Phononless thermally activated transport through a disordered array of quantum wires

Phononless plasmon assisted transport through a long disordered array of finite length quantum wires is investigated analytically. Two temperature regimes, the low- and the high-temperature ones, with qualitatively different temperature dependencies of thermally activated resistance are identified. The characteristics of plasmon assisted and phonon assisted transport mechanisms are compared. Generically strong electron-electron interaction in quantum wires results in a qualitative change of the temperature dependence of thermally activated resistance in comparison to phonon assisted transport. At high temperatures, the thermally activated resistance is determined by the Luttinger liquid interaction parameter of the wires.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figur

Sexual dysfunction and the Mediterranean diet.

AbstractObjectivesTo discuss present knowledge about the relation between sexual dysfunction, metabolic factors and the Mediterranean-style diet.DesignReview of the literature and personal perspectives.Setting and resultsSexual problems appear to be widespread in society, influenced by both health-related and psychosocial factors, and are associated with impaired quality of life. Epidemiological studies suggest that modifiable health behaviours, including physical activity and leanness, are associated with a reduced risk for erectile dysfunction (ED) among men. Data from other surveys also indicate a higher prevalence of impotence in obese men. Obesity and the metabolic syndrome may be a risk factor for ED. The high prevalence of ED in patients with cardiovascular risk factors suggests that abnormalities of the vasodilator system of penile arteries play an important role in the pathophysiology of ED. We have shown that one-third of obese men with ED can regain their sexual activity after 2 years of adopting health behaviours, including a Mediterranean-style diet associated with regular exercise.ConclusionsWestern societies actually spend a huge part of their health care costs on chronic disease treatment and interventions for risk factors. The adoption of healthy lifestyles can reduce the prevalence of obesity and the metabolic syndrome, and hopefully the burden of sexual dysfunction

La trascendenza etica e il proprium originario: Heidegger e l’orizzonte onto-logico

Using some of Heidegger’s observations against Heidegger himself; bending some components of his thought in order to generate something else and to create a new text which is closely related to the first one but also totally foreign to it; recognising the genius and originality of Heidegger’s philosophy in spite of its un-reflected aspects, which show once more the amount of destruction that that philosophy and its originality intended to cause. What we want to call for in this text is an admission of responsibility which can also remind us of the results of Heidegger’s philosophy, of its premises and of his declared goals, thus letting its hidden and buried ethical issue emerge

Godimento indiretto – primi appunti per una genealogia dell’economico

Starting from a Kantian definition of money, this article will trace some of the stages of a genealogy of economics. In particular, the author attempts to interact some elements of Marxian thought with reflection of Nietzsche on the problem of the debt. The Platonic-Aristotelian reflection on the relationship between exchange and use is the background to all this

Lo spettacolo universale: Marinetti e la politica futurista tra tecnomania e tecnofobia

Aim of this essay is to try, against the background of a reading of the F. T. Marinetti novel “Mafarka il futurista” and of the pamphlet “Democrazia futurista”, a deconstruction of so-called aestheticization of politics (Benjamin) proposed by Marinetti and Futurism, and in particular of the idea of a technocratic government at the helm of the society. All the Marinetti’s deeds confront themselves with an ethic/aesthetic double bind, that cannot be considered as a denial of the techniques, but it is rather an essential reduction of the techniques in the light of their primordial and constitutive genealogical energy

The family business in the luxury and fashion market: an Italian - French market driver

The purpose of this thesis arises from a strong interest in companies operating in the luxury and fashion market and from the prospect that the author will continue his career in this market. Firstly, he analyses and attempts to define the broad topic of Family Businesses (FBs). Furthermore, the main topic is the family business phenomenon in the luxury and fashion context. The luxury-fashion business is very relevant in the global economic context and the FB model appears frequently in luxury-fashion companies; using the 4 Cs Miller and Le Breton-Miller model, he examines the reasons of this relationship. In the following, he describes the luxury and fashion market and the mutation that took place in the last 20 years with the several FBs acquisitions made by French conglomerates, analysing the causes and advantages of those mergers. Finally, he takes a closer look at the evolution of the Italian market, clarifying the difficult question: Why is not there an Italian LVMH/conglomerate despite the large presence of traditional luxury-fashion companies in Italy? One tricky question, two different issues as causes; at the end an additional recent topic that could be further researched in the future: will Italy be a potential main manufacturer for luxury and fashion market

Effect of lifestyle changes on erectile dysfunction in obese men: a randomized controlled trial

Context: Healthy lifestyle factors are associated with maintenance of erectile function in men. Objective: To determine the effect of weight loss and increased physical activity on erectile and endothelial functions in obese men. Design, Setting, and Patients: Randomized, single-blind trial of 110 obese men (body mass index ≥30) aged 35 to 55 years, without diabetes, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia, who had erectile dysfunction that was determined by having a score of 21 or less on the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). The study was conducted from October 2000 to October 2003 at a university hospital in Italy. Interventions: The 55 men randomly assigned to the intervention group received detailed advice about how to achieve a loss of 10% or more in their total body weight by reducing caloric intake and increasing their level of physical activity. Men in the control group (n=55) were given general information about healthy food choices and exercise. Main Outcomes Measures: Erectile function score, levels of cholesterol and tryglycerides, circulating levels of interleukin 6, interleukin 8, and C-reactive protein, and endothelial function as assessed by vascular responses to L-arginine. Results: After 2 years, body mass index decreased more in the intervention group (from a mean [SD] of 36.9 [2.5] to 31.2 [2.1]) than in the control group (from 36.4 [2.3] to 35.7 [2.5]) (P<.001), as did serum concentrations of interleukin 6 (P=.03), and C-reactive protein (P=.02). The mean (SD) level of physical activity increased more in the intervention group (from 48 [10] to 195 [36] min/wk; P<.001) than in the control group (from 51 [9] to 84 [28] min/wk; P<.001). The mean (SD) IIEF score improved in the intervention group (from 13.9 [4.0] to 17 [5]; P<.001), but remained stable in the control group (from 13.5 [4.0] to 13.6 [4.1]; P=.89). Seventeen men in the intervention group and 3 in the control group (P=.001) reported an IIEF score of 22 or higher. In multivariate analyses, changes in body mass index (P=.02), physical activity (P=.02), and C-reactive protein (P=.03) were independently associated with changes in IIEF score. Conclusion: Lifestyle changes are associated with improvement in sexual function in about one third of obese men with erectile dysfunction at baseline

[Review of] Luvenia A. George. Teaching the Music of Six Different Cultures

With the recent appearance of more authentic ethnic music in music curriculum series, as well as the spreading influence of the Orff approach to music education based on indigenous and primitive musics and even the proliferation of commercial music influenced by non-Western styles, the appetite of music teachers has been well-whetted for additional source material on ethnic music. In this revised edition of Luvenia George\u27s 1976 book, we have an extraordinary resource that now makes it inexcusable not to have an enriched music program in our schools