List #92 Summer Miscellany
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Volta, the Istituto Nazionale and Scientific Communication in Early Nineteenth-Century Italy*
Luigi Pepe Volta, the Istituto Nazionale and Scientific Communication in Early Nineteenth-Century Italy* In a famous paper published in Isis in 1969, Maurice Crosland posed the question as to which was the first international scientific congress. Historians of science commonly established it as the Karlsruhe Congress of 1860 whose subject was chemical notation and atomic weights. Crosland suggested that the first international scientific congress could be considered the meeting convened in Paris on January 20, 1798 for the definition of the metric system.1 In September 1798 there arrived in Paris Bugge from Denmark, van Swinden and Aeneae from Germany, Trallès from Switzerland, Ciscar and Pedrayes from Spain, Balbo, Mascheroni, Multedo, Franchini and Fabbroni from Italy. These scientists joined the several scientists already living in Paris and engaged in the definition of the metric system: Coulomb, Mechain, Delambre, Laplace, Legendre, Lagrange, etc. English and American scientists, however, did not take part in the meeting. The same question could be asked regarding the first national congress in England, in Germany, in Switzerland, in Italy, etc. As far as Italy is concerned, many historians of science would date the first meeting of Italian scientists (Prima Riunione degli Scienziati Italiani) as the one held in Pisa in 1839. This meeting was organised by Carlo Luciano Bonaparte, Napoleon’s nephew, with the co-operation of the mathematician Gaetano Giorgini under the sanction of the Grand Duke of Tuscany Leopold II (Leopold was a member of the Royal Society).2 Participation in the meetings of the Italian scientists, held annually from 1839 for nine years, was high: * This research was made possible by support from C.N.R. -
Libreria Antiquaria Mediolanum
libreria antiquaria mediolanum Via del Carmine, 1 - 20121 milano (italy) tel. (+39) 02.86.46.26.16 - FaX (+39) 02.45.47.43.33 www.libreriamediolanum.com - e-mail: [email protected] 1. (aCCademia dei Gelati). ricreationi amorose de small worm-hole repaired in the blank margin from p. 229, thin marginal gli academici Gelati di bologna. (Follows): Psafone trattato worm-holes repaired in the last 2 ll., touching few letters. unsophisticated co- py. d’amore del medesimo Caliginoso Gelato melchiorre Zoppio. - bologna, per Gio. rossi, 1590. First edition of a rare emblems book with illustrations ascribed to agostino Carracci. two parts in one 12° volume; 96 pp. – 260 pp., 2 ll. with frontispiece and 9 the iconographic apparatus consists of the full-page etched fronti- half-page engraved emblems by agostino Carracci; contemporary limp vellum, spiece with the central emblem and 9 large and beautiful emblems. manuscript title on spine. Frontispiece slightly shaved in the lower margin, a the second part of the volume offers a treatise on love by melchior- re Zoppo. the academy was founded in 1588 by Zoppo himself and collected the most distinguished literary men and scholars of the time; the aca- demy was supported by Pope urbano Viii barberini and its cultural activities lasted until the end of the 18th century. Praz 244: “scarce”. landwehr (romanic) 4. Cicognara 1831. Frati 6471. € 3.800 2. baratotti Galerana (tarabotti arCanGe- la). la semplicità ingannata. - leiden, Gio. Sambix (i.e. Jo- hannes and daniel elzevier), 1654. 12°; 12 leaves, 307 pp. (without final 2 blank ll.); contemporary vellum, manu- script title on spine. -
John Howell for Books
John Howell for Books John Howell, member ABAA, ILAB, IOBA 5205 ½ Village Green 310 367-9720 Los Angeles, CA 90016-5207 [email protected] TERMS OF SALE: Subject to Prior Sale. Dealer discounts 10 % or 20 %: please inquire. Postage and insurance to be billed at cost. Check or PayPal preferred; credit cards also accepted. Institutions, dealers known to us, and prior customers in good standing may request invoice; otherwise CWO. All items are guaranteed, returnable and fully refundable within 30 days of receipt, provided prior notice of return given. CA sales tax where applicable, unless valid resale certificate provided or on file. Call or e-mail to reserve. 1 ALLEN, Lewis M. Printing with the Handpress: Herewith a Definitive Manual…. New York, etc.: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1969. 4to. 12 ¼ x 8 ¼ inches. 75, (3) pp. Half-title, printed throughout in blue and black inks, chapter heads, 11 illustrations, bibliography, index; text clean, un-marked. Black-stamped brown cloth, dust-jacket; binding square and tight, jacket rubbed. Very Good. $ 45 SECOND EDITION. This book was first issued in a limited edition of 140 copies, which were printed on a Columbian hand press at the Allen Press. The present edition was offset from proofs of the limited edition. This is the first thorough manual on hand press printing since those of the nineteenth century – which are now completely obsolete and seriously misleading. Its purpose is fourfold: 1) to enable hand press owners to produce top-quality printing; 2) to encourage those with increased leisure time to practice hand press printing as a serious avocation; 3) to stimulate a renaissance in fine printing; and 4) to acquaint collectors with methods involved in hand- produced books. -
Della Matematica Del Settecento: I Logaritmi Dei Numeri Negativi
Periodico di Matematiche VII, 2, 2/3 (1994), 95-106 Una “controversia” della matematica del Settecento: i logaritmi dei numeri negativi GIORGIO T. BAGNI I LOGARITMI DEI NUMERI NEGATIVI Una delle prime raccomandazioni sollecitamente affidate, nelle aule della scuola secondaria superiore, dagli insegnanti agli allievi in procinto di affrontare gli esercizi sui logaritmi è di imporre che l’argomento di ogni logaritmo sia (strettamente) positivo. Un’incontestabile, categorica “legge” della quale gli allievi non possono non tenere conto è infatti: non esistono (nell’àmbito dei numeri reali) i logaritmi dei numeri non positivi. È forse interessante ricordare che tale “legge” ha un’importante collocazione nella storia della matematica: uno dei problemi lungamente e vivacemente discussi dai matematici del Settecento, infatti, è proprio la natura dei logaritmi dei numeri negativi [16] [24]. Nella presente nota, riassumeremo le posizioni degli studiosi che intervengono nell’aspra “controversia”, sottolineando le caratteristiche di sorprendente vitalità presenti in non poche posizioni [3] [5]. Questione centrale nella storia dei logaritmi [8] [9] [10] [23] [29] [30], il problema della natura dei logaritmi dei numeri negativi viene sollevato da una lettera di Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz a Jean Bernoulli, datata 16 marzo 1712 [17] [20], e vede coinvolti alcuni dei più celebri matematici del XVIII secolo. Gli studiosi sono infatti divisi in due schieramenti, apertamente contrapposti: da un lato, molti matematici sostengono l’opinione di Leibniz, poi ripresa da Euler [11] [19], Walmesley [31] ed in Italia, tra gli altri, da Fontana [13] [14] e da Franceschinis [15], secondo la quale i logaritmi dei numeri negativi devono essere interpretati come quantità immaginarie. -
Diffusion of Innovations Dynamics, Biological Growth and Catenary Function
Working Paper Series, N. 1, March 2015 Diffusion of innovations dynamics, biological growth and catenary function Static and dynamic equilibria Renato Guseo Department of Statistical Sciences University of Padua Italy Abstract: The catenary function has a well-known role in determining the shape of chains and cables supported at their ends under the force of grav- ity. This enables design using a specific static equilibrium over space. Its reflected version, the catenary arch, allows the construction of bridges and arches exploiting the dual equilibrium property under uniform compression. In this paper, we emphasize a further connection with well-known aggregate biological growth models over time and the related diffusion of innovation key paradigms (e.g., logistic and Bass distributions over time) that determine self- sustaining evolutionary growth dynamics in naturalistic and socio-economic contexts. Moreover, we prove that the `local entropy function', related to a logistic distribution, is a catenary and vice versa. This special invariance may be explained, at a deeper level, through the Verlinde's conjecture on the origin of gravity as an effect of the entropic force. Keywords: Hyperbolic cosine, Catenary, Logistic model, Bass models. Final version (2015-03-18) Submitted to Physica A 1-11; third revision 6-14. Diffusion of innovations dynamics, biological growth and catenary function Contents 1 Introduction 1 2 The catenary: Definition and main characteristics 3 2.1 Some historical aspects . 4 2.2 Architecture and Gaud´ı . 4 2.3 Classic and weighted catenary . 5 3 Some growth models 6 3.1 Logistic distribution . 7 3.2 Bass's distribution . 7 4 Catenary and diffusion models 9 4.1 Static and dynamic equilibria . -
Ward Ritchie Papers Press Coll.Archives.Ritchiepress Coll.Archives.Ritchie
http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf8t1nb5m7 No online items Finding Aid to the Ward Ritchie Papers Press coll.Archives.RitchiePress coll.Archives.Ritchie Finding aid prepared by Patricia Garcia William Andrews Clark Memorial Library © 2015 2520 Cimarron Street Los Angeles 90018 [email protected] URL: http://www.clarklibrary.ucla.edu/ Press coll.Archives.Ritchie 1 Language of Material: English Contributing Institution: William Andrews Clark Memorial Library Title: Ward Ritchie Papers Creator: Ritchie, Ward, 1905-1996 Creator: Ritchie, Ward, 1905-1996 Identifier/Call Number: Press coll.Archives.Ritchie Physical Description: 140 Linear feet221 boxes Date (inclusive): 1930-1978 This collection is housed at SRLF. Advanced notice is required to view these items; contact the Clark Library to arrange the collection's retrieval prior to your visit. Access Collection is open for research. Processing Information The collection was originally processed in 1998 by Clark Library staff. In 2014, the finding aid was reorganized into seven series and an additional 31 boxes were processed and added to the finding aid by Patricia Garcia. Oversized material was re-processed and rehoused in 2018 by Stephanie Geller. 1. Gift, 1988-1994, from Ward Ritchie (boxes 1-113) 2. Gift, 1996, from Ward Ritchie (boxes 114-149, 153-156, 158-164, 178-182) 3. Gift, 1996, from Edwin Carpenter (box 151) 4. Gift, 1996, from Albert Sperisen (box 152) 5. Gift, 1996, from Stephen Tabor (box 157) 6. Gift, 1997, from Gloria Stuart (boxes 165-171) 7. Gift, 1997(?), Ward Ritchie Estate (boxes 183-213) 8. Deposit, 1998, from Ritchie family (boxes 172-177) Restrictions on Use Copyright has not been assigned to the William Andrews Clark emorial Library, UCLA. -
Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach the History Of
Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach Report No. 51/2004 The History of Differential Equations, 1670–1950 Organised by Thomas Archibald (Wolfville) Craig Fraser (Toronto) Ivor Grattan-Guinness (Middlesex) October 31st – November 6th, 2004 Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 01A45, 01A50, 01A55, 01A60, 34-03, 35-03. Introduction by the Organisers Differential equations have been a major branch of pure and applied mathematics since their inauguration in the mid 17th century. While their history has been well studied, it remains a vital field of on-going investigation, with the emergence of new connections with other parts of mathematics, fertile interplay with applied subjects, interesting reformulation of basic problems and theory in various periods, new vistas in the 20th century, and so on. In this meeting we considered some of the principal parts of this story, from the launch with Newton and Leibniz up to around 1950. ‘Differential equations’ began with Leibniz, the Bernoulli brothers and others from the 1680s, not long after Newton’s ‘fluxional equations’ in the 1670s. Appli- cations were made largely to geometry and mechanics; isoperimetrical problems were exercises in optimisation. Most 18th-century developments consolidated the Leibnizian tradition, extend- ing its multi-variate form, thus leading to partial differential equations. General- isation of isoperimetrical problems led to the calculus of variations. New figures appeared, especially Euler, Daniel Bernoulli, Lagrange and Laplace. Development of the general theory of solutions included singular ones, functional solutions and those by infinite series. Many applications were made to mechanics, especially to astronomy and continuous media. In the 19th century: general theory was enriched by development of the un- derstanding of general and particular solutions, and of existence theorems. -
MG Agnesi, R. Rampinelli and the Riccati Family
Historia Mathematica 42 (2015): 296-314 DOI 10.1016/j.hm.2014.12.001 __________________________________________________________________________________ M.G. Agnesi, R. Rampinelli and the Riccati Family: A Cultural Fellowship Formed for an Important Scientific Purpose, the Instituzioni analitiche CLARA SILVIA ROERO Department of Mathematics G. Peano, University of Torino, Italy1 Not every learned man makes a good teacher, nor is he able to transmit to others what he knows. Rampinelli, however, was marvellously endowed with this talent. [Brognoli, 1785, 85]2 1. Introduction “Shortly after I arrived in Milan I had the pleasure of meeting Signora Countess Donna Maria Agnesi who was well versed in the Latin and Greek languages, and even Hebrew, as well as other more familiar tongues; moreover, she was well educated in the most important Metaphysics, the Physics of the day and Geometry, and she knew enough of Mechanics for the purposes of Physics; she had a little knowledge of Cartesian algebra, but all self-acquired as there was no one here who could enlighten her. Therefore she asked me to assist her in that study, to which I agreed, and in a short time she had, with extraordinary strength and depth of talent, wonderfully mastered Cartesian algebra and the two infinitesimal Calculi,3 to which she added the application of these to the most lofty physical matters. I assure you that I have always been and still am amazed by seeing such talent and such depth of knowledge in a woman as would be remarkable in a man, and in particular by seeing this accompanied by quite remarkable Christian virtue.”4 On 9 June 1745, Ramiro Rampinelli (1697-1759) thus presented to his main scientific interlocutor of the time, Giordano Riccati (1709-1790), the talents of his Milanese pupil 1 Financial support of MIUR, PRIN 2009 “Mathematical Schools and National Identity in Modern and Contemporary Italy”, unit of Torino. -
Issues 1 – 71 Spring 2004 – Autumn 2021 NB the Number in Square Brackets Indicates the Andrews, Michael: the Life That Lives on Bailey, E
An Index to issues 1 – 71 spring 2004 – autumn 2021 NB The number in square brackets indicates the Andrews, Michael: The Life that Lives on Bailey, E. McDonald: If It’s Speed You’re After, Baum, L. Frank: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, issue number of Slightly Foxed. Man, [14] 11 [62] 79 [39] 71 Angus, James Stout: A Glossary of the Shetland Bainbridge, Beryl: the novels of, [43] 26 Baynes, Jenny: article by, [1] 46 Dialect, [49] 36 Baker, J. A.: The Peregrine, [45] 31 Baynes, Pauline: illustrations of, [41] 44 Animals in fiction: Justin Cartwright on, Baker, Nicholson: The Everlasting Story of BB: see Watkins-Pitchford, Denys [1] 38 Nory, [35] 80; The Mezzanine, [69] 87 Beanland, David: article by, [53] 68 A Annan, Noel: Our Age, [63] 44 Bakewell, Sarah: article by, [49] 46 Beasant, Pamela: article by, [53] 76 Abbey, Edward: Desert Solitaire, [30] 82 Annesley, Horace: article by, [56] 75 Balchin, Nigel: The Small Back Room, Beauman, Nicola: The Other Elizabeth Taylor, Achebe, Chinua: Things Fall Apart, [22] 37 Anon.: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, [24] 60; Mine Own Executioner [51] 58 [58] 46 Acknowledgements: Oliver Pritchett on, [60] 34 Baldwin, James: Giovanni’s Room, [6] 42 Becoming a writer: Tim Mackintosh-Smith [28] 90 Ardizzone, Edward: The Young Ardizzone, Banffy, Miklos: The Writing on the Wall: The on, [63] 89 Adam, Ruth: A House in the Country, [57] 46 [28] 14, [41] 6; & Gorham, Maurice: The Transylvanian Trilogy, [5] 54 Bede, Cuthbert: The Adventures of Mr Verdant Adams, Matthew: articles by, [44] 33; [47] 39; Local; Back to the Local, [28] 32 Bankes, Ariane: articles by, [3] 7; [5] 26; Green, [55] 7 [49] 51 Arlen, Michael: The Green Hat, [7] 27 [12] 62; [15] 36; [20] 18; [28] 64; [33] 77; Bedford, Sybille: A Legacy, [38] 45; A Visit to Adams, Richard: Watership Down, [54] 30 Arseniev, V. -
Instituzioni Analitiche Ad Uso Della Gioveniù Italiana
Instituzioni Analitiche ad uso della gioveniù italiana – Considerações acerca da obra original, tradução e literatura secundária _____________________________________ ROSELI ALVES DE MOURA1 FUMIKAZU SAITO2 Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho é o de apresentar uma primeira análise da obra Instituzioni Analitiche ad Uso della Gioveniù Italiana (1748) de Maria Gaetana Agnesi (1718- 1799), fruto de nossa pesquisa de doutorado. Em função das novas tendências metodológicas em História da Ciência que apontam para a abordagem em que a Matemática deva ser considerada parte de um quadro contextual mais amplo, nos embrenhamos em uma cuidadosa revisão de literatura, com o intuito de apontar o atual estágio da pesquisa, expondo alguns indícios detectados em relação ao período em que a autora viveu, e que nos conduziu a visitar a Biblioteca Ambrosiana de Milão para levantamento de documentos, os quais, direta ou indiretamente estivessem relacionados à obra. Palavras-chave: história da matemática; educação matemática; história das ciências. Abstract The purpose of this work is to present the first part of a study in mathematics education which aims to analysis Instituzioni Analitiche ad della Use Gioveniù Italian (1748) by Maria Gaetana Agnesi (1718-1799). Due to new methodological trends in the history of science pointing to the approach that mathematics should be considered part of a broader contextual framework, we did a careful review of the literature, in order to point the current stage of research, exposing some evidence detected in the period in which the author lived and that led us to visit the Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan to survey documents, which, directly or indirectly related to the work of our autor. -
Gwen and Jacques Raverat. Paintings and Wood-Engravings, De L.M
LM. Newman and D.A. Steel, Gwen and Jacques Raverat. Paintings and Wood-Engravings. University of Lancaster Library, [G.-B.], 1989, 70 p., 6 ±:1. par Michael TILBY En juin, 1989 quelques amateurs de l'oeuvre des Raverat, dont notre ami David Steel, ont eu l'heureuse idée de monter, dans le cadre du vingt cinquième anniversaire de l'Université de Lancaster, une importante exposition consacrée à la vie artistique de ces deux amis de Gide. Pour ceux qui n'ont pu s'offrir le plaisir de voir de leurs propres yeux les quelque 180 tableaux et gravures que les organisateurs ont réussi à rassembler pour le profit de leurs visiteurs, gidiens et autres, il reste toujours ce catalogue, guère moins précieux. Orné d'une sélection de gravures sur bois de Gwen Raverat fort intéressante (dont une de 1930 qui a pour sujet l'abbaye de Pontigny), le catalogue proprement dit est précédé d'une élégante et très riche introduction (due à D. Steel) et suivi d'une bibliographie qui, sans prétendre être exhaustive, sera désormais le point de départ essentiel pour quiconque aura en vue une étude biographique de ces deux conjoints dont les dons artistiques et intellectuels, pour être essentiellement complémentaires, furent loin d'être négligeables. Que Mme Newman et l'imprimerie de l'Université de Lancaster trouvent ici d'ailleurs l'expression de notre admiration devant la qualité de la production matérielle de cette belle brochure de 70 pages. On ne saurait guère reprocher aux docteurs Newman et Steel le fait de n'avoir réuni en tout que cinq tableaux de Jacques Raverat, d'autant plus que ceux-ci étaient en provenance tous les cinq de collections privées, donc très peu connus. -
Raverat's River Interactive
The River Cam According to Gwen Raverat Introduction Gwen Raverat, the granddaughter of naturalist Charles Darwin, was born and brought up in Cambridge and pursued an artistic path, including study at The Slade School of Fine Art, London. Her practice was, to a great extent, a diary of her life as a woman in the early and mid 1900’s, depicting scenes from her home city, of her husband, painter Jacques Raverat, as well as imagery from a short period living in the south of France. Substantial collections of her work rest in two Cambridge institutions, Murray Edwards College (Raverat’s work is part of the New Hall Art Collection) and The Fitzwilliam Museum. Working in paint and relief printmaking (usually woodcuts or wood engravings), Gwen Raverat paid great attention to detail and drew on her surroundings for her subject matter. The river Cam appears regularly in her works, as part of the landscape or as the central character of the works, taking the viewer’s eye under bridges and along the buildings of Cambridge. This publication sets out and maps a selection of Raverat’s work, pinpointing the location where she captured her chosen subjects. In the course of the research, discoveries and connections that have been found are noted alongside each work, together with relevant other material such as geographical and access information. Created as part of a project capturing contemporary visual responses to Raverat’s rivers, the publication forms a component of a wider enquiry entitled To The River. To The River is a public art commission to celebrate the story of the river Cam in Cambridge.