Search results for "deterioration"

Anthropomorphic wooden reliquaries an integrated approach to restoration

2015

Two wood anthropomorphic reliquaries, belonging to Lipsanoteca of Epiphany Church, Trapani (Italy), were restored following procedures based on an interdisciplinary approach. The historic-artistic contextualization, constitutive materials and executive techniques were defined. Degradation events were correlated to physical-chemical factors, with particular attention to biodeteriogens. Insect infestation was revealed, by optical (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of rosume and insect body remains, Anobium punctatum was identified. Microbial colonization was revealed and characterized by an integrated approach based on OM (Lugol’s staining), in vitro culture and molecular investigati…

ANTHROPOMORPHIC WOODEN RELIQUARIES FROM KNOWLEDGE TO RESTORATIOI{

2014

Two wood anthropomorphic reliquaries, belonging to the Lipsanoteca of Epiphany Church in Trapani (Ita1y) were restored following the consewative restoration procedures based on an interdisciplinary approach. The hystoric-artistic contextualization, the constitutive rnaterials and executive techniques were defined and physical-chemical-biological factors involved in degradation events were evaluated. The Saints relic (human bone or teeth), present in each reliquary were analysed through visual investigation. After restoration, the manufacts showed their peculiarities and their extraordinary cultural value.

FRESHWATER CYANOBACTERIA, IDENTIFIED BY MICROSCOPIC AND MOLECULAR INVESTIGATIONS ON A COLONIZED FOUNTAIN SURFACE: A CASE STUDY IN PALERMO (SICILY, IT…

2021

Cyanobacteria or blue algae are ubiquitously present in both fresh and brackish water environments. They also grow in conditions of high humidity, colonizing stones or monuments and fountain surfaces, and creating thick biofilms able to induce biodeterioration in the constituent materials of artefacts. As well as several photoautotrophic organisms, cyanobacteria belong to the microorganisms identified as primary colonizers, playing an important role in stone artwork deterioration. In this study, an analysis was made of the biofilm collected from the stone fountain of the Two Dragons in Palermo (Italy), revealing the presence of cyanobacterial colonies by optical microscopy, due to their pec…

Bacteria consortia and deterioration of archaeological waterlogged wood: identification by molecular and microscopy techniques

2014

In this study molecular tools are applied to reveal and identify bacterial colonization in waterlogged wood to assessing the changes induced in anatomical structure, previously observed by Optical and Scanning Electron Microscopy (1). The results obtained by observation of wooden thin sections (OM), shown the presence of black and dark-brown areas and mineral concretions. The SEM analysis revealed a specific cell walls alteration, attributable to bacterial activity, other than abundant pyrite framboids (FeS2). The presence of sulfur compounds in archaeological waterlogged wood can indicate both long-term burial in anoxic environment and colonization by sulfate-reducing bacteria. Molecular m…

Cool barnacles: Do common biogenic structures enhance or retard rates of deterioration of intertidal rocks and concrete?

2017

Sedentary and mobile organisms grow profusely on hard substrates within the coastal zone and contribute to the deterioration of coastal engineering structures and the geomorphic evolution of rocky shores by both enhancing and retarding weathering and erosion. There is a lack of quantitative evidence for the direction and magnitude of these effects. This study assesses the influence of globally-abundant intertidal organisms, barnacles, by measuring the response of limestone, granite and marine-grade concrete colonised with varying percentage covers of Chthamalus spp. under simulated, temperate intertidal conditions. Temperature regimes at 5 and 10 mm below the surface of each material demons…

ARTIFICIAL STONE IN ARCHITECTURE: NEW TECHNIQUES OF INTERVENTION IN THE UTVEGGIO CASTLE IN PALERMO

2011

The development of new techniques and instruments for use in the field of the preservation, conservation and valorisation of Cultural Heritage is in continuous growth. This is evident in the many valuable scientific and technological improvements being implemented through projects financed by research institutions, universities and private companies. To make this renewed progress effective however, it is necessary to promote the creation of interdisciplinary research teams with different skills, to carry out new experiments and to define new methodologies and protocols.

Frammenti di mosaico riportati su calcestruzzo:le interazioni con il supporto e il progetto di conservazione

2010

ANTHROPOMORPHIC WOODEN RELIQUARIES FROM KNOWLEDGE TO RESTORATION

2014

Two wood anthropomorphic reliquaries, belonging to the Lipsanoteca of Epiphany Church in Trapani (Italy) were restored following the consevative restoration procedures based on an interdisciplinary approach. The hystoric-artistic contextualization, the constitutive materials and executive techniques were defined and physical-chemical-biological factors involved in degradation events were evaluated. The Saints relic (human bone or teeth), present in each reliquary were analysed through visual investigation. After restoration, the manufacts showed their peculiarities and their extraordinary cultural value.

Surface AFM microscopy of unworn and worn samples of silicone hydrogel contact lenses

2008

Abstract: Purpose. To evaluate the qualitative and quantitative topographic changes in the surface of worn contact lenses (CLs) of different materials using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Methods. The topography of five different CL materials was evaluated withAFM over a surface of 25 lm2 according to previously published experimental setup. Average roughness (Ra) and root mean square (Rms) values were obtained for unworn and worn samples. Results. The Ra value increased for balafilcon A (11.62–13.68 nm for unworn and worn samples, respectively), lotrafilcon A (3.67–15.01 nm for unworn and worn samples, respectively), lotrafilcon B (4.08–8.42 nm for unworn and worn samples, respectively), g…

Surface and volume non-invasive methods for the structural monitoring of the bass-relief ‘Madonna con Bambino’ (Gorizia, Northern Italy)

2016

Structural analysis of marble statues, carried out by non-invasive and in situ methods, is crucial to define the state of conservation of the artworks and to identify the deterioration phenomena that can affect them. In this work, we combined in situ non-destructive techniques, ultrasonic tomography (US), ultraviolet-induced visible fluorescence (UV-IF) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to study the bass-relief ‘Madonna con Bambino’ (Gorizia, Italy). The US revealed the presence of some metallic pivots, associated with areas of high sound velocity; moreover, a more degraded area has been identified in the lower part of the bass-relief. The acquired UV-IF image confirmed the presence of surface d…