Imaging diagnostics coupled with non-invasive and micro-invasive analyses for the restoration of ethnographic artifacts from French Polynesia

In this paper, two different objects from the ethnographic collection of the museum of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (Rome), a Polynesian barkcloth (tapa) and a Polynesian headdress in feathers (pa’e ku’a), were investigated to characterize the materials, to evaluate their state of conservation and address the restoration activities. Imaging methods such as multispectral imaging, 3D ultraviolet induced fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy have been integrated with analytical techniques such as X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Imaging investigations allowed us to differentiate constitutive materials and study their distribution, such as the yellow dye in the tapa used to trace the geometrical pattern and the psittacofulvins responsible for the feathers’ colors in the headdress. The combination of molecular spectroscopy, supported by observation under a scanning electron microscope, allowed us to propose a characterization of the organic painting materials (Morinda citrifolia, Curcuma longa) used for the tapa, and of the type of feathers (from Vini kuhlii bird) and vegetal fibers (Cocos nucifera L.) used to realize the headdress, as well as enabling the identification of degradation products and microorganisms affecting the artifacts before restoration. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy detected the organic materials used as adhesives for the tapa and headdress: a polysaccharide, probably starch, for the tapa and a natural rubber from Cerbera manghas L. for the headdress. The results of the multi-analytic diagnostic campaign enabled the choice of proper restoration materials, compatible with the original ones, and helped us develop effective protocols for the artifacts’ conservation, such as laser cleaning of the feathers

Residual internal stress in partially crystallized photothermorefractive glass: Evaluation by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and first principles calculations

In some circumstances, the mechanical and optical properties of multiphase brittle materials strongly depend on the level of residual micromechanical stresses that arise upon cooling due to thermal and elastic mismatch between the constituent phases. Here we study the residual internal stress in a partially crystallized oxyfluoride glass, best known as photothermorefractive (PTR) glass. This material is composed of a glass matrix with embedded nanosize sodium fluoride (NaF) crystals. Using both the Selsing model and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance in combination with first principles calculations we found that the crystals are under a tensile stress field of approximately 610-800 MPa. For this stress level the estimated critical crystal diameter for spontaneous cracking is about 2300-1900 nm, which greatly exceeds the observed diameters of 7-35 nm. Hence no spontaneous cracking is expected for the PTR glasses. First principles calculations indicate that the stress induced change of the refractive index of the NaF crystals is about -0.08%, which agrees with the observed refractive index changes

СОЗДАНИЕ НОВЫХ ФОРМ ШТАМБОВОГО ТОМАТА И ИХ ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЕ В СЕЛЕКЦИИ

Tree-shaped plants of tomato have many useful traits, which gain them advantages over common tomato forms. In world plant collection there are over 200 accessions, cultivars and hybrids of tree-shaped tomato. The aim of the study was to develop new initial tomato accessions for breeding program for tree-shaped cultivars and hybrids that are distinguished by a shape, fruit weight and color, improved by interspecific hybridization chemical composition and resistance to the major diseases. The tree-shaped breeding lines: ‘196/12’, ‘374/08’, ‘909/14’, ‘911/14’ and other were observed with the use of interspecific hybridization and selection in the population F2-F4. The selected lines passed the trial in artificially infected condition with Alternaria, viral diseases (MToV, TSWV) and phytoplasmas. Among breeding lines assessed the ‘911/14’, ‘374/08’ and‘40/11’ were less affected by complex of pathogens. The lines ‘196/12’ and ‘909/14’ passed an assessment in the nursery for variety trial in naturally and  provocatively infected conditions with major pathogens. Both breeding lines had an advantage over standard accession ‘Laguna’ and ‘Maraphon’ for total yield capacity and standard fruit harvest; it was more by 9.6% and 52.2% and 9.5% and 53.4% respectively. Fruits of lines 196/12 and 909/14 had good taste quality with high content of dry matter (5.8% and 6.8%), sugars (3.3% and 3.1%), vitamin C (22.2 and 24.8 mg/100 grams). The selected tree-shaped accessions have been used to develop heterotic hybrids and to be sources of economically valuable traits.Штамбовые   растения  томата имеют  ряд полезных признаков, которые создают им преимущество над обыкновенными  растениями. В мировой коллекции томата насчитывается   более 200 штамбовых сортов и гибридов. Целью наших исследований было создание нового исходного  материала для селекции  штамбовых сортов и  гибридов томата, отличающиеся   формой, массой и окраской плода, улучшение путем  межвидовой гибридизации, химического  состава плодов и повышение устойчивости к основным болезням. С использованием межвидовой гибридизации и методом отбора в гибридных популяциях F2-F4 получены штамбовые  линии  томата   (196/12, 374/08,  909/14,  911/14  и  др.). Выделенные линии прошли оценку на искусственных инфекционных фонах альтернариоза,  вирусных болезней (ВМТо, ВБТ) и фитоплазмоза.  Среди оцененных образцов наименьшей  поражаемостью  комплексом патогенов  отличались   линии 911/14, 374/08 и 40/11. В 2011-2012 годах линии 196/12 и 909/14 прошли оценку в питомнике конкурсного сортоиспытания на естественном провокационном фоне основных болезней. Обе линии имели преимущество над стандартами Лагуна и Марафон по общей урожайности (на 9,6 и 52,2% соответственно) и выходу  стандартных плодов (9,5 и 53,4% соответственно).  Плоды линий   196/12 и 909/14 обладали хорошими вкусовыми качествами,  высоким содержанием сухих веществ (5,8%; 6,8%), сахаров (3,3%; 3,1%), витамина С (22,2; 24,8 мг/100 г соответственно).  Выделившиеся штамбовые образцы  томата использованы как исходный материал для  создания гетерозисных  гибридов и  как  генетический источник хозяйственно ценных признаков

DEVELOPMENT OF NEW FORMS OF TREE-SHAPED TOMATO AND THEIR USE IN BREEDING PROGRAM

Tree-shaped plants of tomato have many useful traits, which gain them advantages over common tomato forms. In world plant collection there are over 200 accessions, cultivars and hybrids of tree-shaped tomato. The aim of the study was to develop new initial tomato accessions for breeding program for tree-shaped cultivars and hybrids that are distinguished by a shape, fruit weight and color, improved by interspecific hybridization chemical composition and resistance to the major diseases. The tree-shaped breeding lines: ‘196/12’, ‘374/08’, ‘909/14’, ‘911/14’ and other were observed with the use of interspecific hybridization and selection in the population F2-F4. The selected lines passed the trial in artificially infected condition with Alternaria, viral diseases (MToV, TSWV) and phytoplasmas. Among breeding lines assessed the ‘911/14’, ‘374/08’ and‘40/11’ were less affected by complex of pathogens. The lines ‘196/12’ and ‘909/14’ passed an assessment in the nursery for variety trial in naturally and  provocatively infected conditions with major pathogens. Both breeding lines had an advantage over standard accession ‘Laguna’ and ‘Maraphon’ for total yield capacity and standard fruit harvest; it was more by 9.6% and 52.2% and 9.5% and 53.4% respectively. Fruits of lines 196/12 and 909/14 had good taste quality with high content of dry matter (5.8% and 6.8%), sugars (3.3% and 3.1%), vitamin C (22.2 and 24.8 mg/100 grams). The selected tree-shaped accessions have been used to develop heterotic hybrids and to be sources of economically valuable traits