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Red stains are a common discolouration on stone cultural heritage all over the world. These are very difficult to remove and little is known about the reddish pigmentation. Numerous red stains were mapped on the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Florence, one of the most important monuments in Italy. This paper is focused on red stains on marble stone and the results of a detailed multidisciplinary approach are presented. Several analytical and investigation techniques (such as optical microscopy, X-ray fluorescence mapping, X-ray micro-tomography, micro-Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy, microbial isolation, colorimetric measurements and isotopic analyses) were used to better understand the origin and processes involved in this kind of alteration. Analyses of the red stains led us to believe the presence of minium (lead tetroxide) and Pb are usually concentrated in the spaces between calcite grains. Red stains of Pb isotopic composition also overlap with data from Sardinian mines. These preliminary data seem to reinforce the suggestion of a source of lead from some metallic items (during restoration campaigns between 1938 and 1944, damaged parts were removed and replaced, and the new marble cladding was fixed with iron brackets treated with minium). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand how the terra sigillata technology was transferred from Italy to Gaul, a large corpus of samples from various worskshops was studied by using standard laboratory techniques (Raman spectroscopy, SEM, electron microprobe analysis and colorimetry). Based on these results, a few representative samples were selected and investigated by synchrotron radiation at ALS on the 12.3.2 microdiffraction beamline. The beamline is very adapted to the crystallographic study of thin layers and allows us to determine precisely the mineral composition of the sigillata slips. The set of findings revealed significant differences between the Italic and Gallic slips, which suggest a modification in the manufacturing process. The transfer of the sigillata technique to Gaul is associated with an increase of the firing temperatures due to the use of more refractory clay. This change has no significant influence on their esthetic appearance (brilliance and color) but modify their mechanical properties, resulting in a stronger resistance for the Gallic slips. The implication of these results in archeological context is discussed. In particular, we will try to propose assumptions on the reason for the change in the manufacturing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lustre is characterized by a few hundreds of nanometers thick heterogeneous metal-glassy nano-composite film. Silver and copper nanoparticles are dispersed within the outermost layers of the glaze, conferring peculiar optical properties to the whole material. Even though numerous studies have been carried out, many questions regarding the chemical composition, the mechanism of metal reduction and the optical properties of lustre still remain. Synchrotron radiation techniques are suitable for detailed studies on metal-glassy nano-composites. For example, X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS) can provide useful information on oxidized phases or atomic clusters dispersed in an amorphous medium, otherwise not achievable with diffraction techniques. In this work, we try to get information on the chemical state and local environment of metal atoms in the lustre and in the blue pigment, in order to achieve a better understanding of the reduction mechanism of different metals present and the manufacturing techniques related to different productions (Hispano-Moorish and Italian Renaissance lustred majolicas). In particular, different samples characterized by lustre and blue decorations only, produced in Spain and in central Italy in XIV–XV cent., are compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibulae from the archaeological site of Egnatia were examined with the aim of identifying types of alloys, the processes employed for their manufacturing, and outlining the corrosion products. The results obtained, by identifying the raw materials and the technological solutions used allowed us to provide convincing answers to most of the archaeological questions and confirmed the integration of Egnatia in a complex commercial network. In addition, investigations focused on the study of corrosion products, with a view to the planning of more suitable restoration and preservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To elucidate the origin of armours supposed to be from Lombardy according to art-historians, the very small Slag Inclusions entrapped in the metallic matrix were analysed on the samples taken on armours. This paper presents the analytical protocol, based on the coupling of LA-ICP-MS and confocal SR-µ-XRF (confocal Micro-X-ray fluorescence under Synchrotron Radiation) developed to obtain trace element information from this kind of inclusion. Confocal SR-µ-XRF has been applied to inclusions of ancient iron artefacts for the first time. The reliability and reproducibility of the procedure developed for the trace elements quantifying have been checked by a comparison of the results obtained by LA-ICP-MS and by confocal SR-µ-XRF. Our first results allow us to draw some preliminary observations on the origin of the samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on natron glass, dated from the 1st to 5th century AD, excavated in different areas of the Roman Empire. The eastern side of the Roman Empire is accounted for by three archaeological sites, Petra and Barsinia, both in Jordan, and Gonio, in Georgia. The Italian peninsula is represented by the Iulia Felix and Embiez shipwrecks, and by samples from Augusta Praetoria. Samples from Barcino in Spain are examples of the western side of the Empire, and the sites of Tienen and Oudenburg represent the northern provinces. No clear distinctions in glass composition and origin between the different regions of the Roman Empire can be made based on the major elemental compositions. However, the western, central and eastern Roman Empire samples can be divided into two groups, coloured and colourless, which also are reflected in the K2O contents. Sr–Nd isotopes, used for provenancing geological raw materials in primary glass production, indicate an eastern Mediterranean origin (εNd between −2.5 and −6.0) for most of the samples. Conversely, samples with more negative εNd, between −7.02 and −10.8, indicate a western Mediterranean origin. By applying this technique on samples from well known archaeological contexts, this study demonstrates that several primary glass factories were located throughout the Roman Empire. This is in contrast with current interpretations of late Roman to early Byzantine data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An alternative validated analytical protocol for the determination of 63Cu/65Cu isotopic ratios viaICP-QMS is here proposed. Preliminary experiments and a careful evaluation of the instrumental performances have led us to propose a markedly different protocol from methods reported in literature: a modified bracketing method was chosen over the utilization of a long-term standard bracketing approach or the utilization of internal standards. As a result, accurate ratios with relative standard deviations as low as 0.025% can be obtained within an overall machine time (samples, blanks and standards) of 1 h per sample. Noticeably, this precision is only 2–5 times higher than the one attainable for 63Cu/65Cu ratio determinations with sector-field multi-collector machines. The required machine time is markedly lower than the one necessary for typical standard bracketing protocols (1 h vs.2–4 h per sample, respectively). In contrast with internal standard based methods, the required machine time is definitely lower, but with our protocol no time consuming sample purification pretreatments are needed. The protocol has been validated and used for the determination of 63Cu/65Cu isotopic ratios on various copper minerals coming from historical mines spread along the Italian Apennines and Alps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present paper is to evaluate the post-prandial response to some varieties of gluten free (GF) pasta that are commonly consumed in Italy. The glycaemic responses were compared with a glucose standard in healthy subjects and gluten-free diet celiac subjects. Subjects were served portions of the test foods and a standard food (glucose), on separate occasions, each containing 50 g available carbohydrates. Capillary blood glucose was measured from finger-prick samples in fasted subjects and at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after the consumption of each test food. For each type of pasta, the glycaemic index (GI) was calculated by expressing the incremental area under the blood glucose curve as a percentage of each subject's average incremental area under the blood glucose curve (AUC) for the standard food. Gluten free pasta exhibited a range of GI values from 46 to 66. The glycaemic load (GL) and glycaemic profile (GP) were also calculated. A higher GI value was observed in pasta containing rice flour as the main ingredient. Lower values were observed in pasta obtained using corn or a mixture of corn and rice flour as the main ingredients. The results were confirmed in celiac subjects. The information presented in this paper may be useful in helping celiac people to select low-GI pasta.

Mitochondria carry maternally inherited genetic material, called the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA), which can be defined as the 25th human chromosome. The chromosome-centric Human Proteome Project (c-HPP) has initially focused its activities addressing the characterization and quantification of the nuclear encoded proteins. Following the last International HUPO Congress in Boston (September 2012) it was clear that however small the mitochondrial chromosome is, it plays an important role in many biological and physiopathological functions. Mutations in the mtDNA have been shown to be associated with dozens of unexplained disorders and the information contained in the mtDNA should be of major relevance to the understanding of many human diseases. Within this paper we describe the Italian initiative of the Human Proteome Project dedicated to mitochondria as part of both programs: chromosome-centric (c-HPP) and Biology/Disease (B/D-HPP). The mt-HPP has finally shifted the attention of the HUPO community outside the nuclear chromosomes with the general purpose to highlight the mitochondrial processes influencing the human health. Following this vision and considering the large interest and evidence collected on the non-Mendelian heredity of Homo sapiens associated with mt-chromosome and with the microbial commensal ecosystem constituting our organism we may speculate that this program will represent an initial step toward other HPP initiatives focusing on human phenotypic heredity.

Microalgae are unicellular photoautotrophic organisms that grow in any habitat such as fresh and salt water bodies, hot springs, ice, air, and in or on other organisms and substrates. Massive growth of microalgae may produce harmful effects on the marine and freshwater ecological environment and fishery resources. Therefore, rapid and accurate recognition and classification of microalgae is one of the most important issues in water resource management. In this paper, a new methodology for automatic and real time identification of microalgae by means of microscopy image analysis is presented. This methodology is based on segmentation, shape features extraction, and characteristic colour (i.e. pigment signature) determination. A classifier algorithm based on the minimum distance criterion was used for microalgae grouping according to the measured features. 96.6% accuracy from a set of 3423 images of 24 different microalgae representing the major algal phyla was achieved by this methodology.

In recent years, several monitoring programs have been established as a consequence of EU Directives which include requirements for monitoring the quality of water resources (drinking water, groundwater and surface water). Plant protection products (PPPs) are an obvious target for monitoring activities, since they are directly released into the environment. In Italy, the National Environmental Protection Agency (ISPRA ex APAT) has recently published two reports containing the results of the National Plans for Control of Environmental Effects of PPP. These documents contain the collection of monitoring data related to the presence of PPP residues in surface water and groundwater. The first objective of this work was to critically analyze the results of monitoring campaigns on pesticide residues in surface waters in Italy. In particular, the paper focuses on whether and how the Italian approach satisfies the requirements of the Water Framework Directive, whether they are representative of the whole national territory, and how the utilized approach is appropriate for the characterization of risk to surface water. Starting from this analysis, some considerations about the limits of environmental monitoring as a tool for managing risk were highlighted.

This paper builds on previous work by our research group which demonstrated the applicability of a parametric model, Modified C-Fix, for the monitoring of Mediterranean forests. Specifically, the model is capable of combining ground and remote sensing data to estimate forest gross primary production (GPP) on various spatial and temporal scales. Modified C-Fix is currently applied to all Italian forest areas using a previously produced data set of meteorological data and NDVI imagery descriptive of a ten-year period (1999-2008). The obtained GPP estimates are further elaborated to derive forest net primary production (NPP) averages for 20 Italian Regions. Such estimates, converted into current annual increment of standing volume (CAI) through the use of specific coefficients, are compared to the data of a recent national forest inventory (INFC). The results obtained indicate that the modelling approach tends to overestimate the ground CAI values for all forest types. The correction of a drawback in the current model implementation leads to reduce this overestimation to about 9% of the INFC increments. The possible origins of this overestimation are investigated by examining the results of previous studies and of older forest inventories. The implications of using different NPP estimation methods are finally discussed in view of assessing the forest carbon budget on a national basis.

This paper describes a geostatistical approach for environmental data modeling based on value descriptive analysis, variographic analysis, estimation method and validation. It shows an application related to atmospheric pollutant dispersion (ozone) detected by active biomonitoring in the province of Livorno (Italy). This work proposes a two-stage approach based on: the computation of an index on an exploratory and geostatistical data analysis to assess whether a monitoring network is well distributed in space and allows us to get reliable information about the whole study area; the derivation of a continuous representation of the variable (the Cotyledonous Damage Index) from punctual measurements. The geostatistical approach proposed is useful to define in a structured way the possible problems in a monitoring network, to control the data estimation error in the points not sampled. The case study analysed underlines that the biomonitoring network outline does not have a representative sample station distribution of the study area introducing significant errors related to the territorial generalization of the derived information. The proposed approach allows us to elaborate on the obtained data to carry out the data spatialization associating an error to them and to the evaluation model.

Knowledge of accuracy and precision rates is particularly important for long-term studies. Vegetation assessments include many sources of error related to overlooking and misidentification, that are usually influenced by some factors, such as cover estimate subjectivity, observer biased species lists and experience of the botanist. The vegetation assessment protocol adopted in the Italian forest monitoring programme (CONECOFOR) contains a Quality Assurance programme. The paper presents the different phases of QA, separates the 5 main critical points of the whole protocol as sources of random or systematic errors. Examples of Measurement Quality Objectives (MQOs) expressed as Data Quality Limits (DQLs) are given for vascular plant cover estimates, in order to establish the reproducibility of the data. Quality control activities were used to determine the "distance" between the surveyor teams and the control team. Selected data were acquired during the training and inter-calibration courses. In particular, an index of average cover by species groups was used to evaluate the random error (CV 4%) as the dispersion around the "true values" of the control team. The systematic error in the evaluation of species composition, caused by overlooking or misidentification of species, was calculated following the pseudo-turnover rate; detailed species censuses on smaller sampling units were accepted as the pseudo-turnover which always fell below the 25% established threshold; species density scores recorded at community level (100 m(2) surface) rarely exceeded that limit.

Forests were shown to play an important role in influencing atmospheric concentrations and transport of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the environment. World forests cover more than 4 billion hectares and contain up to 80% of the above ground organic carbon. Given the lipophilic nature of POPs, this suggests that forests can influence the environmental fate of POPs at a global scale. POP accumulation in forest canopies still presents points of concern given the complexity of these ecosystems. In particular, the role of ecological parameters such as LAI (leaf area index) and SLA (specific leaf area) and their dynamics during the growing season was not sufficiently investigated yet. This paper reviews, compares and interprets a unique case study in which air and leaf concentrations and deposition fluxes for selected polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in three different forest types exposed to the same air masses. In order to trace the air-leaf-soil path of these compounds, a dynamic model of POP accumulation into forest canopy was applied. The dynamics of the canopy biomass strongly affected the trend of leaf concentration with time. Growth dilution effect can prevent the more chlorinated compounds from reaching the partitioning equilibrium before litter fall, while the more volatile compounds can approach equilibrium in the range of few weeks. An amount of up to 60 ng of PCBs per square metre of ground surface was predicted to be stored in each of the selected forests at fully developed canopy. Dry gaseous deposition fluxes to forest canopy were estimated to reach a maximum value of about 0.5-1.5 ng m(-2) d(-1) during the spring period.

A simple device consisting of a Petri dish containing cellulose paper soaked with paraffin oil (hereinafter defined "artificial leaf", AL) was deployed in a typical urban site and partitioning of a set of PAHs between the atmosphere and AL was investigated. Gas-phase PAHs rapidly equilibrate with AL, thus rendering it a promising cost-effective tool for spatial and temporal trends studies of air quality.