Achieving non-destructive micrometer-scale molecular and structural analysis of uranic materials in atmospheric aerosols with traditional methodologies is a challenge. Spatially resolved analysis of uranium in actinide-bearing aerosols is critical for nuclear forensics. Although laser Raman microspectrometry enables this, for the normally low uranium concentrations in the aerosols the spectra are indiscernible (band-free) against pronounced background: trace analysis requires a push in analytical strategy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDirect analysis of biometals in biomedical samples by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) for disease diagnostics has hardly been fully explored due to dark matrix analytical challenges. In this study, we exploited multivariate chemometrics modeling of cancer diagnostics in model human tissue simulates and cultures using selected biometals' (Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn and Se) fluorescence and Compton scatter profiles. PCA successfully reduced the correlated data dimension to uncorrelated datasets for the characterization of the cell cultures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCompared to energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) that is limited to analysis of elements (Z ≥ 13) via fluorescence and which is hardly direct, energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence and scattering (EDXRFS) spectrometry exploits additionally, scatter radiation to quantify both low- and heavy-Z elements as well as predict various material properties. The goal of this work was to demonstrate proof-of-concept for chemometrics-enabled EDXRFS spectrometry utilizing a weak sample excitation source towards rapid quality assurance (QA) analysis of complex matrix materials. ACd source was used to analyse three types of polymer powders - polypropylene (PP), low density polyethene (LDPE) and high density polyethene (HDPE) moulded as ∼ 2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis paper presents the radiometric survey results of the Mrima-Kiruku high background radiation (HBR) anomaly complex of south coastal Kenya. Utilizing a portable γ-ray spectrometer consisting of a 2.0 l NaI(Tl) backpack detector integrated with GPS to perform the relevant in-situ radiometric measurements, a novel geospatial gating method was devised to represent the measurements.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Multispectral imaging microscopy is a novel microscopic technique that integrates spectroscopy with optical imaging to record both spectral and spatial information of a specimen. This enables acquisition of a large and more informative dataset than is achievable in conventional optical microscopy. However, such data are characterized by high signal correlation and are difficult to interpret using univariate data analysis techniques.
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