Amounts Of Strontium Research Articles

Influence of Various Strontium Formulations (Ranelate, Citrate, and Chloride) on Bone Mineral Density, Morphology, and Microarchitecture: A Comparative Study in an Ovariectomized Female Mouse Model of Osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis stands out as a prevalent skeletal ailment, prompting exploration into potential treatments, including dietary strontium ion supplements. This study assessed the efficacy of supplementation of three strontium forms-strontium citrate (SrC), strontium ranelate (SrR), and strontium chloride (SrCl)-for enhancing bone structure in 50 female SWISS mice, aged seven weeks. In total, 40 mice underwent ovariectomy, while 10 underwent sham ovariectomy. Ovariectomized (OVX) mice were randomly assigned to the following groups: OVX (no supplementation), OVX + SrR, OVX + SrC, and OVX + SrCl, at concentrations equivalent to the molar amount of strontium. After 16 weeks, micro-CT examined trabeculae and cortical bones, and whole-bone strontium content was determined. Results confirm strontium administration increased bone tissue mineral density (TMD) and Sr content, with SrC exhibiting the weakest effect. Femur morphometry showed limited Sr impact, especially in the OVX + SrC group. This research highlights strontium's potential in bone health, emphasizing variations in efficacy among its forms.

Strontium Accumulations by Teucrium polium which Grows Naturally in Serpentine Soils

The study area is located in the Guleman region which hosts Turkey's most important chromite deposits and extensive serpentine soils. In this study, strontium uptake accumulations in the shoots and roots of the Teucrium polium plant growing on serpentine soils in the Guleman region were examined. In this context, 17 Teucrium polium plants growing in different locations of serpentine soils were collected together with their shoots, roots and soil, and then chemically analyzed for strontium. Chemical analyses were carried out in ICP-MS. On average, strontium values of 15.2 ppm in the soil, 26.4 in the root and 76.3 ppm in the shoots were detected. Strontium enrichment values in the soil, roots and shoots of this plant were determined as 1.8 for ECR (The enrichment coefficient for root), 5.3 for ECS (The enrichment coefficient for shoot) and 2.9 for TLF (Translocation factor). Results of this study show that the Teucrium polium plant accumulates significant amounts of strontium from the soil, both in the root and in the shoots. As a result, this plant can be used as a bioaccumulator plant, especially in the reclamation of strontium-polluted soils and the improvement of such areas.

Effect of Strontium-Substituted Calcium Phosphate Coatings Prepared by One-Step Electrodeposition at Different Temperatures on Corrosion Resistance and Biocompatibility of AZ31 Magnesium Alloys.

As potential degradable biomaterials, magnesium (Mg) alloys have development prospects in the field of orthopedic load-bearing, whereas the clinical application has encountered a bottleneck due to a series of problems caused by its rapid corrosion. In this study, strontium-substituted calcium phosphate (CaP) coatings with different structures were prepared on the surface of the Mg matrix by a simple one-step electrodeposition method at different temperatures, which enhanced the poor corrosion resistance of the Mg matrix. The coated sample prepared at 65 °C reduced the corrosion current density by 3 orders of magnitude and increased the impedance by nearly 2 orders of magnitude compared with bare Mg alloy, thanks to its dense fibrous structure similar to that of natural bones. Although the coating composition varies with different preparation temperatures, CaP, as an inorganic component similar to natural bone, has good cytocompatibility. Doping the right amount of strontium, which is a trace element in human bones, is beneficial to stimulate osteoblast differentiation, inhibit the activity of osteoclasts, and induce the formation of bone tissues. This provides a new option for modifying the Mg alloy with CaP coatings as a base.

Adsorption and safe immobilization of Sr ions in modified zeolite matrices

In the present study, an Iranian natural zeolite (Sabzevar region) was evaluated as a natural adsorbent for the elimination and immobilization of strontium ions from an aqueous solution. For improving the adsorption efficiency of strontium ion, the zeolite surface was modified by the Schiff base ligand of bis (2-hydroxybenzaldehyde)1,2-diaminoethane (H2L). The natural zeolite and zeolite/H2L were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), BET and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Analysis of the natural zeolite showed that the zeolite is from the type of clinoptilolite and has a crystalline structure with the specific surface area 29.74 m2/g. The results showed that strontium adsorption onto modified zeolite increases compared to unmodified zeolite from 64.5% to 97.2% (at pH = 6). The effective parameters pH, adsorbent dosage, initial concentration of strontium ions, contact time, temperature, and interfering ions, were studied and optimized. The maximum adsorption efficiency was confirmed by modified zeolite and found to be 97.5% after 60 min of equilibrium time at pH 6, 0.05g as adsorbent dosage, and at 25 °C. Adsorption of strontium was confirmed by Langmuir model with maximum adsorption capacity of 10.31 mg/g. Kinetic studies showed that the adsorption of strontium ions on the adsorbent follows pseudo-second-order (PSO) model. Also, the thermodynamics of the adsorption process indicated that the adsorption of strontium on zeolite/H2L is an endothermic and spontaneous process, and the adsorption mechanism is a combination of physical and chemical adsorption. Finally, to manage the secondary waste generated from the adsorption process, strontium ions were immobilized in a zeolite structure. The results showed that the stabilization is well done with the thermal preparation process. After thermal treatment at 25–900 °C, modified zeolite satisfactorily retains strontium during back-exchange tests with NaCl solution. According to the results, the amount of strontium released from the adsorbent phase decreases from 52.6 to 1.6% with increasing heat treatment temperature.

Effect of Strontium Modification in Mg-Al Mixed Oxide Catalysts on Product Distribution toward Catalytic Reaction of Ethanol.

The aim of this research was to examine the effect of strontium content in the MgAlO catalyst for the catalytic ethanol reaction on the product distribution. The structure of the catalysts and the actual amount of strontium on the catalysts were verified using XRD and ICP techniques, respectively. The acid and basic strength characteristics of catalysts were examined using NH3-TPD and CO2-TPD techniques, respectively. The strontium content was found to influence the textural properties and the acidic and basic characteristics of the catalysts, leading to differences in product selectivity and ethanol conversion. The MgAlO catalyst with 1.9 wt % strontium provided the maximum ethylene and butanol selectivity, probably due to the presence of appropriate medium acidic and strong basic sites. All catalysts can efficiently produce ethylene by a dehydration reaction and acetaldehyde by a dehydrogenation reaction. Acetaldehyde selectivity was dominant with increased strontium loading.

Application of Strontium-Doped Bismuth Ferrate in Lithium-Sulfur Battery Cathode

The modification of high-performance lithium-sulfur battery cathode have been extensively studied. Suppressing the shuttle effect of polysulfide, solving the volume expansion of sulfur and the poor electrical conductivity of sulfur are the main directions for scientists to modify the cathode. Here we prepared bismuth ferrate powder doped with different molecular percentages of strontium by sol-gel method. Compared with the unmodified cell, the capacity and cycle stability were improved by adding as-prepared material to the cathode, which indicates that bismuth ferrate doped with certain amount of strontium plays a positive role in the cathode material modification.

The Role of the Ferroelectric Polarization in the Enhancement of the Photocatalytic Response of Copper-Doped Graphene Oxide-TiO2 Nanotubes through the Addition of Strontium.

To evaluate the potential role of in situ formed Sr-Ti-O species as a ferroelectric component able to enhance the photocatalytic properties of an adjacent TiO2 semiconductor, Cu-doped/graphene oxide (GO)/TiO2 nanotubes (TiNTs) composites (with 0.5 wt % Cu and 1.0 wt % GO) have been synthesized while progressive amounts of strontium (up to 1.0 wt %) were incorporated at the surface of the composite through incipient wetness impregnation followed by post-thermal treatment at 400 °C. The different resulting photocatalytic systems were then first deeply characterized by means of N2 adsorption-desorption measurements, X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis diffuse reflectance (UV-vis DR), Raman and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and Z-mapping). In a second step, optimization of the kinetic response of the Sr-containing composites was performed for the formic acid photodegradation under UV irradiation. The Sr-containing Cu/GO/TiNT composites were then fully characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) for their dielectric properties showing clearly the implication of polarization induced by the Sr addition onto the stabilization of photogenerated charges. Finally, a perfect correlation between the photocatalytic kinetic evaluation and dielectric properties undoubtedly emphasizes the role of ferroelectric polarization as a very valuable approach to enhance the photocatalytic properties in an adjacent semiconductor.

Evaluation of Strontium Interference in Calcium Measurement Procedures and Content in Supplements as Measured by ICP-MS.

Bone health supplements containing strontium are available without prescription, however, the effects of strontium interference on clinical laboratory calcium measurement procedures are unknown. To evaluate strontium interference on total calcium measurements, plasma pools with exogenously added strontium were measured by 3 total calcium measurement procedures. For ionized calcium measurements, whole blood pools prepared with exogenously added strontium were measured by 2 ionized calcium measurement procedures. An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry assay (ICP-MS) was validated for research measurements of strontium content in commercially available supplements. Exogenous strontium addition to plasma caused positive bias for total calcium measurements. Strontium concentrations of 1.0 mg/dL (0.114 mmol/L), 2.5 mg/dL (0.284 mmol/L), and 5.0 mg/Dl (0.568 mmol/L) resulted in mean biases of 1.9% to 3.5%, 4.9% to 9.0%, and 10.8% to 19.2%, respectively, for total calcium measurement procedures. Biases for ionized calcium measurements were less than 4.5% for a strontium concentration of 5.0 mg/dL (0.568 mmol/L). An in-house-developed ICP-MS assay for strontium in commercially available supplements exhibited within-laboratory and within-run coefficients of variation of less than 3%, and a linear response was obtained over the assay analytical measurement range of 10 to 100 000 ng/mL (0.0001 to 1.141 mmol/L). Strontium recovery for the ICP-MS assay was 97.1% to 105.3%. The largest amount of strontium measured in dietary supplements was 395 mg in a 1054 mg tablet. Some dietary supplements contain larger amounts of strontium than indicated on the product label. High concentrations of strontium may cause significant interference for total calcium measurement procedures, but ionized calcium measurement procedures are not significantly affected.

Investigating the thermal stability of nanocrystalline aluminum-lithium alloy by combining different mechanisms: Reinforcing with graphene and alloying with Sr

Interest in nanocrystalline (nc) aluminum-lithium (Al-Li) alloys is motivated by the demand for lightweight and high-performance materials for light-weighting applications and superior fuel consumption. Nonetheless, nc metals, including Al are thermally unstable, which hinders their technological applications. In this study, we explore the effect of combining dilute amounts of strontium (1.0 at% Sr) and graphene nanoplatelets (1.0 wt% GNPs) to investigate the thermal stability of a nc Al-Li alloy. Ball milling was used to prepare four samples: Al-Li, Al-Li-Sr, Al-Li-GNPs, and Al-Li-Sr-GNPs, to systematically investigate the role of each added element. Isothermal annealing was conducted at different temperatures to investigate the thermal stability. Despite maintaining a nanometric grain size and high hardness of 70 nm and 1.1 GPa, respectively, after annealing at 773 K for 1 h, the Al-Li-Sr-GNPs sample suffered the most significant grain growth and the highest drop in hardness when compared to the Al-Li-Sr and Al-Li-GNPs samples. Microstructural investigations suggested that competing effects resulting from the spontaneous reaction of both Sr and GNPs with Al at higher temperatures resulted in a declining thermal stability efficiency. The formation and distribution of the rod-like Al 4 C 3 phase at the grain boundaries stood in the way of proper Sr diffusion after annealing and caused the agglomeration of the Al 4 Sr phase. • The thermal stability of nc Al-Li alloy was studied through Sr and GNPs additions. • The Al 4 Sr and Al 4 C 3 formed at the GBs contributed to the improved thermal stability. • Rod-like Al 4 C 3 formed at the grain boundaries prevented the proper Sr segregation. • Agglomeration of the Al 4 Sr resulted in a declined thermal stability efficiency.

Doping lanthanum manganites particles with strontium-calcium for application in hyperthermia

The use of materials capable of controlling the threshold temperature required in hyperthermia, as well as meeting desired requirements in biomedical applications is still a challenge. In the present study, strontium doped calcium lanthanum manganites La0.7Ca0.3-xSrxMnO3 (x=0, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2) were synthesized by co-precipitation method. Vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) was used to study the effect of change Ca-Sr ratio on magnetic properties. The Curie temperature (Tc) increases from 272 to 315 K as the concentration increases from x=0 to x=0.2 respectively. Hence the strontium amount plays an important role in achieving the desired Tc . X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to identify rhombohedral structure and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize the cubic morphology and around 800 nm as particles size.

Structural evolution-enabled BiFeO3 modulated by strontium doping with enhanced dielectric, optical and superparamagnetic properties by a modified sol-gel method

Multiferroic (BFO) nanoparticles doped with strontium with the general formula Bi1–x Sr x FeO3 (x = 0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7) were synthesized using a modified sol-gel auto-combustion process. The structural, electrical, optical, and magnetic properties of the samples are discussed. The structural analysis, carried out using the x-ray powder diffraction technique, shows a structural transition from rhombohedral (R-3c) to cubic (Pm-3m) for the doping amount of strontium (Sr) equal to x = 0.3. Morphological analysis of the prepared samples were carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Frequency-dependent dielectric constant and ac conductivity were studied. The doped samples, with improved dielectric properties, can be used to fabricate different optoelectronic devices. Strong dielectric dispersion and broad relaxation were exhibited by all the samples. Cole–Cole plots were employed as an effective tool to study the dispersion parameters, namely, the optical dielectric constant, static dielectric constant, relaxation time, and spreading factor. The activation energy was calculated from the relaxation peaks and Cole–Cole plots, which were found to be compatible with each other. The bandgap of the samples was calculated using diffuse reflectance spectral (DRS) analysis. Sharp and strong photoluminescence in the IR region was observed in the samples, similar to ZnO, which was reported for the first time. Room-temperature and low-temperature magnetization studies point towards the superparamagnetic nature of the samples, with an improvement in magnetic properties with doping. The antiferromagnetic behavior of bulk bismuth ferrite transforms to superparamagnetic in nature for both pure and Sr-substituted bismuth ferrite nanoparticles due to the close dimensions of crystallite size with magnetic domains leading to the break-down of the frustrated spin cycloidal moment.

Effect of strontium on microstructure, mechanical, and biological responses of Mg–Al–Zn–Sr alloys

In the present study, Mg alloys were prepared with different strontium contents and investigated for applications as resorbable implants (screws, plates, stents etc.). Microstructural characterisation and phase analysis were performed by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Alloy with 0.5 wt-% strontium results in a microstructure with fine grains (179 ± 22 µm) and the highest second phase precipitates (area-fraction ∼1.55%). The immersion and electrochemical measurements were performed at different times in Hanks’ solution. The corrosion rate decreased with increasing strontium amount owing to precipitate barrier and protective corrosion products. In vitro biocompatibility test was carried out by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. The cell viability decreases with an increase in strontium content owing to presumably higher fraction of the Mg17Sr2 phase.

Carboxymethyl carrageenan immobilized on 3D-printed polycaprolactone scaffold for the adsorption of calcium phosphate/strontium phosphate adapted to bone regeneration

Three dimensional (3D) substrates based on natural and synthetic polymers enhance the osteogenic and mechanical properties of the bone tissue engineering scaffolds. Here, a novel bioactive composite scaffolds from polycaprolactone /kappa-carrageenan were developed for bone regeneration applications. 3D PCL scaffolds were fabricated by 3D printing method followed by coating with carboxymethyl kappa-carrageenan. This organic film was used to create calcium and strontium phosphate layers via a modified alternate soaking process in CaCl 2 /SrCl 2 and Na2HPO4 solutions in which calcium ions were replaced by strontium, with different amounts of strontium in the solutions. Various characterization techniques were executed to analyze the effects of strontium ion on the scaffold properties. The morphological results demonstrated the highly porous with interconnected pores and uniform pore sizes scaffolds. It was indicated that the highest crystallinity and compressive strength were obtained when 100% CaCl2 was replaced by SrCl2 in the solution (P-C-Sr). Incorporation of Sr onto the structure increased the degradation rate of the scaffolds. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) culture on the scaffolds showed that Sr effectively improved attachment and viability of the MSCs and accelerated osteogenic differentiation as revealed by Alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium content and Real Time-Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays.

Effect of SrO and ZnO on Densification and in Vitro Behaviors of P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>-CaO-Na<sub>2</sub>O-SiO<sub>2</sub>-TiO<sub>2</sub> Bioactive Glass-Ceramics

Phosphate based-glass ceramics in the system of P2O5-CaO-Na2O-SiO2-TiO2 were obtained by the sintering method. For evaluating the effect of strontium and zinc, different amounts of these elements were doped in the parent glass instead of calcium oxide. Sintering behavior of the glasses was evaluated through the measurement of bulk density, liquid absorption, and open porosity percentages. Based on the results, 600 °C was determined as the optimum sintering temperature. Based on the X-Ray diffractometry, calcium pyrophosphate was precipitated during the sintering process as the main crystallized phase. It is worth noting that changing the parent glass composition led to its phase transformation. Variation in the pH and ion concentration in the simulated body fluid as well as weight loss percentages of the samples were considered to evaluate the dissolution behavior of the samples. The in vitro tests showed that increasing the amount of strontium and zinc intensified the dissolution rate. According to scanning electron micrographs, hydroxyapatite nuclei precipitated on the surfaces of the samples after three days of simulated body fluid (SBF) soaking; but, they were dissolved in the solution after 28 days due to the dissolution of the substrate. Some residues of the grown apatite-like layer were observed on the surface of the composition when 25 and 2.5 molar percent of calcium were substituted for strontium and zinc, respectively.

Inhibition of Carbide Growth by Sr in High-Alloyed White Cast Iron.

Chromium cast irons have gained a well-settled position among wear-resistant materials where a low manufacturing cost is one of the key factors. The wear properties of these alloys are commonly improved by the addition of carbide-forming inoculating elements such as Ti, V, B, etc., allowing the formation of underlays for the precipitation of both M7C3 carbides and austenite. On the other hand, Sr may work as a surface-active element that adsorbs on the surface of the growing crystal, inhibiting its growth. This mechanism may support the M7C3 nucleation process. The experiment was conducted on near-eutectic chromium cast irons with 20% of Cr and 2.5–3% of C. Different amounts of strontium were used as the microstructure modifier. The improvement of carbides’ stereological parameters and collocation resulted in the improvement in functional properties—wear resistance and impact strength without a significant increase in hardness as well as a decrease in carbide phase. Two types of wear studies with a modified pin-on-disc method and tests in reciprocating motion of samples in the metal-mineral system were performed. The results showed that addition modification with Sr can increase the impact strength of the alloy. EDS analysis of the samples provided results similar to hypoeutectic Al-Si alloys modified with strontium.

Thermally Controlled Activation and Passivation of Surface Chemistry and Oxygen-Exchange Kinetics on a Perovskite Oxide

The state-of-the-art oxygen electrode materials used in solid oxide cells at 600–800 °C can deteriorate by gradual passivation of their surfaces related to changes in the surface chemistry. We have recently observed the unexpected recovery of the oxygen-exchange activity on La0.6Sr0.4FeO3 after short-term exposure to high temperatures; a 10 h-long thermal treatment at above 800 °C resulted in a 40-fold increase in the oxygen-exchange coefficient, kchem, from 1 × 10–5 to 4 × 10–4 cm/s. The present work addresses the underlying mechanism of this improvement by investigating the chemical and morphological changes at the surface with respect to thermal history. Using repeated sequences of 10 h-long thermal treatments at 1000 °C over weeks-long aging at around 650 °C, we have probed the oxygen-exchange kinetics and surface chemistry concurrently by electrical conductivity relaxation and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The oxygen-exchange coefficient decreases with aging at 650 °C following Avrami-type kinetics but sharply increases after each high-temperature treatment. An increased amount of strontium [40% cation fraction; XSr/(XLa + XSr + XFe)] is found on the surface of all thermally treated samples (compared to the bulk nominal 20%). Hence, the passivation/reactivation is not due to the total Sr enrichment as such. By XPS, two different states of Sr are observed on the surface (labeled “lattice-bound” and “secondary phase”). The relative amounts in these two phases vary with time, differently at 650 °C versus 1000 °C. The amount of “lattice-bound Sr” decreases and the amount of “secondary phase Sr” increases with aging at 650 °C and the opposite at 1000 °C. We show that it is the Sr in the secondary phases, rather than the total amount, which is the main culprit for performance degradation. The findings are further supported by the observations of morphological changes on the surface in the form of SrO, SrCO3, and SrSO4 precipitates and layers. Decomposition of secondary Sr phases at 1000 °C and simultaneous dissolution of Sr back in a perovskite lattice rejuvenate the surface and lead to a significant increase in exchange kinetics.

Acellular bioactivity and drug delivery of new strontium doped bioactive glasses prepared through a hydrothermal process.

This work aims to study the kinetics of apatite layer formation on the surface of strontium doped binary bioactive glasses (BG: 63S37C) prepared for the first time by a hydrothermal process and evaluate their potential for drug loading and release using ibuprofen (IBU) as an anti-inflammatory drug vector. First, the binary glass 63S37C was doped with various amounts of strontium, from 0.2 to 1 mol%. Subsequently, the amorphous state of the samples and the microstructure were assessed by TGA, XRD, FTIR, ICP-AES, and SEM-EDS. Next, the in vitro bioactivity was evaluated by following the surface morphology and composition changes of soaked samples for up to 14 days at 37 °C in simulated bodily fluid (SBF). Finally, SEM-EDS spectroscopy showed clearly the appearance of needle-shaped apatite on amorphous glass substrates at the earlier stages of immersion for bioglasses doped with strontium. These findings are also confirmed with XRD and FTIR analysis. Furthermore, 63S37C BG proved that the drug release increased with increasing strontium content. Altogether, this novel class of bioactive glasses may be considered to have a promising future for biomedical applications.

Production of Very Light Elements and Strontium in the Early Ejecta of Neutron Star Mergers

Abstract We study the production of very light elements (Z < 20) in the dynamical and spiral-wave wind ejecta of binary neutron star mergers by combining detailed nucleosynthesis calculations with the outcome of numerical relativity merger simulations. All our models are targeted to GW170817 and include neutrino radiation. We explore different finite-temperature, composition-dependent nuclear equations of state, and binary mass ratios, and find that hydrogen and helium are the most abundant light elements. For both elements, the decay of free neutrons is the driving nuclear reaction. In particular, ∼0.5–2 × 10−6 M ⊙ of hydrogen are produced in the fast expanding tail of the dynamical ejecta, while ∼1.5–11 × 10−6 M ⊙ of helium are synthesized in the bulk of the dynamical ejecta, usually in association with heavy r-process elements. By computing synthetic spectra, we find that the possibility of detecting hydrogen and helium features in kilonova spectra is very unlikely for fiducial masses and luminosities, even when including nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium effects. The latter could be crucial to observe helium lines a few days after merger for faint kilonovae or for luminous kilonovae ejecting large masses of helium. Finally, we compute the amount of strontium synthesized in the dynamical and spiral-wave wind ejecta, and find that it is consistent with (or even larger than, in the case of a long-lived remnant) the one required to explain early spectral features in the kilonova of GW170817.

Strontium in barium sulphate as a discriminating factor in the forensic analysis of tool paint by SEM/EDS

In the context of forensic tool paint analysis, the development of analytical strategies to distinguish between different tools is of great interest in order to form a better opinion on whether or not a trace of paint seized at a crime scene originates from a tool found, for example, during a search of a house. A study was therefore conducted on the potential of using X-ray mapping to discriminate red tools that are not otherwise distinguished by standard analytical techniques (i.e. optical microscopy, infra-red spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy). In this study, the presence of trace amounts of strontium – revealed by X-ray mapping – in the main mineral filler, namely barium sulphate, allowed the discrimination of different tools using a statistical approach. This study is one example among others of the potential of X-ray mapping for a better characterisation of tool paints in a forensic context.

Biological and Geochemical Studies of Urinary Tract Stones in Lorestan Province

Mineralogy studies can help understand the interactions of geographical, environmental, and geological factors. Considering frequent occurrence of urinary tract stones in the south and west of Iran, the present paper examines trace elements, like heavy metals, in 53 urine stone samples collected from patients in Lorestan Province. It investigates the mineralogy of the stones, using X-ray diffraction. The samples are then classified into five mineral groups (calcium oxalate, urate, cysteine, calcium oxalate-urate, and calcium oxalate/phosphate). Results from this analysis are confirmed by SEM images, showing the crystalline form of the mineral phases. The microscopic studies show that only the mineral group of calcium oxalate (whewellite) could be detected in thin sections, prepared from urinary tract stone samples. The main and trace elements in each group are determined through ICP-MS method with the results showing that calcium is the most abundant substance in urinary tract stones, compared to other elements. This is caused by the role of calcium in most basic functions of cell metabolism. The correlation between magnesium and strontium is 0.64, originated from the placement of high amounts of strontium in calcium oxalate minerals. The positive correlation between sodium and calcium also indicates that sodium is replaced by calcium due to the similarity of the ionic radius in the crystal structure. Results from this study can help us find the causes behind the frequent occurrence of urinary tract stones in Lorestan Province.