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Il lavoro ripercorre le tracce che gli ebrei portoghesi, esuli dopo il biennio 1496-97, lasciarono nel loro cammino attraverso l'Europa. In particolare, l'interesse si concentra sulla breve parentesi italiana, che grazie all'apertura e alla disponibilità  di alcuni Signori, come i Gonzaga di Mantova, i Medici, i Dogi della Serenissima e gli Este, risulta ricchissima di avvenimenti e personaggi, decisivi anche per la storia culturale del Portogallo. L'analisi parte evidenziando l'importanza che ebbe la tipografia ebraica in Portogallo all'epoca della sua introduzione nel Paese; in secondo luogo ripercorre la strada che, dal biennio del primo decreto di espulsione e del conseguente battesimo di massa, porta alla nascita dell'€™Inquisizione in Portogallo. Il secondo capitolo tenta di fare una ricostruzione, il più possibile completa e coerente, dei movimenti degli esuli, bollati come marrani e legati alle due maggiori famiglie, i Mendes e i Bemveniste, delineando poi il primo nucleo di quella che diventerà  nel Seicento la comunità  sefardita portoghese di Amsterdam, dove nasceranno le personalità  dissidenti di Uriel da Costa e del suo allievo Spinoza. Il terzo capitolo introduce il tema delle opere letterarie, effettuando una rassegna dei maggiori volumi editi dalle officine tipografiche ebraiche stanziatesi in Italia fra il 1551 e il 1558, in modo particolare concentrando l'attenzione sull'€™attività  della tipografia Usque, da cui usciranno numerosi testi di precettistica in lingua ebraica, ma soprattutto opere cruciali come la famosa «Bibbia Ferrarese» in castigliano, la «Consolação às Tribulações de Israel», di Samuel Usque e la raccolta composta dal romanzo cavalleresco «Menina e Moça» di Bernardim Ribeiro e dall'ecloga «Crisfal», di un autore ancora non accertato. L'ultimo capitolo, infine, si propone di operare una disamina di queste ultime tre opere, ritenute fondamentali per ricostruire il contesto letterario e culturale in cui la comunità  giudaica in esilio agiva e proiettava le proprie speranze di futuro. Per quanto le opere appartengano a generi diversi e mostrino diverso carattere, l'€™ipotesi è che siano parte di un unicum filosofico e spirituale, che intendeva sostanzialmente indicare ai confratelli sparsi per l'Europa la direzione da prendere, fornendo un sostegno teoretico, psicologico ed emotivo nelle difficili condizioni di sopravvivenza, soprattutto dell'integrità religiosa, di ciascun membro della comunità. / The work traces the route that the Portuguese Jews, exiles after the 1496-97 biennium, followed on their journey through Europe. In particular, interest focuses on the brief Italian period, which is rich in events and characters decisive also for the cultural history of Portugal, thank to the openness of some Princes and Lords, as the Gonzaga of Mantua, the Medicis, the Doges of Venice and the Este family. The analysis starts by highlighting the importance that the Hebrew typography had in Portugal at the time of its introduction in the country, than traces the path that leads to the birth of Inquisition in Portugal, starting from the first expulsion act and the subsequent forced mass baptism. The second chapter tries a reconstruction as complete and consistent as possible of the wanderings of exiles, branded as Marranos and linked to two major families, Mendes and Bemveniste, outlining the nucleus of what will become in the seventeenth century the Sephardic Portuguese community in Amsterdam, which gave the dissident personalities of Uriel da Costa and his student Spinoza. The third chapter introduces the theme of literary works, performing a survey of the main volumes published by the Jewish presses who settled in Italy between 1551 and 1558, especially focusing on the activity of the Usque typography, which produced many Hebrew prayer books, and works as crucial as the famous Spanish Ferrara Bible, Samuel Usque’s Consolação às Tribulações de Israel, and the collection composed by Bernardim Ribeiro’s knight novel Menina e Moça and the eclogue Crisfal, written by an author not yet identified. The last chapter, finally, tries to analyze these three works, which are fundamental to reconstruct the literary and cultural context in which the exile Jewish community acted and projected its hopes for the future. Even if the three works belong to different genres and show different character, the hypothesis is that they are part of a philosophical and spiritual unicum, which basically aimed to show the brethren scattered across Europe the way to go, providing a theoretical, psychological and emotional support in the difficult survival conditions, especially of the religious integrity of each member of the community.

Kafir Kala is a key-site to understand the historical dynamics of the Samarkand Region in the Early Middle Ages (5th - 8th centuries CE). The site is clearly associated with a Sogdian occupation, as both literature and archaeological research testify. But the chronological phase that follows the Sogdian period, as the Islamic occupation became stable, is still little known. Structures and finds (an hoard of 133 silver coins, in particular) clearly testify a new occupation of some parts of the citadel; and some rooms, dug in the northern side of it, present structures and materials connected with an Islamic activity. The study of material culture from these rooms, and from more ancient contexts, will help to understand the eventual continuity of traditions and the new productions. Besides the citadel, as a matter of fact, also some kilns have been dug, near the main site. Their material culture is very interesting because it represents an example of the typical Sogdian production (ceramics covered with white mica, and stamped). The work on the ceramic material has consisted in cataloguing and classifying all the diagnostics. Three main morphological classes have been individuated: cooking, coarse and table ware), and some other ones (lamps, ossuaries). A catalogue of the finds organized them in a typological system based on their morphology, function, fabric, and eventually decoration style. Crossing the stratigraphical data with information from this typological study, it has been possible to provide a chronological arrangement of the sites investigated by the italo-uzbek archaeological mission from 2001 to 2008.

This thesis is an investigation of why and how homeowners decide to renovate their homes. Energy efficient renovations are of particular interest given their potential contribution to public policy goals including greenhouse gas emission reduction. Policies seeking to improve energy efficiency in existing homes have to influence homeowners’ decisions. This requires a psychologically and behaviourally realistic understanding of the renovation decision process. Different research traditions offer competing models. These are tested through a series of hypotheses on the form and content of the renovation decision. The empirical dataset used combines both stated and revealed preference data. 809 homeowners in British Columbia were surveyed at three different cross-sections of the renovation decision process. The sample included both energy efficient (e.g., windows, insulation) and amenity renovators (e.g., kitchens, bathrooms), and was broadly representative of the population of renovating homeowners in British Columbia. Survey responses were calibrated using actual energy consumption data, and a supplementary survey of realtors. Calibration allowed homeowners’ expectations of the financial costs and benefits of renovating to be evaluated. Firstly, sampled homeowners systematically over-estimated their energy costs. Secondly, these estimates were subject to common information processing and recall biases. Thirdly, even homeowners in the middle of energy efficient renovations had expectations of capital costs, energy cost savings, and property value impacts that were largely unknown or unreliable. More generally, sampled homeowners lacked the basic knowledge necessary to appraise energy efficient renovations as financial investments. Homeowners’ motivations for renovating were more likely to be emotional and aesthetic in the case of amenities, but related to functional outcomes like thermal comfort in the case of energy efficiency. Social norms were influential in both cases but were underreported by homeowners. This was consistent with rationalisation biases which help individuals maintain self-esteem by emphasizing instrumental explanations for their actions. This psychologically realistic characterisation of the renovation decision suggests a range of design criteria for policy, and questions the effectiveness of narrowly-targeted information and incentive policies in their current form. However, policy implications should be generalised with caution given the low energy price and appreciating real estate market characteristics of the study region.

El indol es uno de los heterociclos aromáticos presente en mayor número de productos naturales con propiedades farmacológicas. Aunque se han desarrollado diferentes métodos para sintetizar derivados de indoles, la búsqueda de metodologías para obtener nuevos compuestos es todavía un tema de interés en química orgánica. Un método interesante para sintetizar derivados de indol es la reacción de hidroarilación de alquinos.Hemos encontrado que la hidroarilación intramolecular de de alquinos catalizada por nuevos complejos de Au(I) permite la síntesis de derivados de indol con anillos de siete miembros fusionados en una reacción de tipo 7-exo-dig. Cuando esta misma reacción se lleva a cabo con AuCl3, en lugar de anillos de siete se forman anillos de ocho miembros en un proceso poco frecuente de tipo 8-endo-dig. En algunas ocasiones, también hemos observado la formación de alenos o tetraciclos como resultado de una reacción de fragmentación. Basándonos en resultados experimentales, hemos propuesto un mecanismo para la formación de este tipo de sustratos que consiste en la formación de un enlace C-C en la posición tres del indol, seguido de una migración 1,2, en una reacción de tipo Friedel-Craft. Hemos desarrollado la versión intermolecular de la reacción entre indoles y alquinos obteniendo una amplia diversidad de productos en función de la sustitución en el indol y el alquino.En el segundo capítulo de la Tesis esta metodología sintética ha sido aplicada al estudio de la síntesis total de los productos naturales lundurinas A-D, cuya estructura posee una indoloazocina. Mediante la ciclación catalizada por AuCl3 del sustrato adecuado hemos conseguido sintetizar la estructura tetracíclica característica de esta familia de compuestos.Otro tema de mi trabajo de Tesis Doctoral ha sido el estudio de la reacción de éteres de enol con alquinos catalizada por platino y por oro. Cuando uno de los átomos del puente entre el alquino y el éter de enol es un oxígeno se obtienen 3-oxabiciclo[4.1.0]hept-4-enos mediante la ciclopropanación intramolecular de éteres de enol por alquinos catalizada por Pt(II) u Au(I) De acuerdo con el esquema general del mecanismo de la ciclación de 1,6-eninos catalizada por Pt(II), Pd(II) y Au(I), los ciclopropil carbenos metálicos formados en la ciclación de tipo 6-endo-dig pueden evolucionar para dar anillos de siete miembros. Este tipo de reactividad ha sido observada por primera vez en la reacción intramolecular que hemos desarrollado de éteres de enol con alquinos catalizada por complejos de oro y platino electrófilos. En algunos ejemplos de las reacciones catalizadas por Au(I) se han obtenido acetales fruto de un complejo reordenamiento de la molécula que también transcurre a través de un intermedio con un anillo de siete miembros.Finalmente, hemos hecho una nueva propuesta para el mecanismo de la ciclación de alquinil iminas para dar pirroles catalizada por Cu(I), corrigiendo el mecanismo originalmente propuesto por Gevorgyan. De acuerdo con la nueva propuesta, hemos hecho un estudio de la síntesis de pirroles sustituidos en posición tres. / Indole is a structure present in a large number of alkaloids and natural products with important pharmaceutically properties. Although a variety of methods have been developed to sythesize derivatives of this heterocycle and to modify its substitution pattern, new methods that provide indole derivatives are still of high interest in organic chemistry. An interesting way to obtain indole derivatives could be the catalytic hydroarylation of alkynes, although this method has not been widespread developed, until now.We have found that the intramolecular hydroarylation of alkynes using recently developed cationic gold(I) complexes allows the synthesis of seven membered ring indole derivatives by a 7-exo-dig cyclization process. Interestingly, AuCl3 promotes the formation of eight membered rings by an unusual 8-endo-dig cyclization. In some cases, we have also observed the formation of allenes or tetracyclic derivatives with gold(I), as a result of a fragmentation reaction. Based on experimental results, a mechanism has been proposed to explain the formation of these compounds. This mechanism involves a C-C bond formation at C-3 followed by a 1,2-migration in a Friedel-Craft type reaction.We have also developed the intermolecular reaction between indoles and alkynes catalyzed by gold, giving rise to a wide range of different products.In the second chapter of this Thesis the methodology developed for the cyclization of indoles with alkynes has been applied to the study of the total synthesis of the family of natural products lundurines A-D. This products contain an indoloazocine unit and by the cyclization of the appropiate substrate the tetracyclic core of the lundurines has been synthetized.Another topic of my Doctoral Thesis is the study of the reaction of enol ethers with alkynes. A methodology for the synthesis of 3-oxa-biciclo[4.1.0]hept-4-enes catalyzed by Pt(II) and Au(I) has been developed The general mechanism of Pt(II)-, Pd(II)-, and Au(I)-catalyzed reactions between alkynes and alkenes has been demonstrated in the context of 1,6-enyne cyclization. Accordingly cyclopropyl metal carbenes formed in the 6-endo-dig cyclization may evolve to form seven-membered ring intermediates. This has been achieved for the first time by using highly electrophilic platinum(II) and gold(I) complexes. Gold(I) also triggers a remarkable rearrangement of certain enynes leading to complex cyclic systems. This reaction also proceeds via a seven-membered ring intermediate.Finally, the mechanism for the cyclization of alkynyl imines catalyzed by Cu(I) to give pyrroles originally proposed by Gevorgyan has been corrected. Based on this new mechanistic proposal, we have carried out a study for the synthesis of 3-substitud pyrroles.

The relevance of work was dictated by the period and new unusual problems of children’s life and behaviour. One of them is constantly growing delinquency of children, which was often explained only by the problems of adolescence. Children’s delinquency is not only children’s or group problem. It is a problem of adults’ attitudes and relationships, based on these attitudes with a child, who enters all institutions, operating in the society, i.e. different training institutions (for example: school), family, as an institution, forming child’s life style and other educational institutions (law and order institutions and other). As the problem of children delinquency is complex social, pedagogical, cultural, then two cooperation groups can successfully perform prevention: school teachers and inspector groups specialists of juveniles affairs. Problem. The question is raised whether the traditional attitudes of teachers and policeman, when the children inclined to delinquency, are called criminals and whether it is a setback, preparing prevention programmes. The aim is to ground and empirically research teachers’ and policemen’ attitudes to children delinquency as the assumption of cooperation optimizing prevention of children delinquency. The research hypothesis was confirmed that the children inclined to delinquency are often devaluated as people, inappropriate to the family, society and other institutions. In society stereotypical attitudes to a child as a functional individual... [to full text]

Background: Recent evidence suggests weight loss is not necessary to reduce obesity related co-morbidities. The principal finding within these reports is based on examination of group mean values. Accordingly, it is possible that within a given group, the subjects who failed to lose weight did not experience any health improvement, a finding masked by the exaggerated improvement in those who did lose weight. We sought to determine whether a gradient exists between the inter-individual change in bodyweight and corresponding changes in body composition and metabolic risk factors in response to minimal or no weight loss. Methods: Total adipose tissue (AT) and skeletal muscle (SM) were determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 46 men and 42 women participating in lifestyle-based programs designed to reduce obesity and related metabolic risk factors. Visceral AT (VAT) and abdominal subcutaneous AT (ASAT) were calculated from a single image at the L4-L5 inter-vertebral space. Glucose uptake was calculated using a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp procedure. Blood pressure (BP) was determined using an electronic cuff or manually using standard procedures. Waist circumference (WC) was taken at the level of the last rib. Results: Bodyweight did not change in men or women (p>0.10). Collapsed across gender, with the exception of ASAT, SM, and systolic BP, all other anthropometric, body composition, and metabolic risk factor measures improved significantly following treatment (p<0.05). With few exceptions, regression analysis revealed that changes in bodyweight or WC were not associated with corresponding changes in body composition measures or metabolic risk factors (p>0.05). To further consider whether a gradient existed between weight change or WC change on body composition and metabolic risk factors, subjects were cross-classified according to their level of weight/waist change (tertiles) and their respective change in either body composition or metabolic risk factor. Neither weight nor WC change tertile was related to any body composition or metabolic risk factor in a gradient fashion (p>0.05). Conclusion: These findings reinforce and extend the observation that independent of gender, lifestyle-based interventions are associated with reductions in obesity and related metabolic risk factors despite minimal or no weight loss. / Thesis (Master, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2009-09-29 13:18:27.916

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Due to the lack of a critical approach that takes into account the theatrical aspect of Boiardo's poem, we have undertaken a semiotic analysis that brings forth some peculiarities of the poem's theatrical performance, most of which stem from the traditional "cantari". / The intertextual comparison between the principle "cantari epico-cavallereschi" and the "Inamoramento de Orlando" permits us to reevaluate the importance of these sources, that are, in our opinion, essential to the comprehension of the poem. However, these sources have not been, to date, considered determining by literary critics. In addition, we highlight the various aspects of communication between the narrator and his audience. / Finally, the analysis of the rhetorical structure of the poem (proems, epilogues, narrative connectors, commentary, orality) allows us to propose an hypothesis of double reception of the "Inamoramento de Orlando " as well as a double reading of the poem, both as a theatrical representation and as a novel. This provides Boiardo's poem with its special trait of "open text".