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This article discusses a study conducted in the Sentina Regional Natural Reserve in the Central Adriatic Sea, Italy, to identify microplastics (MPs) and their associated microorganisms in sea sediments. The researchers optimized a protocol to isolate MPs from sandy sediments and performed metagenomic analysis to evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the microbial communities. The study found that polypropylene microplastics were the most prevalent, followed by polyethylene, poly-methyl acrylate, and poly-vinyl chloride. The analysis also revealed specific metabolic pathways in MP-associated microorganisms, including antibiotic resistance. Additionally, bacteria that are promising for plastic degradation were found, as well as potential pathogens. The study concludes that MPs serve as a vehicle for potential pathogens and antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in the Central Adriatic Sea. [Extracted from the article]

Attenuated total reflection‐Fourier transform‐infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FT‐IR) analysis of 100 adhesive samples from different prehistoric composite artefacts, pottery, and amorphous lumps across Eastern Europe and Urals were conducted with the aim to establish a fast analytical screening method for adhesive assignment. The ATR‐FT‐IR analysis allowed the identification of major chemical components of the adhesive samples that were assigned to three main groups: birch bark tar without major additives, birch bark tar with additives, and minor/non‐birch bark tar samples. ATR‐FT‐IR spectra were further analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA)‐based discriminant analysis (DA) that allowed additional refinement of adhesive classifications. The ATR‐FT‐IR results and the DA classification were confirmed by analyzing a selection of samples with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Results demonstrate that ATR‐FT‐IR coupled with DA classification allows fast and reliable preliminary identification of the major components in archaeological adhesives and their further classification. As such it is a considerable and faster alternative to more laborious GC–MS analysis, especially in the case of very small samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Studies on Art & Architecture / Kunstiteaduslikke Uurimusi is the property of Estonian Society of Art Historians and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Estonian Journal of Archaeology is the property of Teaduste Akadeemia Kirjastus and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Eggshells are unusual finds in the Iron Age of eastern Europe (500 BC-1200 AD) deserving extra attention in terms of analysis as well as interpretation. This paper discusses two rare eggshell finds, discovered in female burials at the conversion period (12th-13th century AD) cemetery at Kukruse, NE Estonia. Our multianalytical study combining FT-IR, SEM(-EDS), microscopy and ZooMS provides an overview of methods applicable for identifying egg species, their predepositional history and curation. Based on the analytical results and the comparative analysis of the content and context of these two burials, we argue that different aims and connotations lay behind depositing eggs as burial goods, allowing well-supported interpretations of both pagan and Christian religious worldviews simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbonyl infrared stretching frequencies for 57 meta-, para- and ortho-substituted phenyl benzoates, C6H5CO2C6H4-X and alkylbenzoates, C6H5CO2R, containing besides neutral substituents the charged substituents in phenoxy and alkoxy part in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) have been recorded. The carbonyl stretching frequencies, νCO, for meta- and para-substituted phenyl esters of benzoic acids in the case of neutral substituents were found to correlate well with the substituent constants, σ°. The νCO values for ortho derivatives correlated with the inductive substituent constants, σI, only. The values of constants for charged substituents, σ°±, calculated on the basis of the νCO and the 13C NMR chemical shifts, δCO, in DMSO agree well with the σ°± values for the corresponding ion pairs reported by Hoefnagel and Wepster and those determined from the log k values of the alkaline in 4.4 M NaCl solution at 50 °C. Thus, the values of substituent constants for ion pairs of charged substituents estimated on the basis of aqueous data could be successfully used in non-aqueous solution (DMSO) simultaneously with neutral substituents in case the charged substituents were not completely ionized and are in ion pair form. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

17O NMR spectra for 44 ortho-, meta- and para-substituted phenyl and alkyl benzoates (C6H5CO2C6H4-X, C6H5CO2R) at natural abundance in acetonitrile were recorded. Substituent effects on the 17O NMR chemical shifts, δ(17O), of the carbonyl oxygen and the single-bonded phenoxy (OPh) and alkoxy (OR) oxygens have been studied. The δ(17O) values of the carbonyl oxygen for para derivatives showed a good correlation with the σ° constants. The δ(17O) values of carbonyl oxygen for ortho derivatives were found to be described well with the Charton equation containing the inductive, σ1, resonance, σ°R, and steric, Es B, substituent constants in case the data treatment was performed separately for electrondonating +R and electron-attracting –R substituents. The electron-donating +R ortho and para substituents in substituted benzoates caused shielding and the electron-withdrawing -R substituents produced deshielding of the O signal. The steric interaction of ortho substituents with the ester group decreased the electron density at the carbonyl oxygen. In alkyl benzoates the δ(17O) values were found to be described well with the inductive, σI, and the steric, Es B, substituent constants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]