Movements full of energy or indistinct scamper of insects? Images of knights in Italian culture from futurism to post-World War II

This article looks at images of cavalrymen and knights in twentiethcentury Italian culture from Futurism to post-WWII culture. It looks at how men on horseback were represented in paintings, literature, art and literary criticism, and cartoons from 1915 to 1966, while they were losing their importance in military strategy and warfare. Considering both written and visual images as means to rewrite the past, the article aims to reflect upon the links between imagery, cultural tradition, history and ideology: as a powerful icon, the image of men on horseback functions as a key to follow and understand the political and cultural developments of fifty crucial years of Italian history

Literary Cultures in/and Italian Studies

The article opens by considering how contemporary Italian Studies scholarship is situated in relation to the long-standing dominance of literary culture as a major disciplinary concern, and the persistence of traditionally conceived canons, questions, and methods. The authors discuss how the scope of literary research has expanded in recent years and become more enmeshed with sociological, political, and ideological enquiry. They review how previous definitions of literary cultures and practices have been refreshed with new theoretical and interdisciplinary approaches, and through transnational dialogues and collaborative modes of research. A diachronic survey discusses key innovations both in the study of canonical or ‘high culture’ literary phenomena – such as Dante, Leopardi, or Futurism –, and in engagements with previously overlooked writing in popular genres or media, or by socially marginalised authors. It concludes by reflecting on how literary studies is both critiqued and defended within current debates over the standing of humanities research within and beyond the academy

Inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling hampers the vasopressin-dependent stimulation of myogenic differentiation

Arginine-vasopressin (AVP) promotes muscle differentiation, hypertrophy, and regeneration through the combined activation of the calcineurin and Calcium/Calmodulin-dependent Protein Kinase (CaMK) pathways. The AVP system is impaired in several neuromuscular diseases, suggesting that AVP may act as a physiological factor in skeletal muscle. Since the Phosphoinositide 3-kinases/Protein Kinase B/mammalian Target Of Rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) signaling plays a significant role in regulating muscle mass, we evaluated its role in the AVP myogenic effect. In L6 cells AKT1 expression was knocked down, and the AVP-dependent expression of mTOR and Forkhead box O3 (FoxO) was analyzed by Western blotting. The effect of the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 was evaluated by cellular and molecular techniques. Akt knockdown hampered the AVP-dependent mTOR expression while increased the levels of FoxO transcription factor. LY294002 treatment inhibited the AVP-dependent expression of Myocyte Enhancer Factor-2 (MEF2) and myogenin and prevented the nuclear translocation of MEF2. LY294002 also repressed the AVP-dependent nuclear export of histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) interfering with the formation of multifactorial complexes on the myogenin promoter. We demonstrate that the PI3K/Akt pathway is essential for the full myogenic effect of AVP and that, by targeting this pathway, one may highlight novel strategies to counteract muscle wasting in aging or neuromuscular disorders

Effective interactions between parallel-spin electrons in two-dimensional jellium approaching the magnetic phase transition

We evaluate the effective interactions in a fluid of electrons moving in a plane, on the approach to the quantum phase transition from the paramagnetic to the fully spin-polarized phase that has been reported from Quantum Monte Carlo runs. We use the approach of Kukkonen and Overhauser to treat exchange and correlations under close constraints imposed by sum rules. We show that, as the paramagnetic fluid approaches the phase transition, the effective interactions at low momenta develop an attractive region between parallel-spin electrons and a corresponding repulsive region for antiparallel-spin electron pairs. A connection with the Hubbard model is made and used to estimate the magnetic energy gap and hence the temperature at which the phase transition may become observable with varying electron density in a semiconductor quantum well.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure

The role of digital technologies for the LCA empowerment towards circular economy goals: a scenario analysis for the agri-food system

Purpose This paper aims to develop a scenario analysis on the experts' perceptions of benefits and barriers related to adopting digital technologies for the life cycle assessment (LCA) to catalyse a circular economy transition in the agri-food system. Methods A literature review was performed to identify LCA's digital technologies that can be implemented within the agri-food system. Furthermore, an in-depth interview with a panel of senior researchers was conducted to establish a set of items and assess the perceived benefits and barriers associated with an "empowered LCA", i.e. a future-oriented LCA based on digital technologies. To this end, a two-stage exploratory factor analysis relying on the principal component analysis technique was carried out to refine the set of items. Finally, a covariance-based structural equation model was performed, built on a confirmatory factor analysis, to test the measurement model. Results and discussion The study's findings provide five constructs to explore the potential benefits and barriers related to adopting a digital technologies-based LCA (empowered LCA) for a circular economy transition in the agri-food system. More specifically, the benefits can be assessed using the following constructs: "benefits for the data collection and analysis", "benefits for the LCA analysts", "benefits for the management" and "benefits for traceability". In addition, the barriers have been evaluated using a single construct labelled "general barriers". Conclusions The study highlights the relevance of digital technologies for a circular economy transition to develop a more reliable LCA, enhancing legislative compliance and supporting the traceability processes in the agri-food system. The associated implications for LCA experts, agri-food managers and policymakers are presented. Furthermore, limitations and future research directions are also discussed

Evaluation of the angiotensin II receptor blocker azilsartan medoxomil in African-American patients with hypertension

The efficacy and safety of azilsartan medoxomil (AZL-M) were evaluated in African-American patients with hypertension in a 6-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, for which the primary end point was change from baseline in 24-hour mean systolic blood pressure (BP). There were 413 patients, with a mean age of 52years, 57% women, and baseline 24-hour BP of 146/91mmHg. Treatment differences in 24-hour systolic BP between AZL-M 40mg and placebo (-5.0mmHg; 95% confidence interval, -8.0 to -2.0) and AZL-M 80mg and placebo (-7.8mmHg; 95% confidence interval, -10.7 to -4.9) were significant (P.001 vs placebo for both comparisons). Changes in the clinic BPs were similar to the ambulatory BP results. Incidence rates of adverse events were comparable among the treatment groups, including those of a serious nature. In African-American patients with hypertension, AZL-M significantly reduced ambulatory and clinic BPs in a dose-dependent manner and was well tolerated

Soil contribution on the structural identification of a historical masonry bell-tower: simplified vs advanced numerical models

In the last decade, structural identification techniques through dynamic in situ tests have been widely used to investigate the global dynamic behavior of ordinary buildings and built cultural heritage. The choice of proper boundary conditions at the base of the structure, however, is still a critical point in the development of sound numerical models able to reproduce building dynamic response reliably. The contribution of the foundation soil should be ascertained and, if necessary, properly modelled. The paper tries to shed light on the issue of soil-structure-interaction on the structural identification of masonry towers, with reference to the case study of the bell tower of Santa Sofia Church in Benevento (Italy). The experimental results of the dynamic identification, i.e. frequencies and modal shapes, have been interpreted and employed to calibrate both simplified and advanced numerical models of the soil-foundation-tower system. In the first case, soil compliance is represented by a set of springs attached at the base of the tower, which has been modelled as a 1D system. In the second case, a 3D finite element model comprehensive of the tower, the soil and the foundation structure has been developed. Pros and cons of the two numerical approaches on the structural identification process are highlighted and discussed.The authors thank Prof. Maria Rosaria Pecce for her precious support and suggestions. This research activity was carried out within the framework of the PON Research and Innovation 2014–2020, Axis I-Investments in Human Capital, MIUR notice AIM-“International Attraction and Mobility”- Line 1, Project: AIM 1823125-3 – Cultural Heritage. Part of the work has been developed in the framework of the 2019-2021 Reluis-DPC research program funded by the Italian Civil Protection Department, as a contribution to the geotechnical Work Package Soil-Foundation-Structure Interaction (Task 16.3)