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During the archaeological research carried out by the Institute for Studies on Ancient Mediterranean, now Institute of Heritage Science (CNR) at the Roman Villa in Cottanello (Latium) since 2013, a specific interest was reserved for painted plasters, with regard to a general census of the parts still in situ and to the characterization of the constituent elements of painted surfaces. In particular, samples from different rooms as well as fragments found in the room 25 and fragments from the first excavations have been analysed using Optical Microscopy of polished sections, Scanning Optical Microscope Observation equipped with Energy Dispersion Probe, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, X-Ray Fluorescence. They are representative of the main colours found on the plasters and most of them could be stylistically positioned between III and IV Pompeian style (main building phase of the villa - 1st century AD). The results allowed highlighting the presence of cinnabar and Egyptian blue and their ways of use.

Introduction: Migrants are overrepresented in the European HIV epidemic. We aimed to understand the barriers and facilitators to HIV testing and current treatment and healthcare needs of migrants living with HIV in Europe. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 57 HIV clinics in nine countries (Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and United Kingdom), July 2013 to July 2015. HIV-positive patients were eligible for inclusion if they were as follows: 18 years or older; foreign-born residents and diagnosed within five years of recruitment. Questionnaires were completed electronically in one of 15 languages and linked to clinical records. Primary outcomes were access to primary care and previous negative HIV test. Data were analysed using random effects logistic regression. Outcomes of interest are presented for women, heterosexual men and gay/bisexual men. Results: A total of 2093 respondents (658 women, 446 heterosexual men and 989 gay/bisexual men) were included. The prevalence of a previous negative HIV test was 46.7%, 43.4% and 82.0% for women, heterosexual and gay/bisexual men respectively. In multivariable analysis previous testing was positively associated with: receipt of post-migration antenatal care among women, permanent residency among heterosexual men and identifying as gay rather than bisexual among gay/bisexual men. Access to primary care was found to be high (>83%) in all groups and was strongly associated with country of residence. Late diagnosis was common for women and heterosexual men (60.8% and 67.1%, respectively) despite utilization of health services prior to diagnosis. Across all groups almost three-quarters of people on antiretrovirals had an HIV viral load

Objective: We aimed to estimate the proportion of postmigration HIV acquisition among HIV-positive migrants in Europe. Design: To reach HIV-positive migrants, we designed a cross-sectional study performed in HIV clinics. Methods: The study was conducted from July 2013 to July 2015 in 57 clinics (nine European countries), targeting individuals over 18 years diagnosed in the preceding 5 years and born abroad. Electronic questionnaires supplemented with clinical data were completed in any of 15 languages. Postmigration HIV acquisition was estimated through Bayesian approaches combining extensive information on migration and patients' characteristics. CD4+ cell counts and HIV-RNA trajectories from seroconversion were estimated by bivariate linear mixed models fitted to natural history data. Postmigration acquisition risk factors were investigated with weighted logistic regression. Results: Of 2009 participants, 46% were MSM and a third originated from sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America & Caribbean, respectively. Median time in host countries was 8 years. Postmigration HIV acquisition was 63% (95% confidence interval: 57-67%); 72% among MSM, 58 and 51% in heterosexual men and women, respectively. Postmigration HIV acquisition was 71% for Latin America and Caribbean migrants and 45% for people from sub-Saharan Africa. Factors associated with postmigration HIV acquisition among heterosexual women and MSM were age at migration, length of stay in host country and HIV diagnosis year and among heterosexual men, length of stay in host country and HIV diagnosis year. Conclusion: A substantial proportion of HIV-positive migrants living in Europe acquired HIV postmigration. This has important implications for European public health policies. Copyright © 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Most of the artworks constituting the collection of Renaissance statuary of Abatellis Palace in Palermo (Sicily) show evidence of colour layers and fragments of gold foil that probably once covered the whole marble surface. The restoration of some of these statues has allowed to carry out archaeometric studies about the painting technique and to highlight the original materials and inclusion present on the precious marbles by two famous Italian sculptors of the Renaissance, Francesco Laurana and Antonello Gagini. The measurements have been performed in situ through the integrated use of two non-invasive techniques: visible fluorescence stimulated by ultraviolet light and X-ray fluorescence. The ultraviolet-induced fluorescence analysis has provided additional information on the conservation status of marble surfaces by differentiating the pictorial materials and highlighting the presence of gilding and pigment traces through their characteristic fluorescence response. The observation in ultraviolet light has been used as valuable guide for the identification of the significant points to be analysed by X-ray fluorescence to characterise the original materials. X-ray fluorescence measurements have cast light about their chemical composition and stratigraphical structure. Pictorial layers were identified: vermilion for red layers, blue pigment based on copper for blue layers and pure gold leaf for gilding layers. Principal component analysis of the data was capable of clustering the different painting materials, discriminating through their chemical content. The results represent an important scientific support both to the hypotheses about the original look of the artworks and to the resolution of restoration and conservation questions still open. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In September 2011 has started a new in situ microclimatic monitoring to detect the environmental conditions created by the new covering system of the Villa del Casale di Piazza Armerina (Sicily). The investigation regards sample room, on which the new covering system has been completed, and rooms that still are covered by the methacrylate old system, realized in the 60s, and so many times modified in the following decades. The comparison between the environmental parameters related to the existing covering system that, such as is demonstrated by the previous survey, causes undesired effect both for fruition and for conservation, and the data related to the new covering system, allow to verify the better microclimatic conditions get after the intervention. Preliminary analysis has demonstrated that the new covering system has lowered the temperature level inside the rooms and has rise the humidity values, in comparison with the average values get in the rooms where is still used the methacrylate old covering system. These first analytical data demonstrate that the conservative intervention produce, on the complex physical system of Villa del Casale, positive effect to get correct microclimatic conditions. Indeed, the comparison with the values measured outside allow to verify, for the rooms with new covering system, also the absence of the dangerous greenhouse effect.

The spectrophotometric investigations carried out during the cleaning treatments on the marble surface provide an useful support for choosing the best method to employ by monitoring, before and after the tests, both the chromatic coordinates and the spectral reflectance. Moreover, the colorimetric measurements allow us to evaluate the goodness of the chromatic level and the uniformity of the cleaned areas. The Laboratory of Physics and Indoor Environment of the Regional Center for Planning and Restoration has carried out the spectrophotometric investigations on the marble statues belonging to the Renaissance statuary collection of the Regional Gallery of Sicily Palazzo Abatellis in Palermo (Italy). The purpose of these analyses was to monitor the superficial colour changes during the cleaning treatments and after the restoration works. In particular, this paper reports the results obtained from the analyses made on: the famous “Busto di Gentildonna”, known as “Eleonora di Aragona” (by Francesco Laurana, XV century), the “Natività con cori di angeli” (by Palermo school, XV century) and the “Annunciazione” (by Antonello Gagini, XVI century).

La realizzazione di indagini spettrofotometriche per il monitoraggio delle variazioni cromatiche pone la necessità di gestire un elevato numero di dati richiedendo l’utilizzo di analisi statistiche. A tale scopo, la PCA è stata applicata a dati spettrofotometrici relativi a diverse tipologie di superfici (musive, marmoree, etc). Tale metodologia permette di valutare in maniera efficace gli effetti generati a seguito del restau;ro, evidenziando la correlazione tra tutte variabili spettrofotometriche. La distribuzione in cluster dei dati consente di visualizzare la variabile che maggiormente contribuisce allo spostamento cromatico, permettendo il monitoraggio differenziato del comportamento di superfici aventi colore differente, sottoposte allo stesso trattamento.

Questo lavoro descrive le diverse fasi dell’intervento di conservazione di una statua di marmo del XVI secolo, raffigurante San Michele Arcangelo, custodita presso la Galleria Regionale di Palazzo Abatellis di Palermo. Inizialmente è stata effettuata un’indagine di archivio per inquadrare l’opera dal punto di vista storico artistico ed iconografico. Quindi sono stati effettuati: un rilievo grafico e digitale 3D, una mappatura di tutte le forme di degrado rilevate e dei segni di interventi precedenti, le analisi dei materiali costitutivi e dello stato di conservazione, mediante tecniche non distruttive o microdistruttive. Infine è stato progettato ed eseguito l’intervento di conservazione, articolato nelle fasi di pulitura, rimozione di materiali non originali, il consolidamento delle pellicole pittoriche, le integrazioni strettamente necessarie.

This work deals with the conservation of a slate slab, representing the map of Grammichele, a small town in the hinterland of South Eastern Sicily. The slab was engraved and painted in 1693, just after the tremendous earthquake that distroyed most of the towns in that area. The conservation process is illustrated through three steps: i) archive research; ii) physical chemical analysis of constitutive materials and degradation products; iii) planning and carrying out of the restoration and conservation operations.

The church of the Hundred Saints, now better known as the Crypt of the Original Sin, is located in the gorge “Gravina di Picciano”, about ten kilometers from Matera. The rock church and its decorations, dated back to the ninth century, were in critical condition when it was discovered and later acquired by the Zetema Foundation of Matera. In 2000, a monitoring project was started under the scientific direction of Michele D'Elia, and is still ongoing in collaboration with specialists from the ICR (now ISCR), from UniromaTre, and various technical experts. The project aimed to design a conservation plan and to find solutions not only for the specific problems, but also to develop a protocol for the conservation and maintenance of similar rock-art sites. The wall paintings were colonized by different microorganisms and showed problems of salt efflorescence and carbonatation. A program was set up to control bio-growth, carry out characterization of materials, test treatment products and perform interventions to resolve the site’s conservation problems. After concluding conservation treatment in 2004, two check-up and maintenance interventions followed in 2010 and 2017. These involved evaluating new degradation phenomena, the efficacy of biocidal products, the new cleaning method and the validity of the treatment choices adopted.

The use of chemicals in art restoration involves the potential exposure to risk factors for worker’s health and environment. The broad range of non-standardizedrestoration techniques employed during the interventions on Cultural Heritage,often involves the use of solvent mixtures without a real understanding of risksconnected with their use. Frequently, artworks must be restored on-site, withoutany adequate ventilation. Additionally, restoration workers do not always wearappropriate individual protection and monitoring devices (I.P.D.), which couldreduce their overall exposure, despite the national rules on workplace safety.Moreover, the treatment of produced chemical wastes may be very expensive andhave damaging effects on environment if not handled properly performed.Restorers must be conscious and able to minimize their exposure risk by replacinghigher toxicity reagents and procedures with new methods and materials or safersolvents. The goal of a useful prevention plan in Cultural Heritage restorationshould be based on a suitable training program for restorers, aimed to raise theawareness on chemical risk and to replace the hazardous products. To that purpose a national meeting was organized in Rome to discuss on “Sustainable Restoration”. As a conclusion of the meeting, the promotion of a questionnaire to understand the state of the art about the safety conditions of restorers and chemicals used by 530 restorers and the potential risk factors of exposure was a clear need. In this paper,the design and the validation of the questionnaire are shown.

Spectrophotometric and colorimetric data obtained during a measurement campaign aimed at supporting the Roman "Villa del Casale" (Piazza Armerina, Sicily, Italy) conservation activities, are presented. Special attention was paid to the possible variation of the chromatic coordinates, possibly due to the interventions of cleaning, consolidation, and protection. Data have been analyzed by the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) statistical technique, with the attempt to investigate its role in data variability reduction and verify its effectiveness in interpreting the phenomena occurring on the mosaic surface of the Villa, through grouping the observations into homogenous clusters. Effectiveness in the use of the information provided by the spectrophotometric and colorimetric analyses is strongly related to the immediacy and ease of data reading by the restoration operators for whom the issues concerning the color measurement and its representation are often unfamiliar. This paper analyses data of different mosaic tesserae before/after the cleaning intervention and presents data clustering with PCA. This statistical technique has provided a synoptic scheme capable of improving data interpretation concerning the chromatic behavior of the materials. Moreover, the cluster distribution highlighted by the multivariate analysis made it possible to identify, more clearly, the parameters that mostly contribute to the chromatic shift and to monitor the behavior of variously colored tesserae. © 2013.