A theory of rhythm analysis applied to Joseph Conrad’s the secret agent and its adaptations

This thesis is a study of rhythm in Joseph Conrad’s The Secret Agent and some of its adaptations. The division in two parts reflects a twofold approach: Part I develops a theory of rhythm analysis based on narratological and semiotic methods, with varied examples drawn from several media; Part II discusses Conrad’s use of rhythmic and tensive devices and how they have been adapted in different media. Chapter 1 introduces the key concepts of Daniele Barbieri’s rhythm analysis, based on the notion of textual relief and the essential relationship between rhythm and tension. Section 1.3 elaborates on such method, adapting the theory of Possible Worlds and Greimasian semiotics to the identification of rhythmic and tensive structures; section 1.4 deals with issues of rhythm in adaptation, specifically with the notion of the ‘transcodic resistance’ of rhythm. Chapter 2 approaches rhythmic strategies from the recipient’s point of view, discussing cognitive responses to the textual structures outlined in Chapter 1; making use of cognitive narratology, the first three sections analyse the mechanisms of reception that interact with tension and rhythm – attention, immersion and suspense. The final section highlights interconnections between those three cognitive responses and their relationship with rhythmic devices, concluding the theoretical part. Chapter 3 is a thorough analysis of the rhythm of Conrad’s The Secret Agent, showing how the novel’s complex narrative structures contribute to the creation of a multi-layered rhythmic and tensive architecture. Finally, Chapter 4 deals with five of the numerous adaptations of the novel: Conrad’s theatrical version, John K. Snyder’s graphic novel, Hitchcock’s Sabotage, and two BBC TV series adaptations. The works analysed adapt the novel in several media with variable success, but they are all remarkable in their more or less effective transfer of the novel’s multifaceted rhythmic structure into the language and technical specificity of the different media involved

The search for values as a didactic tool - an interdisciplinary perspective

The present article explores the didactic potentialities of an interdisciplinary approach intended for university, master or doctorate courses where the development of professional strategies and the acquisition of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) are the main target. By exploiting a heuristic method provided by semiotics, namely Floch’s Axiological Square, students can acquire the toolkit that permits them to analyse the process of value creation as well as the discursive procedures and lexical peculiarities typical of corporate communication. Although the focus is on pharmaceutical discourse, we are convinced that the methodological apparatus illustrated here is potentially applicable to other ESP domains and that it highlights the importance of dialogue between apparently distant disciplines for better educational outcomes

Monascus sp. Pigment Potency as Simple Preservative in Food Ingredients

Everyday foodstuffs such as tofu, chicken, and fish are ingredients that have a short shelf life if stored outdoors or in the open air. The fungus Monascus sp. is a fungus whose pigment is often used in giving color to food. This study aims to determine the potential of Monascus sp pigment isolated from commercial red rice (Angkak) as a preservative in tofu, chicken, and fish at room temperature. The methods used included isolation of the fungus Monascus sp from commercial red rice (Angkak), macroscopic and microscopic morphological characterization, solid fermentation using rice, harvesting pigments with water solvent, and pigment resistance tests on tofu, chicken meat, and fish. The results obtained from the application of the crude extract of the Monascus sp. pigment in fish survived for two days, chicken meat lasted up to three days, and tofu lasted four days. Each experiment had different results during the organoleptic test and compared to a positive control, namely turmeric, proving that turmeric was still better at resisting food spoilage. This research needs to be investigated further regarding the potential if the pure extract of the Monascus sp pigment is used

Treatment and reutilization of effluents: one Mediterranean project

The problematic of effluent treatment from olive oil industry as been the subject of an European Commission funded project (INCO-MED programme): “Mediterranean Usage of Biotechnological Treated effluent Water”. The potential that effluent offers to increase the availability of water, in mediterranean regions, was the final goal of the project, co-ordinated by INETI with partners from EU and MPC. In the project different systems for the treatment of this effluent had been studied: reactors systems (Intensive type) based on the jet-loop principle (JACTO) and an anaerobic UASB hybrid type reactor technology; lagoons (extensive type) for municipal wastewater treatment were also applied. The aerobic JACTO system demonstrated high unit capacity for biological conversion and operation at different loadings, allowing the removal of the pollutant organic load and the toxicity associated with this effluent. The use of this type of reactor for pre-treatment of OOWW prior to disposal on a lagoon system was tested at FSS (Morocco). Use of fungi as a pre-treatment was tested by UNITUS (Italy), EBC (Turkey) and CBS (Tunisia). In this way the effluent could be “improved” as demonstrated in the case of anaerobic digestion and biogas production (CBS). Effluent improvement and enrichment with phosphate was also tested by UNITUS. Analytical monitoring methodologies were developed at IA (Spain) and treated effluents were tested for a number of agricultural applications in different countries. The different alternatives studied will be analysed and compared taking account of technological and socio-economical criteria in relation with the project objectives

Water‐soluble red pigments from Isaria farinosa and structural characterization of the main colored component

International audienceThe present study describes the red pigment synthesized by the filamentous fungi Isaria farinosa under submerged culture conditions. The pigment production was optimal under the following conditions: pH 5, agitation speed 150 rpm, temperature 27 °C, incubation time 192 h, light source total darkness, sucrose and glucose as carbon source, yeast extract, meat peptone and monosodium glutamate at a fixed concentration of 3% as nitrogen source. The addition of 10 mM CaCl2 to the culture medium increased the biomass and pigment production. Structural elucidation of the pigment using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed that the red pigment contains an anthraquinone-related compound. In addition, the isolated pigment was water soluble, and was stable when exposed to salt solution (96.1% of stability after treatment with sodium chloride), acid (72.1% with citric acid), heat (86.2% at 60 °C), and sunlight (99.4%). These results are promising to further exploit the fungal culture of Isaria farinosa for producing the red pigment and, subsequently, to considerably increase its yield. The study has commercial importance in the production of Isaria farinosa pigment for industrial application after considerable toxicological examination. (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Fluid challenges in intensive care : the FENICE study A global inception cohort study

Erratum: Fluid challenges in intensive care: the FENICE study A global inception cohort study (vol 41, pg 1529, 2015) https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-015-4003-yFluid challenges (FCs) are one of the most commonly used therapies in critically ill patients and represent the cornerstone of hemodynamic management in intensive care units. There are clear benefits and harms from fluid therapy. Limited data on the indication, type, amount and rate of an FC in critically ill patients exist in the literature. The primary aim was to evaluate how physicians conduct FCs in terms of type, volume, and rate of given fluid; the secondary aim was to evaluate variables used to trigger an FC and to compare the proportion of patients receiving further fluid administration based on the response to the FC. This was an observational study conducted in ICUs around the world. Each participating unit entered a maximum of 20 patients with one FC. 2213 patients were enrolled and analyzed in the study. The median [interquartile range] amount of fluid given during an FC was 500 ml (500-1000). The median time was 24 min (40-60 min), and the median rate of FC was 1000 [500-1333] ml/h. The main indication for FC was hypotension in 1211 (59 %, CI 57-61 %). In 43 % (CI 41-45 %) of the cases no hemodynamic variable was used. Static markers of preload were used in 785 of 2213 cases (36 %, CI 34-37 %). Dynamic indices of preload responsiveness were used in 483 of 2213 cases (22 %, CI 20-24 %). No safety variable for the FC was used in 72 % (CI 70-74 %) of the cases. There was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of patients who received further fluids after the FC between those with a positive, with an uncertain or with a negatively judged response. The current practice and evaluation of FC in critically ill patients are highly variable. Prediction of fluid responsiveness is not used routinely, safety limits are rarely used, and information from previous failed FCs is not always taken into account.Peer reviewe