Remote and contactless infrared imaging techniques for stratigraphical investigations in paintings on canvas

AbstractIn the analysis of complex stratigraphical structures like painted artefact, infrared (IR) techniques can provide precious information about elements hidden under superficial layers of the artwork, such as pictorial features and structural defects. This paper presents a novel complementary use of reflectographic and thermographic techniques for the survey of three baroque paintings, preserved at the Chigi Palace in Ariccia (Italy). First, the IR-ITR laser scanner prototype has been used for the preliminary and remote near-IR reflectographic survey of the areas where the canvas was located. The resulting map was then used for planning the thermographic and mid-IR reflectographic studies, focusing the analyses on the most interesting areas of one of the paintings, called "La Primavera". The combination of the three imaging techniques revealed several details not visible by the naked eye, such as restored lacunas and pentimenti, demonstrating the validity and complementarity of the proposed combined methodologies

Presynaptic c-Jun N-terminal Kinase 2 regulates NMDA receptor-dependent glutamate release

Activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway is a critical step for neuronal death occurring in several neurological conditions. JNKs can be activated via receptor tyrosine kinases, cytokine receptors, G-protein coupled receptors and ligand-gated ion channels, including the NMDA glutamate receptors. While JNK has been generally associated with postsynaptic NMDA receptors, its presynaptic role remains largely unexplored. Here, by means of biochemical, morphological and functional approaches, we demonstrate that JNK and its scaffold protein JIP1 are also expressed at the presynaptic level and that the NMDA-evoked glutamate release is controlled by presynaptic JNK-JIP1 interaction. Moreover, using knockout mice for single JNK isoforms, we proved that JNK2 is the essential isoform in mediating this presynaptic event. Overall the present findings unveil a novel JNK2 localization and function, which is likely to play a role in different physiological and pathological conditions

APPARATO E METODO PER L'ANALISI DELLA DENATURAZIONE DI COLLAGENE STRUTTURATO IN MATERIALI MEMBRANACEI

La presente invenzione è relativa ad un apparato e ad un metodo per l’analisi della denaturazione idrotermica del collagene strutturato in materiali membranacei. In particolare, la presente invenzione è relativa ad un tale apparato e relativo metodo che rilevano il livello di deterioramento del collagene in base alla misura della trasmissione ottica in funzione della temperatura. In dettaglio, la presente invenzione è relativa ad un tale apparato e relativo metodo che integrano due sistemi, uno di misurazione della luce trasmessa (LTA) ed uno di microscopia ottica in luce polarizzata, che operano simultaneamente e che sono a loro volta integrati in un sistema programmabile più ampio che consente il controllo automatico delle misure eseguite in funzione della temperatura, la presente invenzione essendo finalizzata a valutare oggettivamente il livello di deterioramento del campione di materiali membranacei, come pergamena e/o pelle

The “Lost Guardians” of Dante’s Inferno: Medium Wave Infrared Imaging Investigations of a XIV Century Illuminated Manuscript

On the occasion of the 700th centenary of the death of Dante Alighieri, medium wave infrared imaging analysis of illuminations of the XIV-century code of the Divina Commedia (MS. 1102), hosted in the Biblioteca Angelica in Rome, was performed and discussed. The investigation was carried out by means of thermographic and reflectographic techniques on illuminations where the iconographic representation appeared severely damaged. In particular, through the combined use of both techniques, it was possible to recover the images of the damaged parts of the pictorial layer of the illuminations and of their underdrawings, displaying details of the “lost guardians”, which was useful to reconstruct the conservative history of the precious manuscript

The “Lost Guardians” of Dante’s <i>Inferno</i>: Medium Wave Infrared Imaging Investigations of a XIV Century Illuminated Manuscript

On the occasion of the 700th centenary of the death of Dante Alighieri, medium wave infrared imaging analysis of illuminations of the XIV-century code of the Divina Commedia (MS. 1102), hosted in the Biblioteca Angelica in Rome, was performed and discussed. The investigation was carried out by means of thermographic and reflectographic techniques on illuminations where the iconographic representation appeared severely damaged. In particular, through the combined use of both techniques, it was possible to recover the images of the damaged parts of the pictorial layer of the illuminations and of their underdrawings, displaying details of the “lost guardians”, which was useful to reconstruct the conservative history of the precious manuscript