Classifying wine according to geographical origin via quadrupole-based ICP–mass spectrometry measurements of boron isotope ratios

The potential of quadrupole-based ICP–MS as a tool for B-isotopic analysis of wines and its usefulness in provenance determinations were assessed. A precision of 0.1–0.25% RSD (corresponding to a relative standard deviation of the mean of three replicate measurements of 0.06–0.12%) was sufficient to establish small differences in the B isotope ratios in wines from different geographical origins. Each sample measurement was bracketed by measurements of a standard and mass bias drift correction made by interpolation. Sample preparation was kept to a minimum to avoid possible fractionation. Dilution of the wine samples by a factor of 100 with 0.65% HNO₃ was found to reduce matrix-induced mass discrimination substantially. Wines from three wine-producing regions, Stellenbosch, Robertson, and Swartland, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, and wines from specific regions in France (Bergerac) and Italy (Valpolicella) were analyzed by ICP–QMS for their B-isotopic compositions. It was concluded that the ¹¹B/¹⁰B ratios can be used to characterize wines from different geographical origins. Average ¹¹B/¹⁰B ratios in red wines from South Africa (Stellenbosch), France (Bergerac), and Italy (Valpolicella) were found to differ by between 0.5 and 1.5%.     

长江下游下蜀黄土的稀土元素物源判别

通过对长江下游镇江、福家湾、新港、芜湖、福路镇等地区下蜀黄土中稀土元素的研究,结合长江古漫滩堆积物及北方黄土沉积物,对下蜀黄土进行了物源判别,得出：下蜀黄土与长江河漫滩之间的各稀土元素的 DF 值绝大部分小于0．2,表现出在各个稀土元素上与河漫滩的接近程度较大,而与北方黄土接近程度较小;由物源指数 PI 计算得出,新港、福路镇、镇江下蜀黄土 PI 值均在0．2附近,表现出下蜀黄土与河漫滩在稀土元素总体上的相似程度极高,物源判别为长江河漫滩;福家湾下蜀黄土物源判别为北方黄土,北方黄土对其有一定影响。总体上,长江下游下蜀黄土受到北方黄土与河漫滩的影响,其中以长江河漫滩影响为主。     

不同窑口古代青瓷的产地特征的中子活化分析

产地属性是科学鉴别遗址和墓葬中出土的古陶瓷烧制产地的重要依据.用仪器中子活化（INAA）有损分析了浙江寺龙口越窑、江西洪州窑和陕西耀州窑出土的古瓷碎片样品,通过实验数据的统计分析,结果表明3个窑口古瓷的元素组成具有各自的特征,它们之间具有可以区分的依据,寺龙口越窑与南方江西洪州窑的制胎原料关系较近,与北方陕西耀州窑的关系较远.这些试验结果将为古陶瓷地研究提供重要参数.Provenance characteristic is an important scientific parameter to identify ancient porcelain wares unearthed from sites and graves.The porcelain samples of Si Long Kou kiln of Zhejiang Province,Hong Zhou kiln of Jiangxi Province and Yao Zhou kiln of Shanxi Province have been analyzed with neutron activation analysis(NAA) in this paper.The experimental data were studied with statistic methods.The results show that the chemical compositions of porcelain body samples for three kilns were different. The difference was been able identified. The body materials of both Si Long Kou Yue kiln and Hong Zhou kiln of Jiangxi were similar. The samples of Yao Zhou kiln in north of China existed obvious difference.     

ESR spectroscopy as a tool for identifying joining fragments of antique marbles: the example of a pulpit by Donatello and Michelozzo

ESR spectroscopy is one of the physicochemical techniques used to characterize archaeological white marbles and obtain information about their quarries of provenance. This is done by measuring selected spectral features of the Mn(2+) impurity ubiquitously present in marbles and developing a statistical classification rule from the variable vectors measured for a significant number of samples of known provenance (the quarry database). Now we show that the overall variability exhibited by the same spectroscopic features decreases rapidly with the linear dimensions of the sampled block and can be used to distinguish fragments belonging to the same piece of stone from those simply originating from the same quarry. Application of the method to the seven marble panels of the Donatello pulpit in Prato (Tuscany) shows that they have all been cut from the same single block and their different degradation must be ascribed to differential weathering and to the different conservation treatments undergone in the past. The limits and possible drawbacks of the method are also discussed.     

Characterization of microcrystals in some ancient glass beads from china by means of confocal Raman microspectroscopy

A total of ten ancient colored glass beads were analyzed by confocal Raman microspectroscopy for the non‐destructive identification of microcrystals within them. These beads were excavated from different regions of China, including Xinjiang, Henan, Hubei and Guangxi Provinces, and were dated mainly from the 10^th century BC to the 9^th century AD. For the first time, either tin or antimony‐based opacifiers/colorants including calcium antimonate (CaSb₂O₆, Ca₂Sb₂O₇), bindheimite (Pb₂Sb₂O₇), lead tin yellow type II (PbSn_1‐xSi_xO₃) and cassiterite (SnO₂) were identified in nine samples. In addition, other crystalline phases such as cuprite (Cu₂O), α‐wollastonite (CaSiO₃), diopside (CaMgSi₂O₆), feldspar (KAlSi₃O₈), calcite (CaCO₃) and quartz (SiO₂) were also detected. Another interesting phenomenon first observed in this study was the coexistence of Sn‐ and Sb‐based opacifiers/colorants in one mosaic bead from Guangxi. The possibility to use Sb‐ and Sn‐based opacifiers/colorants for dating and provenance study of ancient glass found in China is discussed briefly. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Importance of sample preparation on reliable surface characterisation of nano‐objects: ISO standard 20579‐4

The international ISO Standard 20579‐4, dealing with the history and preparation of nano‐objects for surface analysis, has been developed to help address some of the replication and reproducibility issues caused by the fundamental nature of nano‐objects. Although all types of samples requiring surface analysis need thoughtful preparation, nano‐objects, for which many properties are controlled by their surfaces, present additional challenges in order to avoid variations and artefacts due to the handling and preparation of materials prior to analysis. This international standard is part of a series of standards related to preparation of samples for surface chemical analysis. Parts 1 and 2 of ISO Standard series 20579 address general issues that apply to many samples. Part 3, which is still in development, will focus on biomaterials. Part 4 specifically considers issues that arise due to the inherent nature of nano‐objects. Because of sensitivity to their environment, the standard indicates the minimum information that needs to be reported about the handling and preparation of nano‐objects prior to surface analysis. This information should become part of sample provenance information that helps assure the reliability and usefulness of data obtained from surface‐analysis in the context of the synthesis, processing, and analysis history of a batch of material. Application of this standard can help address reproducibility and traceability issues associated with synthesis, processing, and characterization of nano‐objects in research and commercial applications.     

基于有色Petri网的工作流故障诊断方法

工作流系统的故障自动诊断和定位是云计算环境提供持续服务的基础。为了提高工作流系统的故障诊断准确性,本文提出了一种基于有色Petri网的故障诊断方法。首先,用开放世系模型对工作流进行建模。然后,提出了一种基于有色Petri网的故障模型。最后,将工作流的开放世系模型转化为有色Petri网故障模型,并提出了相应的多故障诊断方法。实验表明,本文提出的方法不仅故障定位的准确率和执行效率高于相关算法,还能有效的识别系统中的多个故障。     

古代铜矿冶炼过程中稀土元素的变化研究

主要研究稀土元素在铜矿冶炼过程中的变化规律及其在冶金考古中的潜在应用。实验采用电感藕合等离子体发射光谱仪(ICP-AES)测试了湖北铜绿山、宁夏照壁山、山西中条山和内蒙古林西大井古代矿冶遗址的铜矿石，炼渣和铜锭的稀土元素含量，通过对其稀土总量和稀土配分模式的对比研究，探讨了稀土元素在古代铜矿冶炼过程中的化学行为。结果发现稀土元素在铜矿冶炼过程主要富集在炼渣中，金属铜中的稀土元素含量很低。因此，要想根据青铜器中的稀土元素特征示踪铜料来源，是很难实现的。通过对比各矿冶遗址的铜矿石、炼渣和铜锭的稀土配分曲线，发现炼渣的稀土配分曲线为判断古代所使用的冶炼技术及铜矿石的输出路线提供了可能。