Nanofluids confined in chemical hydrogels for the selective removal of graffiti from street art

The main challenge in the conservation of street art is the selective removal of graffiti (i.e. tags, writings and overpaintings) from the original artwork. Nowadays, the effective methods available for this intervention involve risking damage to the original. The novel combination of nanofluids with highly retentive pHEMA/PVP chemical hydrogels is proposed as a controllable cleaning method for selective removal of graffiti from street art. Nanofluid-loaded hydrogels were tested on laboratory models simulating street art paintings covered in graffiti. The outcome of cleaning tests was investigated by means of visual, photographic and microscopic observation, and micro-reflectance FTIR spectroscopy. It was shown that the proposed methodology is effective in removing acrylic-, nitrocellulose- and alkyd-based graffiti without damaging the underlying paint. This can be achieved by means of a gradual swelling action performed by the nanofluid, which is limited to the surface layers by the retentive power of the hydrogel.Nanofluid

Haemostatics in surgery and our experience in the enucleoresection of renal cell carcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>30 patients, with T1 renal cell carcinomas (RCC) who underwent open enucleoresection of the tumour, were randomized to the use of a topical haemostatic agent (Floseal) or to an infrared-sapphire coagulator (ISC), to compare their efficacy in achieving haemostasis. Methods: Successful intra-operative haemostasis, intra- and post-operative bleeding, operative time, hospital discharge were evaluated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Statistically higher rates of successful haemostasis and shorter time-to-haemostasis (8,1 vs 12,9 min) were observed in the FloSeal group (p < 0.001 both). Patients operative time was not different between Group 1 vs 2 (58.7 ± 12 vs 62.4 ± 15; p > 0.05). The average blood loss during surgery was less (60 +/- 25.5 mL) for the FloSeal group than for the ISC group (85 +/- 40.5 mL) (p < 0.05). Postoperative blood loss was 25 +/- 5 mL and 40 +/- 45 mL for Floseal and ISC respectively, (p < 0.05). Length of the postoperative hospital discharge was 2.5 +/- 1.2 days for FloSeal group and 3.5 +/- 1.3 for the Group 2 (p < 0.05). No major immediate or delayed complications were observed in either Groups.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The use of Floseal and ISC offer a safe and efficacy haemostasis in the enucleoresection of RCC. Moreover, our results show a less intra-operative and post-operative blood loss as well as a shorter time to haemostasis of Floseal in respect to ISC.</p

The Glucuronyltransferase GlcAT-P Is Required for Stretch Growth of Peripheral Nerves in Drosophila

During development, the growth of the animal body is accompanied by a concomitant elongation of the peripheral nerves, which requires the elongation of integrated nerve fibers and the axons projecting therein. Although this process is of fundamental importance to almost all organisms of the animal kingdom, very little is known about the mechanisms regulating this process. Here, we describe the identification and characterization of novel mutant alleles of GlcAT-P, the Drosophila ortholog of the mammalian glucuronyltransferase b3gat1. GlcAT-P mutants reveal shorter larval peripheral nerves and an elongated ventral nerve cord (VNC). We show that GlcAT-P is expressed in a subset of neurons in the central brain hemispheres, in some motoneurons of the ventral nerve cord as well as in central and peripheral nerve glia. We demonstrate that in GlcAT-P mutants the VNC is under tension of shorter peripheral nerves suggesting that the VNC elongates as a consequence of tension imparted by retarded peripheral nerve growth during larval development. We also provide evidence that for growth of peripheral nerve fibers GlcAT-P is critically required in hemocytes; however, glial cells are also important in this process. The glial specific repo gene acts as a modifier of GlcAT-P and loss or reduction of repo function in a GlcAT-P mutant background enhances VNC elongation. We propose a model in which hemocytes are required for aspects of glial cell biology which in turn affects the elongation of peripheral nerves during larval development. Our data also identifies GlcAT-P as a first candidate gene involved in growth of integrated peripheral nerves and therefore establishes Drosophila as an amenable in-vivo model system to study this process at the cellular and molecular level in more detail

Early maladaptive schemas associated with non-suicidal self-injury and childhood emotional abuse

Although the association between child maltreatment and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) has been demonstrated in the literature, additional examination is needed to investigate cognitive processes that contribute to the development of NSSI. Four early maladaptive schemas (Emotional Deprivation, Mistrust/Abuse, Social Isolation/Alienation, and Insufficient Self-Control) have been found to be related to NSSI history (Castille et al., 2007) and have also been investigated as cognitive processes associated with the development of NSSI. The aim of the current study was to test if Emotional Deprivation, Mistrust/Abuse, Social Isolation/Alienation, and Insufficient Self-Control early maladaptive schemas (EMS) statistically predict NSSI in the context of childhood emotional abuse (CEA) and also to test whether the each of the four relevant EMS mediated the association between CEA and NSSI in a community adult sample. Participants were 516 U.S. adults recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk, aged 18 and 74. Emotional Deprivation, Mistrust/Abuse, Social Isolation/Alienation, and Insufficient Self-Control EMS and CEA severity differed significantly by NSSI history status. Although Emotional Deprivation, Mistrust/Abuse EMS did not statically predict NSSI frequency, Social Isolation/Alienation and Insufficient Self-Control EMS were found to be associated with NSSI history and frequency. As CEA was not associated with NSSI frequency, models investigating Emotional Deprivation, Mistrust/Abuse, Social Isolation/Alienation, and Insufficient Self-Control EMS as mediators of the association between CEA and NSSI frequency were not testable. However, CEA was found to statistically predict NSSI history, and Social Isolation/Alienation and Insufficient Self-Control EMS were identified as mediators of this relationship, although Emotional Deprivation and Mistrust/Abuse EMS were not. These findings can guide treatment providers by identifying relevant EMS, and informing how the related cognitive distortions may be organized, and how cognitive restructuring can be used to target the EMS and related cognitions to decrease triggers and maintenance of NSSI behaviors, especially in the context of CEA

Early maladaptive schemas associated with non-suicidal self-injury and childhood emotional abuse

Although the association between child maltreatment and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) has been demonstrated in the literature, additional examination is needed to investigate cognitive processes that contribute to the development of NSSI. Four early maladaptive schemas (Emotional Deprivation, Mistrust/Abuse, Social Isolation/Alienation, and Insufficient Self-Control) have been found to be related to NSSI history (Castille et al., 2007) and have also been investigated as cognitive processes associated with the development of NSSI. The aim of the current study was to test if Emotional Deprivation, Mistrust/Abuse, Social Isolation/Alienation, and Insufficient Self-Control early maladaptive schemas (EMS) statistically predict NSSI in the context of childhood emotional abuse (CEA) and also to test whether the each of the four relevant EMS mediated the association between CEA and NSSI in a community adult sample. Participants were 516 U.S. adults recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk, aged 18 and 74. Emotional Deprivation, Mistrust/Abuse, Social Isolation/Alienation, and Insufficient Self-Control EMS and CEA severity differed significantly by NSSI history status. Although Emotional Deprivation, Mistrust/Abuse EMS did not statically predict NSSI frequency, Social Isolation/Alienation and Insufficient Self-Control EMS were found to be associated with NSSI history and frequency. As CEA was not associated with NSSI frequency, models investigating Emotional Deprivation, Mistrust/Abuse, Social Isolation/Alienation, and Insufficient Self-Control EMS as mediators of the association between CEA and NSSI frequency were not testable. However, CEA was found to statistically predict NSSI history, and Social Isolation/Alienation and Insufficient Self-Control EMS were identified as mediators of this relationship, although Emotional Deprivation and Mistrust/Abuse EMS were not. These findings can guide treatment providers by identifying relevant EMS, and informing how the related cognitive distortions may be organized, and how cognitive restructuring can be used to target the EMS and related cognitions to decrease triggers and maintenance of NSSI behaviors, especially in the context of CEA

Photoageing of Baltic amber - Influence of daylight radiation behind window glass on surface colour and chemistry

The aim of this study was to provide evidence about the interaction between Baltic amber and daylight behind window glass, essential to understanding the mechanisms by which the material degrades in museum environments and to propose techniques for preventive conservation based on the control of environmental parameters where amber objects are stored or displayed. To investigate the photodegradation of Baltic amber, the methodology consisted of artificial ageing, in order to initiate degradation of model amber samples, and non-destructive analytical techniques, in order to identify and quantify changes in colour and chemical properties. Prism-shaped samples, obtained from a large amber piece, were exposed to different microclimatic conditions, subjected to accelerated photoageing and analysed by spectrocolorimetry, infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The experiments provided results about surface discolouration, oxidation of the molecular structure and breakdown of unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds in various environmental conditions, confirming the degrading role of daylight behind window glass. The conclusions of this study can be applied to the development of techniques for preventive conservation of museum collections containing amber objects. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved