Identification and analytical examination of copper alloy pigments applied as golden illuminations on three persian manuscripts

Golden pigments are among the most common colourants used in Persian illuminated manuscripts. In this research, golden pigments were investigated in three eighteenth- to nineteenth-century manuscripts. Initially, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrometry analyses showed that different kinds of metallic pigments were present and some of them were ternary alloys made up of copper, zinc and tin, hence copper-based alloys were ascertained as cheap alternatives to gold. Discolouration of the pigment was observable through alteration of the metallic pigments to greenish residues in the manuscripts. Subsequently, the greenish products in the golden pigments were studied by Raman spectroscopy. Copper carboxylates were recognized as degradation products. We inferred that the alteration is a consequence of the interaction between copper alloy pigments and carboxylic acids in conditions of high humidity. Moreover, more progressive degradation has caused the discolouration, brittleness and gradually crumbling of the paper in the painted areas. Signs of damages in the paper were comparable with decomposition of the paper by green copper pigments such as verdigris in historical documents and miniatures

a technological study on the 17th century raised gilded substrates in three royal palaces of isfahan iran

The raised substrates of gilding decorations, called lāyachīnīī in Persian, were widely used throughout the Safavid period (1501-1736 AD) in Iran. This paper presents the first analytical data obtained from the lāyachīnīs of three seventeenth century royal Safavid buildings (ʿAlī- Qāpū, Chihil-Sutūn, and Hasht-Bihisht) in Isfahan, Iran, using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, Xray powder diffraction, and thin layer chromatography. According to the analytical data, different forms of calcium sulfate (dihydrate, β-hemihydrate, and anhydrite), the red iron oxides, and a proteinaceous binder (probably animal glue) are the main constituents of the raised lāyachīnī substrates. The results show that a dry mixture of the plaster of Paris and the red iron oxides are mixed with diluted animal glue to obtain a slurry to be applied in several layers, one top of the another, to achieve the raised substrates. This technique is similar to those European raised pastiglia substrates although the method of the preparation in the Persian technique is different from the European one

Leaf spot on lettuce (Lactuca sativa) caused by Stemphylium solani, a new disease in Malaysia.

In June 2011, lettuce (Lactuca sativa) plants cultivated in major lettuce growing areas in Malaysia, including the Pahang and Johor states, had extensive leaf spots. In severe cases, disease incidence was recorded to be more than 80%. Symptoms on 50 plants were initially water-soaked spots (1-2 mm in diameter) on leaves, which then became circular spots spreading over much of the leaves. Main lettuce growing areas infected by the pathogen in the aforementioned states were investigated and the pathogen was isolated onto potato dextrose agar. Fourteen isolates were identified as Stemphylium solani based on morphological criteria. To confirm morphological characterization, the DNA of the fungus was extracted from mycelium and PCR was conducted using universal primers ITS5 (5′-GGAAGTAAAAGTCGTAACAAGG-3′) and ITS4 (5′-TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC-3′), which amplified the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA. The sequencing result was subjected to BLAST analysis, revealing a 99% similarity to other published sequences in the GenBank database (GenBank accession nos. AF203451 and HQ840713). This is thought to be the first report of Stemphylium solani on lettuce in Malaysia

An outbreak of leaf spot caused by Stemphylium solani on eggplant in Malaysia.

In 2011, a severe gray leaf spot was observed on aubergine (Solanum melongena) in major aubergine growing areas in Malaysia, including the Pahang, Johor and Selangor states. Disease incidence was >70% in severely infected areas of approximately 150 ha of aubergine greenhouses and fields examined. Symptoms initially appeared as small (1-5 mm in diameter), brownish-black specks with concentric circles on the lower leaves. The specks then coalesced and developed into greyish-brown, necrotic lesions, which also appeared on the upper leaves. Eventually, the leaves senesced and were shed. Fungal colonies were greyish green to light brown, and produced a yellow pigment. Single, muriform, brown, oblong conidia formed at the terminal end of each conidiophore. The conidiophores were tan to light brown and ≤220 µm long. Based on these morphological criteria, 25 isolates of the fungus were identified as Stemphylium solani. Further confirmation of the identification was obtained by molecular characterization. A BLAST search in the NCBI database revealed that the sequence was 99% identical with published ITS sequences for two isolates of Stemphylium solani (Accession Nos. AF203451 and HQ840713). This is thought to be the first report of Stemphylium solani on aubergine in Malaysia

Identification of Pithomyces chartarum causing leaf spot of cabbage in Malaysia

A leaf spot disease was observed on cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) affecting 80% of plants growing in greenhouses and fields in Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. Symptomatic leaf samples were collected from infected plants and isolations made on agar medium. Single-spore isolates from resulting colonies were identified based on cultural and morphological characteristics as Pithomyces chartarum. Morphological identification was confirmed by sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions 1 and 2, including 5.8S rDNA (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2). Pathogenicity tests indicated that P. chartarum causes leaf spot on cabbage. This is the first report of leaf spot caused by P. chartarum on cabbage in Malaysia

Analysis of genetic and virulence variability of Stemphylium lycopersici associated with leaf spot of vegetable crops

Stemphylium lycopersici (Enjoji) W. Yamam was initially described from tomato and has been reported to infect different hosts worldwide. Sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions 1 and 2, including 5.8S rDNA (ITS-5.8S rDNA) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gpd) gene, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR), as well as virulence studies were conducted to analyze 46 S. lycopersici isolates. Stemphylium lycopersici isolates used in this study were obtained from diseased tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) from major vegetable growing regions of Malaysia, including the three states of Pahang, Johor and Selangor between 2011 and 2012. Phylogenetic analysis of a combined dataset of the ITS-5.8S rDNA and gpd regions indicated that all isolates were clustered in the sub-cluster that comprised S. lycopersici, and were distinguished from other Stemphylium species. Cluster analyses using the UPGMA method for both RAPD and ISSR markers grouped S. lycopersici isolates into three main clusters with similarity index values of 67 and 68 %. The genetic diversity data confirmed that isolates of S. lycopersici are in concordance to host plants, and not geographical origin of the isolates. All S. lycopersici isolates were pathogenic on their original host plants and showed leaf spot symptoms; however, virulence variability was observed among the isolates. In cross-inoculation assays, the representative isolates were able to cause leaf spot symptoms on eggplant, pepper, lettuce and tomato, but not on cabbage

Alternaria capsicicola sp. nov., a new species causing leaf spot of pepper (Capsicum annuum) in Malaysia

A new species of Alternaria causing leaf spot of pepper (Capsicum annuum) obtained from the Cameron highlands, Pahang, Malaysia, was determined based on phylogenetic analyses, morphological characteristics, and pathogenicity assays. Phylogenetic analyses of combined dataset of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gpd), Alternaria allergen a 1 (Alt a1) and calmodulin genes revealed that the new isolates clustered into a subclade distinct from the closely related Alternaria species A. tomato and A. burnsii. The solitary or short chains of conidia resemble those of A. burnsii. However, conidia with long beaks are morphologically similar to A. tomato. Hence, the pathogenic fungus is proposed as Alternaria capsicicola sp. nov. Pathogenicity assays indicated that A. capsicicola causes leaf spot on pepper

Identify function methyl cellulose glue of rehabilitation and activation in preparation Tissues used in restoration paper works

This article aims to facilitate the use of methyl cellulose adhesive to repair paper works that its ink is sensitive to water. This research is conducted by analytical comparisons method and samples is collected by experiments related to research topics such as pH measurement, Calorimetric, infrared spectroscopy with total attenuated reflection (FTIR- ATR), the measurement of tensile strength as well measurement of The adhesive strength of the samples. The stages of this study is conducted so that the adhesive methyl cellulose at a concentration of 7% in methanol was prepared. The prepared specimens is treated under Temperature-humidity accelerated aging in accordance with standard ASTM D4714-96 no for 384 hours and under light in accordance with ASTM D6789-02 for 360 hours and Changes of color, pH, tensile strength and adhesion is investigated for them. Results showed that the samples pH is changed from 6.91 to 6.39 after light aging and to 6.06 after temperature-humidity aging. Also, Tensile strength of Samples is reduced from 0.31 to 0.23 kN per meter after light aging and to 0.24 kN per meter after the temperature-humidity aging. Also, the adhesive strength of the samples is decreased from 1.43 to 0.97 Newton after light aging and to 1.51 Newton after temperature-humidity aging

Identification of the new pathogen (Stemphylium lycopersici) causing leaf spot on pepino (Solanum muricatum)

Pepino (Solanum muricatum var. pepino) plants were found affected by an extensive leaf spot caused by plant pathogenic fungi during a survey in the Cameron highlands, Pahang state, Malaysia. Symptomatic leaf samples were collected from infected pepino plants and cultivated on PDA medium, and the pathogen was isolated and purified; then, consequently, all isolates were identified as Stemphylium lycopersici on the basis of their cultural and morphological characteristics and combined sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (gpd) regions. A pathogenicity assay on detached leaves further confirmed that S. lycopersici causes leaf spot disease. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of S. lycopersici causing leaf spot on pepino in Malaysia and worldwide