Thermographic Imaging in Cultural Heritage: A Short Review.

Over the recent period, there has been an increasing interest in the use of pulsed infrared thermography (PT) for the non-destructive evaluation of Cultural Heritage (CH). Unlike other techniques that are commonly employed in the same field, PT enables the depth-resolved detection of different kinds of subsurface features, thus providing helpful information for both scholars and restorers. Due to this reason, several research activities are currently underway to further improve the PT effectiveness.

An infrared spectroscopic study of aortic valve. A possible mechanism of calcification and the role of magnesium salts.

In the present study fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was used to study the mechanism of pathogenesis of aortic valve calcification. The high intensity bands of vCH3 and vCH2 groups of lipids and phospholipids of membranes, in the spectral region 3000-2800 cm(-1), show the high concentration of lipids and fatty components in aortic valve, resulting from degradation of the main aliphatic chain of the membranes, with a change of their permeability and fluidity. The presence of bands at 3075 and 1744 cm(-1), assigned to olefinic (v=CH) and aldehyde carbonyl groups, respectively, implies that reactive oxygen species are involved in the initiation of peroxidation of the lipids and phospholipids.

Oxidative stress and atherogenesis. An FT-IR spectroscopic study.

Atherosclerosis is a complex phenomenon which leads to sudden death. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was used to study the pathogenic components of carotids that produce the atheromatic plaque at the molecular level, as well as the role of free radicals, which are developed during oxidative stress and their effect on plaque generation. The absorption infrared spectra reflected significant changes which were analogous to clinical data of each patient.

Bioremediation of a soil contaminated by lindane utilizing the fungus Ganoderma australe via response surface methodology.

Mixtures of a sandy soil and wheat straw were doped with the organochlorine insecticide lindane in glass tubes and were inoculated with the polypore fungus, Ganoderma australe. An evaluation of bioremediation process effectiveness was searched and five parameters identified for the solid-state system. Fungi growth is a function of temperature and requires moisture for a proper colonization.