Materials analysis in three paintings of Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788) by portable X-ray fluorescence

Three paintings of Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788), one of the most influential English portrait painters of the late 18th century, from the collection of the Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP) - "Francis Rawdon" (1783-1784), "Portrait of Mrs. John Bolton" (1770), and "Drinkstone Park" (1747) - were investigated using portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF), employing a W tube anode and an XR-100CR detector. These artworks represent the only paintings by Thomas Gainsborough located in the southern hemisphere. Through an analysis of the behavior of X-ray line net areas for all identified elements in various regions of the oil paintings, it was observed that XRF accurately identified the original materials: Lead White, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Sulfate, Bone Black, Ivory Black, Yellow Iron Oxide, Prussian Blue, Vermillion, Red Iron Oxide, Umber, and Sienna Earth. Additionally, certain regions exhibited the presence of 19th century pigments: Zinc White, Cobalt Blue, and Chrome Yellow, indicating areas that had undergone restoration. The findings presented in this study align closely with results obtained from other investigations into paintings by Thomas Gainsborough.

Paintable Decellularized-ECM Hydrogel for Preventing Cardiac Tissue Damage

The tissue-specific heart decellularized extracellular matrix (hdECM) demonstrates a variety of therapeutic advantages, including fibrosis reduction and angiogenesis. Consequently, recent research for myocardial infarction (MI) therapy has utilized hdECM with various delivery techniques, such as injection or patch implantation. In this study, a novel approach for hdECM delivery using a wet adhesive paintable hydrogel is proposed. The hdECM-containing paintable hydrogel (pdHA_t) is simply applied, with no theoretical limit to the size or shape, making it highly beneficial for scale-up. Additionally, pdHA_t exhibits robust adhesion to the epicardium, with a minimal swelling ratio and sufficient adhesion strength for MI treatment when applied to the rat MI model. Moreover, the adhesiveness of pdHA_t can be easily washed off to prevent undesired adhesion with nearby organs, such as the rib cages and lungs, which can result in stenosis. During the 28 days of in vivo analysis, the pdHA_t not only facilitates functional regeneration by reducing ventricular wall thinning but also promotes neo-vascularization in the MI region. In conclusion, the pdHA_t presents a promising strategy for MI treatment and cardiac tissue regeneration, offering the potential for improved patient outcomes and enhanced cardiac function post-MI.

Team-based learning in online education: the development of students' creative thinking skills in digital art

A person cultivates their creative skills influenced by various types of activities. The purpose of the work is to study the peculiarities of the development of students' creative thinking skills, which are interrelated with the development of appropriate stages of team teaching, as well as to determine the impact of creative thinking on the indicators of academic performance and motivation to learn. The authors used the methods of sociological survey, which allowed them to determine that the largest number of students had mastered the skills of discipline (27%) and emotionality (21%) to a greater extent at the initial stage of the study. The results showed that 11% of the students in creative subjects (painting, digital art) and 7% of students in general disciplines (history, sociology, pedagogy, mathematics, physics, Chinese, cultural studies) had their academic performance at a high level before the start of online learning. The process of online teaching to paint was based on teamwork using the technologies of online education through educational online platform in the context of digital art. The results of the survey showed that the students had developed their creative skills significantly after training. The development of creative manner (29%) and analytical thinking (28%) were most popular. The authors determined that 88% of the students had received high grades in creative disciplines and 83% of the students in general academic disciplines after training. Most students were characterized by a high level of knowledge. The results are valuable for researchers who study the relationship between the development of creative skills and knowledge in general academic subjects, as well as strive to develop new curricula.

Non-invasive Brain Stimulation and Prism Adaptation in Art Constructive Errors in Painting

Introduction

This study aimed to investigate the influence of neglect and the effect of prism adaptation (PA) combined with continuous Theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (cTBS) on the art constructive errors in painting rehabilitation of stroke patients with neglect.

Methods

Fourteen patients with neglect and art constructive errors in painting secondary to stroke were randomly assigned to the rehabilitation group and received PA combined with the inhibitory protocol of cTBS over the intact parietal cortex; the control group received PA combined with sham cTBS for two weeks in ten daily sessions. Patients were assessed for art constructive errors in painting in figure copying test (FCT), and coloring test (CT) before and after the intervention. Art constructive errors in painting were classified into omission, deformation, size, neglect of warm colors, and perseveration of errors. Neglect was evaluated using the line bisection task (LBT), figure copying test (FCT), and coloring test (CT).

Results

All patients showed a significant improvement in art constructive errors in painting (measured using the pattern of painting' errors in FCT and CT), and neglect (measured using LBT, FCT, and CT) (P<0.05). Omission, neglect of warm colors, and deformation were the most frequent errors.

Conclusion

Neglect and rehabilitation influence the painting system in stroke patients. Both approaches improved art constructive errors in painting and neglect symptoms.

Goiter in a fresco by i Fiammenghini, 1615 (Abbey of Santa Maria di Rovegnano, Chiaravalle, Italy)

In a large fresco, which narrates brutal episodes of torture against Cirtercian monks, in the right corner of the background an ugly aggressor with a huge goiter, symbol of evil and sin, attacks a monk with a sword.

Leonardo Da Vinci's Archival of the Dermatologic Condition

The interconnection of scientific studies and art represented by Leonardo Da Vinci's (1452-1519) portraiture accentuates his role in documenting and archiving dermatologic conditions. His anatomical dissections, sketches, and paintings, including portraits, were all a means to observe, portray, and understand the nuances of the human body. In two of his most discussed portraits, Ginevra de' Benci (1474-1478) and Elisabetta del Giocondo, the Mona Lisa (1503-1506), Leonardo's execution of the exterior anatomy is so precise that he may have illustrated manifestations of disease that allow contemporary researchers to theorize diagnoses of dermatologic as well as neurologic, endocrine and vascular conditions. These include hypochromic anemia, muscular disorders, xanthelasma, thyroid disease, lipoma, and frontal fibrosing alopecia. Leonardo's extraordinary talent in recording his observations of shades and textures of skin and his ability to capture the nuances of subtle variations in the human body have produced a historical record that allows modern dermatology practitioners to make further observations not possible in his time. Here, dermatology and art intersect serving to document and explain the human condition, permanently archived in Leonardo's masterpieces.

Color painting predicts clinical symptoms in chronic schizophrenia patients via deep learning

BACKGROUND

Individuals with psychiatric disorders perceive the world differently. Previous studies indicated impaired color vision and weakened color discrimination ability in psychotic patients. Examining the paintings from psychotic patients can measure the visual-motor function. However, few studies examined the potential changes in the color painting behavior in these individuals. The current study aims to discriminate schizophrenia patients from healthy controls (HCs) and predict PANSS scores of schizophrenia patients according to their paintings.

METHODS

In the present study, we retrospectively analyzed the paintings colored by 281 chronic schizophrenia patients and 35 HCs. The images were scanned and processed using series of computational analyses.

RESULTS

The results showed that schizophrenia patients tend to use less color and exhibit different strokes compared to HCs. Using a deep learning residual neural network (ResNet), we were able to discriminate patients from HCs with over 90% accuracy. Further, we developed a novel convolutional neural network to predict PANSS positive, negative, general psychopathology, and total scores. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of the prediction was low, which indicates higher accuracy of prediction.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the deep learning paradigm showed the large potential to discriminate schizophrenia patients from HCs based on color paintings. Besides, this color painting-based paradigm can effectively predict clinical symptom severity for chronic schizophrenia patients. The color paintings by schizophrenia patients show potential as a tool for clinical diagnosis and prognosis. These findings show potential as a tool for clinical diagnosis and prognosis among schizophrenia patients.

A pioneer of acrylic painting: new insights into Carmen Herrera's studio practice

Carmen Herrera, born on May 30th, 1915, is a Cuban American abstract minimalist artist, whose first solo show was held at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, in 2016-2017. On this occasion, a scientific study of five paintings from the artist's time in Paris (1948-1953) revealed her pioneering use of solvent-based acrylic paints in post-war Europe. This article presents a second phase of research into Herrera's work aiming to shed light on her studio practice and ascertain the possible presence of other early acrylic paints in her pre-1963 artistic production. A selection of four paintings, namely Iberia #25 (1948), Iberic (1949), Flights of Colors #16 (1949), and Early Dynasty (1953), was subjected to an analytical campaign that relied on both non-invasive and micro-invasive techniques. Results confirmed the use of both oil and solvent-based acrylic paints, supporting our primary research and uncovering the first-known occurrence of acrylic binders in Herrera's Iberia #25. In all cases, the ground layer consists of a mixture of titanium white in its tetragonal form of rutile, anhydrite, and talc, while the color palette was found to be based on both traditional and modern pigments. In most areas, several paint layers appeared to be overlaid on top of one another, revealing a creative process that developed through subsequent compositions. Remnants of earlier paint layers, which appeared to have been scraped off before new ones were applied, were observed directly above the ground in some of the samples examined. In addition, Iberia #25 and Iberic, with analogous geometric and chromatic schemes, underwent technical imaging, which exposed pencil lines and notes underneath the paint layers likely indicative of the intended design and polychromy. Besides corroborating a major alteration in the current scholarship on the availability and use of acrylic-based artists' paints in post-war Europe, this research provides new insights into Herrera's materials, techniques, and studio practice. In addition, the results of this scientific study assisted the development of a suitable treatment plan for Iberic in preparation for its display in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's galleries as part of the museum's 150th anniversary exhibition Making The Met, 1870-2020.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40494-021-00603-3.

Environmental impact assessment and enlightenment of surface treatment production line during operation

Industrial production creates material conditions for mankind, but also seriously pollutes the environment. In order to avoid pollution damage to the atmosphere, water, sound, and other environments, environmental impact assessments must be carried out before the project starts, and possible environmental pollution factors must be analyzed and predicted in advance. Company A, a manufacturer of mechanical parts, plans to build a new surface treatment production line, including two production links: anodizing and painting. The product coefficient method and the material balance method were used to evaluate and analyze the environmental pollution factors such as waste gas, wastewater, noise, solid waste, and discarded bath solution discharged during the operation period of the production line. The evaluation results show that after chromium mist recovery, spraying, filtration, and activated carbon adsorption and other measures are concentrated treatment, the concentration of various exhaust gas discharged in an organized manner is lower than the standard limit; various wastewater can be recycled after being filtered by ion exchange resin and activated carbon use, a very small amount of concentrated liquid needs to be handled by an external professional unit, and a cofferdam is installed under the production line and the ground is strengthened to prevent leakage, which will not pollute the groundwater environment; the noise level on the four plant boundaries during the operation of the production line meets the noise standard. No noise pollution will be generated; solid waste and discarded bath solutions are centrally stored by the enterprise and entrusted to an external professional unit for processing, and no other pollution will be generated.

The Face of Modern Chinese Abstract Art in Museums Around the World

painting acts as a source of replenishment for the holdings of most museums. Unlike realism or other traditional styles of painting, abstraction does not always allow for changes in external form and internal content. This article is relevant, as when considering the essence of an abstract picture, its main meaning is the search for internal contradiction or semantics in an implicit form. The purpose of this work is to study Chinese abstract painting and the possibilities of its application as a source of traditional art. The novelty of the study is determined by the fact that the authors of the paper consider Chinese pictorial art as a source of transmission of philosophical and social motives, with respect to development of a technogenic society. The paper provides the possibilities of forming a figurative system in abstract painting and the possibility of searching for an analogue on the part of the symbolic system of fine art. The practical significance of the study is determined by the fact that the application of classifiers and systematisers to Chinese painting makes it possible to determine its components as a part of the global cultural and artistic heritage.

An adventitial painting modality of local drug delivery to abate intimal hyperplasia

A major medical problem is the persistent lack of approved therapeutic methods to prevent postoperative intimal hyperplasia (IH) which leads to high-rate failure of open vascular reconstructions such as bypass grafting. Hydrogel has been widely used in preclinical trials for perivascular drug administration to mitigate postoperative IH. However, bulky hydrogel is potentially pro-inflammatory, posing a significant hurdle to clinical translation. Here we developed a new modality of directly "painting" drug-loaded unimolecular micelles (UM) to the adventitia thus obviating the need for a hydrogel. To render tissue adhesion, we generated amine-reactive unimolecular micelles with N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (UM-NHS) terminal groups to form stable amide bonds with the adventitia. To test periadventitial application, we either soaked balloon-injured rat carotid arteries in crosslinked UM-NHS (Mode-1) or non-crosslinked UM-NHS (Mode-2), or painted the vessel surface with non-crosslinked UM-NHS (Mode-3). The UM-NHS were loaded with or without a model drug (rapamycin) known to be IH inhibitory. We found that Mode-1 produced a marked IH-mitigating drug effect but also caused severe tissue damage. Mode-2 resulted in lower tissue toxicity yet less drug effect on IH. However, the painting method, Mode-3, demonstrated a pronounced therapeutic effect (75% inhibition of IH) without obvious toxicity. In summary, we present a simple painting modality of periadventitial local drug delivery using tissue-adhesive UM. Given the robust IH-abating efficacy and low tissue toxicity, this prototype merits further development towards an effective anti-stenosis therapy suitable for open vascular reconstructions.

On-site contactless surface analysis of modern paintings from Galleria Nazionale (Rome) by reflectance FTIR and Raman spectroscopies

Seven artworks representing the diversity of paints used around the 1960s and created by German and Italian painters (J. Albers, A. Bonalumi, L. Boille, T. Scialoja and M. Schifano) were studied on-site at the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna (Rome) with mobile instruments. We present a methodology based on Specular Reflectance Infrared Spectroscopy (SR-FTIR) adapted to unvarnished paintings. Complementary measurements have been performed by Raman spectroscopy. Characteristic bands regarding as-recorded infrared reflectance spectra and Kramers-Kronig Transformation-converted absorbance spectra are identified according to literature and reference spectra recorded on representative commercially available paints. To distinguish the different binders by SR-FTIR, we propose spectroscopic markers as the comparison of the intensity of carbonyl band around 1730-1735 cm^-1 with bands at ~1160 (for acrylic), ~1230 (for PVAc), and 1270 cm^-1 (for alkyds). On the other hand, oil/resin binders are characterized by intense and thin νCH₂, νCH₃ IR absorption bands around 2920-2850 cm^-1, combined with an intense 1260 cm^-1 band and a characteristic concave cradle shape (between ca. 1750 and 1260 cm^-1). The results obtained establish the relevance of the implemented mobile non-invasive infrared spectroscopy analytical approach by successfully identifying acrylic, vinylic, oil media and enamel paints, with or without opacifiers, which is supplemented by Raman analyses for pigment identification.

A prospective study on the role of smoking, environmental tobacco smoke, indoor painting and living in old or new buildings on asthma, rhinitis and respiratory symptoms

We studied associations between tobacco smoke, home environment and respiratory health in a 10 year follow up of a cohort of 11,506 adults in Northern Europe. Multilevel logistic regression models were applied to estimate onset and remission of symptoms. Current smokers at baseline developed more respiratory symptoms (OR = 1.39-4.43) and rhinitis symptoms (OR = 1.35). Starting smoking during follow up increased the risk of new respiratory symptoms (OR = 1.54-1.97) and quitting smoking decreased the risk (OR = 0.34-0.60). ETS at baseline increased the risk of wheeze (OR = 1.26). Combined ETS at baseline or follow up increased the risk of wheeze (OR = 1.27) and nocturnal cough (OR = 1.22). Wood painting at baseline reduced remission of asthma (OR 95%CI: 0.61, 0.38-0.99). Floor painting at home increased productive cough (OR 95%CI: 1.64, 1.15-2.34) and decreased remission of wheeze (OR 95%CI: 0.63, 0.40-0.996). Indoor painting (OR 95%CI: 1.43, 1.16-1.75) and floor painting (OR 95%CI: 1.77, 1.11-2.82) increased remission of allergic rhinitis. Living in the oldest buildings (constructed before 1960) was associated with higher onset of nocturnal cough and doctor diagnosed asthma. Living in the newest buildings (constructed 1986-2001) was associated with higher onset of nocturnal breathlessness (OR = 1.39) and rhinitis (OR = 1.34). In conclusion, smoking, ETS and painting indoor can be risk factors for respiratory symptoms. Wood painting and floor painting can reduce remission of respiratory symptoms. Smoking can increase rhinitis. Living in older buildings can be a risk factor for nocturnal cough and doctor diagnosed asthma. Living in new buildings can increase nocturnal dyspnoea and rhinitis.

The effect of interactive games compared to painting on preoperative anxiety in Iranian children: A randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

An important responsibility of nurses is to optimize children's physiological and psychological health and to help them adapt to their new conditions and anxiety. In this study, we compare the effect of interactive games and painting on preoperative anxiety in Iranian children.

METHODS

This pre-post randomized clinical trial was conducted on 172 children aged 3-12 years undergoing elective surgery and randomly divided into three groups, including interactive games group (n = 64), painting group (n = 55), and control group (n = 53). The children's anxiety was assessed using the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (mYPAS).

RESULTS

The results showed significant differences between the three groups (P < 0.001). Also, results showed that the mean anxiety score was significantly lower in the painting group.

CONCLUSION

Based on these conclusions, nurses should collaborate with medical teams to routinely use non-pharmacological methods such as the painting and the interactive games to alleviate preoperative anxiety in children.

Occupational exposure to volatile organic compounds affects microRNA profiling: Towards the identification of novel biomarkers

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Exposure to volatile organic compounds represents a threat for workers' health and safety, even using protective equipment.

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Spray-painting exposure is at higher risk than roller-painting.

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Exposure to organic solvents may induce DNA and RNA oxidation, urine metabolite excretion and miRNA up- or down-regulation.

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miR-589-5p and miR-941, miR-146b-3p and miR-27a-3p have been identified as potential biomarkers of effect in exposed workers.

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KEGG pathway analysis showed that miRNA-1, related to lung cancer, is significantly downregulated in exposed workers.

In the framework of a project aimed at finding novel predictive biomarkers of VOCs exposure-related diseases, the effect of exposure to ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylene has been analyzed in a group of painters (spray- and roller-painters) working in the shipyard industry. Airborne levels of solvents were higher in spray- than in roller-painters, and comparable to the Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs), particularly for toluene and xylene. The urinary concentration of each volatile organic compound (VOC) and of the corresponding metabolites were also concurrently measured. A set of oxidative stress biomarkers, i.e., the products of DNA and RNA oxidation, RNA methylation, and protein nitration, were measured, and found significantly higher at the end of the work shift. MicroRNA (MiRNA) expression was analyzed in the VOC-exposed workers and in a control group, finding 56 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs at a statistically significant level (adjusted p ≤ 0.01). The Receiver-Operating Characteristic curves, computed for each identified miRNA, showed high sensitivity and specificity. A pathway analysis in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) showed that miRNA-1, which was found downregulated in exposed workers, is involved in the lung cancer oncogenesis. A subset of 10 miRNAs (out of the 56 DE) was selected, including those with the highest correlation to the urinary dose biomarkers measured at the end of work-shift. Multivariate ANOVA analysis showed a statistically significant correlation between the urinary dose biomarkers (both the VOCs urinary concentration and the VOCs’ metabolite concentration), and the identified miRNA subset, indicating that the exposure to low VOC doses may be sufficient to activate the miRNA response. Four miRNAs belonging to the subset strongly related to the VOCs and VOCs’ metabolites concentration were individuated, miR-589-5p, miR-941, miR-146b-3p and miR-27a-3p, with well-known implications in oxidative stress and inflammation processes.

"La Toilette". When a doctor becomes a painter: Frederic Bazille

PURPOSE

To find endocrinological disturbances in impressionism.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Analysis of "La Toilette" painting of Frederice Bazille.

RESULTS

We present a masterpiece work of Frederic Bazille "La Toilette" where a large goiter is visible. Short description of Bazille's life and painting is included.

CONCLUSION

Despite of unique painting technique, thyroid disorders are visible even in impressionism.

A case of acute promyelocytic leukemia variant with derivative chromosome 3 der(3)t(3;8) associated with 8q partial gain

Background

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is characterized by fusion of PML/RARα genes as a result of t(15;17)(q24;q21). APL is now one of the curable hematological malignancies thanks to molecularly targeted therapies based on all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATX). Extramedullary (EM) relapse is a rare event in APL, ear involvement being even more infrequent, with only six cases so far described. About 30–35% of patients with newly diagnosed APL have additional cytogenetics abnormalities, whose prognostic significance is still controversial. The most common additional aberration is trisomy 8 or partial gain 8q.

Case presentation

We describe here a novel unbalanced translocation der(3)t(3;8)(q29;q23.3-q24.3) associated with 8q partial gain in a 41 year-old man affected by APL in molecular remission after first line treatment, who had a responsive EM relapse in the auditory canal.

Conclusions

EM relapse is a rare event in APL and ear involvement is even more infrequent. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of APL with a new der(3)t(3;8)(q29;q23.3-q24.3) and 8q partial gain associated with t(15;17)(q24;q21). Despite the recurrence of the disease at EM level, the clinical outcome of this patients was favorable.

Drawing soldiers out of post-traumatic stress disorder

Art therapies are a broad suite of treatments including drawing, painting and music that can facilitate non-verbal communication through artistic expression. They have been used as adjunctive therapies for a range of mental health conditions. Significant numbers of returning military personnel experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and discontinuation of care is a concern. Using drawing-based art therapy as an adjuvant to classical therapies may provide a benefit for such military patients.

Explorations in the Aesthetic Pastoral Theology of Donald E. Capps

This paper will examine the curative effects of art and the reorienting perspective of poetry in the aesthetic pastoral theology of Donald E. Capps by exploring two key volumes, The Poet's Gift and At Home in the World. The paper identifies some of the key contributions of Capps's exploration of art and poetry including the recovery of perception, the advancement of reframing perspective, the notion of embodied pastoral conversation and the roots of religious sensibility. The therapeutic effect of the imaginative aesthetic pastoral theology in these two volumes is further developed by integrating three corollary themes in Capps's particular orientation to pastoral theology, namely hope, freedom and authenticity.

Lipophilic indocarbocyanine conjugates for efficient incorporation of enzymes, antibodies and small molecules into biological membranes

Decoration of cell membranes with biomolecules, targeting ligands and imaging agents is an emerging strategy to improve functionality of cell-based therapies. Compared to covalent chemistry or genetic expression on the cell surface, lipid painting (i.e., incorporation of lipid-conjugated molecules into the cell bilayer) is a fast, non-damaging and less expensive approach. Previous studies demonstrated excellent incorporation and retention of distearyl indocarbocyanine dye DiI in membranes of cells in vitro and in vivo. In order to exploit the membrane stability of DiI, we synthesized an amino-DiI derivative, to which we subsequently conjugated an antibody (cetuximab), an enzyme (superoxide dismutase), and a small molecule (DyLight 800). Red blood cells have long been used as drug delivery vehicles so they were utilized as a model to study the incorporation of DiI conjugates in the plasma membrane. All the DiI constructs demonstrated fast and efficient ex vivo incorporation in the membrane of mouse RBCs, resulting in millions of exogenous molecules per RBC. Following an intravenous injection into mice, the molecules were detected on circulating RBCs for several days. DiI anchored molecules showed longer residence time in blood and significantly higher area under the curve (AUC) compared to free non-conjugated molecules. Thus, cetuximab, SOD and DyLight painted on RBC showed 5.5-fold, 6.5-fold and 78-fold increase in the AUC, respectively, compared to the non-modified molecules. Lipophilic indocarbocyanine anchors are a promising technology for incorporation of biomolecules and small molecules into biological membranes for in vivo applications.

Development of a GC/MS method for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of mixtures of free fatty acids and metal soaps in paint samples

In this paper we present a new analytical GC/MS method for the analysis of mixtures of free fatty acids and metal soaps in paint samples. This approach is based on the use of two different silylating agents: N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS). Our experimentation demonstrated that HMDS does not silylate fatty acid carboxylates, so it can be used for the selective derivatization and GC/MS quantitative analysis of free fatty acids. On the other hand BSTFA is able to silylate both free fatty acids and fatty acids carboxylates. The reaction conditions for the derivatization of carboxylates with BSTFA were thus optimized with a full factorial 3² experimental design using lead stearate and lead palmitate as model systems. The analytical method was validated following the ICH guidelines. The method allows the qualitative and quantitative analysis of fatty acid carboxylates of sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, manganese, cobalt, copper, zinc, cadmium, and lead and of lead azelate. In order to exploit the performances of the new analytical method, samples collected from two reference paint layers, from a gilded 16th century marble sculpture, and from a paint tube belonging to the atelier of Edvard Munch, used in the last period of his life (1916-1944), were characterized.

Paintings discrimination by mice: Different strategies for different paintings

C57BL/6 mice were trained on simultaneous discrimination of paintings with multiple exemplars, using an operant chamber with a touch screen. The number of exemplars was successively increased up to six. Those mice trained in Kandinsky/Mondrian discrimination showed improved learning and generalization, whereas those trained in Picasso/Renoir discrimination showed no improvements in learning or generalization. These results suggest category-like discrimination in the Kandinsky/Mondrian task, but item-to-item discrimination in the Picasso/Renoir task. Mice maintained their discriminative behavior in a pixelization test with various paintings; however, mice in the Picasso/Renoir task showed poor performance in a test that employed scrambling processing. These results do not indicate that discrimination strategy for any Kandinsky/Mondrian combinations differed from that for any Picasso/Monet combinations but suggest the mice employed different strategies of discrimination tasks depending upon stimuli.

"The Penitent Magdalene": Jusepe de Ribera (1591-1652)

Jusepe or Jòse de Ribera (1591-1652), known as Lo Spagnoletto ("the Little Spaniard"), has been a leading painter of the Spanish Baroque movement. In one of the portraits, de Ribera represented a scene in which the Magdalene shows a swelling at the base of the neck suggestive of a thyroid nodule.

Epilepsy through the ages: An artistic point of view

The historical allure of epilepsy transcends academic circles and serves as fascinating critique of the state of the times-its values, judgments, mythos, and people. Immortalized and laid bare in artistic renderings of epilepsy are societal truths, at times both disparately grandiose and grotesque. During the middle ages and Renaissance, the European discourse on epilepsy assumed religious fervor. Epilepsy was considered a demonic machination and its cure an act of divine intercession. A similar theme is found in the artistic depiction of epilepsy from the Inca and Aztec civilizations of that time. After the 19th century drew to a close, the ascendency of empiricism coincided with waning creative interest in epilepsy, with few paintings or pieces to capture insightful perspectives on the illness. In this paper, we review the relationship between art and epilepsy and present two contemporary paintings that convey current western perceptions. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Epilepsy, Art, and Creativity".

Is painting by elephants in zoos as enriching as we are led to believe?

The relationship between the activity of painting and performance of stereotyped and other stress-related behaviour was investigated in four captive Asian elephants at Melbourne Zoo, Australia. The activity involved the elephant being instructed to paint on a canvas by its keeper in front of an audience. Painting by elephants in zoos is commonly believed to be a form of enrichment, but this assumption had not been based on any systematic research. If an activity is enriching we would expect stress-related behaviour to be reduced but we found no evidence of the elephants anticipating the painting activity and no effect on the performance of stereotyped or other stress-related behaviour either before or after the painting session. This indicates that the activity does not fulfil one of the main aims of enrichment. However, if an elephant was not selected to paint on a given day this was associated with higher levels of non-interactive behaviour, a possible indicator of stress. Behavioural observations associated with ear, eye and trunk positions during the painting session showed that the elephant’s attentiveness to the painting activity or to the keeper giving instruction varied between individuals. Apart from positive reinforcement from the keeper, the results indicated that elephants gain little enrichment from the activity of painting. Hence, the benefits of this activity appear to be limited to the aesthetic appeal of these paintings to the people viewing them.

How do Students Conceptualise Health and its Risk Factors? A Study among Iranian Schoolchildren

BACKGROUND

To assess the concept of children concerning their health and its risk factors, a group of primary and middle school students were asked to draw a few relevant pictures in order to deeply explore the comprehension of this key group.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study 1165 students, aged 7-15 years old, selected through random stratified sampling, were asked to draw a number of eight paintings, four paintings on health concepts, and the other four on health risk factors. The paintings were then assessed by two independent observers, and their themes and contents were abstracted and analysed.

RESULTS

The students drew a total of 2330 paintings, 1165 paintings on the concept of health, and 1165 paintings on health risk factors. The most and least expressed health concepts concerned "mental health" and "healthy diet" (73.3% and 4.8%, respectively). Considering health risk factors, "unhealthy diet" and the two concepts of "environmental hazards" and "neglected personal hygiene" had the most (95%) and least (1.4% each) frequencies. Students in public schools, primary level and girls drew more pictures about health concept or/and its risk factors (P<0.05). The association between parents' education level and the numbers of pictures were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Although students had a broad view about health and its risk factors, generally little attention had been paid to some of the main aspects such as physical activity, healthy diet, mental and oral health, and environmental hazards. In addition, it seems that parents' educational level, as one of the main socio-economic factors, did not have any significant impact on their concepts.

Art and epilepsy surgery

The impact of health and disease has led many artists to depict these themes for thousands of years. Specifically, epilepsy has been the subject of many famous works, likely because of the dramatic and misunderstood nature of the clinical presentation. It often evokes religious and even mythical processes. Epilepsy surgical treatment has revolutionized the care of selected patients and is a relatively recent advance. Epilepsy surgery has been depicted in very few artistic works. The first portrait showing a potential surgical treatment for patients with epilepsy was painted in the 12th century. During the Renaissance, Bosch famously provided artistic commentary on traditional beliefs in "The stone of madness". Several of these works demonstrate a surgeon extracting a stone from a patient's head, at one time believed to be the source of all "folly", including epileptic seizures, psychosis, intellectual disability, depression, and a variety of other illnesses. There are some contemporary art pieces including themes around epilepsy surgery, all of them depicting ancient Inca Empire procedures such as trepanning. This article reviews the most relevant artistic works related with epilepsy surgery and also its historical context at the time the work was produced. We also present a painting from the Mexican artist Eduardo Urbano Merino that represents the patient's journey through refractory epilepsy, investigations, and ultimately recovery. Through this work, the artist intends to communicate hope and reassurance to patients going through this difficult process.