RESUMO
This paper presents the novel application of recently developed analytical techniques to the study of paint layers on sculptures that have been restored/repainted several times across centuries. Analyses were performed using portable XRF, µ-XRD and µ-Raman instruments. Other techniques, such as optical microscopy, SEM-EDX and µ-FTIR, were also used. Pigments and other materials including vermilion, minium, red lac, ivory black, lead white, barium white, zinc white (zincite), titanium white (rutile and anatase), lithopone, gold and brass were detected. Pigments from both ancient and modern times were found due to the different restorations/repaintings carried out. µ-Raman was very useful to characterise some pigments that were difficult to determine by µ-XRD. In some cases, pigments identification was only possible by combining results from the different analytical techniques used in this work. This work is the first article devoted to the study of sculpture cross-section samples using laboratory-made µ-XRD systems.
RESUMO
This paper describes one of the first case studies using micro-diffraction laboratory-made systems to analyse painting cross-sections. Pigments, such as lead white, vermilion, red ochre, red lac, lapis lazuli, smalt, lead tin yellow type I, massicot, ivory black, lamp black and malachite, were detected in cross-sections prepared from six Bartolomé Esteban Murillo paintings by micro-Raman and micro-XRD combined with complementary techniques (optical microscopy, SEM-EDS, and FT-IR). The use of micro-XRD was necessary due to the poor results obtained with conventional XRD. In some cases, pigment identification was only possible by combining results from the different analytical techniques utilised in this study.
RESUMO
Illuminated Arabic manuscripts have been studied, employing two laboratory-made X-ray diffraction (XRD) systems developed recently in the C2RMF laboratory. The validity of the micro-XRD and XRD portable systems for the study of this type of artworks has been demonstrated. A common observation in all the analyses is the presence of calcite and rutile; also, hematite, goethite, cinnabar, brass, anatase and barite were detected in the various colours. Differences between the results obtained by both techniques due to acquisition mode are discussed. In addition, other techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and micro-Raman were used for the complete characterization of the manuscripts.
RESUMO
The aims of this study were to determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the elderly, to identify prognostic factors, and to establish a predictive model for mortality of CAP. Elderly patients with CAP admitted to "Carlos Haya" Hospital in Malaga, Spain, over a 36-month period were included. Multivariate analysis was used to identify prognostic factors from variables present on admission, from which a discrimination rule was constructed to predict mortality. A total of 343 patients were included, with the annual incidence ranging from 16.3 to 28.1 per 1,000 admissions. Most (82.5%) had some kind of accompanying or underlying disease. Clinical presentation was atypical in 87 (25.4%). Microbiological diagnosis was made in 24.5%. There were 49 (14.3%) deaths. The prognostic factors in multivariate analysis on admission were bilateral radiographic infiltrate, a blood urea nitrogen level of more than 7 mmol/l, absence of fever, a respiratory rate of 30/min or more, confusion, and shock. The discriminating rule to predict mortality comprising three or more of these factors was 91.2% specific, with a negative predictive value of 93.4% and an overall accuracy of 86.9%. CAP in the elderly is associated with a high degree of mortality. The discriminating rule incorporating the prognostic factors identified is a powerful predictor of mortality.