The paper presents the results of a multianalytical study carried out through laboratory investigations on building materials of “Punta Troia Castle” in Marettimo Island (Sicily). The main aims of ...the work were to characterize the petrographic nature and to determine the geological provenance of the stone materials used to build the castle as well as to define the causes and mechanisms at the origin of their decay, in order to support and ensure greater durability to the restoration interventions. Based on the collected data, the local dolomitic limestone may be stated as the main stone for reconstruction purposes. In fact, this building stone shows low porosity, high compactness and a very good durability with respect to any other lithotypes identified in the building structure of the castle.
The heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (HNRNP) genes code for a set of RNA-binding proteins that function primarily in the spliceosome C complex. Pathogenic variants in these genes can drive ...neurodegeneration, through a mechanism involving excessive stress-granule formation, or developmental defects, through mechanisms that are not known. Here, we report four unrelated individuals who have truncating or missense variants in the same C-terminal region of hnRNPR and who have multisystem developmental defects including abnormalities of the brain and skeleton, dysmorphic facies, brachydactyly, seizures, and hypoplastic external genitalia. We further identified in the literature a fifth individual with a truncating variant. RNA sequencing of primary fibroblasts reveals that these HNRNPR variants drive significant changes in the expression of several homeobox genes, as well as other transcription factors, such as LHX9, TBX1, and multiple HOX genes, that are considered fundamental regulators of embryonic and gonad development. Higher levels of retained intronic HOX sequences and lost splicing events in the HOX cluster are observed in cells carrying HNRNPR variants, suggesting that impaired splicing is at least partially driving HOX deregulation. At basal levels, stress-granule formation appears normal in primary and transfected cells expressing HNRNPR variants. However, these cells reveal profound recovery defects, where stress granules fail to disassemble properly, after exposure to oxidative stress. This study establishes an essential role for HNRNPR in human development and points to a mechanism that may unify other “spliceosomopathies” linked to variants that drive multi-system congenital defects and are found in hnRNPs.
The aim of this study is to investigate the provenance of marbles used as architectural elements (bases, shafts and capitals of columns) for building the internal spiral staircase of the medieval ...bell tower of St. Nicholas Church at Pisa, Italy. Accordingly, the 45 collected marble samples have been analysed by optical microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and mass spectroscopy for carbon and oxygen stable isotope ratio analysis; additionally, SEM–EDS analysis have been performed to complement data about accessory minerals. By comparison with literature data on the main sources of the white Mediterranean marbles used in ancient times, the results show that the analysed samples are mainly white crystalline marbles from Carrara (Italy) and, subordinately, from other Tuscan and Eastern Mediterranean quarrying areas. In fact, Mt. Pisano and Campiglia M.ma (Tuscany, Italy) and Marmara (Turkey), Paros, Mt. Penteli, Thasos (Greece) are minor sources. The other coloured stones identified on the strength of their macroscopic features are quartzites from Mt. Pisano area and granitoids from Sardinia and Island of Elba (Italy). Occasionally, a very limited number of architectonical elements made up of Acquabona limestone from Rosignano Marittimo (Livorno, Italy), red limestone with ammonites (the so-called “Rosso Ammonitico”) and black limestone belonging to the Tuscan Nappe sequence, outcropping at northwest of Pisa in the nearby Monti d’Oltre Serchio area, are present.
Loess deposits have been described in the past for the upper section of Buca Dei Corvi succession (Central Italy). In this paper the deposits were re-analysed to clarify the depositional environment ...and to attempt a paleoclimate reconstruction. Two radiocarbon dates on pedogenic carbonate constrain the ages to the Late Glacial, and are consistent with previous OSL dating of the top of the succession. The non-marine mollusc assemblage shows typical character of cold and dry climatic conditions, testified by strong oligotypical composition. Mineralogy and geochemistry of the sediments indicate the abundant presence of exotic quartz mineral which can be explained only by wind transport. Probably, wind transport was also responsible of deposition of carbonate which then dissolved and re-precipitated producing pedogenic concretions. Stable isotopes (13C/12C and 18O/16O ratios) of the concretions are consistent with a climate drier than present conditions, with an environment characterized by sparse vegetation.
•A multiproxy environment reconstruction from Late Glacial deposit of Central Italy is proposed.•Pedogenic features, land snail association and stable isotopes indicate dry climate condition.•δ18O values of pedogenic carbonates indicate that δ18O of precipitation was higher than present.
Since the introduction of the term 'geopolymer' by Davidovits in 1978, many works have been published, sometimes providing clear and concise indications, and other times creating confusion about what ...are a geopolymer. What seems interesting beyond the terminology discourse is the advantage of low CO2 emissions, the use of waste industrial byproducts in their implementation and the resistance to air pollution and aggressive agents. Playing on the combination of the different precursors and alkaline activators, geopolymers can reach competitive mechanical properties and significant environmental benefits. The materials, with specially designed formulations, can be fireproof, breathable, resistant to rising salts and acid rain, as well as products with low emission of carbon dioxide. Furthermore, a further advantage is the ability to imitate natural, artificial and stone materials. There are hundreds of papers about characteristics, properties both of precursors and final product, but only a few of them about the Cultural Heritage Application. Despite this, the data shown by the few publications present to date give hope for a use of these materials for the consolidation, conservation and restoration of the heritage built within the historical centres, where the low CO2 emissions and the characteristics shown by the geopolymers could bring a huge benefit to the environment and the protection of the structures themselves. In this work, we briefly review the bibliography available on the applications of these materials to Cultural Heritage, hypothesising future uses aimed at specific urban contexts, where the application could play a key role in the future projects to restore the built heritage.
In the Monte Pisano area (north-western Tuscany, Italy) several limestones outcrop and some of them are carbonate-rich rocks that were used for air-hardening lime or hydraulic lime production. Since ...Roman times, carbonate rocks outcropping in the Monte Pisano area have been used for that purpose. Monte Pisano is a mountainous system of modest size that is part of the Tuscan Apennine, located in the north-western part of Tuscany, and it separates the two cities of Pisa and Lucca. As an obvious consequence of the presence of good source rocks useful for the production of lime, in the surroundings of Monte Pisano there was a great use of carbonate rocks for the production of aerial lime and hydraulic lime. In fact, the monumental buildings in the Middle Ages were built making extensive use of binding materials obtained by firing rocks belonging to formations of the Tuscan metamorphic sequence: the Monte Pisano marble and the Selciferous Limestone. Several famous monuments in Pisa's Miracle Square and in Lucca's historical centre were built by using air-hardening lime and hydraulic lime obtained by firing these rocks. The aim of this work is to characterize samples from the Monte Pisano quarries, where the aforementioned carbonate-rich stones were quarried to produce air-hardening lime and hydraulic lime, by mean of chemical, mineralogical and petrographic studies and by determining their physical and mechanical properties. These same properties will also be determined on handmade mortar samples made up of self-produced binders and normalised sand to evaluate the best uses, and the optimum time and temperature of stone firing.
The main objective of this work was the study of chemical composition of an important collection of Ibero-Roman votive bronze statuettes exposed in the Archaeological Museum of Sagunto (Spain). ...Precision and accuracy of the measurements were obtained developing a proper analytical method, also avoiding any possible damage to the studied objects using a portable energy dispersive X- ray fluorescence system.
Principal Components Analysis (PCA) to discriminate between groups based on ratios Fe/Cu, Pb/Cu, Sn/Cu, Ag/Cu, Ni/Cu and Impurities/Cu were employed to observe differences between the used smelting, manufacturing processes and raw materials. The characterisation of bronze statuettes cross-referenced with archaeological data, gave important suggestions to clarify issues regarding manufacturing processes, quality and chronologies of the studied objects.
•A validated XRF method was developed for ancient bronze analyses.•An important collection of Ibero-Roman votive bronze statuettes was studied.•The established methodological approach chronologically classified the statuettes.•PCA employing Fe/Cu, Sn/Cu, Pb/Cu and Impurities/Cu as variables classified the statues.
Aging is a universal biological process that afflicts every creature on this planet. To date, we have a very poor understanding of what actually causes this degeneration. A commonly held view is that ...aging is the result of damage accumulation over a lifetime. However, research has shown that aging is not only the result of wear and tear in the organism, but also of genetic programs involved in organismal development that go awry as selective pressure is released. This review focuses on Wnt signalling pathways and discusses how these genetic programs orchestrate changes in the organism that could cause aging.
An experimental approach in order to investigate the possibility that some Italian limestones were used for the production of Roman Cement is proposed. Three types of Pietra Alberese, a marly ...limestone used since Roman times for the production of "lime" in Tuscany (Italy), were selected. By burning of these stones, specimens of binders were realized. The characteristics of these binders were compared with the binder obtained by burning a French marly limestone commercially used for the production of Roman Cement.
All samples of carbonate stones were preliminarily characterized from the chemical, mineralogical, and petrographic point of view. The colorimetric coordinates were measured on both rock samples and hardened binder samples. The analysis carried out shows that Pietra Alberese with an high content of clay minerals develops a similar microstructure with respect to that developed by the French marly limestone used for the production of Roman Cement.
Since prehistoric times stones have been widely employed in the construction of historic buildings, floors, and claddings in rural and urban areas. Among the Italian natural stones, the sandstone ...belonging to the Gorgoglione Formation, known as the Gorgoglione Stone, quarried and worked near the homonymous village in Basilicata (Southern Italy), is usually used as a building material. The Gorgoglione Stone consists of well-cemented turbidite sandstones deposited in a Middle–Upper Miocene thrust-top basin unconformably resting on the external nappes of the Southern Apennine thrust belt. In the Gorgoglione area, it can be observed in either numerous natural outcrops or quarries. This study aims to highlight the geological peculiarities of the Gorgoglione Stone and, in particular, it is focused on its mechanical characterization for assessing the most effective use when employed in construction, such as public and civil buildings, road construction, paving, and small works of art. Based on the experimental results, obtained by samples collected from different quarries, axial stress–strain curves have been plotted, whose analysis has delivered the deformation behavior and the strength characteristics of the stone. The elastic modulus, uniaxial compressive strength, and axial strain at stress peak have been estimated for several specimens. The measured values are typically of a medium–high-strength sandstone. The tested specimens of sandstone exhibit a typical behavior of an elastic-brittle rock, characterized by a linear path and a failure typically of axial splitting. With regard to the results of the physical tests, they showed that the analyzed sandstone is characterized by quite low density and by medium–high porosity and water absorption.
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