Learning from the past, intervening in the present: the role of conservation science in the challenging restoration of the wall painting Marriage at Cana by Luca Longhi (Ravenna, Italy)

The paper discusses the case study of the Marriage at Cana, a sixteenth century wall painting located in Ravenna and executed by Luca Longhi. A multi-analytical approach based upon OM, SEM–EDS, μ-Raman, μ-FTIR and biological analyses was selected to investigate the painting technique and the state of preservation of the artwork, compromised by a severe alteration. Data demonstrated that the artwork was executed with a dry painting technique: a siccative oil was used as binder, while indigo, lead white, carbon black, ochres, vermilion and red lead were identifed as pigments. Biological analyses clearly allowed identifying Eurotium halophilicum as the fungus responsible for the white patina compromising the painted surface and, according to this result, Biotin T was selected as the most efective biocide to stop the biological attack. The precarious conditions in which the painting was, attributable to previously performed interventions and to the conservation environment, laid the groundwork for a challenging restoration conducted in 2016. Scientifc analyses better clarifed the kind of materials employed in the execution on the artwork, as well as how the previous restoration was carried out; furthermore, analytical data methodologically supported phases of the intervention like cleaning, flling of the lacunae and pictorial retouching, as products were selected on the basis of their afnity to original materials and painting technique. This study will hopefully encourage refections on how a synergic dialogue between conservation science and restoration can represent an important reference point for interventions to be conducted with scientifc criteria and suitable methodology, in the light of the shared vision and common goal of transferring patrimony to future generation

Computational classifiers for predicting the short-term course of Multiple sclerosis

The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) of clinical, imaging and motor evoked potentials (MEP) for predicting the short-term prognosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: We obtained clinical data, MRI and MEP from a prospective cohort of 51 patients and 20 matched controls followed for two years. Clinical end-points recorded were: 1) expanded disability status scale (EDSS), 2) disability progression, and 3) new relapses. We constructed computational classifiers (Bayesian, random decision-trees, simple logistic-linear regression-and neural networks) and calculated their accuracy by means of a 10-fold cross-validation method. We also validated our findings with a second cohort of 96 MS patients from a second center. RESULTS: We found that disability at baseline, grey matter volume and MEP were the variables that better correlated with clinical end-points, although their diagnostic accuracy was low. However, classifiers combining the most informative variables, namely baseline disability (EDSS), MRI lesion load and central motor conduction time (CMCT), were much more accurate in predicting future disability. Using the most informative variables (especially EDSS and CMCT) we developed a neural network (NNet) that attained a good performance for predicting the EDSS change. The predictive ability of the neural network was validated in an independent cohort obtaining similar accuracy (80%) for predicting the change in the EDSS two years later. CONCLUSIONS: The usefulness of clinical variables for predicting the course of MS on an individual basis is limited, despite being associated with the disease course. By training a NNet with the most informative variables we achieved a good accuracy for predicting short-term disability

Annali storici di Principato Citra, A. 7, n. 1.1 (2009)

A. 7, n. 1.1 (2009): G. Guardia, Editoriale, P. 3 ; R. Salati, Le ambre "tipo Roscigno”, P. 5 ; E. Bianco, La viabilità medievale nel Parco Nazionale del Cilento e Vallo di Diano. Il territorio del Comune di Gioi, P. 33 ; D. Petrone, Le case-torri nel territorio ebolitano, P. 51 ; A. Capano, Pollica e i suoi casali nel Catasto provvisorio del 1815. Il Sessantotto a Salerno. In margine ad un Convegno e ad un libro, P. 69 ; Francesco Sofia, Il '68: alcune riflessioni, P. 95 ; G. Acocella, Un '68 "cattolico"? P. 104 ; P. Cantillo, La profezia di una società estetica, P. 108 ; G. Foscari, Il '68, P. 112 ; M. La Via, Dal mito degli anni '60 alla utopie del '68, P. 113 ; P. Lucia, Miti, utopie, speranze di una generazione, P. 117 ; L. Marinucci, Donne, istituzioni, movimenti civili: una questione ancora attuale. La Mostra "Le frodi alimentari nella provincia di Salerno fra '800 e '900" tenutasi a Salerno il 16 ottobre 2008, a cura di Caterina Aliberti e Francesco Innnella, P. 121 ; C. Aliberti - F. Innella, La Mostra "Le frodi alimentari nella Provincia di Salerno tra Ottocento e Novecento", P. 126 ; I. Ascione, Le frodi alimentari nella provincia di Salerno fra Ottocento e Novecento, P. 128 ; A. Vacca, Inganni cibici, P. 131 ; V. Ferrara, Le attività operative del Comando Carabinieri Politiche Agricole e Alimentari e del Nucleo Antifrodi Carabinieri di Salerno. Il XIV Festival "Linea d'ombra" - Festival culture giovani, P. 134 ; P. D'Antonio, Caos: tra Filosofia, Scienza e Arte, P. 150 ; S. Metetich, Al caos, al caos! Così è (se vi piace), P. 151 ; P. Simone Di Chiara, Il caos, P. 153 ; F.M. Iandiorio, M. Autuori, P.S. Di Chiara, Il caos della natura fra letteratura e percezione, P. 154 ; S. Maritato, D. Di Stefano, A. Di Lauro, M. Massa, Caos e/è cinema, P. 156 ; F. Bonifacio, M. Talento, A. Catoio, Obiettivo caotico, P. 158 ; M. Radano, Per una "memoria" del territorio. Le celebrazioni per il Millenario di Guarrazzano di Stella Cilento (1009-2009), P. 160

Disease-Modifying Therapies and Coronavirus Disease 2019 Severity in Multiple Sclerosis

Objective: This study was undertaken to assess the impact of immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory therapies on the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Methods: We retrospectively collected data of PwMS with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. All the patients had complete follow-up to death or recovery. Severe COVID-19 was defined by a 3-level variable: mild disease not requiring hospitalization versus pneumonia or hospitalization versus intensive care unit (ICU) admission or death. We evaluated baseline characteristics and MS therapies associated with severe COVID-19 by multivariate and propensity score (PS)-weighted ordinal logistic models. Sensitivity analyses were run to confirm the results. Results: Of 844 PwMS with suspected (n = 565) or confirmed (n = 279) COVID-19, 13 (1.54%) died; 11 of them were in a progressive MS phase, and 8 were without any therapy. Thirty-eight (4.5%) were admitted to an ICU; 99 (11.7%) had radiologically documented pneumonia; 96 (11.4%) were hospitalized. After adjusting for region, age, sex, progressive MS course, Expanded Disability Status Scale, disease duration, body mass index, comorbidities, and recent methylprednisolone use, therapy with an anti-CD20 agent (ocrelizumab or rituximab) was significantly associated (odds ratio [OR] = 2.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18-4.74, p = 0.015) with increased risk of severe COVID-19. Recent use (<1 month) of methylprednisolone was also associated with a worse outcome (OR = 5.24, 95% CI = 2.20-12.53, p = 0.001). Results were confirmed by the PS-weighted analysis and by all the sensitivity analyses. Interpretation: This study showed an acceptable level of safety of therapies with a broad array of mechanisms of action. However, some specific elements of risk emerged. These will need to be considered while the COVID-19 pandemic persists

Bacteria-inducing legume nodules involved in the improvement of plant growth, health and nutrition

Bacteria-inducing legume nodules are known as rhizobia and belong to the class Alphaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria. They promote the growth and nutrition of their respective legume hosts through atmospheric nitrogen fixation which takes place in the nodules induced in their roots or stems. In addition, rhizobia have other plant growth-promoting mechanisms, mainly solubilization of phosphate and production of indoleacetic acid, ACC deaminase and siderophores. Some of these mechanisms have been reported for strains of rhizobia which are also able to promote the growth of several nonlegumes, such as cereals, oilseeds and vegetables. Less studied are the mechanisms that have the rhizobia to promote the plant health; however, these bacteria are able to exert biocontrol of some phytopathogens and to induce the plant resistance. In this chapter, we revised the available data about the ability of the legume nodule-inducing bacteria for improving the plant growth, health and nutrition of both legumes and nonlegumes. These data showed that rhizobia meet all the requirements of sustainable agriculture to be used as bio-inoculants allowing the total or partial replacement of chemicals used for fertilization or protection of crops

Mg-substituted hydroxyapatite nanopowders: Synthesis, thermal stability and sintering behaviour

This paper reports a systematic investigation on Mg-substituted hydroxyapatite (Ca10−xMgx(PO4)6(OH)2) nanopowders produced by precipitation of Ca(NO3)2·4H2O and Mg(NO3)2. The Mg content ranged between 0.6 and 2.4 wt%. Semicrystalline Mg-substituted hydroxyapatite powders made up of needle-like nanoparticles were obtained, the specific surface area ranged between 87 and 142m2/g. Pure hydroxyapatite nanopowder decomposed around 1000 ◦C. Mg-substituted hydroxyapatites were thermally stable up to 660 ◦C (x=1.0), 760 ◦C (x=0.5) and 840 ◦C (x=0.25) showing a distinct decreased thermal stability with respect to the pure sample. A relevant displacement of the sintering curve at lower temperature as a function of Mg content was observed, comparing to the behaviour of a pure HAp material, synthesized following the same procedure, and ascribed to the -TCP formatio

Si-substituted hydroxyapatite nanopowders: synthesis, thermal stability and sinterability

Synthetic hydroxyapatites incorporating small amounts of Si have shown improved biological performances in terms of enhanced bone apposition, bone in-growth and cell-mediated degradation. This paper reports a systematic investigation on Si-substituted hydroxyapatite (Si 1.40 wt%) nanopowders produced following two different conventional wet methodologies: (a) precipitation of Ca(NO3)2.4H2O and (b) titration of Ca(OH)2. The influence of the synthesis process on composition, thermal behaviour and sinterability of the resulting nanopowders is studied. Samples were characterised by electron microscopy, induced coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, thermal analysis, infrared spectroscopy, N2 adsorption measurements, X-ray diffraction and dilatometry. Semicrystalline Si-substituted hydroxyapatite powders made up of needle-like nanoparticles were obtained, the specific surface area ranged between 84 and 110 m2/g. Pure and Sisubstituted hydroxyapatite nanopowders derived from Ca(NO3)2.4H2O decomposed around 1000 °C. Si-substituted hydroxyapatite nanopowders obtained from Ca(OH)2 were thermally stable up to 1200 °C and showed a distinct decreased thermal stability with respect to the homologous pure sample. Sisubstituted hydroxyapatites exhibited higher sintering temperature and increased total shrinkage with respect to pure powders. Nanostructured dense ceramics were obtained by sintering at 1100 °C Sisubstituted hydroxyapatites derived from Ca(OH)