Metal alloys, matrix inclusions and manufacturing techniques of Moinhos de Golas collection (North Portugal): a study by micro-EDXRF, SEM–EDS, optical microscopy and X-ray radiography

"Article:820"A collection of 35 metallic artefacts comprising various typologies, some of which can be attributed to the Bronze Age and others to later periods, were studied to provide detailed information on elemental composition, manufacturing techniques and preservation state. Elemental analysis by micro-EDXRF and SEM–EDS was performed to investigate the use of different alloys and to study the presence of microstructural heterogeneities, as inclusions. X-ray radiography, optical microscopy and SEM–EDS were used to investigate manufacturing techniques and degradation features. Results showed that most of the artefacts were produced in a binary bronze alloy (Cu–Sn) with 10–15 wt% Sn and a low concentration of impurities. Other artefacts were produced in copper or in brass, the latest with varying contents of Zn, Sn and Pb. A variety of inclusions in the metal matrices were also found, some related to specific types of alloys, as (Cu–Ni)S2 in coppers, or ZnS in brasses. Microstructural observations revealed that the majority of the artefacts were subjected to cycles of thermomechanical processing after casting, being evident that among some artefacts different parts were subjected to distinct treatments. The radiographic images revealed structural heterogeneities related to local corrosion processes and fissures that seem to have developed in wear-tension zones, as in the handle of some daggers. Radiographic images were also useful to detect the use of different materials in one particular brass artefact, revealing the presence of a possible Cu–Sn solder.This work was funded by FEDER funds through the COMPETE 2020 Programme and National Funds through FCT— Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia under the project UID/CTM/ 50025/2013 to CENIMAT/I3N. C2 TN/IST authors gratefully acknowledge the FCT support through the UID/Multi/04349/2013 project. EF acknowledges FCT for the grant SFRH/BPD/97360/2013. JF acknowledge FCT for the grant SFRH/BD/65143/2009. Part of this project has been done in the framework of the FCT project ENARDAS (PTDC/HISARQ/112983/2009).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Aspirin and lung cancer in women

The association between aspirin use and lung cancer risk in women was examined in a case–control study nested in the New York University Women's Health Study, a large cohort in New York. Case subjects were all the 81 incident lung cancer cases who had provided information about aspirin use at enrollment and during the 1994–1996 follow up. Ten controls per case were randomly selected from among study participants who matched a case by age, menopausal status, and dates of enrollment and follow-up. Relative to no aspirin use, the odds ratio for lung cancer (all histological sub-types combined) among subjects who reported aspirin use three or more times per week for at least 6 months was 0.66 (95% confidence interval 0.34–1.28), after adjustment for smoking and education. A stronger inverse association was observed in analyses restricted to non-small cell lung cancer (adjusted odds ratio 0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.16–0.96). These results suggest that regular aspirin use might be inversely associated with risk of lung cancer in women, particularly the non-small cell sub-type

A model for assessing preservation needs in libraries

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:2327.6831F(125) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo