The impact of atmospheric pollution on outdoor cultural heritage: An analytic methodology for the characterization of the carbonaceous fraction in black crusts present on stone surfaces

2021 ◽  
pp. 111565
Author(s):  
Valeria Comite ◽  
Alessandro Miani ◽  
Michela Ricca ◽  
Mauro La Russa ◽  
Manuela Pulimeno ◽  
...  
Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 177
Author(s):  
Adam Pyzik ◽  
Karol Ciuchcinski ◽  
Mikolaj Dziurzynski ◽  
Lukasz Dziewit

Cultural heritage objects constitute a very diverse environment, inhabited by various bacteria and fungi. The impact of these microorganisms on the degradation of artworks is undeniable, but at the same time, some of them may be applied for the efficient biotreatment of cultural heritage assets. Interventions with microorganisms have been proven to be useful in restoration of artworks, when classical chemical and mechanical methods fail or produce poor or short-term effects. The path to understanding the impact of microbes on historical objects relies mostly on multidisciplinary approaches, combining novel meta-omic technologies with classical cultivation experiments, and physico-chemical characterization of artworks. In particular, the development of metabolomic- and metatranscriptomic-based analyses associated with metagenomic studies may significantly increase our understanding of the microbial processes occurring on different materials and under various environmental conditions. Moreover, the progress in environmental microbiology and biotechnology may enable more effective application of microorganisms in the biotreatment of historical objects, creating an alternative to highly invasive chemical and mechanical methods.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 217-227
Author(s):  
Oleh V. Yaholnyk

The article considers international legislation as an instrument in the process of establishment of Geoparks in Ukraine. Because the notion “geopark” is relatively new to Europe, and even newer to Ukraine, it is necessary to study the legal aspects of this issue. It was determined that the establishment of geoparks in Ukraine is hindered by numerous problems, particularly: absence of target-legislation, unproductive dialogue with authorities, from local to national and difficult economic conditions. We found that solving the problems should start from the assessment of state and international normative-regulatory acts and characterization of the impact of the latter in the legal field of Ukraine. We found that domestic scientific works do not have many references to the international legislation. Therefore, the necessity arises of developing an international “legal map” in the issue of protection of geoheritage. For this purpose, we analyzed 14,335 international documents relevant for the territory of Ukraine with their respect to their relationship to the protection of nature, natural and cultural heritage, out of which 79 were analyzed in detail. We determined the peculiarities, according to which the international legal acts can be identified and can characterize them by 3 groups: Treaties between states on collaboration; Treaties between states on particular natural objects; important international documents. We determined that 48 of them have different levels of importance in the issue of establishment of Geoparks. We determined that many international documents recommend, encourage, obligate the authorities to support protection of nature, the natural heritage, including geoheritage. With active use of such documents, it is possible to significantly advance in solving the abovementioned problems of establishing Geoparks. Most characterized normative-regulatory acts which are directly or indirectly related to natural objects and territories that could be included in future Geoparks, making them an important tool in preservation of geoheritage. The presented results correspond to all the recent changes in the legislation as at the beginning of 2019. The results can be used by scientists in the process of establishment of real Geoparks in Ukraine, as well for preservation of geological heritage in general.


Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Festa ◽  
Giovanni Romanelli ◽  
Roberto Senesi ◽  
Laura Arcidiacono ◽  
Claudia Scatigno ◽  
...  

Advances in research in Cultural Heritage see increasing application of a multidisciplinary approach and the combined use of physical and chemical characterization of artefacts that can be used to define their structure and their state of conservation, also providing valuable information in selecting the most suitable microclimatic conditions for the exhibition environment. This approach provides a platform for a synergic collaboration amongst researchers, restorers, conservators, and archaeologists. Existing state-of-the-art technologies for neutron-based methods are currently being applied to the study of objects of historical and cultural interest in several neutron-beam facilities around the world. Such techniques are non-invasive and non-destructive and are, therefore, ideal to provide structural information about artefacts, such as their composition, presence of alterations due to the environmental conditions, inclusions, structure of the bulk, manufacturing techniques, and elemental composition, which provide an overall fingerprint of the object’s characteristics, thanks to the nature of the interaction of neutrons with matter. Here, we present an overview of the main neutron methods for the characterization of materials of interest in Cultural Heritage and we provide a brief introduction to the sensors and detectors that are used in this framework. We conclude with some case studies underlining the impact of these applications in different archaeological and historical contexts.


Author(s):  
José Santiago Pozo-Antonio ◽  
Carolina Cardell ◽  
Valeria Comite ◽  
Paola Fermo

AbstractBlack crusts (BCs) are one of the most critical alteration forms found on stones belonging to architectural heritage. Since they could be considered as passive samplers of atmospheric pollution, it would be plausible to establish relations between the air contamination and the BCs. With this aim, we have characterized BCs collected on historic buildings from two Spanish cities (Granada and Vigo) with different polluted atmospheres, as well as formed on stone substrates of varied mineralogy and texture. Likewise, in order to assess the impact of the atmospheric pollutants on the growth of BCs, quartz fiber filters were used as surrogate substrates and placed nearby the studied buildings to collect and analyze the aerosol particulate matter (PM). To this end, an array of complementary analytical techniques was used to evaluate the mineralogy, chemical composition, and texture of the BCs and to establish the correlation with the ions, OC (organic carbon), and EC (elemental carbon) detected in the PM on the quartz fiber filters. As result, BCs developed on carbonate substrates from Granada show more complex structure than those from Vigo, which are thinner because of frequent rain episodes. In both cities, NaCl, Pb-Cl, and Ca-Cl-rich particles, Ca-phosphate particles and clusters of Ba-sulfate-rich particles were detected. However, metal-rich rounded particles were more abundant in Granada’s BCs, including soot particles. BCs from Granada were richer in carbonaceous components (OC and EC) than the Vigo’s BCs. Although in the filters PM did not show EC—mainly due to traffic—, in the BCs from both locations OC and EC were detected. Therefore, this different composition was related to the mineralogy of the stones and the higher pollution of Granada in contrast to the industrial and sea-exposed city of Vigo.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-129
Author(s):  
Asti Gumartifa ◽  
◽  
Indah Windra Dwie Agustiani

Gaining English language learning effectively has been discussed all years long. Similarly, Learners have various troubles outcomes in the learning process. Creating a joyful and comfortable situation must be considered by learners. Thus, the implementation of effective learning strategies is certainly necessary for English learners. This descriptive study has two purposes: first, to introduce the classification and characterization of learning strategies such as; memory, cognitive, metacognitive, compensation, social, and affective strategies that are used by learners in the classroom and second, it provides some questionnaires item based on Strategy of Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) version 5.0 that can be used to examine the frequency of students’ learning strategies in the learning process. The summary of this study explains and discusses the researchers’ point of view on the impact of learning outcomes by learning strategies used. Finally, utilizing appropriate learning strategies are certainly beneficial for both teachers and learners to achieve the learning target effectively.


Author(s):  
Anil Verma ◽  
G. Rajendran

Delighting consumers has been one of the most important goals for marketing stakeholders but the effect of historical nostalgia on tourists delight at the world cultural heritage sites has rarely been examined. This study examines the impact of historical nostalgia on the heritage tourists' delight, their satisfaction and destination loyalty intention. The survey for the study was conducted at the world cultural heritage site of Mahabalipuram, India. The hypotheses were tested through the structural equation modelling technique. The results indicated positive and significant effect of historical nostalgia on tourists' delight, satisfaction and destination loyalty intention. The study makes contribution to the tourism studies by examining the role of historical nostalgia in delighting the tourists at the cultural heritage sites and instructs the managers to evoke such experiences to keep the heritage tourists delighted and thereby enhance their loyalty.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xupeng Yuan ◽  
Jiahao Yan ◽  
Ruizhi Hu ◽  
Yanli Li ◽  
Ying Wang ◽  
...  

Recent evidences suggest that gut microbiota plays an important role in regulating physiological and metabolic activities of pregnant sows, and β-carotene has a potentially positive effect on reproduction, but the impact of β-carotene on gut microbiota in pregnant sows remains unknown. This study aimed to explore the effect and mechanisms of β-carotene on the reproductive performance of sows from the aspect of gut microbiota. A total of 48 hybrid pregnant sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) with similar parity were randomly allocated into three groups (n = 16) and fed with a basal diet or a diet containing 30 or 90 mg/kg of β-carotene from day 90 of gestation until parturition. Dietary supplementation of 30 or 90 mg/kg β-carotene increased the number of live birth to 11.82 ± 1.54 and 12.29 ± 2.09, respectively, while the control group was 11.00 ± 1.41 (P = 0.201). Moreover, β-carotene increased significantly the serum nitric oxide (NO) level and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity (P < 0.05). Characterization of fecal microbiota revealed that 90 mg/kg β-carotene increased the diversity of the gut flora (P < 0.05). In particular, β-carotene decreased the relative abundance of Firmicutes including Lachnospiraceae AC2044 group, Lachnospiraceae NK4B4 group and Ruminococcaceae UCG-008, but enriched Proteobacteria including Bilophila and Sutterella, and Actinobacteria including Corynebacterium and Corynebacterium 1 which are related to NO synthesis. These data demonstrated that dietary supplementation of β-carotene may increase antioxidant enzyme activity and NO, an important vasodilator to promote the neonatal blood circulation, through regulating gut microbiota in sows.


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