Archaeometric characterization of Byzantine pottery from Păcuiul lui Soare

Abstract Archaeometric investigations using OM (optical microscopy) and micro-PIXE (particle induced X-ray emission) were performed on 45 ceramic shards unearthed in archaeological excavations at Păcuiul lui Soare (southeastern Romania) and dated to the eleventh century AD. This study aimed to get clues about the raw materials and manufacturing techniques used by the potters from the Lower Danube area during the Byzantine period. The analyzed ceramic fragments were selected according to stylistic and archaeological criteria, trying to cover the entire palette of potteries discovered at this site. OM detailed the characteristics of the fabric (texture, microstructure and porosity), mineralogy, surface treatments and firing of the shards. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the PIXE data highlighted two main categories of shards with distinct compositional signatures, separated mainly by their aluminum and calcium content. Micro-PIXE maps of the interfaces between the glaze and the ceramic body showed that the green glaze is rich in lead oxide compared to the underlying ceramic body. The results of these investigations were compared to the ones previously obtained on coeval potteries from other Byzantine archaeological sites, i.e. Hârşova and Oltina, trying to get some hints about the consumption and circulation of pottery in the Lower Danube region at the beginning of the second millennium AD

Romanian ancient gold objects provenance studies using micro-beam methods: the case of "Pietroasa" hoard

Abstract Five fragments of ancient gold objects belonging to Pietroasa "Closca cu Puii de Aur" ("The Golden Brood Hen with Its Chickens") Romanian hoard were analysed using the micro-PIXE (particle induced X-ray emission) technique. The purpose of the study was to gain some more knowledge regarding the metal provenance by determining the presence of PGE (Platinum Group Elements) and other high-temperature melting point trace elements (Ta, Nb, Cr) at a micrometric scale. Ta and Nb inclusions (micrometric areas of composition different from the surroundings) on three samples and Pd inclusions on one sample were found. The measurements led to some conclusions for the possible gold ore sources of Pietroasa treasury: the South-Ural Mountains, Nubia (Sudan) and/or Anatolian deposits and Roman imperial coins

Micro-SR-XRF and micro-PIXE studies for archaeological gold identification – The case of Carpathian (Transylvanian) gold and of Dacian bracelets

Abstract Trace-elements are more significant for provenancing archaeological metallic artifacts than the main components. For gold, the most promising elements are platinum group elements (PGE), Sn, Te, Sb, Hg and Pb. Several small fragments of natural Transylvanian gold – placer and primary – were studied by using micro-PIXE technique at the Legnaro National Laboratory AN2000 microbeam facility, Italy and at the AGLAE accelerator, C2RMF, Paris, France and by using micro synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (micro-SR-XRF) at BESSY synchrotron, Berlin, Germany. The goal of the study was to identify the trace-elements, especially Sn, Sb and Te. A spectacular application to five Dacian gold bracelets authentication is presented (Sn and Sb traces)

Clinical presentation and management of acromegaly in elderly patients

Background and aim: Acromegaly is a rare disease with a peak of incidence in early adulthood. However, enhanced awareness of this disease, combined with wide availability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), has increased the diagnosis of forms with mild presentation, especially in elderly patients. Moreover, due to increased life expectancy and proactive individualized treatment, patients with early-onset acromegaly are today aging. The aim of our study was to describe our cohort of elderly patients with acromegaly. Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional retrospective study of 96 outpatients. Clinical, endocrine, treatment, and follow-up data were collected using the electronic database of the University Hospital of Padova, Italy. Results: We diagnosed acromegaly in 13 patients, aged 6565\ua0years, presenting with relatively small adenomas and low IGF-1 secretion. Among them, 11 patients were initially treated with medical therapy and half normalized hormonal levels after 6\ua0months without undergoing neurosurgery (TNS). Remission was achieved after TNS in three out of four patients (primary TNS in two); ten patients presented controlled acromegaly at the last visit. Acromegaly-related comorbidities (colon polyps, thyroid cancer, adrenal incidentaloma, hypertension, and bone disease) were more prevalent in patients who had an early diagnosis (31 patients, characterized by a longer follow-up of 24\ua0years) than in those diagnosed aged 6565\ua0years (5\ua0years of follow-up). Conclusions: Elderly acromegalic patients are not uncommon. Primary medical therapy is a reasonable option and is effectively used, while the rate of surgical success is not reduced. A careful cost-benefit balance is suggested. Disease-specific comorbidities are more prevalent in acromegalic patients with a longer follow-up rather than in those diagnosed aged 6565\ua0years

Structure of Starch-Sepiolite Bio-Nanocomposites: Effect of Processing and Matrix-Filler Interactions

Sepiolite clay is a natural filler particularly suitable to be used with polysaccharide matrices (e.g., in starch-based bio-nanocomposites), increasing their attractiveness for a wide range of applications, such as packaging. Herein, the effect of the processing (i.e., starch gelatinization, addition of glycerol as plasticizer, casting to obtain films) and of the sepiolite filler amount on the microstructure of starch-based nanocomposites was investigated by SS-NMR (solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance), XRD (X-ray diffraction) and FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared) spectroscopy. Morphology, transparency and thermal stability were then assessed by SEM (scanning electron microscope), TGA (thermogravimetric analysis) and UV-visible spectroscopy. It was demonstrated that the processing method allowed to disrupt the rigid lattice structure of semicrystalline starch and thus obtain amorphous flexible films, with high transparency and good thermal resistance. Moreover, the microstructure of the bio-nanocomposites was found to intrinsically depend on complex interactions among sepiolite, glycerol and starch chains, which are also supposed to affect the final properties of the starch-sepiolite composite materials

Dacian bracelets and Transylvanian gold: ancient history and modern analyses

The recovery of the Dacian gold bracelets was the most thrilling archaeological event of the last years in Romania. The artefacts are exhibited in the Historical Treasure section of the National History museum of Romania, Bucharest, being recovered from the international antique markets through a concerted effort of the Romanian, French, and German authorities. This paper reviews the X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyses carried out on these exquisite artefacts. These measurements followed the visual examination of qualified experts, which concluded that the gold spiralled bracelets showed strong stylistic similarities with the Dacian silver bracelets discovered until that date in archaeological contexts. Since the most likely source – for geographical and historical reasons – for the metal used to manufacture these artefacts was the Transylvanian Apuseni mountains, additional measurements on several fragments of natural Transylvanian gold, both from placers and primary deposits, were performed using Synchrotron Radiation X-ray Fluorescence (SR-XRF) at the BESSY synchrotron, Berlin, and micro Particle Induced X-ray Emission (micro-PIXE) at the AGLAE accelerator, Paris, and at the AN2000 accelerator of LNL, Padova. The conclusion of this study was that the recovered spirals are genuine Dacian artefacts, made by cold hammering, chiselling and punching Transylvanian unrefined gold – gold panned from riverbeds mixed with primary gold, most likely extracted from surface veins.La saisie des bracelets en or de Dacie a été un des événements archéologiques les plus remarquables de ces dernières années en Roumanie. Les objets sont exposés dans le Trésor Historique du musée National d’Histoire de Roumanie, Bucarest, et ont été récupérés du marché international d’antiquités grâce aux efforts concertés des autorités Roumaines, Françaises et Allemandes. Cet article fait le bilan de l’analyse de ces objets exquis, réalisée par fluorescence à rayons X (FX). Ces mesures suivent l’examen visuel par des experts qualifiés qui ont conclu que les bracelets en or à spirales montrent des similitudes stylistiques fortes avec les bracelets en argent de Dacie découverts en contexte archéologique. Comme pour des raisons historiques et géographiques la source la plus probable du métal utilisé pour la fabrication de ces objets se trouve dans les Carpates transylvaniens, des mesures complémentaires ont été réalisées sur différents fragments d’or natif de Transylvanie, provenant tant de placers comme de gisements primaires, par fluorescence de rayons X avec radiation de synchrotron (SR-XRF) au synchrotron BESSY, à Berlin, et par émission de rayons X induite par particules chargées (micro-PIXE) à l’accélérateur AGLAE, à Paris, et à l’accélérateur AN2000 du LNL à Padoue. L’étude à permis de conclure que les bracelets en spirale récupérés sont des objets Daciens authentiques, produits par martelage à froid, ciselure et poinçonnage d’or de Transylvanie non affiné – de l’or de rivière obtenu par batée et mélangé avec de l’or primaire, certainement extrait de filons de surface

Corticotroph tumor progression after bilateral adrenalectomy (Nelson’s syndrome):systematic review and expert consensus recommendations

Corticotroph tumor progression (CTP) leading to Nelson's syndrome (NS) is a severe and difficult-to-treat complication subsequent to bilateral adrenalectomy (BADX) for Cushing's disease. Its characteristics are not well described, and consensus recommendations for diagnosis and treatment are missing

Determining the influence of different atmospheric circulation patterns on PM10 chemical composition in a source apportionment study

This study combines a set of chemometric analyses with a source apportionment model for discriminating the weather conditions, local processes and remote contributions having an impact on particulate matter levels and chemical composition. The proposed approach was tested on PM10 data collected in a semi-rural coastal site near Venice (Italy). The PM10 mass, elemental composition and the water soluble inorganic ions were quantified and seven sources were identified and apportioned using the positive matrix factorization: sea spray, aged sea salt, mineral dust, mixed combustions, road traffic, secondary sulfate and secondary nitrate. The influence of weather conditions on PM10 composition and its sources was investigated and the importance of air temperature and relative humidity on secondary components was evaluated. Samples collected in days with similar atmospheric circulation patterns were clustered on the basis of wind speed and direction. Significant differences in PM10 levels and chemical composition pointed out that the production of sea salt is strongly depending on the intensity of local winds. Differently, typical primary pollutants (i.e. from combustion and road traffic) increased during slow wind regimes. External contributions were also investigated by clustering the backward trajectories of air masses. The increase of combustion and traffic-related pollutants was observed when air masses originated from Central and Northwestern Europe and secondary sulfate was observed to rise when air masses had passed over the Po Valley. Conversely, anthropogenic contributions dropped when the origin was in the Mediterranean area and Northern Europe. The chemometric approach adopted can discriminate the role local and external sources play in determining the level and composition of airborne particulate matter and points out the weather circumstances favoring the worst pollution conditions. It may be of significant help in designing local and national air pollution control strategies

Low in‑hospital mortality rate in patients with COVID‑19 receiving thromboprophylaxis: data from the multicentre observational START‑COVID Register

Abstract COVID-19 infection causes respiratory pathology with severe interstitial pneumonia and extra-pulmonary complications; in particular, it may predispose to thromboembolic disease. The current guidelines recommend the use of thromboprophylaxis in patients with COVID-19, however, the optimal heparin dosage treatment is not well-established. We conducted a multicentre, Italian, retrospective, observational study on COVID-19 patients admitted to ordinary wards, to describe clinical characteristic of patients at admission, bleeding and thrombotic events occurring during hospital stay. The strategies used for thromboprophylaxis and its role on patient outcome were, also, described. 1091 patients hospitalized were included in the START-COVID-19 Register. During hospital stay, 769 (70.7%) patients were treated with antithrombotic drugs: low molecular weight heparin (the great majority enoxaparin), fondaparinux, or unfractioned heparin. These patients were more frequently affected by comorbidities, such as hypertension, atrial fibrillation, previous thromboembolism, neurological disease,and cancer with respect to patients who did not receive thromboprophylaxis. During hospital stay, 1.2% patients had a major bleeding event. All patients were treated with antithrombotic drugs; 5.4%, had venous thromboembolism [30.5% deep vein thrombosis (DVT), 66.1% pulmonary embolism (PE), and 3.4% patients had DVT + PE]. In our cohort the mortality rate was 18.3%. Heparin use was independently associated with survival in patients aged ≥ 59 years at multivariable analysis. We confirmed the high mortality rate of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients in ordinary wards. Treatment with antithrombotic drugs is significantly associated with a reduction of mortality rates especially in patients older than 59 years