Fungal outbreak in the Catacombs of SS. Marcellino and Pietro Rome (Italy): From diagnosis to an emergency treatment.

The present study reports a sudden fungal outbreak that occurred in the corridor near the entrance of the Catacombs of SS. Marcellino and Pietro in Rome (Italy) observed after 1 year of a restoration treatment that interested the walls of the entrance of the Catacombs and some artifacts placed . The colonization was observed on the vault at the entrance and in correspondence with the restored marble pieces displayed on the left side of the corridor.

Modelling soil water retention using support vector machines with genetic algorithm optimisation.

This work presents point pedotransfer function (PTF) models of the soil water retention curve. The developed models allowed for estimation of the soil water content for the specified soil water potentials: -0.98, -3.

Characterisation and discrimination of various types of lac resin using gas chromatography mass spectrometry techniques with quaternary ammonium reagents.

A variety of lac resin samples obtained from artists' suppliers, industrial manufacturers, and museum collections were analysed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) and reactive pyrolysis GCMS with quaternary ammonium reagents. These techniques allowed a detailed chemical characterisation of microgram-sized samples, based on the detection and identification of derivatives of the hydroxy aliphatic and cyclic (sesquiterpene) acids that compose the resin. Differences in composition could be related to the nature of the resin, e.

CRISPR elements in the Thermococcales: evidence for associated horizontal gene transfer in Pyrococcus furiosus.

The presence and distribution of CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindrome repeat) elements in the archaeal order Thermococcales were analyzed. Four complete genome sequences from the species Pyrococcus abyssi, P. furiosus, P.

Co-composting of sugarbeet vinasse: influence of the organic matter nature of the bulking agents used.

Two composts were obtained by co-composting of a concentrated depotassified beet vinasse and two agricultural solid residues with different organic matter nature: grape marc (GM; lignin waste) and cotton gin trash (C; cellulosic waste). Composting was carried out in aerated piles with mechanical turning, in controlled conditions during 4 months. After 71 days of composting, a new addition of vinasse similar to the initial addition was made.