1,259 research outputs found
Three-dimensional Models as ‘in-between-objects’ - the creation of in-between knowledge in early modern architectural practice
No full textThis article, in a special issue of ‘History of Technology’, originated in an international workshop initiated and organised by Valeriani at the London School of Economics (2011). Valeriani brings together different fields making materials studied by historians of architecture relevant for the history of science and technology and vice versa. Extending her research on knowledge formation in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries on the one hand, and on the use of 3D models in architecture on the other, she focuses on ‘in-between objects’ (3D models, scientific instruments, technical drawings and maps), to argue that they played an important role in the merging of ‘knowledge kinds’ in Europe in the period. Distinctions which had operated in the Middle Ages such as intellectuals/artisans, knowledge/skill were broken down when practically-minded intellectuals, and speculating artisans, navigators and geographers, created knowledge through a series of artifacts that could not have been produced by either of the groups independently. Valeriani bases her discussion on primary and secondary sources to produce work that extends beyond speculations in the history of ideas and beyond considerations on two-dimensional representations. By considering the materiality of interactions between different social groups and epistemes, Valeriani makes an important contribution to a growing field of research that has been developed in recent years in works such as ‘The Mindful Hand’ (2007) and ‘The Enlightened Economy’ (2009). Valeriani has been invited to present papers on her research into models to audiences in various academic settings including the Tagung für Ausgrabungswissenschaft und Bauforschung (Trier 2012), the international conference The Model, a Tool in the Architectural Project (Paris 2011) and organised an international workshop and an exhibition on a closely related topic at the Royal Society, co-funded by V&A, AHRC, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science and Royal Society (2013)
In the ancient forme’. On the reception and ‘invention’ of ancient building techniques in Early Modern Times
No full textAs part of her work on knowledge formation, accumulation and transmission in early modern Europe (forthcoming as a monograph), Valeriani explores in this article the complex relationship between the knowledge heritage from antiquity and the formation of new knowledge in the period immediately antecedent to the ‘battle between the ancients and the moderns’. Valeriani sets out to answer two questions: what does direct evidence tell us about ancient and late antique timber structures? And how much of what has become an integral part of our mental image of them derives from subsequent interpretations? To answer these questions, Valeriani combines in-depth analysis of Italian Renaissance treatises and later sources. She shows that architects during the Renaissance – in their attempts to reconstruct architectural forms and building practices from classical antiquity – began to associate structures that dated from the Middle Ages with classical architecture. Renaissance ideas of ancient building techniques (particularly under the influence of the work of Palladio) came to shape understanding, even in ways that still persist today. Valeriani’s article appeared in Hephaistos, a peer-review journal that promotes critical re-evaluation of current methodologies and proposes alternative approaches. The special issue is dedicated to the work of Lambert Schneider, a classical archaeologist who devoted his career to extending the borders of the discipline by, inter alia, employing archaeological rigour to analyse the uses of architectonical elements from antiquity to postmodern architecture. The invitation to contribute to this volume was testimony to the originality and rigour of Valeriani’s research. Valeriani was also invited to present on this topic at the Institute of Structural Engineers, London and at the University of Hamburg (2008). She was invited to produce a further article on a closely-related topic published as Die Quadratur des Dreieckes. Spätantike und frühneuzeitliche Dächer zwischen Ikonographie und Baubefund, in Byzas, 11, 287-98 (2011)
‘Facts and Building Artefacts: What Travels in Material Objects?’
No full textThis book chapter appeared in a prestigious publication, which was very positively reviewed in journals such as Science (2011), Isis (2012) and Public Understanding of Science (2012). It was the result of a project that was highly commended in the THE ‘Project of the year’ awards. Facts are often expressed as or associated with verbalised descriptions. But Valeriani’s work reflects on facts – and particularly facts about technology and architecture - transmitted and recorded in material objects. Considering examples from the praxis of archaeologists, historians, conservators and museum curators, Valeriani explores how building elements and material objects can be ‘embodied, multi-layered facts’. She investigates how material objects carry facts over time and space, far from the site of their original production and intended use. Books, drawings, travelling gentlemen, craftsmen and architects have, as she shows, all acted as vehicles for the travelling of technical facts. Valeriani advances her argument through case studies, which illustrate different patterns of transmission and reveal the openness of different knowledge systems and their ability to allow for innovation. Her work draws on both written sources (including primary sources related to St Cecilia in Trastevere, Rome and St Paul’s Cathedral, London) and material evidence (including that offered by the first ‘archaeological’ analysis of St Paul’s cathedral’s loft spaces during which graffiti from 1705 was found). Valeriani was invited to present papers on this topic at the History of Science Society Conference (Pittsburgh, 2008), at the Conference of the Koldewey Gesellschaft (Regensburg 2008), at a Leverhulme Workshop at Reading and at the Maison Française d’Oxford (both 2010). A closely-related article in which she develops further the question of how technical knowledge travels was published in 2010 ‘Roger Pratt and the influence of the educational traveler in Britain’ (Akten der 45. Tagung für Ausgrabungswissenschaft und Bauforschung, Dresden, 127-135)
‘Floors and ceilings in early Christian basilicas in Rome’
No full textValeriani was invited to contribute to this volume following the publication of her 2006 monograph, ‘Kirchendächer in Rom - Capriate Ecclesiae’, which has subsequently been regularly cited in the field of construction history (e.g. Klein 2012, Holzer 2009, Zalewski 2009). The research presented in this chapter develops the above work to make an original argument about the link between roof structures and ceilings, which in turn influence enormously the spacial qualities of church interiors of early Christian origin. The space of the early Christian basilica is usually characterised as being ‘closed’ by a richly decorated horizontal surface reflecting the light, but Valeriani shows how a darker, less defined space which might be described as a ‘forest’ of beams and timbers was actually common. Valeriani’s work presents research in Roman archives (Vatican and individual churches), as well as her analysis of early modern printed sources, and new fieldwork, to show how some of the prevailing ideas about early Christian basilicas were formed in the Renaissance and in the 18th century. Valeriani’s approach is to consider in detail the technical solutions adopted to achieve different spatial effects. In this, she supports the general aim of this much-praised volume, the second in a series edited by Gargiani which sets out to develop a new approach to the history of architecture, one that concentrates on a history of construction problems, thereby de-constructing the history of architecture into the history of its constitutive parts. She has been invited to present on this theme at various institutions, including the Institute of Structural Engineers, London and the University of Hamburg (2008), and at the Istitituto Storia della Cultura Materiale (Genova, 2012). Valeriani’s work on a closely-related topic was published as ‘Behind the Façade: Elias Holl and the Italian influence on building techniques in Augsburg’ in ‘architectura’ (2008)
First person – Simona Amodeo
No full textABSTRACT
First Person is a series of interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in Journal of Cell Science, helping early-career researchers promote themselves alongside their papers. Simona Amodeo is the first author on ‘Characterization of the novel mitochondrial genome replication factor MiRF172 in Trypanosoma brucei’, published in Journal of Cell Science. Simona is a PhD student in the lab of Torsten Ochsenreiter at the Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Switzerland, investigating mitochondrial genome anchoring, replication and inheritance in Trypanosoma brucei.</jats:p
Materiali e discussioni per l'analisi dei testi classici. Indici 1-60
No full textIl volume raccoglie e riassume tutti gli articoli apparsi nei volumi 1-60 della rivista «Materiali e discussioni per l’analisi dei testi classici» («MD»), nel periodo compreso tra il 1978 e il 2008. Esso è diviso in tre parti. Nella prima sono riportati in successione i singoli numeri della rivista, con il relativo sommario. Nella seconda compaiono gli articoli riuniti in sequenza cronologica, sotto il nome dell’Autore e ognuno con un proprio numero d’ordine: di ogni articolo è fornito il sunto, con i concetti, le argomentazioni salienti, i principali luoghi discussi. Nella terza parte sono elencati gli Autori antichi e i Nomi e parole notevoli, con il rinvio al numero d’ordine dell’articolo. Le schedature dei numeri 1-30 sono curate da Andrea Cucchiarelli, quelle dei numeri 31-60 da Simona Fortini.The volume collects and summarizes all the articles published in Volumes 1-60 of the journal "Materiali e discussioni per l’analisi dei testi classici” ("MD"), in the period between 1978 and 2008. It is divided into three parts. In the first part the individual issues of the journal are summarized with the table of contents. In the second part the articles appear in chronological order, under the name of the author and each with its own serial number: each item is provided with a summary including the main points of argumentation and the loci discussed. The third part contains the indexes of the ancient authors, of the names and of the most relevant things and words, with reference to the number of the item. The profiling of the numbers 1-30 is cared for by Andrea Cucchiarelli, those of the numbers 31-60 by Simona Fortini
The Role of the Combination Paracetamol/Caffeine in Treatment of Acute Migraine Pain:A Narrative Review
No full textIntroduction: Thirty years ago, the first migraine-specific drugs (triptans) appeared. Today two new categories (gepants and ditans) are marketed for acute migraine treatment. That said, is there still a role for conventional therapy? The aim of the present narrative review is to provide an expert overview examining the possible role of the combination paracetamol/caffeine in treatment of acute migraine pain. Methods: To understand possible settings for more appropriate use of paracetamol/caffeine (1000 mg/130 mg) in treatment of acute migraine, a structured literature search was performed using the PubMed database by a panel of experts from major Italian headache centers; articles not referring to migraine pain were excluded from this review; review articles were prioritized. Results: Overall response, even to newer specific and selective trigeminal targeted drugs (TTTs), is not over 60%; thus, there is still room for conventional therapies in acute migraine treatment. The panel identified settings in which the use of paracetamol/caffeine combination to treat acute migraine attacks might offer benefit considering the consolidated use through years, despite the lack of studies directly addressing the efficacy of paracetamol/caffeine in the identified populations: subjects > 65 years of age; presence of cardiovascular (CV) comorbidities; TTTs non-responders; pregnancy and breastfeeding; subjects < 18 years of age; paracetamol/caffeine as add-on therapy. Conclusions: Paracetamol is included in the World Health Organization (WHO) essential drug list and has a high level of popularity among patients. Caffeine enhances the analgesic effect of other drugs including paracetamol. In early treatment of acute migraine pain, prescribing physicians might consider using the paracetamol/caffeine combination among other options.</p
Boccaccio nel Seicento: censure e recuperi della "compassione"
No full textSIMONA MORANDO, Boccaccio in the sixteenth century: censorship and recovery ofthe «compassion»
In the introduction of this paper, the literature of the seventeenth century is defined as a writing of compassion but not of consolation (quotations from Giovanni Cisano, Torquato Accetto, Emanuele Tesauro, G. B. Marino). The distance between the
writers studied here and Boccaccio is due to the censored editions of the Decameron in sixteenth century, to the censorship of Boccaccio as a «maestro d’amore», to his unrefined language, to his interpretation by many critics as a light and burlesque author. But, as reported in a writing by Boccalini, Boccaccio’s Latin works are very much appreciated in seventeenth century literature. This is especially the case of De casibus virorum illustrium, a gloomy and pessimistic book about misfortunes of famous men and about compassion, which nevertheless believes in the ability of letters to give back fame to ruined men. As shown in the conclusion
through some writings by Tassoni, many other seventeenth century authors do not have this kind of hope
Le chiavi del Paradiso. Primato petrino e devozione mariana di Sisto IV tra Cappella Sistina e S. Maria della Pace
No full textIl volume è strutturato in due parti distinte con una postfazione, un indice dei nomi e n. 55 Tavole a colori fuori testo, valide per entrambe le parti del volume. I. PARTE (di Lorenzo Cappelletti) A partire dalla esplicita indicazione che l’ignoto architetto, collocato sul fianco destro dell’affresco sistino della Consegna delle chiavi di Perugino, fa dell’edificio a pianta centrale che campeggia sullo sfondo, viene operata una completa rilettura iconografica e iconologica dell’intero affresco. Tenendo conto di tutta la migliore bibliografia sul tema e grazie anche alla considerazione di fonti inedite o mai considerate in relazione a tale affresco –– vengono riletti in particolare i due episodi evangelici sullo sfondo, la teoria dei dodici apostoli e dei personaggi dell’attualità di fine Quattrocento e soprattutto il gesto della consegna delle chiavi a Simon Pietro da parte di Gesù.
La rilettura si allarga necessariamente anche alla Punizione di Core, Datan e Abiram, l’affresco di Botticelli posto in chiave tipologica dirimpetto alla Consegna delle chiavi, e alla serie dei 30/32 papi affrescati nel cleristorio.
Lo studio non manca di offrire inoltre spunti per una comprensione più adeguata anche degli altri affreschi quattrocenteschi della sistina. II PARTE (di Simona Benedetti) Nell’ambito della revisione di lettura iconologica e iconografica dell’affresco della Consegna delle chiavi di Perugino nella Cappella Sistina, svolta da Lorenzo Cappelletti, si torna a riflettere anche sul significato dell’architettura dell’edificio rappresentato al centro dell’affresco. In questo senso nel contributo di Simona Benedetti, in primo luogo, si ripercorrono i riferimenti alla trattatistica quattrocentesca in materia di edifici sacri, che possono aver influito nella determinazione dell’edificio ottagonale.
In seconda istanza, si considerano le principali fabbriche a pianta ottagonale costruite precedentemente all’edificio dipinto, che possono aver costituito un fondato riferimento per il Perugino nella Consegna delle chiavi.
In particolare tra le architetture, che possono avere avuto un’influenza determinante nella definizione iconografica della fabbrica ottagonale presente nell'affresco, la chiesa di S. Maria della Pace è quella su cui si concentra il presente studio. L'opera si realizzò nel cuore pulsante della Roma rinascimentale proprio contemporaneamente all’affresco in esame, con esso trova degli innegabili punti di tangenza e corrispondenze, sia storiche che figurative. A questo riguardo interessantissima risulta la connessione tra il motivo dell’edificazione della fabbrica e i fatti storici, i personaggi, gli eventi prodigiosi e le pratiche devozionali, che condizionarono lo svolgersi del cantiere del Templum Pacis negli ultimi anni del pontificato di Sisto IV. La storicità del gesto della consegna delle chiavi a Pietro - avvenimento che si protrae nel tempo ad ogni elezione pontificia nello spazio fisico della Cappella Sistina - costituisce la centralità del messaggio iconografico dell'affresco del Perugino in cui, anche l’architettura, insieme ai personaggi rappresentati, strutturano una narrazione reale, estranea alle simbologie decontestualizzate dall’epoca propriamente sistina. Segue una postfazione di Francesco Andreani dal titolo Enigma del Quattrocento, saggio nel quale si sviluppano considerazioni sulle personalità degli architetti e maestranze attive nella Roma del tardo Quattrocento e negli anni di inizio della fabbrica di S. Maria della Pace. Il volume si conclude con l'indice dei nomi (a cura di Gemma Fusciello)I (of Lorenzo Cappelletti) Starting from the unknown architect’s forefinger pointed to the central plan building found in the background of the Sistine Perugino’s fresco The Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, the author offers a new interpretation of the entire fresco at both an iconographical and iconological level.
Having considered the most important studies about this fresco and taking into account a number of unpublished and unconsidered sources, the author rereads in particular the meaning of the central plan building, as well as the two Gospel episodes in the background; and he rereads also the grouping of the Twelve, along with the fifteenth century historical personages painted among them, in the foreground.
The author’s vision necessarily broodens also to comprehend Botticelli’s fresco named The Punishment of Corah, Dathan and Abiram which is placed on the opposite wall as a typological prefiguration of The Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; and it broodens moreover to reconsider the series of 30/32 popes frescoed in the upper register of the Sistine Chapel.
The essay also offers hints for a more complete comprehension of the other fifteenth century frescoes of the Sistine Chapel.
II. (of Simona Benedetti) As part of the review of iconological and iconographic reading about the fresco of the “Delivery of the keys” by Perugino in the Sistine Chapel, conducted by Lorenzo Cappelletti, you go back and think about the significance of the building architecture depicted in the center of the fresco. In this sense, the contribution of Simona Benedetti, first, retraces the references to the fifteenth-century treatises concerning sacred buildings, which may have affected the determination of the octagonal building. Secondly, we consider the main factories octagonal building constructed previously painted, that may have been an established reference for the Perugino in the “Delivery of the keys”. Especially between architectures, which may have had a decisive influence in defining the iconographic factory octagonal present in the fresco, the church of St. Mary of Peace is the one on which this study focuses. The work was realized in the heart of Renaissance Rome just simultaneously fresco concerned, although it is undeniable points of contact and correspondence, both historical and figurative. In this regard are interesting connections between the reason of building the factory, the historical facts, the characters and the miraculous events and devotional, which has conditioned the unfolding of the construction site of the Templum Pacis in the last years of the pontificate of Sixtus IV. The historicity of the act of handing over the keys to Peter, that continues over time in the physical space of the Sistine Chapel, is the centrality of the iconographic message of the fresco by Perugino; so even the architecture, along with the characters represented, the real narrative structure, far from to the symbolism belonging to the Sistine period properly
Transient inhibition of the human motor cortex by capsaicin-induced pain. A study with transcranial magnetic stimulation
No full textMotor evoked potentials (MEPs) to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the left motor cortex were recorded from the right first dorsal interosseous (FDI), abductor pollicis brevis (APB), abductor digiti minimi (ADM), flexor carpi radialis (FCR), extensor carpi radialis (ECR) in 17 normal subjects, before and after painful application of capsaicin on the skin overlying the right FDI and FCR muscles. The amplitude of MEPs from the FDI and FCR was significantly reduced from 20 to 30 min after the application of capsaicin over the FDI and FCR muscles, respectively, then progressively returned to the basal values. A similar trend of MEPs inhibition was observed for APB and FCR muscles, but this reduction was not significant. Indices of peripheral nerve (M-wave) and spinal cord excitability (F and H waves) did not change throughout the experiments. Motor cortex inhibition induced by tonic cutaneous pain is maximal to muscles adjacent to the painful area. This inhibition may be due to the activation of the C fibres which mediate 'slow' nociception and might be important to alert subject to possible phasic nociceptive events that may occur close to the painful area. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved
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