Non-destructive determination of the silver content in Roman coins (nummi), dated to 308–311 A.D., by the combined use of PIXE-alpha, XRF and DPAA techniques

In the last years a non-destructive protocol of analysis, based on the combined use of the portable PIXE-alpha (particles induced X-ray emission), the XRF (X-ray florescence) spectrometers and of the new DPAA (deep protons activation analysis) method, was developed at the LANDIS laboratory of the INFN-LNS and IBAM-CNR, in order to characterise late Roman nummi dating from 294 onwards. The main aim of the investigation was the determination of the silver content of the coins produced in different periods of time and the study of the technique used for their manufacturing.The present paper discusses the results obtained from the analysis of 15 coins dated back to 308–311 A.D. produced at Carthago during the domination of the usurper L. Domitius Alexander. The obtained analytical data allowed to make some considerations about the minting of silvered bronze coins during this historical period.     

Characterization of foxing stains in early twentieth century photographic and paper materials

Abstract

The subject of this present work is a group of nine historical pictures shot in Palermo by the Sicilian photographer E. Interguglielmi in 1912. They are nine matte-collodion prints mounted on the original cardboard supports and all of them show foxing stains affecting the paper surface. In order to characterise the chemical composition of the supports and investigate foxing spots, non-destructive and micro-destructive analysis were carried out. X-rays fluorescence (XRF) analysis was used to characterise the elemental composition of all the mounting boards, allowing a comparison between the foxing spots and non-affected areas. Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy was used to investigate the presence of lower atomic number elements, not detectable by XRF, while SEM imaging allowed the investigation of surface appearance and nature of original paper samples from the cardboards.     

Surface and volume non-invasive methods for the structural monitoring of the bass-relief ‘Madonna con Bambino’ (Gorizia,Northern Italy)

Abstract

Structural analysis of marble statues, carried out by non-invasive and in situ methods, is crucial to define the state of conservation of the artworks and to identify the deterioration phenomena that can affect them. In this work, we combined in situ non-destructive techniques, ultrasonic tomography (US), ultraviolet-induced visible fluorescence (UV-IF) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to study the bass-relief ‘Madonna con Bambino’ (Gorizia, Italy). The US revealed the presence of some metallic pivots, associated with areas of high sound velocity; moreover, a more degraded area has been identified in the lower part of the bass-relief. The acquired UV-IF image confirmed the presence of surface degradation, allowing a preliminary evaluation of the extension of a fracture, from surface to bulk. In addition, the different materials (both original and/or integrations) that compose the studied surface have been identified. The XRF has contributed to define the nature of the inorganic materials applied during undocumented previous restoration works on the surface as filler for lacunae.     

Characterization and assessment of Saudi clays raw material at different area

The general characteristics of three types of clays obtained from the different locations in Saudi Arabia have been investigated. These clays were compared with those of pure kaolin samples. Clays were analyzed by DTA, TGA, SEM, X-ray diffraction, chemical composition (XRF) and optical properties. Three clays are white clay (WC), red clay (RC) from Jeddah area and grey clay (GC) from Elmadina area. The comparison made with Spain clay as pure kaoline (KA). The clays contain kaolinite, illite, montmorillonite and quartz. Quartz is present in every class and varies between 45% and 20%. Montmorillonite is found mainly in the WC (50%) and are lacking only in sample RC and GC. Another important aspect with respect to the chemical composition of the clays is the low amounts of Na₂O and K₂O. The clay deposits (WC, RC, and GC) are suitable for use in industrial ceramics due to the low whiteness, high yellowness and high content of impurities as montmorillonite and iron. This is an important technological aspect that renders possible use of clay RC and GC in the fabrication of products with a cream tonality, especially in roofing tiles and rustic floor tiles. The results also, showed that the studied clays have adequate characteristics for ceramics wall, floor, roof tiles, tableware, earthenware and brick fabrication.     

Determination of trace elements in Syrian medicinal plants and their infusions by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence and total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and total-reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) techniques suited well for a multi-element determination of K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, and Sr in some Syrian medicinal plant species. The accuracy and the precision of both techniques were verified by analyzing the Standard Reference Materials (SRM) peach-1547 and apple leaves-1515. A good agreement between the measured concentrations of the previously mentioned elements and the certified values were obtained with errors less than 10.7% for TXRF and 15.8% for XRF. The determination of Br was acceptable only by XRF with an error less than 24%. Furthermore, the XRF method showed a very good applicability for the determination of K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, and Br in infusions of different Syrian medicinal plant species, namely anise (Anisum vulgare), licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), and white wormwood (Artemisia herba-alba).     

A New 3D Supramolecular Manganese(II) Complex Constructed from Benzimidazole‐5,6‐dicarboxylate and Oxalate: Synthesis,Structural, and Magnetic Properties

A new manganese(II) complex [Mn₃(bidc)₂(C₂O₄)(H₂O)₁₀]_n ( 1 ) (bidc = benzimidazole‐5,6‐dicarboxylate) was synthesized and characterized by X‐ray crystallography. X‐ray diffraction shows that complex 1 has a neutral, one‐dimensional (1D) brick wall chain structure. With the intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions, the adjacent chains are joined into a 3D suparmolecular architecture. IR spectroscopy and variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements were made, which indicated weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the Mn^II ions in complex 1 .     

Fabrication and Cytocompatibility Evaluation of Psyllium Husk (Isabgol)/Gelatin Composite Scaffolds

Psyllium husk or isabgol contains xylan backbone linked with arabinose, rhamnose, and galacturonic acid units (arabinoxylans). In this study, we demonstrate the fabrication and characterization of a macroporous three-dimensional (3D) composite scaffold by mixing psyllium husk powder (PH) and gelatin (G) in different ratios, viz.100 PH, 75/25 PH/G, and 50/50 PH/G (w/w), using an EDC-NHS coupling reaction followed by freeze-drying method. The reaction was performed in aqueous as well as in alcoholic media to determine the most appropriate solvent system for this purpose. The mechanical strength of the scaffold system was improved from 151 to 438 kPa. The fabricated scaffolds exhibited enhanced structural stability, remarkable swelling capacity, and escalated cell growth and proliferation. ATR-FTIR analysis showed the presence of amide and ester bonds indicating covalent crosslinking. SEM micrographs revealed the porous nature of the scaffolds with pores ranging from 30 to 150 μm, and further pore size distribution curve indicated that 75/25 PH/G (w/w%) EDC-NHS-alcohol scaffold exhibited the best fit to the Gaussian distribution. Swelling capacity of the 100 PH EDC-NHS-alcohol scaffolds was found to be nearly 40% from its original weight in 48 h. MTT assay using fibroblast cells revealed ~ 80% cellular proliferation by 6th day within the fabricated scaffolds in comparison to control.

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First chemical evidence of royal purple as a material used for funeral treatment discovered in a Gallo�CRoman burial (Naintr��, France, third century AD)

Violet-purple residues collected from a Gallo-Roman burial dated back to the second half of the third century A.D. and excavated at Naintré (France) were chemically investigated by multi-analytical methodology involving the use of Raman spectroscopy, direct exposure-mass spectrometry (DE-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-UV-visible). Little is known about funeral treatment and rituals during Roman times. Retrieving valuable information on these by chemical analysis of organic residues was thus a key aspect of this work. Analyses demonstrated the presence of the very precious purple colorant obtained from shellfish glands commonly known as Tyrian or royal purple and its exceptional preservation. Chemical investigation and archaeological evidence have shown that purple was widely spread after the deposition of the body for burial. These results are the earliest chemical evidence of purple colorant used during funeral rituals (not as textile dye) and enabled us to highlight new aspects of funeral practices in Roman times.     

Biodegradable photocrosslinkable poly(depsipeptide‐co‐ε‐caprolactone) for tissue engineering: Synthesis,characterization, and In vitro evaluation

Stereolithography has become increasingly popular in scaffold fabrication due to automation and well‐controlled geometry complexity, and consequently, there is a great need for new suitable biodegradable photocrosslinkable polymers. In this study, a new type of photocrosslinkable poly(ester amide) was synthesized based on ε‐caprolactone and l ‐alanine‐derived depsipeptide and was applied to fabrication of three‐dimensional (3D) scaffolds by stereolithography. ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infra‐red analysis confirmed the formation of new bonds during the polymer synthesis. Incorporation of depsipeptide increased the glass transition temperature and hydrophilicity of the polymer and accelerated hydrolytic degradation compared with the poly(ε‐caprolactone) homopolymer. The compressive strength of the 3D scaffolds increased with the increasing depsipeptide content. This work demonstrated that incorporation of depsipeptide into photocrosslinkable polyesters resulted in excellent cytocompatibility and tunable degradation rates and mechanical properties and thus expanded the repertoire of biomaterials suitable for 3D photofabrication of high‐resolution tissue engineering scaffolds. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 3307–3315     

Some Novel Smectic* Liquid-Crystalline Side-Chain Polymers

Abstract

Three acrylate side-chain polymers in which the mesogenic moieties are based on the 4-n-alkoxyphenyl-4′-(4″-methylhexyloxy) benzoates have been characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. For shorter flexible spacers (n = 2) both smectic A and C^* phases are observed thus making this polymer interesting for the fabrication of electro-optical devices based on ferroelectric properties (a smectic A phase is required for alignment purposes). For longer flexible spacers, (n = 6, 11) only the smectic A phase remains.     

Feasibility of ETV-ICP-OES for Characterization of Archaeological Glasses

In the present study the possibilities of electrothermal vaporization inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ETV-ICP-OES) for characterization of archaeological glasses were investigated. The objects of our research were fragments of a colorless late antique Roman flat window glass (fifth century A.D.) and colored medieval glass bracelets (eleventh–twelfth century A.D.) excavated in the region of Pernik (West Bulgaria).

The finely ground glass samples were analyzed directly and CHF₃ was used as evaporation and transport modifier. Dried aqueous standard solutions and certified reference materials with different matrix (glass, fly ash, and stream sediment) were used as calibration standards. No matrix effects were observed by the optimized conditions. Measurements were performed using common calibration curves obtained with all appropriate calibration standards and major, minor, and trace element concentrations were determined. ETV-ICP-OES analytical data were used to establish the type of glass, the fluxing agents, the typical coloring and decoloring elements, and the recipe norm.     

Trichosordarin A,a norditerpene glycoside from the marine-derived fungus Trichoderma harzianum R5

Abstract

A new sordarin derivative, trichosordarin A (1), with a unique norditerpene aglycone was isolated from the culture of a marine-sediment-derived fungal strain, Trichoderma harzianum R5. Its structure and relative configuration were unequivocally identified by a combination of 1D/2D NMR, IR, and mass spectrometric methods. Compound 1 was assayed to be toxic to the marine zooplankton Artemia salina.     

A new triterpenoid saponin from Pulsatilla cernua predicted by NMR-based mosaic method

Abstract

A saponin (1) with gypsogenin as aglycone was isolated from the roots of Pulsatilla cernua. The aglycone of compound 1 was considered as gypsogenin which was rarely found in this genus. Its structure was predicted by NMR-based “mosaic” method rapidly, and further confirmed on the basis of spectroscopic data, including 2D NMR spectra and chemical evidence. This work suggested that NMR-based mosaic method is suitable for most of saponins from common species of genus Pulsatilla.     

Determination of yttrium and lanthanum in zirconium dioxide by HPLC, X-ray fluorescence and neutron activation analyses

Summary Lanthania-and yttria-stabilized zirconium oxide ceramics have been examined using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), thermal neutron activation (NA) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyses and thus determine the stabilizer content. Ceramic powders with the composition ZrO₂:x mol % La₂O₃ (x=5, 10, 15, 20 and 33) and ZrO₂:x mol % Y₂O₃ (x=10, 15, 20 and 25) were prepared by the citrate and the co-precipitation techniques, respectively. The lanthanum content was determined by HPLC (x=5.09, 9.78, 14.98, 19.81 and 25.94) and NA (x=5.15, 10.32, 17.25, 21.08 and 27.97) analyses, the yttrium content by HPLC (x=8.5, 13.5, 17.9 and 22.1) and XRF (x=9.9, 15.8, 20.1 and 24.9) analyses. An experimental sequence, based on continuous dilution of ceramic powder solutions, is proposed for preparing samples for HPLC measurements. A swimming pool nuclear reactor is used for NA analysis. The quantitative determinations of yttrium and lanthanum doping levels obtained using those techniques are described.     

Synthesis of Starburst Oligoanilino[60]fullerene and Poly(Dimethylsiloxane) Triblock Copolymers

Abstract

A new synthetic approach for the fabrication of core‐shell like conducting elastomers was described. The approach utilized the facile intermolecular self‐assembly of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) in DMSO leading to formation of a core particle, while soluble oligoaniline (A _x ) segments dispersed in the solution phase resembling a shell overlayer for building the morphology. This morphology was demonstrated by bis[penta(tetraanilinofullereno)] bis(aminopropyl)poly(dimethylsiloxane) [PDMS‐(F5A₄)₂] triblock co‐oligomers synthesized using a functionalized C₆₀ derivative as a linker. Observation of ¹H NMR spectroscopic responses on the PDMS particle formation in DMSO‐d ₆ is consistent with the proposed core‐shell geometry with oligoaniline moieties located at the shell overlayer.     

超大规模集成电路硅片溶液清洗技术的进展

本文综述了超大规模集成电路制造过程中硅片溶液清洗技术的研究历史及现状, 并对技术的未来发展进行了展望。     

Auroglaucin-related neuroprotective compounds from Vietnamese marine sediment-derived fungus Aspergillus niveoglaucus

Abstract

Two new auroglaucin-derived compounds, niveoglaucins A (1) and B (2), together with four known related compounds were isolated from extract of the marine sediment-derived strain of Aspergillus niveoglaucus. The structures of these compounds were determined by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and high resolution MS. The plausible biosynthetic pathway was proposed for new compounds 1 and 2. The neuroprotective activity in 6-OHDA-induced Parkinson’s disease cell model was shown for niveoglaucin A (1).     

A new neolignan glycoside from Dolomiaea souliei

Abstract

One new neolignan glycoside, dolomiside A (1), together with 11 known phenylpropanoid glycosides were isolated from Dolomiaea souliei (Franch.) Shih. The structures of these isolates were determined by UV, CD, HR-ESI-TOFMS, 1D and 2D NMR analysis.     

High-Speed Counter-Current Chromatography Combined with Column Chromatography for Isolation of Methyllycaconitine from Delphinium pseudocyanthum

Preparative high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) combined with conventional column chromatography (CC) has been used for isolation and purification of methyllycaconitine from Delphinium pseudocyanthum. n-Hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water, 1:1:1:2 (v/v), was used as the solvent system for HSCCC. Separation of methyllycaconitine from an HSCCC fraction was successfully achieved by CC on silica gel using chloroform-methanol, 7:1 (v/v), as mobile phase. A total of 113.45 mg methyllycaconitine of purity >95% was obtained from 1.044 g extract of D. pseudocyanthum. Its structure was identified by MS and NMR.

     

Sulfur isotope analysis of cinnabar from Roman wall paintings by elemental analysis/isotope ratio mass spectrometry – tracking the origin of archaeological red pigments and their authenticity

The most valuable pigment of the Roman wall paintings was the red color obtained from powdered cinnabar (Minium Cinnabaris pigment), the red mercury sulfide (HgS), which was brought from mercury (Hg) deposits in the Roman Empire. To address the question of whether sulfur isotope signatures can serve as a rapid method to establish the provenance of the red pigment in Roman frescoes, we have measured the sulfur isotope composition (δ³⁴S value in ‰ VCDT) in samples of wall painting from the Roman city Aventicum (Avenches, Vaud, Switzerland) and compared them with values from cinnabar from European mercury deposits (Almadén in Spain, Idria in Slovenia, Monte Amiata in Italy, Moschellandsberg in Germany, and Genepy in France). Our study shows that the δ³⁴S values of cinnabar from the studied Roman wall paintings fall within or near to the composition of Almadén cinnabar; thus, the provenance of the raw material may be deduced. This approach may provide information on provenance and authenticity in archaeological, restoration and forensic studies of Roman and Greek frescoes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.