Assessing Mechanochemical Properties of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Items in Cultural Heritage Through a Multimodal Spectroscopic Approach.

A multimodal spectroscopic approach is proposed to correlate the mechanical and chemical properties of plastic materials in art and design objects, at both surface and subsurface levels, to obtain information about their conservation state and to monitor their degradation. The approach was used to investigate the photo-oxidation of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), a plastic commonly found in many artistic and design applications, using ABS-based LEGO bricks as model samples. The modifications of the chemical and viscoelastic properties of ABS during photoaging were monitored by correlative Brillouin and Raman microspectroscopy (BRaMS), combined with portable and noninvasive broad-range external reflection infrared (IR) spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry, directly applicable in museums.

A Thermal Analytical Study of LEGO Bricks for Investigating Light-Stability of ABS.

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is a thermoplastic polymer widely used in several everyday life applications; moreover, it is also one of the most employed plastics in contemporary artworks and design objects. In this study, the chemical and thermal properties of an ABS-based polymer and its photo-degradation process were investigated through a multi-analytical approach based on thermal, mass spectrometric and spectroscopic techniques. LEGO building blocks were selected for studying the ABS properties.

Microscale mechanochemical characterization of drying oil films by in situ correlative Brillouin and Raman spectroscopy.

Correlative Brillouin and Raman microspectroscopy (BRaMS) is applied for the in situ monitoring of the chemical and physical changes of linseed oil during polymerization. The viscoelastic properties of the drying oil throughout the phase transition were determined by Brillouin light scattering (BLS) and joined to the Raman spectroscopic information about the chemical process responsible for the oil hardening. A comparative study was then performed on an oil mock-up containing ZnO, one of the most common white pigments used in cultural heritage.

COVID-19 pandemic impact on uro-oncological disease outcomes at an Italian tertiary referral center.

Purpose: To assess differences in referral and pathologic outcomes for uro-oncology cases prior to and during the COVID pandemic, comparing clinical and pathological data of cancer surgeries performed at an academic referral center between 2019 and 2020.

Methods: We collected data of 880 prostate biopsies, 393 robot-assisted radical prostatectomies (RARP) for prostate cancer (PCa), 767 trans-urethral resections of bladder tumor (TURB) and 134 radical cystectomies (RC) for bladder cancer (BCa), 29 radical nephro-ureterectomies (RNU) for upper tract urothelial carcinoma, 130 partial nephrectomies (PN) and 12 radical nephrectomies (RN) for renal cancer, and 41 orchifunicolectomies for testicular cancer. Data of patients treated in 2019 (before COVID-19 pandemic) were compared to patients treated in 2020 (during pandemic).

Unveiling the composition of historical plastics through non-invasive reflection FT-IR spectroscopy in the extended near- and mid-Infrared spectral range.

The present research exploits the strengths of external reflection FT-IR spectroscopy to non-invasively study heritage plastic objects through inspection, for the first time, of the wide spectral range including the near- and mid-IR (12500-350 cm). Unlike most of previous works on historical plastic objects, reflection-mode spectra were not corrected for the unfamiliar surface reflection profiles to the more recognizable absorption-like band shapes. This avoided data misinterpretation due to ill-suited Kramers Krönig correction when volume reflection is also present or when highly absorbing IR compounds generate Reststrahlen bands.

An integrated analytical study of crayons from the original art materials collection of the MUNCH museum in Oslo.

Among the artists' materials of the nineteenth century, pastel crayons merit scientific interest since their early commercial formulations are mostly unknown and, until now, have been considerably less studied with respect to other contemporary painting materials. In this framework, research herein reports the results of a comprehensive multi-analytical study of 44 pastel crayons of two recognized brands (LeFranc and Dr. F.

Influence of halogen bonding on gold(i)-ligand bond components and DFT characterization of a gold-iodine halogen bond.

A gold(i) complex bearing nitrogen acyclic carbene (NAC) and selenourea (SeU) has been used to verify whether the second-sphere SeI halogen bond (XB) is able to modify the Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson components of the Au-C and Au-Se bonds. The chosen system was found to be thermically unstable but it allowed an in-depth theoretical study by means of Energy Decomposition Analysis, Natural Bond Orbital and Natural Orbitals for Chemical Valence methods, coupled with Charge Displacement analysis. Indeed, in the presence of iodoperfluoroalkanes as XB donors, iodine interacts with the lone pair of the coordinated selenium, enhancing the Au ← C σ donation and depressing the Au → C π back-donation, as demonstrated also by the increase of the rotational barrier of the C-N bond of the NAC (see G.

Systematic review of studies reporting perioperative and functional outcomes following male-to-female gender assignment surgery (MtoF GAS): a call for standardization in data reporting.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to accomplish a systematic review on the surgical techniques available for male-to-female gender assignment surgery (MtoF GAS) published in the last 15 years, from January 2002 to May 2017, assessing advantages and disadvantages.

Evidence Acquisition: A specific search on MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science databases included vaginoplasty for gender exchange. Preoperative (age, gender, body mass index, prior surgery), intraoperative (mean operating time, intraoperative complications, transfusion rate, conversion rate), postoperative (hospital stays, readmission rate, early and late complication rate), postoperative sexual activity, subjective satisfaction, vaginal depth, and long-term outcomes (vaginal stenosis, prolapse, dyspareunia and labial abscess) data of vaginoplasty for sexual exchange were collected.

Micro transflection on a metallic stick: an innovative approach of reflection infrared spectroscopy for minimally invasive investigation of painting varnishes.

A new analytical approach, based on micro-transflection measurements from a diamond-coated metal sampling stick, is presented for the analysis of painting varnishes. Minimally invasive sampling is performed from the varnished surface using the stick, which is directly used as a transflection substrate for micro Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) measurements. With use of a series of varnished model paints, the micro-transflection method has been proved to be a valuable tool for the identification of surface components thanks to the selectivity of the sampling, the enhancement of the absorbance signal, and the easier spectral interpretation because the profiles are similar to transmission mode ones.

Revealing the Nature and Distribution of Metal Carboxylates in Jackson Pollock's Alchemy (1947) by Micro-Attenuated Total Reflection FT-IR Spectroscopic Imaging.

Protrusions, efflorescence, delamination, and opacity decreasing are severe degradation phenomena affecting oil paints with zinc oxide, one of the most common white pigments of the 20th century. Responsible for these dramatic alterations are the Zn carboxylates (also known as Zn soaps) originated by the interaction of the pigment and the fatty acids resulting from the hydrolysis of glycerides in the oil binding medium. Despite their widespread occurrence in paintings and the growing interest of the scientific community, the process of formation and evolution of Zn soaps is not yet fully understood.

Non-invasive Investigations of Paintings by Portable Instrumentation: The MOLAB Experience.

The in situ non invasive methods have experienced a significant development in the last decade because they meet specific needs of analytical chemistry in the field of cultural heritage where  artworks are rarely moved from their locations, sampling is rarely permitted, and analytes are a wide range of inorganic, organic and organometallic substances in complex and precious matrices. MOLAB, a unique collection of integrated mobile instruments, has greatly contributed to demonstrate that it is now possible to obtain satisfactory results in the study of a variety of heritage objects without sampling or moving them to a laboratory. The current chapter describes an account of these results with particular attention to ancient, modern, and contemporary paintings.

High Affinity Immobilization of Proteins Using the CrAsH/TC Tag.

Protein microarrays represent important tools for biomedical analysis. We have recently described the use of the biarsenical-tetracysteine (TC) tag for the preparation of protein microarrays. The unique feature of this tag enables the site-specific immobilization of TC-containing proteins on biarsenical-modified surfaces, resulting in a fluorescence enhancement that allows the direct quantification of the immobilized proteins.

Effects of Cocoa Husk Feeding on the Composition of Swine Intestinal Microbiota.

A two-diet/two-period change over experiment was performed to investigate the effects of cocoa husks, as a source of dietary fiber and polyphenols, on pig intestinal microbial composition. Six pigs were fed a conventional cereal-based diet or a diet obtained by substitution of 7.5% of the conventional diet with cocoa husks for 3 weeks.

Shear stress modulates endothelial KLF2 through activation of P2X4.

Vascular endothelial cells that are in direct contact with blood flow are exposed to fluid shear stress and regulate vascular homeostasis. Studies report endothelial cells to release ATP in response to shear stress that in turn modulates cellular functions via P2 receptors with P2X4 mediating shear stress-induced calcium signaling and vasodilation. A recent study shows that a loss-of-function polymorphism in the human P2X4 resulting in a Tyr315>Cys variant is associated with increased pulse pressure and impaired endothelial vasodilation.

Site-specific, reversible and fluorescent immobilization of proteins on CrAsH-modified surfaces for microarray analytics.

A novel technique for protein immobilization onto CrAsH-modified surfaces is presented. This approach enables an efficient, reversible and fluorogenic immobilization of proteins. Moreover, expressed proteins can also be directly immobilized from cellular lysates without prior purification.

[Burnout syndrome in pre-hospital and hospital emergency. Cognitive study in two cohorts of nurses].

Introduction: Burnout syndrome (BOS) associated with stress has been documented in health care professionals in many specialties. The emergency department and the pre-hospital healthcare services are highly stressful environments. Little is known about the BOS in critical care nursing staff.

Effect of Technological Treatments on Human-Like Leptin Level in Bovine Milk for Human Consumption.

In this experiment, raw milk and commercially available full-cream UHT milk, semi-skimmed UHT milk, skimmed UHT milk, full-cream pasteurized milk, semi-skimmed pasteurized milk and infant formulas for babies between 6 and 12 months of age were analyzed by RIA, with a method using an antibody directed against human leptin and human leptin as reference standard. Raw milk and full-cream UHT milk did not differ for human-like leptin. Leptin content of full-cream pasteurized milk was not different to that of full-cream UHT milk, but it was 14% lower ( < 0.

Trend analysis of plasma insulin level around parturition in relation to parity in Saanen goats.

The present study investigated the effect of parity on plasma insulin level around parturition in Saanen goats. On d -14, -7, 0, 3, 7, 10, and 14 from parturition, plasma glucose, NEFA, free AA, cortisol, and insulin concentrations were analyzed in 10 primiparous and 10 multiparous goats. At parturition, BW of primiparous goats was about 75% of that of multiparous ones (P < 0.

Non-invasive identification of metal-oxalate complexes on polychrome artwork surfaces by reflection mid-infrared spectroscopy.

In this work a reflection mid-infrared spectroscopy study of twelve metal-oxalate complexes, of interest in art conservation science as alteration compounds, was performed. Spectra of the reference materials highlighted the presence of derivative-like and/or inverted features for the fundamental vibrational modes as result of the main contribution from the surface component of the reflected light. In order to provide insights in the interpretation of theses spectral distortions, reflection spectra were compared with conventional transmission ones.

Synthesis of lipidated peptides.

One of the main reasons of the high diversity and complexity of the human proteome compared to the human genome is the extensive work performed by the posttranslational machinery to incorporate numerous different functionalities on proteins. The covalent attachment of chemical moieties in proteins after translation is known as posttranslational modification (PTM) and has a crucial role in controlling protein localization and activity. Relevant modifications include phosphorylation, carboxymethylation, glycosylation, acetylation, or lipidation.