Archaeological medicinal earths as antibacterial agents: the case of the Basel Lemnian sphragides.

This paper presents the scientific investigation of three Lemnian sphragides (terra sigillata), a famed medicinal clay (earth) of antiquity, dated to the 16th-17th century, and presently in the collection of the Museum for the History of Pharmacy of the University of Basel. The three specimens are examined here against the backdrop of samples of sedimentary clays from the purported locality of its extraction, at Kotsinas, NE Lemnos, Greece. The study demonstrates, for the first time, that the three Lemnian sphragides displayed antibacterial properties against gram positive pathogens (staphelococcus aureus); the modern clays displayed none. Subsequent analysis with DPLC-MS of one of the three sphragides and one sample of clay revealed the presence of organic constituents in the sphragis which were absent from a sample of the modern clay. A fungal secondary metabolite is proposed here as the molecule responsible but other factors may have a role to play. The ongoing investigation for the bioactivity od some medicinal clays might aid in the re-evaluation of Belon's statement included at the start of this paper, namely, that the Lemnian Earth worked only because people in the past wished it to work

Measurement of the mass difference m(D-s(+))-m(D+) at CDF II

We present a measurement of the mass difference m(D-s(+))-m(D+), where both the D-s(+) and D+ are reconstructed in the phipi(+) decay channel. This measurement uses 11.6 pb(-1) of data collected by CDF II using the new displaced-track trigger. The mass difference is found to be m(D-s(+))-m(D+)=99.41+/-0.38(stat)+/-0.21(syst) MeV/c(2)

Precious metals extraction in Palaia Kavala, N.E. Greece

No abstract available

Precious metals extraction in Palaia Kavala, N.E. Greece

No abstract available

Site formation processes and human activity patterms: holistic soil analysis at the prehistoric settlement of San Vincenzo, Stromboli

Traditionally archaeological deposits are investigated through the removal of the material culture contained within the matrix of the sediment. Whilst this is the backbone of archaeological investigations to date, the analysis of the sediment from which they came often holds a more nuanced record of what actually went on in the past. Through the application of a suite of sediment analyses, a finer resolution of information can be attained from archaeological contexts and features. At the Bronze Age site of San Vincenzo on Stromboli, from the outset (2009-2011), excavation has been complemented by a systematic sampling programme for sediment analyses (including micromorphology, organic matter, granulometry, magnetic properties, XRF-geochemical analysis). Preliminary analysis has shown that this methodological approach has allowed for the enhanced understanding of site formation processes as well as shown potential for understanding activity patterns across the site

Archaeological and volcanological investigation at Stromboli, Aeolian Islands, Italy

Preliminary results of the interdisciplinary archaeological excavation of the bronze Age (Capo Grazino) village at Stromboli san Vincenz

UI Dark Patterns and Where to Find Them A Study on Mobile Applications and User Perception

A Dark Pattern (DP) is an interface maliciously crafted to deceive users into performing actions they did not mean to do. In this work, we analyze Dark Patterns in 240 popular mobile apps and conduct an online experiment with 589 users on how they perceive Dark Patterns in such apps. The results of the analysis show that 95% of the analyzed apps contain one or more forms of Dark Patterns and, on average, popular applications include at least seven different types of deceiving interfaces. The online experiment shows that most users do not recognize Dark Patterns, but can perform better in recognizing malicious designs if informed on the issue. We discuss the impact of our work and what measures could be applied to alleviate the issue