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Identifying pigments from colored relics is essential for their color restoration and for facsimile creation. A workflow for identifying pigment information is constructed based on visible spectral imaging technology, aligned with the drawing process of colored relics. This workflow includes three steps: boundary extraction, material identification and prediction of mixture proportions. The methods for segmenting visible spectral images, identifying chemical compositions, and predicting mixture proportions of pigments are extensively reviewed. Future research trends of these methods are also analyzed. The influence of the pigment particle size is currently underexplored but can be accomplished by multidisciplinary research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article revisits one of the texts associated with the fourteenth-century spread of Franciscan mission across Eurasia, the account of the travels of Odoric of Pordenone (d.1331). Odoric's text is often mined for what it might reveal about Latin Christian perceptions of East Asia. This article argues that the local rather than the global aspects of the text should be given prominence in our assessment of his work, and greater attention paid to the process of composition and likely audience. Odoric worked with a co-author and addressed a specifically Franciscan audience in the early fourteenth-century Veneto. The central priority of the text was to convey the 'reality' of a distant martyrdom, in Tana, India, in the absence of tangible relics to demonstrate the truth of that martyrdom. The account highlights some of the intellectual tensions produced as a narrative of universal mission – and martyrdom – became increasingly central to Franciscan identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, with the development of 3D digitization of cultural relics, most cultural sites contain a large number of fine 3D data of cultural relics, especially complex geometric objects such as painted cultural relics. At present, how to automatically extract surface damage information from the fine 3D color model of painted cultural relics and avoid the loss of accuracy caused by reducing the dimension using conventional methods is an urgentproblem. In view of the above issues, this paper proposes an automatic and high-precision extraction method for cultural relics surface shedding diseases based on 3D fine data. First, this paper designs a 2D and 3D integrated data conversion model based on OpenSceneGraph, a 3D engine, which performs mutual conversion between 3D color model textures and 2D images. Second, this paper proposes a simple linear iterative clustering segmentation algorithm with an adaptive k value, which solves the problem of setting the superpixel k value and improves the accuracy of image segmentation. Finally, through the 2D and 3D integrated models, the disease is statistically analyzed and labeled on the 3D model. Experiments show that for painted plastic objects with complex surfaces, the disease extraction method based on the 3D fine model proposed in this paper has improved geometric accuracy compared with the current popular orthophoto extraction method, and the disease investigation is more comprehensive. Compared with the current 3D manual extraction method in commercial software, this method greatly improves the efficiency of disease extraction while ensuring extraction accuracy. The research method of this paper activates many existing 3D fine data of cultural protection units and converts conventional 2D data mining and analysis into 3D, which is more in line with the scientific utilization of data in terms of accuracy and efficiency and has certain scientific research value, leading value and practical significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Contested heritage' and 'cancel culture' have specific meanings and points of reference in our culture today, but these are by no means new phenomena in the life of cathedrals. At the time of the Reformation and the Civil War, all evidence of traditional Catholic culture was considered fair game for iconoclasts, who systematically destroyed saints' shrines and tombs with their relics. In recent years, in association with the revival of the practice of pilgrimage and in unstated rejection of Reformation tradition, shrines of saints in many cathedrals have been restored, some including relics. It is unsurprising that saints and their shrines can be controversial, since saints themselves are 'signs of contradiction', those whose lives lived according to the standards of the kingdom of heaven challenge the values of earthly kingdoms and cultures. Norwich Cathedral is unusual among the ancient cathedrals of England in never having had a great saint enshrined within it. This study will consider the cases of two figures locally revered as martyrs, William of Norwich and Edith Cavell, whose lives and witness have been causes of international controversy and yet who still merit commemoration by Christians today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1606 Henry Garnet, provincial of the English Jesuits and purported co-conspirator in the Gunpowder Plot against James I, was executed at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Following his death, accounts of miracles occurring at his execution began to spread throughout England, including an account of a relic bearing his miraculous image. While Catholic writers promoted these accounts as evidence of Garnet's innocence, Protestant contemporaries argued that Garnet was an illegitimate martyr and that his commemoration was evidence of Catholic support for regicide. This article demonstrates how London Protestant writers and publishers utilized anti-hagiographical arguments to intervene in attempts to promote Garnet's sainthood, counter claims about the veracity of his relic, and shape his legacy in the decades following his execution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wanderings of an Elizabethan stonebow are traced from its discovery at Bosworth field in the eighteenth century and originally thought to be mediaeval relic of the famous battle. It passed through the museum of Richard Greene at Lichfield, and the Liverpool Museum of William Bullock and now lies at Browsholme Hall, Lancs. Acquired by Abraham Kirkmann, a lawyer, he bequeathed it to Richard Goulbourne Parker of Browsholme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bronze artifacts often suffer from "bronze disease" due to the presence of chloride ions, which result from copper chlorides forming on their surfaces during storage. Therefore, reinforced protection is essential for these unearthed cultural artifacts, and new materials for the reinforced protection of fragile bronzes are urgently needed. In this study, cuprammonium solvent and nanocellulose (CNC) were utilized as reinforcement materials to protect fragile bronzes. The chemical and aesthetic properties before and after reinforcement were analyzed using ultra-depth field microscopes, SEM-EDX, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy. The results indicated that at a nano-cuprammonium reinforcer concentration of 2.5 mol/L, the optimal reinforcement effect on simulated bronze powdery rust samples was achieved.Mechanical strength increased by an average of 77.59%. The mass growth rate reached 84.8%, while the color difference Δ E remained below 4.0. Additionally, aging resistance significantly improved, aligning with cultural artifact protection standards.Meanwhile, a compact and stable protective membrane formed on the surface of the bronzes, isolating the bronze matrix from direct contact with the external environment, which delayed bronze corrosion and contributed to long-term stable preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The museum system is exposed to a high risk of seismic hazards. However, it is difficult to carry out seismic hazard prevention to protect cultural relics in collections due to the lack of real data and diverse types of seismic hazards. To address this problem, we developed a deep-learning-based multi-source feature-fusion method to assess the data on seismic damage caused by collected cultural relics. Firstly, a multi-source data-processing strategy was developed according to the needs of seismic impact analysis of the cultural relics in the collection, and a seismic event-ontology model of cultural relics was constructed. Additionally, a seismic damage data-classification acquisition method and empirical calculation model were designed. Secondly, we proposed a deep learning-based multi-source feature-fusion matching method for cultural relics. By constructing a damage state assessment model of cultural relics using superpixel map convolutional fusion and an automatic data-matching model, the quality and processing efficiency of seismic damage data of the cultural relics in the collection were improved. Finally, we formed a dataset oriented to the seismic damage risk analysis of the cultural relics in the collection. The experimental results show that the accuracy of this method reaches 93.6%, and the accuracy of cultural relics label matching is as high as 82.6% compared with many kinds of earthquake damage state assessment models. This method can provide more accurate and efficient data support, along with a scientific basis for subsequent research on the impact analysis of seismic damage to cultural relics in collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authenticity of the Shroud of Turin, also known as the ‘Síndone’ or ‘Holy Shroud’, faces significant doubt based on scientific evidence. Carbon‐14 testing conducted decades ago placed its origin in the Middle Ages, raising questions about its connection to Jesus Christ. This article highlights an anatomical anomaly: the hand placement covering the genitals appears inconsistent with human proportions, suggesting a possible artistic intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the serendipitous discovery of (1) a large double radio relic associated with the galaxy cluster PSZ2 G277.93 + 12.34 and (2) a new odd radio circle, ORC J1027–4422, both found in the same deep MeerKAT 1.3 GHz wide-band radio continuum image. The angular separation of the two arc-shaped cluster relics is ∼16 arcmin or ∼2.6 Mpc for a cluster redshift of z ≈ 0.158. The thin southern relic, which shows several ridges/shocks including one possibly moving inwards, has a linear extent of ∼1.64 Mpc. In contrast, the northern relic is about twice as wide, twice as bright, but only has a largest linear size of ∼0.66 Mpc. Complementary SRG/eROSITA X-ray images reveal extended emission from hot intracluster gas between the two relics and around the narrow-angle tail (NAT) radio galaxy PMN J1033–4335 (z ≈ 0.153) located just east of the northern relic. The radio morphologies of the NAT galaxy and the northern relic, which are also detected with the Australian Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) at 888 MHz, suggest both are moving in the same outward direction. The discovery of ORC J1027–4422 in a different part of the same MeerKAT image makes it the fourth known single ORC. It has a diameter of ∼90 arcsec corresponding to 400 kpc at a tentative redshift of z ≈ 0.3 and remains undetected in X-ray emission. Supported by simulations, we discuss similarities between outward moving galaxy and cluster merger shocks as the formation mechanisms for ORCs and radio relics, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the historical and spiritual significance of early Roman Christian martyrs, emphasizing their role in the development of Christian relic veneration and the impact of their physical remains on subsequent generations. Topics discussed include the discovery and veneration of early Christian catacombs, the historical journey of St. Gordianus' relics, and the enduring relevance of martyrdom in contemporary discussions of religious intolerance.

This essay examines two shoe soles cut from a Torah scroll which British historian and collector of Judaica Cecil Roth collected in Greece in 1946. As Holocaust relics, the Torah scroll shoe soles are, in turn, sacred and sacrilegious, texts and objects, Greek Jewish and non-Jewish Greek artifacts. Roth's recovery of the shoe soles is compromised by occurring under the auspices of the British Army during the Greek Civil War and in the controversial climate of collecting Judaica displaced by the Holocaust. I discuss the ongoing story of the shoe soles: their separation, their use, and their best location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the purpose of effectively providing protection and utilization of historical earthen sites, the fully-enclosed exhibition halls with electricity driven air-conditioning have been successfully adopted to provide a suitable preservation air environment. However, its electricity consumption and carbon emissions are considerable due to the continuous operation of environmental control, the energy consumption of air cooling in exhibition halls can reach more than 10 times that of office buildings. To further reduce energy consumption, this current study drew on the concept of NBS (Nature Based Solution) and proposed a low-carbon environmental control system for an enclosed exhibition hall for storage of earthen relics by applying natural energy (solar photovoltaic and earth-air-cooling) and space optimization. Firstly, a numerical model was established to simulate the preservation environment in exhibition halls and the electricity consumption of each energy subsystem. Then the model was applied to optimize the design parameters (e.g. earth-air tunnel and airflow pattern) for the environmental control system. Numerical results showed that the electricity consumption was reduced by 58% by applying earth-air-cooling and solar photovoltaic. After optimization of the exhibition hall height, electricity consumption was approximately reduced by 65%. This research is of great value to mitigate energy consumption problems encountered in earthen relics museums and other similar environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the demand for the protection and restoration of cultural heritage has become increasingly urgent. Particularly for paper-based cultural relics such as ancient books and paintings, their restoration is especially important due to their unique nature and susceptibility to environmental damage. Among various restoration materials, calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) has been widely studied and applied in the protection of paper-based cultural relics. However, commercial Ca(OH)2 materials have issues such as a large particle size and slow carbonation. In order to address these issues, this study employed carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a support, on which nano-sized Ca(OH)2 crystals were grown in situ on its surface, followed by loading with TiO2 nanoparticles, successfully preparing a multifunctional paper-based cultural relic restoration material with reinforcement, deacidification, anti-aging, and antimicrobial properties. It is worth noting that by in situ growing Ca(OH)2 on the surface of CMC, particle size control, uniform dispersion, and the fixation of Ca(OH)2 can be achieved. CMC is used to enhance the mechanical strength of the paper, Ca(OH)2 is used for deacidification, and TiO2 is used for anti-aging and antimicrobial purposes. This study provides a new approach and method for the restoration of paper-based cultural relics, simplifying traditional multi-step processes and avoiding potential impacts on the cultural relics from multiple repairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The rise in sea levels, driven by global climate change, poses a significant threat to cultural heritage in coastal regions. Traditional risk assessment methods, focusing on direct inundation, often fail to consider the crucial impact of socio-economic factors, which are significantly vulnerable to sea level rise. To bridge this gap, this study introduces an innovative Sea Level Rise Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment Model (SLR-CHIA Model), a novel approach that integrates both land inundation and socio-economic aspects. This comprehensive model evaluates potential risks to various types of cultural heritage in coastal China, including intangible cultural heritage, relics, and traditional villages. The study’s findings are striking: (1) About 7.79% of coastal villages, 53.94% of relics, and 2.53% of intangible cultural heritage are potentially at high risk in a 100-year sea level rise event; (2) Relics in the Eastern coast and villages in the Southern coast are most vulnerable; (3) Different types of cultural heritage rely on diverse principal factors for protection, resulting in varied risk levels under sea level rise conditions. The SLR-CHIA Model provides a vital methodological framework for evaluating cultural heritage risks in other global regions.

The INSPIRE project has built the largest sample of ultra-compact massive galaxies (UCMGs) at 0.1 < z < 0.4 and obtained their star formation histories (SFHs). Due to their preserved very old stellar populations, relics are the perfect systems to constrain the earliest epochs of mass assembly in the Universe and the formation of massive early-type galaxies. The goal of this work is to investigate whether a correlation exists between the degree of relicness (DoR), quantifying the fraction of stellar mass formed at z > 2, and the other stellar population parameters. We use the Full-Index-Fitting method to fit the INSPIRE spectra to single stellar population (SSP) models. This allows us to measure, for the first time, the slope of the IMF, as well as stellar metallicity [M/H], [Mg/Fe], [Ti/Fe], and [Na/Fe] ratios, and study correlations between them and the DoR. Similarly to normal-sized galaxies, UCMGs with larger stellar masses have overall higher metallicities. We found a correlation between the IMF slope and the DoR, that, however, breaks down for systems with a more extended SFH. An even stronger dependency is found between the IMF and the fraction of mass formed at high- z. At equal velocity dispersion and metallicity, galaxies with a higher DoR have a larger dwarf-to-giant ratio, i.e. a bottom heavy IMF, than that of low-DoR counterparts. This might indicate that the cosmic epoch and therefore different formation scenarios influence the fragmentation of the star formation cloud and hence might be the explanation for IMF variations detected in massive ETGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gypsification is a common problem in weathered calcareous relics. In previous studies, the solutions of barium hydroxide in water and methanol were used as protectants for gypsification calcareous relics and showed significant differences in permeability. In this study, the underlying reasons for permeability differences between these two solutions were investigated using optical microscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry, X-ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the phenolphthalein test and physical property characterizations. The results indicated that the permeability differences were primarily caused by the solutions' reactivity. Specifically, owing to the high reactivity of barium hydroxide in water, it reacted rapidly with atmospheric CO2 and gypsum (the weathering product) to generate barium carbonate, barium sulfate and calcium hydroxide precipitates. These precipitates hindered the penetration of solution into weathered relics. In contrast, barium hydroxide in methanol did not react with atmospheric CO2 or weathered relics, which also kept the solution in a liquid state during the infiltration process. Therefore, the solution of barium hydroxide in methanol exhibited high permeability. Based on the above findings, this study is meaningful for applying barium protectants in the conservation of gypsification calcareous relics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sources need categorisation to ensure that from an overabundance of material the most relevant sources are used. Commonly, the separation between tradition and relics, or between primary and secondary sources has been used for this and was taught in history courses as well as used in bibliographies of historiographies. The use of these categorizations, however, are at least since the cultural turn controversially discussed, and their significance is questioned. The need for categorizations for the ever-growing stock of sources available to historical researchers has, nonetheless, not diminished. This article discusses different approaches to source genres, how and why it matters if they are categorized as tradition, relic, primary or secondary source. Furthermore, suggestions are offered on how the cultural and social historian may preselect their sources, what it means to categorise sources for the research questions and the possible results, and what alternatives to approaching and selecting sources could look like. Based on a discussion of historiographical works on the later Stuart period, this article will show how source genres can be used to further historical research after the cultural turns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liturgy was the perfect and unparalleled medium for public relations in the Middle Ages, and when it came to relics, it could transform any stone, bone, or a piece of wood into an object worthy of devotion. This article revolves around the activating force of the relics of Mary Magdalene in medieval France. It examines two liturgies—from Vézelay and from Saint-Maximin in Provence—honouring the saint, representing two distinct responses whose character reflects the priorities of the communities that produced them and the agendas that set them in motion. Liturgy was accorded a special role in bolstering the claims of Provence over the corporeal presence of Mary Magdalene in its midst, with liturgists adopting a more audacious and unreserved vocabulary to validate these claims over those of Vézelay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inspiration for this creative work was drawn from my participation in the annual Lopburi meritmaking ceremony at Wat Mahathat Lopburi, also known as Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat, which is a significant religious site in the ancient city of Lopburi. The symbolism enshrined within the intricate architecture of the temple sparked my interest in the possibility of performing arts being used as a vehicle to protect the religious meanings and heritage of the temple. The creative process involved conducting surveys and gathering empirical evidence from Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat, analyzing and categorizing the temple’s distinct patterns and stories across different eras. This interdisciplinary approach was used as a model for the eight-step creative process to produce new knowledge about the religious site. The main product of this investigation was a three-act play in traditional Thai musical style. Tableaux vivants were also created to accompany the performance. The play aimed to showcase the cultural and religious significance of the temple and promote the preservation of its unique cultural heritage. By using singing as a vehicle to protect the religious meanings and heritage of the temple, this creative work offers a unique perspective on the preservation of religious heritage and promotes the continued significance of religion in contemporary Thai society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most Udmurt living in the Bashkortostan Republic and in the Perm' region of the Russian Federation are followers of a traditional ethnic religion. In their spiritual life, a huge place is occupied by sanctuaries and other places in which their ritual practices take place, such as the worship of deities, spirits and ancestors. We can identify different types of such places in this Udmurt regional group: the sanctuary dedicated to the cult of the clan protector deities, groves dedicated to the god Lud, places dedicated to personal and family cults, sacred places of agrarian sacrifices, territories where funerary and commemorative rituals take place, places dedicated to the propitiation of evil spirits. Depending on their social status, the sanctuaries are regional or general and can be related to a family, clan, village, or multiple villages. In this article, which relies on the authors' ethnographic fieldwork and published sources, we analyse the present state of the sacred places. We show that the transformation of cultural patterns has led some types of sanctuary to cease functioning, while others have remained as relics and the places of agrarian sacrifices have undergone an active revitalisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancient glass products have suffered from the baptism of time and experienced changes in the burial environment and weathering, resulting in a change in the proportions of their chemical composition and interfering with their accurate identification by later generations. In this paper, the chemical composition of ancient glass products is predicted and identified. First, the multivariate statistical ANOVA test is applied to explore the relationship between whether the cultural relics samples are weathered or not and the glass type, decoration, and color to derive a law of chemical composition of the cultural relics and to analyze the correlation and difference among the four factors. Second, compared with the relevant data of the existing glass products, the missing values are processed by using the method of filling in the plurality. The weathering condition of the sampling points of the samples whose surfaces are not weathered is judged by the "distance discrimination method." Combined with the characteristics of the lead-barium glass and the high-potassium glass, the law of the chemical composition content on the surface of the samples, weathered or not, is explored. The modeling of the gray prediction method was applied again to predict the chemical composition content before weathering. Finally, the generalized Shapley function of fuzzy measurement was used to analyze the correlation between indicators and the chemical compositions and their differences. The scheme proposed in this paper can solve the difficult problem of category judgment in archeology, which is of great significance in promoting the smooth progress of archaeological work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt efflorescence is one of the critical problems for the preservation of immovable silicate relics. Salt efflorescence mainly comes from continuous cycles of crystallization/dissolution or hydration/dehydration of salts in confined pores in silicate relics. Many protocols have been developed in attempts to alleviate possible salt damages with minor success because of endless water and salt feed from underground. In this study, we propose and design a novel technique for salt damage prevention and protection of immovable relics. Materials with higher water-absorbing ability than matrix are applied to control the water and salt migration direction in simulated sand samples. The distribution of moisture content on the surface of sand is followed by hyperspectral imaging. It appears that water and salt molecules will preferentially transport towards positions containing higher water-absorbing material. Both organic and inorganic high water-absorbing materials show effective in controlling the water and salt migration direction, which provides a new approach for the prevention and protection of salt efflorescence in silicate cultural relics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Paper-based artifacts hold significant cultural and social values. However, paper is intrinsically fragile to microorganisms, such as mold, due to its cellulose composition, which can serve as a microorganisms' nutrient source. Mold not only can damage papers' structural integrity and pose significant challenges to conservation works but also may subject individuals attending the contaminated artifacts to health risks. Current approaches for strain identification usually require extensive training, prolonged time for analysis, expensive operation costs, and higher risks of secondary damage due to sampling. Thus, in current conservation practices with mold-contaminated artifacts, little pre-screening or strain identification was performed before mold removal, and the cleaning techniques are usually broad-spectrum rather than strain-specific. With deep learning showing promising applications across various domains, this study investigated the feasibility of using a convolutional neural network (CNN) for fast in-situ recognition and classification of mold on paper. Methods: Molds were first non-invasively sampled from ancient Xuan Paper-based Chinese books from the Qing and Ming dynasties. Strains were identified using molecular biology methods and the four most prevalent strains were inoculated on Xuan paper to create mockups for image collection. Microscopic images of the molds as well as their stains situated on paper were collected using a compound microscope and commercial microscope lens for cell phone cameras, which were then used for training CNN models with a transfer learning scheme to perform the classification of mold. To enable involvement and contribution from the research community, a web interface that actuates the process while providing interactive features for users to learn about the information of the classified strain was constructed. Moreover, a feedback functionality in the web interface was embedded for catching potential classification errors, adding additional training images, or introducing new strains, all to refine the generalizability and robustness of the model. Results & Conclusion: In the study, we have constructed a suite of high-confidence classification CNN models for the diagnostic process for mold contamination in conservation. At the same time, a web interface was constructed that allows recurrently refining the model with human feedback through engaging the research community. Overall, the proposed framework opens new avenues for effective and timely identification of mold, thus enabling proactive and targeted mold remediation strategies in conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hariulf’s History of St Riquier is usually consulted for detail on liturgical, architectural and political history, but is rarely considered in its entirety. It was written in the changing and competitive world of the late eleventh century, when there were challenges for established communities, both in terms of innovative approaches to monasticism and the emergence of new political entities and potential patrons. In the past that Hariulf creates St Riquier had been the focal point of Ponthieu for generations and had stood the test of time as the conduit of royal patronage and liberality, symbolised by its great Carolingian church built by Abbot Angilbert. It remained, in Hariulf’s view, a centre of monastic excellence, whose abbots responded to and practised contemporary spirituality, and it had adopted strategies to strengthen its position, including care for its patrimony, securing new relics and memorialising its past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1519, soil from the Campo Santo Teutonico next to St. Peter's in Rome — a burial place thought to contain earth from Jerusalem — was spread over the extramural cemetery in the Saxon town of Annaberg. This article asks how the reception of the soil from Rome was shaped by the local community and its landscape at a time of religious change. It demonstrates the potential for both positive and negative views on the part of Annaberg's citizens, arguing that these were informed not only by traditional religiosity and reform ideas, but also by the distinctive visual and material culture of a silver mining community. In this way, the article offers new perspectives on the transalpine connections of the Campo Santo Teutonico, the role of the substance of the landscape in creating and criticizing links with the Roman Church at the start of the Reformation, and the relationship between materialities of religion and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes an English miracle narrative in which a portion of the Holy Cross is implanted within a knight's body in the Holy Land and is translated to Cornwall. The text raises important questions about what implantation means for the relic and human matters so conjoined and their respective agencies. Drawing on ideas about prostheticized bodies developed in disability studies can help scholars better understand the ontological questions raised by the melding of human and nonhuman matters, the profound vulnerability this entails for the devout human subject, and the ways in which this fusion of relic and human matter is socially transformative for the broader community. The article thus outlines some of the complex negotiations of matter and agency that could be imagined as part of the affective world of late medieval and early modern Passion relic veneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• New insight on the journey of "Byzantine gems" from the East to the West of the Empire. • The gems of the relic of St. John the Baptist and its reliquary are analyzed for the first time. • The presence of a rare and exquisite example of Balas ruby was identified in the relic. • The investigation improves knowledge on ancient gems traveling across Europe. Gems, especially from remote areas, were highly demanded and valued in Byzantine times, often used for sacred Imperial purposes. Because of their imperishable nature, they were often re-used over time and many of them passed, one way or another, from East to Western Europe. The history of the gems set in Byzantine relics that survived in medieval Europe is often impossible to reconstruct. The exceptional opening of the relics of St. John the Baptist in Siena, 200 years after the last inspection, has made it possible to study the magnificent gems that adorn it. Spinels, rubies, sapphires and other gems from oriental geographies, along with high quality glasses used together regardless of their monetary value, were identified in the relic and its reliquary case through gemological analysis and portable Raman spectroscopy, once again demonstrating the vital contribution of the trans-disciplinary approach in the study of ancient art goldworkings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is very important to reveal the weathering characteristics of stone cultural relics to protect their integrity for a long time. Infrared thermal imaging was employed in this study to analyze the degree of weathering and classification of stone cultural relics for the protection of the cultural relics. To explore the feasibility of evaluating the overall weathering degree of rock surface, the weathering degree of the rock surface was first determined by using various conventional testing methods. Then, the weathering degree of rock surface was quantified by applying infrared thermal imaging. Finally, the weathering degree of the rock surface was analyzed by comparing it with conventional testing results. Results show that, the infrared thermal imaging can distinguish general disease types and degrees of development based on abnormal surface temperature. When the surface weathering of stone cultural relics is more serious, the temperature change at a certain time is greater after water spraying and cooling. The conclusions obtained in this study can provide a reference for evaluating the overall weathering degree of the surface layer of stone cultural relics via infrared thermal imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) is the most commonly used silicon-based reinforcement agent for conserving art relics due to its cost-effectiveness and commercial maturity. However, the resulting silica gel phase is prone to developing cracks as the gel shrinks during the sol–gel process, potentially causing severe damage to the objects being treated. In this study, dodecyltrimethoxysilane (DTMS) was introduced into TEOS to minimize this shrinkage by adding elastic long chains to weaken the capillary forces. The gel formed from the DTMS/TEOS hybrid material was transparent and crack-free, featuring a dense microstructure without mesopores or micropores. It exhibited excellent thermal stability, with a glass transition temperature of up to 109.64 °C. Evaluation experiments were conducted on artificially aged, handmade bamboo paper. The TEOS-based hybrid material effectively combined with the paper fibers through the sol–gel process, polymerizing into a network structure that enveloped the paper surface or penetrated between the fibers. The surface of the treated paper displayed excellent hydrophobic properties, with no significant changes in appearance, color, or air permeability. The mechanical properties of the treated bamboo paper improved significantly, with longitudinal and transverse tensile strengths increasing by up to 36.63% and 44.25%, respectively. These research findings demonstrate the promising potential for the application of DTMS/TEOS hybrid materials in reinforcing paper relics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise in sea levels, driven by global climate change, poses a significant threat to cultural heritage in coastal regions. Traditional risk assessment methods, focusing on direct inundation, often fail to consider the crucial impact of socio-economic factors, which are significantly vulnerable to sea level rise. To bridge this gap, this study introduces an innovative Sea Level Rise Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment Model (SLR-CHIA Model), a novel approach that integrates both land inundation and socio-economic aspects. This comprehensive model evaluates potential risks to various types of cultural heritage in coastal China, including intangible cultural heritage, relics, and traditional villages. The study's findings are striking: (1) About 7.79% of coastal villages, 53.94% of relics, and 2.53% of intangible cultural heritage are potentially at high risk in a 100-year sea level rise event; (2) Relics in the Eastern coast and villages in the Southern coast are most vulnerable; (3) Different types of cultural heritage rely on diverse principal factors for protection, resulting in varied risk levels under sea level rise conditions. The SLR-CHIA Model provides a vital methodological framework for evaluating cultural heritage risks in other global regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant variations in climate exist between the northern and southern regions of China, resulting in varying degrees of decay observed in wooden relics unearthed from different areas. The preservation of wooden cultural artifacts in humid environments is influenced by numerous factors including regional environmental conditions (such as temperature, humidity, and biological mold), and site structural characteristics, among others, making the conservation efforts more specialized and intricate. This study utilizes the example of the unearthed wet outer coffin wooden cultural relics from the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng to demonstrate a method involving the use of polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) composite material for the reinforcement and protection of such artifacts. Through a comprehensive analysis of various analytical techniques including scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), density increase rate, wood compression strength along the grain, hydrophobic property, and other micro and macro properties, it was determined that: The combination of PVAc and shellac as a reinforcement agent has been shown to enhance the mechanical properties of wooden cultural relics while also maintaining minimal color variation, increased biocompatibility, and durability. This method is particularly well-suited for fortifying and preserving damp wooden cultural relics that exhibit varying degrees of decay. The findings offer significant insights and potential avenues for further research on the preservation methods for large wooden cultural artifacts discovered in the middle and lower regions of the Yangtze River dating back to the Warring States Period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the acquisition process of 3D cultural relics, it is common to encounter noise. To facilitate the generation of high-quality 3D models, we propose an approach based on graph signal processing that combines color and geometric features to denoise the point cloud. We divide the 3D point cloud into patches based on self-similarity theory and create an appropriate underlying graph with a Markov property. The features of the vertices in the graph are represented using 3D coordinates, normal vectors, and color. We formulate the point cloud denoising problem as a maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation problem and use a graph Laplacian regularization (GLR) prior to identifying the most probable noise-free point cloud. In the denoising process, we moderately simplify the 3D point to reduce the running time of the denoising algorithm. The experimental results demonstrate that our proposed approach outperforms five competing methods in both subjective and objective assessments. It requires fewer iterations and exhibits strong robustness, effectively removing noise from the surface of cultural relic point clouds while preserving fine-scale 3D features such as texture and ornamentation. This results in more realistic 3D representations of cultural relics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The history and reproductive biology of the Eupomatiaceae family are reviewed, and the flowering of Eupomatia bennettii is described to highlight the significance of floral parts and their movements for cross-pollination. The highly specialised relationships between Eupomatia spp. and weevil pollinators (Elleschodes spp.) are discussed, and gaps in knowledge of the reproductive biology of Eupomatiaceae are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistance War heritage sites of Vietnam linked to pivotal moments such as the Indochina and Vietnam Wars, serve as vital cultural historical repositories scattered around the settlement spaces. While rekindling the memories of the past, they also also contribute to enhancing educational outcomes through tourism and public engagement. This paper examines methods to improve the preservation of these sites to fully realize their potential in reviving and reinforcing local historical awareness. It emphasizes the integration of advanced technologies such as Heritage Building Information Modelling (HBIM), Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR) in these efforts. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining document review, case studies, and direct observations. Data collection methods include interviews with site managers, analysis of visitor feedback, and evaluations of technology implementation at the sites, providing a comprehensive perspective on the current preservation practices and their effectiveness. It concludes that, despite considerable progress in preserving and elevating the profile of the historical relics of Vietnam, there are notable deficiencies, particularly in the use of technologies and involvement of the community. The paper suggests actionable approaches to enhance the educational value of these sites, stressing the need for broader implementation of technologies and increased public engagement in heritage conservation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compact massive relic galaxies are a class of galaxies that exhibit characteristics suggesting they have remained largely unchanged since their initial formation, making them 'relics' of the early Universe. These galaxies represent a distinct class characterized by strongly peaked high-velocity dispersion profiles with large rotational velocities. This study investigates the formation of such galaxies within the framework of Milgromian dynamics (MOND), offering a unique perspective on their origin without invoking the presence of cold or warm dark matter. Our analysis focuses on the collapse dynamics of isolated non-rotating post-big bang gas clouds, revealing kinematic and density profiles comparable to observed compact massive relic galaxies like NGC 1277, Mrk 1216, and PGC 032873. The findings underscore the natural emergence of compact massive relic galaxies within a MOND-based Universe, providing valuable insights into the interplay between gravitational dynamics and galaxy formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Laser and photochemistry were first used in restoring and transformation of PbS on painted cultural relics. • Targeted fast realization of restoring and transformation of PbS, and without damage to the base color. • Laser catalysis restoration has wide applicability to papers, the silks and other organic materials. Lead white darkening is a common disease in all kinds of painted cultural relics. In this study, a combination of laser and photodynamic technology was used to achieve controlled restoration of lead sulfide at the lead darkening site on the painted layer of cultural relics by laser catalysis with porphyrin to produce singlet oxygen. The chromatic change, micromorphology and chemical composition were systematically studied for a simulated sample with the lead darkening part of the painted layer. The results show that laser catalytic treatment can repair the color darkening that occurs by the PbS formation, while no obvious changes to the pore and microparticle structure of the painted layer and the base. In this study, the pollutant of lead sulfide was proved to be converted into lead sulfate by oxidation, and then was converted to lead white by precipitation, which was the original composition of the pigment. It is also found that the laser catalytic treatment method can effectively avoid basic layer damages of cultural relics, especially for the papers, the silks and other organic materials. This technology not only provides a new approach for the restoration and transformation of PbS on painted cultural relics, but also makes available new applications for the laser and photodynamic technology in the field of cultural relics protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop an environment‐friendly detergent for textile relics adsorbing soil/rust stains, the relationship between surfactant types and concentrations, the nature of additives and the type of textile (e.g., cotton, linen, silk or wool) were systematically investigated. Results showed that the detergent formulations of sodium montmorillonite (5 g/L) as additives were overall the best options for soil stains removal on textile relics. Specifically, the most suitable surfactant for cotton, linen, silk and wool textiles relics adsorbing soil stains was rhamnolipid (8 g/L), tea saponin (6 g/L), tea saponin (8 g/L), alkyl glycosides (10 g/L), respectively. The detergent formulations of ascorbic acid (5 g/L) as additives were more beneficial for rust stains peeling‐off from the surface of the textile relics regardless of the type of surfactant and textile relics. But the optimal surfactants for different textiles relics were different. In detail, the most suitable surfactants for cotton, linen, silk and wool textiles relics adsorbing rust stains were separately rhamnolipid (10 g/L), Tea saponin (8 g/L), Tea saponin (6 g/L), Alkyl glycosides (6 g/L). This indicated that the washing effect of detergent formulation was related to the types of stains and textile relics' fiber. These findings not only demonstrated the necessity for developing detergent formulations for different textile relics, but also illustrated the complexity and diversity of the textile relics' stain‐washing work. Moreover, this work also assists understanding of the washing mechanism of textile relics and help the department of textile relics protection to properly wash textile relics and extend the life of textile relics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers a pedagogical approach to introducing undergraduate students to hagiology by comparing medieval sanctity to modern celebrity. The bodies of saints and celebrities are important loci for the transmission of sanctity or celebrity from a person to the public and for the continuity of identity. Examples include St. Faith, St. Cuthbert, Kim Kardashian, and Marilyn Monroe. Using a comparative method allows students who are non-religious to better apprehend the unfamiliar practices and beliefs around the cult of saints and relics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burial stone relics remain in a humid, semi-enclosed environment for long periods, and temperature and humidity variations can cause deterioration acceleration. Yang Can's tomb was selected as the research object, and field monitoring and simulations were performed to investigate the characteristics of temperature and humidity variations, after which the simulation results were evaluated. The monitoring results showed that solar radiation, rainfall, wind speed, and depth of entry are important factors affecting the variation in the temperature and humidity of burial stone relics. The temperature outside the chamber is greatly affected by seasonal variations, while the humidity inside the chamber is influenced by seasonal variations, so appropriate measures should be implemented inside and outside the chamber during different seasons to alleviate deterioration. On the basis of the above analysis, a temperature and humidity model for the interior chamber of burial stone relics was established in COMSOL software 5.6, combined with a porous medium heat transfer model and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. The temperature and humidity inside the chamber can be calculated by the temperature and humidity outside the chamber. This study provides data support for hydrothermal, condensation and other related studies of burial stone relics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural disaster risk monitoring is an important task for disaster prevention and reduction. In the case of immovable cultural relics, however, the feedback mechanism, risk factors, monitoring logic, and monitoring indicators of natural disaster risk monitoring are complex. How to achieve intelligent perception and monitoring of natural disaster risk for immovable cultural relics has always been a focus and a challenge for researchers. Based on the analysis of the concepts and issues related to the natural disaster risk of immovable cultural relics, this paper proposes a framework for natural disaster risk monitoring for immovable cultural relics based on the digital twin. This framework focuses on risk monitoring, including the physical entities of natural disaster risk for immovable cultural relics, monitoring indicators, and virtual entity construction. A platform for monitoring the natural disaster risk of immovable cultural relics is proposed. Using the Puzhou Ancient City Site as a test bed, the proposed concept can be used for monitoring the natural disaster risk of immovable cultural relics at different scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural relics line graphic serves as a crucial form of traditional artifact information documentation, which is a simple and intuitive product with low cost of displaying compared with 3D models. Dimensionality reduction is undoubtedly necessary for line drawings. However, most existing methods for artifact drawing rely on the principles of orthographic projection that always cannot avoid angle occlusion and data overlapping while the surface of cultural relics is complex. Therefore, conformal mapping was introduced as a dimensionality reduction way to compensate for the limitation of orthographic projection. Based on the given criteria for assessing surface complexity, this paper proposed a three-dimensional feature guideline extraction method for complex cultural relic surfaces. A 2D and 3D combined factor that measured the importance of points on describing surface features, vertex weight, was designed. Then the selection threshold for feature guideline extraction was determined based on the differences between vertex weight and shape index distributions. The feasibility and stability were verified through experiments conducted on real cultural relic surface data. Results demonstrated the ability of the method to address the challenges associated with the automatic generation of line drawings for complex surfaces. The extraction method and the obtained results will be useful for line graphic drawing, displaying and propaganda of cultural relics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relic galaxies are massive, compact, and quiescent objects observed in the local Universe that have not experienced any significant interaction episodes or merger events since about z  = 2, remaining relatively unaltered since their formation. On the other hand, massive and compact early-type galaxies (cETGs) in the local Universe appear to show similar properties to Relic galaxies, despite having substantial accretion history. Relic galaxies, with frozen history, can provide important clues about the intrinsic processes related to the evolutionary pathways of ETGs and the role that mergers play in their evolution. Using the high-resolution cosmological simulation TNG50-1 from IllustrisTNG project, we investigate the assembly history of a sample of massive, compact, old, and quiescent subhaloes split by satellite accretion fraction. We compare the evolutionary pathways at three cosmic epochs: z  = 2, z  = 1.5, and z  = 0, using the orbital decomposition numerical method to investigate the stellar dynamics of each galactic kinematical component and their environmental correlations. Our results point to a steady pathway across time that is not strongly dependent on the mergers or the environment. Relics and cETGs do not show a clear preference for high- or low-density environments within the volume explored at z  = 0, as they are found in both scenarios. However, the progenitors of Relic galaxies have consistently resided in high-density environments since z  = 2, while cETGs were shifted to such environments at a later stage. The merger history can be recovered from the stellar kinematics imprints in the local Universe. Relics and cETGs show consistently dynamical similarities at z  = 2 and differences at z  = 0 to disc, bulge, and hot inner stellar halo. In the current scenario, the mergers that drive the growth of cETGs do not give rise to a new and distinct evolutionary pathway when compared to Relics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic groundwater arsenic (As) pollution is common in many aquifers in Southwest China. It is concerned that long-term random disposal of As smelting slag could induce the transport of high-As groundwater into previously uncontaminated aquifers. Here, we used HELP-MODFLOW-MT3DMS model simulations to integrate the percolation, groundwater flow, and solute transport processes at an aquifer at site scale, constrained by weather, hydrogeology, and monitoring data. Our simulations provide a new method framework of the simulated percolation by HELP model and have induced As spatiotemporal distribution in the aquifer. According to the HELP model simulation results, percolation volume accounts for 24% of rainfall over 18 years. This work determined that the As discharge trend was fitted by double-constants kinetics based on the leaching experiment. And this work calculates total mass distribution of As in the aquifer over 18 years. We have found that the sustained As pollution relies on the rainfall that acts as the primary contributor of elevated As concentrations. Model simulation results suggest that 51.70% of the total As mass (1.96 × 104 kg) was fixed in low permeability solid media. The total As mass discharged into groundwater reached 9.3 × 103 kg, accounting for 24.68%. The accumulative outflow mass of arsenic was 8.0 × 103 kg, accounting for 21.62%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What sacred objects did the Lusignan kings of Cyprus treasure in their collection of holy items? Certainly, they had fragments of the Holy Cross and saints' skulls, but what about Passion relics such as the titulus placed above the crucified Christ, or the white rock to which the cross was affixed? This study explores overlooked fourteenth-century Franciscan apocryphal stories about the life of Christ and didactic narratives which, among other things, cite Passion relics and their respective proprietors. In the following essay, I will turn attention to relics which, according to these texts, were in the safe-keeping of the kings of Cyprus. In addition to evaluating the reliability of such evidence, I will discuss the nature of the relics, identify the mysterious relic-hoarder king, and seek to uncover a representation of such a relic in the 'Royal Chapel' at Pyrga, Larnaca. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the discovery of a radio relic in the north-eastern periphery of the galaxy cluster Abell 2108 (A2108). A2108 is part of the uGMRT LOw-MAss Galaxy Cluster Survey (GLOMACS), where our main aim is to search for diffuse radio emission signatures in very sparsely explored low-mass galaxy clusters using uGMRT band-3 (central frequency 400 MHz). We used our uGMRT band-3 observations along with the existing archival band-3 uGMRT data to improve image sensitivity. Along with the previously reported south-western relic, the discovery of the new relic makes A2108 one of the few low-mass clusters hosting a double relic. The new relic spans over a region of 610 kpc × 310 kpc and, interestingly, differs considerably in size and morphology from the other relic. Using XMM–Newton science archive data, we also report the tentative detection of a mildly supersonic shock of Mach number |$\mathcal {M}_\mathrm{SB}=1.42$| and |$\mathcal {M}_\mathrm{T} = 1.43$| from the surface brightness and temperature discontinuities, respectively, near this newly found relic. Both the relics in A2108 are found to be significantly under-luminous compared with other double-relic systems in the mass–luminosity plane. Moreover, the north-eastern relic is remarkably under-luminous in the size–luminosity plane. Although mild supersonic shocks resulting from an off-axis merger could have influenced the origin of both relics, we hypothesize that local environments have played a crucial role in shaping their morphologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of global climate change, it is of great interest to assess the adaptive capabilities of the glacial relics of Ranunculus kamtschaticus DC. of the Urals and the prospects for their conservation has a high degree of ecological specialization for high mountain conditions and extremely low plasticity. It is preserved in the midlands of the Urals on individual peaks. The life form of R. kamtschaticus in the Ural fragment of its range is a brush-rooted non-turf polycarpic grass with erect assimilating shoots of a non-succulent type. The variability of the development of its shoots and shoot systems under the influence of climatic and weather conditions is shown, the preferential development of shoots with an incomplete development cycle is noted. Irregular fruiting, a long period of germination, and rapid loss of seed germination reduce the competitiveness of R. kamtschaticus in the Urals and its ability to colonize new territories. Threat assessment according to IUCN criteria showed that populations of the species in the Komi Republic and Sverdlovsk oblast are in critical condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the trend of people choosing relic and museum tourism during their vacation and leisure time is growing day by day, mainly because it touches people's feelings about historical relics and cultural heritage. The development of relic and museum tourism products is not only the inheritance of culture and the protection of cultural relics, but also the promotion of tourism consumption under the background of cultural tourism integration, which has promoted the development of regional economy. With the relic and museum tourism resources in Shandong Province as the research object, through the analysis of its resources, market and products, this paper put forward three applicable modes of relic and museum tourism product development, including independent development, joint development, and art authorization, and proposed specific suggestions around the three modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]