A Bronze Age lip-paint from southeastern Iran.

A small chlorite vial, discovered among numerous artifacts looted and recovered in the Jiroft region of Kerman province, southeastern Iran, contains a deep red cosmetic preparation that is likely a lip-coloring paint or paste. Through analytical research involving XRD (X-ray diffraction), SEM-EDS (scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive spectroscopy), and HPLC-MS (high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) analyses, the mineral components of the reddish substance were identified as hematite, darkened with manganite and braunite, and traces of galena and anglesite, mixed with vegetal waxes and other organic substances. The mixture, thus observed, bears a striking resemblance to the recipes of contemporary lipsticks. We also report the first radiocarbon date ever obtained from a Bronze age cosmetic in the ancient Near East: results place the pigment in the early 2nd millennium BCE, a date compatible with several mentions of the powerful eastern-iranian civilization of Marhasi in coeval cuneiform texts of Mesopotamia, as well as with its currently emerging archaeological picture.

Plication surgery does not produce additional loss of length in Peyronie's disease patients.

Nesbit's procedure remains a cornerstone in surgical management of Peyronie's disease, despite the subjective loss of penile length. This retrospective study demonstrates that the perceived length loss has already occurred prior to surgery and that the Nesbit's procedure does not produce additional loss of length. Ninety-one patients who had undergone Nesbit's procedure between 2017 and 2022 at the Department of Urology of the University of Trieste were enrolled in the study. Preoperative stretched penile length and postoperative stretched penile length were measured. The curvature was uniplanar in 78 patients and biplanar in the remainder. Mean degree of the main curvature was 52.58° ± 14.13° and mean number of plications was 2.42 ± 1.07. Analysis revealed that the median of the differences between preoperative stretched penile length and postoperative stretched penile length was not significant (p = 0.466). According to our results, no significant penile shortening occurs as immediate consequence of Nesbit's procedure, as length is defined by the shorter side of the shaft affected by Peyronie's disease. Hence the length loss should have to be attributed to Peyronie's disease itself and could have been accurately predicted preoperatively allowing for a more accurate counseling of patients. Further studies are pending to assess potential postoperative loss of length due to scarring contracture.

Penile revascularization using the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery: An alternative vascular graft.

INTRODUCTION AND RELEVANCE: Microsurgical revascularization stands as the preferred method for addressing erectile dysfunction (ED) resulting from traumatic penile arterial insufficiency. Traditional microarterial bypass surgery (MABS) techniques have typically relied on utilizing the inferior epigastric artery (IEA) as the graft vessel. However, issues such as endothelial dysfunction in the vessel and alterations in abdominal tissue can negatively impact surgical outcomes. MABS using the descending branch of the lateral circumflex artery of the femur (DLCFA) should be proposed as a surgical option for penile arterial revascularization. CASE PRESENTATION: A 29-year-old who experienced ED after a pelvic bone fracture with hypogastric vascular injury was referred to our center. Preoperatory penile Doppler ultrasound (PDU) examination documented the presence of arterial insufficiency. Selective hypogastric angiography pointed out the interruption of arterial blood flow at the level of the distal right internal pudendal artery. CASE DISCUSSION: Access to the dorsal penile artery was gained through an infrapubic incision, the DLCFA pedicle was isolated through an incision along the anterolateral right thigh. After its transposition, the arterial bundle was anastomosed to the dorsal penile artery in an end-to-end fashion. Intraoperative PDU has been used to verify the patency of the anastomosis. At 6 months follow-up, optimal flow parameters on PDU were persistently registered, and the patient had consistent clinical improvement on the IIEF-5 score. CONCLUSION: DLCFA grafting for penile revascularization is a suitable therapeutic option in traumatic ED due to its size and accessibility. Further experience is necessary to compare clinical outcomes among different revascularization techniques.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Prostate Cancer: An Overview of Diagnostic Performance, Oncological Outcomes, Safety, and Feasibility.

Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) for prostate cancer (PCa) represents an innovative technique aimed at improving nodal staging accuracy. The routinary adoption of this procedure in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) might be crucial to identify candidates who could effectively benefit from extensive pelvic lymph nodal dissection (ePLND). Despite some promising results, SNB for PCa is still considered experimental due to the lack of solid evidence and procedural standardization. In this regard, our narrative review aimed to analyze the most recent literature in this field, providing an overview of both the diagnostic accuracy measures and the oncological outcomes of SNB.

Chemical and Mechanical Characterization of Unprecedented Transparent Epoxy-Nanomica Composites-New Model Insights for Mechanical Properties.

Two nanomicas of similar composition, containing muscovite and quartz, but with different particle size distributions, have been used to prepare transparent epoxy nanocomposites. Their homogeneous dispersion, due to the nano-size, was achieved even without being organically modified, and no aggregation of the nanoparticles was observed, thus maximizing the specific interface between matrix and nanofiller. No exfoliation or intercalation has been observed by XRD, despite the significant dispersion of the filler in the matrix which produced nanocomposites with a loss in transparency in the visible domain of less than 10% in the presence of 1% wt and 3% wt of mica fillers. The presence of micas does not affect the thermal behavior of the nanocomposites, which remains similar to that of the neat epoxy resin. The mechanical characterization of the epoxy resin composites revealed an increased Young's modulus, whereas tensile strength was reduced. A peridynamics-based representative volume element approach has been implemented to estimate the effective Young's modulus of the nanomodified materials. The results obtained through this homogenization procedure have been used as input for the analysis of the nanocomposite fracture toughness, which has been carried out by a classical continuum mechanics-peridynamics coupling approach. Comparison with the experimental data confirms the capability of the peridynamics-based strategies to properly model the effective Young's modulus and fracture toughness of epoxy-resin nanocomposites. Finally, the new mica-based composites exhibit high values of volume resistivity, thus being excellent candidates as insulating materials.

Identification and quantification of tire wear particles by employing different cross-validation techniques: FTIR-ATR Micro-FTIR, Pyr-GC/MS, and SEM.

Tire wear particles (TWPs) are one of the environment's most important emission sources of microplastics. In this work, chemical identification of these particles was carried out in highway stormwater runoff through cross-validation techniques for the first time. Optimization of a pre-treatment method (i.e., extraction and purification) was provided to extract TWPs, avoiding their degradation and denaturation, to prevent getting low recognizable identification and consequently underestimates in the quantification. Specific markers were used for TWPs identification comparing real stormwater samples and reference materials via FTIR-ATR, Micro-FTIR, and Pyrolysis-gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry (Pyr-GC/MS). Quantification of TWPs was carried out via Micro-FTIR (microscopic counting); the abundance ranged from 220,371 ± 651 TWPs/L to 358,915 ± 831 TWPs/L, while the higher mass was 39,6 ± 9 mg TWPs/L and the lowest 31,0 ± 8 mg TWPs/L. Most of the TWPs analyzed were less than 100 µm in size. The sizes were also confirmed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), including the presence of potential nano TWPs in the samples. Elemental analysis via SEM supported that a complex mixture of heterogeneous composition characterizes these particles by agglomerating organic and inorganic particles that could derive from brake and road wear, road pavement, road dust, asphalts, and construction road work. Due to the analytical lack of knowledge about TWPs chemical identification and quantification in scientific literature, this study significantly contributes to providing a novel pre-treatment and analytical methodology for these emerging contaminants in highway stormwater runoff. The results of this study highlight the uttermost necessity to employ cross-validation techniques, i.e., FTIR-ATR, Micro-FTIR, Pyr-GC/MS, and SEM for the TWPs identification and quantification in the real environmental samples.

Early exploitation of Neapolitan pozzolan (pulvis puteolana) in the Roman theatre of Aquileia, Northern Italy.

The paper reports the results of the analyses on mortar-based materials from the Roman theatre of Aquileia (Friuli Venezia Giulia, Northern Italy), recently dated between the mid-1st Century BCE and the mid-1st Century CE. Samples were characterized by Polarized Light Microscopy on thin sections (PLM), Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Quantitative Phase Analysis by X-Ray Powder Diffraction (QPA-XRPD). Pyroclastic aggregates (mainly pumices and scattered tuffs), incompatible with the regional geology, were found in two samples from the preparation layers of the ground floor of the building. Their provenance was determined by means of QPA-XRPD, SEM-EDS, X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Laser-Ablation Inductively-Coupled-Plasma Mass-Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Mineralogical and geochemical analyses demonstrated their provenance from the Bay of Naples, thus recognizing them as pulvis puteolana, a type of pozzolanic aggregate outcropping around the modern town of Pozzuoli and prescribed by Vitruvius (De Architectura, 2.6.1) in mortar-based materials to strengthen masonries and produce hydraulic concrete for harbor piers. This evidence represents the oldest analytically-established case of pulvis puteolana exploitation in Northern Italy up to now, and an early use of the material out of Campania adapted for civil constructions in a non-strictly maritime-related environment. Indeed, the theatre was built in the low-lying Aquileia's deltaic plain, prone to water infiltrations that are typical in lagoon-like environments. The data highlight the craftsmen's resilience in adapting and reinterpreting the traditional use of the Neapolitan volcanic materials to deal with the geomorphological challenges of Aquileia's lowland.

When self-medication goes wrong: the case of argyria at the Padua Morgagni Museum of Pathology.

A unique specimen of argyria is preserved in the Morgagni Museum of Pathological Anatomy at the University of Padua (Italy). It is a stuffed head belonging to a man who decided to cure his syphilis by himself with the so-called infernal stone (silver nitrate) every day for years, thus developing argyria in the second half of the nineteenth century. Paleopathological and historical studies were performed on the specimen to confirm the diagnosis of argyria. Furthermore, a morphological investigation of the specimen was conducted with histological and ultrastructural investigations, including environmental scanning electron microscopy and electron dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, recording high presence of silver in the dermis and epidermis and also other chemical elements correlated to the "infernal stone." A comparison with actual cases may also lead to a common feature: a potential dependence on the perceived benefits brought by silver compound that may sustain a further prolonged intake.

Investigations on Caesium Dispersion and Molybdenum Coating on SPIDER Components.

SPIDER is the 100 keV full-size Negative Ion Source prototype of the ITER Neutral Beam Injector, operating at Consorzio RFX in Padova, Italy. The largest Negative Ion Source in the world, SPIDER generates an RF driven plasma from which Deuterium or Hydrogen negative ions are produced and extracted. At the end of 2021, a scheduled long-term shutdown started to introduce major modifications and improvements aiming to solve issues and drawbacks identified during the first three years of SPIDER operations. The first action of the shutdown period was the disassembly and characterization of the SPIDER beam source after removal from the vacuum vessel and its placement inside the clean room. Each component was carefully assessed and catalogued, following a documented procedure. Some source components, i.e., the Plasma Grid, Extraction Grid and Bias Plate, revealed the presence of different and non-uniform red, white and green coatings that might be correlated to back-streaming positive ions impinging on grid surfaces, electrical discharges and caesium evaporation. Thus, several analyses have been carried out to understand the nature of such coatings, with the study still ongoing. The evidence of caesium evaporation and deposition on molybdenum-coated SPIDER components, such as the formation of oxides and hydroxides, is demonstrated through surface characterization analyses with the use of the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS).

Systematic Exploration of the Synthetic Parameters for the Production of Dynamic VO2(M1).

Thermochromic dynamic cool materials present a reversible change of their properties wherein by increasing the temperature, the reflectance, conductivity, and transmittance change due to a reversible crystalline phase transition. In particular, vanadium (IV) dioxide shows a reversible phase transition, accompanied by a change in optical properties, from monoclinic VO2(M1) to tetragonal VO2(R). In this paper, we report on a systematic exploration of the parameters for the synthesis of vanadium dioxide VO2(M1) via an easy, sustainable, reproducible, fast, scalable, and low-cost hydrothermal route without hazardous chemicals, followed by an annealing treatment. The metastable phase VO2(B), obtained via a hydrothermal route, was converted into the stable VO2(M1), which shows a metal-insulator transition (MIT) at 68 °C that is useful for different applications, from energy-efficient smart windows to dynamic concrete. Within this scenario, a further functionalization of the oxide nanostructures with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), characterized by an extreme alkaline environment, was carried out to ensure compatibility with the concrete matrix. Structural properties of the synthesized vanadium dioxides were investigated using temperature-dependent X-ray Diffraction analysis (XRD), while compositional and morphological properties were assessed using Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (SEM-EDX), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis was used to investigate the thermal behavior.

Novel Magnetic Inorganic Composites: Synthesis and Characterization.

The addition of magnetic particles to inorganic matrices can produce new composites exhibiting intriguing properties for practical applications. It has been previously reported that the addition of magnetite to concrete improves its mechanical properties and durability in terms of water and chloride ions absorption. Here we describe the preparation of novel magnetic geopolymers based on two different matrices (G1 without inert aggregates and G2 with inert quartz aggregates) containing commercial SrFe12O19 particles with two weight concentrations, 6% and 11%. The composites' characterization, including chemical, structural, morphological, and mechanical determinations together with magnetic and electrical measurements, was carried out. The magnetic study revealed that, on average, the SrFe12O19 magnetic particles can be relatively well dispersed in the inorganic matrix. A substantial increase in the composite samples' remanent magnetization was obtained by embedding in the geopolymer SrFe12O19 anisotropic particles at a high concentration under the action of an external magnetic field during the solidification process. The new composites exhibit good mechanical properties (as compressive strength), higher than those reported for high weight concretes bearing a similar content of magnetite. The impedance measurements indicate that the electrical resistance is mainly controlled by the matrix's chemical composition and can be used to evaluate the geopolymerization degree.

Highly Porous Polymer-Derived Bioceramics Based on a Complex Hardystonite Solid Solution.

Highly porous bioceramics, based on a complex hardystonite solid solution, were developed from silicone resins and micro-sized oxide fillers fired in air at 950 °C. Besides CaO, SrO, MgO, and ZnO precursors, and the commercial embedded silicone resins, calcium borate was essential in providing the liquid phase upon firing and favouring the formation of an unprecedented hardystonite solid solution, corresponding to the formula (Ca0.70Sr0.30)2(Zn0.72Mg0.15Si0.13) (Si0.85B0.15)2O7. Silicone-filler mixtures could be used in the form of thick pastes for direct ink writing of reticulated scaffolds or for direct foaming. The latter shaping option benefited from the use of hydrated calcium borate, which underwent dehydration, with water vapour release, at a low temperature (420 °C). Both scaffolds and foams confirmed the already-obtained phase assemblage, after firing, and exhibited remarkable strength-to-density ratios. Finally, preliminary cell tests excluded any cytotoxicity that could be derived from the formation of a boro-silicate glassy phase.

Pattern of self-injurious behavior and suicide attempts in Italian custodial inmates: A cluster analysis approach.

Self-injurious behaviors and suicide attempts are more frequent in prison settings than in the general population and represent a crucial problem. The aims of this work are to assess the prevalence of self-injurious behaviors and suicide attempts in an Italian prison setting, to determine whether inmates could be differentiated based on profiles of psychological distress and impulsiveness, and to assess the predictive power of the proposed profiles. A sample of 1422 male inmates of a north Italian penitentiary was assessed upon admission with a clinical interview and completed a set of self-report questionnaires to assess psychological distress and impulsiveness; the number of self-injurious behaviors and suicide attempts occurring in the first year of detention was recorded. A cluster analysis approach was used. Prevalence of self-Injurious behaviors and suicide attempts is similar to what has been observed in previous work. Cluster analysis revealed four clusters: dysregulated (high impulsivity and distress), impulsive (high impulsivity and mean distress), mildly distressed (mean impulsivity and moderate distress) and well-balanced (low impulsivity and distress). The four clusters help to discriminate subjects more at risk of self-injurious behaviors and suicide attempts and are confirmed by the inclusion of risk factors such as marital status and relatives'/social support. Clinical implications are discussed.

Does the severity of psychopathology of Italian students receiving counselling services increase over time? A 5-year analysis and a comparison with a clinical and non-clinical sample.

Psychological problems-from the most minor such as exams anxiety to the more severe such as personality disorders-are not rare in young adults. University Counselling Services often present the only opportunity for undergraduates to meet health professionals and to be confronted with their difficulties in a non-clinical setting or-in cases of more severe psychopathology-to be referred to mental health services. Recent research attests to the increasing severity of psychological problems among undergraduate and graduate university students. The question necessarily arises as to whether this trend is replicated in the general population being referred to mental health services and, if such is the case, whether there are differences between the two populations. This paper analyses the change in the severity of self-reported symptoms in a sample of 194 students attending a University Counselling Service over a course of 5 years (2010-2014). Clinical severity was assessed in both groups by Symptoms Check List 90-Revised, Clinical Outcome in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure, and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire scores. Results show a substantial stability in severity level across time, and a comparison with an age-matched sample of patients referred to a public hospital clinical psychology service shows overlapping data with respect to disease severity level. As the mental health of university students is an important public health issue, the implications for the organization and structure of university counselling services and the connection with public mental health hospital centres are discussed.

Ultra-thin clay layers facilitate seismic slip in carbonate faults.

Many earthquakes propagate up to the Earth's surface producing surface ruptures. Seismic slip propagation is facilitated by along-fault low dynamic frictional resistance, which is controlled by a number of physico-chemical lubrication mechanisms. In particular, rotary shear experiments conducted at seismic slip rates (1 ms-1) show that phyllosilicates can facilitate co-seismic slip along faults during earthquakes. This evidence is crucial for hazard assessment along oceanic subduction zones, where pelagic clays participate in seismic slip propagation. Conversely, the reason why, in continental domains, co-seismic slip along faults can propagate up to the Earth's surface is still poorly understood. We document the occurrence of micrometer-thick phyllosilicate-bearing layers along a carbonate-hosted seismogenic extensional fault in the central Apennines, Italy. Using friction experiments, we demonstrate that, at seismic slip rates (1 ms-1), similar calcite gouges with pre-existing phyllosilicate-bearing (clay content ≤3 wt.%) micro-layers weaken faster than calcite gouges or mixed calcite-phyllosilicate gouges. We thus propose that, within calcite gouge, ultra-low clay content (≤3 wt.%) localized along micrometer-thick layers can facilitate seismic slip propagation during earthquakes in continental domains, possibly enhancing surface displacement.