The plant in between: Entanglement and analogism in an Italian community of anthroposophists

The article analyses the special relationship with the world of plants developed by anthroposophy from the framework of a new perspective called the “plant turn” (Myers 2015). Anthroposophy (AS) is analysed as a peculiar form of Analogism (Descola 2005), historically derived from the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner and subsequently evolved into contemporary AS practices that the author encountered during her fieldwork in a community of North-Eastern Italy. Both Steiner’s texts and the analysis of contemporary practices of AS reveal a relationship with the world of plants that the author reads in light of Ingold’s categories of “interweaving” of the world, the interpenetration of elements, and their ceaseless becoming (Ingold 2011). The result is a representation of the vegetal world involving the whole cosmos, humans and non-humans, terrestrial and celestial, in a cosmic expansion of the relations between beings typical of Analogisms. The practices referring to the vegetal world enacted by anthroposophists are intense, engaging, dialogue-based and provocative in their ability to uproot many elements of naturalism and deal with a contemporary world characterised by ecological crisis.  Questo testo si articola all’interno della svolta denominata “Plant Turn” (Myers 2015) ed analizza il particolare rapporto intessuto dall’antroposofia con le piante. L’Antroposofia è qui analizzata come una forma particolare di analogismo (Descola 2005), cresciuta storicamente a partire dalla filosofia di Rudolf Steiner fino alle pratiche antroposofiche contemporanee che l’autrice incontra con i suoi lavoro sul campo presso una comunità di antroposofi del nordest italiano. Sia la lettura dei testi steineriani che l’analisi delle pratiche contemporanee di Antroposofia, mostrano un rapporto con il mondo vegetale che viene letto dall’autrice con le categorie ingoldiane della “ tessitura” del mondo, del divenire e del compenetrarsi tra elementi (Ingold 2011). Ne deriva una rappresentazione del mondo vegetale che coinvolge il cosmo intero, umani e non umani, terrestri e non, in una espansione cosmica delle relazioni tra gli esseri tipica degli analogismi. Le pratiche relative al mondo vegetale, attivate dagli antroposofi incontrati, sono intense, coinvolgenti, dialoganti e provocatorie nel loro scardinare molti elementi del naturalismo e nel mostrarsi capaci di confronto con un mondo contemporaneo caratterizzato dalla crisi ecologica.

Género, infancia y antropología frente al cambio climático

This contribution highlights the data and concepts, articulated by the research of international agencies (UNWoman, UNICEF, WTO, WHO) regarding the consequences of climate change. Besides migrations, gender relations and generational status are often the most involved aspects in dramatic changes. The author then addresses the question of whether anthropology can contribute, by the ethnographic study experiences on climate change, in taking another step that could be constituted by an anthropology of the implementation for equality in climate change situations.En este artículo, se evidencian datos y conceptos articulados por la investigacion de las agencias internacionales (UNWoman, UNICEF, WTO, WHO), con respecto a las consecuencias del cambio climático. Además que las migraciones, son las relaciones de género y el estatus generacional los más involucrados en los cambios, a menudo, gravísimos. La autora se plantea entonces una evaluación de si la antropología pueda contribuir - por medio de sus experiencias etnográficas de estudio del cambio climático – en realizar un avance que podría ser constituido por una antropología de la implementación para la igualdad en las situaciones de cambio climático

Maria Gabriella Da Re, ed, Dialoghi con la natura in Sardegna: Per un antropologia delle pratiche e dei saperi, Firenze, Olschki, 2015, pp. 350

Book review of Maria Gabriella Da Re, ed, Dialoghi con la natura in Sardegna: Per un antropologia delle pratiche e dei saperi, Firenze, Olschki, 2015, pp. 350.Recensione di Maria Gabriella Da Re, ed, Dialoghi con la natura in Sardegna: Per un antropologia delle pratiche e dei saperi, Firenze, Olschki, 2015, pp. 350

Eduardo Kohn, Come pensano le foreste, traduzione di Alessandro Lucera, Alessandro Palmieri, prefazione di Emanuele Coccia, Milano, Nottetempo, 2021, pp. 439

Book review of Eduardo Kohn, Come pensano le foreste, translated by Alessandro Lucera, Alessandro Palmieri, foreword by Emanuele Coccia, Milano, Nottetempo, 2021, pp. 439.Recensione di Eduardo Kohn, Come pensano le foreste, traduzione di Alessandro Lucera, Alessandro Palmieri, prefazione di Emanuele Coccia, Milano, Nottetempo, 2021, pp. 439

Metabolomics of colistin methanesulfonate treated Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Over the past 5 years, there has been a renewed interest in finding new compounds with anti-TB action. Colistin methanesulfonate or polymyxin E, is a possible anti-TB drug candidate, which may in future be used either alone or in combination to the current 6 month “directly observed treatment short-course” (DOTS) regimen. However its mechanism of action has to date not yet been fully explored, and only described from a histological and genomics perspective. Considering this, we used a GCxGC-TOFMS metabolomics approach and identified those metabolite markers characterising Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) cultured in the presence of colistin methanesulfonate, in order to better understand or confirm its mechanism of action. The metabolite markers identified indicated a flux in the metabolism of the colistin methanesulfonate treated Mtb towards fatty acid synthesis and cell wall repair, confirming previous reports that colistin acts by disrupting the cell wall of mycobacteria. Accompanying this, is a subsequently elevated glucose uptake, since the latter now serves as the primary energy substrate for the upregulated glyoxylate cycle, and additionally as a precursor for further fatty acid synthesis via the glycerolipid metabolic pathway. Furthermore, the elevated concentrations of those metabolites associated with pentose phosphate, valine, threonine, and pentanediol metabolism, also confirms a shift towards glucose utilization for energy production, in the colistin methanesulfonate treated Mtb.Prof. Anton Stoltz and Prof. Ed Nardell are specifically thanked for their funding towards the cell cultures. The North West University is thanked for financial assistance of the research which forms part of a master's study.http://intl.elsevierhealth.com/journals/tube2019-07-01hj2018Internal Medicin

Acute Delta Hepatitis in Italy spanning three decades (1991–2019): Evidence for the effectiveness of the hepatitis B vaccination campaign

Updated incidence data of acute Delta virus hepatitis (HDV) are lacking worldwide. Our aim was to evaluate incidence of and risk factors for acute HDV in Italy after the introduction of the compulsory vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 1991. Data were obtained from the National Surveillance System of acute viral hepatitis (SEIEVA). Independent predictors of HDV were assessed by logistic-regression analysis. The incidence of acute HDV per 1-million population declined from 3.2 cases in 1987 to 0.04 in 2019, parallel to that of acute HBV per 100,000 from 10.0 to 0.39 cases during the same period. The median age of cases increased from 27 years in the decade 1991-1999 to 44 years in the decade 2010-2019 (p < .001). Over the same period, the male/female ratio decreased from 3.8 to 2.1, the proportion of coinfections increased from 55% to 75% (p = .003) and that of HBsAg positive acute hepatitis tested for by IgM anti-HDV linearly decreased from 50.1% to 34.1% (p < .001). People born abroad accounted for 24.6% of cases in 2004-2010 and 32.1% in 2011-2019. In the period 2010-2019, risky sexual behaviour (O.R. 4.2; 95%CI: 1.4-12.8) was the sole independent predictor of acute HDV; conversely intravenous drug use was no longer associated (O.R. 1.25; 95%CI: 0.15-10.22) with this. In conclusion, HBV vaccination was an effective measure to control acute HDV. Intravenous drug use is no longer an efficient mode of HDV spread. Testing for IgM-anti HDV is a grey area requiring alert. Acute HDV in foreigners should be monitored in the years to come

The Science Performance of JWST as Characterized in Commissioning

This paper characterizes the actual science performance of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), as determined from the six month commissioning period. We summarize the performance of the spacecraft, telescope, science instruments, and ground system, with an emphasis on differences from pre-launch expectations. Commissioning has made clear that JWST is fully capable of achieving the discoveries for which it was built. Moreover, almost across the board, the science performance of JWST is better than expected; in most cases, JWST will go deeper faster than expected. The telescope and instrument suite have demonstrated the sensitivity, stability, image quality, and spectral range that are necessary to transform our understanding of the cosmos through observations spanning from near-earth asteroids to the most distant galaxies.Comment: 5th version as accepted to PASP; 31 pages, 18 figures; https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1538-3873/acb29

Gli uomini della valle: una ricerca di antropologia della natura

Dottorato di ricerca in scienze etnoantropologiche. 10. ciclo. A.a. 1997-1998. Coordinatore Pietro L. Clemente. Tutore Maria MinicuciConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Biblioteca Centrale - P.le Aldo Moro, 7 , Rome; Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale - P.za Cavalleggeri, 1, Florence / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal