Le nuove Information and Communication Technologies per la conoscenza e l’accessibilità del patrimonio culturale. Il progetto INCEPTION - Inclusive Cultural Heritage in Europe through 3D semantic modelling

A un anno dal suo avvio, il progetto “INCEPTION - Inclusive Cultural Heritage in Europe through 3D semantic modelling” porta al Salone del Restauro le più recenti innovazioni tecnologiche per il rilievo tridimensionale del patrimonio culturale, frutto delle prime attività di ricerca. Il progetto, finanziato dalla Commissione Europea nell’ambito del Work Programme "Europe in a changing world – inclusive, innovative and reflective Societies" (Call Reflective-7-2014, Advanced 3D modelling for accessing and understanding European cultural assets), a partire da metodologie innovative per il rilievo e la modellazione tridimensionale, si propone di sviluppare nuovi strumenti per l’interoperabilità e la condivisione inclusiva dei modelli tridimensionali verso nuove forme di accessibilità e conoscenza dell’identità del patrimonio culturale europeo

Artificial molecular-level machines with [Ru(bpy)3]2

A molecular-level machine is an assembly of a discrete number of molecular components (that is, a supramolecular structure) designed to perform mechanical-like movements (output) as a consequence of appropriate external stimuli (input). Like macroscopic machines, molecular-level machines are characterized by (i) the kind of energy input supplied to make them work, (ii) the kind of movement performed by their components, (iii) the way in which their operation can be controlled and monitored, (iv) the possibility to repeat the operation at will and establish a cyclic process, (v) the time scale needed to complete a cycle of operation, and (vi) the function performed. The most convenient way to supply energy to an artificial molecular-level machine is through a photochemical reaction.[Ru(bpy)3]2+(bpy=2,2′-bipyridine) can be used as a photosensitizer to power mechanical movements in machines based on pseudorotaxanes, rotaxanes and catenanes. Besides being used as an external photosensitizer,[Ru(bpy)3]2+can be incorporated in one of the machine components as a "light-fueled" motor. Three types of photochemically driven piston/cylinder systems and a photocontrollable molecular abacus are described. Other kinds of more sophisticated molecular-level machines based on rotaxanes and catenanes are proposed. The extension of the concept of machine to the molecular level is important not only for the sake of basic research, but also for the growth of nanoscience and the development of nanotechnology

Photoinduced electron flow in a self-assembling supramolecular extension cable

We report the design, bottom-up construction, characterization, and operation of a supramolecular system capable of mimicking the function played by a macroscopic electrical extension cable. The system is made up of a light-powered electron source, an electron drain, and a cable as the molecular components programmed to self-assemble by means of two distinct plug/socket junctions. Such connections are reversible and can be operated independently by orthogonal chemical inputs. In the source-connector-drain supermolecule, photoinduced electron transfer from source to drain occurs, and it can be switched off by dual-mode chemically controlled disassembling of the molecular components.Ferrer Ribera, RB.; Rogez, G.; Credi, A.; Ballardini, R.; Gandolfi, MT.; Balzani, V.; Liu, Y.... (2006). Photoinduced electron flow in a self-assembling supramolecular extension cable. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 103(49):18411-18416. doi:10.1073/pnas.060645910318411184161034

Ballistic nanofriction

Sliding parts in nanosystems such as Nano ElectroMechanical Systems (NEMS) and nanomotors, increasingly involve large speeds, and rotations as well as translations of the moving surfaces; yet, the physics of high speed nanoscale friction is so far unexplored. Here, by simulating the motion of drifting and of kicked Au clusters on graphite - a workhorse system of experimental relevance -- we demonstrate and characterize a novel "ballistic" friction regime at high speed, separate from drift at low speed. The temperature dependence of the cluster slip distance and time, measuring friction, is opposite in these two regimes, consistent with theory. Crucial to both regimes is the interplay of rotations and translations, shown to be correlated in slow drift but anticorrelated in fast sliding. Despite these differences, we find the velocity dependence of ballistic friction to be, like drift, viscous

Treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloids using an intralesional 1470 nm bare-fibre diode laser: a novel efficient minimally-invasive technique

Hypertrophic and keloid scars result from abnormal wound healing and can have a variable response to a number of available treatment modalities. The evolution of laser treatments in recent years has shown a wide range of clinical applications including their use in the treatment of scars. We investigated the effectiveness of a 1470 nm diode laser using an intralesional optical fibre delivery device in the treatment of hypertrophic and keloid scars. We evaluated its safety and efficacy as a novel and minimally invasive treatment alternative for scar modulation and volume reduction. A prospective cohort study was performed involving 21 patients with hypertrophic scars (HS) (n = 9) and keloids (n = 12) resulting from various aetiology. Patients were treated with one to three treatment sessions. Comprehensive evaluations were performed using the Vancouver Scar Scale, Doppler ultrasound, Cutometer, Mexameter and PeriCam PSI. Scar thickness was reduced by an average of 0.308 ± 0.138 cm (p < 0.001). In particular the two subgroups showed a significant 27.7% and 28.2% reduction in scar thickness of HS and Keloids, respectively. Scar firmness showed a significant improvement of 1.2% (p < 0.05) for HS, though for keloids this was 0.4% (p = 0.26). Keloids had a significant reduction in pigmentation at 21.3%. Blood perfusion had a significant reduction of 29.6% in HS and 22.7% in Keloids. Overall VSS total score improvement of 42% in the HS and at 37.9% in the Keloid subgroup. No adverse events such as hypo/hyperpigmentation, skin infection, or recurrence were reported. This study shows that the intralesional 1470 nm bare-fibre diode laser significantly improved hypertrophic and keloid scars based on both subjective and objective analyses and supports this type of laser therapy as a safe and effective minimally-invasive treatment option

Saving temporary exhibitions in virtual environments: The Digital Renaissance of Ulisse Aldrovandi – Acquisition and digitisation of cultural heritage objects

As per the objectives of Project CHANGES, particularly its thematic sub-project on the use of virtual technologies for museums and art collections, our goal was to obtain a digital twin of the temporary exhibition on Ulisse Aldrovandi called “The Other Renaissance”, and make it accessible to users online. After a preliminary study of the exhibition, focusing on acquisition constraints and related solutions, we proceeded with the digital twin creation by acquiring, processing, modelling, optimising, exporting, and metadating the exhibition. We made hybrid use of two acquisition techniques to create new digital cultural heritage objects and environments, and we used open technologies, formats, and protocols to make available the final digital product. Here, we describe the process of collecting and curating bibliographical exhibition (meta) data and the beginning of the digital twin creation to foster its findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability. The creation of the digital twin is currently ongoing

Nel crogiolo del patrimonio: come le opere d'arte cambiarono statuto

Gli effetti delle spoliazioni napoleoniche sulla percezione del patrimonio in Italia e sulla normativa dello Stato Pontificio sotto Pio VI