Development of non-destructive methodology using ATR-FTIR with PCA to differentiate between historical Pacific barkcloth

Barkcloths, non-woven textiles originating from the Pacific Islands, form part of many museum collections and date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The ability to determine different plant species which have been used for producing barkcloth is required by art historians to help understand the origin and use of the cloths and by conservators for whom the species type may have an impact on textile durability, deterioration and hence conservation. However, to date the development of a non-destructive, robust analytical technique has been elusive. This article describes the use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflection (ATR-FTIR) and principal component analysis (PCA) todifferentiation between historic barkcloths. Three distinct groups of historic cloths were identified using PCA of the FTIR region between 1200 and 1600 cm−1 where molecular vibrations associated with tannins and lignins are dominant. Analysis of contemporary cloths only identified Pipturus albidus cloth as different and highlighted the difficulties around producing a representative textile sample to mimic the historic cloths. While the methodology does not itself identify species, the use of historically well-provenanced samples allows cloths showing similarities to group together and is a significant aid to identification

Mesoscale Variations in the Heliospheric Magnetic Field and their Consequences in the Outer Heliosphere

This paper considers several different aspects of the magnetic field in the outer heliosphere and their consequences. It is noted first that many features of the heliospheric magnetic field are set back at the Sun, and that these processes result in variations in the heliospheric field on several distinct spatial scales. An equation is discussed that describes the interactions of mesoscale variations in the magnetic field with small‐scale turbulence, and it is argued that this interaction can account for the creation of the observed superthermal tails on the particle distributions, and alter the expected behavior of the magnetic field at the termination shock. © 2004 American Institute of PhysicsPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/87299/2/365_1.pd

The Formidable Task of Developing a Predictive Capability of the Space Environment of the Solar System

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76899/1/AIAA-2005-6822-320.pd

Strain monitoring of tapestries: results of a three-year research project

The outcomes of an interdisciplinary research project between conservators and engineers investigating the strain experienced by different areas of a tapestry are described. Two techniques were used: full-field monitoring using digital image correlation (DIC) and point measurements using optical fibre sensors. Results showed that it is possible to quantify the global strain across a discrete area of a tapestry using DIC; optical fibre and other sensors were used to validate the DIC. Strain maps created by the DIC depict areas of high and low strain and can be overlaid on images of the tapestry, creating a useful visual tool for conservators, custodians and the general public. DIC identifies areas of high strain not obvious to the naked eye. The equipment can be used in situ in a historic house. In addition the work demonstrated the close relationship between relative humidity and strain

Heating of Pickup and Solar Wind Ions at Jupiter’s Bow Shock

Interstellar pickup ions are dynamically important in the outer heliosphere where they mass‐load and heat the solar wind. Some of these pickup ions are transformed into energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) by charge exchange with the residual cold interstellar gas that is the primary constituent of the outer heliosphere. The most detailed measurements of interstellar pickup ions in the heliosphere are currently available only between ∼1 and ∼5 AU. Among the most interesting and least expected observations are those of ubiquitous suprathermal tails on the distribution of pickup and solar wind protons and all heavier ions that can be measured. Here we report new measurements of solar wind proton and alpha particle distributions and of pickup He+ spectra upstream and downstream of Jupiter’s bow shock. We find that in the magnetosheath, 27% of the total pickup H+ density is in the tail portion of the distribution, compared to only 0.4% in the upstream spectrum. For He+ the entire core distribution is apparently heated in crossing the shock. These results have important implications for particle acceleration at the heliospheric termination shock, and for predicting the fluxes of energetic neutral atoms in the inner heliosphere produced from solar wind and pickup ions heated and accelerated at the termination shock. © 2004 American Institute of PhysicsPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/87300/2/201_1.pd

Risk of climate-induced damage in historical textiles

Eleven wool and silk historic textiles and two modern artist's canvases were examined to determine their water vapour adsorption, moisture dimensional response and tensile behaviour. All the textiles showed a similar general pattern of moisture response. A rise in ambient relative humidity (RH) from dry conditions produced expansion of a textile until a certain critical RH level after which a contraction occurred to a greater or lesser degree depending on the yarn crimp and the weave geometry. The largest expansion recorded between the dry state and 80% RH was 1.2 and 0.9% for wool and silk textiles, respectively. The largest shrinkage of 0.8% at high RH range was experienced by a modern linen canvas. Two potential damage mechanisms related to the moisture response of the textiles—stress building as a result of shrinkage of the textile restrained in its dimensional response and the fretting fatigue when yarns move with friction one against another—were found insignificant in typical textile display environments unless the textiles are severely degraded or excessively strained in their mounting

Chemosensory genes identified in the antennal transcriptome of the blowfly Calliphora stygia

© 2015 Leitch et al. Background: Blowflies have relevance in areas of forensic science, agriculture, and medicine, primarily due to the ability of their larvae to develop on flesh. While it is widely accepted that blowflies rely heavily on olfaction for identifying and locating hosts, there is limited research regarding the underlying molecular mechanisms. Using next generation sequencing (Illumina), this research examined the antennal transcriptome of Calliphora stygia (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) to identify members of the major chemosensory gene families necessary for olfaction. Results: Representative proteins from all chemosensory gene families essential in insect olfaction were identified in the antennae of the blowfly C. stygia, including 50 odorant receptors, 22 ionotropic receptors, 21 gustatory receptors, 28 odorant binding proteins, 4 chemosensory proteins, and 3 sensory neuron membrane proteins. A total of 97 candidate cytochrome P450s and 39 esterases, some of which may act as odorant degrading enzymes, were also identified. Importantly, co-receptors necessary for the proper function of ligand-binding receptors were identified. Putative orthologues for the conserved antennal ionotropic receptors and candidate gustatory receptors for carbon dioxide detection were also amongst the identified proteins. Conclusions: This research provides a comprehensive novel resource that will be fundamental for future studies regarding blowfly olfaction. Such information presents potential benefits to the forensic, pest control, and medical areas, and could assist in the understanding of insecticide resistance and targeted control through cross-species comparisons