Narrare e argomentare: percorsi della verità nella Grecia antica

The aim of this paper is to show the difference between narration and argumentation in ancient Greek culture from the point of view of their respective conception of truth. I make reference to Homeric poems and to Gorgias’ Encomium of Helen as examples respectively of narrative and argumentative texts. Both Homer and Gorgias use the word kosmos to make clear their notion of truth. But while in Homer the truth of narration is the result of factual accuracy, by the same word kosmos Gorgias points to the strong connection between truth and logical consistency

La performance retorica: l’Encomio di Elena di Gorgia tra improvvisazione e metalinguaggio

In recent times performance has received considerable attention also in classical scholarship. In this paper I try to show how the use of the category of performance allows us to understand some of the most significant aspects of Gorgias’ Encomium of Helen. In particular, it allows us to clarify the relationship between two seemingly contradictory features of this text: its self-promotional nature and its ability to identify some of the mechanisms of greatest importance (and ambiguity) at the heart of democratic life

La phantasia del sublime: genealogia di una categoria letteraria

L’analisi della parte iniziale del capitolo 15 del trattato anonimo Sul sublime, dedicata alla phantasia, viene svolta allo scopo di mostrare, attraverso gli esempi di Omero e Gorgia, che l’insieme dei problemi teorici sollevati dalla nozione di phantasia ha una storia che precede la comparsa del termine ed attraversa gran parte della riflessione della cultura greca sul linguaggi

Recensioni: La voce delle Sirene. I Greci e l'arte della persuasione

Con periodica regolarità, come è noto, torna a riaccendersi in Italia il dibattito sull'utilità ed il valore della cultura classica oltre che sull'opportunità di mantenere in vita un liceo, quello classico, di cui si è più volte prospettata una sorta di morte naturale1. Pur senza essere mosso dall'esplicita intenzione di prendere posizione in questo dibattito, il libro di Laura Pepe costituisce un'ottima dimostrazione della fecondità, se non della vera e propria necessità, di un dialogo intelligente con il nostro passato2

A GESTÃO ESTRATÉGICA DA COMUNICAÇÃO NO NÚCLEO DE TECNOLOGIAS PARA EDUCAÇÃO-UEMANET

O presente artigo tem como objetivo, estudar o processo de gestão estratégica da comunicação no Núcleo de tecnologias para Educação – UEMANET. A pesquisa utilizou o método do estudo de caso, tendo como técnicas de investigação a pesquisa documental e entrevistas semi estruturadas realizadas com colabodores e alunos dos cursos mediados pela instituição. A base de investigação foi direcionada ao entendimento do Plano de Comunicação, suas ações e ferramentas, bem como os resultados alcançados pelas ações previstas. Conclui-se, com os achados de pesquisa, a existência de um planejamento dinâmico, com perspectivas criativas e inovadoras, porém com necessidades de instrumentos de mensuração mais adequados para avaliação concreta dos resultados obtidos, em termos de impacto das ações junto aos diversos públicos e das mudanças de imagem e da cultura comunicacional da instituição

Functional Characterization of a Novel TP63 Mutation in a Family With Overlapping Features of Rapp-Hodgkin/AEC/ADULT Syndromes

Heterozygous mutations in TP63 cause a wide spectrum of autosomal dominant developmental disorders variably affecting skin, limbs, and face. TP63 encodes p63, a protein expressed in two main isoforms (Tap63 and ΔNp63) with critical roles in both cell differentiation and development. Some analyses suggest a relationship of the mutation site to the observed clinical picture, although this link is inconsistent. This suggests an appreciable phenotypic continuity within the TP63-related disorders. We report a 3-month-old boy ascertained for congenital scalp erosion and mild features of ectodermal dysplasia. His mother showed full-blown characteristics of Rapp-Hodgkin syndrome plus intense abdominal and popliteal freckling. Molecular investigation identified the novel TP63 mutation c.1697delG. We used a luciferase reporter assay to compare the effects on the p63 transactivation (TA) activity of c.1697delG with that of the p.Arg280Cys and p.Gln634X mutations, associated with ectrodactyly-ectodermal dysplasia-cleft lip/palate syndrome and isolated split hand/foot malformation, respectively. These results demonstrated complex behavior of c.1697delG in the TA of genes involved in epidermal differentiation and development and shed further light in the physiopathology of TP63-related disorders. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Pore Formation by Equinatoxin II, a Eukaryotic Protein Toxin, Occurs by Induction of Nonlamellar Lipid Structures

Pore formation in the target cell membranes is a common mechanism used by many toxins in order to kill cells. Among various described mechanisms, a toroidal pore concept was described recently in the course of action of small antimicrobial peptides. Here we provide evidence that such mechanism may be used also by larger toxins. Membrane-destabilizing effects of equinatoxin II, a sea anemone cytolysin, were studied by various biophysical techniques. 31P NMR showed an occurrence of an isotropic component when toxin was added to multilamellar vesicles and heated. This component was not observed with melittin, alpha-staphylococcal toxin, or myoglobin. It does not originate from isolated small lipid structures, since the size of the vesicles after the experiment was similar to the control without toxin. Electron microscopy shows occurrence of a honeycomb structure, previously observed only for some particular lipid mixtures. The analysis of FTIR spectra of the equinatoxin II-lipid complex showed lipid disordering that is consistent with isotropic component observed in NMR. Finally, the cation selectivity of the toxin-induced pores increased in the presence of negatively charged phosphatidic acid, indicating the presence of lipids in the conductive channel. The results are compatible with the toroidal pore concept that might be a general mechanism of pore formation for various membrane-interacting proteins or peptides

Kinesio Taping effects on knee extension force among soccer players

Background : Kinesio Taping (KT) is widely used, however the effects of KT on muscle activation and force are contradictory. Objective: To evaluate the effects of KT on knee extension force in soccer players. Method: This is a clinical trial study design. Thirty-four subjects performed two maximal isometric voluntary contractions of the lower limbs pre, immediately post, and 24 hours after tape application on the lower limbs. Both lower limbs were taped, using K-Tape and 3M Micropore tape randomly on the right and left thighs of the participants. Isometric knee extension force was measured for dominant side using a strain gauge. The following variables were assessed: peak force, time to peak force, rate of force development until peak force, time to peak rate of force development, and 200 ms pulse. Results : There were no statistically significant differences in the variables assessed between KT and Micropore conditions (F=0.645, p=0.666) or among testing sessions (pre, post, and 24h after) (F=0.528, p=0.868), and there was no statistical significance (F=0.271, p=0.986) for interaction between tape conditions and testing session. Conclusion: KT did not affect the force-related measures assessed immediately and 24 hours after the KT application compared with Micropore application, during maximal isometric voluntary knee extension

. Nutritional characteristics and quality of eggs from laying hens fed on a diet supplemented with chestnut tannin extract (Castanea sativa Miller)

1. The trial was performed with 80 laying hens belonging to two Tuscan autochthonous breeds: 40 birds of the Mugellese breed (MU) and 40 of the White Leghorn breed (WL). 2. The animals were allotted to 4 groups of 20 hens each: two groups were fed on a commercial diet and worked as the control groups (MUC and WLC); the other two groups received the same diet, integrated with 2 g of chestnut tannin extract per kg of diet (MUT and WLT). 3. A sample of 70 eggs were randomly collected and analysed for cholesterol content, fatty acid profile, weight, thickness of shell and colour of yolk. 4. Physical parameters, including yolk colour, and indices of egg quality were not affected by the treatments. 5. The concentration of unsaturated fatty acids increased whereas cholesterol was significantly decreased: -17% in WLT and -9% in MUT. Dietary supplementation with chestnut tannin extract resulted in a modification of lipid composition, toward a more healthy quality of eggs