The use of preexisting clothing in current high fashion(2000-2002)

The fashion system has historically looked to art for inspiration. For the greater part of history, this inspiration has been purely visual. However, with the advent of Modern Art, the formal qualities of art are often merely visual representations of some underlying theoretical position. As the fashion system seeks inspiration from this new art, an examination of what aspects, if any, of these underlying theoretical positions are carried into fashion becomes necessary. To not do so, is to forego a complete reading of the fashion objects being currently produced. The purpose of this study was to examine the use of preexisting clothing in current high fashion. This examination entailed a comparison of this act to the readymades of Marcel Duchamp, the combine paintings of Robert Rauschenberg, and the appropriations of Sherry Levine. This comparison was followed by a symbolic interactionist interpretation of the act. The ready-to-wear collections appearing on Style.com from Spring 2000 to Spring 2002 served as the dataset. A complete reading of the verbal descriptions that accompanied each collection within the dataset served as the primary indicator of a use of preexisting clothing. A supporting visual analysis of each collection within the dataset was also conducted. Among this dataset of 161 fashion labels, four were found to have engaged in the use of preexisting clothing. Those labels were: Miguel Adrover, John Galliano, Imitation of Christ, and Russel Sage. Interpretations of the found instances of clothing were based upon comparisons with the selected artworks. Symbolic interactionist theory allowed for a perspective in which the use of preexisting clothing by a fashion designer served as a mediation of his/her identity amongst peers. The theory also allowed limited inferences to be made about the eventual adopters of such clothing

A multi-model climate response over tropical Africa at +2 °C

The impact of a +2 °C global warming on temperature and precipitation over tropical Africa is examined, based on an ensemble of 12 regional climate model scenario simulations. These 12 scenarios are re-phased so that they all correspond to the same global warming of 2 °C with respect to pre-industrial conditions. The continental temperature increase is above the global average. If heat waves are defined with the same temperature threshold in the reference climate and in the scenario, their frequency increases by a factor of 10. When the temperature threshold is adapted to future conditions, there is still a slight increase in frequency. The average precipitation does not show a significant response, due to model-to-model spread. However two compensating phenomena occur, which are robust among the models: (a) the number of rain days decreases whereas the precipitation intensity increases, and (b) the rain season occurs later during the year with less precipitation in early summer and more precipitation in late summer. Simulated daily temperature and precipitation data are combined in two impact models, one for the hydrology of the Nile and Niger basins, one for the food security of the different countries. They show that the main feature of the climate change is not a continuous trend signal, but an alternation of dry and wet decadal to multidecadal episodes

Simples de Cristo y comedia de santos: El santo negro Rosambuco de Lope de Vega.

En el presente trabajo se analiza una comedia del siglo de Oro tejida sobre el tema de los locos y simples de Cristo: El Santo negro Rosambuco de la ciudad de Palermo, de Lope de Vega. Tras situar el tema de los simples de Cristo en la tradición hagiográfica y ofrecer una breve semblanza sobre la figura del personaje del negro en la literatura castellana del Siglo de Oro, se plantea el estudio de la obra, atento a los detalles de su datación y de su relación con la biografía del santo, así como a la novedad de algunos pasajes añadidos por Lope y a los temas religiosos que afloran en sus páginas. <br /

Contemporary Fashion Illustration in China and Its Application in the Chinese Fashion Market with Special Reference to Chinese Elements

This study investigates the developing directions of fashion illustration and the potential for fashion illustration with Chinese elements in the Chinese market. Experts in this area believe that contemporary fashion illustration faces a huge challenge from fashion photography and that the future of fashion illustration is within digital imagery. This research firstly focuses on the role of fashion illustration in commercial advertisements, and considers whether the future direction of fashion illustration is more likely to develop as an attractive art form in fashion promotion rather than taking the place of fashion photography. Secondly, this paper discusses the feasibility of integrating national culture into fashion illustration through theoretical and practical aspects – a combined approach which is of increasing value to fashion illustration. When applying fashion illustration in transnational promotions, the addition of cultural concepts is a shortcut to get closer to consumers in a specific target market; it helps to meet the aesthetics of local customers and achieve the commercial demands of the market. This research focuses on integrating contemporary fashion illustration with Chinese elements, and develops the process of drawing into a creative thinking mode. The investigation starts with research on redefining fashion illustration and analysing the evolution of fashion illustration, particularly in the Chinese context. Through the collection and analysis of images, the overview of Chinese fashion illustration in this research fills the gap in materials relating to the history and development of fashion illustration in China. Furthermore, the discussion of Chinese elements and the current situation of contemporary fashion illustration ensures that the basis of the practical work is credible. Information gathered from the interviews and questionnaires is useful throughout the research. A collection of practical illustrations is then drawn and developed, based upon earlier findings. The concept of the 24 Solar Terms – a traditional Chinese lunar calendar that divides a year into 24 time periods – establishes the frame of the practical work. Therefore, there are 24 pieces of illustration included in the collection. Furthermore, various Chinese elements and cultural concepts, which are related to the chosen fashion brands and fashion products, offer references and inspirations and enhance the illustrations’ connotations and value to illustrators and marketers. The feedback from the questionnaire confirms the outcome of this research: that to create fashion illustrations with Chinese elements in a modernised way, which are adaptable to the fashion market, has great value and potential

Efficacy of Three Dimensional Titanium Miniplates over the Conventional Titanium Miniplates Osteosynthesis in the Management of Anterior Mandibular Fractures

BACKGROUND : There are many studies in the treatment of mandibular fractures that have been published. The two concept of osteosynthesis are semirigid and rigid fixation. To overcome the shortcomings of above techniques, three dimensional miniplates has been emerged. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of 3D titanium miniplate over champys miniplate in anterior mandibular fratures. AIM : The purpose of the study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of 3-dimensional titanium miniplates in the management of anterior mandibular fractures by pain, occlusal stability, post operative infection, postoperative fragment rigidity, wound dehiscence and the outcomes were compared with that of conventional titanium miniplates MATERIALS AND METHODS : This study was done in 20 patients with anterior mandibular fractures. Group A consists of 10 patients in whom 3D plates were used for fixation while in Group B consists of other 10 patients, 4 holes Champy’s straight plates were used.The efficacy of 3D miniplate over Champy’s miniplate was evaluated RESULTS : There was significantly greater pain in Group B patients at 1stweek and 1st month when compared to Group A patients(Mann-Whitney U test). There was significant variation in pain between interval across each categories of Group A and Group B(kruskal-wallis test).The post operative infection, neurological deficit was statistically insignificant(chi-square test).There was no case presented with wound dehiscence. During postoperative evaluation occlusal stability and fragment rigidity were good in all 20 patients. CONCLUSION : The results of this study suggest that patients treated with3D plates showed a lesser post operative pain and carries low infection rate and lesser area of exposure

Gasparo Contarini’s Relazione of November 1525 to the Venetian Senate on the divergent dynamics of the Spanish and Portuguese world empires

This contribution seeks to both present Gasparo Contarini’s diplomatic report (Relazione), made following three years in Venetian service in Spain between 1522-25 to unfamiliar readers, and elucidate its contents. It was a time when ground-breaking reports of the first global circumnavigation by Magellan/Elcano and conquests in the New World undertaken by Hernan Cortes were filtering back to the Spanish ruler, Charles V. Projects for the colonization of Brazil in neighbouring Portugal were afoot, as were attempts by other parties to reach the contested Spiceries by new routes. International juries were being constituted to decide upon the division of the world’s spaces, culminating in the Treaty of Saragossa, and controversial maps were being composed both to make sense of potentially new continents like the Americas, and to plead different cases at the upcoming tribunals. It is asked why such a polarized picture of successful Spanish and unsuccessful Portuguese imperial fortunes is provided by Contarini, at a time of great rivalry between Spain and Portugal, and it is suggested that Contarini – who did not personally travel to Portugal - may be simply following a rhetorical precedent fashioned by previous diplomats like Ca’Masser, Vincenzo Quirini and Pietro Pasqualigo. Historical, personal and documentary context (Contarini’s 400 dispacci, for example) is provided, and comparisons to other contemporary observers like the Polish diplomat Jan Dantyszek and his letters and reports from the Spanish court, as well as contemporary travelers and businessmen on the Asian scene, drawn

TRA SACRO E QUOTIDIANO. IL MONACHESIMO FEMMINILE NELLA LAGUNA DI VENEZIA IN EPOCA MEDIEVALE (SECOLI IX-XIV)

This research studies the origin and evolution of venetian female monasticism from IX to XIV centuries. Religion dynamics is the focus of this study but it examines relationships with venetian politic situation. It starts with a "large" monasticism that includes great variety of women's spiritual experiences to arrive to consider a "strict" monasticism through the analysis of istitutionalisation processes. This study considers not only Church point of view, but also women's religion vocations