Multifunctional nanocomposites for paper conservation

Abstract

Upon aging, paper documents and books become progressively damaged. Paper deacidification is a fundamental conservation intervention. In this study, we report on the use of nanoparticles of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)₂) associated with hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) to inhibit acidification, photo-induced degradation, and biodeterioration of paper. With the aid of ultrasound, Mg(OH)₂ nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution can be obtained through homogeneous precipitation in water. Furthermore, to demonstrate the efficacy of the nanocomposite and the performance of treated and untreated paper, photo- and thermal-induced degradation is discussed. The results show that using the controlled double-jet precipitation (CDJP) it is possible to synthesize Mg(OH)₂ particles with a narrow size distribution (18–87 nm). The nanocomposite of Mg(OH)₂–TiO₂–HEC increases the durability of paper by imparting fungal growth resistance (D = 34.6 mm), moderate alkalinity (pH = 8.4), mechanical reinforcement (from 817–896 N/m), and UV protection. Additionally, there is a slight color difference (ΔE* = 0.8) between the treated and untreated paper. Both photodegradation and thermal degradation indicate that the paper treated with this nanocomposite (Mg(OH)₂–TiO₂–HEC) has increased stability.     

A new coating system modified with nano-sized particles for archaeological bronze protection

A new coating system for archeological bronze protection that consists of a primer coating and a top coating was prepared in this study. The primer coating was prepared by mixing water-based acrylic emulsion with 1,2,3-benzotriazole, and the ultraviolet (UV) light-resistant top coating was prepared by mixing water-based acrylic emulsion with nano-sized TiO₂ and SiO₂ particles. UV light resistance and visible light transmission, contact angle, corrosion resistance, and mechanical properties of the new coating system were investigated and the results showed that UV resistance, hydrophobicity, oleophobicity, glossiness, and corrosion resistance all were improved. Application of the new system on real archaeological bronzes showed that the coating film was colorless, odorless, transparent, soft low-lustre, removable, and the original appearance of the archaeological bronze was well maintained.     

Marine Aerosol Weathering of Mediterranean Calcarenite Stone: Durability of Ethyl Silicate,Nano Ca(OH)2, Nano SiO2, and Nanostructured Consolidating Products

ABSTRACT

Calcarenite stone samples from a historic building (Bizerte, Tunisia) were collected and treated under different environmental conditions with several consolidating products: alkoxysilane (ethyl silicate), a surfactant-templated novel sol–gel, Ca(OH)₂, and SiO₂ nanoparticles. These were subjected to marine aerosol accelerated aging cycles and studied by several non-destructive tests and techniques to assess the stability of the products. Results show that weathering caused by salt crystallization is not inhibited but it is slowed down due to the enhancement of superficial mechanical properties (surface cohesion and micro-hardness) achieved after one month of treatments application. A high or low relative humidity of the consolidation environment significantly affects the final mechanical and aesthetical physical properties and therefore conditions the durability of the treated substrates, even producing higher damage than observed in the blank specimens, depending on the product.     

Decontamination of Biocide Treated Museum Objects of the Swiss National Museum’s Collection by Liquid CO2 Technology

ABSTRACT

A decontamination treatment using liquid CO₂ (li-CO₂) and specifically developed for the requirements of museum objects (Lombardo, T., M. Wörle, V. Hubert, E. Hildbrand, I. Mayer, C. Hinterleitner, U. von Arx. 2020. “Influence of Process Parameters on Chlorinated Biocide Decontamination by li-CO₂ on Artificially Contaminated Model Materials.” Studies in Conservation, in press, doi:10.1080/00393630.2019.1641001) was first tested on model materials of wood (with and without coating), silk, and wool with different dyes, paper, and leather in order to evaluate possible material changes. Then, selected museum objects from the collection of the Swiss National Museum were treated to determine the efficiency of biocide decontamination and any resulting chemical and/or structural changes. Results show that dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), pentachlorophenol (PCP), lindane, and chlorpyrifos were successfully removed. Wool, silk, leather, and non-coated wood did not experience any detectable modifications, while moderate to major modifications were observed in wood coated with shellac and polychromy.     

Pornography,Alcohol, and Male Sexual Dominance

This study surveyed German heterosexual men's interest and engagement in a variety of dominant behaviors observed in recent analyses of pornography. Interest in watching popular pornographic movies or more frequent consumption of pornography was associated with men's desire to engage in or having already engaged in behaviors such as hair pulling, spanking a partner hard enough to leave a mark, facial ejaculation, confinement, double-penetration (i.e. penetrating a partner's anus or vagina simultaneously with another man), ass-to-mouth (i.e. anally penetrating a partner and then inserting the penis directly into her mouth), penile gagging, facial slapping, choking, and name-calling (e.g. “slut” or “whore”). Consistent with past experimental research on the effect of alcohol and pornography exposure on men's likelihood of sexual coercion, men who had engaged in the most dominant behaviors were those who frequently consumed pornography and regularly consumed alcohol before or during sex.     

Bits and Pieces of Information: Bibliographic Modeling of Transmedia

Transmedia is a technique of telling a single narrative or creating a continuous imaginary world across multiple media platforms. The article seeks to explore this emerging phenomenon in terms of bibliographic organization. It analyzes transmedia features in the context of bibliographic entities and relationships, particularly those outlined in the Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records FRBR and FRBR_OO (object-oriented redefinition) conceptual models.     

Influence of Process Parameters on Chlorinated Biocide Decontamination by li-CO2 on Artificially Contaminated Model Materials

ABSTRACT

Previously, heavy use of biocides for the treatment of objects made of organic materials in museum collections (e.g. ethnographic, historical collections) was very common. Now suitable decontamination methods/technologies are being sought. A decontamination treatment by li-CO₂ was optimized that considered the specific requirements of museum objects. The treatment was tested on model materials artificially contaminated with biocide solutions containing dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), pentachlorophenol (PCP), lindane, and permethrin or cypermethrin. High decontamination was achieved for DDT, lindane, PCP, and permethrin on artificially biocide loaded wool and wood model materials. Optimal process parameter settings for li-CO₂ decontamination include a single 30?min cycle for woolen materials and three sequential 30?min cycles each for wood. These methods allow a reduction of at least 90% of all biocides for wool and between 70% and 85% for wood. Decontamination of the latter was more effective for less polar biocides as DDT and permethrin. Despite a significant improvement in decontamination for wood using co-solvents such as acetone, ethanol, and methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE), their use is not recommended due to the increased risk of damage to the objects, in particular if a surface coating is present.     

Measuring Weathering and Nanoparticle Coating Impact on Surface Roughness of Natural Stones

ABSTRACT

The surface texture of a stone represents a sensitive parameter in evaluating its conservation state. In monuments and sculptures, in fact, external agents continuously alter the appearance of stones, determining peculiar weathering patterns and modifying properties such as retention of water and particles, interaction with light, color, and finishing. The application of protective coatings also determines changes in surface appearance of a stone, usually evaluated and monitored by color change tests. Surface metrology methods offer the possibility to quantify these changes, evaluating the impact of external agents (natural, i.e. weathering, and artificially, i.e. protective coatings) on natural stones. In this research, we demonstrate the potential of surface areal measurements in describing the evolution of weathering processes and the effects of protective treatments on porous stone materials. The obtained results suggest that the extent of the modifications is related to the scale of observation (small- vs. large-scale undulations, i.e. roughness and waviness, respectively), with an overall increase of surface roughness as the weathering proceeds. Unexpectedly, coatings based on nanoparticle dispersions increase the topographic height parameters, due to the absence of a homogeneous film.     

British Writings on Romania: From Travel Accounts to Studies

This article surveys a sample of sources of the information about Romania available to British readers in nineteenth century British newspapers and periodicals. It traces first contacts between the Romanian lands and Britain after the union of the principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia in 1859, then after their independence from the Ottoman Empire. The article highlights an increased Romanian interest in British periodicals, which reported and reviewed Romanian literature and scholarship. The article concludes that nineteenth century British newspapers and periodicals offer a great variety and wealth of new material previously unavailable or unknown to researchers. It also states that only a portion of a large quantity of this material has been indexed and is therefore available via the bibliographic sources mentioned in the article. The author argues for the need of a new and updated British-Romanian bibliography, which can draw on new online resources offering access to thousands of new newspapers and periodical records.     

Slavic Approval Plans: What Works and What Doesn't

ABSTRACT

The paper looks at library approval plans for material published in Slavic, East European, and Eurasian countries from the selector's point of view. Reasons why a selector would or would not want one are examined. Success with approval plans requires monitoring receipts, as well as good and ongoing communication among the selector, the acquistions department, and the vendor. A preliminary list of vendors offering approval plans for the countries of the region appears in the appendix.     

由“资源集聚”向“需求导向”转变——对武汉科技信息服务平台建设的思考

为进一步提升武汉科技信息共享服务平台使用效率,本文从平台资源建设、资源应用、供需对接方式和供需特点等方面分析了武汉科技信息资源服务现状;基于需求和利用的角度,结合平台管理实践和走访用户、问卷调查等研究方法,从信息资源需求主体和平台自身建设管理两个维度,找出制约科技资源供需对接的主要因素;以市场化和制度化为创新理念,从政策创新、机制创新、市场化服务、环境营造、人才培养等方面提出平台建设由“资源集聚”向“需求导向”转变的对策建议.     

Politicking for the Public Library

ABSTRACT

In today's current political environment raising support for millage renewals, bond campaigns or even millage continuations for public libraries is affected by national politics, and a tendency towards tax aversion on principle across the country. The lessons we can learn from the governing boards of small and rural public libraries are worth raising up to a greater national consciousness. Board governance, community consciousness, and facilities management are clear and logical tools that elected boards of public libraries can use to politick for support of libraries.     

Architectures of Knowledge and Literary Tradition: A History of the Almanac in Croatia

ABSTRACT

The history of the almanac in Croatia is reconstructed through primary research in bibliographic and archival sources. The almanac is a vehicle for knowledge communication in informal contexts, engaging both oral tradition and literary forms traceable to medieval literacy and ways of structuring knowledge. The history of the almanac in Croatia reflects the changing context of the book trade, literacy, and the evolution of language. Four main stages are identified: (1) the beginning of the annual almanac in the seventeenth century; astrological almanacs reflecting the sensibility of the Baroque period; (2) the Enlightenment's stimulation of almanac publishing in the spirit of contemporary secular reforms in agriculture and education; (3) nineteenth-and twentieth-century almanac trade, showing complex and overlapping networks for the production, distribution and appropriation of printed almanacs;(4) roughly the end of World War II, when the almanac slowly moved out of the role of a popular mass medium and into specialized niches represented by regional, diaspora, and religious almanacs.     

基于文献时间特征的学科主题演化分析方法研究 ——以图书情报学领域为例

在分析文献在不同研究阶段用词时间特征的倾向性基础上,提出一种基于主题模型的研究发展阶段识别方法。重点阐述该方法的构建过程,包括时间特征抽取、发展阶段界定、主题冷热变化分析等步骤。为验证该方法的有效性,针对词频统计法和主题模型方法在主题演化分析中的效果进行比较分析。结果表明,该方法能在识别主题热点和发展趋势的同时,有效地区分不同主题所反映的研究发展阶段。     

How Digital Content Resellers are Impacting Trade Book Publishing

Some key questions for publishers in today’s market are: Could Amazon’s recent merger and acquisitions strategy create a disruptive or paradigm shifting business model in the publishing industry? Do their recent actions post mergers and acquisitions illustrate a predicable pattern of behaviour that publishers can strategize around? This paper will explore these questions and look at some of the possible reasons behind Amazon’s business practices and the possible consequences to publishers.     

Germany's New Culture of Welcome—Our Libraries are an Essential Part of it

ABSTRACT

German authorities are expecting more than 1 million refugees by the end of 2015. These people come to Germany to seek protection and assistance and to build a new life, therefore it is important to welcome them and to assist them in their integration as soon as possible. This situation creates a versatile and perfectly fitting opportunity for cultural and educational programs, including libraries, which can play a vital role in this integration process. The key to integration is the knowledge of the German language, and the most important challenge now is to teach the necessary language skills to as many asylum-seekers as possible.     

Syndicating Rich Bibliographic Metadata Using MODS and RSS

Abstract

Many libraries use RSS to syndicate information about their collections to users. A survey of 65 academic libraries revealed their most common use for RSS is to disseminate information about library holdings, such as lists of new acquisitions. Even though typical RSS feeds are ill suited to the task of carrying rich bibliographic metadata, great potential exists for developing applications that can exploit metadata exposed to Web services via RSS. Using the MODS metadata format, entire catalog records can be seamlessly embedded in RSS 2.0 feeds. Existing tools, such as Library of Congress Java toolkits and XSLT stylesheets, can facilitate this process, while a new XSLT stylesheet may be used to create the RSS feeds complete with MODS records. As an example of the added functionality these MODS/RSS feeds can offer, records from a MODS-enriched RSS feed can be ingested into a non-RSS application such as Zotero. As more emerging library technologies use Web services architectures to handle data objects, the ability to syndicate catalog records will become more critical to providing innovative library Web services.     

Device-Driven Research: The Impact of Chromebooks in American Schools

Chromebooks and the G Suite group of products, like Google Search, Gmail, and Google Docs, have rapidly expanded in American schools during the past 5 years. The impact of one-to-one Chromebook devices and the pervasive use of Google's software products in American education cannot be overstated. This article explores some of the influences of these products on research, based on the experiences of a librarian and technology coordinator at an elementary education level. The author has several suggestions for effective research with these products in mind.     

Selling Women on PDAs from “Simply Palm” to “Audrey”: How Moore's Law Met Parkinson's Law in the Kitchen

This essay investigates key moments in the history of personal digital assistant (PDA) marketing to women. Analyzing promotional texts for three PDAs that received considerable press coverage from 1999 to 2001, this essay explores the cultural significance of the convergence of anxieties about women's place in the gendered division of labor with the computer industry's changing marketing imperatives. Drawing on an array of promotional texts, including news articles, press releases, promotional Web sites, and ads appearing in newspapers and magazines, this paper tells the story of how the computer industry aimed to sell smaller, faster computing devices to women while promising to mediate and thus reproduce women's overwork as paid and familial laborers. After experimenting with the PDA as a sexy fashionable gadget for working women, marketers approached women as mothers with “Audrey,” an Internet appliance designed for the kitchen.