Quantitative petrography: approaches and applications

Quantitative petrography is a scientific and industrial direction of geology, which made huge progress due to developments and inventions in information technology and optics in the last decade. This article is introducing the modern and scientific directions of quantitative petrography and describes their current state of art as well as methodical approaches and their application. The research objects of quantitative macropetrography are hand specimens, borehole cores and polished tiles, and of micropetrography are thin and polished sections of rocks samples, splitted rock surfaces and immersion preparations. The goal of the research is to develop and present new methodological approaches of digital microscopy for the analysis of ores, rocks and minerals, as well as to investigate the morphological image analysis capabilities for the transforming from the classical description methods to quantitative petrography.

Morphological Features of Fruits and Seeds of Some Species of the Genus Crataegus L. of the Flora of Ukraine

The genus Crataegus L. is one of the largest species in the family Rosaceae Juss. The fruits are used as medicinal raw materials ( Crataegus fructus ), as they contain a set of biologically active compounds. The genus is voluminous and taxonomically problematic due to significant variability, hybridization, apomixis, and polyploidy. As a result, it is difficult to determine the species of the genus. Species of the genus have a number of diagnostic features, one of which is a distinct fruit with seeds. The aim of our study was to identify and compare the diagnostic features of the fruits of seven species of the genus Crataegus flora of Ukraine, which are most often used as medicinal raw materials and are the most common in Ukraine – Crataegus laevigata , C. monogyna , C. pentagyna , C. pseudokyrtostyla , C. sanguinea , C. fallacina , and C. rhipidophylla . The study was performed using scanning and digital microscopy, and descriptions were made by standard methods. As a result, we identified features that clearly distinguished the studied species from each other. We identified mature fruits that contain only one pyrene ( C. monogyna , C. pseudokyrtostyla , C. fallacina , and C. rhipidophylla ), and several pyrenes ( C. laevigata , C. pentagyna , and C. sanguinea ) among the studied species of the genus. The studied species are characterized by spherical and ellipsoidal fruits. The predominant color is fulvous/brown with different shades, but almost-black fruits of the species C. pentagyna are well distinguished. Fruits of all studied species of the genus are fleshy, except C. sanguinea , which is floury. The species is characterized mainly by yellow flesh fruits, except C. pentagyna , which has ribbed fruits. The fruits of C. monogyna plants differ from those of other studied species by the spinous-tuberous surface relief. Pyrenes of triangular shape are observed only in C. pentagyna . We suggest that these features can be used as additional diagnostic tools to determine the species of the genus Crataegus flora in Ukraine.

Multidisciplinary investigation reveals the earliest textiles and cinnabar-coloured cloth in Iberian Peninsula

Textile production is among the most fundamental and more complex technologies in human prehistory, but is under-investigated due to the perishable nature of fibrous materials. Here we report a discovery of five textile fragments from a prehistoric (fourth-third millennium cal BC) burial deposit located in a small cave at Peñacalera in Sierra Morena hills, near Córdoba, Southern Spain. These textiles accompanied a set of human remains as grave goods, together with other organic elements such as fragments of wood and cork, and some pottery vessels. They were characterized and dated using digital microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy and Accelerator Mass Spectrometry. Two of the fragments described here are the oldest examples of loom-woven textiles in the Iberian Peninsula, dating from the second half of the fourth millennium cal BC. This correlates chronologically with the first appearance of loom weights in the archaeological record of this region. The more recently dated textile is the earliest preserved cloth intentionally coloured with cinnabar in the western Mediterranean. The Peñacalera finds are a key reference for understanding the development of textile technologies during the Neolithic and Copper Age in western Europe and beyond.

Damage caused by black inks to the chemical properties of archaeological papyrus – analytical study

Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine the nature of archaeological papyrus damage and monitoring the mechanics of damage caused by black inks to the chemical properties of ancient papyrus. Design/methodology/approach This study the papyrus surface with a digital microscopy “USB,” examination and analyzing by “Scanning Electron Microscope,” characterization of black ink used in writing the ancient papyrus using “Scanning Electron Microscopy” with (EDX). Detection of changes in the chemical bonds of ancient papyrus samples by “Fourier transform infrared” FTIR. Findings The result confirmed that SEM examination showed the organization of the parenchyma cells that make up papyrus tissue. Characteristic waveform appears, it indicates the ancient Egyptian manufacturer’s use of the (Strips Method) in the process of manufacturing the archaeological papyrus. Also, the appearance of (Over Lapping) stacking of papyrus slides. EDX analysis showed that the black ink used to write the papyrus was (Carbon Ink). High oxygen content in the papyrus sample analysis indicates deterioration of the cellulose fibers. FTIR spectrum showed that Arabic gum is the bonding material for carbon ink particles, it also showed that archaeological papyrus suffers from hydrolysis due to exposure of papyrus fibers to high moisture content or direct water, resulting in smudge, bleeding and fading of carbon ink on the archaeological papyrus support. Originality/value The study is archaeological papyrus with black ink scripts from the excavation of the Qasr I brim.

Feasibility of using digital confocal microscopy for cytopathological examination in clinical practice

Optical imaging modalities are emerging as digital microscopy tools for tissue examination. The investigation of these techniques for potential applications in anatomic pathology practice has focused primarily on surgical pathology and has not included cytopathological specimens. We evaluated the feasibility of using digital confocal microscopy (CM) to examine cytopathological specimens. Smears and cell suspensions collected in RPMI solution were prepared from tissue scrapes obtained from surgical resections of breast, lung, liver, and kidney. Air-dried smears and cell pellets obtained from centrifugation of the cell suspensions were stained with 0.6 mM acridine orange and imaged with a CM platform. After completion of imaging, the smears were stained with Diff-Quik (DQ), and cell pellets were routinely processed, embedded in paraffin wax, cut, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). We evaluated the mean time to acquire digital CM images; quality of images based on the extent of tissue recognition (0%, grade 0; 1–19%, grade 1; 20–50%, grade 2; >50%, grade 3); comparison of images with DQ- and H&E-stained specimens; and ability to make specific diagnoses. We imaged 91 smears and 52 cell pellets and acquired digital CM images within 2–3 min, with 92% and 88% of images, respectively, from smears and cell pellets showing grade 3 quality. On the basis of CM images, 8 smears (9%) and 7 cell pellets (14%) were categorized as benign, and 83 (91%) and 45 (88%), respectively, as malignant. Specific diagnoses were made by using digital CM images of smears and cell pellets that matched accurately with corresponding DQ- and H&E-stained preparations. The results of our first feasibility study clearly indicated the utility of CM as a next-generation digital microscopy tool for evaluating cytology specimens. Prospective clinical studies are warranted for validating our findings for potential incorporation into cytopathological clinical practice.

From Paris and Shanghai to Singapore: A Multidisciplinary Study in Evaluating the Provenance and Dating of Two of Liu Kang’s Paintings

This paper focuses on the dating and provenance of two paintings, Climbing the hill and View from St. John’s Fort by the prominent Singaporean artist Liu Kang (1911–2004). Climbing the hill, from the National Gallery Singapore collection, was believed to have been created in 1937, based on the date painted by the artist. However, a non-invasive examination unveiled evidence of an underlying paint scheme and a mysterious date, 1948 or 1949. These findings prompted a comprehensive technical study of the artwork in conjunction with comparative analyses of View from St. John’s Fort (1948), from the Liu family collection. The latter artwork is considered to be depicting the same subject matter. The investigation was carried out with UVF, NIR, IRFC, XRR, digital microscopy, PLM and SEM-EDS to elucidate the materials and technique of both artworks and find characteristic patterns that could indicate a relationship between both paintings and assist in correctly dating Climbing the hill. The technical analyses were supplemented with the historical information derived from the Liu family archives. The results showed that Climbing the hill was created in 1948 or 1949 on top of an earlier composition painted in Shanghai between 1933 and 1937. As for the companion View from St. John’s Fort from 1948, the artist reused an earlier painting created in France in 1931. The analytical methods suggested that Liu Kang used almost identical pigment mixtures for creating new artworks. However, their painting technique demonstrates some differences. Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of Liu Kang’s painting materials and his working practice.

Validation of digital microscopy: Review of validation methods and sources of bias

Digital microscopy (DM) is increasingly replacing traditional light microscopy (LM) for performing routine diagnostic and research work in human and veterinary pathology. The DM workflow encompasses specimen preparation, whole-slide image acquisition, slide retrieval, and the workstation, each of which has the potential (depending on the technical parameters) to introduce limitations and artifacts into microscopic examination by pathologists. Performing validation studies according to guidelines established in human pathology ensures that the best-practice approaches for patient care are not deteriorated by implementing DM. Whereas current publications on validation studies suggest an overall high reliability of DM, each laboratory is encouraged to perform an individual validation study to ensure that the DM workflow performs as expected in the respective clinical or research environment. With the exception of validation guidelines developed by the College of American Pathologists in 2013 and its update in 2021, there is no current review of the application of methods fundamental to validation. We highlight that there is high methodological variation between published validation studies, each having advantages and limitations. The diagnostic concordance rate between DM and LM is the most relevant outcome measure, which is influenced (regardless of the viewing modality used) by different sources of bias including complexity of the cases examined, diagnostic experience of the study pathologists, and case recall. Here, we review 3 general study designs used for previous publications on DM validation as well as different approaches for avoiding bias.