De Dante a Homero, de Gravina a Vico

Se sigue muy de cerca el proceso de búsqueda de semejanzas y diferencias entre Homero y Dante, como creadores de lenguas y de modelos de conducta, tema que preocupó a Vico en varias ocasiones y para cuyo desarrollo se inspiró fundamentalmente en las ideas de Gravina al respecto.One very follows close by the process search of similarities and differences between Homero and Dante, like creators of languages and models of conduct, subject that worried to Vico in several occasions and for whose development was inspired fundamentally by the ideas of Gravina on the matter

Vico y la naturaleza de las religiones de las naciones

Se muestran los elementos que pueden llevar a mantener abierta la indagación y el debate sobre la religiosidad de Vico y sus relaciones con las cuatro religiones (gentil-pagana, judaica, cristiana, musulmana).Here are offered the elements which might bring to an open investigation and discussion about Vico’s religiosity and his relation with the four religions (Paganism, Judaism, Christianity, and Muslim)

Fabula narratur

Traducción del italiano por José M. Sevilla FernándezEl Autor rememora su acercamiento a los textos de Vico y su relación con ellos; y la influencia que sobre su lectura de los clásicos han ejercido sus maestros, en especial Nicola Badaloni. Este profesor vinculó al Autor a una edición de las Obras filosóficas y jurídicas de Vico; y más tarde contribuyó en el proyecto de la edición crítica nacional de las Obras, promovido por el “Centro di Studi Vichiani”. El Autor, que ha dedicado conocidos ensayos y estudios a Vico y a Spinoza, destaca su preferencia por el autor holandés.The Author recalls the way he approached and became acquainted with the texts of Vico, and the influence that his teachers exercised over him while reading the classics, especially Nicola Badaloni. This professor involved the Author in the edition of the philosophical and legal works of Vico; and later, to the project of the national critical edition of his Works, promoted by the “Centro di Studi Vichiani”. The Author, who has dedicated well-known essays and studies to Vico and Spinoza, highlights his preference for the Dutch author.L’Autore intende in questa sede ripercorrere il suo approccio e la sua relazione con i testi di Vico, nonché l’influenza che i suoi maestri hanno esercitato sulla lettura dei classici, in particolare Nicola Badaloni. Questo professore coinvolse l’Autore in un’edizione delle opere filosofiche e giuridiche di Vico e, successivamente, contribuì al progetto dell’edizione critica nazionale delle Opere promossa dal “Centro di Studi Vichiani”. L’Autore, che ha dedicato ben noti saggi e studi a Vico e a Spinoza, mette in luce la sua preferenza per l’autore olandese

Spinoza, l’individuo e la concordia

Concord may be recognised in the relationship between individuals living under the guide of reason; however it must be planned within society intended as a whole. Spinoza investigates this asymmetry: although society is a fundamental need and, for any rational human being, the best form of common living is the one lead by reason, the vast majority (multitudo) does not live under the guide of reason, but rather under the guide of passions. Those interpretations that attribute to the so called multitudo some form of spontaneous self-organised democratic wisdom, capable of ensuring a positive future, are to be considered mystical. The appendix to part IV of Spinoza’s Ethics clearly demonstrates that concord is possible only within the relationship between single individuals, and that therefore man’s task is to educate others to reason. Concord, as freedom, is considered a “private” virtue not in a egoistical or possessive sense, but because only singles can achieve it and transmit it to others, whereas it can not raise spontaneously from some sort of collective individuality

Biofabrication of Electrospun Scaffolds for the Regeneration of Tendons and Ligaments

Tendon and ligament tissue regeneration and replacement are complex since scaffolds need to guarantee an adequate hierarchical structured morphology, and non-linear mechanical properties. Moreover, to guide the cells\u2019 proliferation and tissue re-growth, scaffolds must provide a fibrous texture mimicking the typical of the arrangement of the collagen in the extracellular matrix of these tissues. Among the different techniques to produce scaffolds, electrospinning is one of the most promising, thanks to its ability to produce fibers of nanometric size. This manuscript aims to provide an overview to researchers approaching the field of repair and regeneration of tendons and ligaments. To clarify the general requirements of electrospun scaffolds, the first part of this manuscript presents a general overview concerning tendons\u2019 and ligaments\u2019 structure and mechanical properties. The different types of polymers, blends and particles most frequently used for tendon and ligament tissue engineering are summarized. Furthermore, the focus of the review is on describing the different possible electrospinning setups and processes to obtain different nanofibrous structures, such as mats, bundles, yarns and more complex hierarchical assemblies. Finally, an overview concerning how these technologies are exploited to produce electrospun scaffolds for tendon and ligament tissue applications is reported together with the main findings and outcomes

Evidence of a structural anomaly at 14 K in polymerised CsC60

We report the results of a high-resolution synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction study of polymerised CsC$_{60}$ in the temperature range 4 to 40 K. Its crystal structure is monoclinic (space group I2/m), isostructural with RbC$_{60}$. Below 14 K, a spontaneous thermal contraction is observed along both the polymer chain axis, $a$ and the interchain separation along [111], $d_1$. This structural anomaly could trigger the occurrence of the spin-singlet ground state, observed by NMR at the same temperature.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, submitte

A LIBERDADE NA FORMAÇÃO CURRICULAR DO ESTUDANTE DE GRADUAÇÃO

Este trabalho tem por objetivo verificar o grau de liberdade na formação acadêmica dos estudantes de graduação da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. A pesquisa caracteriza-se como um estudo de caso e a coleta de dados será por meio de identificação do número de disciplinas optativas que cada curso oferece na UFSC. Será analisada a estrutura curricular de cada curso de graduação da UFSC verificando qual a quantidade de horas/aulas de disciplinas optativas que o estudante poderá realizar. Para tanto, será utilizado o sítio eletrônico da UFSC. Estas quantidades serão ordenadas por curso e será verificado onde o grau de liberdade é maior, intermediário e menor. A pesquisa caracteriza-se como exploratória e descritiva. Foi feito um primeiro levantamento e descobriu-se que as disciplinas optativas, caracterizadas aqui de “liberdade condicionada” e “liberdade plena”, estão ainda muito aquém do limite de 20% da carga horária mínima do curso fixada pelo Conselho Nacional de Educação - CNE que permite a livre escolha ao estudante. A Universidade realmente restringe, impondo o limite de 20% de liberdade de escolha, mas, mesmo assim, a maioria dos cursos não o utiliza. A proposta da LDB de maior liberdade de escolha, permitindo um melhor aproveitamento dos inúmeros espaços acadêmicos ociosos que a universidade tem geralmente em grande quantidade, onde o estudante poderia participar de programas que interessasse para seus estudos e projetos. Nesse sentido, uma maior liberdade de escolha poderia gerar muitos resultados positivos, tanto do ponto de vista quantitativo quanto qualitativo, porque abrangeria mais estudantes com os mesmos recursos, já instalados e disponíveis

The use of digital image correlation in the biomechanical area: a review

This paper offers an overview of the potentialities and limitations of digital image correlation (DIC) as a technique for measuring displacements and strain in biomechanical applications. This review is mainly intended for biomechanists who are not yet familiar with DIC. This review includes over 150 papers and covers different dimensional scales, from the microscopic level (tissue level) up to macroscopic one (organ level). As DIC involves a high degree of computation, and of operator- dependent decisions, reliability of displacement and strain measurements by means of DIC cannot be taken for granted. Methodological problems and existing solutions are summarized and compared, whilst open issues are addressed. Topics addressed include: preparation methods for the speckle pattern on different tissues; software settings; systematic and random error associated with DIC measurement. Applications to hard and soft tissues at different dimensional scales are described and analyzed in terms of strengths and limitations. The potentialities and limitations of DIC are highlighted, also in comparison with other experimental techniques (strain gauges, other optical techniques, digital volume correlation) and numerical methods (finite element analysis), where synergies and complementarities are discussed. In order to provide an overview accessible to different scientists working in the field of biomechanics, this paper intentionally does not report details of the algorithms and codes used in the different studies

A multi-stage model for dielectric barrier discharge in atmospheric pressure air

In this paper, a multi-stage numerical methodology for the description of the Dielectric Barrier Discharge physics in air is discussed. The behavior of the heavy species is computed using drift-diffusion equations. Electrons are taken into account by solving a non-linear formulation of electrostatics. The physical effects of the steamer discharges are modelled by means of a simplified 0D approach. The model also includes a semi-implicit 0D model for the assessment of the elementary chemical processes occurring in air. The developed methodology is employed for the simulation of a volumetric Dielectric Barrier Discharge reactor. The obtained species number density and surface charge deposition rates and are shown and discussed

Equilibrium and out-of-equilibrium dynamics in a molecular layer of azopolymer floating on water studied by Interfacial Shear Rheology

We report the details of the construction and calibration of an ultra sensitive surface rheometer, inspired by the setup described in [C.F. Brooks et al Langmuir 15, 2450 (1999)], which makes use of high resolution video tracking of the motion of a floating magnetized needle and is capable of measuring the viscoelastic response of a Langmuir monolayer with an accuracy of 10^-5 N/m. This instrument is then employed for the rheological characterization of a Langmuir monolayer of a photosensitive azobenzene polymer, which can be brought out of equilibrium by a suitable photoperturbation. The complex dynamic shear modulus G= G' + i G" is measured as a function of temperature and illumination power and wavelength. The reversible rheological ch anges induced in the film by photo-perturbation are monitored during time, observing a transition from a predominantly elastic (G' > G'') to a viscoelastic (G' \approx G'') regime. These results are confirmed by comparison with independent measurements performed by us using other rheological techniques. Finally a discussion is made, taking into account the results of a recent x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy experiment on the same polymer in equilibrium and out of equilibrium.Comment: Proceedings of the International Discussion Meeting on Relaxation in Complex Systems, Rome, 2009 12 pages, 7 figure