Strategies For Long-term Preservation Research Articles

X-ray-based examination of artworks by Cy Twombly: art technology and condition of the ‘Original Sculptures’

What are Cy Twombly’s sculptures made of? This article presents an overview of a non-destructive examination conducted on three sculptures by American artist Cy Twombly (1928–2011) as part of an art-technological research project at the Doerner Institut in Munich. The artworks are part of the collection of the Brandhorst Museum and belong to Twombly’s series of so-called ‘Original Sculptures’: assemblages of individual found objects, which the artist covered and modified with layers of plaster and white paint. To develop a long-term preservation strategy, the research focused on understanding the materials and construction methods used in Twombly's sculptures. In collaboration with the Chair of Non-Destructive Testing at the Technical University of Munich, the artworks were inspected using X-ray radiography and computed tomography. The results showed that Cy Twombly used various everyday objects made from wood, plastics, metal, and paper/cardboard to build the assemblages. Unexpectedly, the examinations revealed that the individual parts are solely held together by the coating of plaster and paint, lacking additional mechanical connections. The overall structure thus proved to be very fragile and highly sensitive to physical stresses, whether due to handling, transport, or strains in the microstructure caused by climatic fluctuations. Since little was known about Cy Twombly´s choice of materials and manufacturing details, the results offer valuable insights into the overall artistic process and decision-making of one of the most influential artists of the 20th/twenty-first centuries. Conservators can use the art-technological findings to monitor the sculptures ‘condition and develop or adapt long-term preservation strategies, including aspects such as ambient climatic conditions and handling storage and transport specifications. In addition, the knowledge generated can be used for further research on the specific materials and transferred to other artworks by Cy Twombly.

Preservation of Small Extracellular Vesicle in Gelatin Methacryloyl Hydrogel Through Reduced Particles Aggregation for Therapeutic Applications.

PurposeSmall extracellular vesicles (sEV) play an irreplaceable role in cell–cell communication. However, sEV in solution aggregate with each other during preservation, leading to impairment of the structures, contents, and functions of sEV. Therefore, there is a need to develop an optimal preservation method that combines high recovery rate, low cost, convenience, and easy-transportation in one. In this study, a new preservation strategy different from the cryopreservation or lyophilization was developed by reducing sEV particles aggregation.MethodsThe sEV were encapsulated in thermoresponsive gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels at 4°C to reduce particles aggregation during the reversible cross-linking process. The sEV movement was visualized in different mediums and particles’ number, size, structure and protein of 28 days preserved sEV were compared to fresh sEV. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and rat adipose-derived stromal stem cells (rASC) were isolated and cultured with fresh and preserved sEV to test the cellular response. A mice subcutaneous model was adopted to detect controlled release and angiogenesis ability of preserved sEV.ResultsThrough particles tracks visualization, GelMA hydrogels significantly decreased the sEV movement. After 28 days preservation in GelMA at 4°C, the particles number, size, structure and protein of sEV were similar to fresh sEV. In vitro, preserved sEV had the same ability to promote cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis as fresh sEV. In vivo, preserved sEV-GelMA could artificially regulate the absorptivity of GelMA hydrogels and controlled released sEV for therapeutic application, and preserved sEV encapsulated in GelMA significantly promoted angiogenesis in mice.ConclusionOur results demonstrated that sEV encapsulated in GelMA could be a novel strategy for long-term preservation of sEV for therapeutic application.

Cryopreservation of germline stem cells in American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula)

Most sturgeon and paddlefish are critically endangered; therefore, effective measures to conserve these genetic resources are required. Cryopreservation of gonad tissues containing germline stem cells could be an effective strategy for long term preservation and restoration of fish species using germ cell transplantation procedure. The aim of this study was to develop an optimal procedure for long-term cryopreservation of American paddlefish gonads using a slow-freezing method. Through optimization of permeating cryoprotectants, nonpermeating cryoprotectants, and supplementation of proteins, gonad tissues were frozen with a cryomedium containing 1.3 M dimethyl sulfoxide, 0.1 M trehalose, and 10 % fetal bovine serum at a cooling rate of −1 °C/min. This method was also successfully utilized for the cryopreservation of Yangtze sturgeon testes. Viability of gonadal cells isolated from frozen gonads was not different from cells isolated from fresh gonadal tissues, while the number of gonadal cells dissociated from frozen gonads was less. Germline stem cells dissociated from long-term (1 year) cryopreserved gonads were labeled with PKH26 fluorescent dye and intraperitoneally transplanted into larvae of Yangtze sturgeon. The colonization of transplanted germline stem cells was confirmed by the presence of PKH26-labeled donor germline stem cells and donor-derived mtDNA sequence in the recipient gonads, providing evidence that germline stem cells from sturgeon and paddlefish gonads that had been preserved for a long period maintained their functions. The results of present study indicate the procedures used are effective for long-term preservation of critically endangered species within the Acipenseriformes order which can later be regenerated using surrogate broodstock technology.

Effects of different simulated seasonal temperatures on the fermentation characteristics and microbial community diversities of the maize straw and cabbage waste co-ensiling system

Ensiling is considered as a suitable method to preserve seasonal agricultural residues to enable long-term supply for wastes valorization. In this study, the effects of simulated seasonal temperatures (−3, 18 and 34 °C) on the organic compositions, ensiling fermentation characteristics, and microbial community evolution during 120 days co-ensiling of maize straw and cabbage wastes were investigated. Successful storage performance was obtained at all these three temperatures. Comparatively, silages at 18 and 34 °C showed lower ammonia nitrogen, lower pH and more intensive lactic acid bacteria fermentation than that at −3 °C. Both silages at −3 and18 °C were well-preserved for 120 days with higher biodegradation potential (BDP), accompanied by lower content of acid detergent lignin (ADL). However, the silages at 34 °C could only preserved for 90 days due to low carbohydrate, low BDP and higher ADL content than that at −3 or18 °C. The storage temperature is a critical parameter that significantly affected the silage quality by influencing the microbial community diversity in silages. Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were dominant bacteria at phylum level for all silages while the dominant lactic acid bacteria at genus level were Lactobacillus and Leuconostoc, which restrained the undesirable microbes such as Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, and Pantoea during co-ensiling. Co-ensiling of maize straw with vegetable wastes may provide a promising strategy for long-term preservation of air-dried crop straw while using vegetable wastes as regulatable supplement to achieve silages of desired quality. This study could provide valuable information for conservation and management of agricultural wastes.

Urinary oxylipin signature as biomarkers to monitor the allograft function during the first six months post-renal transplantation

Oxylipins such as isoprostanes (IsoPs), prostaglandins (PGs) and thromboxanes (TXs) are lipid mediators derived from the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which regulate the magnitude of oxidative stress and inflammation processes and play an important role in pathophysiological processes in the kidney. A total of 36 oxylipins were analyzed by UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS in the urine of 41 renal recipients from cadaveric donors of the Nephrology Unit of the University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca during the first six months after renal transplantation, in order to investigate several candidate oxylipins as more accurate and predictive biomarkers in renal transplantation than classical biological variables. A decrease in nine PGs, mostly from the AA-D pathway (p < 0.05) and one IsoP: 15-keto-15-F2t-IsoP (p < 0.001) was observed. Moreover, two PGs (2,3-dinor-11β-PGF2α and 17-trans-PGF3α) increased between five days and six months after renal transplantation (p < 0.05). In addition, when kidney function improved, a positive correlation between oxylipin levels and the excretion of urine proteins was observed. These results suggest that oxylipins could be useful markers for monitoring renal function in the post-renal transplantation period. These findings could be of utility not only for the development of strategies for long-term preservation of graft function, but also for innovative and alternative therapies -using oxylipins as predictive markers-to avoid organ rejection.

Cryopreservation of virus: a novel biotechnology for long-term preservation of virus in shoot tips

BackgroundPreservation of plant virus is a fundamental requirement in all types of virus-related research and applied applications. Development of efficient, reliable strategies for long-term preservation of plant virus would largely assist these studies.ResultsThe present study reported a novel biotechnology allowing cryopreservation of Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV) in living shoot tips. Following cryopreservation by droplet-vitrification or encapsulation-dehydration, about 62–67% of shoot regrowth and 100% of ASGV cryopreservation were obtained. Although shoot proliferation and virus concentration were reduced in cryopreserved diseased shoots after 8 weeks of shoot regeneration, continuous subculture for 4 times (16 weeks) increased shoot proliferation and virus concentration to comparative levels as those produced by shoot tip culture (as a control to shoot tip cryopreservation). Cryopreserved ASGV was efficiently transmitted to a woody plant by micrografting and to a herbaceous indicator by mechanical inoculation. Gene sequencing in three fragments of ASGV genome including coat protein and movement protein showed that cryopreserved ASGV shared 99.87% nucleotide identities with shoot tip culture-preserved virus, indicating cryopreserved virus is genetically stable.ConclusionsThe present study demonstrates ASGV, a representative virus that can infect meristematic cells of shoot tips, can be efficiently cryopreserved in shoot tips. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on plant virus cryopreservation in living tissues, and has great potential applications to long-term preservation of plant viruses.

A methodological approach to estimate soil corrosivity for archaeological copper alloy artefacts

Characterization of soil corrosivity in archaeological sites is an important subject to understand the conservation conditions of archaeological bronze collections and helps conservators to prepare a conservation strategy for long term preservation of bronze objects. In this paper, a research approach is established to identify soil corrosivity in two archaeological sites and to find correlation between corrosion events and soil characterizations. Therefore, an analytical study was carried out to identify different factors of soil environment influencing corrosivity of the soil in two sites. Based on the results, measuring different factors such as chemical composition, pH, texture, soluble salts and water content and SOM displayed different soil environments in two archaeological sites. The results represent correlative relationship between corrosion mechanism and soil characteristics in these archaeological sites.

Characterization and Comparative Analysis of Ancient Earthen Plasters from the American Southwest

ABSTRACT We have studied earthen plasters and wall materials from three ancient Native American sites in the American Southwest that include a twelfth-century, subterranean kiva used for textile production in Natural Bridges National Monument (Utah), a thirteenth-century, defensive, cliff dwelling at Montezuma Castle (Arizona), and a mid-fourteenth-century, puddled earth Great House at Casa Grande National Monument (Arizona). In each case, the data collected has been used to develop long-term preservation strategies and monitoring plans for each site. To understand the conservation issues, earthen materials were analyzed. Characterization included examination of BSE-SEM micrographs of polished thin sections prepared from a total of 36 samples from the three sites, and XRD of twelve samples. Research goals included: 1) determining the microstructure, micro-composition, porosity, mineralogy of aggregates and phases in the binding matrix for each sample; 2) reconstructing plaster technologies and their variation within and between sites, including material selection, preparation and application sequences, and; 3) identifying principal deterioration conditions and processes. Our findings support the idea that plaster materials were collected locally and manipulated to optimize their performance to suit the unique site conditions and needs of the ancient people using the structures.

Synergistic Development of Biochips and Cell Preservation Methodologies: A Tale of Converging Technologies.

Over the past several decades, cryopreservation has been widely used to preserve cells during long term storage, but advances in stem cell therapies, regenerative medicine, and miniaturized cell-based diagnostics and sensors are providing new targets of opportunity for advancing preservation methodologies. The advent of microfluidics-based devices is an interesting case in which the technology has been used to improve preservation processing, but as the devices have evolved to also include cells, tissues, and simulated organs as part of the architecture, the biochip itself is a desirable target for preservation. In this review, we will focus on the synergistic co-development of preservation methods and biochip technologies, while identifying where the challenges and opportunities lie in developing methods to place on-chip biologics on the shelf, ready for use. Emerging studies are demonstrating that the cost of some biochips have been reduced to the extent that they will have high utility in point-of-care settings, especially in low resource environments where diagnostic capabilities are limited. Ice-free low temperature vitrification and anhydrous vitrification technologies will likely emerge as the preferred strategy for long-term preservation of bio-chips. The development of preservation methodologies for partially or fully assembled biochips would enable the widespread distribution of these technologies and enhance their application.

Twig pre-harvest temperature significantly influences effective cryopreservation of Vaccinium dormant buds

Cryopreservation of temperate woody-plant material by dormant buds is less expensive than using shoot tips isolated from tissue cultured plants; however currently, dormant buds are used only for preservation of selected temperate tree and shrub species. Using dormant buds could be an efficient strategy for long-term preservation of blueberry (Vaccinium L.) genetic resources. In this study, viability of V. hybrid ‘Northsky’ (PI 554943) dormant buds was evaluated at 30 harvest dates over three consecutive fall/winter seasons to determine the optimal harvest time that promotes high post cryopreservation viability. Twigs with dormant buds were cut into 70 mm segments containing at least two nodes, desiccated, slowly cooled, stored in liquid nitrogen vapor and tested for post-cryopreservation regrowth. The highest regrowth of cryopreserved dormant buds was observed for buds harvested in mid-December and during the first half of January. Pearson's correlation coefficients were computed to evaluate the association between bud characteristics and viability at harvest date and logistic regression models were fit to test the ability of twig characteristics and temperatures to predict post cryopreservation bud viability. Post-cryopreservation viability was negatively correlated (p < 0.05) with average minimum, maximum and daily mean temperature preceding the bud harvest but was not correlated with the dormant bud initial and end moisture content, twig diameter, the number of dormant buds/cm of twig length and the number of days in desiccation. Regression tree analysis suggested post-cryopreservation viability to be between 52 and 80% for dormant buds harvested after a 10 day average maximum air temperature of <11.2 °C. Pre-harvest air temperature was a significant indicator of optimal dormant bud harvest time to produce adequate viability for long term preservation of blueberry genetic resources.

Computational investigation of cold denaturation in the Trp-cage miniprotein

The functional native states of globular proteins become unstable at low temperatures, resulting in cold unfolding and impairment of normal biological function. Fundamental understanding of this phenomenon is essential to rationalizing the evolution of freeze-tolerant organisms and developing improved strategies for long-term preservation of biological materials. We present fully atomistic simulations of cold denaturation of an α-helical protein, the widely studied Trp-cage miniprotein. In contrast to the significant destabilization of the folded structure at high temperatures, Trp-cage cold denatures at 210 K into a compact, partially folded state; major elements of the secondary structure, including the α-helix, are conserved, but the salt bridge between aspartic acid and arginine is lost. The stability of Trp-cage's α-helix at low temperatures suggests a possible evolutionary explanation for the prevalence of such structures in antifreeze peptides produced by cold-weather species, such as Arctic char. Although the 310-helix is observed at cold conditions, its position is shifted toward Trp-cage's C-terminus. This shift is accompanied by intrusion of water into Trp-cage's interior and the hydration of buried hydrophobic residues. However, our calculations also show that the dominant contribution to the favorable energetics of low-temperature unfolding of Trp-cage comes from the hydration of hydrophilic residues.

As the Sand Settles: Education and Archaeological Tourism on Underwater Cultural Heritage

Underwater cultural heritage sites draw thousands of diving tourists lured by the excitement of shipwrecks and the beauty of the marine environment. Through scientific research and interpretation, archaeologists have the opportunity to educate these visitors about the history of the sites and, perhaps more importantly, about the need for preservation. Effective interpretation leads to appreciation of underwater cultural heritage sites as links to our past, rather than simply as mines of ‘treasure’ to be salvaged for personal gain or sites of interest to be consumed by tourists. This paper describes a selection of interpreted maritime sites from the continental US (with specific reference to Florida), the Caribbean, and the Pacific to show how archaeological tourism, specifically shipwreck preserves and heritage trails, can begin to change mindsets, engage emotions, and inform visitors. It also discusses ways in which we can improve upon assessment, monitoring, and long-term preservation strategies after the trails are created and the sand has settled.

Made to last: the conservation of art, a case study of the NETS Victoria touring exhibition

Contemporary artists select unconventional materials as well as traditional and modern ones as part of their conceptual practice. This paper discusses the importance of the artist’s original intent and examines the imperative for conservators to comprehend the tangible and intangible content of contemporary art. Current practices for the long term preservation of contemporary art by living artists are documented using the case study of the touring exhibition Made to last: the conservation of art. This case study provides an Australian context for the application of international best practice, as well as highlighting the needs of Australian regional galleries. It is argued that while the artist’s intent is foremost when considering the preservation and conservation of contemporary art, the importance of other stakeholders in the decision making process is also acknowledged. The study employs an interdisciplinary approach engaging artists, gallery professionals and the viewing public through interviews and questionnaires. A greater knowledge of the expectations of gallery professionals and visitors regarding the appearance and longevity of work by living contemporary artists allows more informed strategies for long-term preservation to be developed.

Enterprise Content Management and the Records Continuum Model as strategies for long-term preservation of digital information

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to establish whether Enterprise Content Management (ECM) and Records Continuum Model (RCM) frameworks could be used to mitigate long-term preservation challenges. Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative research was undertaken using two case studies and interviews were conducted with the different categories of the municipal personnel to solicit answers to the research questions. The questions were designed using the lens of the RCM and its four dimensions that cover the creation, capture, organization and pluralization of records and prescribed factors of ECM which include business process management, enterprise architecture, collaboration, system integration, re-purposing of information, change management, knowledge management and the life cycle management of information. Not all the ECM factors are dealt with in this paper: the remainder have been dealt with in the author's earlier works. Findings – Challenges of long-term preservation of information still persist despite the enormous research that has been generated over the years. The municipalities that were subjects of this research are still grappling with issues of lack of long-term information management policies, enterprise architecture, disparate information systems, collaboration and system integration. This is likely to work against the investments that are being ploughed into e-Government developments should the municipalities fail to espouse strong information and records management regimes. Embracing the ECM prescribed factors and the RCM thinking might mitigate these challenges. Originality/value – The author's licentiate research proved that there was no discourse between records managers/archivists and ECM proponents. Therefore, the originality of this article lies in the application of the two frameworks of ECM and RCM. The findings confirmed that even within the records management framework the municipalities were addressing factors similar to ECM prescribed factors. Embracing both the RCM model and the ECM prescribed factors might mitigate the challenges of long-term preservation and hence the re-use of information and enhancement of the societal memory.

Efficient rescue of threatened biodiversity data using reBiND workflows

Biodiversity data generated in the context of research projects often lack a strategy for long-term preservation and availability, and are therefore at risk of becoming outdated and finally lost. The reBiND project aims to develop an efficient and well-documented workflow for rescuing such data sets. The workflow consists of phases for data transformation into contemporary standards, data validation, storage in a native XML database, and data publishing in international biodiversity networks. It has been developed and tested using the example of collection and observational data but is flexible enough to be transferred to other data types and domains.

&amp;#x201C;A Quick Fix?&amp;#x201D;: The Challenges of Digitization Facing Developing Countries

In Jamaica, as in many of the developing countries of the world the term &#x2018;digitization&#x2019; has become a buzz word as institutions rush to establish projects to copy and preserve their deteriorating historical collectionsDigitization provides a way of &#x2018;catching-up&#x2019; with the more developed countries and in closing the &#x2018;information divide&#x2019; between two worlds. This activity has been fuelled in part by programmes such as Unesco's Memory of the World Programme which has emphasized the importance of preserving the heritage of mankind. However, policy and decision makers often see digitization merely as a technical process and do not give due consideration to other factors when promoting or funding such programmes.These factors include strategies for long term preservation, compliance with standards and the provision of adequate metadata. For example, in Jamaica and the English speaking countries of the Caribbean, there is no clear cut policy geared at electronic recordkeeping. Not only are there no policies, but there is an absence of national guidelines and standards which should address issues such as accessibility, obsolescence, security, retention and the disposition of records in digital format.The National Library of Jamaica, the Jamaica Archives and Records Department (Audio Visual Unit) and the Library of the University of the West Indies (Mona) are the main institutions in Jamaica with digital programmes. They have all developed their own guidelines and these will be examined to see to what extent they comply with accepted international standards. The paper will conclude with recommendations on the action which should be taken on the national level to ensure the long-term sustainability of digital programmes which are often paid for from public funds. Hopefully these recommendations will be useful to other developing countries which have developed, or are considering developing their own digital programmes.

Who guards the guards: meeting the challenges of digital preservation

This paper discusses the importance of preserving digital knowledge over a period of time, the challenges, priorities and the various principles and strategies for long term preservation. It draws on a risk management framework, using the analogy of ‘who guards the guards’ to explore the implications of dangers, the roles of those who safeguard digital content, and various strategies – technological, resourcing and organizational – for mitigating risks over a period of time. Three key strategies potentially have the capacity to profoundly influence the survival of digital knowledge into the future: collaboration and alliances, risk management and quality assurance, and education and training.

A system for semantic retrieval and long-term preservation of multimedia documents in the e-government domain

In this work we propose a new model for multimedia documents, suitable for e-government applications, that provides different representations of the same multimedia contents, allowing to solve open problems related to the technology evolution, different documental format and access rights. The model constitutes the starting point for an information system capable of managing documental streams integrating and processing different multimedia data types and providing facilities for indexing, storage and retrieval, together with long-term preservation strategies. We have implemented a prototypal version of the system that realises the described Information Retrieval and Presentation tasks for juridical documents.

Understanding the Ongoing Archival Research on the Permanent Preservation of Electronic Records

In the fast growing digital environment, assuring continued authenticity is an essential and intransigent preservation consideration for digital data and records. Several key issues need to be addressed, including: What are electronic records and data?; Which intellectual and technical elements of data and records are essential for assuring authenticity in electronic format?; How should these be maintained and preserved over time?; How are authentic data and records used in various systems of practice?; and What are the best strategies of preserving authentic electronic records and data?. There have been many research projects to answer these questions to date. This paper discusses the characteristics of electronic records in light of preservation consideration and reports the activities and findings of some of the research projects in brief. This paper focuses on explaining the InterPARES (International Research on Permanent Authentic Records in Electronic Systems) Project, which is defining requirements for authenticity that can help develop strategies for long-term preservation in electronic records. To identify those requirements, more than thirty case studies have been conducted with government agencies, academic institutions, and various organizations in America, Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia and models developed for appraisal, preservation, and strategies in relation to the management of electronic records. The paper also suggests research questions and implications for preserving authentic electronic records as well as the encouragement for Korean research on digital preservation.

Cryopreservation does not affect the expression of a foreign sam gene in transgenic Papaver somniferum cells

Transgenic cell lines of Papaver somniferum have been obtained via Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Papaver somniferum is known to be genetically unstable in in vitro culture conditions. Cryopreservation at ultra-low temperature is an appropriate strategy for long-term preservation of germplasm. We have studied the effects of osmotic stress due to cryoprotectants during pretreatment and of storage at –196 °C on the stability and the expression of the foreign sam1 gene from Arabidopsis thaliana. We established that the integrity, transcription of the transgene and enzymatic activity of its product were not affected by cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen