From Frank Miller to Zack Snyder, and Return: Contemporary Superhero Comics and Post-Classical Hollywood

Film adaptations of superhero comic-books offer a particularly rich case study to analyse narrative strategies of contemporary Hollywood cinema. The serial structures adopted by the comics they are based on, as well as their use of the spectacular potential of the image, provide a successful model for current audiovisual productions. Without completely abandoning classical techniques, these adaptations try to find a new balance between narrative and digital phantasmagoria. This paper discusses some significant examples of this genre, including adaptations of classical DC and Marvel franchises and more recent series, as well as other comic-book influenced films such as The Matrix and Unbreakable.

Genetic variability evaluation in a Moroccan collection of barley, Hordeum vulgare L., by means of storage proteins and RAPDS

The genetic variation existing in a set of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) landrace samples recently collected in Morocco was estimated. Two kinds of genetic markers, seed storage proteins (hordeins) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), were used. Only six out of 31 landraces were subjected to RAPD analysis. Both kinds of markers, RAPD and storage proteins, yielded similar results, showing that the level of variation observed in Moroccan barley was high: all landraces showed variability; 808 different storage protein patterns (multilocus associations) were observed among 1897 individuals (2.32 seeds per association, on average) with an average of 43 multilocus associations per accession. In general, genetic variation within accessions was higher than between accessions. The 100 polymorphic RAPD bands generated by 21 effective primers were able to generate enough patterns to differentiate between uniform cultivars and even between individuals in variable accessions. One of the aims of this work was to compare the effectiveness of RAPD versus storage protein techniques in assessing the variability of genetic resource collections. On average hordeins were more polymorphic than RAPDs: they showed more alternatives per band on gels and a higher percentage of polymorphic bands, although RAPDs supply a higher number of bands. Although RAPD is an easy and standard technique, storage protein analysis is technically easier, cheaper and needs less sophisticated equipment. Thus, when resources are a limiting factor and considering the cost of consumables and work time, seed storage proteins must be the technique of choice for a first estimation of genetic variation in plant genetic resource collections.

Convergence of products from Povarov and von Miller reactions: approaches to helquinoline

Yttrium triflate or triflic acid catalysed Povarov reaction of methyl anthranilate with ethyl vinyl ether, both as aldehyde surrogate and as alkene, gave the desired 2-methyl-4-ethoxytetrahydroquinoline diastereoisomers as the major products along with four component coupling von Miller adducts. A proton NMR-study, using yttrium triflate as catalyst, revealed that the cis-diastereoisomers were the initial major products in both the Povarov and von Miller reactions but that these isomerised to the trans-diastereoisomers under the reaction conditions. Two distinct pathways for forming von Miller adducts were uncovered with the initial Povarov products being converted to von Miller adducts under the reaction conditions. Replacement of the 4-ethoxy with a 4-methoxy group under acidic conditions gave predominantly the trans-diastereoisomer, which was subsequently converted to a cis/trans mixture of the tetrahydroquinoline antibiotic helquinoline. It was also possible to convert the von Miller products to Povarov products under acidic conditions

Compendio di gesti del magnanimo et gloriosissimo Signore Sforza, inc[ipiente] dal tempo de la sua natiuità fine a la morte sua, compiliato in vulgare per Antonio Placentino nel anne MCCCCLVIII in Milano sotto lo Illustrissimo Signore Francesco Sforza Duca Duca quarto. (In fine: " Bartholomeus Gambagnola Cremonensis scripsit mandato Mag[nifi]ci domini Marchisini stanghe ducalis secretarii Die uigesimo septembris MCCCCLXXXX primo ". Membran. Con finissime miniature a f. 1 e 5. Il f. 4 è occupato da una mirabile miniatura rappresentante un guerriero a cavallo; sotto, leggesi: " Sfortia Atendolus italicorum ducum clarissimus ". Il suo ritratto è miniato anche a f. 5: nel margine inferiore della prima pagina è quello di Francesco Sforza. Nel corpo del testo molte lettere iniziali sono miniate).

Visconti. Saisi par Louis XII dans la bibliothèque des ducs de Milan à Pavie . N° 1466 du catalogue de 1544 et cote "Des vulgaires italiens pulpito 1°" de la Librairie royale de Blois ; — n° 2826 du catalogue de la Bibliothèque du roi à Paris à la fin du XVIe s.

Copie du cartulaire de l'abbaye Saint-Bertin à Saint-Omer, d'après les manuscrits de Boulogne et de Saint-Omer, par E. Miller.

Acquis le 20 mars 1835 de M. Miller pour le prix de 300 francs; cf. B.n.F., département des Manuscrits, registre des acquisitions 1833-1848, n° 1779 "Cartulaire de Folquin, copie moderne page pour page et ligne pour ligne prix fixé 300 F"; — signature de E. Miller et note de la main de C. Claude qui a collationné le ms. de Boulogne avec celui de Saint-Omer (A); cf. Stein, n° 3328

Dr. Jack Miller

Professor J. Miller, left, of the Department of Chemistry, instructs Mr. E. Farnworth of Thorold, a second year Chemistry student and Summer Research Assistant, in the theory and practice of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.

John Miller letter, December 1, 1812.

John Miller (1774-1862) was a physician and politician who served in the United States Congress as a representative from New York from 1825-1827. He began his medical practice in Washington County, N.Y. in 1798. In 1801 he moved to Fabius, Onondaga County, N.Y. (now Truxton, Cortland County). He served as postmaster at Truxton from 1805-1825, a justice of the peace from 1812-1821 and in the State Assembly in 1817, 1820 and 1845. Archibald McIntire [McIntyre] (1772-1858) was a businessman and politician. He immigrated to the United States with his family and settled in New York City around 1773. He was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1798-1821 (intermittently), in the New York State Senate form 1822-1826 and was New York State Comptroller from 1806-1821.

John Miller Letter - December 1, 1812

Letter transcription: Truxton, Dec. 1, 1812. Sir, Enclosed I transmit the [receipt] of the Collectors at Truxton to David Griswold for the tax on 50 acres of no. 56 Truxton … showing that the tax has been paid on that portion of the Lot; Mr. Griswold wishes you to keep the receipt and he will call this winter sometime and get it… not being a writer he called on me to do it for him. I am Sir yours sincerely John Miller

Indenture of Release between Richard Miller and others

Indenture of release by executors between Richard Miller, John L. Ranney and Richard Woodruff, all of St. Catharines and Joseph A. Woodruff of Clifton, all executors of the will of Samuel Zimmerman of the first part and The Great Western Railway Company of the second part. Parties of the second part have exonerated parties of the first part to undertake and complete the Sarnia branch of the railway. Also, parties of the first part believe they are entitled to compensation as the death of Zimmerman was caused while travelling on one of the carriages belonging to said company. A sum of $150,000 was agreed upon to be paid to the executors by the Great Western Railway Company, September 7, 1858.