Museos marroquíes abandonan el modelo colonial para atraer a sus ciudadanos

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– Museos marroquíes abandonan el modelo colonial para atraer a sus ciudadanos

Los museos de Marruecos han experimentado cambios en los últimos años con el fin de poner en relieve la riqueza cultural del país a través de los objetos procedentes de las distintas comarcas, y así, dejar a un lado el modelo museístico colonial con el que el pueblo no se siente identificado.

Así lo ha manifestado a Efe el director del Museo Nejjarine de Fez (Marruecos), Mohammed Chadli, quien ha participado hoy en la mesa redonda sobre colonialismo y patrimonio que organiza el Observatorio de Prospectiva Cultural Hum-584 de la Universidad de Granada, dirigido por el profesor José Antonio González Alcantud, en el marco de las IV Jornadas de Prospectiva y Crítica de la Cultura.

Chadli ha considerado que los objetos se exponen ahora de manera distinta, por ejemplo a través de ferias y exposiciones exteriores en lugar de encerrados en vitrinas, y de este modo, se consigue acercar la historia y la diversidad cultural a la población marroquí, que cada vez más visita los espacios museísticos.

Tratamos de cambiar los fundamentos de la museología colonial para ofrecer instituciones capaces de responder a las necesidades y expectativas de los marroquíes, según el experto, para quien el modelo que se planta actualmente interesa más a la gente al sentirse identificada.

Mientras antes se mostraba más el patrimonio colonial en los espacios museísticos, ahora se refleja la diversidad cultural de las comarcas del país.

El Museo Nejjarine de las Artes y Oficios de la Madera ubicado en Fez y dirigido por Chadli, ha sabido reflejar al pueblo y captar su interés, no sólo el de los turistas, al reproducir todos los usos de la madera de cedro por los marroquíes, desde la vida hasta la muerte.

Este espacio es un edificio construido en el siglo XVIII, ubicado en el zoco, donde se exponen herramientas tradicionales en madera, muebles, instrumentos musicales, puertas y ventanas, además de albergar una biblioteca especializada y un laboratorio de restauración de la madera.

Las jornadas que se celebran con la colaboración de la Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional, también han contado con la participación de la directora del Instituto Nacional de Ciencias de la Arqueología y el Patrimonio de Rabat (Marruecos).
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Los servicios e infraestructuras de la UGR y la organización docente centran las principales quejas de los alumnos

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– Los servicios e infraestructuras de la UGR y la organización docente centran las principales quejas de los alumnos

Cuestiones relacionadas con los servicios e infraestructuras de la Universidad de Granada y la organización docente centran las principales quejas de los alumnos, mientras que las de los profesores se refieren principalmente al clima de convivencia y las de administración a las condiciones laborales.

Así consta en la memoria anual correspondiente a 2007 de la Defensora Universitaria, Purificación Fenoll, que ha sido aprobada hoy por unanimidad del claustro universitario.

Durante el año pasado, la Oficina de la Defensora Universitaria tramitó 105 expedientes procedentes, en el 79,75 por ciento de los casos, de alumnos de grado y postgrado, seguidos del personal docente e investigador (20,19%) y del personal de administración y servicios (6,6%), según la memoria.

En total, la Oficina de la Defensora registró el año pasado 265 asuntos entre quejas formales y consultas por correo electrónico, cifra que Fenoll ha considerado mínima si se tiene en cuenta que la Universidad de Granada la conforman unos 60.000 estudiantes.

En el caso de los alumnos, las quejas procedieron mayoritariamente de las chicas, a diferencia de lo ocurrido entre el personal docente y el de administración y servicios.

En cuanto a la naturaleza de las quejas, las de los alumnos se centraron mayoritariamente en la prestación de los servicios y las infraestructuras de la Universidad (20,26%), seguidas de la organización docente (10,13%) y los problemas de matrícula (9,11%).

El resto fueron por disconformidad con la normativa y las calificaciones (8,10%); convalidaciones (6,8%); exámenes y procedimiento administrativo (5,6%); normativa de exámenes (4,5%); becas (2%) y problemas de convivencia universitaria (1,1%).

Los problemas de convivencia universitaria centran, por contra, las quejas del personal docente e investigador, con un 9,45% del total; seguida de las relacionadas con los procedimientos administrativos (3,15%); las condiciones laborales y la organización docente (el 2,10% cada uno) y los servicios e infraestructuras (1%).

Aunque las quejas procedieron de casi todos los centros dependientes de la Universidad de Granada, fueron las facultades de Filosofía y Letras y de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales las que más presentaron, con un 16,15% y 11,10% respecto del total.

Por ramas, las quejas procedieron mayoritariamente de los centros que imparten ciencias sociales (34 de las 105 tramitadas); seguida de las de ciencias experimentales y técnicas (23); humanidades (21); ciencias de la salud (14); centros propios (4) y servicios (9).

Por su parte, las quejas del personal de administración y servicios se refirieron mayoritariamente a las condiciones laborales (3,5%), según la memoria, en la que la Defensora incluye una serie de conclusiones y recomendaciones dirigidas a los profesores, como la de aprender a convivir mejor, sobre todo en aquellos departamentos en los que existen heridas sin cicatrizar desde hace mucho tiempo, y la de que el exceso de compromisos personales no les lleve a sustituir a los alumnos por números en las aulas. de Rabat (Marruecos).
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Museos marroquíes abandonan el modelo colonial para atraer a sus ciudadanos

Escrito por

– Museos marroquíes abandonan el modelo colonial para atraer a sus ciudadanos

Los museos de Marruecos han experimentado cambios en los últimos años con el fin de poner de relieve la riqueza cultural del país a través de los objetos procedentes de las distintas comarcas, y así, dejar a un lado el modelo museístico colonial con el que el pueblo no se siente identificado.

Así lo ha manifestado a Efe el director del Museo Nejjarine de Fez (Marruecos), Mohammed Chadli, quien ha participado hoy en la mesa redonda sobre colonialismo y patrimonio que organiza el Observatorio de Prospectiva Cultural Hum-584 de la Universidad de Granada, dirigido por el profesor José Antonio González Alcantud, en el marco de las IV Jornadas de Prospectiva y Crítica de la Cultura.

Chadli ha considerado que los objetos se exponen ahora de manera distinta, por ejemplo a través de ferias y exposiciones exteriores en lugar de encerrados en vitrinas, y de este modo, se consigue acercar la historia y la diversidad cultural a la población marroquí, que cada vez más visita los espacios museísticos.

Tratamos de cambiar los fundamentos de la museología colonial para ofrecer instituciones capaces de responder a las necesidades y expectativas de los marroquíes, según el experto, para quien el modelo que se planta actualmente interesa más a la gente al sentirse identificada.

Mientras antes se mostraba más el patrimonio colonial en los espacios museísticos, ahora se refleja la diversidad cultural de las comarcas del país.

El Museo Nejjarine de las Artes y Oficios de la Madera ubicado en Fez y dirigido por Chadli, ha sabido reflejar al pueblo y captar su interés, no sólo el de los turistas, al reproducir todos los usos de la madera de cedro por los marroquíes, desde la vida hasta la muerte.

Este espacio es un edificio construido en el siglo XVIII, ubicado en el zoco, donde se exponen herramientas tradicionales en madera, muebles, instrumentos musicales, puertas y ventanas, además de albergar una biblioteca especializada y un laboratorio de restauración de la madera.

Las jornadas que se celebran con la colaboración de la Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional, también han contado con la participación de la directora del Instituto Nacional de Ciencias de la Arqueología y el Patrimonio de Rabat (Marruecos).

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Chaves es el político andaluz en activo mejor valorado y Valderas supera a Arenas, según un informe

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– Chaves es el político andaluz en activo mejor valorado y Valderas supera a Arenas, según un informe

El presidente en funciones de la Junta de Andalucía, Manuel Chaves, es el político andaluz en activo mejor valorado, mientras el líder de Izquierda Unida, Diego Valderas, supera en 0,3 décimas al líder del Partido Popular, Javier Arenas, según el informe Liderazgo político en Andalucía. Percepción ciudadana y social de los líderes autonómicos, realizado por el Centro de Estudios Andaluces y por un equipo de investigación de la Universidad de Granada.

Según este informe, que presentó hoy en rueda de prensa el director del Centro de Estudios Andaluces, Alfonso Yerga Cobos, el presidente Chaves es el que mejor encarna para los andaluces el ideal de líder político debido a su capacidad de comunicación, cercanía y honradez, cualidades que, según los encuestados, debe tener un buen líder político.

De esta manera, Chaves obtiene una nota media de 5,6, seguido de Diego Valderas con un 5,1, Javier Arenas con un 4,8 y Julián Alvarez con un 4,4, aunque los que mejor calificación han obtenido han sido los políticos denominados históricos Rafael Escuredo y José Rodríguez de la Borbolla, con un 6,7 y un 5,8, respectivamente.

Otras cualidades muy importantes para los encuestados, hombres y mujeres mayores de edad de provincias distintas y con simpatía partidista y autoubicación ideológica diferente, son la formación y capacidad, la visión de futuro y la firmeza del líder a la hora de tomar decisiones, unas cualidades que, según ellos, encarna de forma más fiel el líder del Partido Popular Andaluz Javier Arenas.

Alfonso Yerga Cobos explicó durante la presentación del informe que la calidad de la democracia se mide por la calidad de su liderazgo y por ello la mejor valoración que se hace siempre a los líderes políticos son las elecciones, añadió.

Además, el director explicó que el informe se enmarca dentro de la línea de reflexión politológica que el Centro de Estudios Andaluces realiza desde hace tiempo y lo consideró interesante para la ciudadanía y para los estudiosos del tema, pues hay que recordar a los responsables políticos la recepción que se tiene de ellos.

Por su parte, el profesor de ciencia Política y de la Administración de la Universidad de Granada Antonio Robles Egea director del equipo de investigación que ha realizado este informe, explicó que la relación entre el liderazgo político y la democracia es un tema poco estudiado desde el proceso de formación de un líder y desde la percepción que tiene la ciudadanía.

Robles apuntó que su equipo de investigación trabaja en este tema desde 2002 y que para la realización del informe realizaron un total de 1.200 entrevistas a personas mayores de toda Andalucía, elaboraron encuestas de opinión y organizaron debates entre grupos de discusión compuestos por personas pertenecientes a las élites parlamentarias, universitarios y personas relacionadas con los medios de comunicación.
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A 8 de cada 10 andaluces no le gusta ninguno de sus líderes políticos actuales

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– A 8 de cada 10 andaluces no le gusta ninguno de sus líderes políticos actuales

* Si tienen que elegir, el 40% opta por Manuel Chaves.
* La honradez y la cercanía, los atributos que debe tener un líder ideal.

El 80% de los ciudadanos de Andalucía no tiene preferencia por ninguno de los líderes políticos de la Comunidad, pero si tienen que elegir, casi el 40% elige a Manuel Chaves. Así lo muestra el estudio Liderazgo político en Andalucía. Percepción ciudadana y social de los líderes políticos, realizado por un grupo de investigadores de la Universidad de Granada y financiado por el Centro de Estudios Andaluces (CEA).

El actual Presidente de la Junta encabeza todas las tablas resultantes del estudio, el cual se basa en 1.200 entrevistas y presenta una fiabilidad del 95%.

Solo los políticos de la transición como Rafael Escudero y Rodríguez de la Borbolla le superan en la valoración ciudadana. “La puntuación de Escudero (6,7) es excepcional, ya que está mitificado por el papel que los líderes jugaron en la transición”, señala Antonio Robles, investigador principal del estudio. En esta pregunta, los únicos aprobados resultan ser Chaves con un 5,6 y Diego Valderas, con un aprobado raspado.

La honradez y la cercanía son los dos atributos más valorados por los ciudadanos para su líder político ideal. 81,8% y 55,2% respectivamente, frente a la cualidad peor valorada: la ambición con el 7,3%.

No obstante, los hombres valoran menos estas cualidades, dándole mayor importancia respecto a los porcentajes de la población femenina a la formación o la visión de futuro. Centrándose en los políticos actuales de la Comunidad los ciudadanos dan un nivel superior a Chaves, destacando su capacidad de comunicación (34,4%) y su cercanía (32,8%).

En cuanto al estilo de liderazgo, 9 de cada 10 andaluces prefiere un líder activo o preventivo, alguien que se anticipe a los problemas.

Los investigadores han realizado también grupos de discusión, en los que han participado periodistas, universitarios y élites parlamentarias. En éstos, los tres colectivos coinciden en que el distanciamiento de la clase política, la desafección política y la mediatización de la información política son realidades presentes en Andalucía. Además, todos reconocen el indudable liderazgo de Manuel Chaves.

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New Technique for Dealing With Salt Damage to Stone Heritage Buildings

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– New Technique for Dealing With Salt Damage to Stone Heritage Buildings

Humidity, environmental pollution, cleaning with aggressive products for the chemical composition of the rock, etc give rise to the appearance of salts which cause stone decomposition, paint coats detachment, dust accumulation, etc.

The treatments used up to now to deal with the problem have been directed, almost exclusively, to preserve the beauty of the affected monument, assuming, with an almost fatalist attitude, that the damage will go on as an effect of passing of time. European experts joint in the SALTCONTROL project have collaborated in a new work line to deal with the problem: Blocking inside the stone the mineral salt crystallization process that ends up destroying it.

One of the works carried out in the framework of SALTCONTROL is the doctoral thesis “Prevención del daño debido a cristalización de sales en el patrimonio histórico construido mediante el uso de inhibidores de cristalización” (Damage prevention due to salt crystallization in national heritage through the use of crystallization inhibitors), read by Encarnación María Ruiz Agudo, under the supervision of Prof Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Navarro; as well as several papers published by scientific journals such as Journal of Physical Chemistry, Environmental Geology, Scanning y Journal of the Japanese Association for Crystal Growth.

According to Ruiz Agudo ( Centro Andaluz del Medio Ambiente– Department of Mineralogy and Petrology of the University of Granada) “ornamental porous materials’ damage due to salt attack is one of the most aggressive alteration mechanisms that affect constructed heritage. In the last decades, we have developed different methods to prevent or reduce the damage due to salt crystallization in ornamental rock pores, almost all with little success”.

The thesis’s research line and the above mentioned papers have followed the recent techniques that intend to use additives to modify the crystallization process and prevent or reduce the damage produced in the rock. Up to now, most of the works in this field have assessed the efficiency of these treatments in slightly soluble salts, such as calcium and barium sulphates. The thesis “has proved the effectiveness of this type of treatment in highly soluble salts, such as sodium and magnesium sulphates, as well as sodium nitrate, which can usually be found in historic buildings”.

The research work has been applied to the case of the effects of these treatments in the rock extracted in Santa Pudia’s quarries (Escúzar,-Granada), used in the construction of Renaissance buildings in Granada such as the Monastery of San Jerónimo, the Cathedral or the Royal Chapel. These buildings show strong alteration phenomenon due to crystallization in sodium sulphate, magnesium and sodium nitrate.

The work has conducted to the carrying out of salt crystallization tests in laboratory, which simulate alteration processes due to salt crystallization in the bases on historic buildings’ walls. “Later –says Ruiz Agudo-, we prepared a method for the implementation of the treatment developed in practical cases of ornamental stone materials conservation. Finally, in a last phase of development of the research project, we applied such treatment in pilot areas on the Monastery of San Jerónimo (Granada), where there had been important problems due to salt crystallization”.

The final result of the research work proposes the application of low-cost additives, which have proved to be very effective in the fight against the problems of ornamental porous materials. On the other hand, the research work “involves a methodology to deal with the study of damage caused by salts and the selection of the most adequate type of additive for a specific substrate and type of salt. The object of the methodology is the study of the problem in situ, in order to carry out laboratory tests that allow to select the concentration, pH and the most appropriate application method and finally to go back to the building to test the treatment in pilot areas, which permits to guarantee the success in the application of salt crystallization inhibitors inside stony materials, as we have proved in San Jerónimo”.

The research work is part of the SALTCONTROL project, financed by the 6th framework Programme of the EU for the period 2004-2007. Together with the University of Granada, other organisms have participated in the project: the University of Münster (Germany), the University of Gant (Belgium), the University College of London, the University of Patras in Greece, the Technical University of Prague, the Architecture Conservation Centre TNO of Holland, the Andalusian Institute of National Heritage and the Technical University of Eindhoven.

SALTCONTROL’s results have been successfully applied in the Monastery of San Jerónimo (Granada-Spain) and the Fortress of Teresina (Prague, Czech Republic).

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Scientifics have compiled temperature data of the 20th century in Spain as an evidence of the climatic change

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– Scientifics have compiled temperature data of the 20th century in Spain as an evidence of the climatic change

This research work is the first step to confirm the existence of a temperature change. Their main goal has been “to detect the signs of the Climatic Change through the temperatures in Spain”, explained to SINC the researcher of the department of Applied Physics of the University of Granada and main author, Matthias Staudt.

The compilation of maximum and minimum temperature series of every month since the end of the 19th century until the beginning of the 21st century has not always been an easy task. The data, which have been collected in 45 Spanish observatories, were not “homogeneous” in every case. In climatology, a series of data (temporary series) is considered as homogeneous when its content reflects exclusively the climatic evolution (this is, when the different indexed factors are absent). Therefore, the researchers’ work has mainly consisted in removing inhomogeneous “pollution” in data.

According to the scientist, analysing the quality of the data –which were published in November in the International Journal of Climatology- becomes, the “best method to believe in the final results”. “Technical preparation is essential to take the second step and do research into the rise of temperature at an unquestionable statistical level”, he added.

Data homogeneization
Changing a thermometer which has been calibrated in a different way is one of the factors why temperature data usually present incoherencies. In addition, the different reading interpretations of a human being or the frequent location changes of the observatories (changes from a urban environment to an airport, altitude changes, etc.) are problems with which the scientific team has had to deal with.“

Moving a thermometer without recording this fact gives rise to a very strange result which can not be explained 50 years later”, explained Staudt. Besides this, there are human typographical errors which present “non-homogeneous” data.

Scientists have been working for five years to find out, evaluate and repair the data series. “In order to make them as reliable as possible without converting them into a pretext for those reluctant to admit the existence of the Climatic Change”, explained the researcher. Although he admits that he has not obtained absolute conclusions, he has managed to establish a “normality” criterion in the behaviour of temperatures. “With a high level of probability, a qualitative decrease of seven degrees from April to May is not normal, as there should be a rise in any case”, he said.

Due to the homogeneization problems specified in the analysed monthly series, the researchers have set themselves a very strict “detection of un-homogeneities” criterion. Despite this, the instrumental error in a temperature measurement is in the order of 0.1ºC, and the error of a difference between data, previously treated with the homogeneization method, rises to the order of 0.4ºC. This error is not negligible but anyway it is “considerably smaller than the gross data”.

To come to conclusions that confirm climatic change in Spain, at a high level of reliability, this technical work involves a “necessary and obvious effort”. Staudt said that “the results obtained about the Climatic Change are not new, but they will confirm what we (almost) already knew”.
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Experts prove the geochemical origin of part of the CO2 emissions in semiarid climates

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– Experts prove the geochemical origin of part of the CO2 emissions in semiarid climates

The implementation of the Kyoto Protocol has raised, among other pressing matters, the need of getting to know the annual levels of carbon in different earth’s ecosystems. Scientists connected with the CEAMA-Andalusian Centre for the Environment (University of Granada-Andalusian Council) are studying these levels in semiarid Mediterranean scrubland, situated in Eastern Andalusia, whose results are comparable to wide regions of the world.

These researchers have analysed for the first time the CO2 level in carbonated semiarid systems. The interest of the work lies in the knowledge of the CO2 production processes and their absorption and in the conservation of one of the richest ecosystems of Spain.

One of the most recent studied on the subject is the doctoral thesis “CO2 interchanges between atmosphere and karst ecosystems: Applicability of the commonly applied techniques”, read by Penélope Serrano Ortiz and led by Doctors Andrew S. Kowalski and Lucas Alados Arboledas.

The work, supported by the “Carbon and water balance in Mediterranean thicket ecosystems in Andalusia: Effect of the climatic change” project, has permitted to quantify and identify the processes involved in carbon annual balance in a semiarid carbonated substrate ecosystem, situated in Sierra de Gádor (Almeria). After three years of observation of this ecosystem (2004-2006), through the use of the most advanced techniques (attached photo), have permitted to estimate the annual carbon balance. The carbon balance of this type of ecosystem has been checked for the first time, revealing that it acts as a CO2 drain which assimilates approximately 25 g C m-2 a year (between 10 and 20 times lower than arable land and tree ecosystems respectively).

Extreme climate

What is the meaning of this in an area characterized by a scrubland vegetation and a dry climate? Up to now, when it came to devise measures to prevent climatic change, they used to value tree ecosystems especially; that is the origin of the emphasis made in the reforestation and forestation of neglected agricultural land. But little attention had been paid to other ecosystems, such as the thicket ecosystem object of this study, which represents more than half the forest area of Andalusia (where a great part of the biological diversity of the Mediterranean ecosystems gathers together).

In that respect, besides defining the CO2 assimilation capacity of the studied thicket area, Serrano’s thesis has proved how rain distribution conditions the functional nature of the studied ecosystem and how the duration of the drought period and, therefore, the water content, determinates the duration of the CO2 geochemical emissions, through soil ventilation.

It proves that CO2 production is not only related to vegetation, but also to geochemical emissions which increase in dry seasons.

“The hypothesis formulated in this work -says Serrano- is that the emissions are a consequence of a ventilation phenomenon of the carbonated system’s macro-pores, which appear to be connected with wind speed. In this line, certain studies on degasification phenomenon in caves and turbulent CO2 interchanges with the atmosphere, carried out by Sergio Sánchez Moral and Soledad Cuezva Robleño (Spanish Museum of Natural Sciences, CSIC) in the Altamira Cave, endorse the theory of the existence of CO2 geochemical flows in ecosystems situated in karst substrate”.

Politics and ecology

CO2 is one of the main greenhouse gases which contributes to the rise of earth’s temperature. Serrano Ortiz’s study is the first one focused on carbonated semiarid ecosystems and has proved that they act as CO2 drains, due to the action of the thickets, and as CO2 geochemical generators in dry periods (especially worrying if we reach the temperature rise predicted by climatic change models).

His work provides data of C (carbon) flows in key ecosystems for biodiversity conservation, as well as for the negotiations related to CO2 emissions.
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DNA test fraud leads to change in scientists’ protocol

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– DNA test fraud leads to change in scientists protocol

Detection of a fraud attempt in sample taking for a DNA analysis is modifying forensic scientists action protocol: It will be compulsory for the donor to wash mouth out before a witness.

The fraud attempt took place in a paternity test when the donor mixed his own saliva with that of someone elses.

Researchers from all over the world have been carrying out paternity tests regularly. Samples are usually collected from mouth and saliva cells to carry out the DNA analysis.

The team of Jos? Antonio Lorente Acosta, director of the Laboratory of Genetic Identification of the University of Granada, carries out these forensic studies commissioned by the court in cases of paternity tests, for the identification of possible criminals or to carry out DNA databases (such as in the case of missing relatives), ScienceDaily reported.

The detection of the fraud attempt in the paternity test case in 2007 is changing the action protocol of forensic teams in similar cases.

The team of Lorente encountered a strange case: The saliva analysis (epithelial cells from the interior of mouth) collected from a person undergoing a paternity test gave an incongruous result – a DNA which could not come from the man who had carried out the test.

The revision of the case revealed that they had followed the usual procedure: the suspect washed his mouth and after that they took the samples with a cotton swab.

After repeating the analysis, there was an only one possible conclusion: In the mouth of that man there was DNA from two different persons.

After dismissing other possibilities, the question was: how was it possible?

We arranged to meet the person in question. We showed him the result and we explained to him that we suspected that he had manipulated the samples, which, as it was a trial in judicial investigation, could bring him serious consequences. Faced with the evidence, he admitted that shortly before the sample taking, he put into his mouth some saliva he kept in a little container.

It was an attempt to evade the responsibility in a case of extramarital paternity demand, and he admitted that when he mixed his saliva with someone elses, he attempted to `mislead the experts in forensic genetics and, through them, the judge. After repeating the test, it was revealed that he was the biological father in that case of judicial investigation.

The referred case gains a special importance as this is the first time it has been described that someone mixed two types of saliva in order to alter a DNA test; manipulation attempts in blood samples had been described before.

We must highlight – points out Lorente – that the alteration of DNA tests is almost impossible without forensic experts realizing it, but this case aroused the interest of the scientific community after its publication in the journal of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

The reason is obvious: It raises the need for adopting special measures to prevent experts error leading to crime or fraud – or lack of punishment. From this publication, many protocols of saliva taking for forensic analysis (cases of paternity, crime suspects, and DNA databases) include the obligation for saliva donors to wash their mouth out with water before a witness, just before he places the swab in his mouth to collect saliva samples.

This case was studied by FBI experts in the US, interested in preventing possible manipulation attempts of the tests, and one of them, Bruce Budowle, is co-author of the work.
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Novel mineralogical techniques for preservation of national monuments

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– Novel mineralogical techniques for preservation of national monuments

Humidity, environmental pollution, cleaning with aggressive products for the chemical composition of the rock, etc. give rise to the appearance of salts which cause stone decomposition, paint coats detachment, dust accumulation, etc.

The treatments used up to now to deal with the problem have been directed, almost exclusively, to preserve the beauty of the affected monument, assuming, with an almost fatalist attitude, that the damage will go on as an effect of passing of time. European experts joint in the SALTCONTROL project have collaborated in a new work line to deal with the problem: Blocking inside the stone the mineral salt crystallisation process that ends up destroying it.

One of the works carried out in the framework of SALTCONTROL is the doctoral thesis Damage prevention due to salt crystallisation in national heritage through the use of crystallisation inhibitors, read by Encarnacion Maria Ruiz Agudo, under the supervision of Prof. Carlos Manuel Rodriguez Navarro; as well as several papers published by scientific journals such as Journal of Physical Chemistry, Environmental Geology, Scanning y Journal of the Japanese Association for Crystal Growth.

According to Ruiz Agudo (Centro Andaluz del Medio Ambiente – Department of Mineralogy and Petrology of the University of Granada) ornamental porous materials damage due to salt attack is one of the most aggressive alteration mechanisms that affect constructed heritage. In the last decades, we have developed different methods to prevent or reduce the damage due to salt crystallisation in ornamental rock pores, almost all with little success.

The thesiss research line and the above mentioned papers have followed the recent techniques that intend to use additives to modify the crystallisation process and prevent or reduce the damage produced in the rock. Up to now, most of the works in this field have assessed the efficiency of these treatments in slightly soluble salts, such as calcium and barium sulphates. The thesis has proved the effectiveness of this type of treatment in highly soluble salts, such as sodium and magnesium sulphates, as well as sodium nitrate, which can usually be found in historic buildings.

The research work has been applied to the case of the effects of these treatments in the rock extracted in Santa Pudias quarries (Escuzar, Granada), used in the construction of Renaissance buildings in Granada such as the Monastery of San Jeronimo, the Cathedral or the Royal Chapel. These buildings show strong alteration phenomenon due to crystallisation in sodium sulphate, magnesium and sodium nitrate.

The work has conducted to the carrying out of salt crystallisation tests in laboratory, which simulate alteration processes due to salt crystallisation in the bases on historic buildings walls. Later,’ says Ruiz Agudo, ‘we prepared a method for the implementation of the treatment developed in practical cases of ornamental stone materials conservation. Finally, in a last phase of development of the research project, we applied such treatment in pilot areas on the Monastery of San Jeronimo (Granada), where there had been important problems due to salt crystallisation.

The final result of the research work proposes the application of low-cost additives, which have proved to be very effective in the fight against the problems of ornamental porous materials. On the other hand, the research work involves a methodology to deal with the study of damage caused by salts and the selection of the most adequate type of additive for a specific substrate and type of salt. The object of the methodology is the study of the problem in situ, in order to carry out laboratory tests that allow to select the concentration, pH and the most appropriate application method and finally to go back to the building to test the treatment in pilot areas, which permits to guarantee the success in the application of salt crystallisation inhibitors inside stony materials, as we have proved in San Jeronimo.

The research work is part of the SALTCONTROL project, financed by the 6th framework Programme of the EU for the period 2004-2007. Together with the University of Granada, other organisms have participated in the project: the University of Muenster (Germany), the University of Gant (Belgium), the University College of London, the University of Patras in Greece, the Technical University of Prague, the Architecture Conservation Centre TNO of Holland, the Andalusian Institute of National Heritage and the Technical University of Eindhoven.

SALTCONTROLs results have been successfully applied in the Monastery of San Jeronimo (Granada-Spain) and the Fortress of Teresina (Prague, Czech Republic).
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DNA Test Fraud Leads To Change In Scientists’ Protocol

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– DNA Test Fraud Leads To Change In Scientists Protocol

Detection of a fraud attempt in sample taking for a DNA analysis is modifying forensic scientists action protocol: It will be compulsory for the donor to wash mouth out before a witness.

The fraud attempt took place in a paternity test when the donor mixed his own saliva with that of someone elses.

Researchers from all over the world have been carrying out paternity tests regularly. Samples are usually collected from mouth and saliva cells to carry out the DNA analysis.

The team of Jose Antonio Lorente Acosta, director of the Laboratory of Genetic Identification of the University of Granada, carries out these forensic studies commissioned by the court in cases of paternity tests, for the identification of possible criminals or to carry out DNA databases (such as in the case of missing relatives), ScienceDaily reported.

The detection of the fraud attempt in the paternity test case in 2007 is changing the action protocol of forensic teams in similar cases.

The team of Lorente encountered a strange case: The saliva analysis (epithelial cells from the interior of mouth) collected from a person undergoing a paternity test gave an incongruous result – a DNA which could not come from the man who had carried out the test.

The revision of the case revealed that they had followed the usual procedure: the suspect washed his mouth and after that they took the samples with a cotton swab.

After repeating the analysis, there was an only one possible conclusion: In the mouth of that man there was DNA from two different persons.

After dismissing other possibilities, the question was: how was it possible?

We arranged to meet the person in question. We showed him the result and we explained to him that we suspected that he had manipulated the samples, which, as it was a trial in judicial investigation, could bring him serious consequences. Faced with the evidence, he admitted that shortly before the sample taking, he put into his mouth some saliva he kept in a little container.

It was an attempt to evade the responsibility in a case of extramarital paternity demand, and he admitted that when he mixed his saliva with someone elses, he attempted to `mislead the experts in forensic genetics and, through them, the judge. After repeating the test, it was revealed that he was the biological father in that case of judicial investigation.

The referred case gains a special importance as this is the first time it has been described that someone mixed two types of saliva in order to alter a DNA test; manipulation attempts in blood samples had been described before.

We must highlight – points out Lorente – that the alteration of DNA tests is almost impossible without forensic experts realizing it, but this case aroused the interest of the scientific community after its publication in the journal of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

The reason is obvious: It raises the need for adopting special measures to prevent experts error leading to crime or fraud – or lack of punishment. From this publication, many protocols of saliva taking for forensic analysis (cases of paternity, crime suspects, and DNA databases) include the obligation for saliva donors to wash their mouth out with water before a witness, just before he places the swab in his mouth to collect saliva samples.

This case was studied by FBI experts in the US, interested in preventing possible manipulation attempts of the tests, and one of them, Bruce Budowle, is co-author of the work.
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