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The use of the Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) method has enabled the elemental analysis of traditionally used medicinal plants in a specific region of Andhra Pradesh, India. These plants are frequently utilized for treating common ailments like diarrhea, jaundice, asthma, and leprosy. By using the PIXE method, the concentrations of constituent elements, including P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Br, Rb, and Sr, have been determined in selected medicinal plants. These findings provide a possible link to the therapeutic properties of the medicine, as the elemental concentrations have been found to be correlated with the curative capabilities of the plants. This study highlights the potential significance of trace elements in medicinal plants and their implications for treating various diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Garnets (62 individual stones) originating from the Migration Period cemeteries and hilltop settlements in Slovenia were analyzed by the combined PIXE/PIGE method for their chemical composition. Typologically, the analyzed stones may be classified as almandines originating from the sites in India, belonging to types I and II according to Calligaro. A smaller group of pyraldines intermediate between almandines and pyropes was also determined; identified as type III, their source is most likely in Sri Lanka. No garnets from Bohemia (Czech Republic) have been discovered, which may be related to important political changes in the 7th c. AD, induced by Slavic and Avaric migrations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A selected number of South Indian East Coastal natural beach sand samples were studied with the nuclear analytical and non-destructive Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) technique. Twenty three elements, including Sc, Zr, Ga, Br, Mo, Nb, Ce, La, and Dy, were identified in these beach sands and may be useful in interpreting the various geochemical conditions and the probable cause of their inceptions in the beach sand matrix. The PIXE technique is a powerful method for quickly determining the elemental concentration of a substance. A 3 MeV proton beam was employed to excite the beach sand samples. The chemical constituents of Ilmenite, Monazite, and Sillimanite beach sands from different parts of the Andhra Pradesh, India were analyzed. In the present article, the usefulness and versatility of the PIXE technique for research in geo-scientific methodology was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is the most important source of minerals for both human beings and animals. But at the same time, water is also a source of disease due to the contamination of various elements. Therefore, knowledge of the elemental content of water is important. In this work, water samples were collected from areas around Chandigarh and Bathinda district, Panjab, India. Proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and proton-induced gamma-ray emission (PIGE) techniques were used for the determination of heavy and light trace elements, respectively, in wide varieties of water samples. A large number of elements, namely , and were detected in the samples and results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out with the aim to determine the level of in the environment by analyzing the aerosol samples. In our experiment, the aerosol samples were collected from Chandigarh city which is also named as 'The City Beautiful'. Particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique developed at CCCM, Hyderabad has been used for the detection of trace elements in the aerosol samples [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out with the aim to determine if, orthodontic patients accumulate measurable concentration of Ni in blood or not, since the recent evidences shows the allergenic actions of Ni in various forms and orthodontic appliances have been reported to produce Ni allergy. In our experiment, the blood samples were taken before the insertion of appliance and at an interval of 6 months over a total time period of 18 months (four sets) from the Oral Health Department of Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India. In all the four sets of blood samples the common trace elements were detected viz. S, K, Ca, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn and Br. Our result shows the complete absence of Ni in the blood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have calculated the production cross-sections of continuous X-rays for commonly used thin polymer films on the basis of the theories of quasi-free electron bremsstrahlung (QFEB), secondary electron bremsstrahlung (SEB), atomic bremsstrahlung (AB) and nuclear bremsstrahlung (NB). These results are compared with that of experimental one. We found that SEB is the main contributing factor and the contribution of QFEB, AB and NB is negligible. This work would facilitate choice among available polymer materials and lay down well-defined standard data against which new candidates might be judged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The quantitative estimation of various trace element concentrations in medicinal plants is necessary for determining their effectiveness in treating various diseases and for understanding their pharmacological action. Elemental concentrations of some selected medicinal plants of north east India was measured by proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and proton induced γ-ray emission (PIGE) techniques. PIXE measurements were carried out using 2.4MeV collimated protons from the 3MV tandetron accelerator of NCCCM, Hyderabad (India) while the PIGE measurements were carried out using 3MeV protons from the same accelerator in the same laboratory. Accuracy and precision of the techniques were assured by analyzing certified reference materials in the same experimental conditions. Various elements of biological importance in man’s metabolism were found to be present in varying concentrations in the studied medicinal plants and no toxic heavy metals were detected. The concentration of the various elements in the medicinal plants and their role in treating various diseases are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The scope of this study was to determine the concentration and composition of atmospheric particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter < 10 μm (PM10) in the vicinity of coal-fired Ropar thermal power plant near Chandigarh, India. Two sampling sites, one inside the thermal plant and the other, outside the thermal plant were chosen. The elemental analysis was done using Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) technique. The elements detected at both the sites were common i.e. Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn however, their concentration vary at both the sampling sites. Also, Principal Component (PC) and Enrichment Factor (EF) analysis were done in order to identify the contributing elemental sources towards the particulate matter. Contributing sources to the elements were found not only the emission from the coal-fired thermal power plant but also from other activities like vehicular emissions, household cooking and natural soil dust etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Particle induced X-ray emission and particle induced γ-ray emission spectroscopic techniques have been carried out to analyse the elemental concentrations of human pigment gallstone samples from eastern region (Orissa) and southern region (Chennai) of India. It was observed that 18 minor/trace elements namely Na, Mg, Al, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br and Pb were present in the pigment gallstone samples of both the regions. Our study reveals that average concentration of all elements except Ni in south Indian pigment gallstone samples is higher than that of corresponding values in east Indian pigment gallstone samples whereas elements like Al, P, S, Cl and V did not show much variation between these two regions. Fourier transform infra-red analysis was carried out to identify the functional groups and the classification of the pigment type gallstones of both the regions. The thermal behaviour of pigment gallstones was carried out by thermogravimetry-derivative thermogravimetry analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) technique has been used to determine the trace elements present in fourteen representative human gallstone samples collected from eastern region (Orissa) and thirteen representative samples collected from southern region (Chennai) of India. PIXE irradiation of the samples has been carried out by using the 3 MV tandem type horizontal pelletron accelerator facility at Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar with proton beam of energy 3 MeV. In the present investigation, twenty one trace elements like S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Mo and Pb have been estimated in all the three types of gallstones viz. cholesterol stone, mixed stone and pigment stone. While sulphur in cholesterol stones in the eastern region was less than that of the southern region, sulphur was present as a minor element in the pigment stones of both the regions. Less concentration of copper in the gallstones from eastern region is another interesting observation. The lower values of copper in the patients of eastern region may be due to different types of food habits. The concentrations of all the elements in the southern region pigment stones have higher values than that of the eastern region. Moreover, the concentrations of Fe and Mo in cholesterol stone and pigment stone samples in southern region have also higher values than in eastern region. The current PIXE study is of its first kind in this eastern region of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal monitoring is one of the major concern of biological and bio-medical research. The Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) which is a multi elemental and non-destructive technique for trace element analysis has been set up at the Folded Tandem Ion accelerator (FOTIA) at BARC, Trombay, Mumbai, India. A few of the bioscience applications carried out at the Van de Graaff Laboratory using PIXE will be summarized in this presentation. Tea leaves obtained from the eastern region of India were analyzed by PIXE using 2.5 MeV protons. Trace elements such K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Ni, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb and Sr were present in varying concentration in the tea leaves. The soil analysis showed Ti, Y, Zr and Nb in addition to the elements shown in the leaves. Blood samples of children exposed to vehicular traffic exhaust were analyzed for its Pb content and it was seen that the concentrations of Pb in the blood of the children were high (6.0 μg/ml). Pb poisoning of air due to vehicular exhaust is a major concern and cause for air pollution leading to high blood lead levels in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the study of trace elemental analysis of ancient Indian coins, twenty-five coins belonging to medieval period (11th-14th century A.D.) and fifty-nine coins belonging to Kusanas (78-250 A.D.) from India have been analyzed using Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) technique. The elements S, Ca, Fe, Cu, Ag, Sn, Pb were detected in 14th-14th century A.D. coins while elements namely S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu. As and Zn were detected in most of the Kusanas coins. Based on the elemental analysis different hypotheses put forward in the earlier literature were examined. The presence of Pb determined in medieval period coins does not rule out the utilization of local source of silver extracted from argentiferous galena instead of the Faranial mines of Afghanistan as normally accepted. From the consistent concentration of Ag in these coins despite the change of Kingdoms, it is confirmed that beside the rulers the commercial communities had a great influence in the currency of medieval period. This is the first attempt where reasonable number of ancient coins belonging to different periods were analysed by modern non destructive multi-elemental technique such as PIXE and has put the importance of the elemental analysis of ancient Indian coins in the proper perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young stage neem leaf (Azadirachta indica) was collected at Thiruvallur district in Tamil Nadu, South India. Multi-elemental analysis of neem leaf was carried out using non-destructive techniques (NDT) of proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE, 2.5 MeV) which is one of the well-known surface chemical sophisticated analytical methods of ion beam analyses (IBA). From the emitted X-ray output of the target specimen specimen fingerprint multi-elements such as, aluminium (Al), silicon (Si), phosphorus (P), sulphur (S), chloride (Cl), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), titanium (Ti), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and strontium (Sr) are found to be present in the leaf in different ppm levels. Among the elements, silicon (Si, 42034 + 1198.0 ppm) and potassium (K, 28985 + 747.8 ppm) showed the highest concentration. Minor elements (Mn, Sr, Fe, Zn, Cu and Ti) are observed in the neem plant. The variation in elemental concentration in the leaf may be due to soil, water, etc. However, there are no toxic elements observed like arsenic and lead in the leaf. Further, though the presence of different medicinal values in the target specimen chemical multi-elements observed in ppm level. However, there are more chemical analysis to be required for the functionalization of active biomedical applications for these kinds of medicinal species.