Analytical Strategies For Cultural Heritage Materials And Their Degradation

Reviewing the analytical strategies used in the study of cultural heritage assets, this book pays particular attention to analytical methodology and ensuring reliable results are obtained for those working in conservation practice.

This reprint provides the most recent advancements and trends in the analysis of cultural heritage samples, including archaeological and bio-archaeological samples, confirming the growing public and academic interest in this field. The submitted papers cover different aspects of cultural and archaeological heritage protection, conservation, and restoration. The complexity of such samples, including archaeological samples, generally requires a multi-analytical approach. The integrated use of different analytical techniques, with the preference for noninvasive or micro-invasive ones, allows an in-depth understanding of the original materials and their degradation processes and helps obtain innovative solutions for the restoration and conservation of artworks.

Besides their notable historical and cultural significance, heritage buildings crucially contribute to the economy of those countries that rely heavily on the tourism industry. Investigation and monitoring of the origins of deterioration and damage are therefore key to the preservation of architectural heritage. Diagnosis of Heritage Buildings by Non-Destructive Techniques offers an up-to-date overview of state-of-the-art knowledge by collating specialized studies written by an international group of experts in the field, while also examining the value of these non-intrusive methods through a number of real-life case studies which prove NDT techniques’ global relevance. The volume is an invaluable reference resource for students, researchers, and practitioners alike. Helps readers to easily identify the latest advances in non-destructive testing by subdividing the content into sections specific to each assessment approach Explores the integration of different NDT methodologies, facilitating the interoperability of traditional and advanced technologies Presents case studies based on real built heritage to show how to correctly implement the measurement techniques described, and to interpret the results

This book addresses the application of Raman spectroscopic techniques to a range of diverse problems which arise in the study, conservation and restoration of artefacts and sites closely related to our cultural heritage as well as in authentication. These themes are naturally wider than what at first might be considered as artworks and archaeological artefacts and the topics include pigments, paintings, ceramics, glass, sculpture and patination / corrosion, textiles, industrial archaeology, the degradation and preservation of biomaterials, mummies and human skeletal remains. An interesting feature is the inclusion of modern case studies which describe specific problems and approaches to the Raman spectral analysis of items important to our cultural heritage. The text is prefaced with an introduction to the important parameters used in nondestructive Raman measurements and also highlights some future applications based upon novel miniaturised instrumentation for in-field studies and potential screening work which will identify specimens which would repay further studies in the laboratory. An attempt is made to give a snapshot of the state-of-the-art evolution since the beginning of the technique (1970s) and to point out potential further development. The book is co-edited by three international experts with many years' experience in the application of Raman spectroscopy to artworks, archaeological artefacts and in the investigation of materials and sites for cultural heritage preservation and each editor has undertaken to write individual chapters and different topics personally. The adopted approach is designed to convey the sort of information which has become available from the adoption of analytical Raman spectroscopy to different problems in the field of cultural heritage preservation through the spectral interrogation of artefacts and how the interpretation of the spectral data can assist museum curators, archaeologists and cultural heritage historians in the preservation and conservation of ancient materials and sites : a particular advantage in this respect is the ability of Raman spectroscopy to determine –generally in a strictly noninvasive procedure - at the laboratory or on-site with mobile instruments, the presence of both organic and inorganic components in a particular specimen together nondestructively without any chemical and mechanical pretreatment being undertaken, which is an essential requirement for rare and valuable samples . An important aside from this work is the means of spectral identification of ongoing biodeterioration and biological colonisation in specimens in storage and the effects of environmental deterioration such as humidity and temperature upon their integrity.

This book provides the scientific and technical background materials of non-destructive methods of microscopic analysis that are suitable for analysing works of art, museum pieces and archeaological artefacts. Written by experts in the field, this multi-author volume contains a number of case studies, illustrating the value of these methods. The book is suited to natural scientists and analysts looking to increase their knowledge of the various methods that are currently available for non-destructive analysis. It is also the perfect resource for museum curators, archaeologists and art-historians seeking to identify one or more suitable methods of analysis that could solve material-related problems.

Disposable electrodes have been widely used as a sensing platform in electrical and electrochemical sensors owing to the possibility of quantitative detection using clinical biomarkers with high precision, sensitivity and reproducibility, which are necessary for accurate diagnosis of the health condition of an individual. This book focusses on the emerging disposable electrochemical sensors in the health sector and the advancement of analytical devices to monitor diabetic, cancer and cardiovascular patients using different nanomaterials. It discusses the upcoming strategies, advantages and the limitations of the existing devices using disposable electrodes. Uniquely, it covers in-depth knowledge of mechanistic features of various designs of screen-printing electrodes and the material aspects required of sensors developed for the healthcare field. It also looks at the portable devices using a variety of materials and the future directions for research in this area. Appealing to the health care industry, this book is aimed at academic and research institutes at both the graduate and postgraduate level. The contributors are leading experts in the field and they are providing guidance for the next decade of research in the field of disposable electrochemical biosensors.

Quantum dots are proven powerful probes for fluorescence imaging and have distinct properties that give them unique capabilities. Currently, they are being developed for a range of additional applications including the detection of disease, fluorescent assays for drug discovery, single protein tracking and intracellular reporting. Here, the various types of quantum dots are introduced, with the reader being provided with enough information in the text and the references to encourage a new quantum dot user to get started. Including an overview of the significant advancement in the field and discussing applications, the book emphasises how the properties of quantum dots are employed in bioanalytical chemistry. Closing with a prospectus of the future for quantum dots, any researchers and students in bioanalytical chemistry, medicine and clinical biochemistry will find this title useful supplementary reading.

Looking to prevent future outbreaks of deadly pathogens by early detection? Infectious diseases continue to be a challenge that necessitates increased precision in detection and integration to achieve accurate diagnosis at the point of care (PoC). Field-effect transistors (FETs) have been investigated widely as biosensors for pathogen detection, with advantages such as label-free and real-time detection capabilities. These biosensors have: a high level of sensitivity, a remarkable capacity for miniaturization, a molecular minimum limit of detection (LoD), and seamless integration with semiconductor technology In this title, we have invited expert scientific researchers to share their experience in this field. This book focuses on the application and possibility of FETs as biosensors, for rapid and real time detection of pathogens that affect human life. The lack of commercially available efficient devices that can be deployed for this task resulted in the recent global spread of the SARS-CoV-19 virus. The book is an attempt to keep interested parties up to date. Aimed at scientists and engineers (researchers, academics, and postgraduate students) who are interested in developing and using BioFET based sensors, the information in this book is crucial to help prevent future outbreaks of pathogens which bring with them significant impacts on human health and wellbeing.

Describing the importance of surfactants in electrochemical investigations related to biologically and environmentally vital chemicals, this book charts the progression of highly responsive electrochemical sensors using surfactants as a modifying agent in the sensor field. It provides contributed chapters from respected researchers on information concerning the activity of target molecules and electron transfer kinetics arising at the surface of the fabricated sensor materials. Surfactant-based electrochemical sensors are of great interest in the quest to find low-cost, fast and highly responsive sensing devices and one aim of this book is to help improve the competence and knowledge in this newly emerging interdisciplinary research area. Attracting an audience of students, academics, industrialists and engineers, it will interest researchers seeking to use non-toxic sensors in their detection challenges.

The global miniature devices market is poised to surpass a valuation of $12–$15 billion USD by the year 2030. Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices are a vital component of this market. Comprising a network of microchannels, electrical circuits, sensors, and electrodes, LOC is a miniaturized integrated device platform used to streamline day-to-day laboratory functions, run cost-effective clinical analyses and curb the need for centralized instrumentation facilities in remote areas. Compact design, portability, ease of operation, low sample volume, short reaction time, and parallel investigation stand as the pivotal factors driving the widespread acceptance of LOC within the biomedical community. In this book, the Editors meticulously explore LOC through three key ‘Ts’: Theories (microfluidics, microarrays, instrumentation, software); Technologies (additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence, computational thinking, smart consumables, scale-up tactics, and biofouling); and Trends (biomedical analysis, point-of-care diagnostics, personalized healthcare, bioactive synthesis, disease diagnosis, and space applications) This comprehensive text not only provides readers with a thorough understanding of the current advancements in the LOC domain but also offers valuable insights to support the utilization of miniaturized devices for enhanced healthcare practices. Aimed at career researchers looking for instruction in the topic and newcomers to the area, the book is also useful for undergraduate and postgraduate students embarking on new studies or for those interested in reading about the LOC platform.