Il bisogno dell’origine e l’orrore del mutismo. Alcune note sulla questione dell’origine del linguaggio verbale umano more philosophico

In this essay we analyze more philosophico the impact of the research on the origin of human verbal language. Starting from suggestions deriving from the work of Agamben and Lévi-Strauss, two discontinuists, we face a double contradiction. The first relates to the inability to define the birth date of human language and of human world. This consideration makes us suspect that behind the passion for this issue there is a hidden need. The second concerns the mix of fascinans and tremendum linked to human mutism, which suggests, from the dominator point of view, an attitude to human animalization, and, from the dominated point of view, a form of resistance or survival instinct. Under these lenses we will read the enfant sauvage by Itard and the Foe by Coetzee. Finally we will discuss the issue of the need for origin as modern mankind melancholia and as unresolved tension towards the future

L'orizzonte contemporaneo della fine del mondo. Lineamenti per una dialettica apocalisse/sopravvivenza

The aim of this article is to show how important is the idea of “apocalypse” in the present age and discuss if it is possible to develop any strategies of “survival”. After discussing some elements of de Martino’s thought about the temporal, psychopathological and political meaning of “apocalypse”, we’ll analyze the sense of Lars von Trier’s Melancholia as a symptom of the contemporary situation. After that, we’ll point out the importance of 11/9, the biggest and most shocking event of our time, debating the opinions of Baudrillard and Girard. Both thinkers consider 11/9 a fundamental event in order to understand the meaning of our time, Baudrillard debating the problem of our virtual society and Girard talking about the signs of a next “apocalypse”. Finally, we’ll try to introduce the concept of a “politics of survival”, such as it has been recently discussed by Didi-Huberman in his important book, Survivance des lucioles

Quer pasticciaccio brutto de l'origine del linguaggio umano

There was\ud a\ud time\ud when\ud the\ud study\ud on\ud the\ud origin\ud of\ud human\ud verbal\ud language\ud caused\ud scandals\ud and\ud prohibitions,\ud as\ud in\ud 1866\ud when\ud the\ud Société\ud de\ud Linguistique\ud de\ud Paris\ud forbade\ud to\ud present\ud contributions\ud on\ud this\ud issue.\ud Nowadays,\ud instead,\ud this\ud is\ud one\ud of\ud the\ud more\ud controversial\ud and\ud widely\ud studied\ud topics,\ud as\ud if\ud this\ud question\ud would\ud hide\ud some\ud additional\ud value,\ud something\ud that\ud deals\ud with\ud the\ud deep\ud meaning\ud of\ud mankind\ud and\ud with\ud its\ud place\ud in\ud the\ud world.\ud Thus,\ud since\ud fossils\ud can’t\ud speak,\ud and\ud even\ud the\ud monkeys,\ud which\ud are\ud so\ud close\ud to\ud us,\ud do\ud not\ud seem\ud to\ud have\ud any\ud intention\ud to\ud do\ud it,\ud biologists,\ud neuroscientists,\ud palaeontologists,\ud and\ud philosophers\ud discuss\ud about\ud it

Individuo biologico e personaggio fisiologico: un percorso tra Clau-de Bernard e la letteratura

L'articolo intende analizzare la relazione tra la riflessione del fondatore della clinica moderna Claude Bernard e la letteratura di Émile Zola. Partendo dalla riflessione del medico francese e passando per la “scena” del laboratorio (Bernard, ma anche Charcot) e la costruzione di ciò che può essere definito “personaggio fisiologico”, si cerca di identificare allo stesso tempo la trasformazione nella lettura del (e nello “sguardo” sul) fenomeno umano, avutasi a partire dalla rivoluzione della biologia moderna, e il passaggio determinante per la costruzione del “protagonista” del grande romanzo moderno.The paper aims to analyse the relationship between the thought of the founder of the modern clinic Claude Bernard and the literature of Émile Zola. Starting from the “philosophy” of the French clinician and passing through the “scene” of the laboratory (Bernard, but also Charcot) and the construction of what can be defined as “physiological character”, the paper tries to identify at the same time the transformation in the reading of (and in the “gaze” on) human phenomenon, started from the revolution of modern biology, and the crucial passage for the construction of the “protagonist” of the great modern novel

LA COSTRUZIONE DEL SÉ (E DEL NOI) AI TEMPI DEL DATAISMO

THE CONSTRUCTION OF SELF (AND “US”) IN THE TIME OF DATAISM The essay intends to analyze some elements concerning the crux of the construction of Self (and “Us”) in the age of the so-called Dataism. The analysis moves, first of all, from epistemological considerations, and then goes on issues concerning the crux of identity and subjectivation within the conceptual couple Neoliberalism/Dataism: taking the cue from the observations of Goffman and Foucault, we intend to identify the heart of the problem within the impossibility of a narrative and temporalized construction of Self. The conclusions will attempt critical work around the notion of Populism as a dominant political aspect in the age of Dataism

A retrospective analysis of geriatric trauma patients: venous lactate is a better predictor of mortality than traditional vital signs

BACKGROUND: Traditional vital signs (TVS), including systolic blood pressure (SBP), heart rate (HR) and their composite, the shock index, may be poor prognostic indicators in geriatric trauma patients. The purpose of this study is to determine whether lactate predicts mortality better than TVS. METHODS: We studied a large cohort of trauma patients age ≥ 65 years admitted to a level 1 trauma center from 2009-01-01 - 2011-12-31. We defined abnormal TVS as hypotension (SBP < 90 mm Hg) and/or tachycardia (HR > 120 beats/min), an elevated shock index as HR/SBP ≥ 1, an elevated venous lactate as ≥ 2.5 mM, and occult hypoperfusion as elevated lactate with normal TVS. The association between these variables and in-hospital mortality was compared using Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: There were 1987 geriatric trauma patients included, with an overall mortality of 4.23% and an incidence of occult hypoperfusion of 20.03%. After adjustment for GCS, ISS, and advanced age, venous lactate significantly predicted mortality (OR: 2.62, p < 0.001), whereas abnormal TVS (OR: 1.71, p = 0.21) and SI ≥ 1 (OR: 1.18, p = 0.78) did not. Mortality was significantly greater in patients with occult hypoperfusion compared to patients with no sign of circulatory hemodynamic instability (10.67% versus 3.67%, p < 0.001), which continued after adjustment (OR: 2.12, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that occult hypoperfusion was exceedingly common in geriatric trauma patients, and was associated with a two-fold increased odds of mortality. Venous lactate should be measured for all geriatric trauma patients to improve the identification of hemodynamic instability and optimize resuscitative efforts

Injury severity and serum amyloid A correlate with plasma oxidation-reduction potential in multi-trauma patients: a retrospective analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In critical injury, the occurrence of increased oxidative stress or a reduced antioxidant status has been observed. The purpose of this study was to correlate the degree of oxidative stress, by measuring the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of plasma in the critically injured, with injury severity and serum amyloid A (SAA) levels.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 140 subjects were included in this retrospective study comprising 3 groups: healthy volunteers (N = 21), mild to moderate trauma (ISS < 16, N = 41), and severe trauma (ISS ≥ 16, N = 78). For the trauma groups, plasma was collected on an almost daily basis during the course of hospitalization. ORP analysis was performed using a microelectrode, and ORP maxima were recorded for the trauma groups. SAA, a sensitive marker of inflammation in critical injury, was measured by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>ORP maxima were reached on day 3 (± 0.4 SEM) and day 5 (± 0.5 SEM) for the ISS < 16 and ISS ≥ 16 groups, respectively. ORP maxima were significantly higher in the ISS < 16 (-14.5 mV ± 2.5 SEM) and ISS ≥ 16 groups (-1.1 mV ± 2.3 SEM) compared to controls (-34.2 mV ± 2.6 SEM). Also, ORP maxima were significantly different between the trauma groups. SAA was significantly elevated in the ISS ≥ 16 group on the ORP maxima day compared to controls and the ISS < 16 group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results suggest the presence of an oxidative environment in the plasma of the critically injured as measured by ORP. More importantly, ORP can differentiate the degree of oxidative stress based on the severity of the trauma and degree of inflammation.</p

The impact of changing work schedules on American firefighters’ sleep patterns and well-being

Across the nation, fire departments are adopting the 48/96 work schedule, in which firefighters work 48 consecutive hours with the following 96 hours off. Our study objective was to explain and quantify the impact of switching from the Kelly schedule to the 48/96 schedule by measuring changes in sleep, feelings of daytime function, as well as perceptions of professional and personal well-being for American firefighters. Sleep diaries and self-reported surveys were administered to firefighters at an urban fire department. Sleep diaries measuring the number of hours slept and feelings of refreshment were compared one month before and four months after implementation of the 48/96 schedule. The self-reported surveys measured sleepiness levels via the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Secondary study objectives included changes in professional and personal well-being time for personal schedules, satisfaction, and health habits before and after the 48/96 schedule was implemented. The 59 firefighters included in the study reported an increase in sleep on-shift after the new schedule implementation (5.8 to 6.6 hours/night, p < 0.001). Participants also reported increased feelings of refreshment on days off (p < 0.001) and decreased daytime sleepiness (p < 0.001). We also found a general trend of improved perceptions of satisfaction, less shift interference with personal schedules and decreased feelings of burnout. American firefighters appeared to benefit from a 48/96 schedule, with short-term improvements in sleep patterns, feelings of burnout, and time for personal schedules