Does power unify a society?

After an introductory consideration on the specificity of philosophy and social philosophy about the socio-historical world, which can no longer be summarized under the name of “politics”, the essay advances a concept of society not as a unity of individuals, territorially or culturally secluded, but as a network of linguistic games, institutions and differentiated spheres. The result is a concept of power constitutively in the plural, which is thought as primarily organizing and collective. The main question, which is only extrinsically negotiable in terms of justice, results in the problem of how to avoid that a sphere predominates over the remaining ones, thus compressing the contributions, potentialities and inclusive capacity of each one.Tras considerar la especificidad de la filosofía y de la filosofía social con respecto al mundo histórico-social, que ya no se puede definir bajo el término “política”, el artículo propone un concepto de sociedad no como conjunto de individuos desde un punto de vista territorial o cultural, sino como red de juegos, instituciones o ámbitos diferenciados. De ahí procede un concepto de poder constitutivamente al plural, considerado antes que todo como organizante y colectivo. El eje principal –que solo extrínsecamente se puede solucionar en términos de justicia– atañe al problema de cómo evitar que un ámbito subyugue a los demás, llegando a reprimir las contribuciones, las potencialidades y capacidades inclusivas de cada uno de ellos

Perché filosofia sociale? Un approccio pragmatico-linguistico

In questo articolo suggerisco di intendere l’‘umano’ come ‘storico-sociale’, entro cui la relazione e anzi la pluralità e varietà di effettuali e ramificate relazioni, sia temporali sia locali, prevalgono o meglio risultano costitutive rispetto alle entità costituenti o punti di coagulo; anche in forza dello specifico sguardo riflessivo che la filosofia ha saputo aprire. Contro la categoria di ‘soggetto’ e una nozione di società come una e unitaria, la filosofia sociale, linguisticamente improntata, indica che lo ‘storico-sociale’ si riflette nei vari microcosmi delle sue parti componenti, proprio perché i suoi elementi non vengono più pensati come soggetti-individui da coordinare e relazionare in stabili gruppi o comunità, più o meno territorialmente circoscritti. Nell’articolo avanzo così un’idea di ‘sociale’ non come un raggruppamento/unificazione di un certo numero di soggetti, bensì come un network di molteplici e intersecantisi language games (istituzioni e sfere/sistemi), in cui significati e regole condivise si stabilizzano e si rendono rivedibili/correggibili in base alla loro capacità di organizzare e potenziare specifici, funzionanti ed efficaci ambiti di interazione.This article suggests understanding the ‘human’ as ‘historical-social’, within which the relation, and even the plurality and variety of effective and ramified relations, both temporal and local, prevail, or better, turn up to be constitutive of the constituting entities or coagulation points – also on account of the specific reflective gaze philosophy opens up. Against the category of the ‘subject’ and a notion of society as one and unified, social philosophy – a language-based one – indicates that the ‘historical-social’ gets reflected on the various microcosms of its components. This is because its elements are no longer thought of as subjects-individuals who have to be coordinated and put in stable groups or communities, more or less confined to a territory. Indeed, the article puts forward an idea of the ‘social’ not as the grouping/unification of a given number of subjects, but as a network of multiple and intertwined language games (institutions and spheres/systems). In such a network, meanings and rules get stabilized and can be revised/amended on the basis of their own capacity to organize and empower specific, working and effective relational fields

Comparison of measurement methods of the front velocity of small-scale debris flows

Debris flow is a gravity-driven process, which is characterized by a travelling dense surge including large boulders, and it is followed by a more fluid tail. These characteristics make difficult the measurement of the mean flow velocity by means of common hydraulic techniques. Different methods can be used at real scale and small-scale to measure the front velocity but a dedicate comparison between available methods is still lacking. This research aims to compare the front velocity measurements in the transport zone of a miniature debris flow using three devices: i) a common digital video camera (29 frames per second); ii) a high speed thermo camera (60 fps); and iii) a laser photoelectric sensors system. The statistical analysis of data has highlighted no significant differences exist between front velocities obtained by means of the video camera and the thermo camera, whereas photocells data statistically differ from those achieved via the other systems. Some lack of data recorded by photocell was documented, while the thermo camera technique did not show significant loss of information being also helpful to detect the kinematic behaviour of single particles. Finally, the tests confirmed the influence of the solid volumetric concentration in the debris-flow mechanics, which promotes, ceteris paribus, the debris-flow slowing down

Intraspecific trait variation and coordination: Root and leaf economics spectra in coffee across environmental gradients

Hypotheses on the existence of a universal “Root Economics Spectrum” (RES) have received arguably the least attention of all trait spectra, despite the key role root trait variation plays in resource acquisition potential. There is growing interest in quantifying intraspecific trait variation (ITV) in plants, but there are few studies evaluating (i) the existence of an intraspecific RES within a plant species, or (ii) how a RES may be coordinated with other trait spectra within species, such as a leaf economics spectrum (LES). Using Coffea arabica (Rubiaceae) as a model species, we measured seven morphological and chemical traits of intact lateral roots, which were paired with information on four key LES traits. Field collections were completed across four nested levels of biological organization. The intraspecific trait coefficient of variation (cv) ranged from 25 to 87% with root diameter and specific root tip density showing the lowest and highest cv, respectively. Between 27 and 68% of root ITV was explained by site identity alone for five of the seven traits measured. A single principal component explained 56.2% of root trait covariation, with plants falling along a RES from resource acquiring to conserving traits. Multiple factor analysis revealed significant orthogonal relationships between root and leaf spectra. RES traits were strongly orthogonal with respect to LES traits, suggesting these traits vary independently from one another in response to environmental cues. This study provides among the first evidence that plants from the same species differentiate from one another along an intraspecific RES. We find that in one of the world's most widely cultivated crops, an intraspecific RES is orthogonal to an intraspecific LES, indicating that above and belowground responses of plants to managed (or natural) environmental gradients are likely to occur independently from one another. (Résumé d'auteur

Relationships between landscape context and coffee rust (Hemileia vastatrix), coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) and the rootknot nematodes Meloidogyne spp. En Costa Rica

Disease and pest attack intensities are mainly determined at the plot level through interactions between the host, noxious organism, environment and agricultural management (Zadoks and Schein, 1979). However, the immigration of noxious and beneficial organisms from outside may also affect pest and disease incidences at the plot scale. Successful immigration is facilitated in landscapes with greater connectivity between resources patches (Zadoks, 1999). Functional connectivity of landscapes depends on the distribution and density of specific land uses, on how these are perceived (hostile or not) by specific organisms, and on organisms' dispersal ability to move across non-habitat areas. In a given landscape context, higher connectivity is therefore expected for generalist noxious organisms with high dispersal abilities. Here, we study the relationship between coffee pest and disease incidence in coffee farms and landscape context. We hypothesize that greater coffee cover within the local context (<1500 radius) will increase pest and disease incidence whereas greater forest cover will decrease it. We use three focal organisms to test these hypotheses: (1) coffee rust (#Hemileia vastatrix#), (2) coffee berry borer (#Hypothenemus hampei#) and (3) the root-knot nematodes (#Meloidogyne# spp.). These noxious organisms differ by their host specificity and dispersal ability. Coffee rust is coffee specific. Its uredospores are spread by wind over great distances and can even cross oceans (Bowden, 1971). The coffee berry borer is very specific to coffee, however it has been found to reproduce in several plant species (Damon, 2000). The females are able to fly, and probably can be transported by convection winds, over a few hundred meters (Baker, 1984). Root-knot nematodes are able to infect different plant species and, when not dispersed through human activities, can be considered nearly immobile. (Résumé d'auteur

BIOQUÍMICA GENERAL

GUÍA PEDAGÓGIC

New Seismic Attenuation System (SAS) for the Advanced LIGO Configurations (LIGO2)

A new passive seismic attenuation system is being developed to replace the current passive attenuation stacks in LIGO 2, it is expected to drive the seismic contribution to the interferometer noise below any other noise source. The SAS will be effective completely starting at about 5 Hz, well inside the (uncompensated) gravity gradient noise wall

Desenvolvimento humano e educação : Estado, indicadores de qualidade e as políticas educacionais

A perspectiva de melhorar a qualidade da educação apresenta, em âmbito internacional, um relativo consenso em torno do papel das avaliações institucionais. Tais avaliações cumprem os objetivos de identificar o nível de aprendizagem dos alunos, notadamente em língua materna, matemática e ciências, além de servir de referência para ajustes nas políticas educacionais, sobretudo no que concerne ao apoio às escolas e aos professores (BETTENCOURT; MIGUÉNS; RAMALHO, 2010). Destaque-se, dentre as avaliações institucionais, o Programa Internacional de Avaliação de Alunos (PISA) promovido pela Organização para a Cooperação e Desenvolvimento Econômico (OCDE). (Párrafo extraído del texto a modo de resumen)Mesa 37: Sociología política de la educación. Políticas educativas, Gestión institucional y el escenario de la educación como derechoFacultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

TOPOGRAFÍA DIGITAL

GUÍA DE EVALUACIÓN DEL APRENDIZAJ

A Sub-Hertz, Low-Frequency Vibration Isolation Platform

One of the major technical problems deep-space optical communication (DSOC) systems need to solve is the isolation of the optical terminal from vibrations produced by the spacecraft navigational control system and by the moving parts of onboard instruments. Even under these vibration perturbations, the DSOC transceivers (telescopes) need to be pointed l000 fs of times more accurately than an RF communication system (parabolic antennas). Mechanical resonators have been extensively used to provide vibration isolation for groundbased, airborne, and spaceborne payloads. The effectiveness of these isolation systems is determined mainly by the ability of designing a mechanical oscillator with the lowest possible resonant frequency. The Low-Frequency Vibration Isolation Platform (LFVIP), developed during this effort, aims to reduce the resonant frequency of the mechanical oscillators into the sub-Hertz region in order to maximize the passive isolation afforded by the 40 dB/decade roll-off response of the resonator. The LFVIP also provides tip/tilt functionality for acquisition and tracking of a beacon signal. An active control system is used for platform positioning and for dampening of the mechanical oscillator. The basic idea in the design of the isolation platform is to use a passive isolation strut with an approximately equal to 100-mHz resonance frequency. This will extend the isolation range to lower frequencies. The harmonic oscillator is a second-order lowpass filter for mechanical disturbances. The resonance quality depends on the dissipation mechanisms, which are mainly hysteretic because of the low resonant frequency and the absence of any viscous medium. The LFVIP system is configured using the well-established Stewart Platform, which consists of a top platform connected to a base with six extensible struts (see figure). The struts are attached to the base and to the platform via universal joints, which permit the extension and contraction of the struts. The struts ends are connected in pairs to the base and to the platform, forming an octahedron. The six struts provide the vibration isolation due to the properties of mechanical oscillators that behave as second-order lowpass filters for frequencies above the resonance. At high frequency, the ideal second-order low-pass filter response is spoiled by the distributed mass and the internal modes of membrane and of the platform with its payload