The Polychrome Sinopia of Roman Mosaic at Lod (Israel): Pigments Characterization and Microstratigraphic Study

This paper presents the results of the archaeometric study on the pigments and the painting techniques used to produce the polichrome sinopia found under the tesserae of the Roman mosaic at Lod (Israel). The red, yellow, green and black paints, laying on the sovranucleus of the preparation mortar under the mosaic, were studied by polarised light microscopy on disperse pigments (PLM), reflected light microscopy (RLM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). The palette comprises red and yellow ochre, cinnabar, green earth and carbon black. The microstratigraphic analysis shows the presence of a carbonation layer including the pigment particles on the top of the mortars, indicating that the pigments were laid on a fresh mortar, according to a fresco technique.Department of Geosciences, University of Padova, Via Gradenigo 6, 35131 Padova, Italy, Art Conservation Department, Israel Antiquities Authority

Lower limb stiffness estimation during running: the effect of using kinematic constraints in muscle force optimization algorithms

The focus of this paper is on the effect of muscle force optimization algorithms on the human lower limb stiffness estimation. By using a forward dynamic neuromusculoskeletal model coupled with a muscle short-range stiffness model we computed the human joint stiffness of the lower limb during running. The joint stiffness values are calculated using two different muscle force optimization procedures, namely: Toque-based and Torque/Kinematic-based algorithm. A comparison between the processed EMG signal and the corresponding estimated muscle forces with the two optimization algorithms is provided. We found that the two stiffness estimates are strongly influenced by the adopted algorithm. We observed different magnitude and timing of both the estimated muscle forces and joint stiffness time profile with respect to each gait phase, as function of the optimization algorithm used

Molecular analysis distinguishes metastatic disease from second cancers in patients with retinoblastoma

The pediatric ocular tumor retinoblastoma readily metastasizes, but these lesions can masquerade as histologically similar pediatric small round blue cell tumors. Since 98% of retinoblastomas have RB1 mutations and a characteristic genomic copy number “signature”, genetic analysis is an appealing adjunct to histopathology to distinguish retinoblastoma metastasis from second primary cancer in retinoblastoma patients. Here, we describe such an approach in two retinoblastoma cases. In patient one, allele-specific (AS)-PCR for a somatic nonsense mutation confirmed that a temple mass was metastatic retinoblastoma. In a second patient, a rib mass shared somatic copy number gains and losses with the primary tumor. For definitive diagnosis, however, an RB1 mutation was needed, but heterozygous promoter→exon 11 deletion was the only RB1 mutation detected in the primary tumor. We used a novel application of inverse PCR to identify the deletion breakpoint. Subsequently, AS-PCR designed for the breakpoint confirmed that the rib mass was metastatic retinoblastoma. These cases demonstrate that personalized molecular testing can confirm retinoblastoma metastases and rule out a second primary cancer, thereby helping to direct the clinical management

MobiDB 3.0: more annotations for intrinsic disorder, conformational diversity and interactions in proteins

The MobiDB (URL: mobidb.bio.unipd.it) database of protein disorder and mobility annotations has been significantly updated and upgraded since its last major renewal in 2014. Several curated datasets for intrinsic disorder and folding upon binding have been integrated from specialized databases. The indirect evidence has also been expanded to better capture information available in the PDB, such as high temperature residues in X-ray structures and overall conformational diversity. Novel nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shift data provides an additional experimental information layer on conformational dynamics. Predictions have been expanded to provide new types of annotation on backbone rigidity, secondary structure preference and disordered binding regions. MobiDB 3.0 contains information for the complete UniProt protein set and synchronization has been improved by covering all UniParc sequences. An advanced search function allows the creation of a wide array of custom-made datasets for download and further analysis. A large amount of information and cross-links to more specialized databases are intended to make MobiDB the central resource for the scientific community working on protein intrinsic disorder and mobility

The southernmost beech (Fagus sylvatica) forests of Europe (Mount Etna, Italy): ecology, structural stand-type diversity and management implications

The southernmost European beech forests are located in the upper forest vegetation belt on Mount Etna volcano. Their standstructural patterns were analysed to assess the effects of the site-ecological factors and previous management practices on the forest structure. Five main structural-silvicultural types were identified among the main beech forest types: coppice, highmountain coppice (HMCo), high forest, coppice in conversion to high-forest and non-formal stand. A detailed standstructural analysis was carried out through measured dendrometric parameters and derived structural characters linked to both the horizontal and the vertical profiles. Plant regeneration processes were also assessed, and several biodiversity indicators were calculated. The collected data indicate a high variability of beech stand structures in relation to the heterogeneity of the site-ecological characteristics as well as to the effects of both natural and anthropic disturbance factors. The occurrence of particular stand structures along the altitude gradient on Mount Etna is evident. It is especially visible in the multi-stemmed HMCos in relation to the changing, and increasingly limiting, ecological factors, although at higher altitudes historical anthropic actions (felling) also have had an influence. Inside the Mediterranean area, these stands highlight their ecological marginality, in terms of both latitude and altitude, especially regarding current climate change processes

Restoring EU competitiveness

With the advent of the digital revolution in the 1990s, productivity growth in the EU began to slip behind that in the US and other leading trading partners. This trend has undermined the comparative ability of European firms to compete and to provide rewarding jobs and a high standard of living. Low comparative productivity and misallocation of investment, alongside many structural weaknesses, help explain why the global crisis hit Europe so hard, and why EU-wide recovery still presents such a challenge. Since 1990, the inflation-adjusted absolute GDP per capita gap between the EU and US has increased by more than 50%. In absolute terms, the GDP per capita of EU regions has diverged since 1990, not converged. Productivity growth in the EU has trailed the US since the mid-1990s and was hit harder during the crisis than in other regions.Eine chronische Investitionsschwäche in wichtigen Bereichen, ineffiziente und fragmentierte Finanzmärkte sowie institutionelle Hemmnisse sind die Ursache dafür, dass Europa sein Potenzial für ein langfristiges, nachhaltiges Wachstum und für die Verstärkung seiner Wettbewerbsfähigkeit nicht nutzt. Sieben Krisenjahre in Folge haben viel Vertrauen zerstört, einen Rückgang der Gesamtinvestitionen bewirkt und strukturelle Investitionslücken vergrößert. Dieser Bericht untersucht, wie die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit der EU langfristig wiederhergestellt werden kann und welche Aufgaben der öffentliche Sektor dabei übernehmen kann. Im Mittelpunkt des Berichts stehen die Grundvoraussetzungen für einen Erfolg, der langfristiger Investitionen bedarf und für unser Wohlergehen in Zukunft entscheidend ist. Der Bericht enthält Informationen darüber, wie strategische Prioritäten festgelegt werden und warum die Maßnahmen zur Ankurbelung langfristiger, wettbewerbsfördernder Investitionen auf europäischer Ebene verstärkt werden müsse

Estruturação da vigilância epidemiológica e manejo populacional de suídeos asselvajados (Sus scrofa) para área livre de peste suína clássica do Brasil.

Suplemento 2, ref. 30. Edição dos Resumos do 3 Encontro Nacional de Defesa Sanitária Animal, Foz de Iguaçu, dez. 2013