264 research outputs found
LâEcloga II. La vita silenziosa di Andrea Zanzotto
The «Ecloga II. The silent life» is included in one of the most influential books of poetry of the late italian twentieth century, «IX Ecloghe»(1962) by Andrea Zanzotto (1921-2011). This work is very important because it announces one of the masterpieces of contemporary Italian poetry, «La Beltà », published by Zanzotto in 1968, but also for the great artistic value of many poems that includes. The article analyzes in detail the text of «Ecloga II» and proposes an interpretation substantially different from those now prevalent. Close examination of the poem shows that the expression of the title (âsilent lifeâ) has a meaning very articulate and ambivalent axiology. This interpretation considers the most reliable studies on Zanzotto and «IX Ecloghe» and emphasizes the importance (for the Venetian poet between the Fifties and Sixties) of phenomenological existentialist thought. In particular, it is assumed that the poet alludes to an idea of silence (and "silent life") that may be related to some theoretical clarifications of «Phenomenology of Perception» by Merleau-Ponty (but not only). This interpretation differs from the hermeneutics of silence generally offered by the most accredited critics of Zanzotto (from Agosti to Dal Bianco, until the recent book by Luigi Tassoni). Zanzotto believes the âsilenceâ is not only a subjective and objective experience as opposed to the noise (verbal and non-verbal), but it is essentially an ontological dimension connected to give âmuteâ of Nature and Being ("Physics" and Ontology in the work of the author are closely linked). A dimension pre-linguistic but saturated of Sense, the expression of which is not attributable only to a particular rhetorical (reticence, blank, breaks, etc.) but involves the origin of the transaction poetic. The article also proposes some ideas for a possible re-consideration of the overall character of the different stages of production poetic of Zanzotto, from «Dietro il paesaggio» (1951) to «Conglomerati» (2009)
A synoptic characterization of the dust transport and associated thermal anomalies in the Mediterranean basin
PresentaciĂłn realizada para las XXXII Jornadas CientĂficas de la AsociaciĂłn MeteorolĂłgica Española y 13Âș Encuentro Hispano-Luso de MeteorologĂa celebrados en Alcobendas (Madrid), del 28 al 30 de mayo de 2012
Recent climatological trend of the Saharan heat low and its impact on the West African climate
The Saharan heat low (SHL) plays a pivotal role in the West African monsoon system in spring and summer. The recent trend in SHL activity has been analysed using two sets of numerical weather prediction (NWP) model reanalyses and Atmospheric Models Intercomparison Project simulations from 15 climate models performed in the framework of the 5th Coupled Models Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) exercise. A local increase of temperature in the Sahara during the 90s is found in the two sets of NWP models temperature. This increase is stronger within the SHL region than over the surrounding areas. Using different temporal filters (under 25 days, 25â100 days and above 300 days), we show that this is accompanied by a slight but widespread increase of temperature, and a change in the filtered signal under 25 days during the transition period of the 90s. We also show that SHL pulsations occurring at different time scales impact the West Africa climate on a variety of spatial scales, from the regional scale (for the high band pass) to the synoptic scale (for the low band pass signal). Despite a large variability in the temporal trends for 15 climate models from the CMIP5 project, the warming trend in the 90s is observed in the models ensemble mean. Nevertheless, large discrepancies are found between the NWP models reanalyses and the climate model simulations regarding the spatial and temporal evolutions of the SHL as well as its impact on West African climate at the different time scales. These comparisons also reveal that climate models represent the West African monsoon interactions with SHL pulsations quite differently. We provide recommendations to use some of them depending on the time scales of the processes at play (synoptic, seasonal, interannual) and based on key SHL metrics (location, mean intensity, global trend, interaction with the West African monsoon dynamics).JRC.H.7-Climate Risk Managemen
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The fast response of Sahel precipitation to climate change allows effective mitigation action
Climate change will drive major perturbations of the West African summer monsoon. A zonal contrast in precipitation will develop at the end of the century, with an increase in precipitation over the central Sahel and a decrease in precipitation over the western Sahel. Such a zonal contrast results from the antagonist effects of the fast (due to enhanced radiative warming over land, and over the North Hemisphere, relative to the South Hemisphere) and slow (associated with long-term changes in oceanic circulation) responses of precipitation to increasing greenhouse gases. While such changes have already been assessed, less attention has been given to their temporality, an issue of major importance to promote efficient mitigation and adaptation measures. Here, we analyse the future evolution of precipitation changes decomposed into a fast and a slow response, showing that the fast response dominates the slow one. From this evidence, we highlight that mitigation strategies may be successful at reducing the effect of climate change on Sahel precipitation within a few decades, by muting the fast response. This decomposition also allows for a better understanding of the uncertainty of climate model predictions in Africa
Simplified assessment of seismic performance for RC building classes towards preliminary applications of SISMABONUS incentive at the community scale
This paper applies a simplified approach for the attribution of seismic risk classes SRC to infilled reinforced concrete RC archetype buildings representative of existing gravity load designed GLD building typologies in Italy and investigates on the effect of possible local retrofit interventions to reduce SRC. The evaluation is based on simplified modeling of lateral seismic behavior and on the estimate of the peak ground acceleration PGA corresponding to attainment of building capacity at increasing damage limit states. The SRC is attributed as the minimum between two classes, depending on safety level (percentage of new building standard %NBS) and on expected annual loss EAL. It is shown that, due to brittle failures induced by local infill-frame interaction and consequent low seismic capacity at life safety limit state, the lower (worst) SRC is generally attained for the considered building typologies, independently from the seismic hazard at the site. The application of local retrofit interventions allows ameliorating the SRC and it is found that the most probable SRC for retrofitted building typology depends on the seismic hazard at the sitelower SRC are obtained for zones of higher hazard. Application to RC building typologies in the town of Pompei, near Naples, and cost benefit analysis CBA is performed to investigate on the convenience of alternative retrofit strategies towards risk reduction at the community level
Cannabinoid receptor 2 signaling in neurodegenerative disorders: From pathogenesis to a promising therapeutic target
As a consequence of an increasingly aging population, the number of people affected by neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease, is rapidly increasing. Although the etiology of these diseases has not been completely defined, common molecular mechanisms including neuroinflammation, excitotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction have been confirmed and can be targeted therapeutically. Moreover, recent studies have shown that endogenous cannabinoid signaling plays a number of modulatory roles throughout the central nervous system (CNS), including the neuroinflammation and neurogenesis. In particular, the up-regulation of type-2 cannabinoid (CB2) receptors has been found in a number of neurodegenerative disorders. Thus, the modulation of CB2 receptor signaling may represent a promising therapeutic target with minimal psychotropic effects that can be used to modulate endocannabinoid-based therapeutic approaches and to reduce neuronal degeneration. For these reasons this review will focus on the CB2 receptor as a promising pharmacological target in a number of neurodegenerative diseases
Use of Flaming to Control Weeds in âPatriotâ Hybrid Bermudagrass
Flaming could be an alternative to the use of chemical herbicides for
controlling weeds in turfgrass. In fact, the European Union has stipulated that
chemical herbicides should be minimized or prohibited in public parks and gardens,
sports and recreational areas, school gardens, and childrenâs playgrounds. The aim
of this research was to test different doses of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to find
the optimal flaming dose that keeps a âPatriotâ hybrid bermudagrass (Cynodon
dactylon · Cynodon transvaalensis) turf free of weeds during spring green-up, but
also avoids damaging the grass. Five LPG doses (0, 29, 48, 71, and 100 kghaâ1)
were applied in a broadcast manner over the turf experimental units using a selfpropelled
flaming machine. This equipment is commercially available and usable by
turfgrass managers. Treatments were applied three times during the spring to allow
the maximum removal of weeds from the turfgrass. Data on weed coverage, density,
biomass, and turfgrass green-up were collected and analyzed. Results showed that 3
weeks after the last flaming, the greatest LPG doses used (i.e., 71 and 100 kghaâ1)
ensured the least amount of weeds (range, 5â16 weeds/m2) of low weight (range, 7â
60 gmâ2) and a low weed cover percentage (range, 1% to 5%), whereas the green
turfgrass coverage was high (range, 82% to 94%). At the end of the experiment, the
main weed species were horseweed (Conyza canadensis), field bindweed (Convolvulus
arvensis), narrow-leaved aster (Aster squamatus), and black medic (Medicago
lupulina). Flame weed control is a promising technique to conduct weed control in
turfgrass. Further studies could be conducted to investigate the use of flaming in
other species of warm-season turfgrasses
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Magnetobiostratigraphy of the Spathian to Anisian (Lower to Middle Triassic) Kçira section, Albania
Magnetobiostratigraphic data are presented from three Early/Middle Triassic Han-Bulog Limestone successions from Kçira, northern Albania. A total of 206 standard palaeomagnetic samples were obtained for thermal demagnetization and statisticalanalysis from the 42, 10 and 5m thick sections. The reversal-bearing characteristic component, carried by haematite and magnetite, defines a composite sequence of six main polarity intervals (Kçln to Kç3r) in which are embedded four short polarity intervals, one at the base of Kçln and three towards the top of Kçlr. The early acquisition of the characteristic remanence is supported by the lateral correlation of magnetozones between sections. The Early/Middle Triassic boundary, approximated by the first occurrence of the conodont Chiosella timorensis, falls close to the Kçlr/Kç2n polarity transition. This is in good agreement with recently published magnetobiostratigraphic data from the coeval Chios (Greece) sections. The palaeomagnetic pole calculated from the Kçira characteristic directions lies close to the Triassic portion of the apparent polar wander path for Laurussia (in European coordinates). However, a 40-45" clockwise rotation of the external zone of the Albano-Hellenic Belt to the south of the Scutari-Pec Line is thought to have occurred since the Early-Middle Miocene. The Kçira pole acquires a West Gondwana affinity when restored for the Neogene clockwise rotation. If the clockwise rotation was entirely related to Neogene tectonics, the Kçira area was evidently associated with West Gondwana and located at 12-16"N of the western Tethys margin
Towards a better definition of the Middle Triassic magnetostratigraphy and biostratigraphy in the Tethyan realm
Magnetostratigraphic and biostratigraphic data for the Middle Triassic (Anisian) were obtained from the Han-Bulog facies in the Nderlysaj section from the Albanian Alps and the Dont and Bivera formations in the DontâMonte Rite composite section from the Dolomites region of northern Italy. The Nderlysaj section is biochronologically bracketed between the late Bithynian and early Illyrian substages (i.e., late-early and early-late Anisian), whereas the DontâMonte Rite section comprises the late Pelsonian and the early Illyrian substages. The data from Nderlysaj and DontâMonte Rite, in conjunction with already published data, allow us to construct a nearly complete composite geomagnetic polarity sequence tied to Tethyan ammonoid and conodont biostratigraphy from the late Olenekian (late-Early Triassic) to the late Ladinian (late-Middle Triassic). New conodont data require revision of the published age of the Vlichos section (Greece)
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