Studies in heavy ion activation analysis

Now we are attempting to apply non destructive analysis from evaluation tests or failure analysis to acceptance tests or production tests. Needless to say non destructive analysis has an advantage of conserving the state of samples and the reducing the time of analysis as compared to conventional methods with destructive physical analysis. Moreover, we are paying attention to the following reasons for nondestructive physical analysis. It is difficult to keep the reproducibility of the analysis because of the high skill level required for destructive physical analysis. On the other hand, high reproducibility can be easily achieved by fixing the condition or parameters of the device during nondestructive analysis when performed by tools like X-ray. Moreover, we expect that neither the analytical result nor the quality of the nondestructive analysis depends upon the worker's capability. In this paper we will discuss the following two items from the viewpoint of quality assurance. 1. The method of the screening for fake parts (1) The procedure flow for the production discontinued parts (2) The comparison and examination between the diagnostic using X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) images and various examinations (3) Other observation cases using X-ray CT images 2. Effectiveness and consideration in reliability evaluation test using X-ray CT image (1) Comparison of observation cases with a variety of jointing points in parts (2) Consideration of application of nondestructive observation technique in reliability test Use of X-ray CT images is effective in diagnosing the quality of the product or the process. Moreover, we find that use of X-ray CT images is effective for the improvement of the reproducibility of the evaluation examination. Then we find that use of X-ray CT images can reduce the time of evaluation examination too.

Lettuce are vegetables with a high commercial value and a short cycle production, which requires precise managements to guarantee a profitable production. For this, the nutritional providing is an important factor, highlining the nitrogen, a macronutrient considered essential for the proper development of plants due to its participation in the composition of the main plant molecules, such as chlorophyll. In this sense, non-destructive strategies to monitor the balance nutrition is fundamental to avoid deficiency or excess of nutrients during the lettuce cycling, and the agriculture 4.0, brings to light new technological means to achieve this goal. This work aimed to verify the potential to use a portable spectrophotometer to estimate N shoot in lettuce, as a non-destructive, precise, quickly, cheap, waste free option to be operated by the lettuce farmers, on farm, for the N monitoring, based on the destructive laboratory analysis for N shoot and chlorophyll, and the widely used sensor chlorophyll meter (SPAD). For this, a greenhouse experiment was conducted with lettuce cropped under N levels input, corresponding to 0, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125% of the lettuce recommendation. The estimation for N in the lettuce shoot was performed by destructive analysis: i) shoot N; ii) chlorophyll and non-destructive analysis: iii) chlorophyll meter SPAD and iv) a portable spectrophotometer. Non-destructive measurements were performed 3 times at: 20, 23 and 26 days after transplanting (DAT). The lettuce harvest occurred 28 DAT, to determine N shoot uptake and chlorophyll, using a destructive way, and lettuce production. The estimation of N shoot in lettuce using the portable spectrophotometer showed a high correlation to the standard destructive laboratory analysis and the chlorophyll meter (SPAD), showing high explanation of the data and so a high potential to estimate N shoot in lettuce using the proposed portable spectrophotometer as an optimum non-destructive, precise, quickly, cheap, waste free option to be operated by the lettuce farmers, on farm, for the N monitoring.

The distributions of natural radioactivity in various types of samples collected from several areas in Al-Obour city were determined using a high purity germanium (HPGe) detector. Four types of samples were investigated: soil, foundations, sand dunes and rock samples. The specific activities of 238U, 226Ra series, 232Th and 40K in soil; foundations; sand dunes and rock samples have a mean of (13.31±3.59); (12.96±3.63); (13.36±4.32) and (26.74±5.50), (6.49±0.23); (3.71±0.16); (3.87±0.17) and (19.38±0.64), (6.52±0.55); (4.03±0.46); (3.90±0.45) and (25.91±1.89) and (96.21±1.60); (78.12±1.46); (76.27±1.43) and (215.71±3.35)Bq/kg, respectively.It was also noticed that 137Cs is existed in some samples but is close to the background level. The hazard indices were also determined in all types of samples of the under study area. These values are important to establish baseline levels of this environmental radioactivity to detect any upcoming change for the local population.

Possible approaches for studying three dimensional structure of lignin

We assessed the analytical performance of metagenomic workflows using NIST Reference Material 8376 DNA from bacterial pathogens spiked into two simulated clinical samples: cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and stool. Sequencing and taxonomic classification were used to generate signals for each sample and taxa of interest, and to estimate the limit of detection (LOD), the response function, and linear dynamic range. We found that the LODs for taxa spiked into CSF ranged from approximately (0.1 to 0.3) copy/μL, with a linearity of 0.96 to 0.99. For stool, the LODs ranged from (10 to 221) copy/μL, with a linearity of 0.99 to 1.01. Further, discriminating differentE. colistrains proved to be workflow-dependent, as only one classifier:database combination of the three tested showed the ability to differentiate the two pathogenic and commensal strains. Surprisingly, when we compared the response functions of the same taxa in the two different sample types, we found those functions to be the same, despite large differences in LODs. This suggests that the “agnostic diagnostic” theory for metagenomics may apply to different target organismsanddifferent sample types. Using RMs, we were able to generate quantitative analytical performance metrics for each workflow and sample set, enabling relatively rapid workflow screening before employing clinical samples. This makes these RMs a useful tool that will generate data needed to support translation of metagenomics into regulated use.ImportanceAssessing the analytical performance of metagenomic workflows, especially when developing clinical diagnostics, is foundational for ensuring that the measurements underlying a diagnosis are supported by rigorous characterization. To facilitate the translation of metagenomics into clinical practice, workflows must be tested using control samples designed to probe the analytical limitations (e.g. limit of detection). Spike-ins allow developers to generate fit-for-purpose control samples for initial workflow assessments and inform decisions about further development. However, clinical sample types include a wide range of compositions and concentrations, each presenting different detection challenges. In this work, we demonstrate how spike-ins elucidate workflow performance in two highly dissimilar sample types (stool and CSF); and we provide evidence that detection of individual organisms is unaffected by background sample composition, making detection sample agnostic within a workflow. These demonstrations and performance insights will facilitate translation of the technology to the clinic.

The determination of 226Ra and 228Ra in water and solids by the least squares gamma spectrometric method

The natural primordial radionuclide activity concentrations in different types of rock samples in and around Hassan district were measured using gamma spectrometry-based high-purity Germanium detector. The average activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K radionuclides in rock samples varies from 29.4 ± 1.2 to 83.7 ± 1.7, 37.9 ± 1.2 to 198.4 ± 2.2, and 346.1 ± 9.0 to 1024.4 ± 19.4 Bq kg−1 with an average value of 50.9 ± 1.4, 79.6 ± 1.5, and 609.2 ± 12.8 Bq kg−1, respectively. The radiological hazard indices such as radium equivalent activity, gamma index, alpha index, external and internal health hazard indices, absorbed dose rate and annual effective doses were estimated. The average value of radium equivalent activity is less than the criterion limit of 370 Bq kg−1. The average indoor and outdoor annual effective dose values for rock samples are lower than the world average recommended value of 1 mSv y−1. The study concludes that except granite rocks, all the rock samples analyzed are safe when used as construction materials and do not pose any significant radiation hazards.

The radionuclide 192Ir has been increasingly used as a brachytherapy source and manufactured in different geometry forms (thin wires, hairpins, needles or point sources). A procedure for the characterization of the activity content of 192Ir wire sources was developed in order to establish the secondary standard activity measurement system based on the ionization chamber set up at Brazilian National Laboratory for Ionizing Radiation Metrology (LNMRI). Firstly, the ion current of the ionization chamber is measured and, subsequently, the activity is determined in a destructive analysis. This procedure enables obtaining the calibration factor for wire sources that can be used for further activity determination of similar sources in a non-destructive analysis. Accurate activity determination is needed for dosimetric measurements and for helping the manufacturers to improve its quality control programs.

This article provides a brief review of protocols used in peat inorganic geochemistry. We emphasise the key issues that could lead to inter-comparison problems. For each section (drying, grinding, non-destructive analyses, acid digestions and destructive analyses), recommendations are provided to guide the reader through an idealised protocol, which is the only workable approach for studies incorporating long-term comparisons.

The research ethic in the world limits sampling and destructive analyses as much as possible and accepts only the use of non-destructive techniques to maintain the integrity of the excavation finds. Up to now, the research on Iznik tiles was carried out on a limited number of artifacts with which the researchers were not able to perform any statistical assessment to define different workshops that existed in the excavation area of Iznik Tile Kilns. Moreover, most of the previous studies were concerned with artistic and morphological investigations rather than the analyses of glaze and coloring agents. Since 2018, non-destructive analyses with pXRF and stereo microscope started on the excavation materials to define the glaze, coloring agents, and body composition. Some ceramics and tile sherds were also characterized with a confocal Raman spectrometer in the laboratory to complement the chemical data obtained with pXRF.

The primary purpose of this study was to develop and validate a method based on UPLC with UV and UPLC-MS-MS for the simultaneous analysis of different cannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids in food as well as in herbal and dietary supplements. The limits of detection and quantitation of the method ranged from 0.1 to 0.3 and 0.3 to 0.9 μg/mL by UPLC with UV, respectively. The coefficient of determination was >0.999; the intra- and interday precision of the method were 0.1-3.7 and 0.9-4.1%, respectively. The intra- and interday accuracy were 94.8-103.1 and 98.3-100.9%, respectively. The mean recoveries of nine cannabinoids obtained from tablet samples ranged from 81.1 to 105.4%. The mean extraction recoveries of nine target cannabinoids obtained from various types of samples (tablets, capsules, powders, liquids, cookies and candies) ranged from 82.26 to 112.40%. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the stability of the prepared sample solutions was <1.80%. Identification and quantification of the nine cannabinoids were accomplished by ion spray UPLC-MS-MS using multiple reaction monitoring. The UPLC-MS-MS method was validated for linearity (R(2) > 0.99); the precision was 0.1-4.0% (intraday) and 0.1-2.8% (interday), and the accuracy was 98.0-103.5% (intraday) and 97.1-103.2% (interday). The mean extraction recoveries of six types of samples were 82.2-114.5% and the RSD of stability was <6.54%, complying with the established international guidelines. The results indicated that the method can be used for rapid and accurate screening of cannabinoids present in food.

Determination Ca, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn release from food in simple gastrointestinal extraction test

Determination of the thorium potential in Shah-Kooh area in Iran by NAA and comparison with the results of ICP and XRF techniques

Activation analysis for selenium and tellurium trace impurities in gallium, arsenic and gallium arsenide

Light is a crucial mediator in plants of growth and development, secondary metabolism, and signaling of potentially beneficial phytochemicals. The present study investigated three indoor supplemental light treatments, HPS, LED, and LED+IR, applied during tomato cultivation, in which non-destructive and destructive analyses were performed at two time points to record the physiological responses and effects of these artificial lights on the growth and quality of the produce. An infrared thermometer and thermal cameras were used throughout the experiment to record temperature changes under each growing condition. LED+IR supplemented light showed a decrease in photosynthetic pigments, such as chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids but induced an increased number of flowers, heavier tomato fruits, enhanced anthocyanins, phenolic index, lipid peroxidation, titratable acidity, and reduced nitrate accumulation. Moreover, higher generated temperatures under LED+IR helped tomato plants to reduce white fly infestation, but suppressed plant height. HPS light performed better than both LED and LED+IR in terms of total sugar accumulation, total carotenoids, water content, plant height, and leaf lipid peroxidation at harvest. Lycopene, ß-carotene, brix index were remarkable under HPS lighting but under the same conditions the number of whiteflies, however, was the highest in HPS among all the tested light treatments. In terms of fruit color analysis, maximum redness (a*), reduced hue angle, and chroma were observed under LED+IR while LED lighting in brightness (L*), and HPS in yellowness (b*) were prominent. However, LED in particular was insufficiently effective in acquiring any possible physiological and qualitative characteristics of tomato plants and fruits for the observed time span of the experiment. Hence, LED+IR has been shown to boost the accumulation of bioactive chemicals, improve fruit quality, promote more rapid and early flowering in tomato plants, and can serve as an efficient replacement for traditional indoor illumination.