The experimental reconstruction of the bronze warriors of Riace as part of the Frankfurt “Liebieghaus Polychromy Research Project”

The contribution describes the experimental reconstruction of the two bronze warriors discovered in 1972 in the sea a few meters off the coast of Riace. The Frankfurt project intends to contribute to the question of the production process, but also to the interpretation of these famous sculptures. On the basis of a 3D scan, a 1:1 bronze replica was recast. Eyes, eyelashes, lips, teeth and nipples, which had been originally made of stones and inlays of copper and silver, were reproduced and, together with a speculative patination and a painting based on linseed oil and asphalt, provide a starting point to discuss issues of the authentic appearance. Meticulous studies of the preserved technical traces on the warriors’ heads allow a reconstruction of both lost headgears that eventually provide a strong argument for the identification of both warriors.Nous décrivons ici la reconstitution expérimentale de deux guerriers en bronze découverts dans la mer en 1972, près du rivage de Riace. Les travaux entrepris à Francfort tentent de contribuer au débat sur les procédés de fabrication de ces célèbres statues, mais aussi sur leur interprétation. Une réplique grandeur nature en bronze a pu être fondue à partir d’une numérisation en 3D. La reproduction des yeux, des cils, des lèvres, des dents et des mamelons, primitivement en pierre et incrustations de cuivre et d’argent, complétée par une patine hypothétique et une peinture à l’huile de lin et au bitume, fournit une base de réflexion sur l’aspect original des bronzes. Un examen méticuleux des traces matérielles décelables sur les têtes des guerriers a permis de reconstituer les deux coiffes disparues, et d’étayer solidement l’identification des personnages

Ancient science and technology of colour. Pigments, dyes, drugs and their experience in Antiquity. Part. 1

First part of a special issue of the journal "Technai" devoted to the theories and practices of colour in Antiquity. The special issue includes an introduction and six articles

IL-2-activated haploidentical NK cells restore NKG2D-mediated NK-cell cytotoxicity in neuroblastoma patients by scavenging of plasma MICA

NK group 2D (NKG2D)-expressing NK cells exhibit cytolytic activity against various tumors after recognition of the cellular ligand MHC class I chain-related gene A (MICA). However, release of soluble MICA (sMICA) compromises NKG2D-dependent NK-cell cytotoxicity leading to tumor escape from immunosurveillance. Although some molecular details of the NKG2D-MICA interaction have been elucidated, its impact for donor NK (dNK) cell-based therapy of solid tumors has not been studied. Within an ongoing phase I/II trial, we used allogeneic IL-2 activated dNK cells after haploidentical stem cell transplantation for immunotherapy of patients with high-risk stage IV neuroblastoma. NKG2D levels on activated dNK cells increased strongly when compared with freshly isolated dNK cells and correlated with enhanced NK-cell cytotoxicity. Most importantly, elevated sMICA levels in patients plasma correlated significantly with impaired dNK-cell-mediated cytotoxicity. This effect could be reversed by high-dose infusion of activated dNK cells, which display high levels of surface NKG2D. Our data suggest that the provided excess of NKG2D leads to clearance of sMICA and preserves cytotoxicity of dNK cells via non-occupied NKG2D. In conclusion, our results identify this tumor immune escape mechanism as a target to improve immunotherapy of neuroblastoma and presumably other tumors

Differential combinatorial interactions of cis-acting elements recognized by R2R3-MYB, BZIP, and BHLH factors control light-responsive and tissue-specific activation of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis genes

Hartmann U, Sagasser M, Mehrtens F, Stracke R, Weisshaar B. Differential combinatorial interactions of cis-acting elements recognized by R2R3-MYB, BZIP, and BHLH factors control light-responsive and tissue-specific activation of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis genes. Plant Molecular Biology. 2005;57(2):155-171

Hyperon signatures in the PANDA experiment at FAIR

We present a detailed simulation study of the signatures from the sequential decays of the triple-strange pbar p -> Ω+Ω- -> K+ΛbarK- Λ -> K+pbarπ+K-pπ- process in the PANDA central tracking system with focus on hit patterns and precise time measurement. We present a systematic approach for studying physics channels at the detector level and develop input criteria for tracking algorithms and trigger lines. Finally, we study the beam momentum dependence on the reconstruction efficiency for the PANDA detector