Genius loci, ovvero, regnare sull’autoctonia ed i suoi opposti

Il lavoro parte dalle sollecitazioni che l’attuale dibattito sui flussi migratori offre per una riflessione socio-antropologica. Ripercorrendo alcune considerazioni teoriche sull’appartenenza ambivalente dell’umano a ciò che lo sostiene (legame d’origine e/o relazione originale), la riflessione si incentra sul concetto dell’autoctonia e dei suoi contrari (l’endogeno-unico e l’esogeno-plurale). Da qui il lavoro procede interrogandosi sui fenomeni dell’ “autismo” identitario e della “babele” delle identità-cittadinanza; sulla migrazione internazionale in quanto oggetto e soggetto di immaginazione socio-culturale del futuro. Alcuni “artefatti” specifici della conoscenza socio-antropologica sono inquadrati come ambito di applicazione ed espressione di genius loci della comprensione interculturale

Experimental investigation on a geocontainer Submerged reef

Geotextile sand containers (GSC) have been used as permanent construction elements in coastal works for more than 20 years,becoming more and more popular as an alternative to the most typical coastal structures. Aim of this work is to analyze the hydrodynamic, stability and morphodynamic response of a GSC submerged reef by means of an experimental campaign. The first investigated aspect concerned the hydrodynamics. The reflection and transmission coefficients for regular and random waves were determined: the reflection coefficient decreases with increasing of kh; the transmission coefficient decreases with the increase of the incident wave. As regards the stability of the structure, it was observed that the strongest waves were able to lift the row of GSC more exposed to the wave action. An instability curve for the GSC as a function of the hydrodynamic characteristics was then found. Flow visualization close to the reef was performed by means of ink, showing that the flow becomes asymmetric in the proximity of the structure. Concerning the morphodynamics, long-term tests were performed to calculate the scour. This reached its maximum value at the end of each test and it is present in all three cases. The scour causes serious problems of instability to the structure

Random wave run-up with a physically-based Lagrangian shoreline model

n the present paper the run-up of random waves was calculated by means of a numerical method. In situ measurements based on a video imaging technique have been used for the validation of the present numerical model. The on-site run-up measurements have been carried out at Lido Signorino beach, near Marsala, Italy,along a transect, normal to the shore. A video camera and a linear array of rods have been used to obtain field data. Numerical simulations with a 1DH Boussinesq-type of model for breaking waves which takes into account the wave run-up by means of a Lagrangian shoreline model have been carried out. In such simulations random waves of given spectrum have been propagated in a numerical flume having the same beach slope of the measured transect. The comparison between registered and estimated run-up underlined an acceptable agreement. Indeed, the numerical model tends to underestimate the actual R2%, with the maximum underestimate being less than 24%, which is a reasonable error in many cases of engineering interest

Student team projects and natural resources education: Are we achieving educational objectives?

As college instructors have recognized the benefits provided by cooperative and active learning, many have shifted from their traditional teaching style, dominated by lectures, to a new style where students work together and learn from each other as well as from the instructor. One strategy commonly used to implement cooperative learning in the classroom is to require students to work in teams to complete a class project. This strategy is particularly attractive to natural resources educators because natural resource issues are generally complex and interdisciplinary providing a natural setting for teaching concepts regarding natural resources ecology and management using student team projects. Further, natural resources agencies are seeking to employ individuals who have the skills to work in interdisciplinary teams to address current problems. Thus, assigning projects to student teams in natural resources classes can serve several important purposes: it can aid student mastery of the subject matter by creating a cooperative learning environment; it can provide a hands-on, problem solving context for student learning; and it can provide students with the necessary skills and experience to work effectively in teams as professionals. Although using student team projects has many potential benefits, the effectiveness of this approach as a teaching tool can vary greatly. We reflect on our experiences with using the team approach in three different courses: Fishery Management, designed for junior and senior level students; Natural Resources Decisions, a capstone course designed for seniors in the School of Forest Resources; and Watershed Management Planning, a graduate level course. As a result of our collective experiences in these three courses, we propose that investing a relatively small amount of class time to introduce students to the concept of a team and how teams work can increase the effectiveness of teaching by using student team projects

Random Wave Run-up with a Physically-based Lagrangian Shoreline Model

AbstractIn the present paper the run-up of random waves was calculated by means of a numerical method. In situ measurements based on a video imaging technique have been used for the validation of the present numerical model. The on-site run-up measurements have been carried out at Lido Signorino beach, near Marsala, Italy,along a transect, normal to the shore. A video camera and a linear array of rods have been used to obtain field data. Numerical simulations with a 1DH Boussinesq-type of model for breaking waves which takes into account the wave run-up by means of a Lagrangian shoreline model have been carried out. In such simulations random waves of given spectrum have been propagated in a numerical flume having the same beach slope of the measured transect. The comparison between registered and estimated run-up underlined an acceptable agreement. Indeed, the numerical model tends to underestimate the actual R2%, with the maximum underestimate being less than 24%, which is a reasonable error in many cases of engineering interest

Aerobic growth of Rhodococcus aetherivorans BCP1 using selected naphthenic acids as the sole carbon and energy sources

Naphthenic acids (NAs) are an important group of toxic organic compounds naturally occurring in hydrocarbon deposits. This work shows that Rhodococcus aetherivorans BCP1 cells not only utilize a mixture of eight different NAs (8XNAs) for growth but they are also capable of marked degradation of two model NAs, cyclohexanecarboxylic acid (CHCA) and cyclopentanecarboxylic acid (CPCA) when supplied at concentrations from 50 to 500 mgL-1. The growth curves of BCP1 on 8XNAs, CHCA, and CPCA showed an initial lag phase not present in growth on glucose, which presumably was related to the toxic effects of NAs on the cell membrane permeability. BCP1 cell adaptation responses that allowed survival on NAs included changes in cell morphology, production of intracellular bodies and changes in fatty acid composition. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis of BCP1 cells grown on CHCA or CPCA showed a slight reduction in the cell size, the production of EPS-like material and intracellular electron-transparent and electron-dense inclusion bodies. The electron-transparent inclusions increased in the amount and size in NA-grown BCP1 cells under nitrogen limiting conditions and contained storage lipids as suggested by cell staining with the lipophilic Nile Blue A dye. Lipidomic analyses revealed significant changes with increases of methyl-branched (MBFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) examining the fatty acid composition of NAs-growing BCP1 cells. PUFA biosynthesis is not usual in bacteria and, together with MBFA, can influence structural and functional processes with resulting effects on cell vitality. Finally, through the use of RT (Reverse Transcription)-qPCR, a gene cluster (chcpca) was found to be transcriptionally induced during the growth on CHCA and CPCA. Based on the expression and bioinformatics results, the predicted products of the chcpca gene cluster are proposed to be involved in aerobic NA degradation in R. aetherivorans BCP1. This study provides first insights into the genetic and metabolic mechanisms allowing a Rhodococcus strain to aerobically degrade NAs

As práticas contabilísticas e de relato financeiro na Companhia Real dos Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses (1860-1910)

Dissertação de mestrado em ContabilidadeEste trabalho tem como objetivo principal analisar a documentação da Companhia Real dos Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses, de modo a evidenciar as suas práticas contabilísticas e de relato financeiro, no período compreendido entre 1860, ano da sua criação, e 1910, ano em ocorre a primeira mudança de nome da Companhia. Baseado em fontes de arquivo, este estudo adota a teoria institucional como quadro teórico, tendo como pressuposto o facto de as práticas contabilísticas e de relato financeiro serem influenciadas por pressões provenientes da regulação estatal e da relação com outras entidades (DiMaggio e Powell, 1983) e que estas práticas e outros procedimentos são entendidas pelos atores organizacionais como as “melhores práticas” e que são propagadas pelas diferentes organizações como de uma “moda” se tratasse. A Companhia Real desenvolvia neste período, simultaneamente, a atividade de construção das linhas ferroviárias e a atividade de exploração das mesmas. Assim, a organização e escrituração da contabilidade tinha por base planos de contas específicos para cada uma das atividades. Os relatórios de contas do Conselho de Administração forneciam informações detalhadas sobre a evolução e desempenho da atividade da empresa e incluíam documentos contabilísticos, como a Conta de Estabelecimento que evidenciava a atividade de construção, a Conta de Exploração que evidenciava a prestação de serviços de transporte e a Situação Geral das Contas e Balanço que integrava as duas demonstrações anteriores e evidenciava a situação do Ativo e do Passivo. A análise da documentação da Companhia Real permitiu verificar a existência de um sistema de controlo e de contabilização devidamente organizado, detalhado e sistematizado. O modelo de relatório de contas adotado pela Companhia Real é justificado à luz da teoria institucional pelo facto de que as empresas de um mesmo setor de atividade adotam procedimentos e práticas similares, como resultado de pressões isomórficas coercivas e miméticas.This work aims to analyze the documentation of the Portuguese Railways Royal Company, in order to emphasize its accounting and financial reporting practices between 1860, the year of its creation and 1910, year of the first change of name of the Company. Based on archival sources, this study adopts institutional theory as theoretical framework and is based on the assumption that accounting and financial reporting practices are influenced by pressure from state regulation and the relationship with other organizations (DiMaggio and Powell, 1983) and that these practices and other procedures are understood by organizational actors as “best practices” and are propagated by various organizations as a “fashion”. The Royal Company developed in this period, the activity of construction of railway lines as well the activity of operating them, so the organization of accounting and bookkeeping was based on specific account plans to each activity. The statement of accounts of the Board provided detailed information on the progress and performance of business activity and included accounting documents such as Account Establishment that showed construction activity, the Operating Account that evidenced the provision of transport services and the General Situation of Accounts and Balance that integrated the two previous statements and showed the Assets and Liabilities situation. The analyses of the archival sources of the Royal Company allowed verifying the existence of a well-organized and systematized control and accounting system. The financial report model adopted by the Royal Company can be justified at the light of institutional theory by the fact that organizations of the same sector of activity adopt similar procedures and practices, as a result of coercive and mimetic isomorphic pressures

Stepwise shortening of agalsidase beta infusion duration in Fabry disease: Clinical experience with infusion rate escalation protocol

Background: Although enzyme replacement therapy with agalsidase beta resulted in a variety of clinical benefits, life-long biweekly intravenous infusion may impact on patients’ quality of life. Moreover, regular infusions are time-consuming: although a stepwise shortening of infusion duration is allowed up to a minimum of 1.5 hr, in most centers it remains ≥3 hr, and no data exists about the safety and tolerability of agalsidase beta administration at maximum tolerated infusion rate. Methods: In this study, we reported our experience with a stepwise infusion rate escalation protocol developed in our center in a cohort of 53 Fabry patients (both already receiving and treatment-naΪve), and explored factors predictive for the infusion rate increase tolerability. Results: Fifty-two patients (98%) reduced infusion duration ≤3 hr; of these, 38 (72%) even reached a duration ≤2 hr. We found a significant difference between the mean duration reached by already treated and naΪve patients (p <.01). More severely affected patients (male patients and those with lower enzyme activity) received longer infusions for higher risk of infusion-associated reactions (IARs). A significant correlation between anti-agalsidase antibodies and IARs was found. Conclusion: Our infusion rate escalation protocol is safe and could improve patient compliance, satisfaction and quality of life

Area under the curve of methotrexate and creatinine clearance are outcome-determining factors in primary CNS lymphomas

Although high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) is the most effective drug against primary CNS lymphomas (PCNSL), outcome-determining variables related to its administration schedule have not been defined. The impact on toxicity and outcome of the area under the curve (AUC(MTX)), dose intensity (DI(MTX)) and infusion rate (IR(MTX)) of MTX and plasmatic creatinine clearance (CL(crea)) was investigated in a retrospective series of 45 PCNSL patients treated with three different HD-MTX-based combinations. Anticonvulsants were administered in 31 pts (69%). Age >60 years, anticonvulsant therapy, slow IR(MTX) (1100 micromol hl(-1) were independently associated with a better survival. Slow CL(crea) and high AUC(MTX) are favourable outcome-determining factors in PCNSL, while slow CL(crea) is significantly related to higher toxicity. AUC(MTX) significantly correlates with age, anticonvulsant therapy, IR(MTX), and DI(MTX). These findings, which seem to support the choice of an MTX dose >/=3 gm(-2) in a 4-6-h infusion, every 3-4 weeks, deserve to be assessed prospectively in future trials. MTX dose adjustments in patients with fast CL(crea) should be investigated