Chromosome Abnormalities and Repeated Abortion: A Preliminary Report

In view of the increased frequency of chromosome rearrangements demonstrated in these couples and the importance of counseling for future pregnancies, it would be wise to consider cytogenetic evaluation when all other probable causes for recurrent abortion have been ruled out

Guidelines for the storage and display of archaeological metalwork

This is a guide for Heritage Professionals on how to control the corrosion of archaeological metal objects during storage and display. It is a practical guide with clear statement of the underpinning theory behind the strategies and procedures recommend, with the inclusion of the evidence base that supports them

A document management system for the conservation of cultural heritage buildings

A document management system (DcMS) for the efficient organization and visualization of the data related to conservation projects in cultural heritage buildings applied to a case study is presented. The objective of the system is to allow for the interchange of information between different specialists, to prevent the loss of data through time and to promote technical awareness of general public. For this purpose, a database for the management of the information involved in the works carried out in the Monastery of Santa Maria de Salzedas (Portugal) was created. The newly developed system collects the information about the Monastery produced in a period of five years by different specialists (architects, engineers, geologists, physicists and material scientists). The system is fully web based and includes a Back-End for easy uploading of information and a Front-End for automatic visualization and downloading of the information. Both Back- and Front-End are accessible via an Internet connection.The DcMS presented here is part of the project POCTI-HEC-60431-2004, Integrated approach for conservation and valuation of monuments, funded by FCT (Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation). F. Pena acknowledges funding from the FCT grant contract SFRH/BPD/17449/2004. The system was programmed by Engineers Ana Lima and Daniel Oliveira of the Centre of Computer Graphics (CCG)

Going to waste? The potential impacts on nature conservation and cultural heritage from resource recovery on former mineral extraction sites in England and Wales

Scarcity of mineral supplies globally means that there is an international effort to examine the potential to extract resources from mine wastes. Such sites are often perceived as degraded and of little value. However, many sites are protected for their ecological, geological or historical significance. This paper examines the scale of the association between these designations and former mineral extraction sites in England and Wales. Around 69,000 mines (44%) are co-located with some form of designation; ranging from 27% of sand and gravel quarries in Wales to 84% of metal mines in England. Some designations are coincidental to mining and may benefit from resource recovery combined with remediation activities, others exist due to previous mining activities and may be adversely affected. This creates a tension in the long-term management of former mineral extraction, which should be considered when assessing the potential for, and desirability of, resource recovery

Oxygen isotope dendrochronology of Llwyn Celyn; One of the oldest houses in Wales

We report the application of oxygen isotope dendrochronology to date a high-status and remarkably unaltered late medieval hall house on the eastern border of South Wales. The oak timbers have either short and complacent ring series, or very strong growth disturbance, and none were suitable for ring-width dendrochronology. By using stable oxygen isotopes from the latewood cellulose, rather than ring widths, it was possible to cross-match and date all 14 timber samples and to provide felling dates related to several phases of building. The hall and solar cross-wing were constructed shortly after 1420CE, which is remarkably early. The house was upgraded using timbers felled in the winter of 1695/6CE by ceiling over of the hall and inserting a chimney. A separate small domestic building was added at the same time and the addition of the kitchen is likely to be contemporaneous. A substantial beast house was added a few years before the house was refurbished, emphasising the importance of cattle as the main source of wealth. A small barn with timbers felled in spring 1843 CE was added later. Llwyn Celyn is one of the most important domestic buildings in Wales, but without the new approach none of the phases of its evolution could have been dated precisely. Oxygen isotope dendrochronology has enormous potential for dating timbers that have small numbers of rings and/or show severe growth disturbance and it works well in regions where tree growth is not strongly constrained by climate. The research was generously supported by the Leverhulme Trust, Natural Environment Research Council, Landmark Trust and the UK National Lottery Heritage Fund

Public opinion on energy crops in the landscape: considerations for the expansion of renewable energy from biomass

Public attitudes were assessed towards two dedicated biomass crops – Miscanthus and Short Rotation Coppice (SRC), particularly regarding their visual impacts in the landscape. Results are based on responses to photographic and computer-generated images as the crops are still relatively scarce in the landscape. A questionnaire survey indicated little public concern about potential landscape aesthetics but more concern about attendant built infrastructure. Focus group meetings and interviews indicated support for biomass end uses that bring direct benefits to local communities. Questions arise as to how well the imagery used was able to portray the true nature of these tall, dense, perennial plants but based on the responses obtained and given the caveat that there was limited personal experience of the crops, it appears unlikely that wide-scale planting of biomass crops will give rise to substantial public concern in relation to their visual impact in the landscape