New Insights into the Geochemical Processes Occurring on the Surface of Stuccoes Made of Slaked Lime Putty

The fresco technique performed with slaked lime putty as binding material has been well known since Antiquity. However, the geochemical processes that occur on the surface have been generally described as part of the carbonation process of the intonaco itself. When approaching this technique from experimental archaeology, it has been observed for the first time that during the execution period (from 0 to 20 h, approximately) the processes occurring on the surface of the stucco are different from those occurring inside. Furthermore, these processes lead to the formation of an epigenetic film of specific texture, stiffness and compactness. This study investigates the formation and evolution of this surface film using a series of slaked lime putty stucco test tubes. Samples were extracted at different intervals and subsequently analyzed by polarized optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Results indicate that the development of the film, composed of an amorphous gel-like stratum and a micro-crystalline stratum, occurs in parallel to the carbonation occurring inside the stucco. Moreover, this process does not respond to the classical geological processes of calcium carbonate formation. It was also observed that its presence slows down the carbonation in the underlying strata (intonaco, intonachino, arriccio, etc.) and that the surface becomes more crystalline over time. The identification of this film has implications for the field of the conservation-restoration of fresco paintings and lime-based wall paintings

Patients’ experiences of lupus related foot problems : a qualitative investigation

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can present with a variety of symptoms. Previous research has shown there is a high prevalence of lower limb and foot problems in patients with SLE associated with the musculoskeletal, vascular and neurological changes. Furthermore, there is a high prevalence of infections affecting the feet and a range of common skin and nail problems. However, it is not known how these foot problems impact upon people’s lives. Therefore, we aimed to explore this using a qualitative approach. Method: Following ethical approval, 12 participants were recruited who had a diagnosis of SLE, current and/or past experience of foot problems and were over 18 years in age. Following consent, interviews were carried out with an interpretivist phenomenological approach to both data collection and analysis. Results: Seven themes provide insight into: foot problems and symptoms; the impact of these foot problems and symptoms on activities; disclosure and diagnosis of foot problems; treatment of foot problems and symptoms; perceived barriers to professional foot care; unanswered questions about feet and foot care; and identification of the need for professional foot care and foot care advice. Conclusion: These participants tend to “self-treat” rather than disclose that they may need professional foot care. A lack of focus upon foot health within a medical consultation is attributed to the participant’s belief that it is not within the doctor’s role, even though it is noted to contribute to reduced daily activity. There is a need for feet to be included as a part of patient monitoring and for foot health management to be made accessible for people with SLE

Comparison of microstructure and mechanical properties at different length scales of WC-Co hardmetals consolidated by binder jetting 3D printing and hip

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is rapidly growing as a revolutionary technique. It provides an interesting ability to produce complex geometries, a key feature for enhancing performance and widening application fields of hardmetal components, limited characteristic for traditional processing techniques. Within this context, it is necessary to study the mechanical integrity of samples produced by AM [AMed] where it is expected to find characteristics linked to the shaping route followed, and study if they will have influence on the final behaviour regarding the mechanical properties expect for a specimen process by a traditional manufacturing route. This work aims to study the final microstructure, mechanical properties and layer assemblage at different length scales for a 12%wtCo– WC grade hardmetals of medium grain size consolidated by binder jetting 3DP and subsequent SinterHIP. In addition, compare this results with the ones obtained from a 12%wtCo–WC specimens process by means of a traditional technique like Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) using the same raw material like in the AMed specimens. Hardness Vickers at macro- and microlength scale as well as scratch tests, using different loads and indenter tips, are conducted on both type of samples. The results are analysed and discussed in terms of oriented layer-like material assemblage effects on microstructural variability, mechanical response determined by intrinsic physical behaviour of the material and feedstock used

The effect of age on the acquisition and selection of cancer driver mutations in sun-exposed normal skin

BACKGROUND: The accumulation of somatic mutations contributes to ageing and cancer. Sunlight is the principal aetiological factor associated with skin cancer development. However, genetic and phenotypic factors also contribute to skin cancer risk. This study aimed at exploring the role of photoaging, as well as other well-known epidemiological risk factors, in the accumulation of somatic mutations in cancer-free human epidermis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We deeply sequenced 46 genes in normal skin biopsies from 127 healthy donors, from which phenotypic data (including age, pigmentation-related genotype and phenotype) and sun exposure habits were collected. We determined the somatic mutational burden, mutational signatures, clonal selection and frequency of driver mutations in all samples. RESULTS: Our results reveal an exponential accumulation of UV-related somatic mutations with age, matching skin cancer incidence. The increase of mutational burden is in turn modified by an individual's skin phototype. Somatic mutations preferentially accumulated in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) cancer genes and clonally expanded with age, with distinct mutational processes underpinning different age groups. Our results suggest loss of fidelity in transcription-coupled repair later in life. CONCLUSION: Our findings reveal that aging is not only associated with an exponential increase in the number of somatic mutations accumulated in normal epidermis, but also with selection and expansion of cancer-associated mutations. Aged, sun-exposed normal skin is thus an extended mosaic of multiple clones with driver mutations, poised for the acquisition of transforming events

Potential of atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source in gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for the screening of urinary exogenous androgenic anabolic steroids

The atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) source for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis has been evaluated for the screening of 16 exogenous androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS) in urine. The sample treatment is based on the strategy currently applied in doping control laboratories i.e. enzymatic hydrolysis, liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) and derivatization to form the trimethylsilyl ether-trimethylsilyl enol ether (TMS) derivatives. These TMS derivatives are then analyzed by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry using a triple quadrupole instrument (GC-QqQ MS/MS) under selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. The APCI promotes soft ionization with very little fragmentation resulting, in most cases, in abundant [M + H]+ or [M + H-2TMSOH]+ ions, which can be chosen as precursor ions for the SRM transitions, improving in this way the selectivity and sensitivity of the method. Specificity of the transitions is also of great relevance, as the presence of endogenous compounds can affect the measurements when using the most abundant ions. The method has been qualitatively validated by spiking six different urine samples at two concentration levels each. Precision was generally satisfactory with RSD values below 25 and 15% at the low and high concentration level, respectively. Most the limits of detection (LOD) were below 0.5 ng mL−1. Validation results were compared with the commonly used method based on the electron ionization (EI) source. EI analysis was found to be slightly more repeatable whereas lower LODs were found for APCI. In addition, the applicability of the developed method has been tested in samples collected after the administration of 4-chloromethandienone. The highest sensitivity of the APCI method for this compound, allowed to increase the period in which its administration can be detected.Ministry of Education and Science, Spain, in the project DEP2011-28573-C02-01/02 Generalitat Valenciana (Research Group of Excellence Prometeo II/2014/023; ISIC EnviFood 2012/016

Training the next generation of clinical researchers: Evaluation of a graduate podiatrist research internship in rheumatology

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Arthritis Research UK funded graduate internship scheme for podiatrists and to explore the experiences of interns and mentors. Methods: Nine new graduates completed the internship programme (July 2006-June 2010); six interns and two mentors participated in this study. The study was conducted in three phases. Phase 1: quantitative survey of career and research outcomes for interns. Phase 2 and 3: qualitative asynchronous interviews through email to explore the experiences of interns and mentors. Interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) of coded transcripts identified recurring themes. Results: Research outputs included ten peer reviewed publications with authorial contributions from interns, 23 conference abstract presentations and one subsequent 'Jewel in the Crown' award at the British Society for Rheumatology Conference. Career progression includes two National Institute for Health research (NIHR) PhD fellowships, two Arthritis Research UK PhD fellowships, one NIHR Master of Research fellowship and one specialist rheumatology clinical post. Two interns are members of NIHR and professional body committees. Seven important themes arose from the qualitative phases: perceptions of the internship pre-application; internship values; maximising personal and professional development; psychosocial components of the internship; the role of mentoring and networking; access to research career pathways; perceptions of future developments for the internship programme. The role of mentorship and the peer support network have had benefits that have persisted beyond the formal period of the scheme. Conclusions: The internship model appears to have been perceived to have been valuable to the interns' careers and may have contributed significantly to the broader building of capacity in clinical research in foot and ankle rheumatology. We believe the model has potential to be transferable across health disciplines and on national and international scales

Full configuration interaction calculation of BeH adiabatic states

An all-electron full configuration interaction (FCI) calculation of the adiabatic potential energy curves of some of the lower states of BeH molecule is presented. A moderately large ANO basis set of atomic natural orbitals (ANO) augmented with Rydberg functions has been used in order to describe the valence and Rydberg states and their interactions. The Rydberg set of ANOs has been placed on the Be at all bond distances. So, the basis set can be described as 4s3p2d1f/3s2p1d(Be/H)+4s4p2d(Be). The dipole moments of several states and transition dipole strengths from the ground state are also reported as a function of the RBe–H distance. The position and the number of states involved in several avoided crossings present in this system have been discussed. Spectroscopic parameters have been calculated from a number of the vibrational states that result from the adiabatic curves except for some states in which this would be completely nonsense, as it is the case for the very distorted curves of the 3s and 3p math states or the double-well potential of the 4p math state. The so-called “D complex” at 54 050 cm−1 (185.0 nm) is resolved into the three 3d substates (math,math,math). A diexcited valence state is calculated as the lowest state of math symmetry and its spectroscopic parameters are reported, as well as those of the 2 math (4d) state The adiabatic curve of the 4 math state shows a swallow well at large distances (around 4.1 Å) as a result of an avoided crossing with the 3 math state. The probability that some vibrational levels of this well could be populated is discussed within an approached Landau–Zerner model and is found to be high. No evidence is found of the E(4sσ) math state in the region of the “D complex”. Instead, the spectroscopic properties obtained from the (4sσ) 6 math adiabatic curve of the present work seem to agree with those of the experimental F(4pσ) math state. The FCI calculations provide benchmark results for other correlation models for the open-shell BeH system and evidence both the limitations and capabilities of the basis [email protected] [email protected]

Results of a national foot health survey of patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Background: SLE can affect many tissues throughout the body. Anecdotally, it is suggested that people with SLE experience a range of complications in the foot and lower limb, including vascular impairment (e.g. RP), neurological impairment, poor tissue viability (e.g. ulceration), infection and foot pain. However, to date, the precise prevalence of foot complications experienced by people with SLE has not been described. The aim of this survey was to determine self-reported foot and lower limb complications experienced by people with SLE. Methods: The survey was developed via patient and practitioner focus groups. A consensus approach was used to generate items and to formulate themes, categories, question format and survey structure. The survey was checked for face and content validity prior to cognitive debriefing to ensure usability and understanding. Consecutive patients with a confirmed diagnosis of SLE meeting the inclusion criteria attending any of seven UK clinical sites or members of Lupus UK were invited to participate. Ethical approval and participant informed consent was obtained. Results: A total of 182 survey responses were completed. For all responders, the most frequent age range was 40–49 years, mean BMI was 27 (S.D. 7) and mean disease duration was 15 years (S.D. 10). A number of vascular complications were reported, including intermittent claudication [n ¼ 100 (55%)], RP [n ¼ 94 (52%)] and splinter haemorrhage [n ¼ 39 (21%)]. Overall, 164 patients (90%) reported experiencing symptoms of peripheral vascular complications. Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy were reported by 30 patients (16%), while a fall as a consequence of neuropathic symptoms was reported by 45 patients (25%). A range of skin and nail complications were reported, including callus or corns [n ¼ 130 (71%)], onychocryptosis [n ¼ 69 (38%)], rashes or blistering [n ¼ 62 (34%)] and ulceration [n ¼ 45 (25%)]. A high prevalence of infection was reported; a history of viral infection (verrucae pedis) or fungal infection (tinea pedis) was reported by 77 patients (42%), bacterial infection by 28 patients (15%) and onychomycosis by 65 patients (36%). Overall, 170 patients (93%) reported having experienced some form of tissue viability complication. Foot joint pain, stiffness and swelling was reported by 145 (80%), 136 (75%) and 94 (52%) patients, respectively. Foot-related walking impairment was reported by 67 patients (37%). Only 60 patients (33%) reported having ever been asked about their feet by a medical professional. Seventy-seven patients (42%) reported that they would benefit from the provision of general foot health care advice. Conclusion: A large number of people with SLE report vascular complications, impaired tissue viability, musculoskeletal problems and foot pain, as well as a range of infections and conditions of the skin and nails. Despite this, foot health assessment by professionals was infrequent. These results highlight the need to undertake clinical studies investigating lower limb pathologies in SLE