Search Results (112)

Radiography, favoured for its ability to provide a non-invasive insight into the contents of wrapped or coffined artefacts, has revolutionised the study of mummified human and animal remains. Despite this potential, the technology is limited by its capacity to realistically visualise the surface attributes of these often-complex artefacts. In this paper, photogrammetry—a technique widely used in archaeology and heritage applications—is applied to build upon the radiographic investigation of six ancient Egyptian votive artefacts from Manchester Museum; a study which combines the two techniques for the first time on votive material from the collection. The paper showcases the results gained through clinical radiography techniques (digital X-ray and computed tomography) on the internal contents of the artefacts, highlighting the problems encountered when viewing the outer surface. With a simple on-site photogrammetry protocol, improved visualisation was possible, providing photo-realistic renderings with important potential for both research, conservation and engagement. Full article

Cost reduction has always been a high priority target in modern management. Concentrating on material strength, the huge potential is recognized for cost reduction in finding the material fatigue coefficients by reduction the number and time required for testing specimens. The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of several fatigue parameter estimation methods by comparing them with reference test data obtained for six different steel materials. In the literature, several estimation methods can be found. Those methods rely on tension or hardness tests. The concern is about the accuracy of those methods; therefore, a basic case was investigated involving estimation methods and comparing them to reference data from a physical test. The case was selected in a manner that allowed the verification of combined low and high cycle fatigue. As a result, the estimation methods produced a very wide range of fatigue life predictions, but some of them were quite accurate. This leads to the conclusion that estimation methods can be a step forward for finding the fatigue material properties; however, a study should be undertaken on which methods are the most suitable for the material family used. Full article

Testing and the estimation methods for predicting the life of crack initiation and crack growth for P92 steel using a circular sharp notched round bar specimen (CNS) under strain-controlled creep and fatigue conditions have been reported previously. A unique estimation method for the cycle-sequential characteristics of tensile and compressive peak stresses is proposed; specifically, the nominal stress range ${∆\sigma }_{net}={{(\sigma }_{max}-{\sigma }_{min})}_{net}$ and the measurement of crack length using the direct current electric potential drop (DCPD) method were adopted. This method was effective in specifying the failure life and crack initiation life by verifying the crack growth length. However, to show the universality of these results, it is important to compare the experimental results obtained under strain-controlled creep and fatigue conditions with those obtained under stress-controlled creep and fatigue conditions and with those for smooth specimens estimated based on the linear and nonlinear damage summation rule. Furthermore, it may also be important to compare these results with those of smooth specimens estimated based on the Manson–Coffin law when the failure life is fatigue-dominant. Considering these aspects, detailed experiments and analyses were systematically conducted for P92 steel in this study, and the above comparisons were conducted. The results aid in achieving a unified understanding of the law of fracture life, including those under stress- and strain-controlled creep and fatigue conditions. Full article

Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) is a promising advancement for detecting bone edema-like lesions (BME). However, its application in horses remains limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate DECT virtual-non-calcium (VNCa) imaging in the equine foot and establish which confounding factors could influence its applicability in clinical practice. The DECT VNCa map of 14 standing and 5 cadaveric (recumbent) cases with foot-related lameness was scored in consensus by two readers in comparison to MRI. Overall, 17/19 cases demonstrated BME on MRI, whereas 2 did not. Agreement between DECT VNCa and MRI was found in 15/19 feet (78.9%). Disagreement in 4/19 cases with BME was due to sclerosis (1/19), mild BME extent on MRI (2/19), or scan artifacts (1/19). The extent of BME was significantly underestimated using DECT VNCa compared to MRI (p = 0.016). No significant correlation was found between sclerosis score and the BME extent underestimation on DECT (p = 0.056). Between standing and post-mortem cases, there was no significant difference in the agreement between DECT and MRI (p = 0.53) or DECT VNCa image quality (p = 0.22). In conclusion, DECT VNCa effectively identified moderate and severe BME, and its use was feasible in standing positioning. In case of sclerosis, a case-by-case assessment is recommended. Full article

This article examines the material data preserved in king’s coffins used to bury and/or rebury five different kings, which represent the surviving material evidence we have of the art produced to manufacture divinized kingship during the New Kingdom: Seqenenre Taa, Kamose, Thutmose I/Panedjem I, Thutmose III, and Ramses II. All of them were removed from their original 17th and 18th Dynasty sepulchers, stripped of valuable materials, modified, and reused in later cache burials of the 20th, 21st, and 22nd Dynasties by 20th and 21st Dynasty High Priests of Amen, who used these recrafted coffins as a means of claiming their political and ideological legitimacy. Supported with detailed evidence of the five surviving king’s coffins as objects of social and political value and sometimes relying on the coffins recovered from Tutankhamun’s tomb for comparison, this article attempts to reconstruct some of the original material state of this art as a tool of power. Full article

The load spectrum serves as the foundation for the life analysis of aero-engine turbine disks. To enhance the accuracy of life assessments for turbine disks, this study compiles a time-varying load spectrum for turbine disks. Firstly, a surrogate model for transient processes at the critical points of turbine disks is established, enabling the rapid evaluation of the transient temperature and thermal stress at these points under complex loading histories. Secondly, a performance degradation model is established based on real engine test data, explicitly describing the general trend of performance degradation characteristics with respect to the cycle number and engine power. Finally, a time-varying load spectrum for turbine disks is compiled, considering both short-term transient processes and long-term performance degradation. The life of turbine disks at the fir-tree slot root and disk bore is assessed using the Manson–Coffin equation, Wilshire equation, and linear damage accumulation rule. The results indicate that neglecting transient processes leads to conservative life assessment results while neglecting performance degradation leads to dangerous life assessment results. Compared with traditional methods, the time-varying load spectrum significantly improves the accuracy and scientific nature of turbine disk life assessment. Full article

Background/Objectives: Congenital heart disease (CHD) occurs in ~1% of all live neonates globally, rendering it the most prevalent developmental anomaly affecting humans; this condition confers substantial infant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although there is ample evidence to suggest a paramount genetic basis for CHD, the genetic etiologies underpinning the majority of CHD remain elusive. In the present study, SOX4 was selected as a significant candidate gene for human CHD, mainly because SOX4 is abundantly expressed in both human and murine hearts during embryogenesis, and the knockout of Sox4 in mice causes embryonic demise predominantly attributable to cardiovascular developmental defects. Methods: Sequencing analysis of SOX4 was fulfilled in 248 probands affected with various types of CHD and the available relatives of the identified variation carrier as well as 262 unrelated healthy individuals. Functional analysis of the mutant SOX4 protein was conducted by utilizing a dual-reporter gene system. Results: a novel heterozygous SOX4 variation, NM_003107.3:c.331G>T;p.(Glu111*), was discovered in a male proband with Coffin–Siris syndromic CHD. Genetic investigation of the proband’s available relatives revealed that the truncating variation co-segregated with the phenotype in the whole family. The nonsense variation was absent from 262 healthy controls. Functional analysis demonstrated that the Glu111*-mutant SOX4 lost transactivation on NKX2.5 and GATA4, two well-established genes that are causative factors for CHD. Moreover, the Glu111* mutation nullified the synergistic transactivation between SOX4 and TBX20, another CHD-causing gene. Conclusions: These findings support SOX4 as a causative gene accountable for familial Coffin–Siris syndromic CHD in humans. These findings may aid in developing personalized preventive and therapeutic strategies for patients with Coffin–Siris syndromic CHD. Full article

Background/Objectives: On 22 February 2021, a coastal landslide in Italy caused the collapse of an old cemetery, displacing approximately 370 coffins, with over 200 plunging into the sea. This disaster necessitated the recovery and identification of human remains under challenging conditions to provide closure to families and uphold the dignity of the deceased. Methods: Recovery operations involved firefighters and scuba divers, followed by forensic analysis conducted by the Medical Staff of Legal and Forensic Medicine. A post-mortem team utilized forms adapted from Interpol’s Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) standards to document remains, which included 140 decomposed bodies and 193 bags of commingled skeletal remains. DNA samples were collected from 147 bone fragments, primarily long bones and teeth, and compared with ante-mortem data gathered from relatives. Results: Of the 77 eligible relatives, 66 consented to DNA sample collection for genetic profiling, and 28 bodies were identified. Personal effects, clothing, medical devices, and a strong match between non-genetic AM and PM data led to an attribution of identity of other 19 individuals. Advanced post-mortem phenomena were observed in remains spanning from the late 19th century to 2017. An identification area at the cemetery facilitated streamlined operations, emphasizing environmental preservation and forensic accuracy. Conclusions: The cemetery collapse highlights the necessity for tailored forensic approaches in disaster scenarios. Accurate identification methods, combining genetic analysis and secondary means, are crucial for ensuring dignified burials and providing closure to affected families. Full article

X-ray Computed Tomography (X-CT) is now an established technique for the investigation and diagnostics of Cultural Heritage. Its advantages include non-invasiveness, non-destructiveness, and the possibility of exploring the inner parts of an object without any modification. X-CT is often employed to investigate the construction methods of complex artifacts made with different parts or materials, but it is also able to support the analysis, intervention, monitoring and enhancement processes of artworks, creating digital models that can aid in the conservation and restoration procedures. In this work, several case studies are presented in which the CT technique has been decisive in identifying the effects of time and the events that occurred during the object’s life influencing its state of conservation. These range from large objects, such as an 18th century CE writing cabinet or an ancient Egyptian wooden coffin, to very small artifacts, like Mesopotamian lapis lazuli beads or fragments of Roman colored glass. Additionally, the results obtained by µ-CT investigations on the conservation state of a bronze arrowhead uncovered from the Urama-chausuyama mounded tomb (Japan, Kofun period, end of the 3rd century CE) are presented here for the first time. Lastly, the versatility of the technique when applied with different setups is highlighted. Full article

Morphometric measurements of the toe serve as a reference for the objective assessment of the presence of a pathological condition and as a guide for the correct trimming of the hooves. Therefore, the anatomical differences between horses and donkeys oblige an autonomous database with reference values for the donkey. The aim of this study was therefore to provide readings of the distal hind limb on radiographs of donkeys. Radiographs of the distal hind limb in two projections of 41 generally sound donkeys without lameness in walk were taken after previous hoof trimming and preparation according to a standardized radiographic procedure. A total of 16 lengths and 9 angles were measured and statistically analyzed in each hoof. The dorsal hoof wall is on average 70 to 80 mm long and angled at 55°; the coffin bone runs parallel to the hoof wall. The average founder distance is 17 mm, and the mean sole thickness is 14 mm. The heel angle averages 52°, which is slightly flatter than the hoof wall angle. Correlations with weight and height are observed. Concluding, the morphometric measurements confirm the differences between horses’ reported normal anatomy and the presented donkeys. Disorders can be detected by applying the measurements. Full article

Through the coffin set of Tanethereret—dated to the first half of the 21st Dynasty—this article aims to underline the importance of analysing the masks and human features of ancient Egyptian yellow coffins and their value in disclosing new and important information about the Third Intermediate Period society. By moving between different visualisations, overlapping layers, measuring, and comparing, the sculpted human forms can be, for example, further indices of the quality of the production/”workshop”/artist and of the socio-economic power of the client. The possibility of making a three-piece set—coherent not only in decoration but also in form—suggests the existence of workshops capable of producing high-quality coffins and, consequently, that some people could still economically afford such coffin sets. Gaining access to such “workshops” and this type of production may indeed represent a further attempt to “manufacture social power” for the middle or high elites. Moreover, this specific case study also shows the dynamism of ancient Egyptian artistic production in a period of crisis, with artists able not only to re-adapt and re-commodify an ancient object but also to create possible new compositions with a balanced mix of styles between tradition and innovation. The study of this “invisible” part of the yellow coffins thus represents a new way of reconstructing the history of the people “hidden behind” the yellow coffins and the socio-economic sphere of ancient Egyptian society in the Third Intermediate Period, manifested through the resulting art and material culture. Full article

The operational practice of the design of the Bozena 5 demining machine has shown that its belts are the critical component that fundamentally affects the functionality of the entire machine. This article is a practical continuation and extension of the previous research results from the point of view of materials (research of the uniaxial fatigue life in bending and torsion), calculation (creation of the necessary mathematical, analytical and numerical models for the research) and construction (i.e., patented design of the belt tensioning of this machine). All these actions are aimed at a single objective—to achieve a condition that guarantees a sufficient service life without malfunctions, since repairing these machines in the field is often impossible. Therefore, this study examined the fatigue life of welded joints (uniaxial bending and torsion) of S960 QL and S500MC steels welded by MAG technology. Subsequently, the data were compared with previous results (electron and laser welds) and the influence of each type of weld on the fatigue life relative to the base material was discussed. It was found that conventional MAG technology had a more significant negative impact on the fatigue life of the base material than non-conventional technologies. This trend was particularly true for the bending stress. At the same time, the bending stress was identified by the FEM analysis as the dominant load on the belt. The maximum stress in the belt link under the considered boundary conditions was approximately 240 MPa (in bending). This stress corresponded to the continuous fatigue life (more than 10⁷ cycles) for both base materials tested (S960QL, S500MC). In the whole studied spectrum of controlled deformation amplitudes (Manson–Coffin), the life of MAG welds was lower in comparison with the base material and with welds made by unconventional technologies. All the activities carried out so far (research on microstructure, hardness, strength, residual stresses, tribological properties and fatigue life) have shown that the original belt design (S500MC) using MAG technology has significant deficiencies in the state of optimal life. It is expected that the proposed material change (use of S960QL instead of S500MC) and work with advanced technologies will bring this state significantly closer. Full article

In ancient Egypt, as with many cultures, funerary objects often communicated aspects of access, power, and social status. Lebanese cedar, for instance, was selected as a particularly desirable material from which to craft the coffins of Egypt’s upper echelons. This imported timber was both structurally superior to local woods and had important social and religious significance. For the slightly lower-ranking elite of Egypt, for whom cedar was inaccessible, local wood skeuomorphs that imitated cedar coffins were created in their place. The skeuomorphs enabled these individuals to demonstrate their knowledge of elite styles and tastes, and, due to the power of the image in ancient Egypt, also allowed for them to borrow the religious power of cedar wood to protect and enhance their own coffins. In this paper, a selection of Old to Middle Kingdom coffins are discussed to demonstrate the ways that cedar was emphasized as a construction material by the upper elite and mimicked by the middle and lower elite. This helps to demonstrate both the value of cedar in ancient Egypt, as well as the means by which imagery could be manipulated to gain access to the power of this potent material. Full article

Block lifting is a key step in stabilizing and removing fragile remains at archaeological excavation sites. Due to its favorable working properties and adhesive effect, menthol has recently been proposed as a volatile binding medium for temporary consolidation in archaeological conservation. This paper presents a case study on the use of menthol in the extraction and restoration of a large wooden coffin lid, approximately 1.9 m long and 0.9 m wide, from tomb 11 (M11) at Xie’ertala, located east of a Xie’ertala town in Hailar City, Inner Mongolia, dating to the 7th to 10th centuries CE. This coffin lid had fragmented into numerous wooden pieces, and was preserved in a relatively arid steppe environment, necessitating the extraction of the lid as a consolidated block. The use of menthol for consolidating and lifting the highly fragmented wooden coffin lid was intended to preserve critical archaeological information while avoiding damage to the underlying objects. An analysis of the physicochemical properties of these wooden remains suggests that the timber used for the coffin lid belongs to a common pine species from the Hulunbuir region. The degradation of the coffin lid was relatively mild, as shown by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) results. Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS) tests indicated that the hygroscopicity of the archaeological wood was 23.4%, compared to 21.1% for the reference sample, demonstrating good environmental stability. The safety of menthol as a treatment for fragile wooden remains was evaluated by comparing changes in the morphological and porosity characteristics of the coffin lid before and after menthol treatment. After treatment, the widths of the fissures remained largely unchanged, with all relative variations being less than 1%, and the porosity as well as pore size distribution of the wood showed negligible changes. Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) results showed that only 0.6% of menthol residue remained after 8 days of sublimation. This pilot study demonstrates that menthol is a safe temporary consolidant for block lifting and offers a promising alternative to the widely used cyclododecane. In conclusion, this research provided a new approach for conservators to safely lift similarly large and fragile wood remains during archaeological excavations. Full article

Tomb No. 2 of Tushan in Xuzhou is the tomb of King Chu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and it was an important archaeological discovery in China. The unique placement and crafting techniques of a lacquer coffin that was unearthed from the burial corridor are of significant importance in the study of tombs. In order to characterise the sample’s microstructure, elemental composition, and structural composition, as well as to study the crafting techniques of the coffin in the corridor, a range of analytical techniques were employed, including ultra-depth microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with SEM-EDS, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, and XRD. The results indicate that the cross-sectional structure of the fragments comprises a pigment layer and a lacquer ash layer, with the latter being further divided into tile ash and bone ash layers. No lacquer film layer was observed. The primary colouring agent in the pigment layer was HgS, which contained a minor quantity of organic binder. The primary component of the tile ash layer was quartz, while the osseous ash layer comprised particles and collagen derived from mammalian bones. The lacquer crafting technique employed in the construction of the coffin was relatively simple and inconsistent with the assumption of it having a noble status. The findings of this research offer experimental data for the identification, preservation, and technical restoration of the corridor coffin in the future. Full article