A Woman’s Loss of Imagination: Paola Masino’s Magical Realism in Nascita e morte della Massaia

Criticism on Paola Masino has flourished since the early 2000s. This increased attention has contributed towards reclaiming an author often overshadowed by the attention received by her partner, Massimo Bontempelli, the father of realismo magico. Masino experimented with a variety of styles—realismo magico was one of them—as she rejected strictly naturalistic forms of representation, preferring to co-opt myths and the supernatural. Nascita e morte della Massaia (1945) is Masino’s most renowned literary effort, both for its critique of Fascist Italy and for its sophisticated stylistic effects. Nascita, while indebted to Bontempelli’s theorizations, features all the chief characteristics listed in Faris’s analysis of magical realism as an international phenomenon, and illustrates how magical realism offers strategies for evading censorship to those writing against totalitarianism regimes. At the same time, it is an example of how magical realism can be used to denounce socially imposed gender roles. My analysis shows how this narrative mode emerges on multiple levels within Masino’s text

Mars- plus Europa-INPPS Flagship Missions with High Power Electric Thrusters and Heavy Science Payload

2020/2021 orbit calculations (DLR Bremen + MAI Moscow): 3 Orbits for one non-human MARS/EUROPA-INPPS flagship 1. Orbit Earth (11 Oct 2026) => Mars (28 Jan 2028); 2. Orbit Mars (22 Sept 2028) => Earth (29 Jul 2029); 3. Orbit Earth (12 Oct 2031) => Jupiter / Europa (6 Dec 2035) 22 ETs (for the INPPS flagship CET): example - gridded CET plate with combined ET

Non-Human + Human Deep Space Exploration: By The NEP INPPS Flagship

INPPS Flagship Structure & Subsystems, Ground Based Tests, Pure NEP, International Electric Thrusters, Humans Internationally To Mar

Hall Effect Thruster Direct Drive PPUs, Experimental Investigation of the Cathode Potential Grounding Problem

In order to maximize system mass and cost savings, a Hall Effect Thruster Direct Drive Approach shall ideally get away with the need to provide galvanic isolation for the Anode voltage. In this respect, we present some experimental data aiming at characterising the implications of a direct connection between the HET Cathode Return Potential and the Spacecraft Ground

Hall Effect Thruster Direct Drive PPUs, Experimental Investigation of the Cathode Potential Grounding Problem

In order to maximize system mass and cost savings, a Hall Effect Thruster Direct Drive Approach shall ideally get away with the need to provide galvanic isolation for the Anode voltage. In this respect, we present some experimental data aiming at characterising the implications of a direct connection between the HET Cathode Return Potential and the Spacecraft Ground

Surgery to Treat Symptomatic Mobile Cecum Syndrome Is Safe and Associated with Good Recovery Outcomes

The mobile cecum syndrome includes a spectrum of conditions. The cecal volvulus represents the acute form, with typical feature of a bowel obstruction that needs immediate operative treatment. On the other hand, a chronic form of mobile cecum syndrome which is the most common form reported a history of intermittent crampy abdominal pain, distension, and constipation. In this study, five patients came to our attention during the last ten years, presenting different symptoms due to a mobile cecum. All patients were investigated by several diagnostic techniques according to the specific clinical setting. All patients were found to have the cecum and ascending colon unattached to the posterior peritoneum. Surgery was the treatment of choice. In our experience, the best diagnostic technique was computed tomography scan, especially if performed in the Trendelenburg position. We also propose virtual colonoscopy as a good option for diagnosis (in patients with chronic syndrome) and follow-up after surgery. In conclusion, laparoscopic approach guaranteed a good result, with no symptoms of recurrence, in both acute and elective treatments. The diagnosis of mobile cecum needs a high index of suspicion and a targeted radiological investigation. Surgery, especially laparoscopic cecopexy and appendectomy, is the recommended treatment

High Voltage Electrical Power System Architecture optimized for electrical propulsion and high power payload

International audienceThere is a large design variety of power buses, with voltage levels typically ranging from 28 to 100V. This state-of-art is well adapted to past and current needs in term of power conditioning and disctribution for science and telecommunication satellites. NEvertheless, a short-term need is rising for higher operating voltages, especially for the new electric propulsion systems and high-power payloads. The currently available solutions are to add DC/DC converters inisde echa user equipement to generate all its necessary internal supply lines for the satellite primary power bus. For high power/high voltage loads, this DC/DC stage leads to power dissipation and lowers the overall efficiency of the power chain. A major step forward would be to increase the voltage directly at the level of the primary bus in order to remove some voltage conversion stages leading to lower mass, cost, volume and power dissipation. The work performed within the European Union H2020 project "HV-EPSA" was aimed to study benefits and impact of the implementation of a bus voltage from 300V to 600V, including solar array, solar array drive mechnism, power conditioning and distribution, Hall effect thruster with direct drive topology, battery and harnesses. The main problematic to solve were arcing at high voltage/low pressure (Paschen law), interaction between plasma (natural and from plasmic propulsion) and solar arrays, and distribution function using GaN mosfet. Several test campaigns were performed and the results are presented in the paper.Il existe une grande variété de conception de bus d'alimentation, avec des niveaux de tension allant généralement de 28 à 100 V. Cet état de l'art est bien adapté aux besoins passés et actuels en termes de conditionnement et de distribution de puissance pour les satellites scientifiques et de télécommunications. Néanmoins, le besoin à court terme augmente pour des tensions de fonctionnement plus élevées, en particulier pour les nouveaux systèmes de propulsion électrique et les charges utiles à haute puissance. Les solutions actuellement disponibles consistent à ajouter des convertisseurs DC / DC à l'intérieur de chaque équipement utilisateur afin de générer toutes ses lignes d'alimentation interne nécessaires pour le bus d'alimentation primaire du satellite. Pour les charges haute puissance / haute tension, cet étage DC / DC conduit à une dissipation de puissance et diminue l'efficacité globale de la chaîne de puissance. Un grand pas en avant serait d'augmenter la tension directement au niveau du bus primaire afin de supprimer certains étages de conversion de tension conduisant à une diminution de la masse, du coût, du volume et de la dissipation de puissance. Les travaux réalisés dans le cadre du projet H2020 de l'Union européenne "HV-EPSA" visaient à étudier les avantages et l'impact de la mise en œuvre d'une tension de bus de 300V à 600V, y compris les panneaux solaires, les systèmes d'entraînement de panneaux solaires, le conditionnement et la distribution de l'énergie, le propulseur à effet Hall avec topologie à entraînement direct, batterie et cablâge. Les principaux problèmes à résoudre étaient les arcs à haute tension / basse pression (loi de Paschen), l'interaction entre le plasma (naturel et de propulsion plasmique) et les panneaux solaires, et la fonction de distribution à l'aide du mosfet GaN. Plusieurs campagnes de tests ont été réalisées et les résultats sont présentés dans l'article

A video of best practice recommendations for making botulinum toxin therapy safe during the COVID-19 pandemic

The physician and patient come into close contact during botulinum toxin treatments, increasing the chances of COVID-19 infection. Therefore, it is essential to use an effective injection method that can prevent infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus. In order to minimize the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission during botulinum toxin treatment in the COVID-19 era, the Italian Botulinum Toxin Network study group of the Italian Society of Neurology has prepared a video of best practice recommendations on how to organize the work of a clinic performing botulinum toxin treatments

Perspectives from Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic: nationwide survey-based focus on minimally invasive HPB surgery

The safety of minimally invasive procedures during COVID pandemic remains hotly debated, especially in a country, like Italy, where minimally invasive techniques have progressively and pervasively entered clinical practice, in both the hepatobiliary and pancreatic community. A nationwide snapshot of the management of HPB minimally invasive surgery activity during COVID-19 pandemic is provided: a survey was developed and conducted within AICEP (Italian Association of HepatoBilioPancreatic Surgeons) with the final aim of conveying the experience, knowledge, and opinions into a unitary report enabling more efficient crisis management. Results from the survey (81 respondents) show that, in Italian hospitals, minimally invasive surgery maintains its role despite the COVID-19 pandemic, with the registered reduction of cases being proportional to the overall reduction of the HPB surgical activity. Respondents agree that the switch from minimally invasive to open technique can be considered as a valid option for cases with a high technical complexity. Several issues merit specific attention: screening for virus positivity should be universally performed; only expert surgical teams should operate on positive patients and specific technical measures to lower the biological risk of contamination during surgery must be followed. Future studies specifically designed to establish the true risks in minimally invasive surgery are suggested. Furthermore, a standard and univocal process of prioritization of patients from Regional Healthcare Systems is advisable