Tracing the tin-opacified yellow glazed ceramics in the western Islamic world: the findings at Madinat al-Zahra’

A small group of opaque yellow glazed sherds has recently been identified among the ceramics excavated at the Islamic city of Madinat al-Zahra’ near Cordoba, in al-Andalus (southern Spain), which was founded in 936 AD as the seat of the Umayyad Caliphate power. A small group of sherds from Madinat al-Zahra’, which can be dated to about 960–980 AD, has been examined in polished section in a SEM with EDS attached. These analyses have established that the Madinat al-Zahra’ sherds were opacified with lead stannate, and not lead antimonate, as was being used to opacify yellow glazed ceramics in Egypt and Tunisia in the ninth and tenth centuries AD. Islamic opaque yellow glazed ceramics, with lead stannate as the opacifier, were first produced (Beiträge Zur Islamischen Kunst Und Archäologie 4:125–144, 2014) in Egypt and Syria in seventh/eighth centuries AD, and from there, the technology spread eastwards into Iraq and Iran in the ninth century AD and continued in use in Iran and Central Asia into the tenth century AD and beyond. However, the question of where these opaque yellow glazed ceramics were produced has not been fully resolved. Because such ceramics are extremely rare in al-Andalus, it seems most likely that they were either imported from Iran or Central Asia or produced locally by potters arriving from these areas. The study adds one further, yet not fully understood chapter to the story of a persistent glaze technology which has been widely ignored.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

From Glass to Glaze in al-Andalus: Local Invention and Technological Transfer

We would like to thank Isabel Larrea and the Gerencia de Urbanismo del Ayuntamiento de Cordoba for providing the samples analysed from the Cordoba potters' quarter. This project received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skodowska-Curie scheme (grant agreement IGATO no. 702019 to ES), an ERC Consolidator Grant (grant agreement no. 647315 to Nadine Schibille), and from MINECO (Spain) (grant no. MAT2016-77753-R to Trinitat Pradell). The funding organization had no influence on the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.It has long been assumed that lead glazing technology preceded glassmaking in the Western world and that the technological transfer was from glazes to glass. Here, we present new evidence for the reverse, the indigenous innovation of glassmaking and its transfer to glazes in early Islamic al-Andalus (Spain). Compositional analyses show that Islamic lead glazes from Córdoba are intimately related to a distinct type of high-lead glass, suggesting a connection between the two technologies. The archaeological remains from a pottery workshop indicate that the glazing process initially involved the production of a lead glass and is not linked to earlier Roman or other contemporary glazing technologies. The data also demonstrate that the potters not only used the same materials and techniques but borrowed stylistic and decorative models from glassmaking.European Commission 702019 European Research Council (ERC) 647315Spanish Government MAT2016-77753-

The transition from lead transparent to tin-opacified glaze productions in the western Islamic lands: al-Andalus, c. 875 – 929 CE

The earliest glazed ware in al-Andalus is dated to the Emiral period (c. 850 – 875 CE) and is not until the Caliphate of Córdoba (929 –1031 CE) that a distinctive polychrome tin glaze started being produced. A short transition period (c. 875 – 925 CE) in which elaborate monochrome and bichrome transparent glazes wares co- exist with polychrome transparent and tin opaque glazed wares has been identi fied. The existence of a poly- chrome lead transparent glaze production in al-Andalus wares is demonstrated; it has distinctive composition and methods of production from monochrome and bichrome wares, and shares a distinctive absence of foot and overglaze application of the decorations with the tin-opacified wares. With regard to the possible routes of the introduction of the polychrome lead and tin glazes into the western Mediterranean the Tunisian connection seems completely discarded. Moreover, and although some similarities between the Cordoba and the Abbasid productions such as similar tin glaze recipe and decorative patterns and use of lead glazes, can be traced, the dissimilarities, such as, the use of overglaze decorations, absence of alkali transparent glazes, variances in the tableware shapes and absence of foot, are still more important, and do not support a clear link between them.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Tackling early medieval circulation of glazed ware in Sharq al-Andalus using a multidisciplinary approach: El Tolmo de Minateda (Spain)

This paper offers an analysis of a group of glazed ceramics that comes from El Tolmo de Minateda site and have been dated in the second half of the ninth century and beginning of the tenth century, before the proclamation of the Umayyad Caliphate by Abderraman III (929 CE). Three technological groups have been distinguished: transparent glazes of one or two colours, transparent polychrome glazes (represented by two pieces) and opaque polychrome glazes (represented by two ceramics) studied by SEM-EDS analysis. After the study, different al-Andalus glaze workshops have been identified as providers of glazed ware to El Tolmo de Minateda site. The initial hypothesis was that the ware consumed in El Tolmo was manufactured in Pechina, the closest early production centre. However, after the archaeometric analysis, it has been discarded, and all the indications of this study seem to point to Córdoba as a significant supplier. The data of this study provides a new perspective on how the internal regional distribution and marketing of goods took place in Al-Andalus during the late Emiral period (c. 875–929 CE), a subject that has yet to be explored.Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. This work is part of the grant RYC2021-033153-I funded by Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain MICIN/AEI/https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033 and the European Union “NextGenerationEU”/PRTR. Work carried out within the framework of the research projects: ‘El contexto como herramienta: escalas de aplicación en los procesos de cambio en la Alta Edad Media (CONTEXT)’ PID2019-108192 GB-I00 funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation and the European Union; ‘Proyecto Tolmo de Minateda’ funded by Consejería de Cultura de Castilla La-Mancha and the University of Alicante; and ProyExcel_00990 funded by Junta de Andalucía

Centrality dependence of photon yield and elliptic flow from gluon fusion and splitting induced by magnetic fields in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

We compute the photon yield and elliptic flow coefficient in relativistic heavy-ion collisions from gluon fusion and splitting processes induced by a magnetic field for different centralities. The calculation accounts for the intense magnetic field and the high gluon occupation number at early times. The photon production induced by these process represents an excess contribution over calculations without magnetic field effects. We compare this excess to the difference between PHENIX data and recent hydrodynamic calculations for the photon transverse momentum distribution and elliptic flow coefficient $v_2$. The time evolution of the field strength and reaction volume is computed using UrQMD. We show that with reasonable values for the saturation scale, the calculation helps to better describe the experimental results obtained at RHIC energies for the lowest part of the transverse photon momentum at different centralities.Comment: Expanded discussion. Version to appear in The European Physical Journal

Development of the technique of isoelectricfocusing and immunodetection of immunoglobulin A in the healthcare context as support for the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis

Motivation: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by demyelination and subsequent degeneration of myelin sheaths that line the axons of neurons, producing multifocal and temporarily dispersed damage to the central nervous system (CNS) [1] that leads to neuronal damage and axonal loss [2]. MS is a complex disease in which the exact etiology remains unknown, although our current understanding of the natural history of MS and its immunopathogenesis points to an immune deregulation resulting from an interaction between genetic predispositions and environmental factors [2]. Given this uncertainty, there is a need for the identification of biomarkers in both cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood that help us to have a more complete view of the disease, and at the same time could contribute to a faster and more accurate diagnosis. This project arises from the importance and need to study immunoglobulin A as a biomarker for MS. Methods: Isoelectric focusing is one of the most powerful techniques used to solve complex mixtures of proteins [2]. The main objective of this project is the development of the isoelectroenfocusing and immunodetection technique for oligoclonal bands of immunoglobulin A and the IgA reduction protocol [3][4] to establish a subsequent relationship between patients diagnosed with MS and intrathecal secretion of immunoglobulin A. Results: For the implementation of the technique, a set of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples previously extracted by lumbar puncture were selected, presenting the patient with a diagnostic suspicion of demyelinating disease, and presenting a high quantification of intrathecal secretion of IgA, routinely carried out in the Clinical Biochemistry Unit, immunology laboratory. A total of 23 samples were selected based on IgA concentrations in both CSF and serum. Conclusions: It should be noted that today the CSF remains the most interesting fluid for the study of degenerative neurological diseases. The CSF is the best representative of the clinical manifestations that are confined to the central nervous system, hence its characterization is, increasingly, of high interest for a more accurate diagnosis. With this set-up it is intended to give new information to the clinician to help diagnose the disease. Its value as a marker of the disease will be derived from subsequent observations and studies that clinicians perform in their cohort

Care plan for elderly people at nutritional risk

Introducción: La intervención de enfermería es determinante en la identificación de las personas en riesgo nutricional mediante la inclusión de pruebas de cribado dentro del plan de cuidados enfermero a personas de edad avanzada. Esto facilitaría la identificación precoz de individuos en riesgo nutricional, así como el enunciado de propuestas de intervención para reducir la morbimortalidad de este grupo poblacional. Desarrollo del plan de cuidados: Se han seleccionado dos escalas de cribado nutricional, entre las disponibles en la literatura especializada, para su aplicación por los profesionales de enfermería, y se han propuesto dos diagnósticos enfermeros para el diseño de un plan de cuidados sistematizado que sirva de guía para llevar a cabo una atención individualizada. Discusión: Se propone realizar, mediante intervenciones enfermeras, atención a la salud nutricional, en respuesta a la demanda de las instituciones europeas de luchar contra la desnutriciónIntroduction: Nursing intervention is a key determinant in identifiying people at nutritional risk by including screening tests within the nursing care plan for the elderly. This would facilitate early identification of individuals at nutritional risk, as well as the terms of reference of offers of intervention for to reducing the morbidity and mortality in this population group. Methodology: Select from the available literature two nutritional screening scales to use by the nursing staff. Additionally, add the nursing diagnosis and systematic care plan as a guideline for an individual care. Conclusion: The target is to attend nutritional health using nursing interventions, in response of the European institutions demand to fight against malnutritio

Aplicación de la lengua electrónica en la evaluación de la capacidad antioxidante

[ES] El objetivo de este trabajo fue establecer un modelo matemático de predicción, mediante la aplicación de la lengua electrónica (voltametría de pulsos), para la evaluación de la capacidad antioxidante de alimentos. Para ello, en primer lugar se evaluó la capacidad antioxidante de disoluciones de trolox (patrón de referencia) y de muestras de té verde y de uva, mediante el método ABTS. En segundo lugar se realizaron ensayos de voltametría cíclica para caracterizar la lengua electrónica en presencia de antioxidantes como el trolox, con la finalidad de conocer cuáles son los fenómenos electroquímicos que se producen entre los electrodos de trabajo y estos. Mediante esta caracterización se estableció el patrón de pulsos que se aplicó posteriormente en los ensayos de voltametría de pulsos sobre las disoluciones de trolox, de té y de uva. Para evaluar la capacidad de la lengua electrónica como método para generar modelos predictivos que cuantifiquen la capacidad antioxidante, se llevaron a cabo análisis estadísticos multivariantes de componentes principales (PCA) y de análisis por mínimos cuadrados parciales (PLS). Los resultados obtenidos permitieron la creación de un modelo matemático válido para la evaluación de la capacidad antioxidante en base a equivalentes trolox. De entre los electrodos utilizados, los metales nobles fueron los que generaron el modelo con un mejor ajuste (superior al 94%). Los metales no nobles, si bien mostraron un comportamiento directamente proporcional entre la respuesta electrónica generada y la concentración de zumo de uva testada, esta no fue relacionada con la capacidad antioxidante, por lo que futuros estudios irán encaminados a evaluar que compuestos son los que puedan generar esta correlación, así como a la cuantificación de la capacidad antioxidante en base a equivalentes ácido ascórbico, compuestos fenológicos, etc.[EN] The aim of this work was establishing a mathematical prediction model through the application of electronic tongue (pulse voltammetry) in order to assess the antioxidant capacity of food. For that purpose, firstly, the antioxidant capacity of trolox solutions (reference standard), as well as samples of tea and grape, were evaluated using the method ABTS. Secondly, cyclic voltammetry tests were conducted to characterize the electronic tongue in the presence of antioxidants as trolox, with the purpose of knowing the electrochemical phenomena generated between the work electrodes and these. Through this characterization, a pulse standard was established and subsequently applied to the pulse voltammetry tests on the trolox, tea and grape solutions. In order to assess the capacity of electronic tongue as a method to generate predictive models that can quantify the antioxidant capacity, statistical multivariate analysis of the main components (PCA) and partial least squares analysis (PLS) were carried out. The obtained results made the creation of a valid mathematic model for the assessment of the antioxidant capacity possible on the basis of trolox equivalents. From all the electrodes used, noble metals generated the model with the best adjustment (94%). Although non-noble metals showed a directly proportional behaviour between the generated electronic response and the grape juice concentration subjected to test, such a response was not related to their antioxidant capacity. Therefore, future studies will be aimed at evaluating which compounds can generate this correlation, as well as the quantification of the antioxidant capacity based on equivalents of ascorbic acid, phenological compounds, etc.[CA] L'objectiu d'aquest treball va ser establir un model matemàtic de predicció, mitjançant l'aplicació de la llengua electrònica (voltametria de polsos), per a l'avaluació de la capacitat antioxidant d'aliments. Per açò, en primer lloc, es va avaluar la capacitat antioxidant de dissolucions de trolox (patró de referència), de mostres de té i de raïm, mitjançant el mètode ABTS. En segon lloc, es realitzaren assajos de voltametria cíclica per a caracteritzar la llengua electrònica en presència d'antioxidants com el trolox, amb la finalitat de conèixer quins són els fenòmens electroquímics que es produeixen entre els elèctrodes de treball i estos. Mitjançant esta caracterització es va establir el patró de polsos que es va aplicar posteriorment als assajos de voltametria de polsos sobre les dissolucions de trolox, té i raïm. Per avaluar la capacitat de la llengua electrònica com mètode per a generar models predictius que quantifiquen la capacitat antioxidant es varen fer anàlisi estadístics multivariants de components principals (PCA) i d'anàlisi per mínims quadrats parcials (PLS). Els resultats obtinguts varen permetre la creació d'un model matemàtic vàlid per a l`avaluació de la capacitat antioxidant en base a equivalents trolox. Entre els elèctrodes utilitzats, els metalls nobles varen ser els que generaren el model amb un millor ajust (superior al 94%). Els metalls no nobles, si bé mostraren un comportament directament proporcional entre la resposta electrònica generada i la concentració de suc de raïm testada, esta no fou relacionada amb la capacitat antioxidant, pel que els futurs estudis aniran encaminats a avaluar què compostos són els que poden generar esta correlació, així com a la quantificació de la capacitat antioxidant en base a equivalents àcid ascòrbic, compostos fenològics, etc.Pérez Salinas, E. (2012). Aplicación de la lengua electrónica en la evaluación de la capacidad antioxidante. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/28118.Archivo delegad

Islamic pottery workshops in the Ollerias area (Cordoba): dispersion, chronology and typology

En este trabajo se realiza una aproximación a los hornos y alfares islámicos cordobeses, especialmente a raíz de los hallazgos de los últimos años. Se han analizado aspectos como la distinta tipología de los hornos cordobeses, su evolución a través de los siglos islámicos –desde época emiral a almohade-, la ubicación de las distintas áreas alfareras en Madīnat Qurtuba, principalmente la zona de las Ollerías, y los elementos necesarios en un alfar.This paper presents a summary of the Islamic pottery craft areas and kilns in the medieval Cordoba, especially in the light of the recent findings. For this study, different types of kilns, its evolution through the Middle Ages -from the Emiral to the Almohad periods-, the location of the different pottery craft areas of Madīnat Qurtuba -mainly the Ollerías area- and the elements needed have been analysed