Trasmigrazioni: cultura materiale e sviluppo dell'identità. Alcune riflessioni sulla produzione di San Vincenzo al Volturno

The text analyzes the ornamental culture of the monastery of San Vincenzo al Volturno, through the comparison between different classes of materials. Through the analogies between the ornamental motifs, we tried to reconstruct their creative process, on a perceptual basis. The study, in fact, focuses on the relationship between the individual and the environment, exploiting the theories of Gibson, applying them to a particular context such as monasteries. The goal is to demonstrate how the continuous use of space determines the acquisition of visual information, which, stored in memory, is re-proposed during the creative process. Especially, it is the daily journey of the rooms that guarantees the memorization of the signs and, at the same time, their updating, through the change of perspective that occurs with movement. In the last part, we discuss the perceptive effects of the aniconic paintings in the crypt of Joshua.

Diderot: Space and Movement Introduction

Space and movement are not central concepts in discussing Diderot’s physical and philosophical thought, however they become quite interesting when the discussion shifts to aesthetics. Because of that, the question of space and movement in Diderot’s works is the main focus of this issue of Itinera. An analysis is carried out of the rhetorical and literary use of space and movement by Diderot to spatialise his materialist written expression and “put thinking in motion”. Special attention is devoted to the philosopher’s aesthetic considerations, of which space and movement are an important theoretical piece. Some of Diderot’s main works - among which the Lettre sur le aveugles, the Salons, Jacques le fataliste - are investigated under different perspectives in order to show the relevance of space and movement.

Sustainable Energy Development Using Space-Based Solar Power in Indian context

Background: Progressive degradation of the environment due to the intervention of humans in the natural processes brought into light the need and the concept of sustainable development. The three pillars of sustainable development are Economic, Social, and Environmental. Sustainability has become one of the important tools to overcome the threats and is the dire need of the hour. This paper illustrates the detailed concept of Space-based solar power (SBSP) which defines the collection of solar energy in outer space and directing it towards the earth using electromagnetic waves. The edge of collecting solar power from space and not by the conventional methods include the strong collection rate and improved collection period. This is mainly because of the absence of the earth’s atmosphere that consists of a lot of external impurities and the decreased effects of reflection and absorption on solar energy on its way to earth. Objective: To put forward the importance of the use of space-based solar power system in India and to establish how space-based solar power is one of the answers of sustainable energy development for a better future for the country. Method: The study is based on secondary data. The findings indicate the need for sustainable energy development and the effective use of space-based solar power which would answer to the never-ending demands of human beings. Result: The article also delineates the opportunities of space-based solar power as well as the challenges that might be faced while building the system. Conclusion: The paper is a descriptive and conceptual study which illustrates SBSP as an innovative and important breakthrough in the field of science and one of the most important topics of discussion that needs to be addressed. The paper suggests the need for conducting more study on the topic and development of projects to measure its feasibility in the future, in terms of Indian context.

Multi-scaler 3D modelling to reconstruct an experimental landscape: An example from a worker’s cottage at Mount Dutton Bay, South Australia

New advances in 3D GIS provide the opportunity to create and interact with spatial datasets that are both empirical and experiential, thus bridging the historical divide between cartography and phenomenology. Survey and photogrammetry data from the colonial-era woolshed and port of Mount Dutton Bay in South Australia are used to create a visually realistic 3D landscape model. Viewshed analysis provided important information about the use of space and construction techniques for the shearers' cottage on this site. The results demonstrate that rigorous quantitative analysis is not incompatible with understanding the human experience of an archaeological site, and therefore open up exciting new avenues of archaeological enquiry.

Object and handling handshapes in 11 sign languages: towards a typology of the iconic use of the hands

This article looks at cross-linguistic variation in lexical iconicity, addressing the question of to what extent and how this variation is patterned. More than in spoken languages, iconicity is highly frequent in the lexicons of sign languages. It is also highly complex, in that often multiple motivated components jointly shape an iconic lexeme. Recent typological research on spoken languages finds tentative iconic patterning in a large number of basic lexical items, underlining once again the significance of iconicity for human language. The uncontested and widespread use of iconicity found in the lexicons of sign languages enables us to take typological research into lexical iconicity to the next level. Indeed, previous studies have shown cross-linguistic variation in: a) the use of embodying and handling handshapes in sign languages (mostly of European origin) and b) the frequency of space-based size depiction in African and European sign languages. The two types of variation may be interrelated, as handling handshapes may use space-based size depiction. In this study, we first replicate earlier studies on the distribution of embodying and handling handshapes, this time in a data set consisting of a relatively large set of sign languages (n = 11), most of which are used in Africa. The results confirm significant variation across these sign languages. These findings are then compared to the use of space-based size depiction, revealing that these patterns independently from the distribution of embodying/handling handshapes. We argue that the results call for expanding typological studies on representational strategies in iconic signs beyond the now relatively well studied instrument/manipulation alternation. Fine-grained analyses on a multitude of iconic features in signs are likely to reveal cross-linguistic variation in iconic tendencies in SL lexicons.

Use of space, active and resting behaviour in fattening rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) housed in a combi park system: A case study

In this case study, a housing system for rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was developed, complying with the new German Welfare Regulation, and evaluated on-farm with regard to the rabbits' behaviour during four fattening periods. The housing system was characterised by the large group size of fatteners (maximum 65 animals per group, 12 animals per m²) due to the merging of six former single units for does and their litters, post-weaning. A large elevated platform, a box with a roof (small elevated platform), a tube and gnawing materials were made available per unit. The aim being to assess the suitability of the housing system for rabbits with regard to animal welfare, based on behavioural analyses. Therefore, the use of space by the rabbits (n = 247) was investigated by video analysis (instantaneous scan sampling) during daytime. Additionally, the individual behaviour of 20 focal rabbits in different locations was assessed by continuous sampling. Results showed that rabbits preferred to huddle together in the outer units in the first weeks post-weaning. The highest animal densities were found under and in front of the large and on the small platforms. The large platforms were visited increasingly from the 10th fattening day onwards. Elevated platforms supported resting and comfort behaviours. Nonelevated open-top areas enabled upright positions and locomotor behaviours. Aggression and stereotypic behaviours rarely occurred. We conclude that the housing system supported species-specific behaviour and seemed to cater for the needs of rabbits in terms of welfare. Nevertheless, further investigation is needed to ascertain the effects on animal health and performance.

Legal Aspect of Use of Underground Space for Public Transportation (Legal Study of Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit Project)

The development activities are things that every country to realize the fulfillment of the needs and welfare of the community. Limited land area is still one of the big problems in carrying out development. The land area that does not increase, followed by the need for land that continues to increase is the cause. The type of research used is the method normative and empirical juridical research which was finally analyzed using qualitative analysis methods. Regulation of the Governor of DKI Jakarta No. 167 of 2012 about underground space and the Regulation of the Minister of Public Works No. 02/PRT/M/2014 on Guidelines for Use of Space Inside the Earth, that exists today is sufficient and accommodate the implementation of the use of space underground for the construction of the Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit (MRT). However, as a step in the future use of underground space, required regulations on the use of space underground in the form of legislation that accommodates all the needs that have not been included in the current rules. Keywords: Underground Space Utilization, MRT Jakarta, Legal Certainty.