Diagnostics and Monitoring to Preserve a Hypogeum Site: The Case of the Mithraeum of Marino Laziale (Rome)

Conservation of hypogea and their accessibility by the visitors is a hard question, due to the interaction of different factors such as the intrinsic characteristics of the hypogeal environments and the presence of public. A particular case is represented by the Mithraeum of Marino Laziale, located a few kilometers away from Rome and accidentally discovered in the 1960s. The uniqueness of the discovery was the presence of a well-preserved painting of the Mithraic scene (II century A.D.) probably due to the oblivion of the place of worship over the centuries as well as the isolation from the outdoor environment. Unfortunately, despite a recent complete restoration and recovery of the archaeological area, which ended in 2015, the area was never open to the visitors and only two years after completing the works it was no longer safe to use. Hence, the need for a new planning of interventions starting from the deep knowledge of this cultural heritage and from the analysis of past incorrect actions to arrive at the opening—without any risk for the archaeological findings and visitors—and management of this site, never exposed to the public. Therefore, since 2018 a diagnostic campaign and microclimate monitoring have been started. The data collected during the two years of investigations have been fundamental to assess the conservation state of the hypogeal environment and the potential risks for the preservation of the three paintings (the Mithraic scene and two dadophores). Long-term monitoring of indoor environmental conditions assumes the role of an essential tool for the planning of preventive conservation strategies but also for the control of the site after its opening to the visitors. Furthermore, the characterization of the microclimate is non-invasive, sufficiently economical and accurate. In this paper, the characterization of surfaces in the Mithraic gallery through optical microscopy, UV fluorescence/imaging techniques, FT-IR spectroscopy, XRD and the microclimatic parameters variation in the presence or absence of visitors are used to define the strategies for the opening and fruition of the Mithraeum. The strategies for the sustainable fruition of this unique archaeological site have been defined through a conservation protocol approved by the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and necessary for the site managers and curators of the Municipality of Marino Laziale to finally support its opening.

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Current Trends in Non-Invasive Imaging of Interactions in the Liver Tumor Microenvironment Mediated by Tumor Metabolism

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13153645 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (15) ◽

pp. 3645

Author(s):

Isabel Theresa Schobert ◽

Lynn Jeanette Savic

Keyword(s):

Tumor Microenvironment ◽

Liver Cancer ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Imaging Techniques ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Tumor Metabolism ◽

Resistance Mechanisms ◽

Metabolic Reprogramming ◽

Non Invasive

With the increasing understanding of resistance mechanisms mediated by the metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells, there is a growing clinical interest in imaging technologies that allow for the non-invasive characterization of tumor metabolism and the interactions of cancer cells with the tumor microenvironment (TME) mediated through tumor metabolism. Specifically, tumor glycolysis and subsequent tissue acidosis in the realms of the Warburg effect may promote an immunosuppressive TME, causing a substantial barrier to the clinical efficacy of numerous immuno-oncologic treatments. Thus, imaging the varying individual compositions of the TME may provide a more accurate characterization of the individual tumor. This approach can help to identify the most suitable therapy for each individual patient and design new targeted treatment strategies that disable resistance mechanisms in liver cancer. This review article focuses on non-invasive positron-emission tomography (PET)- and MR-based imaging techniques that aim to visualize the crosstalk between tumor cells and their microenvironment in liver cancer mediated by tumor metabolism.

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Study of Osteocyte Behavior by High-Resolution Intravital Imaging Following Photo-Induced Ischemia

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules23112874 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (11) ◽

pp. 2874

Author(s):

Hengfeng Yuan ◽

Wen Jiang ◽

Yuanxin Chen ◽

Betty Kim

Keyword(s):

Imaging Techniques ◽

Avascular Osteonecrosis ◽

Functional Changes ◽

Cellular Processes ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Behavioral Dynamics ◽

Bony Anatomy ◽

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri

Ischemic injuries and local hypoxia can result in osteocytes dysfunction and play a key role in the pathogenesis of avascular osteonecrosis. Conventional imaging techniques including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) can reveal structural and functional changes within bony anatomy; however, characterization of osteocyte behavioral dynamics in the setting of osteonecrosis at the single cell resolution is limited. Here, we demonstrate an optical approach to study real-time osteocyte functions in vivo. Using nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) as a biomarker for metabolic dynamics in osteocytes, we showed that NADH level within osteocytes transiently increase significantly after local ischemia through non-invasive photo-induced thrombosis of afferent arterioles followed by a steady decline. Our study presents a non-invasive optical approach to study osteocyte behavior through the modulation of local environmental conditions. Thus it provides a powerful toolkit to study cellular processes involved in bone pathologies in vivo.

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Peter Neil Temple Wells CBE. 19 May 1936—22 April 2017

Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society ◽

10.1098/rsbm.2018.0022 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 66 ◽

pp. 463-477

Author(s):

Hywel R. Thomas

Keyword(s):

Imaging Techniques ◽

Water Immersion ◽

Malignant Tumour ◽

General Purpose ◽

Power Measurement ◽

Ultrasonic Power ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Surgical Tool ◽

The 1960S ◽

Safety Guidelines

Peter Wells will be remembered internationally for his many outstanding contributions in the field of medical ultrasound. He pioneered the development of non-invasive imaging techniques in the development of ultrasonics as a diagnostic and surgical tool. He was the originator and developer of instruments for ultrasonic surgery and ultrasonic power measurement, as well as the two-dimensional, articulated-arm ultrasonic general purpose scanner and the water-immersion ultrasonic breast scanner. He demonstrated ultrasonic-pulsed Doppler range-gating, and was the discoverer of the ultrasonic Doppler signal characteristic of malignant tumour neovascularization. He investigated ultrasonic bioeffects and formulated ultrasonic safety guidelines and conditions for prudent use of ultrasonic diagnosis. His outstanding and sustained achievements in the medical applications of ultrasound extend continuously from the 1960s until a few days before his death at the age of 80. Anyone who has ever benefited from an ultrasound procedure owes a debt of gratitude to Peter Wells.

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Wall Mosaics: A Review of On-Site Non-Invasive Methods, Application Challenges and New Frontiers for Their Study and Preservation

Journal of Imaging ◽

10.3390/jimaging6100108 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (10) ◽

pp. 108

Author(s):

Antonina Chaban ◽

Rita Deiana ◽

Vivi Tornari

Keyword(s):

Cultural Heritage ◽

Direct Contact ◽

Review Paper ◽

Imaging Techniques ◽

Specific Context ◽

Humidity Effects ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Future Developments ◽

World Cultural Heritage ◽

Depth Of Investigation

This review concerns the challenges and perspectives of on-site non-invasive measurements applied to wall mosaics. Wall mosaics, during the centuries, decorated numerous buildings, nowadays being part of world cultural heritage. The preservation and maintenance of these valuable decorations are undoubtedly directly dependent on identifying possible problems that could affect their hidden structure. On-site non-invasive methods, using different contact or no-contact technologies, can offer support in this specific field of application. The choice of the appropriate technique or combination of different techniques depends, in general, on the depth of investigation, the resolution, the possibility to have direct contact with the surfaces or, on the contrary, limited accessibility of the wall mosaics due to their location (e.g., vaults), as well as deterioration problems, (e.g., voids, detachments, or humidity effects). This review paper provides a brief overview of selected recent studies regarding non-invasive methods applied to the analysis of wall mosaics. This review, discussing the assessment of advantages and limitations for each method here considered, also considers possible future developments of imaging techniques in this specific context for cultural heritage applications.

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THz imaging in the frame of the Archaeological Urban Park of Naples project

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-18736 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ilaria Catapano ◽

Carlo Noviello ◽

Giovanni Ludeno

Keyword(s):

Data Processing ◽

Cultural Heritage ◽

Time Domain ◽

Imaging Techniques ◽

Urban Park ◽

Thz Imaging ◽

Terahertz Waves ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Processing Chain ◽

Molecular Stability

The Archaeological Urban Park of Naples (PAUN) project aims at addressing the need of analytical information relating to cultural heritage with modalities that encourage innovation systems of protection and enhancement. In this frame, one of the specific goals is the testing of multiple non-invasive or only minimally invasive investigation techniques, aimed at identifying a permanent diagnostic system calibrated to the specific context of the Urban Archaeological Park of Piazza Municipio, Napoli, Italy.Among the electromagnetic sensing technologies, those exploiting Terahertz waves (1THz = 1012 Hz) are the newest among the imaging techniques, which offers the attractive chance of characterizing the inner features of manmade objects with a sub-millimeter spatial resolution in a non-invasive way while assuring negligible long-term risks to the molecular stability of the exposed objects.This possibility together with the recent development of compact, transportable and easily reconfigurable devices make THz imaging a more and more widespread considered investigation tool in the frame of cultural heritage. THz imaging allows, indeed, the gaining of information useful to improve knowledge about the design technique adopted by the artist and to detect possible damages affecting the conservation state of precious artworks [1].In the frame of PAUN project, THz imaging is considered as part of the sensor network, which is dedicated to the material characterization and supports the conservation and use of the assets of the Urban Archaeological Park of Piazza Municipio. Specifically, THz imaging is adopted to analyze ancient decorated mortar specimens and gather information on their stratigraphy. At this regard, it is worth pointing out that the effectiveness of THz imaging, i.e. the capability of obtaining high resolution images of the object under test, is dependent not only on the performances of the hardware technology but also on the data processing approaches. Herein, we consider the time domain Z-Omega Fiber-Coupled Terahertz Time Domain (FICO) system, which is available at IREA-CNR, and a data processing chain specifically designed to improve the discrimination of different material layers and to reconstruct the inner features characterizing the investigated artworks [2].&#160;[1] Fukunaga, THz Technology Applied to Cultural Heritage in Practice, Cultural Heritage Science, Springer.[2] Catapano, I., Soldovieri, F. A Data Processing Chain for Terahertz Imaging and Its Use in Artwork Diagnostics. J Infrared Milli Terahz Waves 38, 518&#8211;530 (2017).&#160;Acknowledge: Authors would like to thank the PAUN project &#8220;Archaeological Urban Park of Naples&#8221; by which the present work has been financed.&#160;

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Multispectral Imaging and p-XRF for the Non-Invasive Characterization of the Anonymous Devotional Painting ‘Maria Santissima delle Grazie’ from Mirabella Imbáccari (Sicily, Italy)

Heritage ◽

10.3390/heritage4030131 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 2320-2336

Author(s):

Antonella Privitera ◽

Maria Francesca Alberghina ◽

Elèna Privitera ◽

Salvatore Schiavone

Keyword(s):

Multispectral Imaging ◽

Chemical Elements ◽

Imaging Techniques ◽

Religious Community ◽

Oil Painting ◽

Spectrometry Analysis ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Madonna And Child

This work presents the results of the in situ, non-invasive diagnostic investigations performed on the canvas oil painting depicting Madonna and Child, venerated as ‘Maria Santissima delle Grazie’ by the local religious community. The work of art (72 cm × 175 cm) is located on the high altar of the main Church in Mirabella Imbáccari, near Catania (Sicily, Italy). The painter is anonymous, and the supposed dating is the late eighteenth century. Although the painting has never been studied before, it has been attributed to a Sicilian workshop in the literature, raising the doubts of the art historian who conducted this study and who hypothesized a Neapolitan manufacture. Furthermore, due to the good conservation state detected by a macroscopic examination, doubts also arose about dating. To shed light on these aspects, a technical-scientific examination proved necessary. Multispectral imaging techniques (IR Reflectography, UV-induced visible Fluorescence, X-ray) are carried out for the study of the execution technique, the identification of underlying remakes, sketch drawing and the evaluation of the conservation conditions. XRF spectrometry analysis is performed for the identification of the chemical elements constituting the pigments (inorganic chromophores). The diagnostic results allowed this research to confirm the dating suggested by the historical-stylistic knowledge and to highlight new technical peculiarities supporting the attribution to a Neapolitan workshop.

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Non-Invasive Characterization for Long-Term Preservation of Cultural Heritage

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/opl.2011.1185 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 1319 ◽

Author(s):

F. G France

Keyword(s):

Cultural Heritage ◽

Spectral Response ◽

Analytical Techniques ◽

Imaging Systems ◽

Response Monitoring ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Characterization Of Materials ◽

Long Term Preservation

ABSTRACTDevelopments in non-invasive analytical techniques advance the preservation of cultural heritage materials by identifying and analyzing substrates and media. Spectral imaging systems have been used as a tool for non-invasive characterization of cultural heritage, allowing the collection of chemical identification information about materials without sampling. The Library of Congress has been developing the application of hyperspectral imaging to the preservation and analysis of cultural heritage materials as a powerful, non-contact technique to allow non-invasive characterization of materials, by identifying and characterizing colorants, inks and substrates through their unique spectral response, monitoring deterioration or changes due to exhibit and other environmental conditions, and capturing lost and deteriorated information. The resulting image cube creates a new “digital cultural object” that is related to, but recognized as a distinct entity from the original. The range of data this object contains encourages multidisciplinary collaboration for the integration of preservation, societal and cultural information.

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Revealing time’s secrets at the National Theatre of Costa Rica via innovative software for cultural heritage research

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-88066-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

M. D. Barrantes-Madrigal ◽

T. Zúñiga-Salas ◽

R. E. Arce-Tucker ◽

A. Chavarría-Sibaja ◽

J. Sánchez-Solís ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

Cultural Heritage ◽

Imaging Techniques ◽

Software Tools ◽

Regions Of Interest ◽

White Lead ◽

Large Format ◽

National Theatre ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Colour Palette

AbstractEstablishing affordable, efficient, accessible, innovative, and multidisciplinary methodologies to the diagnosis of the conservation state of an artwork is key to carry out appropriate strategies of conservation and consequently to the creation of modern public policies on cultural heritage. Limited access to large-format paintings is a challenge to restoration scientists seeking to obtain information quickly, in a non-destructive and non-invasive manner, and identify regions of interest. Therefore, we put forward two unique software tools based on multispectral imaging techniques, with the long-term aim to assess the artist’s intentions, creative process, and colour palette. This development paves the way for a comprehensive and multidisciplinary understanding of the mysteries encompassed in each pictorial layer, through the study of their physical and chemical characteristics. We conducted the first ever study on Musas I and Musas II, two large-format paintings by Italian artist Carlo Ferrario, located in the National Theatre of Costa Rica. In this study, we used our novel imaging techniques to choose regions of interest in order to study sample layers; while also assessing the works’ state of conservation and possible biodeterioration. We explored the applications of our two versatile software tools, RegionOfInterest and CrystalDistribution, and confirmed paint stratigraphies by means of microscopy and spectroscopy analyses (OM, SEM-EDX, Fluorescent microscopy, FTIR-ATR and micro-Raman). In a pilot study, we identified the artist’s main colour palette: zinc white, lead white, chrome yellow, lead read, viridian, along with artificial vermilion and ultramarine pigments. We were able to identify artificial vermilion and ultramarine and distinguish them from the natural pigments using CrystalDistribution to map the average size and diameter of the pigment crystals within the paint layers. This study demonstrated that software-based multidisciplinary imaging techniques are novel in establishing preventive and non-invasive methods for historical painting conservation studies, in addition, this study provides tools with great potential to be used in the future in applications such as virtual restoration.

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Multifunctional ZnO Nanoparticle: Based Coatings for Cultural Heritage Preventive Conservation

10.5772/intechopen.94070 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ludmila Otilia Cinteză ◽

Maria Antonia Tănase

Keyword(s):

Cultural Heritage ◽

Zno Nanoparticles ◽

Recent Progress ◽

Functional Materials ◽

Zno Nanoparticle ◽

Functional Coatings ◽

Metal Artifacts ◽

Preventive Conservation ◽

Environmental Friendly

Coatings based on nanoparticles embedded in various filmogenic materials are still a hot topic in nanomaterial research, due to the exceptional variety of applications. The chapter present recent progress in synthesis and characterization of hybrid material with ZnO nanoparticles and their use as functional coatings for various substrates. The antibacterial and UV protection efficiency of ZnO nanoparticle-based coatings on paper and stone are discussed, with particular emphasize on the specific requirements for application in cultural heritage preventing conservation. Functional materials based on ZnO are presented as possible treatment for protection of historic and archaeological textiles and metal artifacts. Trends in environmental friendly methods to fabricate the ZnO nanoparticles will be evaluated, compared to classic ones, in terms of material characteristics and efficiency.

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