Abstract: Submicron colloidal Ag particles and nano-sized filaments forming a statistical percolation network during ''in situ'' development of double structure tabular microcrystals of AgRr(I) emulsions have been studied by electron energy-loss spectroscopy and zero-loss electron spectroscopic imaging (EELS/ZLESI). Image analysis has shown that random quasi-fractal clusters were formed in the colloid. ZLESI has been applied to characterise the morphology and defect structure of aggregated particles and filaments. Their energy-loss spectra revealed plasmon excitations and interband 4d electron transitions between 4-32 eV energy-loss. To study the cluster structure and its relation to the physical properties, fractal analysis including estimations of cluster fractal dimensions and of density autocorrelation functions has been performed. Mechanisms of fractal aggregation based on known models of diffusion limited aggregation, cluster-cluster aggregation and percolation are discussed.

Abstract: This study investigated concentration profiles of trace, rare earth and platinum group metals in fluvial sediments from the Pangani river basin (43,650 km2), one of the largest river basins in Tanzania, to assess its environmental quality. Sediment samples were collected in two distinct seasons from 12 representative sites of diverse land-use practices and characterised by ICP-MS after optimised microwave digestion. Ecological risks were assessed by evaluation of pollution index and comparison with legislated sediment quality guidelines (SQG). The results revealed contamination by some trace metals (e.g. Pb, V, Cu, Cr, Ni, Cd, As, Co, Mn and Zn) in concentrations ranging from 0.7 to 2940 mg kg−1, and four rare earth elements (Y, Ce, Nd, Yb) in concentrations ranging from 0.9 (Yb) to 500 mg kg−1 dry weight (Ce), which significantly exceeded the estimated background values at some stations. Palladium was the only platinum group element that was detected in quantifiable concentrations (0.33.5 mg kg−1). Concentrations of some trace metals exceeded the SQGs at some localised areas. Principal component analysis and multivariate correlations indicated geochemical characteristics of the area as the major control of metal concentrations and spatial variability. Organic matter and clay contents also played a significant role in metal distributions. Assessment of land-use practices upstream of the sampling locations was used to trace potential anthropogenic sources of metal enrichments, where highest levels were found in areas close to urban centres and agricultural activities. The study provides baseline data for future monitoring programs, and highlights the need for more comprehensive analysis involving a wider spatio-temporal scale and ecotoxicological risk assessment.

Abstract: The aim of the present work is to study the radiation damage induced in LYSO and LuYAP crystals by the gamma radiation and the secondary electrons/positrons generated. The displacements per atom (dpa) distributions inside each material were calculated following the Monte Carlo assisted Classical Method (MCCM) introduced by the authors. As gamma sources were used Sc-44, Na-22 and V-48. Also the energy of gammas from the annihilation processes (511 keV) was included in the study. This procedure allowed studying the in-depth dpa distributions inside each crystal for all four sources. It was also possible to obtain the separate contribution from each atom to the total dpa. The LYSO crystals were found to receive more damage, mainly provoked by the displacements of silicon and oxygen atoms.

Abstract: Size-fractionated aerosol samples, collected over the Atlantic Ocean, were analyzed for up to 20 elements by PIXE. Using a sailboat as sampling platform, duplicate samples were taken for two-day periods by means of battery operated 6-stage cascade impactors, positioned about 8 m above the sea surface. In the PIXE analysis of the fine particle stages (stages 3 to 5) a 5 times smaller beam size was used than for stages 1 and 2. This led to significant improvement in the detection limits for the former stages. The results from the duplicate impactor samples were normally in good agreement, indicating that the combined uncertainty of sampling and PIXE analysis was of the order of 20%. The precision of the PIXE analysis alone was investigated by rebombarding some samples six months after the first analysis. The trends with time of the fine particle sulfur and the coarse particle iron concentrations are discussed in some detail.

Abstract: A semi-empirical approach is described for determining the mass per unit area of a sample being analysed. The method can be used to estimate the concentration of minor and trace elements in matrices containing a substantial amount of light elements. The procedure utilizes the coherently and incoherently scattered radiation induced in the sample by the filtered continuum radiation of a rhodium x-ray tube. The relationship between the intensity of the scattered radiation per unit mass and the average atomic number of the sample is established via calibration graphs, which can be applied for different x-ray tube voltages and for different primary beam filters. The overall procedure was validated by the analysis of several geological standards, deposited as thin slurries of unknown thickness either on Mylar foil or on Nuclepore filters.

Abstract: Air particulate samples were collected at Chapiquiña near Arica (Chile) with a six-stage cascade impactor for about 17-day periods during a 31 month interval. Sixteen elements were determined by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis, and the elemental concentrations were subjected to principal factor analysis. The variability with time of the coarse particles was described by two factors both related to soil dispersion, whereas the fine particle variations could be explained by a third factor related to marine influence. Enrichment factors were compared with those obtained in other remote continental areas, in particular those of air particulate matter sampled at Chacaltaya, Bolivia. Results point to a negligible anthropogenic influence.

Abstract: Several authors had estimated the displacements per atom cross sections under different approximations and models, including most of the main gamma- and electron-material interaction processes. These previous works used numerical approximation formulas which are applicable for limited energy ranges. We proposed the Monte Carlo assisted Classical Method (MCCM), which relates the established theories about atom displacements to the electron and positron secondary fluence distributions calculated from the Monte Carlo simulation. In this study the MCCM procedure is adapted in order to estimate the displacements per atom cross sections for gamma and electron irradiation. The results obtained through this procedure are compared with previous theoretical calculations. An improvement in about 10-90% for the gamma irradiation induced dpa cross section is observed in our results on regard to the previous evaluations for the studied incident energies. On the other hand, the dpa cross section values produced by irradiation with electrons are improved by our calculations in about 5-50% when compared with the theoretical approximations. When thin samples are irradiated with electrons, more precise results are obtained through the MCCM (in about 20-70%) with respect to the previous studies. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: The most unique and only known 16th century Antwerp majolica tile floor in Belgium is situated in a tower of the Rameyenhof castle (Gestel, Belgium). This exceptional work of art has recently been investigated in situ by using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Raman spectroscopy in order to study the material characteristics. This study reports on the result of the analyses based on the novel combination of non-destructive and portable instrumentation, including a handheld XRF spectrometer for obtaining elemental information and a mobile Raman spectrometer for retrieving structural and molecular information on the floor tiles in the Rameyenhof castle and on a second, similar medallion, which is stored in the Rubens House museum in Antwerp (Belgium). The investigated material, majolica, is a type of ceramic, which fascinated many people and potters throughout history by its beauty and colourful appearance. In this study the characteristic major/minor and trace element signature of 16th century Antwerp majolica is determined and the pigments used for the colourful paintings present on the floor are identified. Furthermore, based on the elemental fingerprint of the white glaze, and in particular on the presence of zinc in the tiles – an element that was not used for making 16th century majolica – valuable information about the originality of the chapel floor and the two central medallions is acquired. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: The radiation damage, in terms of atom displacements, induced by gamma irradiation in LYSO and LuYAP crystals is presented. Sc-44, Na-22 and V-48 are used as gamma sources for this study. The energy of gammas from the electron positron annihilation processes (511 keV) is also included in the study. The atom displacements distributions inside each material are calculated following the Monte Carlo assisted Classical Method introduced by the authors. This procedure also allows to study the atom displacements in-depth distributions inside each crystal. The atom displacements damage in LYSO crystals is found to be higher than in LuYAP crystals, mainly provoked by the displacements of silicon and oxygen atoms. But the difference between atom displacements produced in LYSO and LuYAP decreases when more energetic sources are used. On the other hand, the correlation between the atom displacements and energy deposition in-depth distributions is excellent. The atom displacements to energy deposition ratio is found to increases with more energetic photon sources. LYSO crystals are then more liable to the atom displacements damage than LuYAP crystals. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: A combination of large-scale and micro-scale elemental imaging, yielding elemental distribution maps obtained by, respectively non-invasive macroscopic X-ray fluorescence (MA-XRF) and by secondary electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX) and synchrotron radiation-based micro-XRF (SR m-XRF) imaging was employed to reorient and optimize the conservation strategy of van Eyck's renowned Ghent Altarpiece. By exploiting the penetrative properties of X-rays together with the elemental specificity offered by XRF, it was possible to visualize the original paint layers by van Eyck hidden below the overpainted surface and to simultaneously assess their condition. The distribution of the high-energy Pb-L and Hg-L emission lines revealed the exact location of hidden paint losses, while Fe-K maps demonstrated how and where these lacunae were filled-up using an iron-containing material. The chemical maps nourished the scholarly debate on the overpaint removal with objective, chemical arguments, leading to the decision to remove all skillfully applied overpaints, hitherto interpreted as work by van Eyck. MA-XRF was also employed for monitoring the removal of the overpaint during the treatment phase. To gather complementary information on the in-depth layer build-up, SEM-EDX and SR mu-XRF imaging was used on paint cross sections to record microscale elemental maps.