Hidden in Plain Sight: Martial and the Greek Epigrammatic Tradition

Martial, perhaps the best-known author of Latin epigram, has enjoyed a resurgence of scholarly attention over the past two decades, and much has been made of his self-professed debt to earlier Latin epigrammatists, especially Catullus. Less prevalent, however, has been discussion of how he relates to authors of Greek epigram, which may not be surprising given that Martial passes over the Greek epigrammatic tradition in nearly total silence. This dissertation seeks to explain the silence. Through close readings of specific poems by Martial, both in themselves and alongside epigrams by his Greek predecessors, I argue that he has fashioned an intentionally ambivalent attitude toward the Greek tradition. Martial contends with a fundamentally Roman literary condundrum – he must negotiate the inevitable and irreconcilable tension between acknowledging the importance of his Greek predecessors and asserting his own claim to superiority over them. But Martial, I suggest, relishes such tensions, depicting Greece and Greek epigram as inconsistent and even bipolar entities which he can then exploit as sources of humor or self-aggrandizement. I claim that Martial’s suppression of the Greeks is willful; it in part offers a playful challenge to his educated audience to hunt for allusions, and in part contributes to his invention of a purely Roman epigrammatic tradition over which he himself reigns. Martial’s engagement with the Greek tradition spans hundreds of years and several subgenres of Greek epigram, three of which I have examined more or less chronologically in this study. My four chapters offer an overview of Martial’s treatment of Greek language, art, and literature within the Epigrams, and discuss how he interacts with Greek inscribed, erotic, and skoptic epigram. I ultimately reveal how Martial imagines for his audience a bipolar Greek epigrammatic tradition, deftly balancing himself between the two poles: at times he respectfully embraces his participation in the rich and varied history of Greek epigram, and at times he irreverently attempts to invert, subvert, or erase this history altogether, all for the entertainment of his well-educated readers, for whom his engagement with the Greek tradition would no doubt have been hidden in plain sight

Doppler radar investigation of tornadic and lightning producing storms in northeast Colorado

May 1996.Also issued as author's thesis (M.S.) -- Colorado State University, 1996.Includes bibliographical references.Kinematic, microphysical, and electrical characteristics of two multi-cell thunderstorms observed in northeast Colorado were investigated using single- and dual- Doppler radar and cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning data. These particular thunderstorms were chosen because of their generation of weak short-lived tornadoes and CG lightning dominated by positive flashes. Storm data was collected using the multiparameter, CSUCHILL, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Mile High Doppler radars. Various radar analysis methods were employed in an effort to infer origins of rotation, tornado formation mechanisms, and the storm structure responsible for the observed lightning patterns. Single-Doppler techniques included multiparameter measurements, calculations of azimuthal shear, histogram analyses, a study of constant altitude and vertical cross-section data, and an examination of the unedited reflectivity and radial velocity fields. Dual-Doppler data was used to synthesize the three-dimensional wind field. The synoptic, meteorological conditions in which these thunderstorms developed were found to be similar to those referred to as a High Plains "day 2" scenario. In the first case study, a thunderstorm cell initially produced moderate rates of negative CG lightning and then ceased CG activity as the cell underwent rapid intensification. This cell later produced three positive CG flashes upshear of the main reflectivity core and generated a weak tornado (gustnado) along its outflow boundary. Dual-Doppler data revealed intense updrafts in excess of 40 m s·1• The positive flashes and initial generation of the shear-induced vorticity were found to be concurrent with the formation of hail induced downdrafts. An azimuthal shear feature associated with the formation of the gustnado was tracked and no apparent link was found to the mid-level mesocyclone. The thunderstorm of the second case study produced persistent dominant CG flashes of positive polarity. A column of positive differential reflectivity (Zdr) was used to infer the presence of a strong updraft containing supercooled droplets which contributed to the formation of a large ice and hail mass aloft A unique hail curtain extended from this region to the surface, along the edge of the main updraft, producing an intense region of horizontal shear which spawned an observed tornado. The existence of a well organized and intense updraft was believed to be the primary ingredient necessary to produce the observed lightning patterns and weak tornadoes not associated with a midlevel mesocyclone for both case studies

Experimental Study of Spectral Properties of a Frenkel-Kontorova System

We report on microwave emission from linear parallel arrays of underdamped Josephson junctions, which are described by the Frenkel-Kontorova (FK) model. Electromagnetic radiation is detected from the arrays when biased on current singularities (steps) appearing at voltages Vn=Φ0(nc¯/L), where Φ0=2.07×10-15Wb is the magnetic flux quantum, and c¯, L, and n are, respectively, the speed of light in the transmission line embedding the array, L its physical length, and n an integer. The radiation, detected at fundamental frequency c¯/2L when biased on different singularities, indicates shuttling of bunched 2π kinks (magnetic flux quanta). Resonance of flux-quanta motion with the small-amplitude oscillations induced in the arrays gives rise to fine structures in the radiation spectrum, which are interpreted on the basis of the FK model describing the resonance. The impact of our results on design and performances of new digital circuit families is discussed

Hybrid Superconducting Neutron Detectors

A new neutron detection concept is presented that is based on superconductive niobium (Nb) strips coated by a boron (B) layer. The working principle of the detector relies on the nuclear reaction 10B+n $\rightarrow$ $\alpha$+ 7Li , with $\alpha$ and Li ions generating a hot spot on the current-biased Nb strip which in turn induces a superconducting-normal state transition. The latter is recognized as a voltage signal which is the evidence of the incident neutron. The above described detection principle has been experimentally assessed and verified by irradiating the samples with a pulsed neutron beam at the ISIS spallation neutron source (UK). It is found that the boron coated superconducting strips, kept at a temperature T = 8 K and current-biased below the critical current Ic, are driven into the normal state upon thermal neutron irradiation. As a result of the transition, voltage pulses in excess of 40 mV are measured while the bias current can be properly modulated to bring the strip back to the superconducting state, thus resetting the detector. Measurements on the counting rate of the device are presented and the future perspectives leading to neutron detectors with unprecedented spatial resolutions and efficiency are highlighted.Comment: 8 pages 6 figure

Effect of different oleogelators on lipolysis and curcuminoid bioaccessibility upon in vitro digestion of sunflower oil oleogels

Sunflower oil enriched with curcuminoid compounds (CUs) was gelled by adding 5% (w/w) saturated monoglycerides (MG), rice bran waxes (RW) or a mixture of \u3b2-sitosterol and \u3b3-oryzanol (PS). The resulting oleogels differed for rheological properties and firmness due to the difference in gel network structure. PS oleogel was the firmest sample followed by RW and MG ones. Upon in vitro digestion, fatty acid release as a function of digestion time was greatly affected by oleogel structure: the extent of lipolysis decreased as oleogel strength increased (PS < RW < MG). On the other hand, the nature of the oleogelator affected CUs bioaccessibility, which was lower in oleogels containing crystalline particles (MG and RW). These findings appear interesting in the attempt to develop oleogels able to control lipid digestion as well as to deliver bioactive molecules in food systems

Luteal Blood Flow and progesterone concentration during first and second postpartum estrous cycle in lactating dairy cows

The aim of the present study was to determine the differences in corpus luteum (CL) functionality between the first postpartum estrous cycle and the following cycle in lactating dairy cows. Luteal blood flow (LBF), luteal size and blood progesterone (P4) concentration were monitored during the first and second postpartum estrous cycle. During the first and second postpartum estrous cycle, the mean LBF value increased (p &lt; .05) from early to late dioestrus, while it decreased rapidly in proestrus, resulting statistically lower (p &lt; .05) than those registered in all previous phases. Statistically significant differences were not observed between overall LBF during first and second postpartum estrous cycle (p &gt; .05). During the first postpartum estrous cycle, P4 blood concentrations showed a significant reduction (p &lt; .05) from dioestrus to proestrus. A different trend of P4 concentrations was observed during the second postpartum estrous cycle, where mean P4 value registered in proestrus resulted statistically lower than those registered in the previous cycle phases (p &lt; .05). The mean P4 concentration registered over the first postpartum estrous cycle resulted statistically lower (p &lt; .05) than that registered during the second one. A significant correlation between P4 concentrations and LBF was registered only during the second postpartum estrous cycle. Results indicate that during the first postpartum estrous cycle, P4 concentration was independent of luteal blood flow and luteal size

Solid-phase extraction using molecularly imprinted polymer for selective extraction of natural and syntetic estrogens from aqueous samples

A method is proposed for the clean-up and preconcentration of natural and synthetic estrogens from aqueous samples employing molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) as selective sorbent for solid-phase extraction (SPE). The selectivity of the MIP was checked toward several selected natural and synthetic estrogens such as estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (β-E2), 17α-estradiol (α-E2), estriol (E3), 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), dienestrol (DIES) and diethylstilbestrol (DES). Ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to a TSQ triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (QqQ) was used for analysis of target analytes. The chromatographic separation of the selected compounds was performed in less than 2 min under isocratic conditions. The method was applied to the analysis of estrogens in spiked river and tap water samples. High recoveries (>82%) for estrone, 17β-estradiol, 17α-estradiol, estriol and 17α-ethinylestradiol were obtained. Lower but still satisfactory recoveries (>48%) were achieved for dienestrol and diethylstilbestrol. The method was validated and found to be linear in the range 50-500 ng L-1 with correlation coefficients (R2) greater than 0.995 and repeatability relative standard deviation (RSD) below 8% in all cases. For analysis of 100-ml sample, the method detection limits (LOD) ranged from 4.5 to 9.8 ng L-1 and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) from 14.9 to 32.6 ng L-1. To demonstrate the potential of the MIP obtained, a comparison with commercially available C18 SPE was performed. Molecularly imprinted SPE showed higher recoveries than commercially available C18 SPE for most of the compounds. These results showed the suitability of the MIP-SPE method for the selective extraction of a class of structurally related compounds such as natural and synthetic estrogens

Cryopreservation of Preantral Follicles

In mammals, the total number of female germ cells is already established by the time of birth, meaning that no mitosis will take place in oogonias thereafter. Their cryostorage, therefore, depends on ovarian tissue manipulation. As an alternative to mature oocyte cryopreservation, the maintenance of inactive preantral follicles is a remarkable option because (i) their availability in the ovary is greater; (ii) as inactive and small structures, they show less sensitivity to cryoinjury and the toxic effects of cryoprotectants; and (iii) they are present in the gonads at all ages, allowing their retrieval from prepubertal individuals or even immediately postmortem. Nevertheless, some difficulties remain regarding their in vitro activation and development to the ovulatory stage. For this reason, the best option for their total development is transplantation back to the donor or between species, promoting follicle activation and development. This technique has proved its efficiency and led to several live births in both animals and humans. Since each species has its own particularities in terms of ovarian tissue composition, a number of protocols have been documented, which may be used for either isolated or in situ preantral follicles