scholarly journals Differential taphonomic effects of petroleum seeps and karstic sinkholes on ancient dire wolf teeth: Hydrocarbon impregnation preserves fossils for chemical and histological analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina B. Sholts ◽  
Leslea J. Hlusko ◽  
Joshua P. Carlson ◽  
Sebastian K. T. S. Wärmländer

ABSTRACTHistological analysis of teeth can yield information on an organism’s growth and development, facilitating investigations of diet, health, environment, and long-term responses to selective pressures. In the Americas, an extraordinary abundance of Late Pleistocene fossils including teeth has been preserved in petroleum seeps, constituting a major source of information about biotic changes and adaptations at the end of the last glacial period. However, the usefulness of these fossils for histological studies is unclear, due to the unknown taphonomic effects of long-term deposition in petroleum. Here, we compare histological and chemical analyses on dire wolf (Canis dirus) teeth obtained from two different environments, i.e. a petroleum seep (Rancho La Brea tar pits, California) and a carstic sinkhole (Cutler Hammock sinkhole, Florida). Optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) together with X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed excellent preservation of dental microstructure in the seep sample, and the petroleum-induced discoloration was found not to interfere with the histological and chemical examination. By comparison, teeth from the sinkhole sample showed severe degradation and contamination of the dentine by exogenous substances. These results indicate that petroleum seep assemblages are useful, or even ideal, environments for preserving the integrity of fossil material for chemical and histological analysis.

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (18) ◽  
pp. 4268
Author(s):  
Věra Vodičková ◽  
Martin Švec ◽  
Pavel Hanus ◽  
Pavel Novák ◽  
Antonín Záděra ◽  
...  

The effect of phase composition and morphology on high-temperature strength in the compression of Fe-Al-Si-based iron aluminides manufactured by casting was investigated. The structure and high-temperature strength in the compression of three alloys—Fe28Al5Si, Fe28Al5Si2Mo, and Fe28Al5Si2Ti—were studied. Long-term (at 800 °C for 100 h) annealing was performed for the achievement of structural stability. The phase composition and grain size of alloys were primarily described by means of scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive analysis and Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD). The phase composition was verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The effect of Mo and Ti addition as well as the effect of long-term annealing on high-temperature yield stress in compression were investigated. Both additives—Mo and Ti—affected the yield stress values positively. Long-term annealing of Fe28Al5Si-X iron aluminide alloyed with Mo and Ti deteriorates yield stress values slightly due to grain coarsening.


2004 ◽  
Vol 824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris E. Burakov ◽  
Maria A. Yagovkina ◽  
Vladimir M. Garbuzov ◽  
Alexander A. Kitsay ◽  
Vladimir A. Zirlin

AbstractTo investigate the behavior of monazite during accelerated radiation damage, which simulates effects of long term storage, 238Pu-doped polycrystalline samples of (La,Pu)PO4 and PuPO4 were synthesized for the first time ever and studied using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and optical microscopy. The starting precursor materials were obtained by precipitation of La and (or) Pu from their aqueous nitrate solutions followed by calcination in air at 700°C for 1 hour, cold pressing, and sintering in air at 1200-1250°C for 2 hours. The 238Pu contents in ceramic samples measured using gamma spectrometry were (in wt.% el.): 8.1 for (La,Pu)PO4 and 7.2 for PuPO4. The (La,Pu)PO4 monazite remained crystalline at ambient temperature up to a cumulative dose of 1.19 × 1025 alpha decays/m3. In contrast, the PuPO4 monazite became nearly completely amorphous at a relatively low dose of 4.2 × 1024 alpha decays/m3. Swelling and crack formation due to the alpha decay damage was observed in the PuPO4 ceramic. Also, under self-irradiation this sample completely changed color from initial deep blue to black. The (La,Pu)PO4 monazite was characterized by a similar change in color from initial light blue to gray, however, no swelling or crack formation have so far been observed. The results of this study allow us to conclude that the radiation damage behavior of monazite strictly depends on the chemical composition. The justification of monazite-based ceramics as actinide waste forms requires additional investigation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taeyong Kim ◽  
Simpy Sanyal ◽  
Ja-Bin Koo ◽  
Ju-Am Son ◽  
In-Hyuk Choi ◽  
...  

The deterioration of the cement that bonds the cap, pin, and porcelain shell of the porcelain insulators can be observed by three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT), a non-destructive test. When porcelain insulators are used for a long duration, the size of the pores existing in the cement increase as the cement expands due to the alkali-silica reaction (ASR). It is possible to visually confirm the corrosion of caps and pins. The degree of corrosion is divided into four noticeable stages (I–IV), and deterioration of cement includes one of the four stages of corrosion. The standard time of replacement of insulator vs. continued use is presented. As a result of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Fe is oxidized to Fe2O3 at 36, 43, 54, and 70 degrees. The corrosion in cement is caused by factors including the value of pH, oxygen content, and temperature. For the caps and pins, although a zinc coating is applied to prevent the corrosion of iron, corrosion of zinc is caused by substances present in the external environment. When the zinc coating begins to corrode, the corrosion of the Fe component of the cap and pin accelerates, causing mechanical/electrical problems.


TAPPI Journal ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-23
Author(s):  
KEVIN TAYLOR ◽  
RICH ADDERLY ◽  
GAVIN BAXTER

Over time, performance of tubular backpulse pressure filters in kraft mills deteriorates, even with regular acid washing. Unscheduled filter replacement due to filter plugging results in significant costs and may result in mill downtime. We identified acid-insoluble filter-plugging materials by scanning electron microscope/energy-dispersion X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis in both polypropylene and Gore-Tex™ membrane filter socks. The major filter-plugging components were calcium sulfate (gypsum), calcium phosphate (hydroxylapatite), aluminosilicate clays, metal sulfides, and carbon. We carried out detailed sample analysis of both the standard acid-washing procedure and a modified procedure. Filter plugging by gypsum and metal sulfides appeared to occur because of the acid-washing procedure. Gypsum formation on the filter resulted from significant hydrolysis of sulfamic acid solution at temperatures greater than 130°F. Modification of the acid-washing procedure greatly reduced the amount of gypsum and addition of a surfactant to the acid reduced wash time and mobilized some of the carbon from the filter. With surfactant, acid washing was 95% complete after 40 min.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (24) ◽  
pp. 5970
Author(s):  
Nabil Al-Zaqri ◽  
Mohammed Suleiman ◽  
Anas Al-Ali ◽  
Khaled Alkanad ◽  
Karthik Kumara ◽  
...  

The exo⇔endo isomerization of 2,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde was theoretically studied by density functional theory (DFT) to examine its favored conformers via sp2–sp2 single rotation. Both isomers were docked against 1BNA DNA to elucidate their binding ability, and the DFT-computed structural parameters results were matched with the X-ray diffraction (XRD) crystallographic parameters. XRD analysis showed that the exo-isomer was structurally favored and was also considered as the kinetically preferred isomer, while several hydrogen-bonding interactions detected in the crystal lattice by XRD were in good agreement with the Hirshfeld surface analysis calculations. The molecular electrostatic potential, Mulliken and natural population analysis charges, frontier molecular orbitals (HOMO/LUMO), and global reactivity descriptors quantum parameters were also determined at the B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. The computed electronic calculations, i.e., TD-SCF/DFT, B3LYP-IR, NMR-DB, and GIAO-NMR, were compared to the experimental UV–Vis., optical energy gap, FTIR, and 1H-NMR, respectively. The thermal behavior of 2,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde was also evaluated in an open atmosphere by a thermogravimetric–derivative thermogravimetric analysis, indicating its stability up to 95 °C.


Author(s):  
Erdoğan Karip ◽  
Mehtap Muratoğlu

People are exposed to different kinds of diseases or various accidents in life. Hydroxyapatite (HA) has been widely employed for bone treatment applications. In this study, HA was extracted from sheep bones. Bio-composites were doped with 1, 5, and 10 wt.% of expanded perlite and 5 wt.% of ZrO2–MgO-P2O5. The bio-composites were prepared by the cold isostatic pressing method (250 MPa) and sintered at 900°C for 1 h. In order to evaluate the characteristics of the bio-composites, microhardness, density, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analyses were carried out on them. Additionally, the specimens whose characteristics were determined were kept in synthetic body fluid (SBF), and their in vitro behavior was examined. As a result, it was observed that microhardness increased as both the weight and the grain size of the expanded perlite were increased. Calcium silicate, tri-calcium phosphate, and hydroxyapatite were observed in the XRD analysis of all samples, and the formation of apatite structures was increased by addition of ZrO2–MgO–P2O5.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 998-1008
Author(s):  
Guo Li ◽  
Zheng Zhuang ◽  
Yajun Lv ◽  
Kejin Wang ◽  
David Hui

AbstractThree nano-CaCO3 (NC) replacement levels of 1, 2, and 3% (by weight of cement) were utilized in autoclaved concrete. The accelerated carbonation depth and Coulomb electric fluxes of the hardened concrete were tested periodically at the ages of 28, 90, 180, and 300 days. In addition, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, and mercury intrusion porosimetry were also performed to study changes in the hydration products of cement and microscopic pore structure of concrete under autoclave curing. Results indicated that a suitable level of NC replacement exerts filling and accelerating effects, promotes the generation of cement hydration products, reduces porosity, and refines the micropores of autoclaved concrete. These effects substantially enhanced the carbonation and chloride resistance of the autoclaved concrete and endowed the material with resistances approaching or exceeding that of standard cured concrete. Among the three NC replacement ratios, the 3% NC replacement was the optimal dosage for improving the long-term carbonation and chloride resistance of concrete.


Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1969
Author(s):  
Riccardo Scarfiello ◽  
Elisabetta Mazzotta ◽  
Davide Altamura ◽  
Concetta Nobile ◽  
Rosanna Mastria ◽  
...  

The surface and structural characterization techniques of three atom-thick bi-dimensional 2D-WS2 colloidal nanocrystals cross the limit of bulk investigation, offering the possibility of simultaneous phase identification, structural-to-morphological evaluation, and surface chemical description. In the present study, we report a rational understanding based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and structural inspection of two kinds of dimensionally controllable 2D-WS2 colloidal nanoflakes (NFLs) generated with a surfactant assisted non-hydrolytic route. The qualitative and quantitative determination of 1T’ and 2H phases based on W 4f XPS signal components, together with the presence of two kinds of sulfur ions, S22− and S2−, based on S 2p signal and related to the formation of WS2 and WOxSy in a mixed oxygen-sulfur environment, are carefully reported and discussed for both nanocrystals breeds. The XPS results are used as an input for detailed X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis allowing for a clear discrimination of NFLs crystal habit, and an estimation of the exact number of atomic monolayers composing the 2D-WS2 nanocrystalline samples.


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