A Comparative Analysis of Contemporary Methods of Final Disposition

This article illustrates the procedural specificities of the following eight contemporary methods of final disposition: (1) Natural Organic Reduction, (2) Alkaline Hydrolysis, (3) Plastination, (4) Body Farm, (5) Cryonics, (6) Memorial Reefs, (7) Organic Burial Pods, and (8) Space Funeral. After comparing the differences in the duration of body-processing time of all eight methods, Alkaline Hydrolysis was determined to take the shortest length of time to complete (6 - 8 hours), while Plastination was deemed to take the longest length of time to complete (1 year). Additionally, with regard to comparing the differences in cost to the consumer, Plastination and Body Farm were both deemed to be of the lowest cost ($0/body donation only), while Cryonics was deemed to be the most expensive ($200,000+ due to ongoing subfreezing storage and maintenance fees). Finally, after comparing the differences in each state’s set of sanctioned methods of final disposition, it was established that the seventeen states that restrict their residents’ options the most, permitting only two out of the eight contemporary options, include Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, and that the two states that restrict their residents the least, permitting six out of the eight contemporary options include California and Florida.

Identification and Conservation State of Painted Wall Plasters at the Funerary House in Necropolis of Tuna El-Gebel, El-Minia-Upper Egypt

During this study, the principal aim carried out was to obtain more information about technique and conservation conditions of the Egyptian wall paintings during the Roman period in the funerary house in necropolis of Tuna el-Gabal, El-Minia-Upper Egypt. It’s going back to 2nd century AD and involves different sites of Ptolemaic and Roman chapels;some are in the immaculate established style while others are a blend of Pharaonic-Greek style and both are secured with mural painting. Deterioration problems observed on the wall paintings of the funerary house are, loss of plaster layers, disintegration of plaster layers, loss of paint layers (blistering and peeling), discoloration and severely damaged owing to a lot of deterioration factors as weakness of mud brick support, deterioration of surface treatments and to the widespread presence of different salts. The materials used in the painting, preparation layers and the state of conservation of the mural painting at funerary house were investigated by integrated physio-chemical measurements, particularly micro-Raman spectroscopy (µRaman), light optical microscopy (LOM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with an energy dispersive X-ray analysis system (EDX), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). In addition, the morphology of multilayer plaster from wall painting was investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). A wide color palette utilized as a part of the necropolis has been identified with mineral pigments and pigment mixtures. It is found that, the paints were based on an organic binder and traditional pigments (azurite, hematite, ochre, vegetable black) were used as colorants on plaster. The examination demonstrated that the preparatory layer is verging on made of pure lime while the plaster layer based mainly of lime and gypsum with variable amounts of quartz. The obtained results provided information about the painting technique, chemical composition, crystal structure in addition to the stratigraphy of the paint layers and the state of preservation and on the causes of the painting deterioration. Furthermore, the obtained results can be used in the conservation and restoration interventions of these sites.

A Study of Burial Patterns and Symbolism With Reference to Harappan Sites in India

Since time and beyond, when humans first developed the understanding of staying in communities, a sense of affection and adoration grew towards fellow beings. The law of nature of the cycle of life gave rise to the belief in life after death and a sense of intimidation for the same, gave way to supernatural beliefs. Such beliefs gave rise to multifarious customary activities. A study to understand them on the basis of symbolism has paved the way for simplification of the complex rituals, and hence, perceive the prevalent socio-cultural aspects of those times.

A Space for Tears

“A space for tears”explores the relations of the phenomenon of absence and performance and their implications for both art and life practices.The connections are uncovered through the exploration of the forms and modalities of absence,the positionality of absence as a constitutive element of performance,the affinity of absence and the questions of embodiment and the interconnection death and mourning ritual with performance.The driving force of this research is the need for(re)establishing a healthy relationship with absence,which would not be confined exclusively to the artistic realm.The paper is conceived as a hermeneutic study in a polemic tone,utilizing theoretical and literary works of poetry and prose as well as folk literature as equal sources.The plurality of sources and especially their form and origin ties in with the expansion beyond art practices,which bids to consider alternative repositories of knowledge.Capturing and keeping the fluidity and ambivalence of the researched topics is a key feature of the research,which remains thoroughly visible.The study keeps the weave of conclusions open,ready to be correlated with practice.

Operation makalu air crash:influence of cognitive and human factors on decision-making

Two onboard crew members lost their lives in the fatal Makalu Air Cessna Grand Caravan 208B domestic cargo flight crash on May 16,2018.The Disaster Victim Identification(DVI)procedure comprises external examination,photography,DNAcollection,fingerprint collection,postmortem examination,antemortem information collection from the family members,and reconciliation.The major challenge of this operation was dealing with cognitive bias.The antemortem dental information of one of the deceased was revealed to the forensic experts just before the postmortem examination.This influenced the testing strategies.There was a tendency to neglect the complete dental examination presuming the identification was established.Later,during a thorough examination,the forensic odontologist realised that the initial decision was erroneous.Furthermore,there are few experience-based resources available to resolve cognitive bias issues.The authors begin by summarising complicated operations in which they have been involved,followed by a discussion of the key sources of cognitive bias along with the solution to resolve these issues in DVI preparedness planning.