THE ROLE OF VIRTUAL IMAGING IN BUILDING CONSERVATION

Conservation is the process of managing changes to significant historic buildings and places. This research explores key conservation concepts, identifying internationally agreed conservation principles and their relationship to the developing role of computer-based visualisation in the conservation process. An emphasis is placed upon documentation that plays an important part in conservation and has begun to recognise virtual imaging as a tool for recording, analysing, interpreting and presenting the cultural heritage. This research focuses in particular upon virtual imaging from the perspective of a building conservator. It addresses both the purpose and possibilities of virtual imaging, which are useful in terms of the act of conservation and more specifically regarding documentation, which itself informs and records the work of a conservator. How can virtual imaging support the practice of the building conservation, with particular reference to documentation including recording and interpretation has been explored through considering the stages of the conservation process. To enable this examination a table has been created to address the question “Where, when and for what purpose an image is supportive in conservation” in relation to the conservation process. This has been informed by the Spinal Steps recommended by E.C.C.O. (The European Confederation of Conservator-Restorer’s Organisation). In addition, to better understanding the potential of this emerging technology different examples of virtual imaging and their uses have been assessed to help identify the benefits for imaging in VIII building conservation. To further investigate the impact of virtual imaging as a conservator’s tool two case studies have been systematically examined to confirm its benefits and which stage of a conservation project they are of optimum use. The overall outcome is that virtual imaging is of particular use to the conservator, and enhances the conservation process and management plan, particularly in terms of documentation and recording historic buildings

Thyroid cancer cells in space during the TEXUS-53 sounding rocket mission - The THYROID Project

Human follicular thyroid cancer cells (FTC-133) were sent to space via a sounding rocket during the TEXUS-53 mission to determine the impact of short-term microgravity on these cells. To enable cell culture and fixation in real microgravity, an automated experiment container (EC) was constructed. In order to ensure safe cell culture, cell-chambers consisting of polycarbonate (PC) material were used. They were highly biocompatible as proved by measuring cell survival using Annexin V flow cytometry. In the follow-up experiment, FTC-133 cells were sent to space via a sounding rocket and were fixed before and after the microgravity (mu g) phase with RNAlater. In addition, cells were tested for reactions on hypergravity (hyper-g) as much as 18 g to determine whether worst case acceleration during launch can have an influence on the cells. We investigated genes belonging to biological processes such as cytoskeleton, cell adhesion, tumor growth, angiogenesis and apoptosis. Pathway analyses revealed central functions of VEGFA and EGF. EGF upregulates aspartate beta-hydroxylase (ASPH) which is influencing CASP3. Hyper-g induced a significant up-regulation of TUBB1, VIM, RDX, CAV1, VEGFA and BCL2. FTC-133 cells grown in an automated EC exposed to mu g revealed moderate gene expression changes indicating their survival in orbit