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This dissertation explores the use and dissemination of Aristotelian political theory in Italian literature from the late medieval period, when the first fragments of Aristotle’s political thought appeared in the West, to the sixteenth century, when vernacular Aristotelian literature flourished. I show how late medieval and Renaissance authors employed Aristotle’s Politics in various ways, according to their political background and allegiances, their approach to the text and their intended audience. I also demonstrate how, reciprocally, the vocabulary and classifications in the Politics shaped their understanding of their own political context. The thesis is divided into six chapters. The first chapter offers an overview, for comparative purposes, of the Latin and Greek reception of the Politics in Western Europe. The remaining chapters proceed chronologically. Chapter Two explores the place of the Politics in Italian vernacular literature of the late thirteenth and the fourteenth centuries. Chapter Three does the same for the fifteenth century, as well as considering the impact of Neo-Platonism and the ‘questione della lingua’on vernacular political Aristotelianism. The three remaining chapters cover the sixteenth century. Chapter Four concerns Antonio Brucioli, who composed a series of Aristotelian political dialogues in the 1520s and in 1547 produced the first vernacular translation of the Politics. The subject of Chapter Five is Bernardo Segni, whose translation of the Politics, accompanied by the first full vernacular commentary, was published in 1549. Chapter Six deals with a representative selection of the wide-ranging vernacular material written on the Politics in the second half of the sixteenth century. The dissertation concludes with an evaluation of the changing uses of the Politics in Italy from the late thirteenth century to the end of the sixteenth, examining the different ways in which the treatise served as a key to understanding politics and political reality.

This thesis explores various redefinitions of the notions of tradition and modernity in the Italian critical debates of the 1920s. In the years immediately following the war and throughout the 1920s the problem of the redefinition of the concepts of tradition and modernity appears to acquire preeminence within the critical debates. In the general atmosphere of the post-war 'return to order' and with a widespread feeling that the end of the war coincides with the beginning of a new epoch, many artists and intellectuals feel the necessity of redefining the terms of critical judgement in relation to the changed cultural circumstances. In this context, the definition of modernity is gradually deprived of its associations with the concepts of 'the new' and progress and becomes strictly interrelated with the notion of a return to tradition, interpreted as the continuation of the dialogue with the past, which was interrupted by pre-war avant-garde artistic and literary excesses. Particular emphasis is placed on the varying politicization of these concepts and their redefinition in terms of nationalism and internationalism. The complexities, contradictions and ambiguities created by such redefinitions are explored through the analysis of the periodicals Valori Plastici, La Ronda, Critica Fascista, Il Selvaggio, 900, Il Baretti and Solaria, and of the critical work of Eugenio Montale, Ardengo Soffici and Luigi Pirandello, three very important figures, who are significant participants in 1920s debates and have a prominent role in shaping the culture of the decade. The notion of debate, within which the analysis of the concepts of tradition and modernity is inscribed, is broadly interpreted, taking into account the milieu of the cultura militante during the inter-war period. The issues treated are problematized in the light of present-day scholarly debates, with a view to repositioning the material analysed and furthering such debates.

This is a study of the Italian Black Bands, one of the most famous units of mercenary infantry of the sixteenth century, and of their relationships with their employer, the Florentine republic, from the death of their founder and first commander Giovanni de'Medici (1498-1526) to their disbandment after the surrender of the army of the League of Cognac, of which they were part, at Aversa, near Naples, on 30 August 1528. In order to establish an adequate framework, the figure and the myth of Giovanni de'Medici - in memory of whom his men wore permanently the black bands of mourning - are examined at the beginning of the dissertation, and his role and place in the tactical and administrative developments that characterised the end of the Italian Wars reassessed. Particular attention has been paid to the analysis of the peculiarities of the Italian infantry at the end of the Italian Wars, such as its reliance on arquebuses rather than pikes and its specialization in assault and skirmish instead of shock tactics, and to the problems that these peculiarities created for states like Florence, which sought, unsuccessfully, to invert the pike-to-shot ratio and to transform the Black Bands from an expeditionary force into a defensive militia. Eventually, the last part of this thesis has been dedicated to the siege laid by the army of the League to Naples in 1528, one of the most important and less studied sieges of the sixteenth century, whose dramatic outcome shattered the residual hopes of the pro-French party after the battle of Pavia (1525) and made possible the establishment of Imperial hegemony in the greater part of the Italian peninsula. With this dissertation I have tried to outline the changes that the organization and command of large bodies of mercenary infantry brought about not only in Florentine military and foreign policy, but, more generally, in Italian military entrepreneurship, and to explain how these latter changes contributed to the general European trend that brought about the birth of the Tercios and other regimental structures.

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This thesis focusses on three compilations, extant in three manuscripts ―Florence, Biblioteca Riccardiana, MS 92; Milan, Venerabile Biblioteca Ambrosiana, MS F 19 sup.; Vatican City, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, MS Borgianus graecus 22― These three manuscripts were produced by one of the most important representatives of the Italian Renaissance: Marsilio Ficino (1433-1499). The Florentine scholar was largely responsible for the revival of Platonism in Western Europe during the Renaissance and beyond. MS Ricc. 92 contains an anthology of Greek and Latin texts on the theme of love, which Ficino presumably compiled with a view to writing his commentary on Plato’s Symposium. MS Ambr. F 19 sup. is a collection of excerpts from Plato, Plotinus and Proclus on the theme of the soul, which Ficino produced before starting writing his major philosophical work: the Platonic Theology. Finally, MS Borg. Gr. 22 was likely used by Ficino as a textual basis for his translation of Dionysius the Areopagite’s De divinis nominibus. These three notebooks have been hitherto largely ignored or only partially studied by modern scholars. Through a contextualized analysis of these manuscripts, this work aims to give insight into Ficino’s reading practices and methodology, and show that they are crucial to reconstruct his scholarly activity. By using an interdisciplinary approach, it will provide a more nuanced view and more exhaustive reconstruction of the ways in which Ficino actually read, selected and used ancient and medieval authors and also of the ways in which he quoted, codified their doctrines and appropriated them in his own work. More broadly, it will offer insight into Renaissance reading practices and some important aspects of Early Modern culture.

Cette recherche porte sur les enfants de la rue à Kinshasa. Nous avons choisi d’étudier les rapports des enfants des rues aux institutions d’accueil à travers leurs pratiques d’entrées et de sorties de ces institutions. Une première phase de terrain a été menée à Kinshasa au sein de quatre institutions d’accueil, nous avons observé les pratiques de ces quatre institutions et interrogé des jeunes ayant recours à ces va-et-vient. Dans un second temps, le terrain a porté sur l’une de ces institutions. Deux notions ont constitué l’axe central de cette observation participante : celle de la reconnaissance et celle de l’autonomisation. En invitant les enfants à construire les conduites, les pratiques, et les stratégies qui leur paraissent les mieux adaptées à leurs besoins, l’institution intègre ces deux dimensions dans les modalités de réinsertion sociale qu’elle propose. Les pratiques de responsabilités partagées, telles que la prise en charge des plus jeunes par les plus âgés, la participation des enfants à l’élaboration du règlement intérieur, illustrent la mise en œuvre de cette orientation de l’institution. Toutefois, certains enfants considèrent que l’institution ne leur accorde pas suffisamment d’autonomie, ni de reconnaissance. Certains leaders dans la rue ne sont pas reconnus comme tels. Des décisions sont imposées aux enfants, sans les consulter et sans tenir compte de leur expérience. Certains enfants se détournent alors de l’institution pour retourner dans la rue. Cette recherche montre que les attentes de certains enfants insuffisamment prises en compte sont une des causes de leur insatisfaction qui conduit à leur mobilité. / This study deals with street children in Kinshasa. It focuses on the relationship between street children and host institutions, especially as children get in and out of these shelters. Fieldwork was initially carried out in Kinshasa within four host institutions, with a particular emphasis on observation and interviews of young people who use them on a regular basis. One particular institution was then selected for an in-depth observation. Two concepts informed this participant observation: recognition and empowerment. By inviting young people to develop behaviors, practices, and strategies that best fit their needs and benefit them, the host institution integrates the two aforementioned concepts in the way it socially rehabilitates these children. In addition, the institution further enforces its principles through shared responsibilities when, for instance, older children mentor younger ones and participate in establishing the institution’s internal rules. Yet, some children believe that the institution does not empower them enough or provide them with enough recognition. Some « streets leaders » feel they are not given proper recognition. Decisions are made without consulting them or soliciting their street experience. When that happens, some children withdraw from the institution to resume life on the street. Therefore, the aim of this study is to show that when children’s expectations are not sufficiently taken into consideration, there is likely to be a higher level of dissatisfaction and low retention rates.

FundaÃÃo Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnolÃgico / As quinonas sÃo metabÃlitos de ampla distribuiÃÃo na natureza que possuem diversas atividades farmacolÃgicas de importÃncia clÃnica. A naftoquinona α-lapachona demonstrou potencial como protÃtipo para o desenvolvimento de substÃncias com propriedades anticÃncer, como relatado pelo nosso grupo de pesquisa, em que o seu derivado tetrahidropirano (THP) apresentou citotoxicidade e seletividade significante contra a linhagem de melanoma MDA-MB-435. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o mecanismo de aÃÃo envolvido na citotoxicidade da α-lapachona e derivado THP em cÃlulas de melanoma MDA-MB-435. Inicialmente, avaliou-se a citotoxicidade da alfa-lapachona e derivado THP em 8 linhagens tumorais de mama e melanoma, atravÃs do ensaio do MTT, mostrando CI50 de 1,37 e 8,18 ÂM, respectivamente, apÃs 72 horas de incubaÃÃo. A seletividade do derivado THP no ensaio de Alamar Blue, demonstrou que este se apresentou 2,6 vezes menos citotÃxico para cÃlulas normais quando comparado Ãs cÃlulas tumorais. Estudos do mecanismo de morte celular na linhagem tumoral MDA-MB-435 indicaram que o derivado THP causou reduÃÃo de cÃlulas viÃveis associado com o aumento de cÃlulas nÃo-viÃveis por induÃÃo da perda de integridade da membrana plasmÃtica nas concentraÃÃes de 5 e 10 ÂM apÃs 24 horas de incubaÃÃo. A atividade citotÃxica do derivado THP nÃo està relacionada a uma fase especÃfica do ciclo celular, ativaÃÃo de caspases efetoras e formaÃÃo de espÃcies reativas de oxigÃnio, sugerindo a ocorrÃncia de um processo necrÃtico a partir de 6 horas de tratamento, demonstrado pela avaliaÃÃo da integridade de membrana. Assim, os resultados exibidos sugerem que a introduÃÃo do radical tetrahidropirano na molÃcula da α-lapachona aumenta a citotoxicidade em cÃlulas de melanoma MDA-MB-435, via necrose, o que reforÃa a importÃncia de naftoquinonas, como protÃtipo para o desenvolvimento de novos compostos sintÃticos com atividade antitumoral / Quinone metabolites are widely distributed in nature showing various pharmacological activities of clinical importance. The naphthoquinone α-lapachone has been shown to be suitable as a prototype for the development of substances with anticancer properties, as reported by our group to tetrahydropyran derivative (THP), which demonstrated significant cytotoxicity and selectivity against MDA-MB-435 melanoma line. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the mechanism of action involved in the cytotoxicity of α-lapachone and its THP derivative against MDA-MB-435 melanoma cells. Initially, we evaluated the cytotoxicity of α-lapachone and its THP derivative against 8 cell lines, by the MTT assay, showing IC50 of 1.37 and 8.18 ÂM to breast and melanoma lines, respectively, after 72 hours of incubation. The selectivity of the THP derivative in Alamar Blue assay, demonstrated that THP is 2.6 times less cytotoxic to normal cells as compared to tumor cells. Studies on the mechanism of cell death in MDA-MB-435 tumor line showed that the THP derivative caused a reduction on viable cells associated with an increase of non-viable cells by inducing loss of membrane integrity in concentrations of 5 and 10 ÂM. The cytotoxic activity of THP was independent of cell cycle, activation of effector caspases and formation of reactive oxygen species, suggesting the occurrence of a necrotic process after 6 hours of treatment, demonstrated by evaluation of membrane integrity. Thus, the data suggest that a tetrahydropyran group introduction in α-lapachone molecule enhances the cytotoxicity of MDA-MB-435 in melanoma cells, via necrosis, which reinforces the importance of naphthoquinones as prototypes for the development of new synthetic compounds with antitumor activity

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / As lactonas sesquiterpÃnicas apresentam estruturas quÃmicas diversificadas, bem como uma grande variedade de atividades biolÃgicas, dentre as quais se destaca a atividade citotÃxica e antitumoral. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o potencial citotÃxico de trÃs novos derivados da α-santonina (1): 3-oxo-7αH,6H-eudesma-1,4,11-trien-6,12-olideo (2), 11,13-dehidrolumissantonina (3) e 10α-acetoxi-3-oxo-1,7αH,6H-guai-4,11-dien-6,12-olideo (4) e estudar seus efeitos sobre a proliferaÃÃo celular, ciclo celular e eventos apoptÃticos. Todos os novos derivados inibiram a proliferaÃÃo das cÃlulas tumorais, pelo ensaio do MTT, exceto o protÃtipo (α-santonina), apÃs 72 h de incubaÃÃo. As linhagens HL60 (leucemia) e HCT-8 (cÃlon) mostraram maior sensibilidade ao tratamento com os novos derivados, cujos valores de CI50 para HL60 foram 1,14 (0,23-2,77); 2,30 (1,87-2,84) e 1,60 (1,09-2,35) ÂM e HCT-8 iguais a 2,92(0,98-4,86); 1,96 (1,64-2,29)e 0,36 (0,16-0,79) ÂM, para os compostos 2, 3 e 4, respectivamente. Dois dos trÃs derivados foram menos citotÃxicos para as cÃlulas mononucleares do sangue perifÃrico (PBMC) com CI50 igual a 10,75 (4,6-23,3) ÂM (3) e CI50 igual a 16,77 (7,3-36,8) ÂM (4). PorÃm, o composto 2 apresentou menor seletividade (CI50 igual a 3,24 (1,6-5,3) ÂM) em relaÃÃo as cÃlulas nÃo tumorais. Nenhum dos compostos estudados induziu efeitos hemolÃticos. Para estudo do mecanismo de aÃÃo foi escolhida a linhagem HL-60 como modelo experimental. Culturas de HL60 foram tratadas com os derivados (1 e 2 ÂM) por 24 h. Todos os derivados foram capazes de reduzir o nÃmero de cÃlulas viÃveis, avaliado pelo ensaio de exclusÃo do azul de tripan, na maior concentraÃÃo testada, sem induzir aumento na incidÃncia de cÃlulas nÃo viÃveis. A aÃÃo antiproliferativa esta relacionada com a capacidade de inibir a sÃntese de DNA. ApÃs o tratamento, os derivados foram capazes de induzir apoptose, como observado pelo padrÃo de morfologia celular: presenÃa de condensaÃÃo de cromatina e fragmentaÃÃo nuclear, bem como por citometria de fluxo (manutenÃÃo da integridade de membrana plasmÃtica, fragmentaÃÃo do DNA, externalizaÃÃo da fosfatidilserina e ativaÃÃo de caspases 3 e 7). Nenhum dos derivados causou despolarizaÃÃo da membrana mitocondrial, sugerindo a participaÃÃo da via extrÃnseca no processo apoptÃtico. Os compostos 3 e 4 foram capazes de causar acÃmulo de cÃlulas na fase G2/M do ciclo celular, indicando um mecanismo de aÃÃo diferenciado em relaÃÃo ao composto 2. Esses dados sugerem que os derivados da α-santonina avaliados no presente estudo apresentam um potencial anticÃncer, em especial o composto 4 pela moderada toxicidade em PBMC e por ser capaz de induzir uma maior taxa de morte celular via apoptose quando comparado aos demais derivados estudados. / The sesquiterpene lactones have different chemical structures, and a variety of biological activities, among which stand out the cytotoxic and antitumour activities. The aim of the present study was to determine the cytotoxic effects of three new α-Santonin (1) derivatives: 3-oxo-7αH,6H-eudesma-1,4,11-trien-6,12-olide (2), 11,13-dehydrolumissantonin (3) and 10α-acetoxi-3-oxo-1,7αH,6H-guai-4,11-dien-6,12-olide (4) and study your effects on cell proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis events. All new derivatives inhibited the proliferation of tumor cells, by MTT assay, except the prototype (α-santonina) after 72 h of incubation. The cell lines HL60 (leukemia) and HCT-8 (colon) showed greater sensitivity to treatment with these derivatives, with values of IC50 for HL60 equal to 1.14 (0.23-2.77); 2.30 (1.87-2.84) and 1.60 (1.09-2.35) ÂM and for HCT-8 equal to 2.92(0.98-4.86); 1.96 (1.64-2.29) and 0.36 (0.16-0.79) ÂM for compounds 2, 3 and 4, respectively.. Two derivatives were less cytotoxic to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC): IC50 equal to 10.75 (4.6-23.3) ÂM (3) and IC50 equal to 16.77 (7.3-36.8) ÂM (4). However, compound 2 showed lower selectivity (IC50 equal to 3.24 (1.6-5.3) ÂM) on PBMC. None of the studied compounds induced hemolytic effects. To evaluate the mechanism of action promoted by these derivatives, HL60 cells was chosen as an experimental model, since this linage was one of the most sensitive to treatment. HL60 cultures were treated with α-santonin derivatives (1 and 2 ÂM) during 24 h. All compounds were able to reduce the number of viable cells evaluated by the trypan blue dye exclusion test at highest concentration, without increasing the number of non-viable cells. The antiproliferative action is related to the ability to inhibit the synthesis of DNA. After treatment, the derivatives were able to induce apoptosis, as observed by cell morphology pattern (chromatin condensation, and nuclear fragmentation), and by flow cytometry (membrane integrity, DNA fragmentation, anexin positive cells, and caspases 3 and 7 activation). None of all derivatives analyzed caused depolarization of mitochondrial membrane, suggesting the involvement of the extrinsic pathway in the apoptotic process. The compounds 3 and 4 induce G2/M cell cycle arrest, indicating a different mechanism of action in relation to compound 2. These data suggest that α-santonin derivatives evaluated in the present study showed a anticancer potential, especially the compound 4, which induced moderate toxicity on PBMC, in addition this compound induced a higher rate of cell death via apoptosis when compared to the other α-santonin derivatives evaluated.

This doctoral thesis concentrates exclusively on the Historiae adversus paganos, an apologetic history in seven books written by the presbyter Paulus Orosius in the early fifth century AD. This thesis is ultimately an exposition of Orosius's philosophy of history, within which the themes of divine providence, monotheism, and imperial authority are central. This thesis has endeavoured to establish what the Historiae is in terms of content, purpose, and genre, a more complex task than this simple statement suggests. At every stage of analysis this research has worked to uncover the ideology and apologetic underlying Orosius‘s historical narrative, in particular the significance behind Orosius‘s stylistic habit of rhetorical comparison. This thesis consists of six chapters, unified in methodology but encompassing a broad diversity of subject matter. Chapter One examines the constructed text and its genre, as well as issues of opponent, audience and self-representation. Chapter Two provides a philosophical and technical treatment of time. Chapters Three and Four explore the representations of monotheism and imperial authority in the emperors Augustus and Theodosius. Chapter Five is concerned with Orosius‘s representation of warfare, and Chapter Six considers the retributive and redemptive aspect of the sack of Rome.