Microchemical and microscopic characterization of the pictorial quality of egg-tempera polyptych, late 14th century, Florence, Italy

This paper explores the added value of micro-chemical and microscopic approaches to gather scientific evidence that can technically explain the pictorial quality of an egg-tempera painting, and underpin assessments that otherwise would be based on naked eye observations only. Demonstration is here provided via the interdisciplinary investigation of the original technique used by Giovanni del Biondo in the polyptych Annunciation and Saints (1385 ca), Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence, Italy. The exquisite surface appearance makes this panel painting remarkable compared to artworks by coeval artists. Imaging techniques (UV, IR and IR false color), non-invasive single spot techniques (XRF and FORS spectrometry) and analytical investigations on eight selected micro-samples (ATR-FTIR, GC/MS and Py/GC–MS, ESEM-EDS) were combined to retrieve the palette and identify organic binding media and a superficial coating layer. Stratigraphic and micro-chemical data confirmed the use of a relatively simple egg-tempera technique applied on a ground made of gypsum mixed with animal glue, without complex stratigraphic superimposition of preparation and pictorial layers. Various pigments were identified, among which is the precious lapis lazuli. While Py/GC–MS highlight that the coating is made of dammar resin and honey mixed with animal glue, the results allow us to state that the painting was not intentionally varnished by Giovanni del Biondo. These outcomes shed a new light on the technical knowledge of this polyptych, and prove how challenging is the attempt to categorize egg-tempera recipes used by ancient painters at the turn of the 14th century

Canine mammary tumors in Santos, Brazil: clinicopathological and survival profile

Os tumores das glândulas mamárias são as neoplasias mais comuns em cadelas em nosso país; no entanto, são poucos os trabalhos brasileiros dedicados ao estudo clinicopatológico e de sobrevida nesta doença. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo o estudo clínico e patológico dos tumores mamários caninos na Região Metropolitana de Santos, uma área no estado de São Paulo com uma população canina estimada em 120 mil animais. Dados de 14.298 cães foram coletados retrospectivamente dos prontuários médicos do Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Metropolitana de Santos – São Paulo – Brasil. Durante o período do estudo, foram atendidas 317 fêmeas com diagnóstico histopatológico de neoplasia, dos quais, 170 se referiam a lesões mamárias epiteliais distribuídas em 13 tumores benignos, 152 malignos (89,4% dos diagnósticos) e 5 lesões epiteliais não-neoplásicas (hiperplasia ductal). O tumor mais frequente foi o carcinoma tubular (38,2% dos tumores malignos) e tumores de grau I, respondendo por 73,0% do total diagnosticado. Estudos de sobrevida apontaram para o estadiamento clínico das neoplasias mamárias caninas como importante fator prognóstico, e na análise multivariada, diâmetro do tumor, grau histológico, quimioterapia adjuvante e recorrência apresentaram-se como covariáveis com valor preditivo de sobrevida. Levando-se em conta a elevada prevalência de carcinoma tubular simples na população canina de Santos, pode-se considerá-la como promissor modelo translacional para o estudo da doença.Tumors of the mammary glands are the most common neoplasms in dogs in our country; however, there are few Brazilian reports dedicated to clinicopathological and survival studies about this disease. This report aims the clinical and pathological study of canine mammary tumors in the Santos Metropolitan Region, an area in Sao Paulo state with an estimated canine population of 120,000 animals. Data of 14,298 dogs were collected retrospectively from the medical records of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of the Metropolitan University of Santos – São Paulo – Brazil. During the study period, from records of 317 females with histopathological diagnosis of neoplasia, 170 were mammary epithelial lesions distributed in 13 benign tumors, 152 malignant (89.4% of diagnosis) and 5 non-neoplasic epithelial lesions (ductal hyperplasia). The highest prevalent malignant tumor was tubular carcinoma (38.2% of diagnosis) and Grade I tumors, corresponding to 73.0% of all diagnosis. The results have shown clinical staging of canine mammary neoplasms as an important prognostic survival factor and, in a multivariate analysis, tumor diameter, tumor grade, adjuvant chemotherapy and recurrence as covariates with predictive value for survival. Moreover, the high prevalence of tubular carcinoma qualifies the canine population ofSantosas a promising model for the translational study of this disease

Accounting, Transparency and Governance: the Heritage Assets Problem

Purpose – This paper aims at offering a contribution which addresses one particular issue – heritage assets – as an exemplar of the challenges facing accounting practices in achieving transparency in government and public services. Design/methodology/approach – After having identified three levels of transparency, a documentary analysis is used as the primary research method. Findings – The investigation carried out reveals that the first level, or minimal level, of transparency is unlikely to be achieved for public organizations with heritage assets, mainly due to deep seated, pernicious problems of asset recognition and valuation. Originality/value – This paper contributes to the debate on what constitutes “good public governance” by examining whether accounting can foster or enhance “good governance” through the lens of transparency

Targeting monocyte chemotactic protein-1 synthesis with bindarit induces tumor regression in prostate and breast cancer animal models

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Detection and monitoring of Drosophila suzukii in raspberry and cherry orchards with volatile organic compounds in the USA and Europe

Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) causes significant economic loss in fruit crops to growers worldwide. There is immediate need for efficacious and selective monitoring tools that can detect infestations early. Previously, volatile organic compounds derived from apple were studied and a quinary chemical component blend (QB) was identified as the key SWD attractant in a blueberry orchard in the United States. This study’s aim was to determine whether previously observed QB efficacy, selectivity, and early detection levels could be attained within raspberry and cherry fields in the USA and Europe. Results demonstrated that sticky trap baited QB dispenser provided earlier SWD detection potential than the usually adopted apple cider vinegar (ACV) trap. The number of SWD captured/trap by QB baited trapping systems was significantly lower than that of the ACV trap. However, percent SWD/trap of QB baited traps was same within cherry. Lower non-target capture will save farmer/grower’s labor and time allocated to traps installation and drosophila species identification. Within the USA, SWD selectivity of QB baited liquid traps was consistently greater than sticky trap in raspberry field, suggesting that the QB dispenser can be an alternative to the standard ACV lure and that trap design could improve selectivity further.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Garlic and peppermint essential oils elicit plant defensive responses in sweet peppers

Exploiting plant defense mechanisms is a promising tool for pest management in modern agriculture. Plant Essential Oils (EOs) are used for the sustainable control of agricultural pests; however, their impact on plant defense has been scarcely investigated. In this work, we study for the first time whether the spraying of EOs can activate plant defense mechanisms in sweet pepper. The olfactory capacity of Encarsia formosa (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) to respond to defense-activated plants was used to select garlic and peppermint EOs among nine EOs sprayed on sweet peppers. The expression level of defense-related genes in plant tissues and the phytotoxicity were measured in response to EO foliar applications. Moreover, the olfactory responses of the herbivores, Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), and their natural enemies, Orius laevigatus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) and Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera: Miridae), to EO induced plant volatiles were also investigated. The gene expression analysis revealed activated jasmonic and salicylic acid defense signaling pathways in EO sprayed sweet pepper plants and a negligible phytotoxic effect was recorded. Choice tests revealed varying behavioral responses in selected insect models when plants were treated with garlic and peppermint EOs in different concentrations. Our results suggest that garlic and peppermint EO spray applications can enhance the defense mechanisms of sweet peppers and have a cascading bottom-up effects on the associated food chain. These initial findings provide a foundation for the future development of Integrated Pest Management strategies to protect solanaceous crops

CARGAS DE TRABAJO E INTERRELACIONES CON EL PROGRAMA DE HUMANIZACIÓN DEL PRENATAL Y NACIMIENTO

Objetivo: conhecer a inter-relação entre a implementação de práticas assistenciais, propostasno Programa de Humanização do Pré-Natal e Nascimento, e as cargas de trabalho presentesno processo de trabalho de enfermeiros em Centros Obstétricos e Maternidades. Método: qualitativoe descritivo, desenvolvido com 14 enfermeiros em dois Centros Obstétricos e Maternidades dedois hospitais do sul do Brasil. Dados coletados de outubro de 2015 a janeiro de 2016, através deentrevista semiestruturada, explorados com base na Análise de Conteúdo. Resultados: emergiramduas categorias: ‘A atenuação das cargas de trabalho’, na qual se destacam as cargas de trabalhobiológicas e psíquicas, e ‘A potencialização das cargas de trabalho’, sendo elencadas as cargas detrabalho biológicas, mecânicas e psíquicas. Conclusão: a forma e o contexto como se processamas cargas de trabalho levam-nas a ser atenuadas ou potencializadas na implementação de práticaspropostas no Programa de Humanização do Pré-Natal e Nascimento.Objective: to learn the interrelationship between the implementation of care practices proposed in the Program for the Humanization ofPrenatal and Childbirth Care and the workloads in the work process of nurses in obstetrics centers and maternity hospitals. Method: a qualitative anddescriptive study was carried out with 14 nurses at two obstetrics and maternity centers of two hospitals in southern Brazil. Data were gathered fromOctober 2015 to January 2016 through semi-structured interviews, explored with content analysis. Results: two categories emerged: ‘Attenuation ofworkloads’, in which biological and psychic workloads stand out, and ‘Amplification of workloads’, with biological, mechanic and psychic workloadsstanding out. Conclusion: the way and context in which workloads are processed make them attenuated or amplified when implementing practicesproposed in the Program for the Humanization of Prenatal and Childbirth Care.Objetivo: Conocer la interrelación entre implementación de prácticas asistenciales propuestas en el Programa de Humanización delPrenatal y Nacimiento, y cargas de trabajo existentes en el proceso de trabajo de enfermeros en Centros Obstétricos y Maternidades. Método:Cualitativo y descriptivo, desarrollado con 14 enfermeros en dos Centros Obstétricos y Maternidades de dos hospitales del sur de Brasil. Datosrecolectados de octubre de 2015 a enero de 2016 mediante entrevista semiestructurada, estudiados según Análisis de Contenido. Resultados:Surgieron dos categorías: ‘Atenuación de las cargas de trabajo’, en la que se destacan las cargas de trabajo biológicas y psíquicas, y ‘Potenciaciónde las cargas de trabajo’, mencionando las cargas de trabajo biológicas, mecánicas y psíquicas. Conclusión: La forma y el contexto en los que seprocesan las cargas de trabajo llevan a que se atenúen o potencien en la implementación de prácticas propuestas en el Programa de Humanizacióndel Prenatal y Nacimiento