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Investment decisions are largely based on the information investors received from the target firm. Thaler introduced the hedonic editing framework, in which suggests that integration/segregation of information influence individual's perceived value. Meanwhile, when evaluating the evidence and information in a sequence, order effect and biases have been found to have an impact in various areas. In this research, the influence of the Organization of Information (Integration vs. Segregation) and the Sequence of Information (Negative-Positive order vs. Positive-Negative order) on individual's investment decision-making both at the behavioral level (decision) and neurometrix level (measured by an individual's emotion and Approach Withdraw tendency) was assessed for the three groups of information: a piece of Big Positive Information and a piece of Small Negative Information, a piece of Big Negative Information and a piece of Small Positive Information, and a piece of Small Negative information. The behavioral results, which are an individual's final investment decision, were consistent for all three scenarios. In general, individuals will invest more/retire less when receiving two pieces of information in a Negative-Positive order. However, the neurometric results (Emotional Index, Approach Withdraw Index and results from LORETA) show differences among information groups. An effect of the Sequence of Information and the Organization of Information was found for the different scenarios. The results suggest that in the scenarios that involve large-scale information, the organization of information (Integration vs. Segregation) influences the emotion and Approach Withdraw tendency. The results of this investigation should provide insight for effective communication of information, especially when large-scale information is involved.

Over the past few decades the Campi Flegrei territorial system was interested by intense urban expansion overlooking the volcanic risk. In this active volcanic area, where a short period evacuation could be necessary, the emergency management cannot be based solely on the hazard related information, but the territorial and social features must be as well taken into account. In this framework, the main purpose of this research is to point out the seriousness of the present setting of Campi Flegrei territorial system in case an evacuation would become necessary. Following the concept of regional evacuation, the zone to be involved in emergency planning was identified as the whole of the area threatened by the volcanic events occurred in the last 10 ka. Inside this area the spatial relation between the residents distribution and the outflows of routes, railway stations and harbours, necessary to leave the dangerous area, was investigated. A spatial relational GIS-based procedure was used to draw the territorial system vulnerability map for evacuation, depicting the zones with different capability to support the evacuation of residents in case of renewal of volcanic activity. Basing on the concept that people could leave the dangerous area by the means of transport supplied by Civil Protection, and using the threshold value of over-crowding of 0,70 people/ m2, we identified the collection points for residents to be immediately evacuated in case of volcanic unrest, and five microzones displaying different capability to cope with an emergency phase.

In the last decade, new device concepts based on novel fabrication methods have emerged as a powerful and general class of supersensitive sensors for the direct detection of biological and chemical targets. Pushed by the opportunity to activate the physical-chemical phenomena at the nanoscale, novel patterning paradigms have gained nanofabrication accuracy accompanied by the fast development of bottom-up strategies. In this frenetic framework, the combination of some heterogeneous techniques-basically nano-imprint lithography, grafting of functional molecules, and synthesis of new ligands and probes to capture specific biological targets-have gained strong attention as enabling emerging technological mixture to fabricate ultra dense array of specialized sensors. Within the scope of this technological convergence, the paper is basically devoted to describe the processes involved in the production of stamps for nanoimprint lithography, the fabrication of printed array of silicon sensors on the micrometer and sub-micrometer resolution, the subsequent covalent biofunctionalization with single strand DNA and some preliminary electrical detection of the hybridization events via water modulating ac resistance. Among the possible choices, focus was given to planar functionalized capacitors for their intrinsic simple configuration and also because they appeared to be the most promising candidates for mass production in printed device architecture. The paper is based on original results but contains also data and achievements taken from the literature to make the discussion self-contained. © 2011 American Scientific Publishers.

In this work we analyze, for the Hamiltonian Mean Field model, the relationship between the existence of quasi-stationary long-standing trajectories and the topology of the potential energy, following the ideas recently introduced in the literature [1]. In particular, we study the way topology alters the distribution of momenta along the trajectories as well asthe long-time behavior of the system.

The effect of the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylphyrazole phosphate (DMPP) on N-fertilized crop growth and soil N2O emissions were studied at two experimental sites in Southern Italy, characterised by a Mediterranean climate and different soil texture. The experiments were a randomized block design of two treatments: crop fertilized with NH4NO3 (considered the control treatment) or amended with DMPP plus NH4NO3 (considered the DMPP treatment). ANOVA was performed to assess differences between treatments and fertilization periods whereas simple and multiple linear regressions were performed in order to assess the effect of the soil-related in-dependent variables on soil gases emissions. Growth of potato plants fertilized with DMPP-added nitrogen was enhanced compared to control plants, whereas no benefit on maize plants grown during summer was observed. N2O emissions measured from soil to potato after the first fertilization with DMPP-added nitrogen was reduced during winter, but was higher than control after the second fertilizer application in spring, leading to comparable N2O emission factors (EF1) between treatments. In maize N2O emissions and EF1 were lower for DMPP compared to control treatment. The effectiveness of reduction in soil N2O emission was influenced by soil temperature and water-filled pore space (WFPS) in both experimental sites. However, the overall effect of WFPS was contrasting as N2O emissions were decreased in potato and enhanced in maize.

SummaryObjectives: The aim of the present study is to investigate the variations of the electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha rhythm in order to measure the appreciation of bilateral and unilateral young cochlear implant users during the observation of a musical cartoon. The cartoon has been modified for the generation of three experimental conditions: one with the original audio, another one with a distorted sound and, finally, a mute version.Methods: The EEG data have been recorded during the observation of the cartoons in the three experimental conditions. The frontal alpha EEG imbalance has been calculated as a measure of motivation and pleasantness to be compared across experimental populations and conditions.Results: The EEG frontal imbalance of the alpha rhythm showed significant variations during the perception of the different cartoons. In particular, the pattern of activation of normal-hearing children is very similar to the one elicited by the bilateral implanted patients. On the other hand, results related to the unilateral subjects do not present significant variations of the imbalance index across the three cartoons.Conclusion: The presented results suggest that the unilateral patients could not appreciate the difference in the audio format as well as bilaterally implanted and normal hearing subjects. The frontal alpha EEG imbalance is a useful tool to detect the differences in the appreciation of audiovisual stimuli in cochlear implant patients.

Organic Optoelectronic Devices like OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) and OPV (Organic Photovoltaic Device) with a two-dimensional photonic crystal structure have been fabricated by several groups, but not all the opportunities are still exploited and many further steps can be done in this field of optics application. In particular the Photonic Quasi Crystal (PQC) structures are rarely employed and utilized without verify their effective potential. Through PQC structure is possible to enhance more than one optics wavelenght and so they could be very important for large spectra emission sources, i.e. white organic light emission diode (WOLED). In this work we realized many different PQC, octagonal, 12-fould and Thue-Morse, structures using a high-resolution electron beam lithography (EBL) technique. The EBL employed consisted of a Raith 150 system. The samples were obtained by exposing a layer of ZEP (electronic resist) deposited on a highly conductive PEDOT:PSS layer, spin coated onto a Corning glass substrate. A 200-nm-thick layer of colloidal doped ZEP was spin coated on top of the cleaned substrate. The resulting two-dimensional photonic crystal is made of air rods embedded into the organic matrix of ZEP. The ZEP crystal was subsequently used as a lithographic mask during the anisotropic plasma etching process of the underlying highly conductive PEDOT:PSS, which was obtained by doping the PEDOT:PSS with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The plasma etching partially removes the PEDOT:PSS layer, yielding a polymeric photonic quasi crystal onto a polymeric electrode. An optical setup was adopted to evaluate the PQC properties and estimate the WOLED spectral properties. Light propagating in the glass substrate and extracted by diffraction was measured at room temperature. This apparatus has been used to analyze the optical properties of our photonic crystals in order to evaluate the resonances of the structures and the operational optical ranges. In figure is possible to observe the chromaticity diagram (CIE diagram) related to the extracted PQC spectra. It will be also showed the result obtained using the nanostructured electrode within a OLED device and will be examined its effect on the electro-optical properties.

The purpose of this chapter is to share scientific methods for the quantitative measurement of emotion through the recording of physiologic and cerebral variables of consumers in relation to advertising stimuli and during the purchase in the store. For this reason, the authors describe the way to estimate the emotion along the visit of a shop by using the approach-withdrawal index. It demonstrates how it is possible to describe the variation of the appreciation of a shop visit by two groups of persons. The specific contribution to the scientific literature is the use of such approach-withdrawal index and the estimation of the emotion linked with the visit of a large point of sale (e.g. a supermarket). The proper use of these methodologies can provide information related to cognitive and emotional aspects of persons involved in the appreciation of products in retail points of sale.

MgB 2 thin films were grown in-situ at INFM- University of Naples by a magnetron sputtering technique in a UHV system (10-7 Pa) equipped with 3 focused 2′′ magnetron sources (a stoichiometric MgB 2 and metallic Mg and B targets by Superconducting Components Inc.). The substrates (sapphire or MgO) were placed "on axis" at 7 cm from the target surface on the surface of a molybdenum heater that could be operated up to 1000°C under vacuum. Best results were obtained codepositing MgB 2 and Mg at equal sputtering power (500W) for 10 min on cold substrates, resulting in a Mg rich Mg-B precursor film. The films were then annealed inhyphen;situ at 830°C for 10 min in a In sealed Nb box in presence of saturated Mg vapor. The process is highly reproducible and can be easily scaled to produce large area films. The resulting films were about 1μm thick, with 100nm surface roughness as measured by AFM Resistive transition showed a maximum T c of 35 K and a transition width lower than 0.5 K. The residual resistivity ratio was 1.6 for the best sample. Resistivity measurements in external magnetic field up to 8 T have been performed both in parallel and perpendicular configuration. The upper critical magnetic field vs. temperature behavior has been determined from the experimental data and the superconducting anisotropy has been calculated for samples with different T c .

The present research investigates the neurophysiological activity elicited by fast observations of faces of real candidates during simulated political elections. We used simultaneous recording of electroencephalographic (EEG) signals as well as galvanic skin response (GSR) and heart rate (HR) as measurements of central and autonomic nervous systems. Twenty healthy subjects were asked to give judgments on dominance, trustworthiness, and a preference of vote related to the politicians’ faces. We used high-resolution EEG techniques to map statistical differences of power spectral density (PSD) cortical activity onto a realistic head model as well as partial directed coherence (PDC) and graph theory metrics to estimate the functional connectivity networks and investigate the role of cortical regions of interest (ROIs). Behavioral results revealed that judgment of dominance trait is the most predictive of the outcome of the simulated elections. Statistical comparisons related to PSD and PDC values highlighted an asymmetry in the activation of frontal cortical areas associated with the valence of the judged trait as well as to the probability to cast the vote. Overall, our results highlight the existence of cortical EEG features which are correlated with the prediction of vote and with the judgment of trustworthy and dominant faces.

Fibrobacter succinogenes S85 cultures that were cellobiose-limited converted cellobiose to succinate and acetate, produced little glucose or cellotriose, maintained an intracellular ATP concentration of 4.1 mM and a membrane potential of 140 mV for 24 h, did not lyse at a rapid rate once they had reached sta- tionary phase, and had a most probable number of viable cells that was greater than 10 6 /ml. When the cel- lobiose concentration was increased 6-fold (5 mM to 30 mM), ammonia was depleted and the cultures left 10 mM cellobiose. Cultures provided with excess cello- biose produced succinate and acetate while they were growing, but there was little increase in fermentation acids after the ammonia was depleted and growth ceased. The stationary-phase, cellobiose-excess cultures had a lysis rate that was 7-fold faster than that of the cellobiose-limited cultures, and the most probable number was only 3.3 · 10 3 cells/ml. The stationary- phase, cellobiose-excess cultures had 2.5 times as much cellular polysaccharide as the cellobiose-limited cultures, but the intracellular ATP and membrane potential were very low (0.1 mM and 40 mV respectively). Met- hylglyoxal, a potentially toxic end-product of carbohy- drate fermentation, could not be detected, and fresh inocula grew rapidly in spent medium that was supple- mented with additional ammonia. Stationary-phase, cellobiose-excess cultures converted cellobiose to glucose and cellotriose, but the apparent Km of cellotriose for- mation was 15-fold lower than the Km of glucose pro- duction (0.7 mM compared to 10 mM).

Growing cultures of Fibrobacter succinogenes S85 digested cellulose at a rapid rate, but nongrowing cells and cell extracts did not have detectable crystalline cellulase activity. Cells that had been growing exponentially on cellobiose initiated cellulose digestion and succinate production immediately, and cellulose-dependent succinate production could be used as an index of enzyme activity against crystalline cellulose. Cells incubated with cellulose never produced detectable cellobiose, and cells that were preincubated for a short time with thiocellobiose lost their ability to digest cellulose (competitive inhibition [K(infi)] of only 0.2 mg/ml or 0.56 mM). Based on these results, the crystalline cellulases of F. succinogenes were very sensitive to feedback inhibition. Different cellulose sources bound different amounts of Congo red, and the binding capacity was HCl-regenerated cellulose > ball-milled cellulose > Sigmacel > Avicel > filter paper. Congo red binding capacity was highly correlated with the maximum rates of metabolism of cellulose digestion and inversely related to K(infm). Congo red (250 (mu)g/ml) did not inhibit the growth of F. succinogenes S85 on cellobiose, but this concentration of Congo red inhibited the rate of ball-milled cellulose digestion. A Lineweaver-Burk plot of ball-milled cellulose digestion rate versus the amount of cellulose indicated that Congo red was a competitive inhibitor of cellulose digestion (K(infi) was 250 (mu)g/ml).

Meat quality traits in buffalo beef were examined and their genetic parameters and genetic correlations to carcass composition were estimated. Dissection was performed on 40 buffalo beef carcasses and all traits recorded for each animal, as well as the weight on muscle lungissimus dorsi (LD). The temperature and pH were recorded at 1 and 48h post-slaughter. Intramuscular fat, protein, dry matter, meat colour (redness, a*, yellowness b* and lightness L*) were recorded. Hereditability estimates ranged from 0.12 and 0.99 for dissection traits and 0.61 and 0.68 for meat quality traits, which was significant for all traits except for ultimate pH and b*. Genetic correlation with L* were negative for a* and high and positive for b*. Intramuscular fat was moderate to highly genetically correlated to the a*, b* and half hot carcass weight. The not significant genetic correlation found between several of the meat quality traits, and between meat quality traits and carcasses composition traits, suggests that the meat quality traits analyzed should be implemented into breeding programme with care since their full effect on the other traits under selection cannot be accurately estimated. For more accurate estimates, further studies that especially include a large number of records for colour meat measures are needed.

International audience; Graph theory is a powerful mathematical tool recently introduced in neuroscience field for quantitatively describing the main properties of investigated connectivity networks. Despite the technical advancements provided in the last few years, further investigations are needed for overcoming actual limitations in the field. In fact, the absence of a common procedure currently applied for the extraction of the adjacency matrix from a connectivity pattern has been leading to low consistency and reliability of ghaph indexes among the investigated population. In this paper we proposed a new approach for adjacency matrix extraction based on a statistical threshold as valid alternative to empirical approaches, extensively used in Neuroscience field (i.e. fixing the edge density). In particular we performed a simulation study for investigating the effects of the two different extraction approaches on the topological properties of the investigated networks. In particular, the comparison was performed on two different datasets, one composed by uncorrelated random signals (null-model) and the other one by signals acquired on a mannequin head used as a phantom (EEG null-model). The results highlighted the importance to use a statistical threshold for the adjacency matrix extraction in order to describe the real existing topological properties of the investigated networks. The use of an empirical threshold led to an erroneous definition of small-world properties for the considered connectivity patterns.

Thin films of the recently discovered magnesium diboride (MgB2) intermetalic superconducting compound have been grown using a magnetron sputtering deposition technique followed by in-situ annealing at 830 C. High quality films were obtained on both sapphire and MgO substrates. The best films showed maximum Tc = 35 K (onset), a transition width of 0.5 K, a residual resistivity ratio up to 1.6, a low temperature critical current density Jc > 1 MA/cm2 and anisotropic critical field with gamma = 2.5 close to the values obtained for single crystals. The preparation technique can be easily scaled to produce large area in-situ films., 7 pages, 4 figures

Driving tasks are vulnerable to the effects of sleep deprivation and mental fatigue, diminishing driver's ability to respond effectively to unusual or emergent situations. Physiological and brain activity analysis could help to understand how to provide useful feedback and alert signals to the drivers for avoiding car accidents. In this study we analyze the insurgence of mental fatigue or drowsiness during car driving in a simulated environment by using high resolution EEG techniques as well as neurophysiologic variables such as heart rate (HR) and eye blinks rate (EBR). Results suggest that it is possible to introduce a EEG-based cerebral workload index that it is sensitive to the mental efforts of the driver during drive tasks of different levels of difficulty. Workload index was based on the estimation of increase of EEG power spectra in the theta band over prefrontal areas and the simultaneous decrease of EEG power spectra over parietal areas in alpha band during difficult drive conditions. Such index could be used in a future to assess on-line the mental state of the driver during the drive task.

A novel beta-chain, beta 126(H4)Val----Gly, electrophoretically silent, was detected by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography in three unrelated families from Naples (Southern Italy) and accounted for about 30% of the total beta-chains. The amino acid substitution was detected by HPLC fingerprint. The eight heterozygous patients showed hematologic and biosynthetic alterations of mild beta-thalassemia type. The hemoglobin variant showed abnormal stability features. It was unstable in the heat stability and isopropanol precipitation tests, but did not cause a hemolytic syndrome in vivo and was stable in a time- course experiment of biosynthesis in vitro. DNA polymerase chain reaction direct sequencing of the mutated gene from 135 nt upstream of the cap site to 106 nt downstream of the polyadenylation site showed only the beta 126 GTG----GGG mutation, which was confirmed in the other patients by allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization. The mutation was found to be associated with a type II beta-globin framework and restriction fragment length polymorphism haplotype V. The novel variant was named hemoglobin Neapolis.

A novel 5.3-kb deletion of the alpha-globin gene cluster was observed in a family from Naples, Southern Italy. It removes the 5′ end of the alpha 2-globin gene, causing an alpha (+)-thalassemia defect. Because of the presence of the residual 3′ end of the alpha 2-globin gene, we indicated this new haplotype with the symbol (alpha)alpha 5.3. The 5′ breakpoint, the first to be reported in the intergene region of the psi alpha 2- and psi alpha 1-globin genes, is located 822 bp upstream of the cap site of the psi alpha 1-gene and about 150 bp upstream of a 300- nt Alu family member. The 3′ breakpoint is located in the IVS-1 nt 58 of the alpha 2-globin gene. The 5.3-kb deleted fragment shows particular characteristics: it contains four Alu sequences having long regions 80% complementary and the 5′-GGCC-3′ short repeat at both ends. The sequences spanning across the breakpoints on the same strand and containing this repeat on their 3′ and 5′ ends, respectively, are 17 of 25 base complementary. These particular features led us to assume the formation of a multistem-loop due to the intrastrand interaction between the complementary regions as intermediate to the deletion. The unusual localization of the 5′ breakpoint suggests that even the intergene region of the psi alpha 2- and psi alpha 1-globin genes may function as a deletion target.

A novel 5.3-kb deletion of the alpha-globin gene cluster was observed in a family from Naples, Southern Italy. It removes the 5′ end of the alpha 2-globin gene, causing an alpha (+)-thalassemia defect. Because of the presence of the residual 3′ end of the alpha 2-globin gene, we indicated this new haplotype with the symbol (alpha)alpha 5.3. The 5′ breakpoint, the first to be reported in the intergene region of the psi alpha 2- and psi alpha 1-globin genes, is located 822 bp upstream of the cap site of the psi alpha 1-gene and about 150 bp upstream of a 300- nt Alu family member. The 3′ breakpoint is located in the IVS-1 nt 58 of the alpha 2-globin gene. The 5.3-kb deleted fragment shows particular characteristics: it contains four Alu sequences having long regions 80% complementary and the 5′-GGCC-3′ short repeat at both ends. The sequences spanning across the breakpoints on the same strand and containing this repeat on their 3′ and 5′ ends, respectively, are 17 of 25 base complementary. These particular features led us to assume the formation of a multistem-loop due to the intrastrand interaction between the complementary regions as intermediate to the deletion. The unusual localization of the 5′ breakpoint suggests that even the intergene region of the psi alpha 2- and psi alpha 1-globin genes may function as a deletion target.

We have measured the temperature and magnetic field dependencies of the critical current density J c (H,T) in MgB 2 thin films, in situ deposited by sputtering. Three-dimensional point like normal core pinning was evidenced by measurements of the magnetic dependence of the pinning forces independently from the superconducting and structural quality of the investigated films. The analysis of the experimental data in terms of the collective pinning model has pointed out the presence of a crossover magnetic field from a single vortex to a small vortex bundle pinning regime. A ΔT c pinning mechanism, i.e., a pinning associated with spatial fluctuations of the transition temperature, has been evidenced by the temperature dependence of this crossover field, in agreement with previous observations performed on MgB 2 bulk materials.

In this work we analyze the Hamiltonian Mean Field model, which consists of a set of N interacting rotators that move around an unitary circle. This model presents a very complex dynamical behavior and, in particular, the canonical predictions do not necessarily coincide with the temporal averages obtained along numerical simulations. Recently, a topological explanation for the existence of these anomalies has been introduced. In this work we further analyze this hypothesis by considering the role of the energy of the system in the dynamics of the model.

A pUC19-derived plasmid was constructed that coded for a hybrid cellulase with the Thermomonospora fusca E2 cellulose-binding domain at its C terminus joined to the Prevotella ruminicola 40.5-kDa carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase). The hybrid enzyme was purified and characterized enzymatically. It bound tightly to cellulose, and its specific activities on carboxymethyl cellulose, amorphous cellulose, and ball-milled cellulose were 1.5, 10, and 8 times that of the 40.5-kDa CMCase, respectively. Furthermore, the modified enzyme gave synergism with an exocellulase in the degradation of filter paper, while the 40.5-kDa CMCase did not.

Hb City of Hope [beta 69(E13)Gly----Ser] was detected by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography in an asymptomatic carrier from Naples, Southern Italy. The amino acid substitution, identified by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, was due to a TGG----TGA substitution as assessed by DNA sequencing. Analysis of the chromosomal background indicates that the globin gene cluster containing the mutant gene has most probably been rearranged by a recombination event, since the mutation was associated with restriction fragment length polymorphism haplotype IX, instead of haplotype I, as previously reported.

A novel beta-chain, beta 126(H4)Val----Gly, electrophoretically silent, was detected by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography in three unrelated families from Naples (Southern Italy) and accounted for about 30% of the total beta-chains. The amino acid substitution was detected by HPLC fingerprint. The eight heterozygous patients showed hematologic and biosynthetic alterations of mild beta-thalassemia type. The hemoglobin variant showed abnormal stability features. It was unstable in the heat stability and isopropanol precipitation tests, but did not cause a hemolytic syndrome in vivo and was stable in a time-course experiment of biosynthesis in vitro. DNA polymerase chain reaction direct sequencing of the mutated gene from 135 nt upstream of the cap site to 106 nt downstream of the polyadenylation site showed only the beta 126 GTG----GGG mutation, which was confirmed in the other patients by allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization. The mutation was found to be associated with a type II beta-globin framework and restriction fragment length polymorphism haplotype V. The novel variant was named hemoglobin Neapolis.

A novel 5.3-kb deletion of the alpha-globin gene cluster was observed in a family from Naples, Southern Italy. It removes the 5' end of the alpha 2-globin gene, causing an alpha (+)-thalassemia defect. Because of the presence of the residual 3' end of the alpha 2-globin gene, we indicated this new haplotype with the symbol (alpha)alpha 5.3. The 5' breakpoint, the first to be reported in the intergene region of the psi alpha 2- and psi alpha 1-globin genes, is located 822 bp upstream of the cap site of the psi alpha 1-gene and about 150 bp upstream of a 300-nt Alu family member. The 3' breakpoint is located in the IVS-1 nt 58 of the alpha 2-globin gene. The 5.3-kb deleted fragment shows particular characteristics: it contains four Alu sequences having long regions 80% complementary and the 5'-GGCC-3' short repeat at both ends. The sequences spanning across the breakpoints on the same strand and containing this repeat on their 3' and 5' ends, respectively, are 17 of 25 base complementary. These particular features led us to assume the formation of a multistem-loop due to the intrastrand interaction between the complementary regions as intermediate to the deletion. The unusual localization of the 5' breakpoint suggests that even the intergene region of the psi alpha 2- and psi alpha 1-globin genes may function as a deletion target.

Enmity and amity govern the comportment of the opposite parties in the Numancia and contribute to its tragic end. Contrary to what some critics have suggested, Scipio does not conduct himself as an astute Machiavellian leader. The enmity, arrogance, and misguided cunning he displays towards the Numantians betray Machiavelli's sense of prudence, judiciousness, and governing. His vindictive behavior provokes a mutual enmity in the Numantians, which intensifies their resolve to deny the Roman general the victory he seeks. The Numantians' unanimity in consenting to and carrying out their mass suicide could not be realized without the existence of an unconditional duty of friendship among themselves similar to the Greek cult of fraternity-in-arms. Their sacrifice is both an act of patriotism and a call for vengeance to be realized by their future Spanish compatriots. In question is whether the latter are suitable avengers.