Kha and Merit:multidetector computed tomography and 3D reconstructions of two mummies from the Egyptian Museum of Turin

Author(s):  
Maria Cristina Martina ◽  
Federico Cesarani ◽  
Rosa Boano ◽  
Anna Maria Donadoni Roveri ◽  
Andrea Ferraris ◽  
...  

The Mummies of the architect, Kha, (Suppl.8431) and his wife, Merit, (Suppl. 8471) belong to the XVIII Dynasty of ancient Egypt. They were discovered at Deir el- Medina, during the Italian Archaeological Mission directed by E. Schiaparelli (1903- 1906). Recently they underwent diagnostic investigation with helical CT at the Molinette hospital in Turin in order to verify the state of preservation of the bodies and to increase our knowledge of the funerary objects inside the bandages. A whole body helical CT acquisition with a multidetector CT unit was performed. Thin slices (2.5 mm thickness, 1.25 mm reconstruction interval), followed by multiplanar and 3D reconstructions were obtained. CT allowed a careful evaluation of body conditions, stature, age, embalming technique, pathological findings (some of which not revealed by previous conventional X-ray studies), and it allowed confirming and evaluating the presence of foreign bodiesjewels in particular. Once more CT, especially supported by new post-processing techniques, confirmed its fundamental role in the non-invasive study of mummies.

Author(s):  
Federico Cesarani ◽  
Maria Cristina Martina ◽  
Rosa Boano ◽  
Anna Maria Donadoni Roveri ◽  
Andrea Ferraris ◽  
...  

The “three sisters” is a particular group of mummies from the Drovetti collection of the Egyptian Museum in Turin. They were purchased in 1824 by King Carlo Felice of Savoy for the new Museum. The mummies come from the area of Tebe in Upper Egypt. Their names are Tapeni (CGT 13002–Cat. 2215), Tamiu (CGT 13003–Cat. 2218), and Renpetnefert (CGT 13007–Cat.2231). They were evaluated the same day with multidetector CT (GE Light Speed Qx/I). In all three cases whole body CT helical acquisition with thin slices (2.5 mm thickness, 1.25 mm reconstruction interval) followed by multiplanar and 3D reconstructions were performed. Stature, anthropometric measurements, sex, and approximate age, were estimated. Also embalming techniques, condition of the skeleton and of the soft tissues, and the presence of foreign objects were analyzed. The similarities and differences of embalming methods were also evaluated. To our knowledge, there are no other reports of CT studies on mummies belonging to the same family. We believe these results are of particular interest for archaeology and computed imaging technology.


2019 ◽  
Vol 98 (6) ◽  
pp. 2652-2661
Author(s):  
S. Schallier ◽  
C. Li ◽  
J. Lesuisse ◽  
G.P.J. Janssens ◽  
N. Everaert ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
H.W. Deckman ◽  
B.F. Flannery ◽  
J.H. Dunsmuir ◽  
K.D' Amico

We have developed a new X-ray microscope which produces complete three dimensional images of samples. The microscope operates by performing X-ray tomography with unprecedented resolution. Tomography is a non-invasive imaging technique that creates maps of the internal structure of samples from measurement of the attenuation of penetrating radiation. As conventionally practiced in medical Computed Tomography (CT), radiologists produce maps of bone and tissue structure in several planar sections that reveal features with 1mm resolution and 1% contrast. Microtomography extends the capability of CT in several ways. First, the resolution which approaches one micron, is one thousand times higher than that of the medical CT. Second, our approach acquires and analyses the data in a panoramic imaging format that directly produces three-dimensional maps in a series of contiguous stacked planes. Typical maps available today consist of three hundred planar sections each containing 512x512 pixels. Finally, and perhaps of most import scientifically, microtomography using a synchrotron X-ray source, allows us to generate maps of individual element.


Author(s):  
Edgar S. Etz ◽  
Thomas D. Schroeder ◽  
Winnie Wong-Ng

We are investigating by Raman microprobe measurements the superconducting and related phases in the LnBa2Cu3O7-x (for x=0 to 1) system where yttrium has been replaced by several of the lanthanide (Ln = Nd,Sm,Eu,Ho,Er) elements. The aim is to relate the observed optical spectra (Raman and fluorescence) to the compositional and structural properties of these solids as part of comprehensive materials characterization. The results are correlated with the methods of synthesis, the processing techniques of these materials, and their superconducting properties. Of relevance is the substitutional chemistry of these isostructural systems, the differences in the spectra, and their microanalytical usefulness for the detection of impurity phases, and the assessment of compositional homogeneity. The Raman spectra of most of these compounds are well understood from accounts in the literature.The materials examined here are mostly ceramic powders prepared by conventional solid state reaction techniques. The bulk samples are of nominally single-phase composition as determined by x-ray diffraction.


Author(s):  
Peter D. Moisiuk ◽  
Daniel R. Beniac ◽  
Ross A. Ridsdale ◽  
Martin Young ◽  
Bhushan Nagar ◽  
...  

Venom from the rattlesnake Crotalus atrox contains a mixture of enzymes that induce a localized effect leading to hemorrhaging, necrosis and edema. As a member of the crotalid family of snake venoms, Crotalus atrox venom contains a C-type lectin that will agglutinate blood cells in a Ca2+-dependent fashion. The lectin is a hydrophilic protein, consisting of two covalently linked, 135 amino acid residues, identical subunits that are rich in aspartic acid, glutamic acid and lysine. Sequence homology with known carbohydrate recognition domains (CRDs) indicates that rattlesnake venom lectin (RSLV) contains a CRD motif that is not linked to accessory domains. Preliminary X-ray diffraction and sedimentation analysis has indicated that lectin from Crotalus atrox forms decamers composed of two five-fold symmetric pentamers. Single particles of RSVL imaged at – 171°C displayed two distinct orientations on the specimen support (Figure a) following incubation in a crystallization Teflon well, coated with a lipid monolayer consisting of phosphatidylcholine and monosialoganglioside. When lying in an end-on orientation, the lectin exhibited a “pentagonal ring” with an outer diameter of 6.7 nm and an inner hollow core of 1.7 nm. A side orientation was also seen, whereby a thickness of 5.8 nm was measured for the lectin. Image processing of 2280 single particles placed in 100 classes (Figure b) led to 3D reconstructions of RSVL (Figure c). Density limited 3D reconstructions showed the lectin to be made of two five-fold symmetrical rings covalently linked between the five subunits that constitute each ring of this homodimer. These results are consistent with sedimentation and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis on the shape of RSVL and provide the framework for structural verification by 2D electron crystallography.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 184-190
Author(s):  
Muhammad Irfan ◽  
Abdul Rasheed Qureshi ◽  
Zeeshan Ashraf ◽  
Muhammad Amjad Ramzan ◽  
Tehmina Naeem ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Background: Conventionally Pleural effusions are suspected by history of pleuritis, evaluated by physical signs and multiple view radiography. Trans-thoracic pleural aspiration is done and aspirated pleural fluid is considered the gold-standard for pleural effusion. Chest sonography has the advantage of having high diagnostic efficacy over radiography for the detection of pleural effusion. Furthermore, ultrasonography is free from radiation hazards, inexpensive, readily available  and feasible for use in ICU, pregnant and pediatric patients. This study aims to explore the diagnostic accuracy of trans-thoracic ultrasonography for pleural fluid detection, which is free of such disadvantages. The objective is to determine the diagnostic efficacy of trans-thoracic ultrasound for detecting pleural effusion and also to assess its suitability for being a non-invasive gold-standard.   Subject and Methods: This retrospective study of 4597 cases was conducted at pulmonology  OPD-Gulab Devi Teaching Hospital, Lahore from November 2016 to July 2018. Adult patients with clinical features suggesting pleural effusions were included while those where no suspicion of pleural effusion, patients < 14 years and pregnant ladies were excluded. Patients were subjected to chest x-ray PA and Lateral views and chest ultrasonography was done by a senior qualified radiologist in OPD. Ultrasound-guided pleural aspiration was done in OPD & fluid was sent for analysis. At least 10ml aspirated fluid was considered as diagnostic for pleural effusion. Patient files containing history, physical examination, x-ray reports, ultrasound reports, pleural aspiration notes and informed consent were retrieved, reviewed and findings were recorded in the preformed proforma. Results were tabulated and conclusion was drawn by statistical analysis. Results: Out of 4597 cases, 4498 pleural effusion were manifested on CXR and only 2547(56.62%) pleural effusions were proved by ultrasound while 2050 (45.57%) cases were reported as no Pleural effusion. Chest sonography demonstrated sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and diagnostic accuracy 100 % each. Conclusions: Trans-thoracic ultrasonography revealed an excellent efficacy that is why it can be considered as non-invasive gold standard for the detection of pleural effusion.


2008 ◽  
Vol 396-398 ◽  
pp. 569-572
Author(s):  
Fumio Watari ◽  
Shigeaki Abe ◽  
I.D. Rosca ◽  
Atsuro Yokoyama ◽  
Motohiro Uo ◽  
...  

Nanoparticles may invade directly into the internal body through the respiratory or digestive system and diffuse inside body. The behavior of nanoparticles in the internal body is also essential to comprehend for the realization of DDS. Thus it is necessary to reveal the internal dynamics for the proper treatments and biomedical applications of nanoparticles. In the present study the plural methods with different principles such as X-ray scanning analytical microscope (XSAM), MRI and Fluorescent microscopy were applied to enable the observation of the internal diffusion of micro/nanoparticles in the (1) whole body level, (2) inner organ level and (3) tissue and intracellular level. Chemical analysis was also done by ICP-AES for organs and compared with the results of XSAM mapping.


Heritage ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 1165-1181
Author(s):  
Flavia Fiorillo ◽  
Lucia Burgio ◽  
Christine Slottved Kimbriel ◽  
Paola Ricciardi

This study presents the results of the technical investigation carried out on several English portrait miniatures painted in the 16th and 17th century by Nicholas Hilliard and Isaac Oliver, two of the most famous limners working at the Tudor and Stuart courts. The 23 objects chosen for the analysis, spanning almost the entire career of the two artists, belong to the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum (London) and the Fitzwilliam Museum (Cambridge). A non-invasive scientific methodology, comprising of stereo and optical microscopies, Raman microscopy, and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, was required for the investigation of these small-scale and fragile objects. The palettes and working techniques of the two artists were characterised, focusing in particular on the examination of flesh tones, mouths, and eyes. These findings were also compared to the information written in the treatises on miniature painting circulating during the artists’ lifetime. By identifying the materials and techniques most widely employed by the two artists, this study provides information about similarities and differences in their working methods, which can help to understand their artistic practice as well as contribute to matters of attribution.


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