Glass Ware Research Articles

Chemical analysis of fragments of glass and ceramic ware from Tycho Brahe’s laboratory at Uraniborg on the island of Ven (Sweden)

In addition to his astronomical observations the famous Renaissance astronomer Tycho Brahe (1546–1601) was known also for his interest in alchemy. He equipped his castle Uraniborg on the island of Ven with a state-of-the-art alchemical laboratory when it was erected around 1580. After Brahe’s death Uraniborg was demolished upon a royal decree from 1601, a process which was completed around 1650. In the present study we have analysed four glass shards and one ceramic shard most likely from the alchemical laboratory and retrieved during an archaeological excavation in 1988–90. Cross sections of the shards have been analysed for 31 trace elements by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma with Mass Spectrometry with the aim of detecting any traces of the chemical substances on the inside or outside of the shards used in the laboratory. Four of the elements found in excess on the exterior surfaces of the shards, Cu, Sb, Au, and Hg, are in accordance with the reconstructed recipes of the three Paracelsian medicines for which Brahe was famous—Medicamenta tria. This is the first experimental data casting light on the alchemical experiments that took place at Uraniborg 1580–1599.

Стеклянные сосуды из раскопок Алмалыкского могильника

The article discusses the glass vessels found during the excavations of the cemetery in Almalyk-dere ravine at the north-eastern slope of Mangup mountain. As the cemetery of Almalyk was plundered two times, in antiquity and in the late twentieth and early twenty-first century, its graves contained almost no glass vessels in situ, and the overwhelming majority of the finds were uncovered in the soil secondary deposited by the looters. The forms of the vessels comprise of the pitchers, tumblers/cups, dishes, bowls, and open-type vessels tentatively called cups. Some of the items were documented as a few fragments; such cases mark only that the glass ware was among the grave goods in this or that burial structure. Almost all of the finds under study originate from the assemblages dating to the second half/late fourth to the first half of the sixth century. Most glassware forms are rather typical of the Late Roman / Early Mediaeval Period. Most often, glass vessels occurred in burial vaults within supposed sets of funerary utensils along with red-slip and hand-made vessels. Although most of the burial vaults and undercut graves in the cemetery of Almalyk were plundered, one can trace the use of glass vessels as grave goods as late as the sixth century. The later assemblages excavated at the cemetery of Almalyk so far do not contain any glassware.

Plastic used in in vitro fertilization procedures induces massive placental gene expression alterations

The exposure to plastic derivatives during human life is deleterious. Infants conceived using ART (IVF or ICSI) have twice as many risks of major birth defects compared to naturally conceived infants. Could plastic ware used during ART trigger defects in the fetal development? Three groups of blastocysts were transferred to pseudopregnant mice. One was obtained after IVF and embryo development in plastic ware, the second in glass ware. The third, was obtained invivo by natural mating. On day 16.5 of pregnancy, females were sacrificed and fetal organs collected for gene expression analysis. Fetal sex was determined by RT-PCR. RNA was extracted from a pool of five placental or brain samples coming from at least two litters from the same group and analyzed by hybridisation onto the mouse Affymetrix 430.2.0 GeneChips, confirmed by RT-qPCR for 22 genes. This study highlights a major impact of plastic ware on placental gene expression (1121 significantly deregulated genes), while glassware was much closer to invivo offspring (only 200 significantly deregulated genes). Gene Ontology indicated that the modified placental genes were mostly involved in stress, inflammation and detoxification. A sex specific analysis revealed in addition a more drastic effect on female than male placentas. In the brains, whatever the comparison, less than 50 genes were found deregulated. Embryos incubated in plastic ware resulted in pregnancy with massive alterations of placental gene expression profile in concerted biological functions. There were no obvious effects on the brains. Besides other effects, this suggests that plastic ware in ART could be a cause of the increased level of pregnancy disorders observed recurrently in ART pregnancies. This study was funded by two grants from the Agence de la Biomedecine in 2017 and 2019.

Archaeological Perspectives on Contacts between Cairo and Eastern Ethiopia in the 12th to 15th Centuries

Abstract A sustained relationship between Cairo, Egypt more broadly, and eastern Ethiopia appears to have existed, particularly in the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods. In the general absence of historical sources, it is archaeology that provides primary insight into how and why this relationship was maintained, particularly over the twelfth to thirteenth centuries. This is considered through archaeological data from the trading entrepot of Harlaa with particular reference to coins, glass wares, ceramics, bread/ textile stamps, marine shell, and jewellery moulds. The inferences that can be drawn from these regarding trade routes and markets are assessed. Finally, the Egyptian role in the decline of Harlaa and its replacement by Harar in the late fifteenth century are considered.

Glass ware of the “Aldrevandin Group” from excavations in Veliky Novgorod

Glass ware of the “Aldrevandin Group” from excavations in Veliky Novgorod

2017 Excavation report of rabat cemetery in Boysun, Uzbekistan

In 2017, the Joint Central Asia Archaeological Team of China and Uzbekistan conducted excavation in the Cemetery No.1 on the north of Rabat Village. The excavation recovered 52 burials, of which 37 were earthen cave burials with sideway chamber, 11 were vertical earthen shaft pit burials, and four had unidentifiable forms. The burial occupants were mostly in extended supine position heading north, and the grave goods unearthed from these burials included pottery wares, bronzes, iron objects, stone implements, glass wares, etc. The burial structures and artifacts unearthed from these burials all had unique characteristics compared to their counterparts found in the nearby areas, and the date of this cemetery is from the end of the 2nd century BC to the early 1st century AD. It would be the remains of the Da Yuezhi (Greater Yuezhi) people and could be named as Yuezhi Culture. The excavation of this cemetery provided important data for the archaeological exploration of the Greater Yuezhi people.

‘Polish-Lithuanian’ archaeological materials from the excavations of the town of Tara

In this article, the authors analyse materials from the excavations of the Tara fortress (Omsk Region, Wes-tern Siberia), founded in 1594 by Prince Andrei Yeletsky and functioned as the main outpost of the Russians in the Middle Irtysh region to counter Khan Kuchum, the Kuchumovichs, and then the newly-arrived population from Dzungaria and Kazakhstan, until construction of the Omsk fortress in 1716. The aim of this research is to identify amongst the finds the articles of Polish-Lithuanian origin, in outward appearance similar to Russian ones. Having studied the collections formed during the excavations of the fortress in 2007–2020, the authors came to the con-clusion that such items are definitely represented by the signet rings with nobility coats of arms, coins, and bap-tismal crosses made according to the Catholic canon. Potentially, Polish-Lithuanian origin could be assigned to some types of fabrics and leather goods, such as a travel compass case with images of French fleur-de-lis, some types of shoes, and handgun holsters. The presence of Venetian glass ware and plinth bricks in the layers of the 17th c., according to the authors, is also associated with the arrival in Tara of the population that had previously resided in the territory of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth or on the western borders of Muscovy. The owners of these items ended up in Tara (and in Western Siberia) because they were taken prisoners or sided with the Rus-sians during the Russian-Polish wars. Over time, they formed a special category of service people called ‘Lithuania’. This is evidenced by numerous written sources. The basis for this conclusion is given by particular characteristics of Tara's trade relations established, primarily, with China, Lesser and Greater Bukharia, and the Uzbek Khanate, i.e., with the south in the 17th c., from where Chinese porcelain, silk and cotton fabrics, and some types of smo-king pipes came to Tara. At that time, weapons, bread, coarse fabrics, money for salaries of the servicemen of the Siberian garrisons, and cheap beads were imported to Tara from the west through Kazan, Kungur, and Lozva. In the 18th c., the main trade of the Russians began to concentrate in Troitskosavsk (Kyakhta since 1934) on the border with Mongolia, from where tea, silk, and porcelain were exported, whereas a flow of Russian-made goods, as well as European wines, sugar, some species of nuts, and spices, was established through Kazan into Siberia. Instead of ’Lithuania’, Germans started coming to Siberia. In the 19th c., Poles reappeared en masse in Western Siberia. However, those were no longer residents of Lithuania and Western Russian principalities, but ethnic Poles exiled to Siberia for participation in anti-Russian uprisings.

BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC PRODUCTION FROM POLYHYDROXYBUTYRATE(PHB) PRODUCING BACTERIA AND ITS IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT.

Plastic materials have been used in various ways such as packaging material, glass wares, certain parts of instruments of various grades, many more. As plastic products are not easily decomposed and accumulate in environment. This has created an adverse effect on our ecosystem. Bioplastics are best alternative to overcome these issues and reduce damages in ecosystem. Bioplastics are easily and speedily degrade under natural environmental conditions. Polyhydroxybutyrate or PHB is a bioplastic, one of the best natural polymer and alternative of synthetic plastic material. Bioplastic are comparative more flexible to convert into various forms also. Normally, it is a lipid reserve material produce in adverse or under stress conditions and stored within the cell wall of micro-organisms. Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a natural biopolymer produce by wide range of microbes which is a storage granule used by microbes as an energy as well as carbon source.this microbes includes from extremophiles to mesophiles. The objective of our work was to isolate potential PHB producing bacteria using agro-residues as carbon sources within natural environment conditions. This work describes the understanding of microbes that are involved in the degradation of both natural and synthetic polymers.Also to contribute in green environment by providing eco- friendly product.

The tradition of facet-cut bowls from Pannonia: style, distribution and chemical composition

The method of facet-cutting was invented in the 1st century A.D. The craftsmen began to create zoned facet-cut decoration to arrange the facets in horizontal zones divided by linear grooves mostly in Isings 96 bowl in the second half of 2nd century and first half of 3rd century A.D. The western part of the Roman Empire is emphasized in production. Above all, we need to highlight the Rhine region (perhaps at Cologne), and Pannonia as production sites from which we now publish chemical compositions of this type for the first time. The existence of workshops at Dura Europos and Tanais is uncertain in the eastern part of the empire. Facet-cut vessels often appear also southern Germany, Bavaria. There are also rich places in Northern Italy as Bresca for example, and also known in France and Great Britain, but not in big quantities. The archaeometric study revealed that the chemical compositions of facet-cut bowls from Brigetio and Intercisa are the same, which indicates that they were made of the same raw glass. The appearance of another high-quality glass ware, the snake-thread beakers, coincided both in time and place in Pannonia with the facet-cut bowls. Therefore, we wondered how similar the composition of the base glass was and whether a further relationship could be assumed between them in terms of production. Interestingly, the chemical compositions of these two types are partly identical (Sb-decolourized facet-cut bowls and snake-thread beakers) and partly different (the two Mn-decolourized snake-thread beakers). The appearance of the Mn-decolourized objects needs further investigation.

Рятівні археологічні дослідження у Краківському передмісті Львова

Results of rescuing archeological researches carried out by the expedition of SRC “Rescuing archaeological service” of IA of NAS of Ukraine led by N. Voitovych on the territory of building of private medical centre are presented at the article. During field season of 2013 archeological researches in Pidmurna Street, 5 were focused on the southern part of examined locality, where trench 2 with an area of 26.2 м² was dug. Through archeological researches remains of the foundation of Austrian building was discovered and also part of interior of basement (stone pavement) was found. In addition, wooden construction of residential use was discovered. It was destroyed in a fire in the second half of XVII century. A significant amount of mobile material in a good taphonomic condition was recorded in the infill of the building. It consisted of ceramic, glass and metal ware, tiles, metal products (stirrups, coins, crossbow arrowhead). At the southern wall of the trench, a cluster of wood was discovered, which served as a strengthening of the slope to prevent falling. The last one can be dated back to XVII–XVIII centuries. Another wooden construction was found in the cultural layers of XV–XVI centuries. It was also discovered anthropogenic layers that can be dated back from VIII century B.C. to XVIII–XIX centuries A. D. inclusively. Archaeological material, dated back from VIII century B.C. to XVIII century A. D. inclusively was found in the trench. It is established that the bedrock was found on the depth of 4.3–4.9 m, with a decrease to the north-eastern direction. A significant amount of mobile material was collected. The largest number of finds is represented by artifacts from Late Middle Ages (ceramic, glass and wooden ware, building ceramics, leather footwear, products made of metal), which indicates that population of the former Old Rus' suburbs not finished after the capture of Lviv by Kazimierz III and relocation of the city inside the walls, but on the contrary – obtained a new momentum to its further development, this time as a Krakow suburb of Lviv. Key words: Lviv, Pidmurna Street, archeological researches, wooden construction, ceramic ware, leather footwear, metal products.

RECYCLING ROMAN GLASS TO GLAZE PARTHIAN POTTERY

Alkaline glazes were first used on clay-based ceramics in Mesopotamia around 1500 B.C., at the same time as the appearance of glass vessels. The Roman Empire used lead-based glazes, with alkaline natron glass being used only to produce objects of glass. Chemical analysis has had some success determining compositional groups for Roman/Byzantine/early Islamic glasses because of the discovery of major production sites. Parthian and Sasanian glass and glazed wares, however, have been found only in consumption assemblages, which have failed to inform on how they were made. Here we reanalyse compositional data for Parthian and Sasanian glazes and present new analyses for Parthian glazed pottery excavated at the early third century A.D. Roman military outpost of Ain Sinu in northern Iraq. We show that some Parthian glazes are from a different tradition to typical Mesopotamian glazes and have compositions similar to Roman glass. We propose that Roman glass was recycled by Parthian potters, thereby suggesting that as yet undiscovered Mesopotamian glass production centres ordinarily supplied glass for indigenous glazed pottery. Furthermore, if recycling glass to make glazed pottery was extended to indigenous glassware, this may provide an explanation for the paucity of Parthian and Sasanian glass in the archaeological record.

Red Slip Beaker with a Relief Ornamentation from the Eastern Black Sea Area

From 2014 on, the archaeological excavations of the Roman fort of Apsaros (Gonio, eastern Black Sea area) concentrated in the central area of early buildings, where a large architectural complex from the second half of the first to the first half of the secondcenturies AD was located. This structure probably was a praitorion, the residence of the garrison commander. There was an ancient looters’ pit discovered in one room; it appeared in relation to the construction works in the fort in the late second or early third century AD. The most outstanding find from this pit is a fragmented red slip beaker featuring a relief ornamentation. The beaker comprised an elongated conical body survived to the height of 8.8 cm and a ring-foot measuring 3.8 cm in diameter. The outer side of the vessel is ornamented with two rows of impressed ovals arranged as a chess-board pattern and divided by shallow incised horizontal lines. The vessel is unevenly fired: the clay is bright orange at the top and gray at the bottom. Bright orange slip covers the top of the beaker. No direct analogies to this find are known so far. The red slip beakers of a different shape and vase-like vessels with typical ornamentation of impressed ovals occurred among the products of the workshops from the second to fourth century AD located in northern Bulgaria. Similar vessels, also locally produced, appeared on the sites from the Roman period in the south-western Romania. It is considered that such vessels imitated the glass ware which existed in the same period. Although tumblers and beakers with oval designs on the walls were among the most widespread types of glass ware in Eastern and Northern Europe in the late third and early fourth century, their shape could not be considered the complete parallel to the find under study. The closest similarity appeared among the glass ware from the last quarter of the first to the second half of the second centuries AD, particularly conic beakers with a disc-foot ornamented with elongated ovals. The beaker discovered in Gonio probably dates from a similar period. The quality of the slip and the method of its application indicate that this vessel was possibly produced in the Black Sea area.

Cement Resources, Agrominerals, Construction, Marble, Dimension and Decor Stone Resources, Gemstone and Jewelry Resources of Pakistan

Large deposits of cement raw material and resources like limestone, gypsum and shales/clays found from the Koh Sulaiman area of South Punjab (Saraikistan) and Balochistan Provinces, Pakistan. The installation of cement industries especially in South Punjab/Saraikistan Province due to close occurrences of resources should develop the area and increase the export. The Koh Sulaiman regions of South Punjab (Saraikistan) have huge gypsum deposits which deserve for further exploitation. Pakistan is agricultural country and fertility of cultivated lands is vital. Fertilizer resources like phosphate deposits are moderate but the deposits of phosphate and potash bearing rocks are very vast and need their further explorations and exploitation in the Indus Basin. Pakistan has very large construction, dimension and decor stone deposits like limestone, marble, dolomite and igneous rocks like granite, dolerite, serpentine, etc. which needs further exploitation for the development of the areas and increase export. Pakistan is spending a lot of earnings for importing glass, glass wares, pottery, clay, etc. while Pakistan has these resources which needs exploitation of own resources. The best structures and geotectonic elements like the Northern and Western Indus Sutures and Karakoram Suture and Indus placers which are rich in gemstones and jewelry resources. To increase gems and jewelry export, these industries requires reduction in gemstones smuggling and encouragement for gem appraisal and jewelry industry at high level for value addition. In short, Pakistan is rich in natural resources but poor in development. Try should be made to develop and export the own mineral commodities like cement, gypsum, marble, gemstones and jewelry.

Histopathological alterations in gills of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium dayanum (Crustacea - Decapoda) after acute and sub-acute exposure of lead nitrate

Lead is a nonessential “grey listed” heavy metal, used in fuels, ceramics, paints and glass wares in industries and vehicles. After taking entry in aquatic ecosystem it becomes toxic and cause serious problem to plants and animals. Haematological, neurological, nephrological and histopathological effects of lead are well known. Fresh water prawn, Macrobrachium dayanum, a potential animal for freshwater aquaculture, subjected to acute and sub-acute concentration of lead nitrate (116.46 mg/l; 96h LC50 and 29.12 mg/l; 25% of 96h LC50) showed severe histopathological alterations in gills after 24, 48, 72 and 96h and 10, 20 and 30 day exposure. Chief alterations during acute exposure were thickening of gill plates, reduction in inter lameller spaces, cuticular irruption, inflammation and necrosis where as clumping of gill plates, hyperplasia, hypertrophied haemocytes with nuclear pycnosis and leakage of haemocytes in inter-lameller spaces as well as deposition of broken tissue debris near gill base were observed during sub-acute exposure. The severity of histopathological alterations was found duration dependant. Present study reveals that histological bio- markers provides complete information regarding heavy metal toxicity particularly lead to these economically important fresh water prawns, which can themselves serve as bio-indicator of worsening status of surface aquatic bodies.

Thaw

Thaw Jihyun Yun (bio) Suddenly, it is winter again. The cold came on as an unwanted lover, spread its snake belly on our floor and wouldn't leave. Grandma said, "We'll set the house to burning," Brandished heat lamps and hot tea, but never fire. Even so, the cold stayed, opened every drawer in every room, cracked our glass wares, wrapped a chrysalis of frost around any hanging thing. Once or twice, it laughed with its mouthful of root black teeth. When threats failed, we appeased with hyacinth persimmons on celadon plates, roast chestnuts, yams, the special kind of deference only the daug ters and wives of war-bruised men know how to give. But still, we shivered, sleet over carpets, clinging to lashes. It came to midJune. The branches of our bodies laid bare, the hard bark curling back. No living thing can only thrive. And here, we begin again. Somewhere, a fawnnoses the frozen turf,unearths the first budof the season [End Page 73] Jihyun Yun Jihyun Yun is a Korean-American poet. A Fulbright Fellow, she received her MFA from NYU. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in Bat City Review, Poetry Northwest, and elsewhere. She currently lives in Michigan where she is working on her first poetry collection Some are Always Hungry. Copyright © 2019 University of Wisconsin Board of Regents

The Effect of Antioxidant (Gallic acid) on the Testes of Lead Acetate Induced Wistar Rat

Lead is considered one of the major causes of infertility among occupational workers in manufacturing companies such as electric storage batteries, glass and ceramic wares. This study was carried out to confirm the effect of Gallic acid as an antioxidant on Lead acetate treated male albino rats. Twenty albino rats weighing between 140 g and 200 g were divided equally into four groups. Group A served as the control, group B was treated with 60 mg/kg body weight of Lead acetate, group C received 50 mg/kg body weight of Gallic acid and group D received both Lead acetate and Gallic acid for 14 days. The result showed slight increase in the body weights and testes of group B and D compared to the control group and there was a slight decrease in group C. Rats in group B showed a significant increase in MDA (3224.63±89.38 unit/mg protein) but a slight increase was observed in the level of MDA (1537.70± 53.92 unit/mg protein) in group D. The level of Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) in group B was 338.75±18.87 nmol min mL, which was the highest among the groups and significant. Lead acetate is toxic to the gonad, it causes degeneration and reduction in spermatogenic activity in seminiferous tubules. However, the effect of Lead on the male reproductive organ can be reverse significantly by an antioxidant (gallic acid) due to its ability to scavenge for oxidative stress caused by Lead.

Exposure assessment to lead, cadmium, zinc and copper released from ceramic and glass wares intended to come into contact with food

One of the important source of food contamination with elements harmful to human health such as lead or cadmium is migration from the articles intended to come into contact with food. Ceramic and glass articles can also be a source of zinc and copper which compounds are used during the production process of vessels. Determination of migration of lead, cadmium, zinc and copper from ceramic and glass wares available on the market in Poland and assessment of consumer exposure to these elements. Ceramic and glass articles which were available on the retail market and mainly produced in China were tested for release of lead, cadmium, zinc and copper. Samples for testing were prepared in accordance with European Standards: EN 1388-1 and EN 1388-2 and the migration of elements into a food simulant (4% acetic acid) was measured using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Validated and accredited methods according to EN ISO/ IEC 17025:2005 meeting the criteria set in the legislation were applied. Exposure assessment was performed taking into account actual reference doses introduced by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). 736 samples of ceramic and glass wares were tested. Among investigated samples for migration of lead 82% of results were below limit of quantification (LOQ = 0.1 mg/L) of the analytical method used. For cadmium zinc and copper results below LOQ were found in 94%, 79% and 100% tested samples, respectively (Cd LOQ = 0.01mg/L; Zn LOQ = 0.05 mg/L; Cu LOQ = 0.03 mg/L). Only one sample release lead in amount higher than limit set in Polish Standard PN-B-13210:1997, it was rim of the glass mug and migration value was 4.81 mg/article. In case of cadmium there were two samples which exceeded permissible migration limit, it was flat ceramic dish and the rim of the glass mug, migration values were: 0.14 mg/dm2 and 0.42 mg/article respectively. The most measurable results (above LOQ) in case of lead and cadmium were for the samples of ceramic and glass drinking vessels. Quantifiable amounts of zinc were found also in other groups of articles tested: flat and deep ceramic dishes. None of the tested articles released copper in amount higher than LOQ value. The risk assessment showed that lead and cadmium exposure for some of the samples far exceed the reference doses. For children, assuming a single use only of these vessels, these doses may be exceeded: in the case of lead, 69 times and in the case of cadmium, 8 times. It is the urgent need to introduce requirements into the applicable legislation for the rim area of drinking ceramic and glass vessels to reduce exposure especially by the most vulnerable groups of population such as children.

Electrogravimetric Determination of Copper Using a Constructed Compact Electrolytic Cell

Conventional electrolytic cells are usually cumbersome and simulated with fragile open ended glass wares such as beakers, tubes, troughs or tanks which are prone to interference and contamination. Electrolytic cell was designed by allotting dimensions for its length: 12.0 cm, breadth: 6.0 cm and height: 8.0 cm to the cell; its casing for 9.0 V power source was allotted 2.5 cm length, 2.5 cm breadth and 2.5 cm height; bores for dispensing and draining out spent (used) electrolyte and those for fixing electrodes were allotted 1.2 cm diameter; it was also designed to have an innovated switch and electrodes storage facility (compartment) of 7.0 cm length, 2.5 cm breadth and 2.5 cm height with ammeter separately fixed at the left edge of the cell’s electrolytes compartment. Perspex was used to construct a compact, durable and portable unit of electrolytic cell. Capacity of the cell was determined to be 500 cm3. Compactability tests show that the designed and constructed electrolytic cell is a compact unit. Conventional and the compact (constructed) electrolytic cells were separately used to perform electrogravimetry (electrolysis) 25.0 cm3 aliquot at 0.2 A for 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 mins. Relationship between mass (g) of electroplated Cu and time (10 to 60 mins) taken to electrolyze Cu in 25 cm3 aliquot was determined where conventional electrolytic cell electroplated 0.02 g to 0.22 g of Cu, compact electrolytic cell electroplated 0.03 g to 0.23 g of Cu and theoretically calculated mass of electroplated Cu in 25 cm3 aliquot was 0.04 g to 0.24 g respectively. Statistical comparison of the two set of systems at 95.0% percent confidence level indicated a significant difference in their performances. However at 99.0% - 99.9% confidence level the comparison showed that there is no significant difference in their performances. The results of this study buttress that Perspex is a good material for constructing compact, durable and portable electrolytic cells. It also showed that the constructed electrolytic cell is highly a sensitive tool as revealed by its ability to electroplate higher mass of electroplated copper than the conventional cell; that mass of electroplated copper and time of electrolysis have a positive correlation and statistical analysis revealed that the two sets of methods do not agree significantly with each other at 95.00% confidence level but they agree significantly with each other beyond this.

An experimental study on fire damage of structural steel members in an industrial building

Abstract In this paper an experimental study on the fire damage of the unprotected structural steel members is presented after exposure to fire in an industrial fabric established for embellishment of glass wares in 1997. Following the ignited fire flashover occurred, explosions happened, and finally 50,000 m 2 areas were heavily damaged. The structural bearing system of compartments was designed as moment-resistant frames having 11.80 m height. In some halls a space truss roof construction with tubular steel bars which were joining in Mero type assemblies was pin-supported on the columns which were fix on their bottom. Steel columns were made from hot rolled I sections or built-up box sections. Tensile tests were performed on specimens taken from various columns and a tubular space truss member in order to determine post fire mechanical properties. Also, residual factors defined as the ratio of post fire mechanical properties to those at room temperature, and exposed temperatures of the samples were estimated by referring the results of a previous work in the literature. In this approximation, yield strength to ultimate tensile strength ratio of the samples subjected to controlled heating to and cooling from elevated temperatures in the previous work were taken as the reference, and the present results were evaluated based on those results. All the findings obtained from this experimental study were used as a tool in order to get an information about the hazard level which helped for final decision whether removal, reusage or strengthening of the structural steel bearing members might be needed for the compartments of the steel industrial plant exposed to fire hazard.

Histopathological changes and transcriptional alterations of three coagulation factors in zebrafish (Danio rerio) following short-term exposure to MC-LR

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is the most common hepatotoxic cyanotoxin produced primarily by Microcystis aeruginosa. Although deaths from microcystin toxication have widely been attributed to hypovolemic shock due to hepatic interstitial hemorrhage, so far, information on coagulation factors of MC-LR has been rare. In our present study, the effects of MC-LR on the coagulation factors expression and pathological changes in zebrafish were investigated. Adult zebrafish were injected intraperitoneally with 200μg/kg MC-LR and newly hatched larvae were placed in glass wares containing 200μg MC-LR/L, liver and whole larvae were collected after exposure for 12h, 24h, 48h and 96h, respectively. mRNA levels of coagulation factor IX (FIX), coagulation factor VII (FVII) and coagulation factor VIIi (FVIIi) in liver of adult fish and total zebrafish larvae were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR. Significant depression of FIX and FVII were observed in adult zebrafish at different time point, and FVIIi were also significantly decreased except for 12h post-injection. In addition, the histopathological changes in adult zebrafish liver were observed, and the severe hepatic injuries were found at 96h. The pathological changes further explained the transcriptional results. The transcriptions of FVII were significantly depressed throughout the entire experiment in zebrafish larvae, and the FIX only significantly depressed after exposure for 48 and 96h, however, FVIIi just was significantly reduced after 12h and 24h stimulation. Whatever the mechanism, the effects of MC-LR on the transcription of these coagulation factors might explain the intrahepatic hemorrhage in liver after exposure to MC-LR, and which would provide new information to elucidate the hepatotoxicity of MC-LR.