Search Results (6)

During the restoration and digitalization intervention of the Manoscritto Parmense (Ms. Parm.) 3285 codex, a 14th-century illuminated volume that contains the three books of Dante Alighieri’s Divina Commedia belonging to the Biblioteca Palatina of Parma, the deposits present in the center of some bifoliums were removed using soft bristle brushes and collected. A preliminary observation of these deposits with a stereomicroscope allowed the detection of some pigment grains of different colors, likely detached from the full-page illuminations at the beginning of each book. These grains of the pigments were then analyzed in the Bologna ENEA Research Centre through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), EDX microanalysis, and micro-Raman spectroscopy, allowing the identification of the minerals or the compounds used as pigments. Consequently, some pigments that were commonly used in the Middle Ages such as gold leaf, typically employed in illuminations and the decoration of heading initials, cinnabar red, and different types of blue pigments, including traces of lapis lazuli and azurite, were identified. Full article

With the development of nanotechnology, the emergence of new anti-tumor techniques using nanoparticles such as magnetic hyperthermia and magneto-mechanical activation have been the subject of much attention and study in recent years, as anticancer tools. Therefore, the purpose of the current in vitro study was to investigate the cumulative effect of a combination of these two techniques, using magnetic nanoparticles against breast cancer cells. After 24 h of incubation, human breast cancer (MCF-7) and non-cancerous (MCF-10A) cells with and without MNPs were treated (a) for 15 min with magnetic hyperthermia, (b) for 30 min with magneto-mechanical activation, and (c) by a successive treatment consisting of a 15-min magnetic hyperthermia cycle and 30 min of magneto-mechanical activation. The influence of treatments on cell survival and morphology was studied by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide) assay and light microscopy. When applied, separately, magneto-mechanical and thermal (hyperthermia) treatment did not demonstrate strong reduction in cell viability. No morphological changes were observed in non-cancerous cells after treatments. On the other hand, the combination of magneto-mechanical and thermal treatment in the presence of MNPs had a synergistic effect on decreased cell viability, and apoptosis was demonstrated in the cancer cell line. Synergism is most evident in the cancer cell line, incubated for 120 h, while in the non-cancerous line after 120 h, an increase in proliferation is clearly observed. MCF-7 cells showed more rounded cell morphology, especially after 120 h of combined treatment. Full article

In vitro cell exposure to nanoparticles, depending on the applied concentration, can help in the development of theranostic tools to better detect and treat human diseases. Recent studies have attempted to understand and exploit the impact of magnetic field-actuated internalized magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) on the behavior of cancer cells. In this work, the viability rate of MNP’s-manipulated cancerous (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231) and non-cancerous (MCF-10A) cells was investigated in three different types of low-frequency magnetic fields: static, pulsed, and rotating field mode. In the non-cancerous cell line, the cell viability decreased mostly in cells with internalized MNPs and those treated with the pulsed field mode. In both cancer cell lines, the pulsed field mode was again the optimum magnetic field, which together with internalized MNPs caused a large decrease in cells’ viability (50–55% and 70% in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, respectively) while the static and rotating field modes maintained the viability at high levels. Finally, F-actin staining was used to observe the changes in the cytoskeleton and DAPI staining was performed to reveal the apoptotic alterations in cells’ nuclei before and after magneto-mechanical activation. Subsequently, reduced cell viability led to a loss of actin stress fibers and apoptotic nuclear changes in cancer cells subjected to MNPs triggered by a pulsed magnetic field. Full article

This year, 40 years have passed since the adoption of the basic document for the protection of historic gardens, i.e., the Florence Charter. During this time, its recommendations have been verified by both conservation and researchers’ actions, who in various environments discussed its meaning as well as its essential shortcomings. Some of the provisions of the Charter were criticized in the context of the effects of their use, especially those relating to the issue of historic gardens fundamental protection, namely to authenticity in its various scopes with particular emphasis on the use of source research which raises many reservations for conservation actions. Moreover, their excessively superficial interpretation, which was demonstrated by the example of the most popular plant used in regular gardens, namely boxwood. This article presents and analyzes the most important theses of these discussions and the main axes of the dispute, dividing them into two parts, i.e., the first relating to authenticity and the other to the use of sources. On this basis, it was necessary to extend these considerations to all kinds of historic greenery. Attention was also paid to the meaning and scope of authenticity which changed along with the expansion of the semantic field in relation to heritage. Furthermore, the fact that since the adoption of the Florence Charter, some of the aspects of authenticity indicated in the article have been included in other documents developed under the auspices of ICOMOS, but usually relating to the heritage as a whole, sometimes considered regionally. Appendices contain the most important doctrinal documents referring separately to authenticity, meaning, as well as types and the scope of the usage of sources. This article presents new contexts in which authenticity connected with climate change and the postulates of the development doctrine should be considered. Additionally, the article indicates the need to extend the conditions in which to start considering the historical greenery areas, which should be treated as an element of green infrastructure. The article also points to the use of new techniques and tools in research on authenticity. The summary indicated the necessity to continue the discussion on aspects of authenticity in relation to historic greenery layouts. Taking into account all the above aspects and at the same time meeting the ICOMOS “Journeys for Authenticity” initiative, As part of the conclusions from the analyzes carried out in the article, a model of procedure was proposed. It aims to bring us closer to the preparation of a new document recommending the protection of historic greenery, addressing both critical comments about the present Florence Charta, as well as new challenges and opportunities. This model is shown by means of a diagram. Part of it is a set of themes around which around which the debate on the new Florence Charter could be launched. They were assigned to four panels, i.e., I. Historic greenery as an element of heritage: II. Authenticity of historic greenery complexes in research and conservation strategies; III. Authenticity of historic greenery complexes and sustainable development; IV. New techniques and tools in research on the authenticity of historic greenery layouts. Full article