349 research outputs found

    DEL ESPACIO DESHUMANIZADO AL ESPACIO DE LA MEMORIA: TRAYECTORIAS DE LOS POETAS DEL VEINTISIETE

    Get PDF
    This work was born as an attempt to answer the following questions: what happens to the members of a literary generation when this generation\u2019s time is over? Do they stray on their own personal path or do they maintain some consistent bonds that witness the road they have walked together? In order to answer these questions we analysed some of the works by D\ue1maso Alonso, Vicente Aleixandre and Luis Cernuda, focusing on some key moments of their production, in particular: the phase of the \u201cpoes\ueda pura\u201d, surrealism, exile and memory. This chronological approach allowed us, on one hand, to shed new light on long-acquired critical evaluations \u2013especially regarding the earlier works of these poets\u2013; and, on the other hand, to pinpoint how, despite the distance that grew between some of them in their life experiences, these authors still shared a common sensibility, which led them to develop similar answers to similar problems. This analysis was performed with special attention to the element of space. In fact, since the introduction of the concept of chronotope by Bakhtin, space and time have become useful categories for the analysis of literary works; yet, traditionally, they have been associated most frequently with prose. For this reason, the analysis of the poetical space is a kind of novelty, which provides an exceptional point of observation on texts, offering, with contributions from linguistics and traditional critical studies, new readings of classical works. This way, a correspondence can be established between the changes the concept of space itself experiments in these authors and the evolution of their poetical world. We start from the artificial, claustrophobic space that is typical of the \u201cpoes\ueda pura\u201d, where the young poet keeps a separate stance from the outside world, lingering in his room in strict meditation, only to later assist to its definitive breakthrough, when the chaotic agglomerate of irrational objects floating into nothingness, which is the trademark of the surrealist period, takes over. Afterwards, the painful occurrence of the exile, experienced both inside and outside the Spanish peninsula, contributes in transforming again the concept of space, pointing out a severe division of its physical environment, which is somehow mended by resorting to a partly-metaphysical, partly-psychological reconstruction. The last modification of this poetical chronotope, induced by the increasing proximity of the end of these poets\u2019 lives, is represented by a further dwelling on the idea of limit, both from a temporal and spatial point of view, which puts in peril the same possibility of writing poetry. The risk of this poetical aporia is finally eluded by Aleixandre\u2019s appeal to dialogue, which doubles the space available, allowing a new configuration that comprises, in the counterpoint of two poetical voices, the finite and the infinite aspects of reality. Thanks to this achievement, we can answer affirmatively to our initial question, and thus recognize in Aleixandre the point of equilibrium of this complex triangle of friendship and jealousy, where the emulation and the desire to surpass the other shaped marvellous spaces of poetical beauty

    Laser cleaning of diagnostic mirrors from tungsten-oxygen tokamak-like contaminants

    Get PDF
    This paper presents a laboratory-scale experimental investigation about the laser cleaning of diagnostic first mirrors from tokamak-like contaminants, made of oxidized tungsten compounds with different properties and morphology. The re-deposition of contaminants sputtered from a tokamak first wall onto first mirrors' surfaces could dramatically decrease their reflectivity in an unacceptable way for the proper functioning of plasma diagnostic systems. The laser cleaning technique has been proposed as a solution to tackle this issue. In this work, pulsed laser deposition was exploited to produce rhodium films functional as first mirrors and to deposit onto them contaminants designed to be realistic in reproducing materials expected to be re-deposited on first mirrors in a tokamak environment. The same laser system was also used to perform laser cleaning experiments, exploiting a sample handling procedure that allows one to clean some cm2 in a few minutes. Cleaning effectiveness was evaluated in terms of specular reflectance recovery and mirror surface integrity. The effect of different laser wavelengths (λ= 1064, 266 nm) on the cleaning process was also addressed, as well as the impact of multiple contamination/cleaning cycles on the process outcome. A satisfactory recovery of pristine mirror reflectance (≥90%) was obtained in the vis-NIR spectral range, avoiding at the same time mirror damaging. The results here presented show the potential of the laser cleaning technique as an attractive solution for the cleaning of diagnostic first mirrors

    Laser-driven production with advanced targets of Copper-64 for medical applications

    Get PDF
    Radionuclides are of paramount importance in nuclear medicine both for clinical uses and radiopharmaceutical production. Among the others, nuclides suitable for theranostics like Copper-64 are particularly attractive since they can play both a diagnostic and therapeutic role. In the last years, the growing demand for these nuclides stimulated the research of new solutions, along with cyclotrons already in use, for their production. In this respect, a promising alternative is laser-driven proton accelerators based on the interaction of superintense laser pulses with target materials. Because of their potential compactness and flexibility, they are under investigation for several applications ranging from materials science to nuclear medicine. Moreover, the use of advanced Double-Layer targets (DLTs) was identified as a viable route to increase the number and energy of the accelerated protons to satisfy the requirements of demanding applications. In this contribution, we numerically investigate the use of DLT-based laser-driven sources for Copper-64 production. We show that activities relevant to pre-clinical studies can be achieved with an existing 150 TW laser and DLTs. Moreover, we extend the discussion by considering a broad range of laser systems by exploiting a theoretical model. Our results can guide the choice of laser and target parameters for future experimental investigations

    Ultra-intense laser interaction with nanostructured near-critical plasmas

    Get PDF
    Near-critical plasmas irradiated at ultra-high laser intensities (I > 1018W/cm2) allow to improve the performances of laser-driven particle and radiation sources and to explore scenarios of great astrophysical interest. Near-critical plasmas with controlled properties can be obtained with nanostructured low-density materials. By means of 3D Particle-In-Cell simulations, we investigate how realistic nanostructures influence the interaction of an ultra-intense laser with a plasma having a near-critical average electron density. We find that the presence of a nanostructure strongly reduces the effect of pulse polarization and enhances the energy absorbed by the ion population, while generally leading to a significant decrease of the electron temperature with respect to a homogeneous near-critical plasma. We also observe an effect of the nanostructure morphology. These results are relevant both for a fundamental understanding and for the foreseen applications of laser-plasma interaction in the near-critical regime

    Laser cleaning of diagnostic mirrors from tokamak-like carbon contaminants

    Get PDF
    This paper presents a laboratory-scale experimental investigation of laser cleaning of diagnostic First Mirrors (FMs). Redeposition of contaminants sputtered from tokamak first wall onto FMs surface could dramatically decrease their reflectivity in an unacceptable way for the functioning of the plasma diagnostic systems. Laser cleaning is a promising solution to tackle this issue. In this work, pulsed laser deposition was exploited to produce rhodium films functional as FMs and to deposit onto them carbon contaminants with tailored features, resembling those found in tokamaks. The same laser system was also used to perform laser cleaning experiments by means of a sample handling procedure that allows to clean some cm(2) in few minutes. The cleaning effectiveness was evaluated in terms of specular reflectivity recovery and mirror surface integrity. The effect of different laser wavelengths (lambda = 1064, 266 nm) on the cleaning process is also addressed

    Retroperitoneal pararenal isolated neurofibroma: report of a case and review of literature

    Get PDF
    The neurofibroma is a tumour of neural origin. This kind of neoplasm, though, is generally skin located. Rare cases in deep organs or in the peritoneal cavity are also reported in the literature. There are two types of neurofibromas, localized and diffuse; the latter is associated with von Recklinghausen disease and always occurs together with skin neurofibromas. Here we report the case of a 47-year-old man affected by retroperitoneal neurofibroma, but not associated with von Recklinghausen disease. A computed tomography (CT) scan described a retroperitoneal pararenal lesion with no clear involvement of adjacent viscera. We describe the diagnostic modality, treatment planning and the timing of treatment of this neoplasm, reviewing also the literature

    CD22 expression in b-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Biological significance and implications for inotuzumab therapy in adults

    Get PDF
    CD22 is a surface molecule expressed early during the ontogeny of B cells in the bone marrow and spleen, and can be found on B cells isolated from the different lymphoid compartments in humans. CD22 is expressed by most blasts from the majority (60–90%) of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Current therapies in adults with newly diagnosed B-ALL are associated with complete remission (CR) rates of 50–90%. However, 30–60% of these patients relapse, and only 25–40% achieve disease-free survival of three years or more. Chemotherapy regimens for patients with refractory/relapsed B-ALL are associated with CR rates ranging from 31% to 44%. Novel immune-targeted therapies, such as blinatumomab and inotuzumab (a humanized anti-CD22 monoclonal antibody conjugated to the cytotoxic antibiotic agent calicheamicin), provide potential means of circumventing chemo-refractory B-ALL cells through novel mechanisms of action. Eighty percent of inotuzumab-treated B-ALL patients may achieve a CR state. This review is focused on the biological and clinical activities of CD22 antibodies in BALL, and provides evidence about the potential role played by qualitative and quantitative analysis of the CD22 molecule on individual B-ALL blasts in predicting the depletion of leukemic cells, and, ultimately, leading to better clinical response rates

    In situ cleaning of diagnostic first mirrors: An experimental comparison between plasma and laser cleaning in ITER-relevant conditions

    Get PDF
    This paper presents an experimental comparison between the plasma cleaning and the laser cleaning techniques of diagnostic first mirrors (FMs). The re-deposition of contaminants sputtered from a tokamak first wall onto FMs could dramatically decrease their reflectance in an unacceptable way for the proper functioning of plasma diagnostic systems. Therefore, suitable in situ cleaning solutions will be required to recover the FMs reflectance in ITER. Currently, plasma cleaning and laser cleaning are considered the most promising solutions. In this work, a set of ITER-like rhodium mirrors contaminated with materials tailored to reproduce tokamak redeposits is employed to experimentally compare plasma and laser cleaning against different criteria (reflectance recovery, mirror integrity, time requirement). We show that the two techniques present different complementary features that can be exploited for the cleaning of ITER FMs. In particular, plasma cleaning ensures an excellent reflectance recovery in the case of compact contaminants, while laser cleaning is faster, gentler, and more effective in the case of porous contaminant. In addition, we demonstrate the potential benefits of a synergistic solution which combines plasma and laser cleaning to exploit the best features of each technique
    • …
    corecore