Energy-dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy for the Quantitative Analysis of Pyrite Thin Specimens

To explore ways to improve the accuracy of quantitative analysis of samples in the micrometer to nanometer range of magnitudes,we adopted analytical transmission electron microscopy(AEM/EDS)for qualitative and quantitative analysis of pyrite materials.Additionally,the k factor of pyrite is calculated experimentally.To develop an appropriate non-standard quantitative analysis model for pyrite materials,the experimentally calculated k factor is compared with that estimated from the non-standard quantitative analytical model of the instrument software.The experimental findings demonstrate that the EDS attached to a TEM can be employed for precise quantitative analysis of micro-and nanoscale regions of pyrite materials.Furthermore,it serves as a reference for improving the results of the EDS quantitative analysis of other sulfides.

Alpha-actinin expression at different differentiating time points from temporal lobe cerebral cortex neural stem cells to neuron-like cells using energy dispersive X-ray analysis

BACKGROUND： Alpha-actinin （ a -actinin） plays a key role in neuronal growth cone migration during directional differentiation from neural stem cells （NSCs） to neurons. OBJECTIVE： To detect in situ microdistribution and quantitative expression of a -actinin during directional differentiation of NSCs to neurons in the temporal lobe cerebral cortex of neonatal rats. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： Between January 2006 and December 2008, culture and directional differentiation of NSCs were performed at Department of Histology and Embryology, Preclinical Medical College, China Medical University. Immune electron microscopy was performed at Department of Histology and Embryology and Department of Electron Micrology, Preclinical Medical College, China Medical University. Spectrum analysis was performed at Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Mental Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences. MATERIALS： Basic fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, brain-derived nerve growth factor, type-1 insulin like growth factor, and a -actinin antibody were provided by Gibco BRL, USA; rabbit-anti-rat nestin monoclonal antibody, rabbit-anti-rat neuron specific enolase polyclonal antibody, and EDAX-9100 energy dispersive X-ray analysis were provided by PHILIPS Company, Netherlands. METHODS： NSCs, following primary and passage culture, were differentiated with serum culture medium （DMEM/F12 ＋ 10% fetal bovine serum ＋ 2 ng/mL brain-derived nerve growth factor ＋ 2 ng/mL type-1 insulin like growth factor）. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Expression of a -actinin in neuron-like cells was quantitatively and qualitatively detected with immunocytochemistry using energy dispersive X-ray analysis. RESULTS： Immunocytochemistry, combined with electron microscopy, indicated that positive α -actinin expression was like a spheroid particle with high electron density. In addition, the expression was gradually concentrated from the nuclear edge to the cytoplasm and expanded into developing neurites, during differentiation of neural stem cells to neurons. Conversely, energy dispersive X-ray analysis indicated that the more mature the neural differentiation was, and the greater the expression of α -actinin. CONCLUSION： The gradual increase of α -actinin expression is related to growth, development, and maturity of differentiated neuron-like cells, in neonatal rat frontal lobe cortex, at different differentiating time points of NSCs to neurons.

Elemental Analysis of Soil Phosphorus Neighborhoods Using SEM, Spectral Mapping and GIS

The utility of GIS （geographic information system） methods and spatial statistical analysis on spectral maps of sediment samples were examined. Detailed elemental maps are often constructed using energy dispersive X-ray techniques and SEM （scanning electron microscopy）. The elemental neighborhood associations of a single element, P （phosphorus）, were quantified at a magnification of 3,000 ×. For each of the 170,000 pixels on the images which displayed a strong P concentration, neighborhoods from 0.1μm^2 to 12 μm^2 were examined for associated elemental concentrations. PCA （principal component analysis） revealed two significant neighborhood types associated with P in samples of pH 4, and three neighborhood types at pH 8. These neighborhoods corresponded to Mg-P associations commonly found to be chemically prevalent in river sediments impacted by agricultural operations. Discriminant analysis showed that the greatest accuracy in predicting sample pH could be achieved by using a neighborhood size of 12 ~m2. Potassium at relatively large neighborhood sizes was the element most significant in predicting pH. While many of the chemical associations in close proximity to P could be predicted and explained through mineral solubility, spatial analysis provided some interesting insights into the structure of the samples. Results also indicted differences in the spatial scale associated with different processes.

Effect of Cu on Microstructures of Manganese Steel by EDXA and SEM

In order to investigate the distribution of Cu and Mg, and the effect of Cu on the microstructure of steels, manganese steels containing various Cu contents were annealed at 1260, 1100 and 1000℃, respectively, for I h and subsequently cooled to room temperature in the furnace to simulate the pre-rolling anneal. The results indicate that Cu is not microscopically segregated in the annealed steels. The scanning electron microscopy （SEM） observation shows that the main microstructure consist of ferrite and pearlite; the percentage of pearlite in the steels increases with increasing Cu content. The grain size reduces with the decrease of the annealing temperature. The results of energy dispersive X-ray analysis （EDXA） suggest that Cu content in pearlite is higher than that in ferrite, demonstrating that the microstructure-segregation of Cu occurred. However, the cast specimens show that Cu content in MnS and S-rich phases is high. In addition, Cu of 0.2%-0.4% could improve the distribution of MnS and S-rich inclusions. The optimal Cu content in steels and the optimal annealing temperature between 1100-1200℃ were determined.

Determination of Water Diffusion Coefficients and Dynamics in Adhesive/Carbon Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Resin Composite Joints

To determinate the water diffusion coefficients and dynamics in adhesive/carben fiber reinforced epoxy resin composite joints, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis（EDX） is used to establish the content change of oxy- gen in the adhesive in adhesive/carbon fther reinforced epoxy resin composite joints. As water is made up of oxygen and hydrogen, the water diffusion coefficients and dynamics in adhesive/carben fiber reinforced epoxy resin composite joints can be obtained from the change in the content of oxygen in the adhesive during humidity aging, via EDX analy-sis. The authors have calculated the water diffusion coefficients and dynamics in the adhesive/carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin composite joints with the aid of beth energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The de- termined results with EDX analysis are almost the same as those determined with elemental analysis and the results al- so show that the durability of the adhesive/carbon fther reinforced epoxy resin composite joints subjected to silane cou- pling agent treatment is better than those subjected to sand paper burnishing treatment and chemical oxidation treat- ment.

PREPARATION AND SURFACE PROPERTIES OF ACRYLIC COPOLYMERS CONTAINING FLUORINATED MONOMERS

A series of copolymers comprising butylmethacrylate, styrene, butylacrylate, hydroxypropyl acrylate and perfluoroalkyl methacrylate were synthesized by the free radical polymerization using BPO as an initiator. The surface property of the copolymer films was subsequently characterized. The contact angle measurements and energy dispersive analysis of X-ray （EDAX） show that the length and content of perfluoroalkyl side chains in the copolymers are crucial for the preparation of the film with low surface energy. At a given content of fluorinated monomers in the copolymers, the longer the perfluoroalkyl side chain, the larger the water contact angle of the copolymer films will be. On the other hand, the higher the content of fluorinated monomers, the lower the surface energy is. The water contact angle increases with the increase of the fluorinated monomer content and reaches a plateau at 3 wt% of fluorinated monomer content.

Palaeodiet of Miocene Producers and Depositional Environments:Inferences from the First Evidence of Microcoprolites from India

This paper reviews research on coprolites from India,providing the first evidence of microcoprolites from the early Miocene(Aquitanian)Khari Nadi Formation sedimentary succession,exposed about 1.5 km northeast of the village of Kotada,Kachchh(Kutch)District,Gujarat State,western India.Morphometric and size comparisons(in a statistical framework)with known coprolites from the Mesozoic-Cenozoic successions of India(including those recorded herein)and globally suggest that fishes were the likely producers of the Kotada coprolites.Scanning electron microscopy confirms the presence of fish dental remains within the coprolites,while both Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM)and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy(EDS)reveal the phosphatic nature of the microscopic coprolite specimens(recorded herein)hinting that the producer(s)were predominantly carnivorous(ichthyophagous)in their diet.Furthermore,X-Ray Fluorescence(XRF)analysis of the host and associated lithologies allows us to deduce that the Kotada coprolites were deposited in a shallow marine environment,with possible aerial exposure of the host lithology occurring at some point after deposition.To the best of our knowledge,the present report is the first record of microscopic fish coprolites from India,as well as being the first from the Aquitanian of India and the oldest Neogene record from India.

DISTRIBUTION OF Cu AND ITS EFFECT ON MICROSTRUCTURE OF Cu-BEARING STEEL

In order to investigate the distribution of Cu and its effect on the microstructure of Cu-bearing steel, a series of mild steels containing different contents of Cu are developed by vacuum electric arc furnace. These steels are annealed at 1 260℃, 1 100 ℃ and 1 000℃ respectively for one hour and followed by furnace cooling to room temperature to simulate the heat treatment before the rolling process. The results show that Cu did not obviously segregate in annealed steels. The scanning electron microscope （SEM） observation show that the main microstruetures in Cu-bearing steel are ferrite and pearlite; The volume fraction of pearlite in steel increase with increasing Cu content. The grain size reduces with the decrease of annealing temperature. The results of energy dispersive X-ray analysis （EDXA） suggest that the Cu content in pearlite is higher than that in ferrite, which means that the microstructure-segregatian of Cu exists. However, the cast specimens show that Cu content in MnS and S-rich phase is very high, and Cu changed the distribution of/vinS in steel. In addition, the optimal Cu content in steel between 0.2%-0.4% and the optimal annealing temperature between 1 100-1 200℃are determined by the economical and practical principles.

Chinese Jingdezhen blue and white imperial porcelain

Jingdezhen blue and white imperial porcelain specimens from the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties have been systematically analyzed using a nondestructive test method—— energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis (EDXRF). The derived data of major and trace element compositions have been treated by correspondence analysis. The variation laws of the composition patterns for Jingdezhen blue and white imperial porcelain in different historical periods owing to the change in raw materials, recipe and technology have been discussed, and a time model related to variation of element composition has been preliminarily established, It would be helpful for scientific dating of Jingdezhen blue and white imperial porcelain, and even for the studies on the whole field of identification of ancient ceramics.

Scientific studies on pottery and pro-porcelain from group of graves in Henglingshan, Guangdong Province

The findings of the Henglingshan group of graves, Guangdong Province, were appraised as one of the ten major archaeological excavations in 2000. The pottery and proto-porcelain samples excavated from the group of graves in Henglingshan are very important for studying the development history of Guang-dong ceramics. In this paper, the chemical compositions, micro-structure and physical properties of the samples were systematically analyzed. The results were subjected to multivariate statistical analysis. Different compositional patterns were found for specimens from different periods. The reasons for these variations were discussed. In addition, compared with the pottery and proto-porcelain samples from different production sites in other provinces of China, the obvious regional characters and unique law of the development for ancient ceramics of Guangdong were also discussed.