Highly transparent poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-TiO2 nanocomposite coatings for the conservation of matte painted artworks

A nanocomposite coating based on TiO2 nanoparticles and poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) is used as consolidant of matte painted surfaces (temperas, watercolors, modern paintings). The aim of this work is to provide advances in the conservation of these works of art, while preserving their optical appearance, in terms of colour and gloss. Fiber Optic Reflectance Spectroscopy (FORS) measurements of a painting-model (an acrylic black monochrome) treated with the nanocomposite coatings revealed that it is possible to match the optical appearance of the painted surface by tuning the amount of nanoparticles in the polymeric matrix. The requirement of retreatability of the material has been verified by removing the nanocomposite cast on the painted surface with aqueous solutions. FTIR and SEM/EDX measurements showed that almost no traces of the nanocomposite remained on the painted surface, allowing its use for the treatment of real paintings. Test were performed using a contemporary studio-model on canvas attributed to Agostino Bonalumi (1935–2013)

Improvements in marble protection by means of innovative photocatalytic nanocomposites

The application of photocatalytic and self-cleaning nanomaterials in the field of architectural heritage is an encouraging strategy for stone conservation and particularly for marble elements. In the present research, self‐cleaning nanocomposites were set-up by mixing water dispersions of TiO2 nanoparticles in commercial protective treatments based on organosiloxanes, fluoropolyethers and functionalized SiO2. The pure anatase phase nanoparticles used for their preparation are photoactive under solar light, in addition to UV radiation, due to their benzyl surface capping resulting in an increase of their efficiency in the degradation of pollutants. The nanomaterials applied on Carrara marble specimens show better performance in terms of surface colour compatibility and water repellency compared to traditional protective products. Actually, the introduction of nano‐TiO2 plays a role in the increase of the surface roughness, with a consequent reduction of the surface wettabilit

Layered nano-TiO2 based treatments for the maintenance of natural stones in historical architecture

Layered treatments of natural stones based on dispersions of experimental nano-TiO2 and commercial TEOS, showing photocatalytic and self-cleaning properties have been set-up and tested. To enhance nano-TiO2 efficacy, a surface pre-treatment with tetraethyl orthosilicate has been proposed to avoid the penetration of NPs into the crystalline porous substrates and to improve their adhesion to the stone. Two treatment applications - wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry -have been compared, showing different results. A strong interaction Si-O-Ti has proved to be the key factor for the successful treatment, leaving the bandgap and relevant properties of nano-TiO2 unaltered. The layered treatments have been tested on a porous calcarenite (Noto stone) and a very compact marble (Carrara marble). The combined SiO2-nano-TiO2 treatments can find application in suitable cases where a surface consolidation is needed, ensuring a depolluting and self-cleaning durable activit

Axillary node metastasis from differentiated thyroid carcinoma with hürthle and signet ring cell differentiation. A case of disseminated thyroid cancer with peculiar histologic findings

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Differentiated thyroid cancer is usually associated with an excellent prognosis and indolent course. Distant metastases are rare events at the onset of thyroid cancer. Among these presentations, metastasis to the axillary lymph nodes is even more unusual: only few cases were previously reported in the literature; there has been no report of axillary lymph node metastasis from follicular thyroid carcinoma. Axillary lymph node metastasis generally arises in the context of disseminated disease and carries an ominous prognosis.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>Here we present a case of axillary lymph node metastasis in the context of disseminated differentiated thyroid cancer. The patient underwent near total thyroidectomy and neck and axillary lymph node dissection. A histopathological diagnosis of poorly differentiated follicular carcinoma with "signet ring cells" and Hürthle cell features was established. The patient received radioactive iodine therapy and TSH suppression therapy. Subsequently his serum thyroglobulin level decreased to 44.000 ng/ml from over 100.000 ng/ml.</p> <p>Discussion and Conclusion</p> <p>Currently there are only few reported cases of axillary node metastases from thyroid cancer, and to our knowledge, this is the first report on axillary lymph node metastasis from follicular thyroid carcinoma. "Signet ring cell" is a morphologic feature shared by both benign and, more rarely, malignant follicular thyroid neoplasm, and it generally correlates with an arrest in folliculogenesis. Our case is one of the rare "signet ring cells" carcinomas so far described.</p

The long and the short of it: Mechanisms of synchronous and compensatory dynamics across temporal scales

Synchronous dynamics (fluctuations that occur in unison) are universal phenomena with widespread implications for ecological stability. Synchronous dynamics can amplify the destabilizing effect of environmental variability on ecosystem functions such as productivity, whereas the inverse, compensatory dynamics, can stabilize function. Here we combine simulation and empirical analyses to elucidate mechanisms that underlie patterns of synchronous versus compensatory dynamics. In both simulated and empirical communities, we show that synchronous and compensatory dynamics are not mutually exclusive but instead can vary by timescale. Our simulations identify multiple mechanisms that can generate timescale-specific patterns, including different environmental drivers, diverse life histories, dispersal, and non-stationary dynamics. We find that traditional metrics for quantifying synchronous dynamics are often biased toward long-term drivers and may miss the importance of short-term drivers. Our findings indicate key mechanisms to consider when assessing synchronous versus compensatory dynamics and our approach provides a pathway for disentangling these dynamics in natural systems

Direct Presentation Is Sufficient for an Efficient Anti-Viral CD8+ T Cell Response

The extent to which direct- and cross-presentation (DP and CP) contribute to the priming of CD8+ T cell (TCD8+) responses to viruses is unclear mainly because of the difficulty in separating the two processes. Hence, while CP in the absence of DP has been clearly demonstrated, induction of an anti-viral TCD8+ response that excludes CP has never been purposely shown. Using vaccinia virus (VACV), which has been used as the vaccine to rid the world of smallpox and is proposed as a vector for many other vaccines, we show that DP is the main mechanism for the priming of an anti-viral TCD8+ response. These findings provide important insights to our understanding of how one of the most effective anti-viral vaccines induces immunity and should contribute to the development of novel vaccines

Evaluation of the applicability of nano-biocide treatments on limestones used in cultural heritage.

One of the main problems in the conservation of historical buildings and archaeological sites is theone caused by biodeterioration. Biopatina, biocrust or biofouling generate aesthetical changes andinduce degradation processes within the stone matrix. In this work, three treatments based on sil-ver nanoparticles and silver/titanium dioxide nanocomposites have been studied as potential biocidesfor limestones: citrate-stabilized silver nanoparticles, silver/TiO2nanocomposites and citrate-stabilizedsilver/TiO2nanocomposites. These treatments were synthesized following a bottom-up method, using ornot a stabilizing agent (citrate), and have been characterized by UV-Visible spectrophotometry, DynamicLight Scattering and Raman spectroscopy. These treatments were applied on limestones from three differ-ent Spanish quarries located in Utrera (Seville), El Puerto de Santa María (Cadiz) and Novelda (Alicante).The aesthetical modification of limestone surfaces was studied by colorimetric techniques and the effec-tiveness of protection against biofouling formation was tested using an accelerated biofouling growthassay. The best results were obtained for the treatments based on citrate-stabilized silver nanoparti-cles. The effectiveness of the treatments depends on their penetration depth in the stone matrix andin this study, we have used Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy to determine the depth profilesof nanocomposite presence in the stone matrix. Our results demonstrate that nanocomposites basedon citrate-stabilized silver nanoparticles can be useful for the treatment of historical buildings andarchaeological sites made of limestone, without producing high colour increments. Additionally, we have demonstrated the suitability of Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for the detection of silver/TiO2nanocomposites and for the generation of depth profiles.Departamento de Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y Naturales, Universidad Pablo de Olavide,Departamento de Ingeniería Industrial II, laser Applications laboratory, Universidade da Coruña,Preprin

Can Clinical and Surgical Parameters Be Combined to Predict How Long It Will Take a Tibia Fracture to Heal? A Prospective Multicentre Observational Study: The FRACTING Study

Background. Healing of tibia fractures occurs over a wide time range of months, with a number of risk factors contributing to prolonged healing. In this prospective, multicentre, observational study, we investigated the capability of FRACTING (tibia FRACTure prediction healING days) score, calculated soon after tibia fracture treatment, to predict healing time. Methods. The study included 363 patients. Information on patient health, fracture morphology, and surgical treatment adopted were combined to calculate the FRACTING score. Fractures were considered healed when the patient was able to fully weight-bear without pain. Results. 319 fractures (88%) healed within 12 months from treatment. Forty-four fractures healed after 12 months or underwent a second surgery. FRACTING score positively correlated with days to healing: r = 0.63 (p &lt; 0.0001). Average score value was 7.3 \ub1 2.5; ROC analysis showed strong reliability of the score in separating patients healing before versus after 6 months: AUC = 0.823. Conclusions. This study shows that the FRACTING score can be employed both to predict months needed for fracture healing and to identify immediately after treatment patients at risk of prolonged healing. In patients with high score values, new pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments to enhance osteogenesis could be tested selectively, which may finally result in reduced disability time and health cost savings