X-ray irradiated thermo- and radioluminescence, structural and thermal characterization of septarian (powder&bulk) from Madagascar

The luminescence properties of septarian have been investigated for the first time in this study, which has been the subject of many studies in both geological and geophysical fields. This sediment with a calcium carbonate structure exhibited high luminescence properties with X-ray excitation. The radioluminescence (RL) and thermoluminescence (TL) properties were investigated as well as their structural (FT-IR, XRD), morphological (SEM), thermal (TG-DTA) and absorption (UV-Vis-NIR) properties of this sediment. The broad RL peak of septarian was observed at 640 nm. There was a significant increase in the RL intensities of the sifted samples compared with the bulk sample. The TL glow curves of septarian irradiated with X-rays exhibited intense main TL glow peak having the maximum temperatures at 116 °C and about 390 °C with a heating rate of 2°C/s. Also; the TL kinetic parameters were reported; activation energy (E), frequency factor (s) and the order of kinetics (b) of the first peak have been determined in detail by using peak shape (PS) and Computerized Glow Curve Deconvolution (CGCD) methods. SEM and EDS analysis were performed for the two different layers of septarian. The light colored side with the amorphous structure of the sample has more impurities (such as Fe, Al, Zr, K) than the crystallized and darker side. © 2018 Elsevier B.V

Serum Levels of Trace Elements and Heavy Metals in Patients with Acute Hemorrhagic Stroke

Trace elements are essential components of biological structures, but alternatively, they can be toxic at concentrations beyond those necessary for their biological functions. Changes in the concentration of essential trace elements and heavy metals may affect acute hemorrhagic stroke. The aim of this study was to measure serum levels of essential trace elements [iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and magnesium (Mg)] and heavy metals [cobalt (Co), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb)] in patients with acute hemorrhagic stroke. Twenty-six patients with acute hemorrhagic stroke and 29 healthy controls were enrolled. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry (UNICAM-929) was used to measure serum Fe, Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, Co, Mn and Mg concentrations. Serum Cd, Pb and Fe levels were significantly higher in patients with acute hemorrhagic stroke than controls (p 0.05). We first demonstrate increased Cd, Pb, and Fe levels; and decreased Cu, Zn, Mg, and Mn levels in patients with acute hemorrhagic stroke. These findings may have diagnostic and prognostic value for acute hemorrhagic stroke. Further studies are required to elucidate the roles of trace elements and heavy metals in patients with acute hemorrhagic stroke