scholarly journals Glassy Microspherules from Bomb Combustion of Charcoal

Radiocarbon ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 165-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Burleigh ◽  
Nigel Meeks

Glassy microspherules, typically 200μm or less in diameter, are well documented from a variety of terrestrial and extraterrestrial sources (Baker, 1959, p 192–198; Glass, 1969; Rost, 1969; McKay, Greenwood & Morrison, 1970; Mueller & Hinsch, 1970; Cross, 1971; O'Keefe, 1980). To these we would add the formation of microspherules of similar habit when wood charcoal is burned in a combustion bomb (Barker, Burleigh & Meeks, 1969; Burleigh, 1973, 1974; Switsur, 1973; Switsur et al, 1974) as a first step in the chemical synthesis of samples for 14C age measurement. The glassy material of these spherules originates from fusion at the high temperatures reached during the combustion, of traces of alkali-metal minerals in the charcoal and silica bodies (phytoliths) within its microstructure. Other materials commonly burned, such as bone collagen, do not yield microspherules. The age and source of the charcoal are immaterial, though different species (and perhaps other woody plant materials) may be more-or-less productive of spherules. Here we give a brief summary of the characteristics of these glassy microspherules, based on optical and scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray analysis.

2006 ◽  
Vol 05 (02n03) ◽  
pp. 219-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
XIAOLI WANG ◽  
CHENGLIN YAN ◽  
LONGJIANG ZOU ◽  
DONGFENG XUE

A useful method is described for the chemical synthesis of high length-radius ratio magnesium oxide ( MgO ) whiskers at ambient temperature. The diameter of MgO whiskers falls in the range of 2–5 μm with a length of 30–50 μm. The length-radius ratio generally falls in the range of 10–30. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer analysis reveals that the whiskers are composed of Mg and O elements. Microscopic morphologies and structures are well studied by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The growth mechanism of MgO whiskers is also proposed on the basis of crystallographic characteristics.


Author(s):  
Vicki L. Baliga ◽  
Mary Ellen Counts

Calcium is an important element in the growth and development of plants and one form of calcium is calcium oxalate. Calcium oxalate has been found in leaf seed, stem material plant tissue culture, fungi and lichen using one or more of the following methods—polarized light microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and x-ray diffraction.Two methods are presented here for qualitatively estimating calcium oxalate in dried or fixed tobacco (Nicotiana) leaf from different stalk positions using PLM. SEM, coupled with energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDS), and powder x-ray diffraction were used to verify that the crystals observed in the dried leaf with PLM were calcium oxalate.


Author(s):  
M. L. Zimny ◽  
A. C. Haller

During hibernation the ground squirrel is immobile, body temperature reduced and metabolism depressed. Hibernation has been shown to affect dental tissues varying degrees, although not much work has been done in this area. In limited studies, it has been shown that hibernation results in (1) mobilization of bone minerals; (2) deficient dentinogenesis and degeneration of alveolar bone; (3) presence of calculus and tears in the cementum; and (4) aggrevation of caries and pulpal and apical tooth abscesses. The purpose of this investigation was to study the effects of hibernation on dental tissues employing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and related x-ray analyses.


Author(s):  
Yun Lu ◽  
David C. Joy

High resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDXA) were performed to investigate microparticles in blended cements and their hydration products containing sodium-rich chemical wastes. The physical appearance of powder particles and the morphological development at different hydration stages were characterized by using high resolution SEM Hitachi S-900 and by SEM S-800 with a EDX spectrometer. Microparticles were dispersed on the sample holder and glued by 1% palomino solution. Hydrated bulk samples were dehydrated by acetone and mounted on the holder by silver paste. Both fracture surfaces and flat cutting sections of hydrating samples were prepared and examined. Some specimens were coated with an 3 nm thick Au-Pd or Cr layer to provide good conducting surfaces. For high resolution SEM S-900 observations the accelerating voltage of electrons was 1-2 KeV to protect the electron charging. Microchemical analyses were carried out by S800/EDS equipped with a LINK detector of take-off angle =40°.


Author(s):  
M.G. Baldini ◽  
S. Morinaga ◽  
D. Minasian ◽  
R. Feder ◽  
D. Sayre ◽  
...  

Contact X-ray imaging is presently developing as an important imaging technique in cell biology. Our recent studies on human platelets have demonstrated that the cytoskeleton of these cells contains photondense structures which can preferentially be imaged by soft X-ray imaging. Our present research has dealt with platelet activation, i.e., the complex phenomena which precede platelet appregation and are associated with profound changes in platelet cytoskeleton. Human platelets suspended in plasma were used. Whole cell mounts were fixed and dehydrated, then exposed to a stationary source of soft X-rays as previously described. Developed replicas and respective grids were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).


Author(s):  
Howard S. Kaufman ◽  
Keith D. Lillemoe ◽  
John T. Mastovich ◽  
Henry A. Pitt

Gallstones contain precipitated cholesterol, calcium salts, and proteins. Calcium (Ca) bilirubinate, palmitate, phosphate, and carbonate occurring in gallstones have variable morphologies but characteristic windowless energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectra. Previous studies of gallstone microstructure and composition using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with EDX have been limited to dehydrated samples. In this state, Ca bilirubinates appear as either glassy masses, which predominate in black pigment stones, or as clusters, which are found mostly in cholesterol gallstones. The three polymorphs of Ca carbonate, calcite, vaterite, and aragonite, have been identified in gallstones by x-ray diffraction, however; the morphologies of these crystals vary in the literature. The purpose of this experiment was to study fresh gallstones by environmental SEM (ESEM) to determine if dehydration affects gallstone Ca salt morphology.Gallstones and bile were obtained fresh at cholecystectomy from 6 patients. To prevent dehydration, stones were stored in bile at 37°C. All samples were studied within 4 days of procurement.


2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Budi Setiawan ◽  
Erizal Zaini ◽  
Salman Umar

Sebuah penelitian tentang sistem dispersi padat dari asiklovir dengan poloxamer 188 telah dilakukan formulasi dengan pencampuran secara fisika dengan rasio 1 : 1, 1 : 3, 1 : 5 dan dispersi padat 1 : 1, 1 : 3, 1 : 5 dan penggilingan 1:1 sebagai pembanding. Dispersi padat dibuat menggunakan metode pencairan (fusi), yang digabung dengan poloxamer 188 pada hotplate kemudian asiklovir dimasukkan ke dalam hasil poloxamer 188 lalu di kocok hingga membentuk masa homogen. Semua formula yang terbentuk termasuk asiklovir poloxamer 188 murni dianalisis karakterisasinya dengan Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), X-ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), dan Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), kemudian pengambilan dilakukan  (penentuan kadar) mengunakan spektrofotometer UV pada panjang gelombang 257,08 nm dan uji laju disolusi dengan aquadest bebas CO2 menggunakan metode dayung. Hasil pengambilan  (penentuan kadar) menunjukkan bahwa semua formula memenuhi persyaratan farmakope Amerika edisi 30 dan farmakope Indonesia edisi 4 yaitu 95-110%. Sedangkan hasil uji laju disolusi untuk campuran fisik 1: 1, dan dispersi padat 1: 1, dan penggilingan 1: 1 menunjukkan peningkatan yang nyata dibandingkan asiklovir murni. Hal ini juga dapat dilihat dari hasil perhitungan statistik  menggunakan analisis varian satu arah  SPSS 17.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 928-932
Author(s):  
Agripina Zaharia ◽  
Viorica Ghisman Plescan ◽  
Elena Maria Anghel ◽  
Viorica Musat

The purpose of this work is to induce biomimetic remineralization of acid etched coronal human dentine in artificial saliva (AS) under agarose (A) hydrogel or chitosan (CS)-A hydrogel action. The investigations focused on the morphology, chemical composition and crystalline structure of the new remineralized layers grown onto the etched dentinal surface (R) using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Experimental results showed that remineralized layers grown in the presence of A or CS-A hydrogels consist in B-type Ca-deficient hydroxyapatite (HAP). After 7 days treatment into artificial saliva under agarose hydrogel, nanorod-like extrafibrilar HAP crystals randomly self-assembled in a discontinuous layer were formed, while in presence of chitosan-agarose hydrogel a continuous compact CS-HAP composite layer was obtained. The new biomimetic layer (A-CS4) formed after 4 days on dentine surface under A-CS hydrogel has higher crystallinity. Longer exposed (7 days) dentine in the presence of agarose hydrogel shows a higher mineral-to-collagen ratio (A7). Since dentine mineralization increases, the collagen quality factor decreases in succession A-CS4]R]A7. Results show a benefic effect of chitosan on remineralization of etched dentine.


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