Davide Alfano

New solutions to the problems of chain orientation and chain continuity in structure analysis of fibrous polymers. A reconsideration of the structure of polyisobutene

Two points of general interest in structural refinement of polymers based on internal coordinates are discussed: the chain orientation and the chain continuity. Using a proprietary computer program, based on revised approaches to these questions, the structure of polyisobutene has been reconsidered, using new X-ray diffraction measurements (Fuji image plate) and performing a structure refinement based on internal coordinates. Three refinement schemes, with a decreasing number of degrees of freedom, have been considered, with the conclusion that the distortion from the 83 regular helix, claimed by Tadokoro [(1979). Structure of Crystalline Polymers, p. 136. New York: Wiley-Interscience], is confirmed, though lower than supposed. The new procedures implemented for chain orientation and chain continuity work excellently.

Paleodiet characterisation of an Etrurian population of Pontecagnano (Italy) by Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) and Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS)

Human bones recovered from the archaeological site of Pontecagnano (Salerno, Italy) have been studied to reconstruct the diet of an Etrurian population. Two different areas were investigated, named Library and Sant’ Antonio, with a total of 44 tombs containing human skeletal remains, ranging in age from the 8th to the 3rd century B.C. This time span was confirmed by 14C dating obtained using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) on one bone sample from each site. Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) was used to extract information about the concentration of Sr, Zn, Ca elements in the bone inorganic fraction, whilst stable isotope ratio measurements (IRMS) were carried out on bone collagen to obtain the δ13C and δ15N. A reliable technique has been used to extract and separate the inorganic and organic fractions of the bone remains. Both IRMS and AAS results suggest a mixed diet including C3 plant food and herbivore animals, consistent with archaeological indications. #Revised version of a paper presented at the 1st Joint European Stable Isotope Users Group Meeting (JESIUM), August, 30 to September, 3, 2004, Vienna, Austria