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This research explores the potential of ionic liquids (ILs) in restoring paper artifacts, particularly an aged book sample. Three distinct ILs—1-ethyl-3-propylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, 1-methyl-3-pentylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, and 1-methyl-3-heptylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide —both in their pure form and isopropanol mixtures, were examined for their specific consumption in conjunction with paper, with 1-ethyl-3-propylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide displaying the highest absorption. Notably, the methyl-3-heptylimidazolium ionic liquid displayed pronounced deacidification capabilities, elevating the paper pH close to a neutral 7. The treated paper exhibited significant color enhancements, particularly with 1-heptyl-3-methylimidazolium and 1-pentyl-3-methylimidazolium ILs, as evidenced by CIE-Lab* parameters. An exploration of ILs as potential UV stabilizers for paper unveiled promising outcomes, with 1-heptyl-3-methylimidazolium IL demonstrating minimal yellowing post-UV irradiation. FTIR spectra elucidated structural alterations, underscoring the efficacy of ILs in removing small-molecular additives and macromolecules. The study also addressed the preservation of inked artifacts during cleaning, showcasing ILs' ability to solubilize iron gall ink, particularly the one with the 1-ethyl-3-propylimidazolium cation. While exercising caution for prolonged use on inked supports is still recommended, ILs are shown here to be valuable for cleaning ink-stained surfaces, establishing their effectiveness in paper restoration and cultural heritage preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial considers three groups of individuals and how they often find themselves following common ways of thinking. Artists, especially those who become well known, are hard workers and somewhat stubborn. Once they have found a type of paper that works well for them, they tend to develop loyalty to it, regardless of what the label on the ream wrap may say. Papermakers, ancient and modern, likewise have tended to stick with practices that are convenient to them at the moment, whether or not they contribute to archival quality. Fortunately, the transition to alkaline papermaking practices means that modern printing papers tend to last a lot longer. Increasing knowledge of the importance of acid-free paper, as well as the principles of sustainability, are making positive contributions to our ongoing cultural heritage, at least to the part of that heritage that is related to cellulosic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital technology has broadened the research methods in the field of cultural heritage protection, and promoted the online organization and utilization of different resources. New digital technology is used to further explore the resources related to traditional Chinese handmade paper (TCHP) in order to comprehensively and systematically realize the knowledge association of different types of handmade paper. In this article, the characteristics of TCHP are combined to existing mature and generic ontologies to design a new ontology model of TCHP, and Protégé software is used to construct the visual ontology. The model is verified by analyzing the digital resources of Kaihua paper. Constructing the ontology of TCHP can realize the knowledge organization and visual presentation of related resources, and also promote the further utilization of the resources and wider spread of the culture of TCHP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In protecting cultural heritage, deacidification is used to stabilize acidic papers, ensuring the neutralization of acids present in the paper. But in the process of aging, several mechanisms of degradation occur simultaneously. Therefore, substances used to stabilize the paper should contain an antioxidant component in addition to the deacidifying component. The effect of the antioxidant (hindered amine light stabilizers—HALS type) on the stabilization of lignin-containing acid papers during accelerated aging was studied in this work. The effective deacidification component was magnesium; the solvent was hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO). The 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine series of hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS) was selected as appropriate for creating a modifying system based on HMDSO. The modification system was tested on samples of a model test acid lignin-containing paper (NOVO) and naturally aged acidic paper from the real book. The addition of substances to the proposed deacidification system has a favorable effect on stabilizing the pH during aging and provides the inhibition of the oxidative degradation products and stabilization of the cellulose degree of polymerization. It was confirmed that the application of the system containing deacidification and an antioxidant component may increase the effectiveness of the protection of acid groundwood paper heritage objects. Adding a tested antioxidant to the proposed deacidification system has a favorable effect on stabilizing the pH value for a long time in accelerated aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degradation of cellulose-based materials by fungi represents a menace to the cultural heritage conservation. Carvacrol-based β-cyclodextrins and cocrystals proved effective antifungal remedies in vitro but their effects on paper structure and properties were not studied. The aim of this study was to investigate possible structural modifications and alterations of the mechanical, optical and chemical properties of artificially aged and unaged Whatman and Kraft paper subjected to the treatment with carvacrol-based β-ciclodextrins and cocrystals. The pH of the samples did not significantly change after the treatment, as well as no colour-related alterations were detected (1.00<ΔE<2.00). The tensile strength of both Whatman and Kraft paper was not affected by the vapours of carvacrol and spectroscopic analysis (FTIR and XRD) revealed no carvacrol-related damages of paper structure. The antifungal efficacy of the carvacrol-cocrystal was also proved on a book prototype made of Whatman and Kraft paper, kept under 98% of humidity for 28 days, and purposely inoculated with a mix of fungal species (A. alternata , Aspergillus sp. section Nigri, C. cladosporioides , and T. orientale). These results show the applicability of a carvacrol-releasing system, effective as antifungal remedy, and at the same time not harmful to Whatman and Kraft paper, as these materials did not show treatment-induced degradation. • Carvacrol-based treatments help counteracting degradation of paper by fungi. • No optical or structural alterations due to the treatments were observed on paper. • The treatments with carvacrol did not alter the pH of the paper samples. • The antifungal remedy proved effective on a book made of Kraft and Whatman paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archival documents and artworks stored in libraries frequently undergo degradative processes promoted by the so-called "biodeteriogens" that inhabit these places. A renewed interest in plant-derived products has arisen in those research groups focusing on cultural heritage preservation and looking for new and safe disinfection techniques. In this view, essential oils (EOs) and their volatile organic constituents are very appealing thanks to their versatility of action. A literature survey of the scientific publications involving EOs and/or their major constituents related to the conservation of paper items of cultural heritage interest is presented here, aiming to reveal benefits and limitations of such peculiar plant-derived compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to preserve and promote cultural heritage has experienced significant growth in recent years. Among the various areas of cultural heritage, numismatics have emerged as a particularly promising field where we can develop AI solutions. Numismatics refers to the study of coins, tokens, paper money, and medals, which play a critical role in understanding human history and culture. However, there are still limited resources available to help researchers and collectors in the identification of coins. This is due to the vast number of coins in circulation, which presents a significant challenge in developing smart tools for classification tasks. This paper aims to provide a contribution to this setting. In particular, we start by creating a new dataset called EURO-Coin, which consists of images showing the side of coins with reliefs and is designed to facilitate the training and testing of AI models for euro coin classification. Then, we propose two approaches that leverage Convolutional Neural Networks and self-attention layers to classify the country and value of the coins. In our experiments, we obtain an accuracy of 86.9% for country classification and an accuracy of 96.4% for value classification. Finally, we conduct an ablation study to evaluate the impact of the preprocessing activities and attention layers in our approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper utilizes critical race theory (CRT) to identify inequalities perpetuated by racialized epistemicide, the race-based discriminatory destruction of knowledge, through the loss of cultural heritage and the limitation of access to accurate narratives. We introduce the term reparative storytelling as a way to describe work centering oral and performance-based ways of knowing and remembering that establish the evidence needed for dignity, healing, and justice. By discussing the history of library services to the Black community in Huntsville, Alabama, this paper explains how racism and urban renewal perpetuated racialized epistemic injustice by destroying cultural heritage and narratives of marginalized communities. We demonstrate strategies and tools that can be used to unsilence library history and give people access to their past by using counternarratives for reparative storytelling. We believe that the archive combined with digital visualization, humanities, and storytelling tools can help us correct historical narratives by honoring neglected voices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanins play a fundamental role in the biology and ecology of several fungal species. Unfortunately, this group of amorphous macromolecules also severely (and most times irreversibly) stains cultural heritage objects. Despite efforts made throughout the years, knowledge of the chemical composition and structure of melanins is still insufficient, which hampers the task of safely cleaning these colourants from cultural heritage materials in a targeted way without causing further deterioration. This work aimed therefore to contribute towards enlightening the characteristics of fungal melanins from three fungi that are common paper colonizers: Aspergillus niger, Chaetomium globosum and Cladosporium cladosporioides. The extracted melanins were characterized by FTIR, Raman, UV-vis, Solid-State NMR and MALDI-TOF MS spectroscopies and the effect of inhibitors of DHN-melanin and DOPA-melanin pathways on colony pigmentation and growth was evaluated. Although all the extracted colourants show a predominantly aromatic structure with carbonyl and phenolic groups, some differences between the melanins can be highlighted. Melanins obtained from Ch. globosum and Cl. cladosporioides exhibited similar structures and composition and both presented DHN-melanin characteristics, while A. niger's melanins revealed a more complex and ordered structure, with a higher prevalence of highly conjugated carbonyls than the others, besides the additional presence of a yellow/green component. These conclusions cannot be overlooked while selecting targeted cleaning methodologies for melanin stains on cultural heritage materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• For the first time a hydrotalcite was tested for deacidification of cellulosic objects. • A hydrotalcite dispersion with crystallites about 3 nm in isopropanol was prepared and charactarised. • Application by spraying proved to be a successful method for the deacidification. • Anion exchange capability resulted in increase of pH of acid paper samples. Preservation of cellulose cultural objects, particularly books, is a field of research with about 100 years of history. The most dangerous in terms of their lifespan is the use of acidic wood-based paper which represents a problem in both quality and durability. Acid hydrolysis of polymeric cellulose chains is a key factor responsible for loss of visual appearance quality and mechanical strength. Sulphate and aluminium ions together with generated formic, acetic, and other higher carboxylic acids accelerate the rate of degradation catalytically as well as autocatalytically. Alkaline species (alkali and alkali earth hydrogen carbonates, oxides, organocompounds, and amines) suppress the degradation processes. This paper refers to the utilisation of hydrotalcites (HT, Mg x Al 2 (OH) 2x+4 CO 3 , x > 6) as deacidifying agents in a non-halogenated low toxic carrier – isopropanol. Preparation of an HT dispersion, its characterisation, and application to (acidic) test paper are described. Due to its ion exchange and neutralization capabilities, HT increased pH of test papers from about 4 to at least 6. Similarly to the action of HT as antacids, it is possible to suppose the neutralizing capability in deacidifying of aged-acid papers, even at pH lower than 7. A higher increase of pH was achieved only with extremely high loadings of HT; 16 g / m2 allowed to reach a surface pH value equal to 7.8. Both the optical properties and mechanical strength of treated samples were improved at loadings up to 3 g / m2. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we use a variety of microscopic imaging techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, 3D visible light microscopy, and portable microscopy to capture the topography of rough paper. Paper coated with a model soot was cleaned with either a firm vinyl eraser or softer, putty-like kneaded eraser and reimaged to characterize the disposition of remaining soot. Although both methods remove soot from the upper-most surface of the paper, only the kneaded eraser can conform to the complex topography to remove soot from the interstices between paper fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper-based works of art and documents of cultural importance kept in museums and libraries can show notorious signs of deterioration, including foxing stains, caused by fungal colonization. Some of the main chromophore agents of fungal origin that deteriorate paper and therefore affect paper cultural heritage both aesthetically and structurally are the group of pigments called melanins. Thus, knowledge of the diversity and features of fungal melanins and of the melanization pathways of fungi growing on paper is key to removing these pigments from paper-based works of cultural importance. This review provides an approach about the current knowledge of melanins synthesized by paper-colonizing fungi, their localization in the fungal structures, and their role in the deterioration of paper. This knowledge might contribute to developing new, effective, and sustainable strategies of restoration and conservation of historical documents and works of art based on paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intangible cultural heritage plays a prominent role in local cultural construction and tourism brand building. This paper took Fuyang as an example to expound the origin and development of Fuyang folk paper-cut art, analyzed its characteristics, and put forward some countermeasures and ways of inheritance and development, so as to promote the inheritance, protection and development of intangible cultural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ink element is one of the unique cultural symbols in China, which has profound cultural heritage and spiritual connotation. Animation is a form of art design, and it is a good way to convey and express information in an intuitive artistic image. The use of ink and wash elements for animation design has important value and significance in the start of Chinese culture. It can develop animation design, innovate animation creation forms, and can highlight Chinese style. In this article, we have studied the creation process, creation format, and creation method of using angular digital technology to make ink VR design. It combines art and technology and combines practical experience with wireless sensors. Based on HTML5 interactive technology, we have studied its advantages more deeply, better introduced the theme of ink element animation, solved the problem of realizing ink effect in 3D virtual environment, and better introduced ink animation in virtual reality environment. During the production process, students will learn how to simulate digital objects, render ink and wash effects, build a virtual environment in the later stage, and explore the knowledge, operation, and meaning of ink and wash elements and the animation design process. This paper studies the wireless sensor and HTML5 interactive technology and applies it to the design of ink and wash animation VR, aiming to promote its vigorous development and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the degradation of cellulose is investigated with particular attention to the breaking of glucose chain units. Based on the analysis of the Raman spectra of experimental samples, public and private collections of books covering a period of seven centuries (XV–XXI), and literature data on cellulose, a successful kinetic model was proposed with the intention to correlate an estimated ageing time with the degradation process of cellulose. Raman spectra were collected by means of portable non‐destructive NIR μ‐Raman spectroscopy (B&W TEK i‐Raman Ex integrated system), a valuable characteristic for monitoring documentary heritage. The model was successfully applied to study the conservation conditions of books of a public library, evidencing how conservation conditions and use affect the ageing. The kinetic model promotes Raman spectroscopy as a very useful tool for conservation and restoration of ancient books and papers. Books and documents conserved at the "Biblioteca Universitaria di Cagliari" (BUCA) and belonging to a certified Private Collection, were analysed. Samples represent the temporal evolution of paper used during the investigated period, from 1400 until modern age. A comparison between Raman properties of ancient and valuable texts with modern books (XVIII–XX century) leaded to propose a kinetic model correlating the estimated ageing time with the degradation process of cellulose [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to determine the degree of implementation at the international level of the various paper conservation methods found in the literature. Participating organizations in the survey mainly include national libraries, archives and museums, practicing paper conservation. The results of the survey indicate that the types of objects treated by the majority of the participating organizations consist mainly of manuscripts, archival material, books, maps, topographical drawings and photographic material. The vast majority of the organizations implement at least one of the methods associated with every distinct category of paper conservation methods. Nevertheless, only a limited number of methods per category/step are popular and are implemented to a noteworthy degree. Organizations tend to avoid the extensive usage of chemicals, and apply simple and well-established methods, such as dry cleaning, washing in water, deacidification with calcium hydroxide and paper mending with Japanese paper and paste, instead of complex conservation methods. The results indicate that several deprecated methods are still in use, especially for bleaching. Finally, the wide implementation of many methods that appear to be in use according to the literature review is not documented by the survey results. The three answers with the highest percentages per paper conservation category/subcategory are presented in table form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heritage visualizations are works of the cultural imaginary and this paper examines the artwork Artistic License: VR Sydney Cove circa 1800, which foregrounds the interpretive nature of heritage visualization. It is a reimagining in VR of A View of Sydney Cove, New South Wales, 1804, a contemporaneous print of Sydney Cove. Existing in the liminal space between accuracy and authenticity it is both art object and heritage visualization. The dual nature of this work supports engagement with wider audiences, fostering and broadening debate at individual, institutional, academic and societal levels about the nature and role of heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a comparison between the results obtained at the application of a conservation treatment in cold high-frequency (HF) and afterglow plasma on historical papers dating in the 19th century. This article is focused on plasma biocide effects and on the impact of active species from the two types of plasma on the surface, highlighted by mechanical and physical–chemical analyses. The working gas was nitrogen and the treatment time was varied from 5 to 10 and 15 min. The result of physical–chemical analyses as SEM, pH determination, color, and tensile strength analyses, as well as microbiological investigations, converges to the conclusion that a treatment of 10 min achieves a complete decontamination, and the impact of active species is less intense in the afterglow plasma as compared to the direct discharge in cold HF plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Books, prints, drawings, watercolours, engravings, as well as all other works of art based on paper, are very susceptible to fungal development. The excreted substances and the fungal structures themselves are often coloured and interfere with the readability of the artefacts, diminishing their artistic and monetary value. In order to direct cleaning methods for specific fungal stains on paper, the colourants (molecules) responsible for those stains need to be assessed. However, the literature regarding fungal stains on paper and colourants produced by those fungi is very dispersed and scarce. Therefore, the main objectives of this work were surveying the most common stains on paper, the colourants present on those stains and the main fungi responsible for these colourants' production. To achieve these goals, two different but complementary literature reviews were made: one on paper conservation literature, where fungal stains observed on paper cultural heritage are reported; and another survey on the chemical/food/pharmaceutical fields where colourants' molecules produced by fungi, that can colonise paper cultural heritage, are identified and studied in greater detail. This paper presents the first literature review on this subject. The results show that the fungal genera more frequently related with fungal stains on paper cultural heritage are Aspergillus (29%) and Penicillium (13%). The most common colour of the stains is brown (54%), caused by foxing in most of the cases. However, in the paper conservation literature, no consistent correlation has been observed between stain colour on paper/specific fungal species and colourants/chemical compounds. On the literature review regarding the use of fungal colourants for industrial/commercial purposes, the referred colourants can be mostly classified chemically as carotenoids and polyketides. Biosynthetically, most colourants produced by fungi are polyketide-based and representative classes may include chemical structures such as azaphilones, anthraquinones, hydroxyanthraquinones, naphthoquinones and other structures. From a total of 80 different colourants, the ones mostly produced by paper colonising fungi were polyketide quinones, namely the hydroxyanthraquinoid (HAQN) colourants. This review showed that the most commonly studied colours are yellow and red, followed by orange. The production of these colourants is often associated with the genera Aspergillus sp. and Penicillium sp. which are frequently found on stained paper. Overall, there is no doubt that colourants producing fungi are a serious problem to paper conservators, since there is a great variety of colourants produced by different species of fungi colonising paper. This review catalogues the fungal genera, species and excreted colourants mentioned in the literature as being responsible for staining paper cultural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though gamma radiation application, also at the minimum dosage required for disinfection, causes depolymerization and degradation of the paper substrate, recently published papers seemed, instead, to suggest that γ-rays application could be envisaged in some conditions for Cultural Heritage original documents and books. In some of the published papers, the possible application of γ-rays was evaluated mainly by using mechanical tests that scarcely reflect the chemical modifications induced in the cellulosic support. In the present article the effect of low dosage γ-irradiation on cellulosic substrates was studied and monitored applying different techniques: colorimetry, spectroscopic measurements, carbonyl content and average viscometric degree of polymerization. Two different papers were investigated, a non-sized, non-filled cotton paper, and a commercial permanent paper. To simulate a real deteriorated document, which could need γ-rays irradiation, some samples were submitted to a hydrolysis treatment. We developed a treatment based on the exposition of paper to hydrochloric acid vapors, avoiding any contact of the samples with water. This method induces a degradation similar to that observed on original documents. The samples were then irradiated with 3 kGy γ-rays at a 5258 Gy/h rate. The aforementioned analyses were performed on the samples just irradiated and after artificial ageing. All tests showed negative effects of gamma irradiation on paper. Non-irradiated paper preserves better its appearance and chemical properties both in the short term and after ageing, while the irradiated samples show appreciable color change and higher oxidation extent. Since the Istituto centrale restauro e conservazione patrimonio archivistico e librario is responsible for the choice of all restoration treatments that could be applied on library and archival materials under the protection of the Italian State ( http://www.icpal.beniculturali.it/allegati/DM-7-10-2008-Istituto.pdf ), it has been evaluated that the modifications induced by γ-rays irradiation are not acceptable as safe conservation treatment ( http://www.icpal.beniculturali.it/allegati/Nota_uso_raggi_gamma.pdf ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper is an important material for many applications. During the centuries, it has been the most widely used writing support and therefore paper degradation is a major issue for cultural heritage. The main component of paper is cellulose, one of the most abundant biomaterials on Earth. Cellulose oxidation is mainly responsible for the yellowing of the ancient samples, through the formation of chromophores. In order to investigate this issue and the chromophores' role, we exploit the optical properties combining non-destructive experiments and theoretical calculations based on ab-initio techniques. In this paper, we illustrate the method and show its application to three ancient paper samples. The procedure we describe is a precious tool for cultural heritage preservation: indeed, the approach we present is based on non-invasive and non-destructive measurements that allows a microscopic understanding of cellulose-based artifacts degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Zhang Paper Workshop preserving the complete traditional papermaking process has been praised by experts as "the living fossil of Chinese papermaking". Due to the impact of industrial papermaking, however, the traditional papermaking has gradually lost its market advantage, and the Zhang Paper Workshop prevailing for a time is already on the decline. In order to retain this precious cultural heritage, for more than 10 years, the Gleaners has spared no effort to provide various efforts to papermakers and has found a way out for the manual papermaking, and results have been achieved. How to protect and inherit the traditional papermaking process under the premise of conserving the ecological environment and maintaining the integrity of the papermaking process, and establish the Zhang Paper Workshop as a place for spreading the concept of nature conservation and cultural heritage protection is an urgent problem to be solved. This requires the support of policies, the investment of funds and the upgrading of technology, as well as the promotion of understanding and the cultivation of feelings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract At the present time, gamma radiation is once again being employed for mass disinfection of materials in cultural heritage conservation. Its in-depth and homogeneous effect and also the ability to rapidly treat a large number of items are among the undoubted advantages of this method. However, use of the higher doses of gamma radiation necessary for disinfection entails the risk of damage to organic materials. This work is concerned with the effect of various doses of gamma radiation on cellulosic materials (various kinds of paper and cotton textiles) and on proteinaceous materials (silk). The long-term stability of irradiated samples was also studied during artificial ageing by moist heat, along with the post-irradiation effect. The degree of degradation was studied by means of colorimetry, UV/Vis spectroscopy, viscometry (determination of limiting viscosity number or average degree of polymerization), molar weight distribution and mechanical properties. Highlights • Gamma radiation is used for mass disinfestation of cultural heritage objects. • Disinfection doses of γ-radiation entails the risk of damage to organic materials. • Mechanical and chemical properties of paper and textile were studied. • Long term stability and post-irradiation effect of irradiated samples were explored. • Use of gamma radiation for cultural heritage disinfection is not recommendable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a method of setting up a website using the Drupal CMS to publish CRM data. Our setup requires basic technical expertise by researchers who are then able to publish their records in both a human accessible way through HTML and a machine friendly format through RDFa. We begin by examining previous work on Drupal and the CRM and identifying useful patterns. We present the Drupal modules that are required by our setup and we explain why these are sustainable. We continue by giving guidelines for setting up Drupal to serve CRM data easily and we describe a specific installation for our case study which is related to decorated papers alongside our CRM mapping. We finish with highlighting the benefits of our method (i.e. speed and user-friendliness) and we refer to a number of issues which require further work (i.e. automatic validation, UI improvements and the provision for SPARQL endpoints). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early industrialization and the development of cheap production processes for paper have led to an exponential accumulation of paper-based documents during the last two centuries. Archives and libraries harbor vast amounts of ancient and modern documents and have to undertake extensive endeavors to protect them from abiotic and biotic deterioration. While services for mechanical preservation such as ex post de-acidification of historic documents are already commercially available, the possibilities for long-term protection of paper-based documents against fungal attack (apart from temperature and humidity control) are very limited. Novel processes for mechanical enhancement of damaged cellulosic documents use Ionic Liquids (IL) as essential process components. With some of these ILs having azole-functionalities similar to well-known fungicides such as Clotrimazole, the possibility of antifungal activities of these ILs was proposed but has not yet been experimentally confirmed. We evaluated the potency of four ILs with potential application in paper restoration for suppression of fungal growth on five relevant paper-infesting molds. The results revealed a general antifungal activity of all ILs, which increased with the size of the non-polar group. Physiological experiments and ultimate elemental analysis allowed to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration of each IL as well as the residual IL concentration in process-treated paper. These results provide valuable guidelines for IL-applications in paper restoration processes with antifungal activity as an added benefit. With azoles remaining in the paper after the process, simultaneous repair and biotic protection in treated documents could be facilitated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Numerical model for solution of heat diffusion equation. • Thermographic investigation in optically semi-transparent materials. • Non-destructive detection of graphic features buried in cultural heritage artefacts. • Selective configurations for optical and thermal properties investigation in paper. In this paper, infrared thermography is applied to the quantitative characterization of optically semi-transparent media by using a newly introduced mathematical model. The method is specifically aimed to the detection and evaluations in graphic features buried beneath the surface of some particular kind of cultural heritage artefacts, such as books and documents. A numerical approach based on the finite element method, is proposed for solving the model equations. The computed thermographic signal depends on different inspected material physical properties, which have been selectively evaluated by comparing the theoretical results with the experimental ones in specifically designed test samples. Thereafter, the model is applied to the analysis of the results obtained in the case of graphic elements buried within samples constituted by the same previously characterized materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for accurate and detailed 3D modeling in fields such as cultural heritage preservation, industrial inspection, and scientific research necessitates advanced techniques to enhance model quality. This paper addresses this necessity by incorporating spectral imaging data to improve the surface detail and reflectivity of 3D models. The methodology integrates spectral imaging with traditional 3D modeling processes, offering a novel approach to capturing fine textures and subtle surface variations. The experimental results of this paper underscore the advantages of incorporating spectral imaging data in the creation of 3D models, particularly in terms of enhancing surface detail and reflectivity. The achieved experimental results demonstrate that 3D models generated with spectral imaging data exhibit significant improvements in surface detail and accuracy, particularly for objects with intricate surface patterns. These findings highlight the potential of spectral imaging in enhancing 3D model quality. This approach offers significant advancements in 3D modeling, contributing to more precise and reliable representations of complex surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the potential of metaverse technology for the preservation of cultural heritage while acknowledging the obstacles that come with its implementation. It begins by highlighting the importance of safeguarding cultural heritage amidst the backdrop of globalization and technological advancements. The emergence of immersive technologies which include Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and the Metaverse, is then introduced as a promising solution to address this challenge. The paper emphasises the transformative power of the metaverse in revitalising our interactions with digital content. Nevertheless, it also identifies various challenges associated with employing metaverse technology for cultural preservation. These challenges encompass technical limitations, ethical considerations regarding cultural representation and ownership, as well as concerns about privacy, data security, and digital rights management. Despite these hurdles, the research advocates for the utilization of immersive technology to protect and celebrate cultural heritage. It underscores the necessity for collaboration among stakeholders, such as technology developers, cultural institutions, communities, and policymakers, to tackle these challenges and ensure responsible and ethical preservation practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the manufacture of ancient books, it was quite common to insert written scraps belonging to earlier library material into bookbindings. For scholars like codicologists and paleographers, it is extremely important to have the possibility of reading the text lying on such scraps without dismantling the book. In this regard, in this paper, we report on the detection of these texts by means of infrared (IR) pulsed thermography (PT), which, in recent years, has been specifically proven to be an effective tool for the investigation of Cultural Heritage. In particular, we present a quantitative analysis based, for the first time, on PT images obtained from books of historical relevance preserved at the Biblioteca Angelica in Rome. The analysis has been carried out by means of a theoretical model for the PT signal, which makes use of two image parameters, namely, the distortion and the contrast, related to the IR readability of the buried texts. As shown in this paper, the good agreement between the experimental data obtained in the historical books and the theoretical analysis proved that the capability of the adopted PT method could be fruitfully applied, in real case studies, to the detection of buried texts and to the quantitative characterization of the parameters affecting their thermal readability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heritage is defined and maintained through complex and changing processes. In what ways might heritage scholars and practitioners understand dynamic complexities theoretically, methodologically and ethically? Through reflections on involvement in environmental and cultural heritage initiatives with Maya communities in southern Belize, this paper argues for an explicit forefronting of community aims and goals in heritage-focused project design and implementation. It demonstrates how cultural anthropologists involved in collaborative projects with archaeologists, non-governmental and/or community organisations may use ethnographic approaches to push collectively towards decolonial, community archaeologies. The challenges of ethnographers and archaeologists working together to document heritage past and present are critically and reflexively analysed, using frameworks rooted in environmental anthropology to capture the fluid and negotiated nature of heritage constructions by exploring what it means to live a 'good life' in Maya communities in Belize. The insights generated for developing a decolonising approach for future work of this type are also considered. By challenging what constitutes project 'success', and discussing the questions simultaneously posed and revealed by the long-term community projects detailed here, the paper argues for a more collaborative, nuanced and fluid conceptualisation of what constitutes heritage, and who is served by its documentation and dissemination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heritage-making's intrinsic dissonance has been thoroughly established in the field of critical heritage studies, and yet it is a reality that continues to be obscured in heritage practice in settler colonial cities. Authorised heritage discourse continues to project existing state-led systems of heritage-making as a self-evident 'public good' for current and future generations. In settler colonial cities, this increasingly includes attempts to incorporate Indigenous views and values into its framing. However, existing statutory processes that uphold normative approaches prove resilient to change. Continued prioritisation of tangible artefact amid private property rights impairs the heritage field's ability to acknowledge alternative possibilities and to genuinely engage in decolonising transformation. This paper examines three cases where heritage dissonance has erupted into protest and protection action outside of the authorised heritage discourse: the Old Swan Brewery in Perth, Western Australia; Ihumātao in Auckland, New Zealand; and the West Berkeley Shellmound in Berkeley, California. It analyses the contestation of values that led to protest action, what 'authorised' attempts were made to heritagise each case and to what result. In so doing, the paper demonstrates how existing processes of statutory heritage-making continue to be inadequate for Indigenous and emerging heritage aspirations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper I look at the widespread, and often much debated, abandonment and reuse of church buildings in the Netherlands. I focus on the striking case of the Roman Catholic Chassé Church that, after years of being left abandoned, was converted into the Chassé Dance Studios and Hotel. Based on ethnographic fieldwork at the site, I show that the transformation process of the Chassé Church took place within a field of contestation in which different groups involved, articulated distinct modes of understanding the site and attributing it with value. I argue that these registers of valuation all centre in important ways on notions of home. Consequentially, while the repurposing of the church building represents the loss of a home for some, it has been co-opted as an instrument of home-building by others. For the latter, the site has played an important role in their quests for local belonging, feeling at home in the neighbourhood and, to some extent, delineating a national culture. By tracing such emotions of not only attachment and belonging, but also loss and nostalgia, this paper calls attention to the everyday affective dimension of processes of religious heritage making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This paper describes a collaboration between Wilyakali Indigenous Custodians and a group of archaeologists. This collaboration has generated a shared and integrated understanding of the cultural landscape, Ancestral Creation Histories, and archaeology of the Broken Hill region of western New South Wales. The Broken Hill landscape is ancient beyond imagination, and complex geological processes/Creation Histories have resulted in distinctive landscape features and resources including quartz suitable for stone artefact manufacture. Wilyakali stone knappers employed specialised and varied technological processes to overcome the diverse and sometimes intractable nature of the quartz material, resulting in efficient use of this local stone resource. Wilyakali interpret the Country through their knowledge of the travelling sacred Bronzewing Pigeon and its creation of landscape features and resources such as quartz and water. Empirical archaeological data complement traditional knowledge, with the two ways of knowing coming together to reconstruct a nuanced interpretation of the cultural landscape. This shared narrative has had ongoing and inter‐generational benefits to the Wilyakali people, with knowledge communicated to younger generations by Elders, enabling them to interpret both the archaeology and Ancestral Creation Histories with confidence. This paper also highlights the inconsistent recognition of Indigenous ways of knowing and connection in Aboriginal cultural heritage assessments in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of concepts in the policing literature denote a so‐called “sixth sense” that police officers claim to possess. “Intuition,” “suspicion,” or “common sense” all specify a tacit knowledge said to heighten an officer's sensitivity to danger and potential suspects. This paper argues this type of knowledge exemplifies the application of “cultural schema” (DiMaggio, 1997): a shared knowledge structure that allows people to respond to environmental stimuli in ways that render their lives more predictable. We combine two case studies—one in Canada, the other in the Netherlands—which include ethnographic field notes and 199 interviews with police officers, to reconsider the police sixth sense in light of theoretical and empirical advances in cultural sociology and cognition research. This paper further discusses the benefit of studying this sixth sense itself as a form of cultural knowledge—that is, as “police culture”—to improve our understanding of cultural resources most or least compatible with emerging police reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the use of advanced sensors, such as terrestrial, mobile 3D scanners and photogrammetric imaging, has become the prevalent practice for 3D Reality Modeling (RM) and the digitization of large-scale monuments of Cultural Heritage (CH). In practice, this process is heavily related to the expertise of the surveying team handling the laborious planning and time-consuming execution of the 3D scanning process tailored to each site's specific requirements and constraints. To minimize human intervention, this paper proposes a novel methodology for autonomous 3D Reality Modeling of CH monuments by employing autonomous robotic agents equipped with the appropriate sensors. These autonomous robotic agents are able to carry out the 3D RM process in a systematic, repeatable, and accurate approach. The outcomes of this automated process may also find applications in digital twin platforms, facilitating secure monitoring and the management of cultural heritage sites and spaces, in both indoor and outdoor environments. The main purpose of this paper is the initial release of an Industry 4.0-based methodology for reality modeling and the survey of cultural spaces in the scientific community, which will be evaluated in real-life scenarios in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contemporary narratives, rural landscapes and identities, as judged by the inhabitants' sense of belonging, continue to be important points that need to be (re)considered when discussing places as instruments for local development. This paper pushes forward these debates and explores the construction of rural and regional identity in Romania with the help of a case study that focuses on perceptions of rural landscapes as cultural heritage in two rural communities situated on opposite sides of the river Mureș. Based on participant and ethnographic observation and making use of a survey and a qualitative analysis, this paper highlights the most significant features of the local cultural identities and their rural landscape heritage expressed by the two sets of people, which often coincide with the most important characteristics attributed to the regions separated by the river Mureș. The results of this study underline the dividing role of the river in the preservation of rural identity and cultural heritage. They also demonstrate that rural landscapes and the construction of identities along the river have generated both development opportunities and various risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the live music industry have received much attention, little consideration has been given to regional music production clusters more broadly. Evaluating the impacts of the pandemic on the music economy of North West England, this paper identifies key areas of support required as music businesses transition into a digitally-orientated post-COVID period. Findings demonstrate the ways in which the pandemic encouraged or forced music businesses to innovate with new digital ways of showcasing, promoting and distributing music. Yet, while digitalisation offers many opportunities, these are often difficult for businesses to capitalise upon. The paper argues the need to place business support at the heart of local cultural policy. More specifically, the paper makes the case for a soft institutionalist approach whereby local policymakers, the market and civil society work together to generate and distribute crucial resources of human, financial and social capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Established in 1951, the Children's Film Foundation (CFF) contributed to the growth of children's film culture in Britain. This paper aims to show how the CFF's active involvement of public authorities, film industry organisations and educationalists resulted in partnerships between them and in the growing production of children's films in Britain. Drawing on under-investigated archival materials, this paper argues that the Advisory Council of the Children's Film Department and Children's Entertainment Films, precursors of the CFF, offered significant platforms for mediation between public authorities, industry organisations and educationalists, and for shaping new beliefs about child audiences and children's cinema, which resulted in both the film industry's and educationalists' support for, and commitment to, producing films with entertaining and educational values. The case study demonstrates how the CFF overcame a commerce – culture dichotomy. It therefore offers a more nuanced understanding of state–market–civic relations in British cultural policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to clarify how social positioning and modes of cultural participation shape the meanings people attach to the European Capital of Culture Wrocław 2016 initiative. The authors analyse both quantitative and qualitative evidence for narratives on ECOC, drawing on data collected in a survey (N = 1000) in 2017 and qualitative group interviews (10 FGIs) in 2016 and 2017. A literature-based narrative on the ECOC legacy is first reconstructed as a point of reference. Local perspectives on ECOC 2016 are derived from a representative survey and in-depth qualitative analysis to reveal bottom-up perspectives on what ECOC 2016 was. The paper examines the relationship between ECOC's values and the socioeconomic and sociocultural characteristics of city residents who support and oppose it, to determine how ECOC's values are related to class dimensions of social positioning and modes of cultural participation. The paper concludes that ways of understanding and narrating ECOC are derived primarily from cultural practices. Socio-demographic variables are of secondary importance. Both affirmative narratives of ECOC's achievements in cultural policy and critical accounts can be viewed as informative markers of who and how perceives cultural policy successes and failures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extent to which Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs), as policy concepts, are globalized, has been a matter of debate. This paper engages with the debate while seeking to move beyond the binary division of global and local scales of analysis. Empirically, it examines the emergence and politics of CCIs in Vietnam, with a focus on its connection with the implementation of the UNESCO 2005 Convention. The paper explores the complexity of the policy translation process, which shows the degrees to which neoliberal ideas can be translated in a post-socialist context. It also examines the role of UNESCO and questions the consistency of its position against the commodification of culture. Conceptually, it brings together different approaches to policy translation from language studies, Science and Technology Studies (STS), and postcolonial studies. The paper suggests that this interdisciplinary framework can further the understanding of both paradigmatic and pragmatic dimensions of policy travel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we examine the use of intangible cultural heritage as a vehicle for soft power in the service of geostrategic competitions between Iran and Turkey, two regional powers in West Asia. We focus on two significant trans-regional instances of intangible cultural heritage relevant to both countries: the mystic poet Rumi and the New Year's celebration of Nowruz. We draw on theories in political science and cultrual heritage as well as a host of sources in Persian, Turkish, and Azerbaijani, to demonstrate how heritage is mobilised concurrently as a nation-building device and a tool for soft power in international relations. We conclude by suggesting that, despite strong grounds for its claims, Iran's response in this competition has been reactive rather than proactive. Overall, the paper contributes to the scholarship on soft power and heritage diplomacy by presenting the first comparative analysis of cases of shared intangible heritage in West Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to make a conceptual contribution to the role of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) in regard to global education within state global heritage (multicultural) schools – using England as a representative example – in an age characterised by epistemological, historical and cultural securitisation. This paper recruits ideas and concepts taken from Lefebvre and Bourdieu in a discussion focussed on the IBO's potential role in resistance to the dominant neoliberal imaginary and cultural securitisation. However, in order to be a force for democratisation, the IBO must itself democratise through a reconceptualisation of the school spaces it operates in/produces. It will also involve a process of reassessing its notion/positioning of what constitutes symbolic (and therefore valuable) cultural capital. This will mean untethering global education from the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. This paper highlights the possibility of a new space for global education, operationalised by moving beyond the 'IB school' to the potential of the more informal IB supported school. It is argued here that the IBO has the potential to galvanise a new wave of inclusive global education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa is rapidly obliterating its cultural resources and indigenous values. Particularly, this is the case in rural South Africa where manifestations of socio-economic declensions are evident. However, a number of the policies that are meant to enhance rural development lack a cohesive strategy that is based on culture-based theoretical frameworks. The paper argues that the conspicuous disregard to address rural development and its concomitant socio-economic challenges in the Revised White Paper on Arts, Culture, and Heritage, 2017, by the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC), now (DSAC); poses a great threat to sustainable rural development [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This theoretical paper introduces a conceptual framework for Personal Cultural Heritage Management (PCHM), derived from prior research on migrants' information practices. It elaborates on the literature background and the development of the PCHM framework, highlighting the role of personal information management (PIM) and personal collections in the creation, access and utilization of cultural heritage information. Design/methodology/approach: The study describes and explains the construction of the PCHM framework as a structured and self-motivated approach to personal heritage and identity learning. Findings: Following the theoretical background and assumptions, along with the presentation of the key building blocks, the paper describes the key components of the framework, outlines their definitions and provides examples. Research limitations/implications: Theoretically, PCHM extends the current literature by encapsulating processes and actions employed by individuals to manage personal collections for cultural identity purposes, thereby underscoring the critical role personal collections play in both preserving and communicating cultural heritage. Practical implications: PCHM can guide the development of support systems and policies to enhance cultural continuity and integration, thus empowering individuals to navigate their cultural identities confidently. Originality/value: The PCHM framework creates a unique intersection between PIM and cultural heritage, providing a new perspective for understanding the dynamic evolution and formation of cultural identity among migrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of this paper is to describe the evolution of the available subject heading list, i.e. the CC Soggettario (Carabinieri Corps Soggettario), towards a thesaurus, that is CCThes (Carabinieri Corps Thesaurus), to support subject indexing and retrieval of the documentary heritage held by the Historical Office of the General Command of the Carabinieri Corps. This work follows the need to implement a controlled vocabulary compliant with the state-of-the-art standards. Design/methodology/approach: The methodology implements the practice of reengineering available vocabularies, following standardised guidelines for thesaurus development. The conversion process includes the balance maintenance of what has been achieved in the CC Soggettario and the enrichment of the semantic structure in the thesaurus by using both deductive and inductive methods. Findings: The main result of this study is a thesaurus compliant with ISO 29964-1:2011 recommendations, which improves information retrieval performances and interoperability with other vocabularies and applications. It generally has a mono-hierarchical structure with the possibility of admitting, as an exception, the poly-hierarchy for a few concepts. An introductive user guide has been created as a complementary tool to the CCThes. Originality/value: This is an applied study which deals with Knowledge Organisation System (KOS) reengineering and outlines this process using a pragmatic approach. The paper strength lies in providing the description of performed activities and conveying a set of resources to approach KOS reengineering practice. The study is also relevant for the preservation and diffusion of a part of the social memory and identity of Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We tested the performance of pyrolysis-comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in the course of our cultural heritage studies, and compared its potentialities for the characterization of traditional East Asian handmade papers with those previously obtained by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The evaluation of the two methods was conducted in considering the number of detected peaks, the compounds separation, the sensitivity, and the identification of marker compounds. The results showed that the number of plant markers (triterpenes and phytosterols) detected in a Japanese kozo reference paper was improved in the pyrolysis fingerprint. With a gain in sensitivity in the order of six, the case study of a museum sample confirmed that pyrolysis-comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/mass spectrometry is more efficient for a reliable identification of museum collections samples and/or archaeological samples where tiny quantities of materials are the rule. The present study has been successful in refining a micro-destructive method based on analytical pyrolysis for the characterization of traditional East Asian handmade papers using pyrolysis-comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sampling restrictions in analysis of cultural heritage materials narrow the choice of appropriate analytical methods considerably. In this work, near- and mid-FT-IR reflectance data were related to paper properties determined with classical analytical methods using partial least-squares. Nondestructive determination of properties, which are of importance for evaluation of the long-term stability of historical paper, i.e., ash content, lignin content, degree of polymerization of cellulose, pH, and aluminum content, is possible. With the use of a considerable sample set, satisfactory reliability was achieved for all properties but aluminum content. Considering that with age, chemical properties of paper change, dating of historical documents was attempted for the first time, also with success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Books represent a very important part of the cultural heritage, due to their double characteristics: first, as a man-made material and secondly, due to the information they store. The characterization of book paper represents a very important step in developing solutions for better conservation procedures, as well as for fully understanding their provenance. The present paper describes the analytical and microbiological evaluation of a collection of books from the nineteenth century, belonging to the authors' private collections. The samples consisted of four books printed in Romania and five printed in France. The analytical characterization was performed using optical microscopy, thermal analysis, spectroscopic methods (X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), as well as by the evaluation of the degree of polymerization and the color change. The analyses were chosen in order to be either non-destructive or, at least, micro-destructive. The fungal loading determination was performed by plating the samples on the potato dextrose agar and Sabouraud with chloramphenicol agar media, for 28 days, followed by macroscopically and microscopically identification of mold species. The present study offers a complex methodology regarding the use of non- or micro-invasive techniques for evaluating the composition, state of degradation and potential risks related to microorganism colonization of paper artifacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]