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Jehlička J, Oren A, Vítek P, Wierzchos J. Microbial colonization of gypsum: from the fossil record to the present day. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1397437. [PMID: 39228380 PMCID: PMC11368868 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1397437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms inhabiting gypsum have been observed in environments that differ greatly in water availability. Gypsum colonized by microorganisms, including cyanobacteria, eukaryotic algae, and diverse heterotrophic communities, occurs in hot, arid or even hyperarid environments, in cold environments of the Antarctic and Arctic zones, and in saline and hypersaline lakes and ponds where gypsum precipitates. Fossilized microbial remnants preserved in gypsum were also reported. Gypsum protects the endolithic microbial communities against excessive insolation and ultraviolet radiation, while allowing photosynthetically active radiation to penetrate through the mineral substrate. We here review the worldwide occurrences of microbially colonized gypsum and the specific properties of gypsum related to its function as a substrate and habitat for microbial life on Earth and possibly beyond. Methods for detecting and characterizing endolithic communities and their biomarkers in gypsum are discussed, including microscopic, spectroscopic, chemical, and molecular biological techniques. The modes of adaptation of different microorganisms to life within gypsum crystals under different environmental conditions are described. Finally, we discuss gypsum deposits as possible targets for the search for microbial life or its remnants beyond Earth, especially on Mars, where sulfate-rich deposits occur, and propose strategies to detect them during space exploration missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Jehlička
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Aharon Oren
- Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Petr Vítek
- Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czechia
| | - Jacek Wierzchos
- Departamento e Biogeoquímica y Ecología Microbiana, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain
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2
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Rodriguez LE, Weber JM, Barge LM. Evaluating Pigments as a Biosignature: Abiotic/Prebiotic Synthesis of Pigments and Pigment Mimics in Planetary Environments. ASTROBIOLOGY 2024; 24:767-782. [PMID: 38768415 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2023.0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Pigments serve a multitude of functions in biology including light harvesting for photosynthesis, radiation protection, membrane support, and defense. The ubiquity of pigments-especially within extremophiles found in high-radiation, high-salinity, and dry environments-and their detectability via mission-ready techniques have elevated these molecules as promising targets in the search for evidence of life elsewhere. Moreover, the detection of pigments has been proposed as a "smoking gun" for extraterrestrial life as it has been suggested that these molecules cannot be generated abiotically. However, while pigments may hold promise as a biosignature, current understanding of their possible prebiotic origins remains understudied and uncertain. Better understanding of the abiotic synthesis of pigments is critical for evaluating the biogenicity of any pigment detected during missions, including by the Mars Perseverance rover or from returned samples. Compounding this uncertainty is the broad definition of pigment as it includes any compound capable of absorbing visible light and by itself does not specify a particular chemical motif. While not experimentally verified, there are promising prebiotic routes for generating pigments including hemes, chlorophylls, and carotenoids. Herein, we review the biochemistry of pigments, the inherent assumptions made when searching for these molecules in the field, their abiotic synthesis in industry and prebiotic reactions, prebiotically relevant molecules that can mimic their spectral signatures, and implications/recommendations for future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E Rodriguez
- Lunar and Planetary Institute, Universities Space Research Association, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jessica M Weber
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Laura M Barge
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
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3
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Troncoso-Afonso L, Vinnacombe-Willson GA, García-Astrain C, Liz-Márzan LM. SERS in 3D cell models: a powerful tool in cancer research. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:5118-5148. [PMID: 38607302 PMCID: PMC11104264 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs01049j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Unraveling the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying tumoral processes is fundamental for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. In this regard, three-dimensional (3D) cancer cell models more realistically mimic tumors compared to conventional 2D cell cultures and are more attractive for performing such studies. Nonetheless, the analysis of such architectures is challenging because most available techniques are destructive, resulting in the loss of biochemical information. On the contrary, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a non-invasive analytical tool that can record the structural fingerprint of molecules present in complex biological environments. The implementation of SERS in 3D cancer models can be leveraged to track therapeutics, the production of cancer-related metabolites, different signaling and communication pathways, and to image the different cellular components and structural features. In this review, we highlight recent progress in the use of SERS for the evaluation of cancer diagnosis and therapy in 3D tumoral models. We outline strategies for the delivery and design of SERS tags and shed light on the possibilities this technique offers for studying different cellular processes, through either biosensing or bioimaging modalities. Finally, we address current challenges and future directions, such as overcoming the limitations of SERS and the need for the development of user-friendly and robust data analysis methods. Continued development of SERS 3D bioimaging and biosensing systems, techniques, and analytical strategies, can provide significant contributions for early disease detection, novel cancer therapies, and the realization of patient-tailored medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Troncoso-Afonso
- BioNanoPlasmonics Laboratory, CIC biomaGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
- Department of Applied Chemistry, University of the Basque Country, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - Gail A Vinnacombe-Willson
- BioNanoPlasmonics Laboratory, CIC biomaGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
| | - Clara García-Astrain
- BioNanoPlasmonics Laboratory, CIC biomaGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería Biomateriales, y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Paseo de Miramón 182, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Luis M Liz-Márzan
- BioNanoPlasmonics Laboratory, CIC biomaGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería Biomateriales, y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Paseo de Miramón 182, 20014 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Ikerbasque Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
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4
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Ambre D, Sheyyab M, Lynch P, Mayhew EK, Brezinsky K. A Raman spectroscopy based chemometric approach to predict the derived cetane number of hydrocarbon jet fuels and their mixtures. Talanta 2024; 271:125635. [PMID: 38219321 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.125635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Fuel ignition quality, measured in the form of Derived Cetane Number (DCN), is an important part of integrating fuels, including sustainable aviation fuels, in compression ignition engines. DCN has been correlated with simulated and/or real spectroscopic measurements as well as other physical and chemical properties, but rarely have these correlations developed into a pathway to application. One application of the correlations is the use of miniaturized onboard fuel sensors that could assist, by using predicted DCN, in real-time feedforward engine control. To aid in the application of developing such DCN fuel sensors, Raman spectra coupled with chemometrics and a selection of influential spectral features were investigated. In this study, the Raman spectra were obtained from a database that included jet fuels, jet fuel mixtures, pure hydrocarbon components, and their weighted mixtures. The resulting Raman spectral database from the experimental measurements included spectra of components that span a wide range of DCNs and covered all the expected chemical functional groups present in a standard jet fuel. Chemometric models were developed to associate Raman spectra with DCN in subsets of the spectral range to aid in sensor miniaturization. The models were tested on jet fuels such as National Jet Fuel Combustion Program fuels designated A-1, A-2, and A-3 along with mixtures of jet fuels that spanned a wide range of DCN, simulating fuels that could represent real-world scenarios. An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model trained on the fingerprint region (500 cm-1 - 1800 cm-1) of the Raman spectra was able to capture the non-linearity of the association between the Raman spectra and DCN with a test R2 score of 0.926, a test MSE of 3.61, and a test MPE of 3.41. Around 97 % of the unseen test samples were predicted within 10 % of the DCN measured with an Ignition Quality Tester. One hundred features of the fingerprint region influencing DCN predictions in the optimal ANN model were extracted using a Global Surrogate (GS) model. A reduced ANN model trained on only these one hundred features performed slightly better with a test R2 score of 0.935, test MSE of 3.19, test MPE of 3.20 and with the entire set of unseen test samples predicted within 10 % of the measured DCN. For assessing applicability of real-time and online DCN sensing, the Raman spectrometer was integrated with a flow cell capable of allowing measurements of DCN in flowing fuel samples and included the optimal ANN model of the fingerprint region and the 100-feature GS-ANN model on a Raspberry Pi computer. A number of unseen F-24/alcohol-to-jet fuel mixtures composed of unknown volumes were tested using the flow cell for DCN, and all of these samples were predicted within 10 % of the measured DCN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhananjay Ambre
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Manaf Sheyyab
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Patrick Lynch
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Eric K Mayhew
- US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005, USA
| | - Kenneth Brezinsky
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA.
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5
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Mastrangelo R, Chelazzi D, Baglioni P. New horizons on advanced nanoscale materials for Cultural Heritage conservation. NANOSCALE HORIZONS 2024; 9:566-579. [PMID: 38264785 DOI: 10.1039/d3nh00383c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Nanomaterials have permeated numerous scientific and technological fields, and have gained growing importance over the past decades also in the preservation of Cultural Heritage. After a critical overview of the main nanomaterials adopted in art preservation, we provide new insights into some highly relevant gels, which constitute valuable tools to selectively remove dirt or other unwanted layers from the surface of works of art. In particular, the recent "twin-chain" gels, obtained by phase separation of two different PVAs and freeze-thawing, were considered as the most performing gel systems for the cleaning of Cultural Heritage. Three factors are crucial in determining the final gel properties, i.e., pore size, pore connectivity, and surface roughness, which belong to the micro/nanodomain. The pore size is affected by the molecular weight of the phase-separating PVA polymer, while pore connectivity and tortuosity likely depend on interconnections formed during gelation. Tortuosity greatly impacts on cleaning capability, as the removal of matter at the gel-target interface increases with the uploaded fluid's residence time at the interface (higher tortuosity produces longer residence). The gels' surface roughness, adaptability and stickiness can also be controlled by modulating the porogen amount or adding different polymers to PVA. Finally, PVA can be partially replaced with different biopolymers yielding gels with enhanced sustainability and effective cleaning capability, where the selection of the biopolymer affects the gel porosity and effectiveness. These results shed new light on the effect of micro/nanoscale features on the cleaning performances of "twin-chain" and composite gels, opening new horizons for advanced and "green"/sustainable gel materials that can impact on fields even beyond art preservation, like drug-delivery, detergency, food industry, cosmetics and tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosangela Mastrangelo
- Department of Chemistry and CSGI, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino, FI 50019, Italy.
| | - David Chelazzi
- Department of Chemistry and CSGI, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino, FI 50019, Italy.
| | - Piero Baglioni
- Department of Chemistry and CSGI, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino, FI 50019, Italy.
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Vahur S, Treshchalov A, Lohmus R, Teearu A, Niman K, Hiiop H, Kikas J, Leito I. Laser-based analytical techniques in cultural heritage science - Tutorial review. Anal Chim Acta 2024; 1292:342107. [PMID: 38309841 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2023.342107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
This tutorial review combines the fundamentals of the design and operation of lasers with their usage in applications related to conservation and cultural heritage (CH) science - as components of analytical devices for the study of the chemical composition of materials. The development of laser instruments and their fundamental physical background, including a short explanation of their properties and parameters, are briefly summarised, and an overview of different laser-based analytical techniques is given. The analytical techniques covered in this tutorial are divided into three groups based on their technical aspects and properties: (1) vibrational spectroscopy, (2) elemental analysis, and (3) different molecular mass spectrometric techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Signe Vahur
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14A, 50411, Tartu, Estonia.
| | - Alexey Treshchalov
- Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, W. Ostwaldi 1, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Rynno Lohmus
- Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, W. Ostwaldi 1, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Anu Teearu
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14A, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Käthi Niman
- Department of Cultural Heritage and Conservation, Estonian Academy of Arts, Põhja pst 7, 10412, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Hilkka Hiiop
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14A, 50411, Tartu, Estonia; Department of Cultural Heritage and Conservation, Estonian Academy of Arts, Põhja pst 7, 10412, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Jaak Kikas
- Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, W. Ostwaldi 1, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ivo Leito
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Ravila 14A, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
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7
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Albini B, Galinetto P, Schiavi S, Giulotto E. Food Safety Issues in the Oltrepò Pavese Area: A SERS Sensing Perspective. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:9015. [PMID: 38005403 PMCID: PMC10674787 DOI: 10.3390/s23229015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Handly and easy-to-use optical instrumentation is very important for food safety monitoring, as it provides the possibility to assess law and health compliances at every stage of the food chain. In particular, the Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) method appears highly promising because the intrinsic drawback of Raman spectroscopy, i.e., the natural weakness of the effect and, in turn, of the signal, is overcome thanks to the peculiar interaction between laser light and plasmonic excitations at the SERS substrate. This fact paved the way for the widespread use of SERS sensing not only for food safety but also for biomedicine, pharmaceutical process analysis, forensic science, cultural heritage and more. However, the current technological maturity of the SERS technique does not find a counterpart in the recognition of SERS as a routine method in compliance protocols. This is mainly due to the very scattered landscape of SERS substrates designed and tailored specifically for the targeted analyte. In fact, a very large variety of SERS substrates were proposed for molecular sensing in different environments and matrices. This review presents the advantages and perspectives of SERS sensing in food safety. The focus of the survey is limited to specific analytes of interest for producers, consumers and stakeholders in Oltrepò Pavese, a definite regional area that is located within the district of Pavia in the northern part of Italy. Our attention has been addressed to (i) glyphosate in rice fields, (ii) histamine in a world-famous local product (wine), (iii) tetracycline, an antibiotic often detected in waste sludges that can be dangerous, for instance in maize crops and (iv) Sudan dyes-used as adulterants-in the production of saffron and other spices, which represent niche crops for Oltrepò. The review aims to highlight the SERS performance for each analyte, with a discussion of the different methods used to prepare SERS substrates and the different reported limits of detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Albini
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Pavia, Via Bassi 6, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (B.A.); (P.G.)
| | - Pietro Galinetto
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Pavia, Via Bassi 6, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (B.A.); (P.G.)
| | - Serena Schiavi
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Pavia, Via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | - Enrico Giulotto
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Pavia, Via Bassi 6, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (B.A.); (P.G.)
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8
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Wang T, Xie C, You Q, Tian X, Xu X. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of four benzimidazole residues in food by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy combined with chemometrics. Food Chem 2023; 424:136479. [PMID: 37263093 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.136479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
In this study, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) combined with chemometric methods were developed for qualitative and quantitative analysis of four benzimidazole (BMZs) residues in corn. Sulfhydryl functionalized Fe3O4@SiO2@Ag-SH magnetic SERS substrates were prepared to obtain the SERS spectra of four BMZs for chemometric analysis. The partial least squares regression discrimination analysis (PLS-DA) model performed best, with a recall rate upwards 99.17%, and could successfully distinguish four BMZs. Under the support vector machine regression (SVR) model, the detection limits of carbendazim, benomyl, thiophanate-methyl and thiabendazole were 0.055 mg/L, 0.056 mg/L, 0.067 mg/L and 0.093 mg/L, respectively; the average recovery was in the range of 85.6%-107.5%. Furthermore, the method verified by HPLC, and the results showed that there was no significant difference between two methods (p > 0.05). Therefore, the strategy based on SERS coupling chemometrics can be served as a promising tool for rapid determination of BMZs residues in food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyao Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Chuangjie Xie
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Qian You
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xingguo Tian
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
| | - Xiaoyan Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Quality and Safety, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
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Mysliu E, Lunder O, Erbe A. Role of aluminium hydrides in localised corrosion of aluminium revealed by operando Raman spectroscopy. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:11845-11857. [PMID: 36928717 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp00522d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Filiform corrosion (FFC) is characteristic of metals such as aluminium and magnesium, usually takes place on coated metals, and spreads from coating defects in the form of filaments with a width on the order of 100 μm. In this work, in situ and operando Raman spectroscopy and optical microscopy were used to characterize the composition and distribution of corrosion products inside growing filaments. The filament head contains water (OH stretching modes, 3000-3600 cm-1), and corrosion products based on aluminium oxide with both tetrahedrally (840 cm-1) and octahedrally (600 cm-1) coordinated Al3+, and with some hydroxyl group content (3075, 1420, 1164 cm-1). Remarkable is the prominent presence of structural motifs as in γ-AlH3 (1045, 1495 cm-1). The tail contains predominantly aluminium oxide with octahedrally coordinated Al3+ and in addition carbonate (1100 cm-1) and aluminium chloride (347 cm-1). Video recordings of the active filigree show hydrogen evolution inside the active head and a very fast precipitation of corrosion products. Re-dissolution, transport and re-formation of the corrosion products is also observed, accompanying start-stop-cycles of the propagation of FFC; this mechanism leads to wavy surface morphologies by lifting of certain coating areas after the passage of the corrosion front as evidenced by 3D optical profilometer analysis. When exposed to the acidic head conditions for a sufficient time, the initiation of other forms of localised corrosion, such as pitting, is possible, which in turn facilitates further propagation of the filament. The in situ detection of hydride which transforms into the typical aluminium corrosion products in due course points to a prominent role of hydride as intermediate in the aqueous corrosion of aluminium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erlind Mysliu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
| | | | - Andreas Erbe
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, NTNU, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
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MACHINA, the Movable Accelerator for Cultural Heritage In-situ Non-destructive Analysis: project overview. RENDICONTI LINCEI. SCIENZE FISICHE E NATURALI 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s12210-022-01120-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
AbstractOver the years, transportable instrumentation for cultural heritage (CH) in situ measurements has noticeably widespread, due to logistic, economical and safety reasons. Ion beam analysis, a powerful set of analytical techniques, of great importance for CH, is instead carried out by using fixed instrumentation. To overcome this limit, the Italian national Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), CERN (European Centre for Nuclear Research) and the Opificio delle Pietre Dure (OPD), started MACHINA, the “Movable Accelerator for CH In-situ Non-destructive Analysis: the new generation of accelerators for art” to build a transportable accelerator, compact, with strongly reduced weight, absorbed power and cost. MACHINA will be installed at the OPD and dedicated to CH. It will be moved to major conservation centres and museums, when needed. The INFN-CERN proposal, approved in December 2017, became operative in February 2018. 2018 was dedicated to the acquisition of material/instrumentations, to set up both a dummy accelerator (to test the vacuum system) and a vacuum chamber (to test the source). Due to COVID, in 2020 and 2021 the experimental work was slowed down, but we kept developing the control electronics/software and built the second-generation supporting structure. The HF-RFQ power supplies were integrated in October 2021. At the rise of 2022, after conditioning the cavities, we tested the system and in March 2022 we got the first extracted 2-MeV proton beam. In this paper, we present the structure of the MACHINA system, the approach followed and the main solutions adopted, with a special focus on the control system, and finally the first experimental results.
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11
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Kitahama Y, Pancorbo PM, Segawa H, Marumi M, Xiao TH, Hiramatsu K, Yang W, Goda K. Place & Play SERS: sample collection and preparation-free surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2023; 15:1028-1036. [PMID: 36762487 DOI: 10.1039/d2ay02090d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The ability to perform sensitive, real-time, in situ, multiplex chemical analysis is indispensable for diverse applications such as human health monitoring, food safety testing, forensic analysis, environmental sensing, and homeland security. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an effective tool to offer the ability by virtue of its high sensitivity and rapid label-free signal detection as well as the availability of portable Raman spectrometers. Unfortunately, the practical utility of SERS is limited because it generally requires sample collection and preparation, namely, collecting a sample from an object of interest and placing the sample on top of a SERS substrate to perform a SERS measurement. In fact, not all analytes can satisfy this requirement because the sample collection and preparation process may be undesirable, laborious, difficult, dangerous, costly, or time-consuming. Here we introduce "Place & Play SERS" based on an ultrathin, flexible, stretchable, adhesive, biointegratable gold-deposited polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanomesh substrate that enables placing the substrate on top of an object of interest and performing a SERS measurement of the object by epi-excitation without the need for touching, destroying, and sampling it. Specifically, we characterized the sensitivity of the gold/PVA nanomesh substrate in the Place & Play SERS measurement scheme and then used the scheme to conduct SERS measurements of both wet and dry objects under nearly real-world conditions. To show the practical utility of Place & Play SERS, we demonstrated two examples of its application: food safety testing and forensic analysis. Our results firmly verified the new measurement scheme of SERS and are expected to extend the potential of SERS by opening up untapped applications of sensitive, real-time, in situ multiplex chemical analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasutaka Kitahama
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
- LucasLand, Co. Ltd, Tokyo 101-0052, Japan
| | | | - Hiroki Segawa
- Third Department of Forensic Science, National Research Institute of Police Science, Chiba 277-0882, Japan
| | - Machiko Marumi
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Ting-Hui Xiao
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
- LucasLand, Co. Ltd, Tokyo 101-0052, Japan
- Institute for Quantum Life Science, National Institute for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Kotaro Hiramatsu
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | | | - Keisuke Goda
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
- LucasLand, Co. Ltd, Tokyo 101-0052, Japan
- Institute for Quantum Life Science, National Institute for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
- Institute of Technological Sciences, Wuhan University, Hubei 430072, China
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
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12
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Kampasakali E, Nakas A, Mertzanidis D, Kokkini S, Assimopoulou AN, Christofilos D. μ-Raman Determination of Essential Oils' Constituents from Distillates and Leaf Glands of Origanum Plants. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28031221. [PMID: 36770888 PMCID: PMC9920943 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28031221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
A novel, inexpensive and simple experimental setup for collecting μ-Raman spectra of volatile liquids in very small quantities was developed. It takes advantage of capillary forces to detain minute volatile liquid volumes. Spectra of volatile and even scattering or absorbing media can be measured more effectively. The method is used to facilitate the collection of intensity-consistent Raman spectra from a series of reference compounds present in Origanum essential oils, in order to quantify their constituents by multiple linear regression. Wild grown Origanum plants, collected from five different regions in Greece and taxonomically identified as O. onites, O. vulgare subsp. hirtum and O. vulgare subsp. vulgare, were appropriately distilled to acquire their essential oils. Comparison of the Raman results with those from headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS GC-MS) confirmed the successful relative quantification of the most abundant essential oil constituents, highlighting the similarities and differences of the three Origanum taxa examined. Finally, it is demonstrated that directly measuring the leaf peltate glandular hairs yields exploitable results to identify the main components of the essential oil they contain, underlining the potential of in situ (field or industry) measurements utilizing microscope-equipped portable Raman spectrometers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elli Kampasakali
- School of Chemical Engineering & Physics Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Alexandros Nakas
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Natural Products Research Centre of Excellence (NatPro-AUTh), Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation-Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Mertzanidis
- Laboratory of Systematic Botany and Phytogeography, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Natural Products Research Centre of Excellence (NatPro-AUTh), Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation-Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Stella Kokkini
- Laboratory of Systematic Botany and Phytogeography, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Natural Products Research Centre of Excellence (NatPro-AUTh), Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation-Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Andreana N. Assimopoulou
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Natural Products Research Centre of Excellence (NatPro-AUTh), Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation-Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Christofilos
- School of Chemical Engineering & Physics Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Correspondence:
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Li Y, Suzuki A, Cheung CS, Gu Y, Kogou S, Liang H. A study of potential laser-induced degradation in remote standoff Raman spectroscopy for wall paintings. EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL PLUS 2022; 137:1102. [PMID: 36213053 PMCID: PMC9526390 DOI: 10.1140/epjp/s13360-022-03305-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
A mobile remote standoff Raman spectroscopy system operational at typical distances of 10 m was developed specifically for research of historical sites and wall paintings recently. Here we present an upgrade to that system informed by a thorough experimental investigation of the relevant laser-induced degradation issues. Reflectance spectroscopy as a more sensitive technique than Raman spectroscopy was used for monitoring and a new phenomenon of reversible alterations was detected in many paint samples at very low laser intensities of less than 1 W/cm2 when Raman measurements detected no changes. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the intensity threshold for safe operation was found to decrease significantly for larger incident irradiation area in the case of a vermilion oil paint sample. Damage threshold in intensity for each material needs to be determined for different spot sizes, which can be orders of magnitude lower for 1 mm spot size compared with micro-Raman. Results from this study is also relevant to portable Raman systems which use similarly large spot sizes. However, the larger spot size still generates more Raman photons overall under safe operation than micro-Raman systems. Continuous-wave (CW) lasers are found to be best suited to efficient, that is more Raman signal detected over a given measurement time, and safe Raman operation than ns-pulse lasers at the same wavelength. While the damage threshold in intensity for ns-pulse lasers is much higher than that of CW lasers, the pulse energy allowed in one pulse for safe operation is still too low to allow detection of Raman signal, and the need for multiple pulses makes pulse laser inefficient owing to the low repetition rate necessary to ensure adequate heat dissipation between pulses. The safety of the upgraded system was evaluated and found that no permanent laser-induced degradation was detected within 60 s of laser irradiation for any of the paint samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Li
- Imaging and Sensing for Archaeology, Art History and Conservation (ISAAC) Lab, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG11 8NS UK
| | - Amelia Suzuki
- Imaging and Sensing for Archaeology, Art History and Conservation (ISAAC) Lab, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG11 8NS UK
| | - Chi Shing Cheung
- Imaging and Sensing for Archaeology, Art History and Conservation (ISAAC) Lab, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG11 8NS UK
| | - Yuda Gu
- Imaging and Sensing for Archaeology, Art History and Conservation (ISAAC) Lab, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG11 8NS UK
| | - Sotiria Kogou
- Imaging and Sensing for Archaeology, Art History and Conservation (ISAAC) Lab, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG11 8NS UK
| | - Haida Liang
- Imaging and Sensing for Archaeology, Art History and Conservation (ISAAC) Lab, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG11 8NS UK
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Culka A, Jehlička J, Oren A, Rousaki A, Vandenabeele P. Fast outdoor screening and discrimination of carotenoids of halophilic microorganisms using miniaturized Raman spectrometers. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2022; 276:121156. [PMID: 35390753 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2022.121156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Eight miniaturized Raman spectrometers were used to perform a fast outdoor screening and discrimination of carotenoids of a series of halophilic and non-halophilic microorganisms on a set of eight lyophilized samples, each containing high concentrations of a specific dominant carotenoid pigment. Raman spectra were acquired using different excitations (532, 785, sequentially shifted excitation of 785 and 853, and 1064 nm), based on the model of each Raman spectrometer, in order to ascertain the feasibility of individual wavelengths. The wavenumber positions of diagnostic Raman bands of carotenoids were observed for the different carotenoid species. Characteristic carotenoid Raman bands of the pigment bacterioruberin were reported (using the 532 nm excitation) at 1504-1509 cm-1, salinixanthin at 1510-1513 cm-1, spirilloxanthin at 1509-1513 cm-1, decaprenoxanthin at 1519 cm-1, β-carotene at 1526 cm-1, and sarcinaxanthin at 1526-1528 cm-1. A 532 nm excitation consistently provided best results due to the significant resonance signal enhancement (both quantitative and qualitative carotenoid detection). Good results were also obtained using the sequentially shifted excitation combining two lasers in the near infrared spectral region, and similarly good results were acquired using a standard 1064 nm excitation. The least suitable was a 785 nm excitation, with the carotenoid Raman signal almost always weaker compared to major fluorescence signal arising from other types of pigments or biomolecules in the samples. A thorough light shielding was essential in order to acquire good quality data. This study shows that miniaturized Raman spectrometers, some even equipped with longer wavelength excitation, are able to detect different carotenoid pigments under non-laboratory conditions in a fast way, and discriminate between them, to a certain degree. The implications of this type of research are especially useful in astrobiology, where the searching, detection and discrimination of biomarkers such as carotenoids is receiving significant attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Culka
- Charles University, Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Albertov 6, 12843 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
| | - Jan Jehlička
- Charles University, Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Albertov 6, 12843 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Aharon Oren
- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Institute of Life Sciences, Edmond J. Safra Campus - Givat Ram, 9190401 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Anastasia Rousaki
- Ghent University, Department of Chemistry, Raman Spectroscopy Research Group, S-12, Krijgslaan 281, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peter Vandenabeele
- Ghent University, Department of Chemistry, Raman Spectroscopy Research Group, S-12, Krijgslaan 281, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Ghent University, Department of Archaeology, Archaeometry Research Group, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Vandenabeele P, Rousaki A. Developing Macro-Raman Mapping as a Tool for Studying the Pigment Distribution of Art Objects. Anal Chem 2021; 93:15390-15400. [PMID: 34767711 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c03197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Raman spectroscopy is a well-appreciated technique in cultural heritage research for its ability to obtain molecular information nondestructively. During Raman mapping experiments, advantage is taken of the excellent spatial resolution of the approach, allowing to visualize the spatial distribution of the molecules. In the current research, macro-Raman mapping is proposed, allowing us to map large areas of an artwork (typically tens or hundreds of square centimeters). Therefore, a new setup is made, using a commercially available mobile Raman spectrometer and fast translation stages. Moreover, the probe is equipped with a triangulator to measure the distance to the surface of the artwork and thus achieving accurate focusing of the Raman probe. Finally, the correct setup is guaranteed by using a calibration module that is designed to allow for spectral calibration and aligning all components of the probe. The use of the method is demonstrated by three cases, where different data processing techniques are illustrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Vandenabeele
- Department of Chemistry, Raman Spectroscopy Research Group, Ghent University, S-12, Krijgslaan 281, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Archaeology, Archaeometry Research Group, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Anastasia Rousaki
- Department of Chemistry, Raman Spectroscopy Research Group, Ghent University, S-12, Krijgslaan 281, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
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