Le postille del tasso alla divina commedia

Tasso’s marginal notes on Dante’s Divina Commedia are the result of an exegetic study which recognises the value of the Dantesque model and displays an awareness of an inescapable confrontation in terms of linguistic choices and the elaboration of artistic forms. The annotations represent a poetic laboratory which contantly offers rhetorical and stylistic notations and occasionally reveals an indisputable fascination with the allegorical dimension. Tasso’s notes may also suggest the interpretative key for the re-utilisation of the imposing Dantesque lexical material based on aesthetic and emotional consonance, in the context of a poetic project aimed at attaining a prestigious position in the higher realms of knowledge

Propofol inhibits prokaryotic voltage-gated Na+ channels by promoting activation-coupled inactivation

Propofol is widely used in the clinic for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. As with most general anesthetics, however, our understanding of its mechanism of action remains incomplete. Local and general anesthetics largely inhibit voltage-gated Na+ channels (Navs) by inducing an apparent stabilization of the inactivated state, associated in some instances with pore block. To determine the biophysical and molecular basis of propofol action in Navs, we investigated NaChBac and NavMs, two prokaryotic Navs with distinct voltage dependencies and gating kinetics, by whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology in the absence and presence of propofol at clinically relevant concentrations (2-10 μM). In both Navs, propofol induced a hyperpolarizing shift of the pre-pulse inactivation curve without any significant effects on recovery from inactivation at strongly hyperpolarized voltages, demonstrating that propofol does not stabilize the inactivated state. Moreover, there was no evidence of fast or slow pore block by propofol in a non-inactivating NaChBac mutant (T220A). Propofol also induced hyperpolarizing shifts of the conductance-voltage relationships with negligible effects on the time constants of deactivation at hyperpolarized voltages, indicating that propofol does not stabilize the open state. Instead, propofol decreases the time constants of macroscopic activation and inactivation. Adopting a kinetic scheme of Nav gating that assumes preferential closed-state recovery from inactivation, a 1.7-fold acceleration of the rate constant of activation and a 1.4-fold acceleration of the rate constant of inactivation were sufficient to reproduce experimental observations with computer simulations. In addition, molecular dynamics simulations and molecular docking suggest that propofol binding involves interactions with gating machinery in the S4-S5 linker and external pore regions. Our findings show that propofol is primarily a positive gating modulator of prokaryotic Navs, which ultimately inhibits the channels by promoting activation-coupled inactivation. © 2018 Yang et al

Grapevine death caused by Nattrassia toruloidea

Severe decline has been observed on different grapevine cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.) grafted on rootstock hybrid 140 R.(V. berlandieri PLANCHON x V. rupestris SCHEELE) in various plantations in eastern and central Sicily. The affected grapevines presented chlorotic leaf spots and necrosis. Early leaf cast was followed by drying of the shoots from the apex and darkening of subcortical tissues. The whole grapevine died 2 or 3 years after onset of leaf symptoms. The fungus Nattrassia toruloidea (NATTRASS) DYKO and SUTTON was constantly isolated from the infected wood. Artificial inoculation of the isolate on rooted cuttings of the local cultivars Nerello Mascalese and Frappato di Vittoria reproduced the disease observed in the field. The fungus was reisolated from the artificially inoculated plants, confirming that N. toruloidea is the specific pathogenic agent responsible for the grapevine death observed by us. The most suitable temperature range for growth of this pathogen is 30-35°C which explains its distribution in hot African and Asian countries, its presence in Sicily and its widespread diffusion during the summer season

Decline and death of young grapevines by infection of Phoma glomerata on the rootstock

Decline and death of young grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivar Italia, grafted on the rootstock V. berlandieri PLANCHON x V. rupestris SCHEELE 140 Ru., have been detected in a grape area of Sicily. The phenomena were initially characterized by necrotic areas on the rootstock and consequent scarce growth and progressive chlorosis of the leaves. From the affected plants a fungus, identified as Phoma glomerata (CORDA) WOLLENW. et HOCHAPF. (= Peyronellaea glomerata (CORDA) GOIDANICH), has been consistently isolated. Such an isolate has reproduced the syndrome when inoculated on rooted cuttings of the rootstocks V. berlandieri x V. rupestris 140 Ru. and 1103 P., V. riparia MICHAuX x V. berlandieri KOBER 5BB and V. rupestris DU LOT. From the plants with artificial inoculations it was possible to reisolate the same fungus. On such a basis, P. glomerata has to be considered the causal agent of the disease. Infections take place through the wounds made on the young trunks by removing the rootstock spurs from the field-grafted plants.In vitro assays have proved that the isolate of P. glomerata is quite sensitive to the fungicides Captafol, Ziram and Carbendazim.Deperimenti di giovani piante di vite indotti da infezioni di Phoma glomeratasul portinnestoSu giovani piante di vite (Vitis vinifera L.) cv. Italia, innestate in campo sui portinnesti V. berlandieri PLANCHON X V. rupestris SCHEELE 140 Ru., sono stati notati - in un'area viticola della Sicilia - gravi fenomeni di deperimento. Le viti presentavano aree necrotiche sul portinnesto, con conseguente scarsa vegetazione e clorosi progressive delle foglie, a cui seguiva spesso la morte dell'intera pianta. Dalle piante ammalate i;' stato costantemente isolato il fungo Phoma glomerata (CORDA) WOLLENW. et HOCHAPF. (= Peyronellaea glomerata (CORDA) GOIDANICH). L'isolato ha riprodotto la sindrome in seguito ad inoculazione artificiale, su barbatelle dei portinnesti V. berlandieri x V. rupestris 140 Ru. e 1103 P.; V. rupestris DU LOT e V. riparia MICHAUX x V. berlandieri KOBER 5BB. A distanza di tempo è stato possibile reisolare dalle piante con infezione artificiale lo stesso agente patogeno; P. glomerata è pertanto da considerare l'agente del deperimento delle giovani piante di vite. Si è potuto appurrare che l'infezione avviene attraverso la ferita praticata sul tronco per asportare lo sperone del portinnesto.In prove in vitro, P. glomerata è risultato molto sensibile ai fungicidi Captafol, Ziram e Carbendazim

Uraniferous Asphaltine in Moore and Potter Counties, Texas

This report presents data regarding the origin, occurrence, distribution, and relative abundance of uraniferous asphaltite in the Red Cave Formation and "Panhandle lime" from Moore County and portions of Potter County, Texas. It is a brief survey that was based largely upon (1) microscopic examination of drill cuttings stored at the Well Sample and Core Library, University of Texas Balcones Research Center, and (2) megascopic examination of several cores loaned to the Bureau of Economic Geology by the U.S. Bureau of Mines - Branch of Helium Operations, Maynard Oil Company, and Colorado Interstate Gas Company.Bureau of Economic Geolog

mTOR-Inhibition and COVID-19 in Kidney Transplant Recipients: Focus on Pulmonary Fibrosis

Kidney transplant recipients are at high risk of developing severe COVID-19 due to the coexistence of several transplant-related comorbidities (e.g., cardiovascular disease, diabetes) and chronic immunosuppression. As a consequence, a large part of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients have been managed with a reduction of immunosuppression. The mTOR-I, together with antimetabolites, have been often discontinued in order to minimize the risk of pulmonary toxicity and to antagonize pharmacological interaction with antiviral/anti-inflammatory drugs. However, at our opinion, this therapeutic strategy, although justified in kidney transplant recipients with severe COVID-19, should be carefully evaluated in asymptomatic/paucisymptomatic patients in order to avoid the onset of acute allograft rejections, to potentially exploit the mTOR-I antiviral properties, to reduce proliferation of conventional T lymphocytes (which could mitigate the cytokine storm) and to preserve Treg growth/activity which could reduce the risk of progression to severe disease. In this review, we discuss the current literature regarding the therapeutic potential of mTOR-Is in kidney transplant recipients with COVID-19 with a focus on pulmonary fibrosis

A proposito dell\u2019inchiesta della S. Congregazione dell\u2019Indice dei libri proibiti di fine \u2018500

Il paper \u2013 diviso in tre parti \u2013 muove dai risultati della \u201cRicerca sull\u2019inchiesta della Congregazione dell\u2019Indice\u201d che ha preso in esame i codici Vaticani Latini che conservano circa 9500 liste di titoli di libri posseduti dai religiosi italiani alla fine del XVI secolo. Roberto Rusconi sviluppa una panoramica introduttiva sulle biblioteche degli ordini religiosi alla fi ne del Cinquecento. Giovanna Granata sfrutta le molteplici potenzialit\ue0 informative dell\u2019Inchiesta, sia in termini di conoscenza di tali biblioteche, sia rispetto alle modalit\ue0 di circolazione delle diverse edizioni. Rosa Marisa Borraccini prende invece in esame un caso di studio come quello del 'Confessionario' di Girolamo da Palermo per dimostrare l\u2019importanza che un testo oggi quasi del tutto sconosciuto aveva all\u2019epoca della sua produzione. This paper \u2013 divided into three sections \u2013 expands upon the work undertaken in \u201cRicerca sull\u2019inchiesta della Congregazione dell\u2019Indice\u201d, which has examined the Codici Vaticani Latini, a collection which conserves around 9.500 lists of volumes owned by Italian monks and clerics at the end of the sixteenth century. Roberto Rusconi offers an introductory overview of the libraries of religious orders at the end of the sixteenth century. Giovanna Granata analyses the findings of the Inchiesta in terms of actual library holdings and in terms of the circulation of different editions. Rosa Marisa Borraccini examines the case study of the \u201cConfessionario\u201d of Girolamo da Palermo to demonstrate the importance certain texts, although now forgotten and largely ignored, had at the time of their production and circulation

TASTE IV. Refining ephemeris and orbital parameters for HAT-P-20b and WASP-1b

We present four new light curves of transiting exoplanets WASP-1b and HAT-P-20b, observed within the TASTE (The Asiago Search for Transit timing variations of Exoplanets) project. We re-analyzed light curves from the literature in a homogeneous way, calculating a refined ephemeris and orbital-physical parameters for both objects. WASP-1b does not show any significant Transit Timing Variation signal at the 120 s-level. As for HAT-P-20b, we detected a deviation from our re-estimated linear ephemeris that could be ascribed to the presence of a perturber or, more probably, to a previously unnoticed high level of stellar activity. The rotational period of HAT-P-20 A we obtained from archival data (P_rot ~ 14.5 days), combined with its optical variability and strong emission of CaII H&K lines, is consistent with a young stellar age (< 1 Gyr) and support the hypothesis that stellar activity may be responsible of the measured deviations of the transit times.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, 3 tables, accepted to Astronomische Nachrichte

Variable stars in one open cluster within the Kepler/K2-Campaign-5 field: M 67 (NGC 2682)

In this paper we continue the release of high-level data products from the multiyear photometric survey collected at the 67/92 cm Schmidt Telescope in Asiago. The primary goal of the survey is to discover and to characterise variable objects and exoplanetary transits in four fields containing five nearby open clusters spanning a broad range of ages. This second paper releases a photometric catalogue, in five photometric bands, of the Solar-age, Solar-metallicity open cluster M 67 (NGC 2682). Proper motions are derived comparing the positions observed in 2013 at the Asiago's Schmidt Telescope with those extracted from [email protected] MPG/ESO images in 2000. We also analyse the variable sources within M 67. We detected 68 variables, 43 of which are new detection. Variable periods and proper-motion memberships of a large majority of sources in our catalogue are improved with respect to previous releases. The entire catalogue will be available in electronic format. Besides the general interest on an improved catalogue, this work will be particularly useful because of: (1) the imminent release of Kepler/K2 Campaign-5 data of this cluster, for which our catalogue will provide an excellent, high spatial resolution input list, and (2) characterisation of the M 67 stars which are targets of intense HARPS and HARPS-N radial-velocity surveys for planet search.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures (2 at low resolution), 2 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS on October 17, 2015. Electronic materials available at the url http://groups.dfa.unipd.it/ESPG/M67.html , and later on the Journal and at the CD

Study of the Quench Propagation and of the Protection System of the COS-theta NED Dipole Prototype

In this report we present our studies of the propagation of the quench in the NED dipole prototype, to derive a preliminary configuration of the protection system of the magnet (quench protection heaters, dump resistors, etc.). The simulations have been performed by using the code QLASA [1]. In this code, the geometry of the magnet is simplified to a series of solenoidal concentric magnets and the evolution of the quench is calculated with the Wilson's approach [2]. An analogous study has been performed with the CERN code QUABER [3],[4], and the results are discussed in section 3