Rock-art microbiome: influences on long term preservation of historic and culturally important engravings

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Deirdre B Gleeson ◽  
Matthias Leopold ◽  
Benjamin Smith ◽  
John L Black
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Extreme Ultraviolet ◽  
Rock Art ◽  
North West ◽  
Environmental Extremes ◽  
Rock Varnish ◽  
Local Parent ◽  
Extreme Ultraviolet Radiation ◽  
Long Term Preservation

The Burrup Peninsula in north-west Western Australia is home to one of the most substantial collections of rock engravings, or petroglyphs, in the world. These petroglyphs are carved through the dark coloured patina, commonly referred to as rock varnish, into the weathering rind of the local parent rock. Rock varnish is essentially a thin layer of manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) oxides and hydroxides with embedded clay minerals, the formation of which is relatively poorly understood. It is generally considered to be a hostile environment for microorganisms due to extreme environmental conditions including low nutrient availability, lack of water, exposure to extreme ultraviolet radiation and intense seasonal and diurnal temperature fluctuations. However, despite these environmental extremes, microorganisms have been found on and in rock varnish and have been reported as playing a significant role in the formation of rock varnish. Given this, it is likely that any change in local environmental conditions will influence the types and activities of microorganisms found in and on rock varnish and associated rock art. This article focuses on the major influences on the microbiome of culturally important rock art in the Burrup Peninsula and the implications of any environmental change on the rock art itself.

Dry seeds and environmental extremes: consequences for seed lifespan and germination

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (7) ◽  
pp. 656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne M. Visscher ◽  
Charlotte E. Seal ◽  
Rosemary J. Newton ◽  
Alba Latorre Frances ◽  
Hugh W. Pritchard
Keyword(s):  
High Temperatures ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Seed Storage ◽  
Germination Ability ◽  
Environmental Extremes ◽  
Controlled Environments ◽  
Space Environments ◽  
Uv C

In the context of climate change, food security and long-term human space missions, it is important to understand which species produce seeds that can tolerate extreme environmental conditions. Here we consider dry seed survival of extreme conditions encountered in both natural and artificially controlled environments. Considerable overlap exists between the two: for example, ultra-dry and anoxic conditions can be artificially imposed during seed storage and also occur naturally in the vacuum of space environments. Aside from ultra-drying and anoxia, dry seeds of many species may experience extremely high temperatures due to heat from wildfires or when exposed to solar heat in biomes such as deserts. In addition, seeds can be irradiated by UV-A and UV-B at the surface of the Earth and by the shorter wavelengths of UV-C in outer space. We focus on the effects of these extreme environmental conditions on dry seed lifespan and germination. Although it is clear that seeds from particular plant species and families can tolerate exposures to ultra-drying, high temperatures (at least 32 families) or UV radiation with minimal consequences for subsequent germination ability, further research is needed to elucidate many of the mechanisms underlying extreme tolerance of these environmental conditions found on Earth or in space.

Determination of Mating Type of Phytophthora Infestans and Long Term Preservation by Using Mineral Oil

2011 ◽  
Vol 108 ◽  
pp. 132-137
Author(s):  
Xin Xin Li ◽  
Sheng Jun Xu ◽  
Xuan Zhe Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Phytophthora Infestans ◽  
Mating Type ◽  
Mineral Oil ◽  
North West ◽  
Long Term Storage ◽  
Preservation Method ◽  
Fitness Index ◽  
Long Term Preservation

Seventy six isolates of Phytophthora infestans from North-West China was determined for the mating type, and an effective preservation method using mineral oil was developed. All P. infestans isolated had A1-mating type. When the isolated were stored in mineral oil, 94.9% of P. infestans isolates were viable. The composite fitness index of P. infestans isolates preserved in mineral oil accounted for 14,806~119,935 sporangia per cm2, with 40,926 sporangia per cm2 for the average composite fitness index. All data suggest that mineral oil preservation for P. infestans can be an easy and efficient preservation method for long term storage of P. infestans without losing pathogenicity.

A Preparation based on Bacteria Isolated from Hypersaline Environments to Improve the Functional and Protective Characteristics of Concrete

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 21-28
Author(s):  
N.B. Gradova ◽  
S.P. Sivkov ◽  
E.V. Agalakova ◽  
A.A. Belov ◽  
N.A. Suyasov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Hypersaline Environment ◽  
Cement Stone ◽  
Self Healing ◽  
Crack Healing ◽  
Cement Mixture ◽  
Adverse Environmental Conditions ◽  
Long Term Preservation ◽  
Bacterial Preparations

Improving the strength and stability of cement-based structures in adverse environmental conditions with associated anthropogenic influences is possible through the development and implementation of nature-like and nature-friendly technologies. The ability of urobacteria to precipitate calcium carbonate can be useful in the manufacture of self-healing and reinforced concrete, in the crack healing and the restoration of concrete structures. Hypersaline environment is an ecological niche for search for microorganisms that are resistant to increased alkalinity, changing environmental conditions and stress. Screening of microorganisms allowed us to isolate the most active urobacteria, Lysinibacillus macroides and Bacillus licheniformis, from hypersaline lakes. The introduction of these microorganisms into the cement mixture significantly increased the strength of mortar specimens, reduced their porosity and capillary water absorption, which was associated with ongoing biocalcination. We studied the microstructure of spores of diatomite-immobilized bacteria and showed that this form provided long-term preservation of bacterial activity. A high activity of bacterial preparations in the healing of cement stone cracks was found. biomineralization, biocementation, extreme halophiles, crack healing, cement mortar, microbial concrete, urea hydrolysis. The work was supported by the D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia (Project no. 033-2018).

‘In search of lost time’, ‘friendship and archaeology’: a personal reminiscence of Ludovic Mann, Joseph Harrison Maxwell and George Applebey – my father

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. 7-22
Author(s):  
George Applebey
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Rock Art ◽  
Personal Reminiscence ◽  
Lost Time

In this paper, I will reflect on my personal memories of Ludovic Mann, friend and mentor to my late father George Applebey, whose archaeological career is also a focus of the paper. They both worked together on Mann's most famous excavations at Knappers Farm, and the nearby painting of the Cochno Stone rock-art panel. However, these are only two examples of their long-term collaboration and friendship, and this paper will explore the broader context within which they worked. This will include consideration of other collaborators, such as J Harrison Maxwell, part of the ‘Ludovic Group’ in the first half of the twentieth century. The important role that all three men played in the development of Scottish archaeology is noted. The paper concludes with developments following Mann's death in 1955 including George Applebey's emergence as a noted amateur archaeologist in his own right, and the fate of the Mann and Applebey collections.

Plasma-based sources of extreme ultraviolet radiation for lithography and mask inspection

2018 ◽  
Vol 189 (03) ◽  
pp. 323-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.B. Abramenko ◽  
P.S. Antsiferov ◽  
D.I. Astakhov ◽  
Aleksandr Yu. Vinokhodov ◽  
Il'ya Yu. Vichev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ultraviolet Radiation ◽  
Extreme Ultraviolet ◽  
Mask Inspection ◽  
Extreme Ultraviolet Radiation

CURRENT STATE AND DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES OF THE CASPIAN SPRAT FISHERIES

2018 ◽  
pp. 69-75
Author(s):  
Tatiana Vasilievna Pomogaeva ◽  
Aliya Ahmetovna Aseinova ◽  
Yuriy Aleksandrovich Paritskiy ◽  
Vjacheslav Petrovich Razinkov
Keyword(s):  
Food Item ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
North West ◽  
Marine Fishery ◽  
The North ◽  
Current State ◽  
West Part ◽  
Eggs And Larvae ◽  
Intensive Growth

The article presents annual statistical data of the Caspian Research Institute of Fishery. There has been kept track of the long term dynamics of the stocks of three species of Caspian sprat (anchovy, big-eyed kilka, sprat) and investigated a process of substituting a food item of sprats Eurytemora grimmi to a small-celled copepod species Acartia tonsa Dana. According to the research results, there has been determined growth potential of stocks of each species. Ctenophoran-Mnemiopsis has an adverse effect on sprat population by eating fish eggs and larvae. Ctenophoram - Mnemiopsis is a nutritional competitor to the full-grown fishes. The article gives recommendations on reclamation of stocks of the most perspective species - common sprat, whose biological characteristics helped not to suffer during Ctenophoram outburst and to increase its population during change of the main food item. Hydroacoustic survey data prove the intensive growth of common sprat biomass in the north-west part of the Middle Caspian. According to the results of the research it may be concluded that to realize the volumes of recommended sprat catch it is necessary to organize the marine fishery of common sprat at the Russian Middle Caspian shelf.

Problems of treatment of primary openangle glaucoma in combination with thrombosis of the central retinal vein

GlaucomaNews ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 65-69
Author(s):  
T.E. Lipatkina ◽  
◽  
Е.V. Karlova ◽  
A.V. Zolotarev ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Macular Edema ◽  
Primary Open Angle Glaucoma ◽  
Antihypertensive Drugs ◽  
Open Angle Glaucoma ◽  
Vascular Wall ◽  
Open Angle ◽  
Retinal Edema ◽  
Long Term Preservation ◽  
Central Retinal Vein

Patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and ophthalmic hypertension have an increased likelihood of developing occlusions (thrombosis) of the central retinal vein. Different groups of antihypertensive drugs differ in their mechanism of action and may affect concomitant ocular pathology, in particular, retinal edema, which occurs, for example, in occlusion of the central retinal vein. Used in most patients with glaucoma, prostaglandin analogs can contribute to the long-term preservation of macular edema due to the effect on the permeability of the vascular wall. Preparations of other pharmacological groups, reducing the production of aqueous humor, on the contrary, may contribute to its regression. Therefore, the question of choosing a drug for antihypertensive therapy in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and concomitant macular edema is relevant and is for further study.

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