300 research outputs found
Introducion
No full textThe paper is Introduction to: Music of the twenty-first century disporas: research and problems, edited by the author and Giovanni Giuriati. It contains a contribution to some nodal questions about music and migration studies, applied to the Italian situation. In particular: 1. Who are we talking about; 2. Ethnomusicology and migration studies; Music: from migrants to the new “us”. The themes touched by the articles of the book are particularly considered and presented
The Akazehe of Burundi: Polyphonic Interlocking Greetings and the Female Ceremonial / by Serena Facci. ; translated by Alessandra Ciucci
No full textAkazehe is one of the names in Burundi for forms of sung greeting performed exclusively by women. Studies carried out during the colonial era (in particular Rodegem 1965, 1973) and in more recent times (Ndimurwanko 1985-6) have shown how the contents of these greetings among women are closely linked to the feminine world in which these greetings are used—in specific private and public spaces in accordance with rural tradition. Although these greetings were becoming less common at the time the research for this article was conducted, the author was able to record a number of akazehe after listening to examples of them in the sound archives of the Centre de civilisation burundaise.
A greeting is defined by linguists as a formalized parenthesis that defines, reiterates, and encloses the relation between two participants. The formulaic character of a greeting makes it different from ordinary speech. In the case of the akazehe, the greeting emphasizes gestural and sound qualities to such an extent that it creates a veritable musical texture.
This article presents transcriptions and analysis of some models of akazehe, focusing on one that features procedures of vocal interlocking. The two parts—gutera and kwakira—are organized according to musical rules that manifest a strong spirit of cooperation between the two women who sing the two parts in dialogue. Furthermore, well-defined rules of exchange for the two roles semantically remind us of the social equality between the two participants. The musical enrichment of the time reserved for the greeting is experienced as amusing by the performers. The greeting also represents an opportunity for artistic expression in a social reality that otherwise allows few performance spaces for women
Reply to: "Palmitoylethanolamide: problems regarding micronization, ultra-micronization and additives" Inflammopharmacology
No full textThis is a reply to a recently published Commentary: "Palmitoylethanolamide: problems regarding micronization, ultra-micronization and additives" Inflammopharmacology DOI: 10.1007/s10787-014-0202-3 , written in relation to our review article: Skaper SD, Facci L, Fusco M, della Valle MF, Zusso M, Costa B, Giusti P (2014) "Palmitoylethanolamide, a naturally occurring disease-modifying agent in neuropathic pain" Inflammopharmacology 22:79-94 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-013-0191-7 . We believe that the Commentary by Kriek contains a number of erroneous statements and misinterpretations of the published scientific/medical literature which our reply shall elaborate on. Further, the writer of the Commentary has a direct connection to a company, JP Russell Science Ltd that sells palmitoylethanolamide. The take-home message of our review remains as originally stated: "Collectively, the findings presented here propose that palmitoylethanolamide merits further consideration as a disease-modifying agent for controlling inflammatory responses and related chronic and neuropathic pain"
Un canto sulla collina di Mubende
No full textIl kubandwa è un culto di possessione diffuso in Africa Centro-orientale e attualmente in rispresa anche presso le popolazioni cristianizzate. Si basa su un pantheon molto ampio. Tra gli spiriti più importanti ci sono i Bacwezi, una mitica stirpe regnante sull'area. A Mubende, uno dei siti sacri più importanti in Uganda, l'autrice ha incontrato la medium di uno spirito femminile, Nyakahima, che, durante un'intervista ha intonato un canto particolarmente suggestivo anche in quanto testimonianza di sincretismo religioso.Kubandwa is a possession cult in the Great Lake Region in Africa. The most important spirits are the Bacwezi, an ancient mythic dynasty of kings. In Mubende, an important sacred site, the author met a medium of the spirit of Nyakahima. She sang a song particularly interesting, because was an exemple of the syncretism between this cult and the Christian religion
Mille canzoni per un burattino che canzonava
No full textThe article considers some of the many songs inspired by Collodi\u27s book, in particular those that are part of film soundtracks. The author distinguishes the songs of Pinocchio from those about Pinocchio.
Pinocchio doesn\u27t sing much in the novel, rather he jokes, he is intrigued by shows and loves to party, he pollutes the soundscape with his wooden feet, in short he is noisy like a naughty child. Generally, Italian films respect philologically this spontaneous childish musicality of Pinocchio. Instead, foreign musical films as those of Disney and Del Toro have used the episode of Mangiafuoco\u27s theater to underline Pinocchio\u27s identity as a real puppet, as a showman.
Moreover, even the authors of songs about Pinocchio have interpreted and celebrated him (as on the occasion of the inauguration of the park in Collodi) in many ways, highlighting the ambiguity and richness of the character and of his adventures. Even the music (melodies, arrangements, sounds) are affected by the bittersweet complexity of the elusive puppet.The article examines some of the many songs inspired by Collodi’s book, in particular those that are part of film soundtracks. The author distinguishes between the songs about Pinocchio and those song by Pinocchio. Pinocchio does not sing much in the novel, he mainly likes mocking and is easy-go- ing, interested in plays and loves partying. He furthermore pollutes the soundscape with his wooden feet and is altogether a noisy and naughty child. Italian films generally respect Pinocchio’s sponta- neous childish musicality, whereas foreign musical films, such as those produced by Disney and Del Toro have used the episode of Mangiafuoco’s theater to underline Pinocchio’s identity as a showman, who is actually a puppet. Moreover, also the authors of the songs about Pinocchio interpreted and celebrated him in many ways (e.g.the inauguration of the park in Collodi) highlighting the ambiguity and richness of the character and his adventures. Even the music (melodies, arrangements, sounds) are influenced by the bittersweet complexity of the elusive puppet
AFM: a versatile tool in biophysics
No full textHere we review the applications of atomic force microscopy to the study of samples of biological origin. Emphasis is given to provide the reader with information on the broad range of different biophysical applications that, to date, such a technique can deal with. After recalling briefly the operating principles of an atomic force microscope, the broad field of bio-imaging applications is faced (DNA, DNA-protein interaction, proteins, lipid membranes, cells); thereafter, the use of the atomic force microscope to measure forces is introduced and force mapping on living cells is discussed. This section is followed by the description of the use of force curves in assessing single-molecule inter- and intramolecular interactions. A paragraph on the perspectives of the technique in biophysical applications concludes the paper. We hope that this review can help the reader in appreciating how atomic force microscopy contributes to the current explosive growth of nanobiosciences, where biology, chemistry and physics merge
Unravelling single metalloprotein electron transfer by scanning probe techniques
No full textThis review is intended to account for the experimental and theoretical achievements obtained in a period of about 15 years on the investigation of the electron transport through single redoxmetalloproteins by scanning probe techniques. A highly focussed research effort has been deployed by the scientists active in this particular field towards measuring and interpreting electronic current signals flowing via blue copper, redox metalloproteins (e.g. azurin). The field has taken a remarkable advantage of the use of electrochemically assisted scanning tunnelling microscope (EC-STM) which has allowed to probe single molecule signals under full control of all the potential values involved in the experiments. This experimental activity has both triggeredmore comprehensive theoretical interpretations and has been, in its turn, stimulated by theoreticians to test always new predictions. The authors hope to have succeeded in providing the reader with a valuable appraisal of this fascinating field
Nanoscale mechanical properties of lipid bilayers and their relevance in biomembrane organization and function
No full textThe mechanical properties of biological systems are emerging as fundamental in determining their functional activity. For example, cells continuously probe their environment by applying forces and, at the same time, are exposed to forces produced by the same environment. Also in biological membranes, the activity of membrane related proteins are affected by the overall mechanical properties of the hosting environment. Traditionally, the mesoscopic mechanical properties of lipid bilayers have been studied by micropipette aspiration techniques. In recent years, the possibility of probing mechanical properties of lipid bilayers at the nanoscale has been promoted by the force spectroscopy potentiality of Atomic Force Microscopes (AFM). By acquiring force-curves on supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) it is possible to probe the mechanical properties on a scale relevant to the interaction between membrane proteins and lipid bilayers and to monitor changes of these properties as a result of a changing environment. Here, we review a series of force spectroscopy experiments performed on SLBs with an emphasis on the functional consequences the measured mechanical properties can have on membrane proteins. We also discuss the force spectroscopy experiments on SLBs in the context of theories developed for dynamic force spectroscopy experiments with the aim to extract the kinetic and energetic description of the process of membrane rupture
Protein-based transistors
No full textIntroduction: A survey of proteins in nanobioelectronics The idea of using proteins to assemble hybrid electronic devices stems from molecular electronics [1] and, as such, it is intimately connected with the advent of nanosciences and nanotechnologies, dating back to the early 1990s. Since then, much technological effort but less scientific effort has been deployed to try to implement devices that take advantage of the peculiar features of proteins. A technologist’s standpoint is that of regarding proteins as self-contained, nanometer-sized functional units, highly specialized and efficient in performing a certain functional task. Their efficiency is traced back to the fact that, being active parts of living beings, proteins are taking advantage of billions of years of natural evolution in specializing towards a given activity. This way of thinking, which one can often encounter in ritten or spoken accounts, appears to be questionable in light of a rather less naïve understanding of the theory of evolution, but is perhaps a good enough starting point to understand the historical motivations which led to the remarkable interest of a interdisciplinary part of the scientific community in the use of proteins for assembling electronic devices. The other aspect motivating the interest in proteins as elements in electronic circuits is their size
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