This paper reports an unusual green pigment, brochantite (Cu 4 (SO 4 )(OH) 6 ), on 16th-century Portuguese-Flemish paintings, attributed to the Master Frei Carlos workshop. This green mineral is usually identified as an impurity or alteration product in the green pigments verdigris (Cu(CH 3 COO) 2 nCu(OH) 2 ) or malachite (CuCO 3 Cu(OH) 2 ). However, after thorough investigation with a broad range of analytical techniques, it became clear that, in this case, brochantite was applied as a pigment. The abundance, pigment granulometry, and pigment morphology suggest intentional use by this Portuguese-Flemish Master as a natural pigment rather than its accidental use as an alteration product. This seems to be a distinguishable feature to other painters (Flemish and Portuguese) working in Portugal at the beginning of the 16th century.The multi-analytical study of these easel paintings was first performed by physical imaging techniques and material characterization was carried out by optical microscopy, micro-Fourier-transform infrared-spectroscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, and micro-X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD).

In the framework of the inter‐disciplinary KongoKing project, a set of beads from archaeological excavations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was analysed by means of a minimally invasive, multi‐analytical approach based on micro‐Raman spectroscopy. The full characterization of the materials, including glassy network, opacifiers and colorizers, was achieved thanks to the combination of data from handheld X‐ray fluorescence, variable pressure scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectrometry, micro‐Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and pyrolysis coupled to gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The obtained chemical information was used to fill the existing gap in the chemical study of beads from Western Central Africa. The cobalt‐rich blue beads were found to be of Central European origin, while the copper‐rich turquoise beads were manufactured using distinct copper sources. Cadmium yellow and cadmium red are the colourants responsible for the bright colours of bead types 10 and 12, respectively. The type 12 beads were found to be composed of glass covered with a waxy layer tentatively identified as Japan wax. Prosser‐moulded bead type 9 was coloured by means of a chrome–tin pigment, while a combination of Mn and Fe is responsible for the black colour of the type 47 beads. Cuprite is most likely responsible for the red hue of glass layers from type 14. The dark palm green exterior of the type 17 bead was produced by using a combination of Cu and Fe compounds; iron was the only chromophore detected in the Indian red decoration. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

a b s t r a c tThis paper focusses on the study of the underdrawings of 16th century easel paintings attributed to the workshop of the Portuguese-Flemish Master Frei Carlos. This investigation encompasses multidisciplinary research that relates the results of surface exams (infrared reflectography, standard light photography and infrared photography) with analytical investigations.The surface analysis of Frei Carlos' underdrawings by infrared reflectography has shown heterogeneous work, revealing two different situations: (1) an abundant and expressive underdrawing, revealing a Flemish influence and (2) a simple and outlined underdrawing. This preliminary research raised an important question related to this Portuguese-Flemish workshop and to the analytical approach: Is the underdrawing's heterogeneity, as observed in the reflectograms, related to different artists or is this rather an effect that is produced due to the use of different materials in the underdrawing's execution? Consequently, if different materials were used, how can we have access to the hidden underdrawings? In order to understand the reasons for this dissemblance, chemical analysis of micro-samples collected in underdrawing areas and representing both situations were carried out by optical microscopy, micro Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (-FTIR), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX) and micro-Raman spectroscopy (-Raman). Taking into account the different possibilities and practical and theoretical limitations of surface and punctual examinations in the study of easel painting underdrawings, the methodology of research was adjusted, sometimes resulting in a re-analysis of experimental results. This research shows the importance of combining multispectral surface exams and chemical analysis in the understanding of the artistic creative processes of 16th century easel paintings.

This paper provides a contribution to FTIR analysis of calcium sulphate‐based grounds of paintings when a mixture of compounds with different degrees of hydration is present. The study is based on the analysis with that technique, electron microscopy coupled with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectrometry and X‐ray diffraction of both the grounds of 16th‐century Portuguese paintings and reference samples prepared with anhydrite and calcium sulphate dihydrate bound in an animal glue solution. It is shown that the interpretation of the degree of hydration of calcium sulphate ground samples using FTIR cannot be based solely on the study of the hydroxyl bands, as is usual in routine work, but that small deviations of the S–O vibration bands are an important indicator of the presence of anhydrite in the grounds.

RESUMOIntrodução: O Inventário de Habilidades do Cuidador traduzido do original Caring Ability Inventory (CAI) de Ngozi Nkongho (1999) foi projetado para medir as habilidades autopercecionadas pelos cuidadores informais. Considerando que alguns cuidadores poderão não estar capacitados com habilidades para cuidar de pessoas dependentes e que o conhecimento acerca desta problemática é ainda deficitário, justifica-se desenvolver investigação neste domínio. Objetivos: Avaliar as propriedades psicométricas, nomeadamente a estrutura fatorial e a consistência interna; classificar as habilidades autopercecionadas pelos cuidadores informais. Métodos: Estudo transversal de natureza observacional com foco metodológico, realizado em contexto comunitário, numa amostra de 214 participantes (86,9% mulheres), com uma média de 51,07 anos. Residem em meio rural 63,6% dos participantes; 66,8% possuem companheiro(a); 57,5% possuem até ao 3.º ciclo do ensino básico, 65,9% com família altamente funcional, 51,9% estão inseridos numa família nuclear ou simples. Foi estudada a consistência interna e realizada uma análise fatorial confirmatória do Caring Ability Inventory de Ngozi Nkongho (1999 (2008), confirmou a estrutura original, apresentando três (3) fatores relativos a: fator 1-Conhecimento (α= 0.78); fator 2 -Coragem (α=0. 65); fator 3 -Paciência (α= 0.78). O valor de Alfa de Cronbach para o global do CAI foi de 0,84. No global, 45,3 % dos participantes detêm adequadas habilidades para cuidar, 27,6% têm habilidades de cuidados muito adequadas, sendo que em 27,1% as habilidades são inadequadas. Conclusões: Esta investigação aporta o estudo das propriedades psicométricas do Caring Ability Inventory , numa amostra da população portuguesa. A análise comparativa dos achados da presente investigação com os resultados obtidos por Ngozi Nkongho (1999) revelou que, no presente estudo, a estrutura fatorial se mantém e que os valores de consistência interna na Nota Global são coincidentes (α=0.84), porém nos fatores Conhecimento e Coragem são mais baixos e no factor Paciência mais altos. A aferição de um instrumento de medida das habilidades dos cuidadores potencia que as/os enfermeiras/os implementem na prática clínica a sua avaliação e mensuração, de modo a identificar os clusters mais vulneráveis, ou seja, os grupos de cuidadores com menos habilidades e elaborar uma proposta de intervenção em termos de ajuda/intervenção formal.Palavras-Chave: Estrutura fatorial; Habilidades; Cuidadores. ABSTRACT Introduction:The Caregiver Skills Inventory translated from the original Caring Ability Inventory (CAI) by Ngozi Nkongho (1999) was designed to measure skills that are self-perceived by informal caregivers. Considering that some caregivers may not be able to care for dependants and that knowledge about this problem is still lacking, it is justified to develop research in this area. Objectives: To evaluate the psychometric properties, namely the factorial structure and internal consistency; Self-perceived skills by informal caregivers. Methods: ...