This article presents an integrated approach for the authentication of five Russian icons through the study of their paint materials (elemental composition and stratigraphic mapping), state of conservation and artistic technique. The results of the applied analytical protocol, involving optical and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy/microspectroscopy, led to the conclusion that the five icons belong to the same group and iconographic school (from Northern Russia) and date from the end of the 16th century to the beginning of 17th century. Because of massive overpainting, the icons ''suffered'' a change in iconographic style and significance, and restoration treatment brought to light the original painting and its attribution. Identification of the composition of the original chromatic palette used by the iconographer, the stratigraphic mapping and the conservation state of the painting materials, along with the features of the original artistic technique, furnished key elements for the icons' authentication. Here, we present the first experimental data concerning the identification of the authentication characteristics, being part of a large project that has as its final aim the evaluation of the effectiveness and effects of the cleaning agent on the paint layers. Microsc. Res. Tech. 72:755-765, 2009. V

The purpose of this research have been to determine the influence of soil fertilizations systems (fertilization with: nitrogen, phosphorous, nitrogen and phosphorous, farmyard manure) on the physical properties (penetration hardness) and chemical properties (humidity, metals) of the soil. The experiments have been carried out in the experimental field of National Agricultural Research and Development Institute -Fundulea, Romania, for a wheat monoculture. The lowest values of the metal content in soil (nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, lead) have been recorded for wheat experimental variant -fertilized with N90P75 kg/ha (a1b4), and the highest content have been recorded for manganese (766 mg/kg dry matter), and for the wheat experimental variant a1b4, respectively (wheat-fertilized with N90P75 kg/ha active matter), working depth 0-15 cm.

Water resources in the Jijia catchment basin are limited and often polluted. The catchment basin of Jijia is situated in northeastern Romania and it crosses the Moldavian Plain on the north-west-south-east direction. The purpose of the present study is to analyze 26 physico-chemical parameters providing the annual and multiannual water quality index. Two water-sampling points were selected: Jijia-Victoria [S.1] and Jijia-Opriseni [S.2]. The high values of nitrates are caused by the use of nitrogen-based chemical fertilizers and of manure. Contamination with nitrites (N-NO2-) and nitrates (N-NO3-) of wetlands and deepwater habitats in the floodplain of Jijia is still high because of agricultural and zootechnical activities. The phosphorus within freshwater habitats is a consequence of anthropogenic pressure: improper storage of animal waste and/or use of phosphates-based fertilizers. Global water quality index (WQi) shows that both monitoring stations are included in the Medium high class.

The present paper deals with the identification of six ancient Byzantine bronze coins found in the same archaeological site of Nufarul (Tulcea County, Romania), by corrosion product and alloy analysis. The microstratigraphies (i.e. layers), together with microchemical tests including reflection colorimetry, IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy assisted by X-ray spectrometry have rendered evident the stratified morphology of three types of patina. They are the primary type resulting from redox processes, the secondary type determined by acid-base and related hydrolytic processes and the ternary type (or the contamination patina) from segregation, diffusion and osmosis processes. The stratigraphical distribution of the chemical components in the structure of the patina is caused by the pedological (soil) processes at the archaeological sites and can be the main factor used in the authentication of ancient bronze artefacts.

This is the second paper belonging to a study concerning the authentication of ancient easel-paintings, on canvas and wood support, from private and public collections, by using the FT-IR spectrophotometry technique for the analysis of the painting materials. Different pigments, egg binders, caseins and animal glue, often found in ancient easel-paintings on wood or canvas, have been used as standards for establishing the ageing rate of the paintings by correlation with the dates presented in the first note. The determination of the degradation rate of the painting materials is an important archaeometric characteristic used in authentication.

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The purpose of this research have been to determine the influence of soil main works systems (no tillage, fall tillage, spring tillage, discing in) on the physical properties (penetration hardness, air speed in soil) and chemical properties (humidity, humus, total nitrogen, calcium, chlorides) of the soil. The experiments have been carried out in the experimental field of National Agricultural Research and Development Institute - Fundulea, Romania, for a corn monoculture. The highest values of the soil penetration hardness have been recorded for the corn monoculture for which the spring tillage system had been applied (4.9 MPa, working depth 15-30 cm). The lowest values of total nitrogen and chlorides content have been recorded for the corn monoculture for which the fall tillage system had been applied (1.37 mg/kg d.s., working depth 15-30 cm) in the case of the total nitrogen and for the corn monoculture - discing in system (4.43 mg/100g sol, working depth 0-15 cm).