From lapis lazuli to ultramarine blue: investigating Cennino Cennini’s recipe using sulfur K-edge XANES

As one of the most desired and expensive artists’ materials throughout history, there has long been interest in studying natural lapis lazuli. The traditional method of extracting the blue component, lazurite, from lapis lazuli, as outlined in Cennini’sIl Libro dell’Arte, involves a lengthy purification process: (1) finely grind the rock; (2) mix with pine rosin, gum mastic, and beeswax; (3) massage in water to collect the lazurite. Repeating the process produces several grades of the pigment, typically referred to as ultramarine blue. Here, we investigate the sulfur environment within the aluminosilicate framework of lazurite during its extraction from lapis lazuli. The sulfur XANES fingerprint from samples taken at the different stages in Cennini’s extraction method were examined. All spectra contain a strong absorption peak at 2483 eV, attributable to sulfate present in the lazurite structure. However, intensity variations appear in the broad envelope of peaks between 2470 and 2475 eV and the pre-peak at 2469.1 eV, indicating a variation in the content of trisulfur (S3−˙) radicals. By studying the effect of each step of Cennini’s process, this study elucidates the changes occurring during the extraction and the variability within different grades of the precious coloring material. The increasing application of XANES to the study of artist’s materials and works of art motivated extending the research to assess the possibility of X-ray induced damage. Direct comparison of micro-focused and unfocused beam experiments suggests an increase of the S3−˙ radicals with prolonged exposure. Analysis indicates that induced damage follows first-order kinetics, providing a first assessment on the acceptable amount of radiation exposure to define the optimal acquisition parameters to allow safe analyses of lapis lazuli and ultramarine pigments.

KARAKTERISTIK CAMPURAN ASPAL PORUS DENGAN SUBSTITUSI GONDORUKEM PADA ASPAL PENETRASI 60/70

Porous asphalt has low stability but has high permeability caused by the amount of voids in mixture. For that need to be added other materials to increase the value of the stability on a mixture of pavement. . In this study, the added material used is gum rosin. Gum rosin is obtained by distillation/distillation of the sap from the tree pinus merkusii shaped solid clear yellow to dark yellow. The objecteve of this research is to determine the characteristics of porous asphalt mixture by substituting gum rosin on asphalt penetration 60/70. The specimens preparation of Optimum Asphalt Content (OAC) followed Australian Asphalt pavement Association (AAPA) Method by parameter of Cantabro Loss (CL), Asphalt Flow Down (AFD), and Voids In Mix (VIM). Open graded aggregate was applied and variation in bitumen content of 4,5 %; 5%; 5,5%; 6%; and 6,5% excluding gum rosin. Marshall test and calculatio, CL, and AFD were conducted afterward to obtain OAC. Subsequently, the OAC obtained was used to prepare some specimens of the OAC with variations ± 0.5 from the OAC and gum rosin variations of 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%. Permeability and durability test then required specimens at the best optimum asphalt content. Based on this research, the content of the best OAC was 5.56% with gum rosin content of 8% as bitumen substitution material. Besides, almost all parameter values met the specification of the AAPA (2004). The addition of rosin affect the value of the characteristic of Marshall, CL, and AFD, which increasing the value of stability, VIM, CL, and AFD along with the increasein percentage of gum rosin. According to the best OAC the value of stability was 554.81 kg, the value of VIM was 18.04%, the value of CL was 20.66%, and the value of AFD was 0.28%.Abstrak: Aspal porus memiliki stabilitas yang rendah namun memiliki permeabilitas tinggi yang disebabkan oleh banyaknya rongga dalam campuran. Untuk itu perlu ditambahkan material lain untuk meningkatkan nilai stabilitas pada campuran perkerasan. Pada penelitian ini bahan tambah yang digunakan adalah gondorukem. Gondorukem merupakan hasil destilasi/penyulingan getah dari pohon pinus merkusii yang berbentuk padat berwarna kuning jernih sampai kuning tua. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui karakteristik campuran aspal porus dengan substitusi gondorukem ke dalam aspal penetrasi 60/70. Pembuatan benda uji untuk penentuan kadar aspal optimum (KAO) digunakan metode Australian Asphalt pavement Association (AAPA) dengan parameter nilai cantabro loss (CL), asphalt flow down (AFD), dan voids in mix (VIM). Gradasi agregat yang digunakan adalah gradasi terbuka dengan kadar aspal 4,5 %; 5%; 5,5%; 6%; dan 6,5% tanpa variasi penggunaan gondorukem. Selanjutnya dilakukan pengujian dan perhitungan Marshall, CL, dan AFD untuk mendapatkan KAO. Setelah KAO diperoleh, dibuat benda uji pada KAO dan variasi ± 0,5 dari nilai KAO dengan variasi substitusi gondorukem sebesar 2%, 4%, 6%, dan 8%. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian KAO terbaik pada 5,56% dengan substitusi 8% gondorukem, dimana semua parameternya telah memenuhi spesifikasi yang disyaratkan AAPA (2004). Penambahan gondorukem berpengaruh terhadap nilai karakteristik Marshall, CL, dan AFD, dimana meningkatkan nilai stabilitas, VIM, CL, dan AFD seiring dengan peningkatan persentase gondorukem. Pada KAO terbaik diperoleh nilai stabilitas sebesar 554,81 kg, nilai VIM sebesar 18,04%, nilai CL sebesar 20,66%, dan nilai AFD sebesar 0,28%.

Magnetic chondroitin targeted nanoparticles for dual targeting of montelukast in prevention of in-stent restenosis

Magnetic nanoparticles and sodium montelukast encapsulated in rosin gum nanoparticles were targeted by chondroitin sulfate coated on their surface. They showed adhesion to endothelial cells and efficiently suppressed the VCAM-1 expression.

The Toxic and Abortifacient Effects of Ponderosa Pine

Ponderosa pine needles cause abortion and a poorly described toxicosis when eaten by cattle. In previous trials, the abortifacient compound of pine needles was identified as isocupressic acid. At abortifacient doses, isocupressic acid caused no other toxicosis. However, other pine needle fractions, similar in composition to several commercially available rosin products, caused no abortion but were very toxic. The purpose of this study was to describe the toxicoses of ponderosa pine, compare its toxicity with other rosin and related pine products, and identify the toxin. Four groups of three pregnant beef cows each were treated with either ponderosa pine tips, rosin gum, dehydroabietic acid, or ground alfalfa. The cows treated with pine tips aborted, had retained placentas with endometritis, and developed both renal and neurologic lesions. The cattle treated with rosin gum or dehydroabietic acid did not abort but developed similar signs and lesions of intoxication. Clinical signs of intoxication included anorexia, mild rumen acidosis, dyspnea, paresis progressing to paralysis, and death. Clinical biochemical results, suggestive of renal, hepatic, and muscular disease, included azotemia, hypercreatinemia, hyperphosphatemia, proteinuria, and marked elevations of various serum enzymes. Histologically, all poisoned animals had nephrosis, vacuolation of basal ganglia neuropil with patchy perivascular and myelinic edema, and skeletal myonecrosis. The alfalfa-treated controls were normal. These findings suggest that ponderosa pine needles and tips are both abortifacient and toxic. Because the lesions caused by pine tips, rosin gum, and dehydroabietic acid are similar, toxicosis is most likely due to the diterpene abietane acids, common in all three.

Inability of Resin Acid Exposure to Elevate EROD Activity in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The induction of mixed function oxygenase enzymes, including ethoxyresorufin-o-deethylase (EROD), has been reported in fish downstream of bleached kraft mills in both Scandinavia and Canada. The compound(s) responsible have not been identified. Several experiments were conducted to determine if resin acids can induce EROD activity in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Interperitoneal injections (i.p.) of dehydroabietic and abietic acid (50 mg/kg) did not elevate EROD activity after 2, 4 or 10 days. Dehydroabietic acid i.p. at 500 mg/kg did not increase EROD activity after 4 days. A mixture of ten resin acids i.p. at 370 mg/kg or water borne exposure at 100 µg/L did not induce EROD after 4, 8, or 16 days. Rosin gum i.p. at 370 mg/kg also did not induce EROD. These results suggest that resin acids are not the compounds primarily responsible for EROD induction below bleached kraft pulp mills.