3,984 research outputs found
Commentary on “Analyses of human dentine and tooth enamel by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to study the diet of medieval Muslim individuals from Tauste (Spain)” by Guede et al. 2017, Microchemical Journal 130, 287–294
No full textThe study of trace element (TE) distribution within human and animal teeth is crucial to decrypt information about their diet, ecology and behaviours in the past. Thanks to several efforts TE applications have spread also to the study of modern environments, with repercussions in medicine and forensic contexts. However, the use of TE analysis to infer eating habits of our ancestors has been used for decades without the proper theoretical basis. After the paper of Ezzo Ezzo (1994) that demonstrated the non-validity in the use of bioessential TE elements in bones and teeth as palaeodiet markers this trend has decreased. However, still some recent papers continue to ignore that portion of the literature that strongly contrasts the use of TE analysis for palaeodiet. With this commentary, we would like to share our remarks on the paper of Guede et al. Guede et al. (2017), where, in our opinion, there is a lack of literature review and thus a misinterpretation of the TE dataset
Comment on: metals in bones of the middle-aged inhabitants of Sardinia island (Italy) to assess nutrition and environmental exposure [Bocca et al. (2018), Environ Sci Pollut Res]
No full textThis comment addresses several inferences made by Bocca et al. (2018) to assess the nutrition of middle-aged inhabitants from four Sardinian localities (Alghero, Bisarcio, Geridu, and Sassari). Bocca et al. analyzed 72 human bone specimens dating from the twelfth to the eighteenth century for metal contents (Ba, Ca, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Sr, and Zn) by SC-ICP-MS and applied a univariate and multivariate approach, using element-Ca ratios, to examine the eating habits and environmental exposure of the individuals. While we agree with their interpretation of the Hg/Ca and Pb/Ca ratios, attributable to various forms of environmental exposure, we disagree with some of their paleodiet claims
Audit quality and digitalization: some insights from theItalian context
No full textPurpose: The differences between Big audit firms (BigN) and non BigN (nBigN) have been discussed at the international level from various points of view, focusing in particular on issues regarding the different quality of the services offered. This study aims to analyze the impact of digitalization on audit firms in the Italian context, seeking to understand how this phenomenon has influenced the quality differences already studied in the scientific literature. Design/methodology/approach: The research adopts a qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews. A total of 16 professionals working in the legal audit world were interviewed. The firms involved were PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, Ernst and Young and Deloitte in the BigN category and BDO Italia Spa, MooreAxis Srl and Analisi Spa in the non Big class. The data collected via the interviews underwent thematic analysis. This analysis allowed the identification of three topics, on which the presentation of the results concentrated. Findings: The findings of this research reveal that the digitalization of companies has widened the quality gap between Big and non BigN. BigN have been better able to exploit the benefits of the new digital technologies due to their greater investment capacity. At the same time, stakeholders’ expectations of the audit process in terms of quality have increased sharply, also in relation to nBigN. Originality/value: This study’s main contribution is its analysis of the impact of digitalization on the audit quality of BigN and nBigN. This paper contributes to the existing literature by studying the consequences of digitalization on nBigN, a topic previously unexplored in the scientific literature (Manita et al., 2020), and the impact of new technologies in the context of audit firms in general
Can Practical Wisdom Mitigate the Negative Effects of Rule-following and Hyper-codification?
Get PDFThis article sets out to explain how practical wisdom, supported by rationality, can play a fundamental role in management and combat the main problems of rule-following and hyper-codification. The systematic use of Big Data, collected via the ever-increasing adoption of technology, has generated a large increase in the degree of standardisation of company procedures concerning not only physical and technical issues but above all decision-making. Applied to the solution of repetitive, easily codified problems, standardisation increases the level of efficiency, but when used for the resolution of complex problems it may partially, or even completely, preclude the pursuance of the common good. This may occur through the setting of rules which are not capable of fully describing reality, and their inappropriate use, which may lead, through their unthinking application, to a lack of morality, and even to the side-lining of earnings opportunities. We believe that practical wisdom is able to interact with necessary, unavoidable codification systems and rules to provide the right interface with circumstances, becoming a part of the decision-making process in its own right and not just a viewing lens for use retrospectively to verify whether the outcomes of decisions taken have been effective in pursuing the common good
Tooth enamel proteome of Early Medieval non-adult individuals
No full text<p>This dataset includes .raw LC-MS/MS files, from a proteomic study of deciduous and permanent tooth enamel samples. It includes data of 30 different non-adult individuals (Early Middle Ages, Valdaro, Italy), whose sex has been estimated through amelogenin peptides. This dataset is linked to a submitted publication (Lugli et al., <em>Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports</em>). <br>
Please, refer to Lugli et al. (2019, <em>Scientific Reports</em>; doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-49562-7) for methodology. </p>This project was funded by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme (grant agreement No 724046 – SUCCESS awarded to Stefano Benazzi).
Dr. Filippo Genovese of the Centro Interdipartimentale Grandi Strumenti (UNIMORE) is thanked for the technical assistance during LC-MS/MS analyses
Accurate Sr isotope determination of human bone and tooth samples by LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS: A comment on “Meijer et al., (2019)”
No full textThe in-situ Sr isotope determination of low-Sr bioapatites is challenging and requires monitoring several interferences, among others, Ar-CaPO. In particular, the analysis of human bones and teeth has revealed several pitfalls, which affect the ability to obtain accurate results. In this commentary, I review the data from the paper of Meijer et al. (2019), trying to address some accuracy issues arising, in my opinion, from polyatomic interferences. After a tentative calibration of their data, using the 1/88Sr signal (V−1) as a proxy of the Sr content, the enamel specimens (enamel Ar-CaPO corrected 87Sr/86Sr ratio = 0.7078 ± 0.0032; mean ± 2σ) are closer to the likely local bioavailable Sr (bone Ar-CaPO corrected 87Sr/86Sr ratio = 0.7071 ± 0.0011; mean ± 2σ)
Milano consolato nell' elettione a questo arciuescouado, e promotione alla sagra porpora dell' eminentissimo Federico Visconti : colla sua solennissima entrata seguita a' 11. genaro 1682 e fontioni antecedenti /
No full textFrontispiece coat of arms of Milan, engraved by Federico Agnelli.Signatures: pi⁴ A-G⁴ H⁴(-H4).Mode of access: Internet.Binding: limp vellum. Author & title written on spine
In situ trace element analysis of human hard tissues by Laser Ablation ICP–MS
No full textAfter the advent of the laser ablation system (LA), the analysis of micro-samples of hard materials has spread to many scientific fields (i.e. geology, engineering, archaeometry, anthropology). The Laser Ablation Coupled with a Mass Spectrometer (as in the LA–ICP–MS) allows to investigate any hard material at the scale of a few μms, for example, defining the elemental compositional profile of bone, teeth and nephroliths, measuring any element with an atomic mass between 2 and 255 amu (i.e. heavy metals as Pb, Cr, Cd, As, etc.). Moreover, one of the main advantages offered by LA, compared to more traditional techniques, is the drastic reduction of analytical time, because the sample is analysed as it is without chemical dissolution or separation of elements. In this work, we have tested and developed a routine to measure all trace elements in human bones and teeth with the LA–ICPMS housed at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. We analyse all trace element but we have focused here our attention on Zn and Pb, given their importance and significance in dentistry, human health and forensic pathology studies. We have then analyzed two human teeth, measuring their trace elements compositional profile and drawing conclusions on the health history of these two individuals. Materials and Methods. We analysed two human teeth (molar 1HT–R and premolar 2HT–R) sampled from two post-medieval mummies (Roccapelago, Modena, 16th – 18th cent.). The concentrations of Pb and Zn were measured in situ through a 213 nm Nd:YAG Laser Ablation system coupled to a quadrupole ICP–MS system (Thermo Fisher Scientific® X SeriesII). Before analysis, each sample was cut in half with a diamond low-speed wheel saw, to expose the inner parts of the tooth. Eighteen LA–spots (diameter 100 μm) were analysed along two profiles (n=10 sample 1HT–R; n=8 sample 2HT–R), exploring enamel and dentine. The elemental concentrations of our samples have been corrected through a calibration with NIST 1486 Bone Meal as a multi-element standard. To correct any matrix-related effect, the calcium concentration, measured with an ESEM Quanta 200, has been used as the internal standard. To ensure the accuracy of the method, a two-tailed t-test was performed on two certified elements of the standard. Statistical analysis shows no significant difference between expected and measured values (p<0.05; mean of 3 analyses). Results. The first tooth (1HT–R) shows a Zn concentration ranging from 230 in the outer enamel to 110 ppm in the inner primary dentine (x = 150 ± 38 ppm, 1σ) and, respectively, a Pb concentration ranging from 3 to 1 ppm (x = 2 ± 1 ppm, 1σ). From the outer enamel to the inner dentine, the second tooth (2HT–R) shows a Zn concentration ranging from 301 to 123 ppm (x = 177 ± 66 ppm, 1σ) and a Pb concentration ranging from 6 to 2 ppm (x = 3 ± 1 ppm, 1σ). Conclusions. Our results are in agreement with Pb and Zn profiles described in literature for human teeth (Humphrey et al. 2008). The concentrations of both elements tend to increase from the enamel-dentine junction (EDJ) to the enamel external surface and tend to decrease from the EDJ to the inner dentine. The Pb concentration of both samples is on average lower than the threshold of poisoning reported for human bones (5 ppm; Hess et al. 2013). The Zn concentrations are low, in particular in the outer enamel. As reported by Lynch (2011), this could be related to tooth wear or to the old age of the two individuals (~ 40 yr). The LA–ICP–MS is a non-destructive in–situ analytical technique, fundamental in forensic pathology and human health studies to measure the elemental composition of human hard tissue and in particular, in outlining the history of the tooth by trace element compositional profile from the inner to the outer portions of the tooth
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