Una finestra su: Amsterdam

Amsterdam è in una fase di delicata transizione. L’articolo propone e affronta una lettura critica di quattro temi chiave: la diversificazione della struttura demografica e socio-economica, la liberalizzazione della politica abitativa, l’approccio organico dello sviluppo urbano e la governance metropolitana. Oggi la città di Amsterdam è più etnicamente e socialmente frammentata che mai. La geografia sociale mostra una crescente diversificazione tra centro e periferia che sottolinea importanti asimmetrie economiche e culturali. Stanno avvenendo anche cambiamenti nella tradizione degli interventi su larga scala e della pianificazione pubblica: in tempi di austerità, gli interventi urbani sono infatti prevalentemente su piccola scala ed orientati a stimolare imprenditorialità in determinate aree urbane e spesso legate a sperimentazioni ed ‘economie creative’. Infine alla base di questi trends si configura un nuovo panorama politico composto da partiti liberali e progressisti, che sfidano gli equilibri politici della città-regione

The —ick of It: Phalluses, Swords, and Character Development in “Beowulf ” and “Morte d’Arthur”

This essay explores the quintessential accessory to any male warrior in medieval literature. The swords that belong to Grendel’s Mother in the medieval epic poem “Beowulf ”and King Arthur in the “Morte d’Arthur” are used as metaphors and symbols to illuminate specific motivations fueling medieval English representations of masculinity. Grendel’s Mother’s sword underscores anxieties of Hrothgar’s people in “Beowulf”—namely, that of procreation and the subversion of traditional gender roles. Its destruction is key to understanding the disdain that the Danes hold against Grendel’s Mother as an aberrant model of loyalty. King Arthur’s, thrown into a lake and seemingly cleansed of its impurities, likewise highlights faults in his reign and their absolution after his death. The history of the medieval sword plays an important role in this analysis, as the jewels and engravings provide a new reading of weapons in medieval English poetry.Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Elizabeth E. Tavare

The —ick of It: Phalluses, Swords, and Character Development in “Beowulf” and “Morte d\u27Arthur”

This essay explores the quintessential accessory to any male warrior in medieval literature.The swords that belong to Grendel’s Mother in the medieval epic poem “Beowulf”and King Arthur in the “Morte d’Arthur”are used as metaphors and symbols to illuminate specific motivations fueling medieval English representations of masculinity. Grendel’s Mother’s sword underscores anxieties of Hrothgar’s people in “Beowulf”—namely, that of procreation and the subversion of traditional gender roles. Its destruction is key to understanding the disdain that the Danes hold against Grendel’s Mother as an aberrant model of loyalty. King Arthur’s, thrown into a lake and seemingly cleansed of its impurities, likewise highlights faults in his reign and their absolution after his death. The history of the medieval sword plays an important role in this analysis, as the jewels and engravings provide a new reading of weapons in medieval English poetry

La mutualità nel caregiving: una revisione della letteratura

Mutuality, considered the feeling of intimacy and the positive relationship between a caregiver and a arereceiver, is gaining an increasing interest in the international research arena, on the light of the socio-demographic changes and the increase in chronic degenerative diseases. The purpose of this article is to make a critical analysis of the literature on mutuality in order to identify its predictors and outcomes. A literature review was performed with the following databases: PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, ASSIA and Pciological Abstract. Twenty articles were selected. From the critical analysis of the literature mutuality emerges as key variable in the process of caregiving and in the mental and physical health of the caregiver and carereceiver. In caregivers, high levels of mutuality are associated with less stress, depression and burden and a better quality of life and perceived health; in patients, high mutuality improves the recovery process from an illness, reduces anxiety and depression and improves the quality of life. Future studies aimed at the study of this variable also in the Italian population could support the development of programs to improve the quality of life of caregivers and carereceiver

Cosmic Microwave Background Temperature at Galaxy Clusters

We have deduced the cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature in the Coma cluster (A1656, $z=0.0231$), and in A2163 ($z=0.203$) from spectral measurements of the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect over four passbands at radio and microwave frequencies. The resulting temperatures at these redshifts are $T_{Coma} = 2.789^{+0.080}_{-0.065}$ K and $T_{A2163} = 3.377^{+0.101}_{-0.102}$ K, respectively. These values confirm the expected relation $T(z)=T_{0}(1+z)$, where $T_{0}= 2.725 \pm 0.002$ K is the value measured by the COBE/FIRAS experiment. Alternative scaling relations that are conjectured in non-standard cosmologies can be constrained by the data; for example, if $T(z) = T_{0}(1+z)^{1-a}$ or $T(z)=T_{0}[1+(1+d)z]$, then $a=-0.16^{+0.34}_{-0.32}$ and $d = 0.17 \pm 0.36$ (at 95% confidence). We briefly discuss future prospects for more precise SZ measurements of $T(z)$ at higher redshifts.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figure, ApJL accepted for publicatio

European Non-native Species in Aquaculture Risk Analysis Scheme - a summary of assessment protocols and decision support tools for use of alien species in aquaculture

The European Non-native Species in Aquaculture Risk Analysis Scheme (ENSARS) was developed in response to European 'Council Regulation No. 708/2007 of 11 June 2007 concerning use of alien and locally absent species in aquaculture' to provide protocols for identifying and evaluating the potential risks of using non-native species in aquaculture. ENSARS is modular in structure and adapted from non-native species risk assessment schemes developed by the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation and for the UK. Seven of the eight ENSARS modules contain protocols for evaluating the risks of escape, introduction to and establishment in open waters, of any non-native aquatic organism being used (or associated with those used) in aquaculture, that is, transport pathways, rearing facilities, infectious agents, and the potential organism, ecosystem and socio-economic impacts. A concluding module is designed to summarise the risks and consider management options. During the assessments, each question requires the assessor to provide a response and confidence ranking for that response based on expert opinion. Each module can also be used individually, and each requires a specific form of expertise. Therefore, a multidisciplinary assessment team is recommended for its completion

Absolute calibration and beam reconstruction of MITO (a ground-based instrument in the millimetric region)

An efficient sky data reconstruction derives from a precise characterization of the observing instrument. Here we describe the reconstruction of performances of a single-pixel 4-band photometer installed at MITO (Millimeter and Infrared Testagrigia Observatory) focal plane. The strategy of differential sky observations at millimeter wavelengths, by scanning the field of view at constant elevation wobbling the subreflector, induces a good knowledge of beam profile and beam-throw amplitude, allowing efficient data recovery. The problems that arise estimating the detectors throughput by drift scanning on planets are shown. Atmospheric transmission, monitored by skydip technique, is considered for deriving final responsivities for the 4 channels using planets as primary calibrators.Comment: 14 pages, 6 fiugres, accepted for pubblication by New Astronomy (25 March

Innovative Configuration for a Far Infrared Space Interferometer

In the last ten years many proposals and studies have been advanced for a far-IR kilometer baseline interferometer. This paper shows the results of FISICA (Far Infrared Space Interferometer Critical Assessment), an FP7 program of the European Community. In particular, we focus on an innovative strategy to cover the plane of observation with a minimal propellant consumption. Results of some numerical simulations, carried out for a three-booms configuration, are provided

Psychometric properties of the Caregiver Preparedness Scale in caregivers of stroke survivors

Objective: To evaluate the psychometric characteristics of the Caregiver Preparedness Scale (CPS) in caregivers of stroke survivors. Background: Caregiver preparedness can have an important impact on both the caregiver and the stroke survivor. The validity and reliability of the CPS has not been tested for the stroke-caregiver population. Methods: We used a cross-sectional design to study a sample of 156 caregivers of stroke survivors. Construct validity of the CPS was evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were also evaluated. Results: Caregivers were, on average, 54 year old (SD ¼ 13.2) and most were women (64.7%). CFA supported the unidimensionality of the scale (comparative fit index ¼ 0.98). Reliability was also supported: item-reliability index and itemetotal correlations above 0.30; composite reliability index ¼ 0.93; Cronbach’s alpha ¼ 0.94; factor score determinacy ¼ 0.97; and test-retest reliability ¼ 0.92. Conclusion: The CPS is valid and reliable in caregivers of stroke survivors. Scores on this scale may assist health-care providers in identifying caregivers with less preparedness to provide specific interventions