Una Lampada nella notte [:] L'Ars inventiva per triginta statuas di Giordano Bruno

The subject of this thesis, i.e. Giordano Bruno's treatise, known as 'Lampas triginta statuarum', is a text that remained inedited for a long time and was published only in 1891 by Felice Tocco and Girolamo Vitelli in Opera latine conscripta third volume. This philosophic work was written by Bruno during his stay in Wittemberg (1586-88) when he, working as a teacher in Wittemberg Academy, lectured on Aristotle's Organon. During those years he wrote and sent to press other two 'Lampadi' behind this: De Lampade combinatoria Lulliana (a Lullo's Ars Magna comment) and De progressu et Lampade venatoria logicorum (Topici compendium). With Lampas triginta statuarum, that completes the Thrilogy, he intended to improve traditional logical instruments, those derived from Aristotelian and "Porphirian" tradition as well as those derived from Lullian tradition. This treatise was conveyed in its first redaction by Augsburn Codex (A), together with printed test of De Lampade combinatoria Lulliana and with the manuscript Animadversiones circa Lampadem Lullianam, written using the same paper and the same ink already used for the Lampas by a unknown copyist, who was a German Bruno's student. Codex A, preserved in Augsburn Bibliothec, probably belongs to Heinrich Heinzel to whom Bruno dedicated last published work, De imaginum, signorum, et idearum compositione (Francoforte, 1591), that, although written later, can be for many aspects related to Lampas. Having left Wittemberg in 1588, and living in Helmsted (1589 - 90), Bruno devoted himself to the composition of some texts (De magia e Theses de magia, De rerum principiis et elementis et causis, Medicina Lulliana, De magia Mathematica), that remained unedited and were collected in Moscow Codex (M) together with a second manuscript of Lampas triginta statuarum and with De Vinculis in genere. Moscow Codex, also named Norov Codex from the Russian nobleman Avraam Sergeevic Norov that acquired it for his collection from the bookseller Edwin Tross, contains some autograph pages, but it's mostly written by Hyeronimus Besler. In the autumn 1591, while Bruno was living in Padua, Besler transcribed De Vinculis, drafted in Frankfurt, and copied the treatise 'ars inventiva per triginta statuas'. In this work the philosopher leaves the harsh tone used to polemize with his contemporary followers of Aristotle's philosophy, to open to a dialog and a tight mach with the tradition, in particular with the Aristotelian-scholastic one, through a deep analysis of thirty concepts used in philosophic practice, represented by thirty powerful mythologic figures. From this point of view, the treatise is structured like a dictionary of philosophic terms (Bruno appears to be inspired by Aristotle's Metafisica V book.) and also shows some affinity with another text, that was composed some time later in Zurich and that remained unedited (this text was published as a posthumus work by Bruno's student Raphael Egli in two following editions, the first one in 1595 and the second in 1609 comprehensive of the section Praxis descensus seu applicatio entis): it's the Summa terminorum metaphysicorum, a "philosophic nomenclature treatise" as defined by Erminio Troilo) in which fifty two conceptual categories belonging to Aristotelian scholastic lexicom are deeply analysed. In Centum et viginti articuli de natura et mundo adversus Peripateticos (the programmatic phamplet dealing with Cambrai disputation that took place in Paris in 1586), also taken up in Acrotismus (edited in Praga in 1588), the criticism of the natural Aristotle's philosophy is developed through theses regarding some fundamental concepts such as nature, movement, time, place...and so on. In Lampas Bruno goes on in this re-definition of philosophic terms, already started in De la causa, principio et uno: he translates his revolutionary philosophic conceptions into tradition lexicon and in doing this he moulds the meanings and transforms them, joining them in a new plot. In "thirdy statues treatise" the philosopher seems to be moved by a strong systematic intent: that is by the need to proceed in a rigorous and scientific way in the exposition of the foundation of the 'nova filosofia'. Knowledge architecture, within which speculative contents are placed is an imaginary museum filled with statues/concepts: Apollo (unitas), Saturn (principium), Prometheus (agens), Vulcan (forma), Thetis (causa materialis), Sagittarius (causa finalis) and Mount Olympus (finis)...and so on. In moulding the statues, taking from the wide mithology catalogue Bruno uses the "Fidia's seal" (Explicatio triginta sigillorum), as Frances Amelia Yates first guessed (The Art of Memory, 1966). In this thesis my intent is to focus on Bruno's ars memoriae original characters as well as on the forms in which "seals art" is used in Lampas, developing F.A. Yates's insight. One of the most fundamental figure appears to be Prometheus, the imagination architect, the sculptor that first moulded clay statues breathing into them the spiritus. In Bruno's texts, specifically in Lampas and De Imaginum Prometheus became the archetype of the imagination activity, the symbol of the memory artist's praxis. A special emphasis is given to the analysis of the ways used by Bruno to compose the images (consisting in very detailed verbal descriptions) through the research of both literary and iconologic sources (from Boccaccio to Ovidio to the Renaissance mythographers Vincenzo Cartari e Natale Conti). Bruno's work is deeply permeated and inspirited by a didactic intent that is here mostly considered: i.e. the figuration of the most abstract concepts by means of sensitive statues, that appear to sight and mind exploration. The treatise 'ars inventiva per triginta statuas' intends to be mainly a new modus docendi a way of "thinking through images" that is in the same time a way of "thinking through concepts". The "discursiva architectura", hosting the statues must not be considered static or motionless, like physical buildings: in fact the statues can be moved and joined together in many different ways, depending on everybody's own ingenium. Bruno's images are imagini agentes, in other words they have a special effectiveness from the emotional point of view, having the ability to activate cognitive processes. Bruno's opera distinctive features, Lamp structure and functioning, characters and purposes of Bruno's complex logical linguistic system are gradually outlined in this thesis, through text analysis and sources examination. The first chapter presents the great framework inclosing statues gallery: two infigurabilia triads that together represent Bruno's architecture fundamentals and metaphysical basis for ars inventiva that is here applied. In the second chapter "statues and trees" you are introduced to Bruno's use of "statua" mnemonic artifice. By means of the first sequence of statues (Apollo, Saturn, Prometheus, Vulcan, Thetis, Sagittarius and Mount Olympus), it's explained the whole process in natural and human creation. The lexical reference plot is reviewed, with specific consideration to Aristotle's Metafisica fifth Book. "Tree" image in Bruno's texts and "tree" use in the section dedicated to the logic in Lampas treatise is examined for what concerns its relations with both Lullo's and Aristotelian scholastic tradition. Creative activity is represented by Prometheus, the sculptor of alive statues, the creator of natural and artificial things. In the third chapter "Prometheus myth in Lampas triginta statuarum", a deep analysis is carried on about the Statue dedicate by Bruno to Titan, with the purpose to highlight its special relevance in the complete framework. In the two statues dedicated to Minerva (De campo Minervae, seu de noticia e De schala Minervae, seu de habitibus cognitionis) Bruno doesn't provide any goddess image. To Minerva's portrait, outlined by Bruno in Oratio Valedictoria is dedicated the last section (Minerva in light shadow). In Lampas treatise Bruno puts into practice his art of memory, deeply rooted in the living art of nature and represents a new "methodus", suitable for human mind's cognitive structures. The relation among art of memory, theory of knowledge and doctrine of soul is a complex problem of which I pointed out the most important aspects and that in my opinion and in my wishes would be worth further analysing. Beside the figure of the ingenious architect and of the cultivator of imagination "campus", it comes out in my work the image of the other Bruno, the "philosopher", the systematic and rigorous thinker and the fine connoisseur of Aristotelian doctrines, although by himself severely criticized

La polizia penitenziaria: condizioni lavorative e salute organizzativa negli istituti penitenziari del Veneto

but also to many other people involved in this social context, the tools to understand and interpret the prison world, a worldthat is very complex and various. By this research we wanted to study the organizational health of the prison officers whowork in the nine Veneto’s prison using the Multidimensional Organizational Health Questionnaire (MOHQ) (416 respondents).The results of this study highlighted how the category of the prison, together with some other variables such as therank of the officers, their role in the institute, the length of their service and the typology of their working hour, can influencetheir working conditions.n Italia la scarsa presenza di studi relativi al contesto penitenziario ed in particolar modo agli operatori di polizia penitenziariarappresenta un aspetto problematico che può precludere ai ricercatori, ma non solo, gli strumenti adatti per comprendere edinterpretare un mondo tanto complesso e variegato quale il carcere. Con questo studio si è voluto indagare la salute organizzativadel personale di polizia penitenziaria che lavora presso i nove istituti di pena del Veneto attraverso l’utilizzo delQuestionario Multidimensionale della Salute Organizzativa (MOHQ) (416 rispondenti). I risultati raccolti dipingono unpanorama molto differenziato, dove la tipologia d’istituto assieme ad altre variabili, quali la qualifica, il ruolo ricoperto nell’istituto,gli anni di servizio e la tipologia d’orario lavorativo, vanno ad influire sulle condizioni lavorative

Increased expression of autophagy-related genes in Alzheimer's Disease-Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus comorbidity models in cells

The association between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been extensively demonstrated, but despite this, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying it are still unknown. In previous work, we discovered a central role for the autophagy pathway in the common alterations observed between AD and T2DM. In this study, we further investigate the role of genes belonging to this pathway, measuring their mRNA expression and protein levels in 3xTg-AD transgenic mice, an animal model of AD. Moreover, primary mouse cortical neurons derived from this model and the human H4Swe cell line were used as cellular models of insulin resistance in AD brains. Hippocampal mRNA expression showed significantly different levels for Atg16L1, Atg16L2, GabarapL1, GabarapL2, and Sqstm1 genes at different ages of 3xTg-AD mice. Significantly elevated expression of Atg16L1, Atg16L2, and GabarapL1 was also observed in H4Swe cell cultures, in the presence of insulin resistance. Gene expression analysis confirmed that Atg16L1 was significantly increased in cultures from transgenic mice when insulin resistance was induced. Taken together, these results emphasise the association of the autophagy pathway in AD-T2DM co-morbidity, providing new evidence about the pathophysiology of both diseases and their mutual interaction

Hidden Comorbidities in Asthma: A Perspective for a Personalized Approach

: Bronchial asthma is the most frequent inflammatory non-communicable condition affecting the airways worldwide. It is commonly associated with concomitant conditions, which substantially contribute to its burden, whether they involve the lung or other districts. The present review aims at providing an overview of the recent acquisitions in terms of asthma concomitant systemic conditions, besides the commonly known respiratory comorbidities. The most recent research has highlighted a number of pathobiological interactions between asthma and other organs in the view of a shared immunological background underling different diseases. A bi-univocal relationship between asthma and common conditions, including cardiovascular, metabolic or neurodegenerative diseases, as well as rare disorders such as sickle cell disease, α1-Antitrypsin deficiency and immunologic conditions with hyper-eosinophilia, should be considered and explored, in terms of diagnostic work-up and long-term assessment of asthma patients. The relevance of that acquisition is of utmost importance in the management of asthma patients and paves the way to a new approach in the light of a personalized medicine perspective, besides targeted therapies

Blood smear, a key diagnostic tool in hematology: Lessons from two cases of acute hemolysis in previously undiagnosed g6pd deficiency

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common worldwide distributed hereditary red cells enzymatic defect. The most common life-threatening clinical presentation of G6PD deficiency is acute hemolytic crisis triggered by exposition to oxidative agents such as fava beans, drugs, or infections. Management of acute hemolytic crisis in patients with no previous history of hereditary red cell disorders is particularly challenging for hematologists and emergency department (ED) physicians. We report two cases of acute hemolytic crisis in patients with previously unknown G6PD deficiency, where blood smear analysis played a key role in decision-making process. The trigger of acute hemolytic crisis was in both cases the recent intake of large amount of fava beans. Although Case 1 typically involved a male subject with unknown G6PD deficiency, Case 2 is of particular interest since the patient is a female with previously unknown G6PD deficiency. A recent study highlights the possible appearance of clinical signs for G6PD deficiency with aging in elder female population. Thus, hematologists should always take into account the possible lyonization effect on G6PD activity for G6PD deficiency inherited red cell disorder in the presence of unexplained acute hemolytic crisis in women with circulating hemi-ghosts

Risk of Getting COVID-19 in People With Multiple Sclerosis

Background and Objectives Several studies have assessed risk factors associated with the severity of COVID-19 outcomes in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). The potential role of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) and demographic and clinical factors on the risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection has not been evaluated so far. The objective of this study was to assess risk factors of contracting SARS-CoV-2 infection in PwMS by using data collected in the Italian MS Register (IMSR). Methods Acase-control (1:2) studywas set up. Cases included PwMSwith a confirmed diagnosis ofCOVID-19, and controls included PwMS without a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. Both groups were propensity score–matched by the date of COVID-19 diagnosis, the date of last visit, and the region of residence. No healthy controls were included in this study. COVID-19 risk was estimated by multivariable logistic regression models including demographic and clinical covariates. The impact of DMTs was assessed in 3 independent logistic regression models including one of the following covariates: last administeredDMT, previousDMTsequences, or the place where the last treatment was administered. Results A total of 779 PwMS with confirmed COVID-19 (cases) were matched to 1,558 PwMS without COVID-19 (controls). In all 3 models, comorbidities, female sex, and a younger age were significantly associated (p < 0.02)with a higher risk of contractingCOVID-19. Patients receiving natalizumab as last DMT(OR[95%CI]: 2.38 [1.66–3.42], p < 0.0001) and those who underwent an escalation treatment strategy (1.57 [1.16–2.13], p = 0.003) were at significantly higher COVID-19 risk. Moreover, PwMS receiving their last DMT requiring hospital access (1.65 [1.34–2.04], p < 0.0001) showed a significant higher risk than those taking self-administered DMTs at home. Discussion This case-control study embedded in the IMSR showed that PwMS at higher COVID-19 risk are younger, more frequently female individuals, and with comorbidities. Long-lasting escalation approach and last therapies that expose patients to the hospital environment seem to significantly increase the risk of SARS-CoV2 infection in PwMS. Classification of Evidence This study provides Class III evidence that among patients with MS, younger age, being female individuals, having more comorbidities, receiving natalizumab, undergoing an escalating treatment strategy, or receiving treatment at a hospital were associated with being infected with COVID-19. Among patients with MS who were infected with COVID-19, a severe course was associated with increasing age and having a progressive form of MS, whereas not being on treatment or receiving an interferon beta agent was protective

The Psychological Science Accelerator: Advancing Psychology Through a Distributed Collaborative Network

Source at https://doi.org/10.1177/2515245918797607.Concerns about the veracity of psychological research have been growing. Many findings in psychological science are based on studies with insufficient statistical power and nonrepresentative samples, or may otherwise be limited to specific, ungeneralizable settings or populations. Crowdsourced research, a type of large-scale collaboration in which one or more research projects are conducted across multiple lab sites, offers a pragmatic solution to these and other current methodological challenges. The Psychological Science Accelerator (PSA) is a distributed network of laboratories designed to enable and support crowdsourced research projects. These projects can focus on novel research questions or replicate prior research in large, diverse samples. The PSA’s mission is to accelerate the accumulation of reliable and generalizable evidence in psychological science. Here, we describe the background, structure, principles, procedures, benefits, and challenges of the PSA. In contrast to other crowdsourced research networks, the PSA is ongoing (as opposed to time limited), efficient (in that structures and principles are reused for different projects), decentralized, diverse (in both subjects and researchers), and inclusive (of proposals, contributions, and other relevant input from anyone inside or outside the network). The PSA and other approaches to crowdsourced psychological science will advance understanding of mental processes and behaviors by enabling rigorous research and systematic examination of its generalizability

Lopinavir/Ritonavir and Darunavir/Cobicistat in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: Findings From the Multicenter Italian CORIST Study

Background: Protease inhibitors have been considered as possible therapeutic agents for COVID-19 patients. Objectives: To describe the association between lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) or darunavir/cobicistat (DRV/c) use and in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients. Study Design: Multicenter observational study of COVID-19 patients admitted in 33 Italian hospitals. Medications, preexisting conditions, clinical measures, and outcomes were extracted from medical records. Patients were retrospectively divided in three groups, according to use of LPV/r, DRV/c or none of them. Primary outcome in a time-to event analysis was death. We used Cox proportional-hazards models with inverse probability of treatment weighting by multinomial propensity scores. Results: Out of 3,451 patients, 33.3% LPV/r and 13.9% received DRV/c. Patients receiving LPV/r or DRV/c were more likely younger, men, had higher C-reactive protein levels while less likely had hypertension, cardiovascular, pulmonary or kidney disease. After adjustment for propensity scores, LPV/r use was not associated with mortality (HR = 0.94, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.13), whereas treatment with DRV/c was associated with a higher death risk (HR = 1.89, 1.53 to 2.34, E-value = 2.43). This increased risk was more marked in women, in elderly, in patients with higher severity of COVID-19 and in patients receiving other COVID-19 drugs. Conclusions: In a large cohort of Italian patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in a real-life setting, the use of LPV/r treatment did not change death rate, while DRV/c was associated with increased mortality. Within the limits of an observational study, these data do not support the use of LPV/r or DRV/c in COVID-19 patients

Disease-Modifying Therapies and Coronavirus Disease 2019 Severity in Multiple Sclerosis

Objective: This study was undertaken to assess the impact of immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory therapies on the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Methods: We retrospectively collected data of PwMS with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. All the patients had complete follow-up to death or recovery. Severe COVID-19 was defined by a 3-level variable: mild disease not requiring hospitalization versus pneumonia or hospitalization versus intensive care unit (ICU) admission or death. We evaluated baseline characteristics and MS therapies associated with severe COVID-19 by multivariate and propensity score (PS)-weighted ordinal logistic models. Sensitivity analyses were run to confirm the results. Results: Of 844 PwMS with suspected (n = 565) or confirmed (n = 279) COVID-19, 13 (1.54%) died; 11 of them were in a progressive MS phase, and 8 were without any therapy. Thirty-eight (4.5%) were admitted to an ICU; 99 (11.7%) had radiologically documented pneumonia; 96 (11.4%) were hospitalized. After adjusting for region, age, sex, progressive MS course, Expanded Disability Status Scale, disease duration, body mass index, comorbidities, and recent methylprednisolone use, therapy with an anti-CD20 agent (ocrelizumab or rituximab) was significantly associated (odds ratio [OR] = 2.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18-4.74, p = 0.015) with increased risk of severe COVID-19. Recent use (<1 month) of methylprednisolone was also associated with a worse outcome (OR = 5.24, 95% CI = 2.20-12.53, p = 0.001). Results were confirmed by the PS-weighted analysis and by all the sensitivity analyses. Interpretation: This study showed an acceptable level of safety of therapies with a broad array of mechanisms of action. However, some specific elements of risk emerged. These will need to be considered while the COVID-19 pandemic persists