O. Gundogdu

Analysis and classification of heterogeneous kidney stones using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS).

Kidney stones were analyzed using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), utilizing a high resolution multi-channel charge-coupled device (CCD) spectrometer and a nanosecond-pulse Nd: YAG laser. The kidney stones were also characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques for comparative analysis. It was found that the ratio of hydrogen (H) to carbon (C) was an important indicator of organic compounds such as uric acid. Advantages of LIBS, especially with regards to amount of sample required and sample preparation as well as the ability to carry out elemental analysis and classification of kidney stones simultaneously, over other analytical techniques such as XRD and XRF are discussed. The common minor elements detected in the kidney stones include P, S, Si, Ti, and Zn. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) of broadband LIBS spectra were employed for classifying different types of kidney stones. The results are beneficial in understanding kidney stone formation processes, which can lead to preventive therapeutic strategies and treatment methods for urological patients.

Examining nanoparticle assemblies using high spatial resolution x-ray microtomography

An experimental system has been designed to examine the assembly of nanoparticles in a variety of process engineering applications. These applications include the harvesting from solutions of nanoparticles into green parts, and the subsequent sintering into finished components. The system is based on an x-ray microtomography with a spatial resolution down to 5μm. The theoretical limitations in x-ray imaging are considered to allow experimental optimization. A standard nondestructive evaluation type apparatus with a small focal-spot x-ray tube, high-resolution complementary metal oxide semiconductor flat-panel pixellated detector, and a mechanical rotational stage is used to image the static systems. Dynamic sintering processes are imaged using the same x-ray source and detector but a custom rotational stage which is contained in an environmental chamber where the temperature, atmospheric pressure, and compaction force can be controlled. Three-dimensional tomographic data sets are presented here for sample...

Evaluation of radon concentration in well and tap waters in Bursa, Turkey

(222)Rn measurements in water samples collected from 27 wells and 19 taps that were supplied from the investigated wells were conducted using the AlphaGUARD PQ 2000PRO radon gas analyser at sites across several geologic formations within the city of Bursa, Turkey. The measured radon concentrations ranged from 1.46 to 53.64 Bq l(-1) for well water and from 0.91 to 12.58 Bq l(-1) for tap water. Of the 27 sites sampled, only 7 had radon levels above the safe limit of 11.1 Bq l(-1) recommended by the USEPA. In general, all determined concentrations were well below the 100 Bq l(-1) revised reference level proposed by the European Union. These values of radon concentrations in water samples are compared with those reported from other countries. Doses resulting from the consumption of these waters were calculated. The minimum and the maximum annual mean effective doses due to (222)Rn intake through water consumption were 0.02 µSv a(-1) and 1.11 µSv a(-1), respectively.

Measurements of radon concentration in drinking water samples from Kastamonu (Turkey)

Concentration of 222Rn was determined in selected natural spring and tap water samples collected during spring and summer seasons from Kastamonu, Turkey. The aim of this work was to produce a map of the radon concentrations in water sources of the province and to determine any potential radiological risk for the local population. Radon measurements were performed by an AlphaGUARD radon gas analyser. The average radon concentrations were found to vary from 0.39±0.02 to 12.73±0.39 Bq l−1 for natural springs and from 0.36±0.04 to 9.29±0.45 Bq l−1 for tap water in spring, from 0.50±0.09 to 19.21±1.00 Bq l−1 for natural springs and from 0.31±0.03 to 13.14±0.38 Bq l−1 for tap water in summer. Furthermore, the results are compared with international recommendations and concentrations reported for other countries. Doses resulting from the consumption of these waters were calculated. The effective dose equivalents due to the intake of the 222Rn present in these waters are expected to range from 0.93 to 32.54 μSv y−1 in summer and from 0.80 to 49.09 μSv y−1 in spring.

In situ x-ray imaging of nanoparticle agglomeration in fluidized beds

A high spatial (down to 400 nm) and temporal resolution (down to 1 ms) x-ray imaging apparatus has been designed to study the agglomeration of arc plasma synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (average diameter of 50 nm) in fluidized beds under different gas flow velocities. The mean volume distribution of the nanoparticle agglomerates was determined with x-ray microtomography and found to correspond to a lognormal distribution with a mean value of 0.70×109μm3 and a variance of 3.6×1021 (μm3)2. The average density of the agglomerates was found to be 2.9gcm−3 compared to 5.6gcm−3 for the individual nanoparticles. The powder assembly was then dynamically imaged using an x-ray image intensifier coupled to a digital camera using a field of view of 24.20 mm by 32.25 mm and a temporal resolution of 40 ms. Sequential frames were captured into computer memory for a range of gas flow velocities from 0.026ms−1 to 0.313ms−1. The breakup energy of the agglomerates was calculated to be approximately 2×10−8J using a comb...

Permeation through a bed on a vibrating medium: theory and experimental results

A dead-end filtration set-up with a vertically vibrated medium is used to study cake permeation. A key feature of these experiments is that a sudden increase in permeability at a certain critical vibration amplitude takes place, when the static loading is light. A theory to explain this phenomenon is put forward in terms of a relation to local fluidization near the medium, thus returning the clogged septum resistance to virtually its unclogged value. The fluidization is due to a particle stress induced by the vibration of the particle fluid mixture near the medium. This stress can be large enough to counteract the compressive stress that is caused by gravity and drag due to the fluid flow in the set-up. Estimates for the particle stresses are obtained; these are proportional to the amplitude decay inverse length λ. The latter is derived from the analysis of a vibrated particle–fluid mixture that is in a state of fluidization. It is argued that only in this state will the value of λ be large enough to generate the required particle stress. A much smaller value for λ is obtained when the particles in the medium make enduring contacts. The theory predicts a frequency dependence for the turnover point in the permeability according to the root of the applied frequency. This theoretical result is confirmed by the experiments. The theory also predicts that when the decay is too steep, so that the vibration amplitude vanishes at a distance of less than a particle diameter, no fluidization will occur. This is found to be true for larger cake masses.

X-ray phase contrast imaging of the bone-cartilage interface.

Synovial joints articulate in a lubricating environment, the system providing for smooth articulation. The articular cartilage overlying the bone consists of a network of collagen fibres. This network is essential to cartilage integrity, suffering damage in degenerative joint disease such as osteoarthritis. At Surrey and also in work conducted by this group at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) synchrotron site we have been applying a number of techniques to study the bone-cartilage interface and of changes occurring in this with disease. One of the techniques attracting particular interest is X-ray phase contrast imaging, yielding information on anatomical features that manifest from the large scale organisation of collagen and the mineralised phase contained within the collagen fibres in the deep cartilage zone. This work briefly reviews some of the basic supporting physics of X-ray phase contrast imaging and then shows example images of the articular surface and subchondral bone and other supporting results obtained to-date. Present results have been obtained on sections of bone not displaying evidence of an osteoarthritic lesion and can be used as a baseline against which diseased bone can be compared.

Metal deposition at the bone-cartilage interface in articular cartilage

There is a growing interest being shown in the changes occurring in elemental distribution at the bone-cartilage interface, the changes either being a result of mechanical damage or disease. In particular, such investigations have tended to concern the elemental alterations associated with the osteoarthritic wear and tear damage occurring to the cartilage and subchondral bone of synovial joints or that associated with disease processes such as rheumatic arthritis. Present studies examine sections of femoral head obtained from total hip replacement surgery, use being made of micro-proton-induced X-ray emission (micro-PIXE) and the Rutherford back scattering (RBS) techniques. Enhancements of Zn, Ca and P have been observed at the bone-cartilage interface. Further, the concentration of Zn in spongy bone underlying the subchondral surface of a section of the femoral head has been measured, obtaining 136 microg g(-1) bone, the presence of Ca and P at the same position being 0.235 and 0.0451 g g(-1) bone, respectively. These values are slightly different to figures recently published by other authors using similar techniques.

μ-PIXE and SAXS studies at the bone–cartilage interface

Micro Proton Induced X-ray Emission (micro-PIXE) analysis has been employed herein in investigating and quantifying the distribution of a number of essential elements in thin human diseased articular cartilage sections affected by osteoarthritis (OA). Various cations Ca, P and Zn have been reported to play an important role both in the normal growth and remodelling of articular cartilage and subchondral bone as well as in the degenerative and inflammatory processes associated with the disease; they act as co-factors of a class of enzymes known as metalloproteinases which are believed to be active during the initiation, progress and remodelling processes associated with osteoarthritis. Other important enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase are associated with cartilage mineralization. Synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) for mapping of elemental distributions in bone and cartilage has also been employed by the present group and others. In the current investigations using the cSAXS beamline at the Swiss light source, Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) was carried out on decalcified human articular cartilage to explore the structural and organizational changes of collagen networks in diseased articular cartilage.

Vibration-assisted dead-end filtration: experiments and theoretical concepts

Dead-end filtration tests with a vertically vibrated medium are reported, focussing on the effect of acceleration amplitude. A phenomenological model with constant coefficients and assumed constant solids volume fraction profile is introduced. Its inadequacy in describing the subtleties of the experimental data is discussed. A major shortcoming is the fact that a phenomenological model cannot predict the solids volume fraction profile. A physical theory is then reviewed in which the slurry is described as a dense gas with a position-dependent temperature. The theory is applied to the present problem. A non-dimensional parameter S, which is proportional to the ratio of the mean fluid velocity in the filter to the oscillation velocity amplitude, emerges from the theory (gravitational effects are ignored). Using the physical theory, solutions to the solids volume fraction profile are presented and their sensitivity to the volume of solids in the apparatus and the parameter S is probed.