NAA and Mössbauer Study on the Colorative Mechanism of Yaozhou Celadon in Ancient China

The contents of 30 colorative elements in the glaze of Yaozhou celadon have been measured by neutron activation analysis (NAA) with the conclusion that iron is the dominant colorative element. It is further detected by Mössbauer spectroscopy that the iron in the glaze exists in the chemical state of structural iron (Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺) and that there is quantitative relation between the dominant wavelength of various colored glazes and the relative content of structural iron. Thus the colorative mechanism of Yaozhou celadon has been revealed entirely.     

Solid phase extraction for the speciation and preconcentration of inorganic selenium in water samples: A review

Selenium is an essential element for the normal cellular function of living organisms. However, selenium is toxic at concentrations of only three to five times higher than the essential concentration. The inorganic forms (mainly selenite and selenate) present in environmental water generally exhibit higher toxicity (up to 40 times) than organic forms. Therefore, the determination of low levels of different inorganic selenium species in water is an analytical challenge. Solid-phase extraction has been used as a separation and/or preconcentration technique prior to the determination of selenium species due to the need for accurate measurements for Se species in water at extremely low levels. The present paper provides a critical review of the published methods for inorganic selenium speciation in water samples using solid phase extraction as a preconcentration procedure. On the basis of more than 75 references, the different speciation strategies used for this task have been highlighted and classified. The solid-phase extraction sorbents and the performance and analytical characteristics of the developed methods for Se speciation are also discussed.     

Mössbauer Spectroscopy, NAA and PIXE Study on Some Archeological Problems of Ancient Chinese Ru Celadon

By Mössbauer spectroscopy, NAA and optical spectroscopy, the coloring and the firing technology of ancient Ru celadon were studied. Also, the relationship between Ru Kuan celadon from Qingliang Temple and Ru celadon from Zhanggongxiang was studied by PIXE. The glaze color of Ru celadon depends on the ratio of the structural iron ions, i.e. the Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ ratio. Further, it depends on the firing conditions. As the Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ ratio gradually increases, the glaze color of Ru celadon will gradually change from pea green to sky green. All the Ru celadons were fired in a reducing atmosphere. The sky green Ru celadon was fired in the most reducing atmosphere and at the highest temperature, the powder green in a more reducing atmosphere and at a lower temperature and the pea green in a lightly reducing atmosphere and at the lowest temperature. The PIXE experimental results showed that Ru Kuan celadon from Qingliang Temple and Ru celadon from Zhanggongxiang were incompletely identical in the recipe of glaze and they could be differentiated by the cluster analysis of the major element concentration of glaze.     

罗布泊地貌地质遗迹中某些元素的分析

用中子活化分析法测试了新疆罗布泊地区地质样品中的某些痕量、微量及常量元素含量,特别是对样品中放射性元素作了检测。结果表明,该地区的地质遗迹样品中,痕量、微量及常量元素的含量与中国大陆地壳中的含量相当,无明显的放射性异常;把这些样品当作建筑材料的原材料来使用,是安全的;通过对这些样品的检测分析,为该地区的化探普查提供了可靠的依据。     

The Effect of Copper Salts on Bioactive Compounds and Ultrastructure of Wheat Plants

Abiotic stress agents, among them metal stress, can cause oxidative damage to plant cells. In defense, plants can increase the production of secondary metabolites in order to mitigate the harmful effects caused by them. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of two types of copper salts (CuSO₄ and Cu(NO₃)₂), added in two different amounts in soil (150 mg/kg, respectively 300 mg/kg), on assimilating pigments, total polyphenols, antioxidant activity and the elemental composition of wheat. The obtained results were compared with those from control plants grown in the same conditions but without copper salts. The amount of assimilating pigments, total polyphenols, and antioxidant activity respectively increases or decreases in the plants treated with copper salts compared to the control depending on the stage of development of the plant. No significant damage induced in the leaves of the wheat plants treated with the selected salts was observed following the TEM analysis. In six-week-old plants it was observed by EDX analysis that the salts are transformed into nanoparticles. The bioactive compounds, elemental composition and their interaction is influenced by concentration of metal’s salt, type of salt and exposure period.     

Brain abscess observed by localized proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy

We encountered a case of brain abscess that was difficult to differentiate from glioblastoma. Localized ¹H-MRS was found to be useful for obtaining information on the biochemical status of brain abscess. The peak of lipid and high residual peak of NAA (N-acetyl-aspartate) were observed in the cystic lesion of the brain abscess by ¹H-MRS. The NAA/Cho (Choline-containing compounds) ratio in brain parenchyma showing an edematous lesion before therapy gradually increased with the relief of inflammation.     

Spectroscopic investigation of a ‘Virgin of Sorrows’ canvas painting: A multi-method approach

The investigation of unmatched ancient objects is an attentive and arduous activity to conservation scientists. An important aspect of art analysis is the question on sampling and avoiding damage on the artefact during the study. A possible way to maximize the information that is extracted from the historical object is using several sensitive micro-analytical techniques on the same micro samples. As an illustration of this multi-method approach, in this work, a canvas painting ‘Virgin of Sorrows’ was studied and its materials were analysed in order to roughly date and to authenticate this object of art. Proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE), neutron activation analysis (NAA), optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), micro-Raman spectroscopy (MRS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were used, obtaining successful results. These methods allowed identifying the different inorganic pigments (iron oxide, carbon black, white lead, Prussian blue) as well as indigo. Optical microscopy and SEM revealed the layered structure of the samples, while FT-IR enabled to determine the nature of the varnish used (shellac). By using these complementary techniques, it was possible to identify the materials in the painting, which are indicative for the period of manufacturing the artwork.     

Determination of Na,K, Rb and Cs Distribution in Human Brain Using Neutron Activation Analysis

This study aims to investigate the distribution of Na, K, Rb and Cs in human brains (5 individuals, 12 brain parts, mean age: 75 years). Distribution of the trace metals between lipid fraction and brain tissue was investigated in solvent extraction experiments. Determinations were carried out by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The present results show a rather non-homogeneous distribution for Na and a relatively uniform distribution for K, Rb and Cs. The mean concentrations found are 7440µgNag^–1 dry weight, 12800µgKg^–1, 14µgRbg^–1 and 50ngCsg^–1. A highly significant positive correlation was found between Rb and Cs. Solvent extraction experiments showed that 19% of Rb and 26% of Cs of the total content is located in lipid fraction.     

A novel Salvialactomine from the callus culture of Salvia santolinifolia Boiss

A novel compound Salvialactomine (1) along with two other unusual occurring natural products Pentatriacontanoic acid 1, 3-dihydroxypropyl ester (2) and 5-Methylflavone (3) were isolated from the callus of Salvia santolinifolia Boiss. Callus was initiated on MS medium containing NAA (0.5 mg/L) and further sub-cultured on MS medium supplemented with NAA with BA (0.5 + 1.5 mg/L). The structures of isolated compounds were determined by using mass spectrometry, 1D, and 2D–NMR techniques. Compounds 1, and 3 were tested for two different cancer cell lines, i.e. Hela (Cervical cancer cell) and PC-3 (Prostate cancer cells). IC₅₀ was found as > 30 using Doxorobicin (0.912 ± 0.12 μmol L^?1) as a standard.     

Determination of Trace Elements in Integrated Human Diet for Dietary Assessment

Abstract

Neutron activation analysis in combination with atomic absorption spectrometry was utilized for the determination of 21 elements in integrated diet samples of the inhabitants of the Rawalpindi/Islamabad area. The study was carried out to determine prevailing concentration levels of trace elements nutrition, inadequacy, imbalances and toxicity. This data will serve as baseline values and will be helpful to monitor the degree of future contamination from foreign chemicals. The dietary intake values were also estimated and compared with the reported daily intake values. In general, the diets studied are adequate source of nutrient elements. The toxic elements intake through all the diet samples are within the safety limits.