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The Sri Parvata Arama, or the Buddhavanam, is a Buddhist theme park near the banks of the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir in Telangana. Sponsored by the state government, this park features at its center a full-scale replica of the Amaravati stupa. While this replica stupa might seem to revivify the largely destroyed stupa at Amaravati, this article also examines how the Buddhavanam engages with a wide-ranging visual archive in order to create a home at which every imaginable visitor—foreign and local—will encounter familiar imagery. The stupa's sculptural adornment primarily takes inspiration from limestone sculptures that once adorned ancient Buddhist sites along the Krishna River Valley. However, additional scenes on the stupa are drawn from disparate sources: reliefs carved from photographs of M. K. Gandhi, B. R. Ambedkar, and the current chief minister of Telangana appear alongside stone versions of paintings from the Mogao Caves at Dunhuang and Alchi in Ladakh. This article examines how this replica stupa and the surrounding theme park allow the new state of Telangana not only to articulate its claim to the Buddhist heritage that is now shared with the state of Andhra Pradesh but also to participate in a boom in state-sponsored religious monuments across India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some of the largest and best-preserved Buddhist art treasure houses in the world, namely the Mogao Grottoes, are located at the northwest edge of the region of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau and are adjacent to the Altun and Qilian mountains, where the geotectonic activity is intense and large earthquakes have occurred. Future earthquakes are one of the major threats to the caves of the Mogao Grottoes; therefore, it is important that their dynamic performance is studied when an earthquake occurs. To understand the dynamic performance of the densely distributed caves under the effect of earthquakes, as well as the long-term stability of the Mogao Grottoes, the stress distribution, deformation characteristics, and peak-acceleration amplification factor were analysed under rare-earthquake conditions using a finite-difference element. The numerical study revealed that the most dangerous state of the caves is the initial time when an earthquake occurs. The obvious tensile stress concentration appeared at the top and the bottom of the caves of the middle floor; the main damage was caused by the shear failure towards the direction of the free face and not by the tensile failure. A large permanent horizontal displacement of the caves occurred after an earthquake, mostly at the densely distributed caves of the middle floor. The acceleration amplification effect of the middle-floor caves was significant; the Fourier amplitudes of the acceleration (which were monitored in all caves) were significantly magnified at the frequencies of 3 ~ 4 Hz and 7 ~ 9 Hz, whereas the Fourier amplitudes of the acceleration which were monitored in the middle-floor caves were almost amplified within the entire frequency range. Although the maximum stress was within the allowed limit and no tensile failure occurred, great permanent inhomogeneous horizontal displacements and large accelerations could have a negative effect on the stability of caves and the preservation of wall paintings. Moreover, it was assumed that the calculation results could serve as a type of guidance and as advice on the preventive protection of the Mogao Grottoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang, China, the ambient relative humidity (RH) fluctuation in the caves is the main cause for the deterioration that has been observed, especially the deterioration of the earthen plaster and wall paintings linked to the presence of NaCl and Na2SO4 salt contaminants. To help identify the mechanism responsible for this salt-related deterioration and provide a theoretical basis for the development of a preventive conservation regime, this study addressed the basic moisture adsorption mechanisms of earthen plaster with soluble salts by taking an experimental approach. It is shown that, as ambient RH increases, the moisture adsorption process of the plaster containing the soluble salts can be regarded to have three basic stages, as evidenced by the results of the moisture adsorption tests performed on earthen plaster samples with different NaCl or Na2SO4 contents at various humidity levels. The moisture adsorption mechanism and its determining factors at each stage are also analysed. In addition, it is suggested that the hygroscopicity of the plaster structure and the interaction between the different kinds of salts in the plaster, which makes the dissolution or hydration of the salt in the plaster pores much easier, should be considered more seriously regarding increases in the ambient RH in the caves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Silking, a conservation technique which involved gluing silk gauze over the face of a manuscript was popular in the mid-20th Century, especially for treating early Chinese documents. The method is now little used, and the question as to whether silking interventions should be reversed is controversial, given the high economic cost of active intervention, and there are few scientific studies as to the long-term consequences of the technique. Silk-facing materials from documents of the Stein collection were analysed using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The mycobiota diversity was unravelled through the combination of culture dependent methods and amplicon sequencing analyses. The SEM micrographs showed smooth regular nodules of ca. 3–5 μm diameter on both silk threads and glue paste. This morphology differs from the irregular and the crystalline morphologies of glue paste and inorganic crystallites, respectively, but it is consistent with that of small-sized conidia (asexual spores of fungi) or yeasts. Glue paste demonstrated three fungal strains: Aspergillus tubingensis , Penicillium crustosum and Chrysonilia sitophila which display cellulolytic activity, except for the last one. Amplicon sequencing revealed that silk threads and glue paste host distinct mycobiota. Here, we preliminary show that the silking method may be affecting the overall integrity of the silk-faced manuscripts, principally due to contamination with cellulolytic fungal strains. Unless the silk facing is removed, irreversible damage to the documents is highly probable. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • SEM showed conidia-like structures in silk-facing materials (Stein collection). • Elemental analysis (EDAX) confirmed the animal origin of the used glues. • Three culturable fungi were isolated from a glue used in the silk-facing process. • Fungal DNA was amplified from glues and silk threads used in silk-facing materials. • Cellulolytic activity of the isolated fungal strains was investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smudging is one of the most serious damages of Mogao Grottoes' murals. In this paper, confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy is adopted to investigate the smoked murals in Mogao Grottoes. The exutive fragments from the smoked murals in 71 Grotto have been analyzed. The white pigment, which is covered by a layer of black, is identified as calcite, and the black is amorphous carbon. No any other chromatic pigments were found in all exutive fragments. From which, we may speculate that the white pigment (CaCO3) is stable undergoing smoking and other chromatic pigments may have been destroyed by smoking. Based on the analysis and the records of the Mogao Grottoes' murals, a representative smoking process was designed to explore the degradation of the pigments in an imitative mural. The typical pigments, including white (aragonite), black (carbon) and red (vermilion), are analyzed from imitated smoked mural, and the results show that aragonite is stable and vermilion is damaged. It is judged that the vermilion has been destroyed by the smoking process, in which the high-temperature smoke makes the vermilion easily react with oxygen and produce the mercury vapor and sulfur dioxide. The simulative smoking experiment is reliable and feasible for investigating the degradation process of pigments and is proposed to investigate more pigments which can supply significant and important information for the restoration and conservation of smoked murals in Mogao Grottoes. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes in western China is one of the most famous World Cultural Heritage Sites, known for its glorious Chinese Buddhist art spanning a period of 1,000 years. However, it has been suffering from damage and degradation caused by man-made and natural factors. In this article, we present a novel line-drawing enhanced interactive system for digital restoration of damaged murals in Mogao Grottoes. Our system consists of four components, namely data pre-processing, damaged area selection, line-drawing segmentation and mural restoration. Each component is a hybrid of efficient algorithms and user interactions. We introduce the infrastructure and process of using our system, from data capture and collection, database establishment, to interactive restoration. We conduct a user study with 15 participants who have varied experiences with and skills on repairing murals and editing images. Results and feedback suggest that our system can achieve satisfactory restoration results without overburdening the users. It can benefit both experts trained in restoration and amateurs interested in cultural heritage conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mogao Grottoes are among the most famous sites on the World Heritage list. Several large-scale preservation projects were implemented in 1962, 1982, and 2008, respectively, to improve their preservation conditions. According to field investigation and assessment in recent years, the cliff is stable on the whole because of the reinforcement projects. Among them, there are still 42 potentially dangerous bodies, which may not be stable in some conditions. For the purpose of building the monitoring and early warning system and the long-term preventive preservation of the Mogao Grottoes, an innovative analytical method based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Fuzzy-AHP was applied to assess the hazard of potentially dangerous bodies within the cliff. Firstly, the hazard was classified into six groups: very high, high, moderate, low, very low, and no hazard, in this study. Secondly, the AHP method was applied to calculate the impact index of each causative factor, and then the hazard assessment of dangerous bodies was made based on statistical analysis. Finally, the Fuzzy-AHP method was applied to calculate the correlation of each factor and determine the comprehensive hazard class. The results indicate that Fuzzy-AHP seems to be more accurate than AHP in hazard assessment. Meanwhile, there is a very high risk body that can threaten 10 caves, three high risk bodies that can threaten 13 caves, and 15 moderate risk bodies can threaten 69 caves in total, while the remaining bodies are defined as low or very low grades. Overall, the results of this study provide much data and a theoretical model in the construction of a monitoring and early warning system currently. Furthermore, the new numerical simulation method also holds the potential application to assess the hazards of other types of heritage sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to study the influence of atmospheric humidity and temperature on the mural paintings in the Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang by measuring the weight of a simulated mural block. Under open conditions, the daily changes in the atmospheric humidity and temperature have an apparent effect on the water content of these murals. There exists an obvious water exchange between atmosphere and mural, that is, there is a ±43 g m−2moisture absorption–desorption ‘breathing’ process between the two. Evapotranspiration from the tree-belt, precipitation, and extremely dry weather also have an effect on the moisture associated with a mural painting. If the cave is closed, a comparable study finds that closure can make the effects of temperature and humidity changes disappear. The mural water content in this case remains stable and the harm due to water-salt deterioration is greatly reduced. Under closed conditions, artificial condensation dehumidification and control of the cave's temperature and humidity stabilizes water activity in the mural paintings very effectively. This is a clear indication of the future steps required to protect the cave's cultural relics. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The painted sculpture of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes is an important constituent of Dunhuang's cultural art. To study the painted sculpture's seismic safety, experimental specimens and numerical models were established on the basis of original geometry and internal constitutions. These specimens and models were made of wooden frame, reed-padded layer, coarse clay layer, and fine clay layer from internal to external. The dynamic characteristics of the painted sculptures were obtained by sweep frequency experiments. The numerical model can reflect dynamic performance of experimental specimens by comparing the results of sweep frequency experiment with numerical modal analysis. Based on the numerical results, the responses of the painted sculptures were analyzed from the perspectives of stress, displacement, and acceleration, evaluating the painted sculptures’ responses to seismic activity at three levels expected for the Dunhuang area, and finding the regions of easily damaged. The results show that there is a risk of damage to painted sculptures, though the displacement responses are small under the earthquakes with PGA = 0.20 g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the peak tourist season, the CO 2 concentration in some caves in Mogao Grottoes often exceeds 1500 ppm. A mechanical ventilation system for Cave 328 of Mogao Grottoes is thereby designed and the experiment is conducted in January and February of 2015. The results indicate that the air exchange rate has improved from 3.2 h −1 in the case of natural ventilation to 6 h −1 in mechanical ventilation, while the air turbulence merely increases from 0 to 0.05 m/s in the body of the cave and 0.15–0.2 m/s in the aisle in natural ventilation to 0–0.1 m/s in the body of the cave and 0.2–0.3 m/s in the aisle in mechanical ventilation. It is thus concluded that the mechanical ventilation system effectively increases the air exchange rate without causing noticeable disturbance of the air in the cave, and the protective environment of the cave is sustained. A theoretical reference can be hopefully provided in the design and implementation of the mechanical ventilation system in Mogao Grottoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated analysis of pigments of the murals and sculptures in Mogao Grottoes, China, is reported. Polarized light microscopy was used for the characterization of pigment appearance, scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was employed to characterize the microstructure and provide elemental analysis, and Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies were utilized for the identification of the pigments. The results revealed that the red pigments were minium, hematite, and cinnabar that were combined to obtain various shades of red. The blue pigment was lazurite, the green pigments were atacamite and azurite, the white pigment was calcium carbonate, and the black pigment was carbon. The composition of the black pigment in Mogao Grottoes was identified for the first time. This study demonstrates the advantages and limitations of common analytical instruments for pigment identification, and it is suggested that Raman spectroscopy is the most appropriate instrument for identifying archaeological pigments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an automatic three-dimensional reconstruction method based on multi-view stereo vision for the Mogao Grottoes. 3D digitization technique has been used in cultural heritage conservation and replication over the past decade, especially the methods based on binocular stereo vision. However, mismatched points are inevitable in traditional binocular stereo matching due to repeatable or similar features of binocular images. In order to reduce the probability of mismatching greatly and improve the measure precision, a portable four-camera photographic measurement system is used for 3D modelling of a scene. Four cameras of the measurement system form six binocular systems with baselines of different lengths to add extra matching constraints and offer multiple measurements. Matching error based on epipolar constraint is introduced to remove the mismatched points. Finally, an accurate point cloud can be generated by multi-images matching and sub-pixel interpolation. Delaunay triangulation and texture mapping are performed to obtain the 3D model of a scene. The method has been tested on 3D reconstruction several scenes of the Mogao Grottoes and good results verify the effectiveness of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks at conservation program of Lanzhou University's Dunhuang Academy (DA) for the Buddhist cave temples at Dunhuang, China, focusing on Cave 260. It notes the cave dates to the fifth century and has been the focus of a joint conservation research and teaching project of the DA, the Courtauld Institute of Art and the Getty Conservation Institute since 2004. Topics include the decision to carry out preventive but not remedial conservation measures for the wall paintings in the cave and the role of past fires in the condition of the paintings.

The sand wedge was widely found, by field survey, to lie within the Gobi on the top of the Mogao Grottoes. The characteristics of its shape, size, structure, and ecological function were investigated. This original sand wedge was of a special type; formed in an arid environment, and with a multi-level fractal structure. The width range of main wedge was from 30 to 60 cm and its depth was about 50 cm, where the width of the irregular polygon matrix was about 60 to 160 cm. Meanwhile, the features of this sand wedge, including mechanical composition, salinity, and water content differed greatly from its matrix. The salt content in the sand wedge was 0.86 g · kg−1, correspondingly, that of the matrix reached 4.56 g · kg−1. The sand wedge can absorb plentiful rainfall and retain it for a long time, which can benefit plant survival. However, the higher salt content of the matrix would dissolve under eluviation, which plays an important role in pruning roots. These double functions of higher water content in the wedge and salt pruning in the matrix have made the main roots of vegetation grow inside the sand wedge only. Thus, the net shape structure of sand wedge was vital to vegetation distribution in the Gobi and the formation of the associated geomorphologic landscape. At the same time, the sand wedge formed a crucial habitat for small animals, thus was the last surviving such enclave in the extreme aridity of the Gobi ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Gravel beds can prevent sand-dust emission and weaken sand-dust flux. We used wind-tunnel experiments and field observations on artificial gravel beds above the Mogao Grottoes to quantify their impact. In the report, we identified a significant correlation between gravel roughness and its ability to trap wind-transported sand. The optimal combinations of gravel diameter and coverage were determined. The greatest roughness is achieved when small gravel coverage is 75%, medium 40% and large 45%. We found that initial wind speed and gravel coverage are the key factors controlling the amount of sand trapped by the gravel beds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-world, long-running wireless sensor networks (WSNs) require intense user intervention in the development, hardware testing, deployment, and maintenance stages. A majority of network design is network centric and focuses primarily on network performance, for example, efficient sensing and reliable data delivery. Although several tools have been developed to assist debugging and fault diagnosis, it is yet to systematically examine the underlying heavy burden that users face throughout the lifetime of WSNs. In this article, we propose a general Multimode user-CentriC (MC2) framework that can, with simple user inputs, adjust itself to assist user operation and thus reduce the users' burden at various stages. In particular, we have identified utilities that are essential at each stage and grouped them into modes. In each mode, only the corresponding utilities will be loaded, and modes can be easily switched using the customized MC2 sensor platform. As such, we reduce the runtime interference between various utilities and simplify their development as well as their debugging. We validated our MC2 software and the sensor platform in a long-lived microclimate monitoring system deployed at a wildland heritage site, Mogao Grottoes. In our current system, 241 sensor nodes have been deployed in 57 caves, and the network has been running for over five years. Our experimental validation shows that the MC2 framework shortens the time for network deployment and maintenance, and makes network maintenance doable by field experts (in our case, historians). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines two tenth-century woodblock prints from Dunhuang acquired by Sir Aurel Stein. They are registered under the numbers Ch.00151 and Ch.00152 at the British Museum. The first, Ch.00151, is dedicated to Avalokiteśvara and the second, Ch.00152, to Amitābha, both with magical formulas written in Siddham characters in square or circular fashion around the central image of the respective deity. Editions, translations and identifications of the texts are presented along with a study of the Chinese inscriptions on the side of the xylographs. It is shown that these two objects were apparently produced to serve as amulets. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: To extend the lifetime of wall-paintings in the Mogao Grottoes, various kinds of conservation materials (for example, PVA, acrylic acid and B72) and techniques (for example, adhesion, consolidation and surface coating) have been used in the past decades. However, as a basic concern, it still remains obscured how the deterioration mechanism of wall-paintings changes after conservation materials are applied. In this contribution, an assumption was advanced to clarify this mechanism. Different layers in the wall-paintings have different physical properties, such as thermal and moisture expansions, which may be altered after the conservation materials penetrate into the paintings. The differences of these properties may cause stress between the layers in the paintings with the change of environmental factors, which will finally lead to deterioration of wall-paintings. A series of experiments were performed to determine thermal and moisture expansion properties of consolidated wall-painting plasters. The impact of the conservation materials on the expansion properties of wall-painting plasters was quantified, in order to evaluate these materials. Consistency of experimental conclusions and conservation experience validated this hypothetical mechanism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Caragana korshinskii Kom. has better in-site accumulating sand effect. [•] Hedysarum scoparium belts can cause sand to accumulate down their outer edges. [•] Two adjacent parallel configurations perpendicular to the main wind path are best. [•] The optimal time periods for sand fixation are April, May, June and November. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

"Changing Conceptions of 'Maņḍala' in Tang China: Ritual and the Role of Images" is concerned with the intersection of visionary experience with visual forms. The focus of the study is a Buddhist incantation, or dhāranī, titled the Revered and Victorious Dhāranī of the Buddha's Uṣṇ īṣa. This particular dhāranī was widely circulated in China during the Tang dynasty (618-907); for this reason, it may be approached as an important case study for studying the conceptualization of mņḍalas in China prior to their transmission to Japan in the early ninth century. Through a detailed examination of successive translations and ritual manuals associated with the Revered and Victorious Dhāranī of the Buddha's Uṣṇ, different conceptions of mņḍalas and the roles that were played by images may be observed. This, in turn, responds to larger questions in East Asian Buddhism and studies of Buddhist art regarding the functions of painted man.d.alas during Buddhist rituals. Lastly, this article seeks to shed light on lesser-known aspects of esoteric Buddhist art in Asia, as the scholarship to date on Buddhist mņḍalas has primarily focused upon studies of Japanese and Himalayan works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents research on destructive environmental mechanisms affecting the murals in the Mogao Grottoes, specifically Grotto 72, from a meteorological perspective. Analysis of outside monitoring data during 1999-2008 shows that condensation of moisture and/or salt deliquescence on the mural affects a high percentage of the internal grotto, whereas the interchange of moisture between the interior grotto and the surrounding air accounts for a relatively small effect. But high humidity was the threat to the mural, so the planting of the shelterbelts was a new threat to the mural due to irrigation of shelterbelts. The higher relative humidity (RH) produced by shelterbelts in front of the grottoes is only weakly related to local precipitation but is highly correlated with the times of water irrigation of those shelterbelts. The intra-seasonal variability of temperature and RH on the mural surface is relatively stable because temperature inversion frequently occurs in the internal grotto and is favourable for maintenance of stable air stratification that is beneficial to the preservation of the wall paintings. Using ridge regression estimation of the period data, coupling equations of the change of temperature and humidity on the mural surface, the internal grotto air and the external environment are obtained. The real-time dynamics of temperature and humidity are thus analysed and reported here, offering a scientific basis for establishing a long-term monitoring network in the Mogao Grottoes. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the micro-meteorological effects of different underlying surfaces of structures to protect the Mogao Grottoes, we analyzed basic meteorological measurements collected at weather stations located in front of the grottoes, on top of the grottoes and in the artificial Gobi. The results show that the shelterbelts in front of the grottoes have a heat-retaining effect. The profile of average daily solar radiation in front of the grottoes forms a sharp peak and the profile in the Gobi forms a parabola, but these patterns vary in different seasons. The artificial Gobi was more susceptible to extremes in temperature and had a faster response and wider response range to ground temperature. The average monthly air temperature, average monthly relative humidity, and the average wind speed in the artificial Gobi tend to first decrease and then increase with measurement height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Heritage site of the Mogao Grottoes near Dunhuang is China's preeminent ancient Buddhist site on the Silk Road. It flourished between the fourth and the fourteenth centuries and comprises some 492 cave temples with wall paintings and sculpture. The Getty Conservation Institute has been working with the Dunhuang Academy since 1989 on site conservation and management using guidelines, the Principles for the Conservation of Heritage Sites in China, that were developed at the national level. Elements of the successful twenty-year collaboration are discussed in the context of the conservation and management challenges faced at the site and the projects developed to address them, including conservation of the wall paintings in Cave 85, a late Tang dynasty cave with extensive deterioration induced by salts derived from the underlying rock; and visitors to the site, who have increased rapidly since the site was opened in 1979. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the mural paintings of Mogao Cave 61 in Dunhuang, northwestern China. The author argues that the paintings, whose Buddhist iconographic program, location and architecture bear a stark resemblance to earlier caves, reveal a new understanding and practice of artistic appropriation in tenth-century Dunhuang. Particular focus is given to the role played by Cao Yuanzhong, military commissioner of the Hexi region and the de facto ruler of Dunhuang, who commissioned the murals in 947.

Abstract: In arid regions, gravel surfaces are usually known for protecting the soil from wind erosion, trapping the sand and dust carried by the wind, thereby forming a sink of sediment. However, gravel surfaces with a suitable gravel size and coverage density can also act as the source of sediment under unsaturated wind flow. A dynamically equilibrated gravel surface can be built to prevent potential windblown sand problems in the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes in northwestern China. Unlike previous studies that suggested constructing a high coverage (50% or more) gravel surface on the gobi land on top of the Mogao Grottoes, a much lower value of 30% is recommended. This kind of artificial gravel surface can protect the underlying sand materials from wind erosion and trap the invading westerly windblown sand. At the same time, the deposited sand over the artificial gravel surface can be transported to the western megadunes by the easterly wind. Under the multidirectional wind regime, the gravel surface can remain from sand burial over the long term. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this study, we analyzed air samples collected from several sites within the Mogao Grottoes, Dunhuang, China. The samples were collected each month from September 2008 to August 2009 from an open cave (OC), a semi-open cave (SC), a closed cave (CC), and the entrance (EN) of the Mogao Grottoes. Sampling was carried out using a six-stage Andersen FA-I sampler; then samples were cultured and fungal isolates were identified by partial sequencing of their internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Eleven different fungal genera were found, and the most prevalent was Cladosporium, followed by Fusarium, Penicillium, Alternaria, and Aspergillus. The fungal community composition varied among the four sites. Fungal community structure was significantly related to site (r = −0.293, p = 0.039) and to time of year (r = −0.523, p = 0.000). The concentrations and abundance of airborne fungi varied greatly throughout the year at the four sampling sites. Meteorological parameters (e.g., temperature, relative humidity) and the number of visitors also influenced both abundance and community structure of airborne fungi in the Mogao Grottoes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Wall painting plays an important role in the culture relics of the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, P.R. China. A novel approach of generating a high-resolution orthoimage of the wall painting is proposed. Since the photographic object is nearly flat and also the forward overlap between adjacent images is smaller than 60 percent, the main difficulty to be resolved is the high correlation problem among the unknowns. Improved models of relative orientation and bundle adjustment with virtual constraints have been developed to resolve the high correlation problem. A Voronoi diagram of projective footprints is applied to automatically determine the mosaic lines of ortho-rectified images. The color quality of the generated orthoimage is improved through global minimization of the color differences among overlapped images. The experimental results show that the proposed approach has great potential for conservation of wall paintings with sub-millimeter to millimeter precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Fungal spores are ubiquitous and can be found in both outdoor and indoor air samples, we investigated the temporal and spatial distributions, compositions, and determinants of ambient airborne fungi in Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang, China. Culturable fungi in three categories of caves, Open Cave (OC) to visitors, Semi-open Cave (SC), and Closed Cave (CC) and an outdoor area (OD) in Mogao Grottoes monthly from September 2008 to August 2009, using a six-stage Anderson FA-1 sampler. The grand mean of total culturable fungi was 187.45 ± 37.76 colony-forming units (CFU)/m3 for all sites considered, and the number was 110.52 ± 17.40 CFU/m3, 137.81 ± 26.67 CFU/m3, 245.39 ± 37.20 CFU/m3, 240.87 ± 54.91 CFU/m3 in OC, SC, CC, OD. The most prevalent fungi were Cladosporium spp., non-sporing fungi, Penicillium spp., Alternaria spp. and Aspergillus spp. at all four sampling sites. Airborne fungal numbers and their diversity were generally higher in CC and OD than in OC and SC. Most fungal genus had significant seasonal variations, higher levels were observed in summer and autumn. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the levels of ambient fungi were correlated positively with temperature and visitor numbers, but negatively with relative humidity and rainfall. The results suggested that the visitors have an obvious influence on concentrations and compositions of ambient fungi in Mogao Grottoes providing information to be considered in conservation and management. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Airborne bacteria are important biological components of bioaerosol and play an important role in the conservation of cultural heritage. High concentration of bacteria in the atmosphere can result in biological air pollution and potentially diseases. In this study, a systematical survey of culturable airborne bacteria was carried out in Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang, China at four sites (one cave is open to visitors, another is semi-closed, the third one is closed to visitors, and the fourth site is the entrance gate). Airborne bacteria were collected using a six-stage culturable FA-1 sampler monthly from September 2008 to August 2009. The populations of culturable bacteria were in a range from 1.01 × 102 colony forming units (CFU/m3) to 3.8 × 103 CFU/m3. The mean was 1.30 × 103 ± 145 CFU/m3, 1.1 × 103 ± 279 CFU/m3, 4.4 × 102 ± 67 CFU/m3 and 4.4 × 102 ± 77 CFU/m3 in the Closed Cave, Open Cave, Semi-closed Cave and the Entrance, respectively. The particle size of airborne bacteria were mainly distributed in stage 4 of sampling with diameters approximately 2.1–3.3 μm. The correlation was found between airborne bacterial concentrations and environmental temperature, relative humidity, as well as tourists number. The results suggested that the number of visitors has an obvious influence on both the concentrations and the compositions of ambient bacteria in Mogao Grottoes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a discussion of Buddhist art in the famous caves of Mogao, in Dunhuang, China. Constructed along the Silk Road between the fifth and 14th centuries, the richly decorated caves represent Buddhist iconography and ritual practice, and many ancient Buddhist manuscripts have been found at these sites. The article focuses on the murals and sculptures of one cave, designated number 231, which are believed to date from the early ninth century. The cave was constructed by the Yin family, and the artwork is said to combine representations of filial piety and Buddhist sutras.

An account of the four expeditions to Chinese Central Asia made at the beginning of the twentieth century by the Hungarian scholar, Aurel Stein; his discoveries and excavations in the ancient cities of the Silk Road, including the famous cache of scrolls he found at Dunhuang. The second part of the article covers the present day activities of the International Dunhuang Project and an expedition made in 2008 to retrace Stein's footsteps and replicate his photographs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photographs of several paintings related to the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, China including one showing the caves, another showing flowers, and other showing angels are presented.

More than eighty years elapsed since the first discovery of Tun-huang pieces in the caves, but a detailed and complete catalog for them is still to be worked out. It is especially needed for those pieces collected in the British Museum, the total length of which surely will be the greatest in number among all the collections of the world. In spite of the two catalogs compiled respectively by Mr. Lionel Giles and Mr. Liu Ming-Shu ..., there still leaves much ground for supplement. In Mr. Liu's catalog, there are only such general classifications as "Buddhism Classics" or "Taoism Classics," without any further distinctions. Mr. Giles has made more researches into the pieces, but left many "non-recognizables" unsettled; while those which are already classified and titled, the speculation is hardly correct. As to Stein's nos. 6981-7599, totally more than 600 pieces, both catalogs leave that part out-a most regrettable omission that is. Therefore, I have brought forward three supplementary notes for the Tun-huang pieces in the British Museum. The first one was titled, "A New Approach to the Catalog for the Nameless Tun-huang Pieces Collected in England," which has been published in Newsletter for Research in Chinese Studies, nos. 2, 4, and 5. Another essay is aimed at revising all the errors committed in Mr. Giles' classification. The present essay is specially written in an effort to give titles to the nameless pieces of Stein's, nos. 6981- 7599, about 600 pieces. With these three essays, it is hoped that there will be a more detailed and complete catalog for the whole collection of he Tun-huang pieces in England. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]