul Progetto Manhattan .
Il secondo, trattato nel III (Il professor Frankenstin) e IV capitolo (Il Dottor Strangelove) si intreccia con il primo ed evidenzia la trasformazione degli scienziati europei da ricercatori puri al servizio della scienza a naturalizzati americani consulenti scientifici di altissimo livello a servizio di stati belligeranti e poi di complessi industriali-militari Per evidenziare la trasformazione si utilizza un parallelismo cinematografico con riferimenti a famosi film (Frankenstein di James Whale del 1931, Frankenstein Junior di Mel Brooks del 1974 , Dr Strangelove di Stanley Kubrick del 1962).
Il terzo, curato nel IV e V capitolo (Domande e risposte), espone la complessità dell’alleanza forzata
tra stati democratici e la Russia sovietica di Stalin e la nascita della guerra fredda durante la caldissima
seconda guerra mondiale ed i rispettivi programmi atomici. In tale contesto viene sviluppato un
paragone con l’attuale situazione nordcoreana
Il quarto, espresso nel V capitolo, sviscera non solo gli aspetti strettamente militari, ma anche
umanitari delle popolazioni vittime di una guerra divenuta di sterminio. Si evidenzia in particolare
l’anomalia di un quasi vincitore, (gli USA) ansioso di pace, che teme di essere costretto ad un
armistizio con il Giappone che non combatte più per vincere ma per infliggere le maggiori perdite
possibile al fine di raggiungere anche lui la pace. Ambedue vogliono la pace e per questo si
massacrano. In questa assurdità gli unici che ragionano sono i militari americani, a torto definiti
macellai, che sconsigliano di utilizzare l’atomica, inducono a lasciare l’imperatore al suo posto, non
si vendicano del nemico sconfitto ma lo aiutano e trasformano una nazione nemica stremata in alleata
fiorente. Non a caso nella ricostruzione materiale e morale e della libertà e democrazia del Giappone
e dell’Europa i protagonisti sono il generale MacArthur (Governatore Militare del Giappone) e il Gen
Marshall (Segretario di stato USA)con l’omonimo piano. Invece lo sviluppo di teorie di “First strike”,
“ipotesi Danese”, la “Dead hand”, dove le vittime sono solo numeri per stabilire chi ha vinto o chi
non ha perso, è dovuto agli scienziati ed agli intellettuali anche europei naturalizzati americani di cui
Stanley Kubrick ha fatto una splendida ,provocatoria e dissacrante satira con Peter Sellers. Infatti il
personaggio, “dall’impronunciabile cognome tedesco Dr Merkwürkdigliebe cambiato all’atto della
acquisizione della cittadinanza americana in Strangelove”, rappresenta i principali scienziati atomici
europei americanizzati: Von Neumann (per la carrozzella), Teller (per il modo di parlare simile anche
ad un noto fotografo Arthur Fellig presente sulla scena), Szilard (per le teorie di eletti da salvare nelle
caverne), Wigner (per la mano offesa), Fermi (per il regolo calcolatore) e “dulcis in fundo”....Von
Braun (per i capelli biondi -- anche se il film è in bianco e nero -- e per la frase finale “Mein Führer I
can walk!”).
Dopo una citazione del Generale Eisenhower circa le spese militari, la tesi si conclude con una doppia frase ad effetto: se:“La guerra è una cosa troppo seria per lasciarla in mano ai generali” (George Clemenceau detto “la tigre”), allora: “la guerra nucleare è una cosa troppo seria per lasciarla in mano agli intellettuali”.European scientists for the atomic bomb: from Europe to Hiroshima, making and usage
Col. G. di F. Marco Valli
matr. 375713
ABSTRACT (English version)
The dissertation” “European scientists for the atomic bomb: from Europe to Hiroshima, making and usage” tackles the issue of the pacifist European scientists who presumably were forced by circumstances to work at the atomic bomb, as well as the consequent alleged American responsibility for the massacres at Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the moral condemnation of the American generals “who are reputed to have butchered innocent civilians”.
The dissertation practices and interdisciplinary approach on multiple levels: technological, historical, political, and military.
The first level, developed in Chapters 1 (“Prometheus”) and 2 (“Doctor Frankenstein”), begins with the religious-philosophical background and ends with the technique applied to bombs. Since these topics are still partly classified, only published or declassified sources have been used: e.g., the “Notes based on five lectures held by Serber in the first weeks of April 1943 as instruction course related to the beginning of the Los Alamos project, transcribed by E.U. Condon” or the document issued on the Manhattan Project by the United States Department on Energy.
The second level, examined in Chapters 3 (“Professor Frankenstin”) and 4 (“Doctor Strangelove), is connected with the first level and highlights the transformation of European scientists from researchers working for the sake of sciences into scientific consultants of the highest level and
naturalized Americans serving belligerent countries and, later, industrial-military complexes. In order
to show this process, references from famous movies are used (James Whale’s “Frankenstein, of
1931; Mel Brooks’ “Frankenstein Junior”, of 1974; and Stanley Kubrick’s “Dr. Strangelove”, of
1962).
The third level, dealt with in Chapters 4 and 5 (“Questions and Answers”), concerns the complex
forced alliance between Western democracies and Stalin’s Soviet Union, the beginning of the Cold
War during the still ongoing World War, and Russian and American atomic plans. Within this
context, a comparison to the current situation in North Corea is developed.(“Corea today”)
The fourth level examines the strictly military aspects, as well as the conditions of populations that
became victims of a war transformed into extermination. Particular emphasis is placed on the anomaly
of a winner-to-be (the US) who longs for peace and fears to be forced to a cease-fire with Japan. In
turn, Japan has stopped fighting for victory, but continues the war only to inflict as many losses as
possible to the enemy, in order to reach peace. In this paradoxical situation, only the American
generals, unjustly defined as “butchers”, keep a clear vision: they advise against using the atomic
bomb, support the plan of leaving the Emperor on his throne, and refuse to take revenge of the
defeated enemy. Instead, they help the enemy and transform a beaten hostile country into a thriving
ally. It is not by chance that the protagonists of the material and moral reconstruction of freedom and
democracy in Japan and Europe are General McArthur (Japan’s military governor) and General
Marshall (U.S. Secretary of State and author of the homonymous plan). Conversely, the development
of theories such as “First Strike”, “Danish Hypothesis”, and “Dead Hand”, where victims are just
numbers to establish who has won or has not lost, is due to scientists and intellectuals, some of which
naturalized Americans from Europe. Stanley Kubrick offers an excellent and provocative satire of
them through Peter Sellers. Indeed, the character “bearing the unpronounceable German name ‘Dr.
Merkwürdigliebe,’ changed into ‘Strangelove’ with the acquisition of American citizenship,”
represents the most important Americanized European scientists: Von Neumann (for the wheelchair),
Teller (for the way of speaking, which is similar to that of a well-known photographer, Arthur Fellig, who was in the movie studio), Szilard (for the theory that elected men should be saved in caves), Wigner (for the injured hand), Fermi (for the slide rule) and, finally, Von Braun (for the blond hair – although the movie is in black and white -- and the final sentence: “Mein Führer, I can walk!”).
After a quotation from General Eisenhover about military expences, the dissertation ends with a double effective sentence: “If it is true that ‘war is too serious a matter to leave it in the hands of generals’ (George Clemenceau, called “The Tiger”), nuclear war is too serious a matter to leave it in the hands of intellectuals”
