Birch bark tar

The functional and technological analysis of prehistoric artefact

The combined use of cross-section analysis and other stratigraphic recording systems in the cleaning of two panel paintings from the fifteenth- and sixteenth-century

Cross sections are frequently used in the stratigraphic study of pictorial structures. Thanks to cross sections, it is possible to study and record original and non-original strata that may provide important information regarding the artist's technique and later restoration processes. This information helps conservators design different strategies in processes such as cleaning. However, it is often in cleaning where the advantages and limitations of cross sections become obvious. When dealing with a complex structure, cross sections may not be enough to record in a comprehensive and accurate manner all the strata removed during cleaning. In some cases, the conservator may obtain during cleaning a great amount of stratigraphic information that is not visible in the cross sections. Therefore, it may be necessary to resort to other recording systems, such as the stratigraphic unit recording sheet and the stratigraphic diagram, which are frequently used in archaeological stratigraphy. This article demonstrates how cross-section analysis was combined with stratigraphic study during the cleaning of two panel paintings to gain an improved understanding of their complicated layer structure.Barros García, JM.; Reina De La Torre, A.; Pérez Marín, E. (2014). The combined use of cross-section analysis and other stratigraphic recording systems in the cleaning of two panel paintings from the fifteenth- and sixteenth-century. Studies in Conservation. 60(4):245-252. doi:10.1179/2047058414Y.0000000128S24525260

Hematopoietic upstream stimulating factor 1 deficiency is associated with increased atherosclerosis susceptibility in LDL receptor knockout mice

Total body upstream stimulatory factor 1 (USF1) deficiency in mice is associated with brown adipose tissue activation and a marked protection against the development of obesity and atherosclerotic lesions. Functional expression of USF1 has also been detected in monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages. In the current study we therefore tested whether selective hematopoietic USF1 deficiency can also beneficially impact the development of atherosclerosis. For this purpose, LDL receptor knockout mice were transplanted with bone marrow from USF1 knockout mice or their wild-type littermate controls and subsequently fed a Western-type diet for 20 weeks to stimulate atherosclerotic lesion development. Strikingly, absence of USF1 function in bone marrow-derived cells was associated with exacerbated blood leukocyte (+ 100%; P < 0.01) and peritoneal leukocyte (+ 50%; P < 0.05) lipid loading and an increased atherosclerosis susceptibility (+ 31%; P < 0.05). These effects could be attributed to aggravated hyperlipidemia, i.e. higher plasma free cholesterol (+ 33%; P < 0.001) and cholesteryl esters (+ 39%; P < 0.001), and the development of hepatosteatosis. In conclusion, we have shown that hematopoietic USF1 deficiency is associated with an increased atherosclerosis susceptibility in LDL receptor knockout mice. These findings argue against a contribution of macrophage-specific USF1 deficiency to the previously described beneficial effect of total body USF1 deficiency on atherosclerosis susceptibility in mice.Biopharmaceutic

Molecular assessment of bacterial vaginosis by Lactobacillus abundance and species diversity

__Background:__ To date, women are most often diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis (BV) using microscopy based Nugent scoring or Amsel criteria. However, the accuracy is less than optimal. The aim of the present study was to confirm the identity of known BV-associated composition profiles and evaluate indicators for BV using three molecular methods. __Methods:__ Evaluation of indicators for BV was carried out by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of the V5-V7 region, a tailor-made 16S rRNA oligonucleotide-based microarray, and a PCR-based profiling technique termed IS-profiling, which is based on fragment variability of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region. An inventory of vaginal bacterial species was obtained from 40 females attending a Dutch sexually transmitted infection outpatient clinic, of which 20 diagnosed with BV (Nugent score 7-10), and 20 BV negative (Nugent score 0-3). __Results:__ Analysis of the bacterial communities by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing revealed two clusters in the BV negative women, dominated by either Lactobacillus iners or Lactobacillus crispatus and three distinct clusters in the BV positive women. In the former, there was a virtually complete, negative correlation between L. crispatus and L. iners. BV positive subjects showed cluster profiles that were relatively high in bacterial species diversity and dominated by anaerobic species, including Gardnerella vaginalis, an