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Network Activities F: implementation of novel physical analytical methods in collections |
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Aims NA F will explore non-destructive and/or non-invasive physical analytical techniques that can be applied to the study of specimens housed in natural history collections. Objectives NA F will explore the following, and produce reports on the findings: • CT exploration • MR exploration • ESEM • The potential of a digital database of virtual specimens Progress CT exploration: Draft protocols for use of computer tomography have been produced from the results of scanning & storing images of human skulls and surveying existing literature. A review of software for handling virtual data has been produced in draft form and Geometric Morphometric tools were evaluated and recommendations for the application of the technique to Virtual Specimens in Natural History Collections produced. ESEM: Initial contacts has been made with manufactures to compile information on improvements and developments of equipment – this is to be expanded and developed further in Year 2 (2005) Commercial software has been evaluated, volume rendering of test specimen carried out and results evaluated, taking decision on parameters. Volume rendering routine set up for successive specimens. Information added to draft report A list of chemical and mechanical treatments for specimen preparation has been compiled from information gathered by questionnaire, and progress has been made on the effects of different specimen treatments on SEM analysis results; showing which treatments are detrimental to SEM examination and also how patterns seen in SEM can be used to determine what treatments have been used on a specimen in the past. A complete report with recommendations for osteological preparatations and curation methods is in progress and will be released at the end of the activity (January 2006). MR: MRI techniques have been used on freshwater Bivalves and essays on Magnetic Resonance of preserved specimens in water and alcohol carried out. A draft protocol of the application of magnetic Resonance in collections has been completed. A software review has been produced in advanced draft for circulation among partners. Deliverables Draft technical parameters – 3D reconstruction Draft Report on the technical parameters of CT Draft Report on the technical parameters of MRI Minutes NA F General Workshop. MNCN,Madrid. 21&22 June 2004 NA F Pilot Study 2 Meeting. NHM, London. 3 June 2005
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