Brick Fragments Research Articles

Investigation of crushed brick-matrix interface in lime-based ancient mortar by microscopy and nanoindentation

Lime-based mortars containing crushed clay bricks were widely used in history and proved to be more durable than other binding materials, especially when used in seismic areas. So far, their enhanced strength and durability have been attributed to the formation of hydration products on the interface between the lime-based matrix and brick fragments. These conclusions have been exclusively reached on the basis of macroscopic mechanical tests and local chemical analyzes of mortar constituents, while the local mechanical analyzes were lacking. The purpose of this paper is to verify the previous measurements and to quantify the elastic properties of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between crushed brick fragments and the surrounding matrix by means of nanoindentation, complemented by microscopy investigations. To that goal, an ancient mortar sample from a late Byzantine church was investigated. The elemental analysis revealed an increased amount of silica and alumina in the vicinity of brick fragments in relation to the matrix composition. In addition, an increased stiffness of ITZ compared to the lime matrix in the distance up to 20–30μm from the grains was encountered by nanoindentation. Therefore, it was confirmed that the interface is stronger than the surrounding matrix, unlike the situation of inert sand aggregates, where ITZ is weakened by shrinkage-induced cracking. The average Young’s modulus in ITZ assessed by nanoindentation (18.4GPa) was comparable with low-density C-S-H phases that appear in cementitious composites. The information contained in this paper contribute to a better understanding of traditional mortars and provide the input data for their further micromechanical modeling.

<i>In Situ</i> Investigation of the Mechanical Strength of the Mortars: The Case of the Vaults of the Modena Cathedral

The 12th C. Modena Cathedral is a masterpiece testimony of early Romanesque architecture, artand civic values of the time. Following the inclusion in the UNESCO list in 1997, studies, surveysand maintenance works have started. The Emilia’s seismic events of May 2012 have happenedwhen the maintenance operations were already in an advanced phase. The quakes caused damageand re-opening of some historical cracks, in particular in the thin vaults of the naves, near thefaçade and at the junction between naves and choir and crypt. Fragments of brick, mortar from thejoints between bricks and even limited portions of a diagonal rib have fallen to the ground. In viewof seismic assessment and strengthening for improvement of the structural behaviour, detailedstudies of the vaults’ mortar became necessary. The investigation approach was minimal andpreservative, combining on-site close-up visual inspections and micro-destructive testing of themortar joints by mortar penetrometer. For this purpose, openings of 0.25x0.25 m2 in the renderlayer of the 23 vaults were created. The outcome has allowed differentiating between repair mortarsof different strength, used in different historic periods. The mortar resistance was very low butdifferent for lime mortar and gypsum. Values, divided in 3 classes of strength, were found tocorrelate well with the location and severity of the crack pattern and damage map in the vaults. Theresults were useful for a correct design (minimal and reversible) of the cathedral strengtheningintervention.

Sugarcane as constructed wetland vegetation: Preliminary studies

This study investigated the potential of sugarcane as vegetation in constructed wetlands (CW). The possibility of using sugarcane in CW has not been reported to date, but may represent a way to increase the sustainability of these wastewater treatment systems, since its biomass can be used for bioethanol production. The preliminary studies herein described were conducted in order to evaluate the behaviour of sugarcane in laboratory scale CW. At the same time, different mineral materials were tested as support media for plant growth, because the use of alternative low cost filling materials represents in itself another way to make CW more sustainable. The lab-scale CW consisted of four pots with the different mineral fillers tested (expanded clay, limestone, basalt and clay brick fragments) and one plant each (Saccharum officinarum), subjected to an average hydraulic loading rate of 419±24L/m-2day-1 of low strength wastewater. The study lasted 23 weeks, during which a regular growth of the plants was observed as well as a reasonable performance of the lab-scale CW in terms of nutrients removal from wastewater, particularly phosphorus compounds. The results obtained are promising enough to motivate a more detailed study of the use of sugarcane as CW vegetation.

Experimental Analysis of Romanesque Masonries Made by Tile and Brick Fragments Found at the Archaeological Site of S. Maria in Portuno

The reuse of ancient ceramic fragments in Romanesque masonries was a common practice in the Medieval era. A cultural impoverishment of the masonry building art characterized this period. Pre-existing structures were often exploited to build new masonries, both for civil and religious purpose. Starting from these general considerations, a specific construction technique of some Romanesque masonries of the Church of S. Maria in Portuno (Italy) and made by tile and brick fragments, was studied by a multidisciplinary approach. Analyses of the chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of the original materials (tile and brick fragments, mortars) were carried out by laboratory tests. Furthermore, some wall specimens were reproduced through the same ceramic materials and construction technique of the original masonries. Compression tests were carried out on these wall specimens so as to understand the influence of this construction technique on their compressive strength, Young's modulus, and failure mode. The results allowed increased current knowledge on historical materials and on the mechanical behavior of these specific historical masonries. Useful data obtained by experimental characterization of the materials and walls will also allow to guide future restoration works on these masonries.

Analysis and characterization of hydraulic mortars from ancient cisterns and baths in Greece

Structural mortars and plasters from cisterns and baths (thermes) from Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman period in Greece are analyzed in terms of their physico-mechanical, chemical, and microstructural characteristics, in order to find the key factors for their functionality. From the analysis it is found that their coherent and dense structure is due to the action of different mechanisms caused by the selection and combination of raw materials and the interaction with the special environment into which they served. The binding system is mixed, with the combination of hydrated lime and materials with pozzolanic properties. The aggregates are both siliceous and brick fragments of different granulometry, according to the mortar’s type (structural or plaster). The raw materials used as binders and aggregates and the technology practices during mortar application contribute to low porosity mortars with dense structure. Additionally, the environment of the cisterns and baths functioned on the benefit of the materials, as it favored the dilution of the calcite and the secondary phases formed in the mortars’ porous nature assisted towards the cohesiveness of their structure. The technology used for the production of mortars applied in baths and cisterns for a long period of time proves the high knowledge of materials’ behavior in order to produce durable constructions, resistant to highly deteriorating factors.

TL, OSL and C-14 dating results of the sediments and bricks from mummified nuns' grave

This paper presents the results of TL and OSL dating of soil and fragments of bricks from a grave, which was occupied by two mummified nuns, found at "Luz" Monastery, located in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The TL and OSL ages were compared to C-14 dating ones obtained from bone collagens of the mummies. The majority of the ages is related to the eighteenth century. The gamma-ray spectroscopy was used to evaluate natural radioisotope concentrations in the samples, and by using these concentrations the annual dose rates, from 3.0 to 5.3 Gy/kyr, were obtained. Neutron activation analysis was performed and the radioisotope contents results are in agreement with those obtained by gamma-ray spectroscopy. The contents of U, Th and Ce elements were higher than those found in usual sediments.

Ο ναός του Αγίου Νικολάου στο ρέμα του Σωφρόνη Λακωνίας

The church of Hagios Nikolaos at Sofronis gorge, Laconia At the southwest slopes of mount Parnon, on t he lower part of the Tzitzina gorge, lays the church of Hagios Nikolaos, the catholicon of an old monastery, today in ruins. Close to the church there is a spring of clear water, known to the locals as the Sofronis spring; the gorge itself, from that level until the point that it reaches the Kelefina river, some kilometers lower, is known by the name “Sofronis gorge”. The catholicon is a cross-in-square church of the variant with shorter west arm, with a narthex and an exonarthex at the west part of the nave. The west arm of the cross and the lateral corner bays are much shorter than the corresponding east parts, which makes the west corner bays look like blind arches. Above the central square bay of the nave lays a peculiar dome, whose drum is cylindrical inside, while outside it has a rectangular shape ending in triangular gables at its east and west side. The esonathex was initially cross-vaulted, completely unified with the main church. Its central bay was covered by a longitudinal barrel vault at the same level as the arch of the west cross arm of the nave. The west sides of its corner bays are articulated by two blind arches, of which the north one might have been used as a burial arcosolium. A small niche is formed at the east wall of its south corner bay, either for liturgical function or to be used for the service of the holy water. The exonarthex has a complicated structural history. Initially was timber-roofed, while in a later phase it was covered by a transverse barrel vault, for whose support blind arches were constructed at its west side, now in ruins. The external surfaces of the church are plain, without any kind of articulation, as was the rule in monuments of southern Greece. The walls were constructed by roughly hewn stones with plenty of brick fragments in the joints. At least one level of wooden ties strengthens the walls in the springing line of the vaults. The cross arms of the nave were covered by saddle tile roofs, as was the rule in cross-in-square churches of the byzantine periphery. The east corner bays where roofed at a lower level with lean-to roofs with north and south direction respectively. The west corner bays on the other hand, were so much thinner that it was rather impossible to have independent roofing. In that case, the roofs of the lateral compartments of the esonarthex gave externally the impression of west corner bays. This peculiar arrangement, emphasizing the unification between the nave and the esonathex, is very rarely attested among the known examples of cross-in-square churches with shorter west arm, relating the church at the Sofronis Gorge with a small group of relevant monuments (Fraggavilla, Klesa-Porti). The form of the dome of the church in question must not be confused with the similarly shaped raised central bays in transverse barrel vaults. Thought there are a few similarities with a small number of byzantine and post byzantine domes, it seems that the dome of Hagios Nikolaos at Sofronis Gorge is unique in the ecclesiastical architecture of Byzantium, most likely the result of an improvisation of a local group of masons. Hagios Nikolaos was initially decorated with frescoes, fragmentarily preserved. Three different phases can be distinguished due to stylistic and iconographic criteria. The first one is very difficult to be studied because of its poor condition of presentation. The second one can be dated to the late thirteenth century, while the last one might be placed in the fifteenth century. It is difficult to conclude to an exact dating for the church of Hagios Nikolaos, because of the lack of documentary and epigraphic evidence. Based on its morphological and typological features a rather broad dating between the eleventh and twelfth centuries seems possible for the monument in examined. Hagios Nikolaos at the Sofronis Gorge, though not an impressive building, provides valuable input to the study of the ecclesiastical architecture in Laconia during the Middle Byzantine Era, a period whose surviving monuments in this part of the Peloponnese are very scarce. Hagios Nikolaos is valuable for another reason as well: it seems to be the oldest monument at the Sofronis Gorge and its adjacent area, where a great number of monastic foundations are gathered, still inadequately studied.

PICA

"PICA" means perverted appetite for substances not fit as food or of no nutritional value such as, bricks, clay, soil, ice, laundry starch, etc. The word ''PICA'' is derived from Latin word for Magpie, a species of bird that feeds on whatever it encounters. ''PICA'' has been observed in ethnic groups worldwide in primitive and modern cultures, in both sexes and in all age groups. The case presented here reports a 30 year old female patient who had craving for ingestion of gravel and brick fragments since the age of 13 years. Iron deficiency anemia was found after complete blood count and iron studies. The diagnosis of "PICA" requires that the patient is persistently eating non-food substances for at least 1 month and such behavior is appropriate for the child's stage of development.

Na tropie spektakularnej omyłki. Nowe spojrzenie na toporek z „napisem” z Ostrowa Tumskiego w Poznaniu

During excavations conducted by Witold Hensel and Jan Żak in 1951 in the capitular garden on Ostrów Tumski in Poznań the researchers discovered a small (8,1 cm long) axehead (ryc. 1), whose surface bore a set of cuts forming an „inscription”. This discovery was named as an archaeological sensation. Despite the fact that it was found in a layer dated to the modern period, it was identified,based on some analogies, as belonging to the 10th–11thc. A group of palaeographers was asked to partake in the studies of the artifact to help reveal the mystery behind this „caption”. Even though their opinions varied, it was generaly accepted that – most probably – these marks were latin STLA letters, interpreted as an abbreviation of the word stella („arrow”). Based on all these findings an entire pyramid of further ideas concerning the artefact’s function and symbolic connotations was built. It was emphasized that this is one of the oldest examples of native epigraphy, that it proved the local population to be able to write (and read) as early as in the 11th c. Additionaly, the axe was expected to hold an unspecified role assiociated with magical rites, etc. Nowadays, owing to a much more extensive knowledge on artefacts of this type, a critical typological-chronological analysis of the given specimen leads to quite different conclusions. Analogies invoked by J. Żak (1956) either bear serious disparities in details or are much younger than he suggested. The described axehead is a typical representative of M. Głosek’s (1996) late medieval/modern type IX. This identification is further reinforced by the chronology of this find’s context – the layer in which it was found was dated to the years 1500–1700 based on a large quantity of modern (glazed) pottery, fragments of stove tiles, roof tiles, bricks and iron objects. The small size of Poznań’s axehead is also not suprising. Beside the massive specimens of late medieval and modern axes, miniature forms are known as well (ryc. 2). Their function is not clearly specified in the literature, although they are usually identified as carpentry and fine woodworking tools or children’s toys. To sum up the elaboration so far, it is clear that the artefact from Ostrów Tumski in Poznań represents a typical late medieval, or – taken the chronology of the find’s context – modern form. Both the shape and dimensions are typical for many axeheads from Central Europe at that time. There is no reason whatsoever to continue to claim that this specimen is of early medieval dating and that it bore some special symbolic meaning. The revaluation of its dating allows a different approach to the set of marks, „inscription” if someone wills, found on the blade’s surface. If this set of cuts indeed forms a caption, in the context of widespread practice of labeling such items by their manufacturers and knowing a great handful of heavily ornamented axeheads from the time, the presence of these „letters” is not especially striking. Another thing is whether the newly outlined chronological context allows their proper interpretation, if any. This problem, however, should be left for specialists in the field of palaeography.

Mineralogical and microstructural studies of mortars from the bath complex of the Roman villa rustica near Mošnje (Slovenia)

Abstract This study deals with the characterization of mortars collected from bath complex of the Roman villa rustica from an archeological site near Mosnje (Slovenia). The mortar layers of the mosaics, wall paintings and mortar floors were investigated. A special aggregate consisting of brick fragments was present in the mortars studied. The mineralogical and petrographic compositions of the mortars were determined by means of optical microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and FTIR spectroscopy. Analysis of aggregate–binder interfaces using SEM-EDS revealed various types of reactivity rims. In order to assess the hydraulic characteristics of the mortars, the acid-soluble fractions were determined by ICP-OES. Furthermore, the results of Hg-porosimetry and gas sorption isotherms showed that mortars with a higher content of brick fragments particles exhibited a higher porosity and a greater BET surface area but a lower average pore diameter compared to mortars lacking this special aggregate.

Are ceramics and bricks reliable absolute geomagnetic intensity carriers?

A detailed rock-magnetic and archeointensity study was carried out on materials baked by a western Mexican artisan following traditional techniques to produce faithful reproductions of archeological pieces of the Michoacán region (Western Mesoamerica). The field strength at the site (41.0 ± 0.5 μT) was measured with a fluxgate magnetometer and the temperature of the furnace during the baking process was monitored continually by means of a thermocouple placed in the middle of the baking cavity. Rock-magnetic experiments performed on the raw material (clay and paste) and on in situ prepared baked ceramics and bricks included measurement of thermomagnetic curves (susceptibility and strong-field magnetization versus temperature), first-order reversal curves (FORC), anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) and anisotropy of thermoremanent magnetization (A-TRM). Magnetite and probably hematite are present in the samples as carriers of the remanence. Hysteresis ratios suggest that the samples fall in the pseudo-single-domain grain size region, which may indicate a mixture of multi-domain and a significant amount of single-domain grains. Ceramic pieces and brick fragments were subjected to the Thellier-Coe archeointensity method and to an alternative paleointensity experiment, with a TRIAXE magnetometer, in order to check whether they are faithful recorders of the local geomagnetic field strength. Mean raw-intensity of sample M1 (pottery) overestimates a 7% the expected site intensity, while those corresponding to the brick samples (LQ1 and LQ2) underestimate it 15%. Brick sample LNQ shows a slightly lower intensity (7%), but agrees with the expected site intensity within the experimental uncertainty. The intensity retrieved from the volcanic fragment also included closely reproduces the expected intensity. After A-TRM and cooling-rate corrections, all mean raw values move closer to the expected intensity. Measurement of temperatures at different parts inside the kiln (bottom and upper parts of both central and peripheral parts) revealed the existence of significant thermal gradients, similar to those observed in ovens from other localities. Different cooling rates are then expected in a single oven. The scatter in the intensity determinations observed in this study, retrieved from pieces elaborated together in the same oven, could arise from this differentiated cooling rate within the oven and thus, to an inappropriate cooling rate correction in the archeointensity protocol. As this situation was probably reproduced in the baking of ancient ceramic artifacts, a better knowledge of the temperature distribution inside these types of kiln would be desirable in order to choose the appropriate cooling rate correction.

Quantification of the properties of enzyme treated and untreated incinerator bottom ash waste used as road foundation

A substantial amount of incinerator bottom ash (IBA) waste is generated annually from burning municipal solid waste. IBA is similar to aggregate consisting of ferric metals, non-ferrous metals, brick and tile fragments, ceramic, glass, stone, dirt, etc. In this work, IBA waste was mixed with conventional limestone aggregate in an attempt to achieve a blend with acceptable mechanical properties and minimum environmental risks for use in road foundation layers. Enzyme treatment was applied in order to improve the behaviour of IBA–limestone blends. A series of laboratory tests, such as cyclic triaxial compression tests, pH monitoring and scanning electron microscope, were adopted to determine the materials' mechanistic behaviour and microstructure characteristics. Emphasis was on examining the effect of various parameters, such as IBA content, enzyme content, moisture content and curing time. Results of this study showed that IBA blends gave a favourable performance as road foundation layers in comparison with the control limestone blend. Microstructure and chemical analysis results showed that the addition of plant-based enzyme improved the mechanical properties of the control limestone blend; however, it did not have any noticeable effect on the IBA blends.

New historical archeointensity data from Brazil: Evidence for a large regional non-dipole field contribution over the past few centuries

We report new archeointensity data obtained from the analyses of baked clay elements (architectural and kiln brick fragments) sampled in Southeast Brazil and historically and/or archeologically dated between the end of the XVIth century and the beginning of the XXth century AD. The results were determined using the classical Thellier and Thellier protocol as modified by Coe, including partial thermoremanent magnetization (pTRM) and pTRM-tail checks, and the Triaxe protocol, which involves continuous high-temperature magnetization measurements. In both protocols, TRM anisotropy and cooling rate TRM dependence effects were taken into account for intensity determinations which were successfully performed for 150 specimens from 43 fragments, with a good agreement between intensity results obtained from the two procedures. Nine site-mean intensity values were derived from three to eight fragments and defined with standard deviations of less than 8%. The site-mean values vary from ~ 25 μT to ~ 42 μT and describe in Southeast Brazil a continuous decreasing trend by ~ 5 μT per century between ~ 1600 AD and ~ 1900 AD. Their comparison with recent archeointensity results obtained from Northeast Brazil and reduced at a same latitude shows that: (1) the geocentric axial dipole approximation is not valid between these southeastern and northeastern regions of Brazil, whose latitudes differ by ~ 10°, and (2) the available global geomagnetic field models (gufm1 models, their recalibrated versions and the CALSK3 models) are not sufficiently precise to reliably reproduce the non-dipole field effects which prevailed in Brazil for at least the 1600–1750 period. The large non-dipole contribution thus highlighted is most probably linked to the evolution of the South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly (SAMA) during that period. Furthermore, although our dataset is limited, the Brazilian archeointensity data appear to support the view of a rather oscillatory behavior of the axial dipole moment during the past three centuries that would have been marked in particular by a moderate increase between the end of the XVIIIth century and the middle of the XIXth century followed by the well-known decrease from 1840 AD attested by direct measurements.

Influence of the design materials on the mechanical and physical properties of repair mortars of historic buildings

Historic buildings are subjected to deterioration by natural weathering or by corrosion due to polluted atmosphere and the materials more susceptible are the mortars used. This study examines the influence of the type and quantity of design materials on compressive strength, creep, water absorption and length change of repair mortars produced. The design materials used were lime, natural pozzolan, sand and brick fragments in order to obtain the compatibility required between historic and repair mortars; different quantities of Portland cement were also used in order to quantify his influence. Nine mixtures were then designed and produced considering as parameters two binder: aggregates ratios, three pozzolan: cement ratios and three sand: brick fragments ratios. The experimental measurements continued until the age of 3 years or the stabilization of the test values. The results indicate that compressive strength is strongly affected by cement content and aggregates dosage and type. It appears that the increase of cement as well as brick fragments leads to confinement of creep deformation, while the mixtures with high pozzolan and sand content experience considerably high creep values. Water absorption reaches higher values when pozzolan or aggregate dosage arises and brick is in excess. Shrinkage increases when binder or brick quantity arise and is considerably influenced by cement content.

MEDIEVAL TOWN WALL OF TARTU IN THE LIGHT OF RECENT RESEARCH

The present study of the town wall of Tartu will try to summarize the results obtained so far during the archaeological investigations and discuss the condition of the town wall, the date of construction and its symbolic meaning to inhabitants of the medieval Old Livonia. As a result of archaeological research, it can be said that the wall consists of dry stone, soil and irregularly poured lime mortar to bind the stones. For constructing the wall, stone and limestone, intact bricks and the fragments of bricks have been used. The improvement and modification of the fortifications continued probably throughout the whole medieval period. Although the construction of medieval town wall of Tartu has been dated according written sources to the second half of the 13th century, namely to the time after the Russians’ raid in 1262, the existing research results show that it seems more likely that similarly to Tallinn, the wall was built in the first half of 14th century, when the former city seems to have been completely re-planned.

Animal Remains from Medieval Garumele, Niger

The site of Garumele (700–200 years ago approx.), on the north-western shores of Lake Chad, has long been the subject of speculation by archaeologists and historians, due to its supposed link with the history of the Kanem- Borno polity and because of the presence of fragments of baked bricks at the site’s surface, probably the remains of structures. Recently the first detailed archaeological excavations were carried out at Garumele, yielding a great amount of cultural data, including faunal remains which are the subject of this paper. This faunal study is important because no such studies have up to now ever been produced for this part of the Chad Basin. It has shown a predominance of fish, represented by a large diversity of species, and of domestic animals, sheep, goat and cattle. Comparisons with sites on the Nigerian side of the Chad Basin give valuable comparative insights into the palaeo-economy and palaeo-ecology of Garumele; indeed the fauna recovered shows many similarities with that of other recent sites, all seemingly indicating economic specialisation.

Archeointensity in Northeast Brazil over the past five centuries

This study presents the first archeointensity results from Northeast Brazil obtained from 14 groups of architectural brick fragments sampled in the city of Salvador, Bahia State (13°S, 38.5°W) and dated between the middle of the XVIth century and the beginning of the XIXth century. The dating is ascertained by historical documents complemented by archeological constraints, yielding in all cases age uncertainties of less than 50 years. Analyses were carried out using two experimental protocols: 1 — the “zero field–in field” version of the classical Thellier and Thellier method as proposed by Coe (TT-ZI), including partial thermoremanent magnetization (pTRM) and pTRM-tail checks, and 2 — the Triaxe procedure involving continuous high temperature magnetization measurements. Both TRM anisotropy and cooling rate effects were taken into account for the intensity determinations. The cooling rate effect was further explored for the TT-ZI protocol using three increasing slow cooling times (5 h, 10 h and 25 h) between 450 °C and room temperature. Following archeological constraints, the slowest cooling time was retained in our study, yielding decreases of the raw intensity values by 4% to 14%. For each fragment, a mean intensity was computed and retained only when the data obtained from all specimens (between 2 and 6) satisfied a coherence test at ∼ 5%. A total of 57 fragments (183 specimens) was considered for the computations of site-mean intensity values, with derived standard deviations of less than 8% of the corresponding means. When separately computed using the two experimental techniques, the site-mean intensity values always agree to within 5%. A good consistency is observed between intensity values of similar or close ages, which strengthen their reliability. Our data principally show a significant and continuous decrease in geomagnetic field intensity in Northeast Brazil between the first half of the XVIIth century and the XXth century. One result dated to the second half of the XVIth century further suggests that the geomagnetic field intensity reached a maximum around 1600 AD. This evolution is in good agreement with that expected in the city of Salvador from the available global geomagnetic field models. However, the accuracy of these models appears less well constrained between ∼ 1550 AD and ∼ 1650 AD.

Diversity and Antimicrobial and Plant-Growth-Promoting Activities of Endophytic Fungi in Dendrobium loddigesii Rolfe

Endophytic fungi are ubiquitously distributed in orchids and have a great impact on the host plant. The diversity of endophytic fungi in the medicinal orchid Dendrobium loddigesii Rolfe was investigated and their bioactivities in microbe and plant growth were explored here. Endophytic fungi were identified by using morphological and molecular biological methods. Antimicrobial activity was determined by a standard disk assay. Activity in promoting plant growth was confirmed by root inoculation of endophytic fungi in seedling tray and pot experiments. Overall, 48 isolates were isolated from D. loddigesii and identified to belong to 18 genera, with Fusarium and Acremonium being the most dominant populations. A total of 17 isolates belonging to 9 genera were screened for their antimicrobial activity, and Fusarium spp., 8 of the 17 isolates, was also the dominant population. In the seedling tray experiment, two isolates, one of Fusarium named DL26 and the other of Pyrenochaeta named DL351, were shown to enhance plant growth in alder bark–humus medium, and the latter displayed weak activity against Bacillus subtilis (As 1.308) and Aspergillus fumigatus (As 3.2910). In the pot experiment, after inoculation of DL26 and DL351, five out of seven media were fit for plant-endophyte symbionts. Medium #1 of red brick fragments and sphagna was optimal in accelerating plant growth. In conclusion, a great diversity of endophytic fungi in D. loddigesii was first confirmed in a considerable proportion of antimicrobial isolates. Furthermore, two endophytes exhibited the ability to enhance plant growth although their activities were influenced by the growth media.

Stability and efficiency of biofilms for landfill leachate treatment

The objective of this work was to assess the feasibility of a fixed-film biological aerated filtration process for the treatment of the leachate produced at Harnhill landfill site (South Gloucestershire, UK). The laboratory scale plant consisted of four identical biological aerated filters (a triplicate and a “control” column) packed with small brick fragments. Biofilm formed within 24 h of immersion of the support material in the reactor, and had a high resistance to antibiotics and other toxic agents. The plant maintained a stable operation in the 20–45 °C temperature range, showing the best results (35.4 ± 6.6% COD removal and 73.9 ± 5.5% BOD 5 reduction) at 40 °C. The lowest COD and BOD 5 values obtained at the outlet of the columns were 7067 mg/L and 1050 mg/L, respectively.

Clues of production for the Neolithic Çatalhöyük (central Anatolia) pottery

Probable source materials and production technologies of neolithic pottery from Catalhoyuk were studied with micromorphological and archaeometrical methods, seeking to shed light on the established techniques and appropriate source material mixtures used by the inhabitants of the epoch (7500 yr BP) in contrast to the reputed idea of primitiveness of the neolithic pottery. The results revealed the use of reed chaff along with mud brick (sun-dried) fragments that may have been derived from brick-making. The application of the ‘slip’ represents a novel observation and the intention of the use of a dye that needs further confirmation. The presence of gehlenite and aluminum diopside are considered to be the evidence of reached temperatures of about 800°C and not over with short durations manifested by the presence of calcite. Stress phenomena along with the bent weed fragments may also manifest the practice in shaping of pottery, where the former may also reflect fluctuating firing temperatures. Thus, analytical and micromorphological data obtained herein can provide some guidelines on designating prehistoric Anatolian pottery to the archaeologist and potters working on the subject matter. Key words: Neolithic, pottery, traditional knowledge, archaeometry, micromorphology.