Otherness’ in Space and Architecture

This conference proceeding (Sessions on "Otherness in Space and Architecture", International Medieval Conference, Leeds, 2017 and 2018) is a compilation of articles written by both young and senior scholars, who are working on the question of the ‘self’ and the ‘other’ in Christian, Jewish and Islamic cultures. The articles examine how material, ‘oriental’ objects and knowledge originating in non-Western communities helped building and strengthening the identity of Iberia’s, southern France and northern Italian nobility and its lineages. It is shown how, in the perception of Christians, the public image of Jews and Moslems became constructed as that of adversaries, while their cultural knowledge, at the same time, would be integrated into Christian culture in a paradox manner, in which the ‘self’ necessarily depends on the ‘other’ and how visual tensions in art and space have been used as symbols of power

Single-domain versus two-domain configuration in thin ferromagnetic prisms

Thin ferromagnetic elements in the form of rectangular prisms are theoretically investigated in order to study the transition from single-domain to two-domain state, with changing the in-plane aspect ratio p. We address two main questions: first, how general is the transition; second, how the critical value p_c depends on the physical parameters. We use two complementary methods: discrete-lattice calculations and a micromagnetic continuum approach. Ultrathin films do not appear to split in two domains. Instead, thicker films may undergo the above transition. We have used the continuum approach to analyze recent Magnetic Force Microscopy observations in 30 nm-thick patterned Permalloy elements, finding a good agreement for p_c.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figure

Temporal and spatial analysis of the 2014-2015 Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa

West Africa is currently witnessing the most extensive Ebola virus (EBOV) outbreak so far recorded. Until now, there have been 27,013 reported cases and 11,134 deaths. The origin of the virus is thought to have been a zoonotic transmission from a bat to a two-year-old boy in December 2013 (ref. 2). From this index case the virus was spread by human-to-human contact throughout Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. However, the origin of the particular virus in each country and time of transmission is not known and currently relies on epidemiological analysis, which may be unreliable owing to the difficulties of obtaining patient information. Here we trace the genetic evolution of EBOV in the current outbreak that has resulted in multiple lineages. Deep sequencing of 179 patient samples processed by the European Mobile Laboratory, the first diagnostics unit to be deployed to the epicentre of the outbreak in Guinea, reveals an epidemiological and evolutionary history of the epidemic from March 2014 to January 2015. Analysis of EBOV genome evolution has also benefited from a similar sequencing effort of patient samples from Sierra Leone. Our results confirm that the EBOV from Guinea moved into Sierra Leone, most likely in April or early May. The viruses of the Guinea/Sierra Leone lineage mixed around June/July 2014. Viral sequences covering August, September and October 2014 indicate that this lineage evolved independently within Guinea. These data can be used in conjunction with epidemiological information to test retrospectively the effectiveness of control measures, and provides an unprecedented window into the evolution of an ongoing viral haemorrhagic fever outbreak.status: publishe

Aportaciones iconográficas y estéticas de Alberto Durero en el Libro Segundo de Juan de Arfe y Villafañe

El « Libro Segundo » de la De Varia Commensuración para la escultura y la arquitectura (ARFE, 1585) es el primer tratado de anatomía artística. Escrito en castellano, por Juan de Arfe y Villafañe, se divide en cuatro títulos, dedicados a la proporción del cuerpo humano, a los músculos, a los huesos y a los escorzos (CORTÉS, 1994: 97). La proporción de la mujer y de un niño de tres años se incluye al final del capítulo sobre los músculo

Otherness’ in Space and Architecture

This conference proceeding (Sessions on "Otherness in Space and Architecture", International Medieval Conference, Leeds, 2017 and 2018) is a compilation of articles written by both young and senior scholars, who are working on the question of the ‘self’ and the ‘other’ in Christian, Jewish and Islamic cultures. The articles examine how material, ‘oriental’ objects and knowledge originating in non-Western communities helped building and strengthening the identity of Iberia’s, southern France and northern Italian nobility and its lineages. It is shown how, in the perception of Christians, the public image of Jews and Moslems became constructed as that of adversaries, while their cultural knowledge, at the same time, would be integrated into Christian culture in a paradox manner, in which the ‘self’ necessarily depends on the ‘other’ and how visual tensions in art and space have been used as symbols of power

The effects of matrix proteins on the aflatoxinM1 bioacessibility and the Caco-2 intestinal transport

Mycotoxins are fungal natural contaminants commonly found in food products that cause severe effects in human health, especially children. The mycotoxins occur in a great variety of foods, and can form complexes with the food matrix with a significant impact on their bioaccessibility. The bio-accessible fraction of the food contaminant contributes to the effective internal exposure depending on the contamination level, food matrix and the way the food is contaminated (spiked or naturally)1. To our knowledge, until now no studies were performed to disclose the possible role of milk proteins in the bioacessibility of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), a mycotoxin commonly found in milk products. On behalf of a Short Term Scientific Mission within the Infogest COST action and of the project Mycomix (FCT, Portugal), a collaboration study between the National Health Institute Doutor Ricardo Jorge (Portugal) and Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux (Switzerland) was established. The recently submitted harmonized in vitro digestion protocol2 was for the first time applied to study the bioaccessibility of AFM1 in artificially contaminated infant formula and the protein profile of the samples analysed by LC-MS/MS. The results revealed a good performance of the harmonized method, showing a successful digestion of the proteins into smaller peptides. However, the presence of aflatoxin M1 contamination was not detected before and after digestion, suggesting an interaction with the food matrix. Moreover, in the transport assays, the presence of AFM1 did not impair the Caco-2 cells membrane integrity as shown by the Transepithelial Electrical Resistance. Further assays including an optimized AFM1 extraction medthod are in progress to evaluate toxin bioaccessibility and its presence in basolateral, apical cell media and cell cytoplasm.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologi