Sasanian copper and billon coins from the collections of the Royal Museums of Art and History, Brussels, Belgium-insights using semi-quantitative analysis by mu XRF

This paper presents the micro-XRF analysis of over 100 Sasanian billon and copper coins from the collections of the Royal Museums of Art and History in Brussels, Belgium. This study discovered that some coins, thought to be copper, were actually billon coins. Furthermore, it illustrated the continuity in use and recipe of small copper coins from the Parthian into the Sasanian period. Previous research into the elemental composition of copper coins from the Sasanian period only spanned the period 224-309 CE, while this paper encompasses the whole period until the fall of the empire in 651 CE. The link with lead coins is also discussed.Material Culture Studie

Largest ancient fortress of South-West Asia and the western world?:Recent fieldwork at Sasanian Qaleh Iraj at Pishva, Iran

The article presents recent works at Qale Iraj, near Varamin, Iran. My short contribution is on the Middle Persian ostraka found at the site

The inherited association of interstitial lung disease, hypocalciuric hypercalcemia, and defective granulocyte function

The history and pulmonary histopathology of 3 siblings, presenting with the association of idiopathic interstitial lung disease, hypocalciuric hypercalcemia, and an intrinsic defect in granulocyte function are described. Prospective examination of 40 family members indicated that the 3 abnormalities are inherited according to an autosomal dominant pattern with, however, a variable penetration. Lung biopsies in the index cases revealed an interstitial infiltration of inflammatory cells and aggregates of conchoid bodies surrounded by multinucleated giant cells. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed in 11 subjects and often showed an elevated cell recovery and abnormal cell distribution indicative of active alveolitis. In several subjects, multinucleated giant cells were found. The diffusing capacity (in percent predicted) showed a significant decrease with age, independent of smoking habits. The hypocalciuric hypercalcemia was unaffected by steroids or parathyroidectomy. It was not associated with abnormal levels of parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3, 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3, or angiotensin-converting enzyme

Sasanian copper and billon coins from the collections of the Royal Museums of Art and History, Brussels, Belgium-insights using semi-quantitative analysis by mu XRF

status: publishe