Spectrum Files Research Articles

Radioactive Concentrations in Chemical Fertilizers

Background: The aim of the present study was to determine radioactive concentrations in fertilizers known to contain essential nutrients. Results of this study could be used as basic data to monitor the impact of chemical fertilizers on the environment and public health. Nitrogen fertilizers, calcium fertilizers, sulfur fertilizers, phosphate acid fertilizers, and potassium chloride fertilizers were used in this study.Materials and Methods: Five chemical fertilizers were pulverized, placed in polyethylene containers, and weighed. The time to measure each specimen was set to be 3,600 seconds for a scintillator-based gamma-ray spectroscopy system. Concentration of gamma radionuclide was analyzed based on obtained spectra. At the end of the measurement, the spectrum file was stored and used to calculate radioactive concentrations using a gamma-ray spectrometer software.Results and Discussion: In the nitrogen fertilizer, 3.49 ± 5.71 Bq/kg of <sup>137</sup>Cs, 34.43 ± 7.61 Bq/kg of <sup>134</sup>Cs, and 569.16 ± 91.15 of <sup>40</sup>K were detected whereas <sup>131</sup>I was not detected. In the calcium fertilizer, 5.74 ± 4.40 Bq/kg of <sup>137</sup>Cs (the highest concentration among all fertilizers), 22.37 ± 5.39 Bq/kg of <sup>134</sup>Cs, and 433.67 ± 64.24 Bq/kg of <sup>40</sup>K were detected whereas <sup>131</sup>I was not detected. In the sulfur fertilizer, 347.31 ± 55.73 Bq/kg of <sup>40</sup>K, 19.42 ± 4.53 Bq/kg of <sup>134</sup>Cs, 2.21 ± 3.49 of <sup>137</sup>Cs, and 0.04 ± 0.22 Bq/Kg of <sup>131</sup>I were detected. In the phosphoric acid fertilizer, 70,007.34 ± 844.18 Bq/kg of <sup>40</sup>K (the highest concentration among all fertilizers) and 46.07 ± 70.40 Bq/kg of <sup>134</sup>Cs were detected whereas neither <sup>137</sup>Cs nor <sup>131</sup>I was detected. In the potassium chloride fertilizer, 12,827.92 ± 1542.19 Bq/kg of <sup>40</sup>K was and 94.76 ± 128.79 Bq/kg of <sup>134</sup>Cs were detected whereas neither <sup>137</sup>Cs nor <sup>131</sup>I was detected. The present study examined inorganic fertilizers produced by a single manufacturer. There might be different results according to the country and area from which fertilizers are imported. Further studies about inorganic fertilizers in more detail are needed to create measures to reduce <sup>40</sup>K.Conclusion: Measures are needed to reduce radiation exposure to <sup>40</sup>K contained in fertilizers including phosphoric acid and potassium chloride fertilizers.

Advancing Orbitrap Measurements of Collision Cross Sections to Multiple Species for Broad Applications.

Measurement of collision cross section (CCS), a parameter reflecting an ion's size and shape, alongside high-resolution mass analysis extends the depth of molecular analysis by providing structural information beyond molecular mass alone. Although these measurements are most commonly undertaken using a dedicated ion mobility cell coupled to a mass spectrometer, alternative methods have emerged to extract CCSs directly by analysis of the decay rates of either time-domain transient signals or the FWHM of frequency domain peaks in FT mass analyzers. This information is also accessible from FTMS mass spectra obtained in commonly used workflows directly without the explicit access to transient or complex Fourier spectra. Previously, these experiments required isolation of individual charge states of ions prior to CCS analysis, limiting throughput. Here we advance Orbitrap CCS measurements to more users and applications by determining CCSs from commonly available mass spectra files as well as estimating CCS for multiple charge states simultaneously and showcase these methods by the measurement of CCSs of fragment ions produced from collisional activation of proteins.

Off-the-shelf proximity biotinylation using ProtA-TurboID.

Proximity biotinylation is a commonly used method to identify the in vivo proximal proteome for proteins of interest. This technology typically relies on fusing a bait protein to a biotin ligase using overexpression or clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based tagging, thus prohibiting the use of such assays in cell types that are difficult to transfect or transduce. We recently developed an 'off-the-shelf' proximity biotinylation method that makes use of a recombinant enzyme consisting of the biotin ligase TurboID fused to the antibody-recognizing moiety Protein A. In this method, a bait-specific antibody and the ProteinA-Turbo enzyme are consecutively added to permeabilized fixed or unfixed cells. Following incubation, during which ProteinA-Turbo antibody-antigen complexes are formed, unbound molecules are washed away, after which bait-proximal biotinylation is triggered by the addition of exogenous biotin. Finally, biotinylated proteins are enriched from crude lysates using streptavidin beads followed by mass spectrometry-based protein identification. In principle, any scientist can perform this protocol within 3 days, although generating the proteomics data requires access to a high-end liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry setup. Data analysis and data visualization are relatively straightforward and can be performed using any type of software that converts raw mass spectrometry spectra files into identified and quantified proteins. The protocol has been optimized for nuclear targets but may also be adapted to other subcellular regions of interest.

The Data Processing of the LAMOST Medium-resolution Spectral Survey of Galactic Nebulae (LAMOST MRS-N Pipeline)

The Large sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) medium-resolution spectral survey of Galactic Nebulae (MRS-N) has conducted for more than three years since 2018 September and observed more than 190 thousand nebular spectra and 20 thousand stellar spectra. However, there is not yet a data processing pipeline for nebular spectra. To significantly improve the accuracy of nebulae classification and their physical parameters, we developed the MRS-N Pipeline. This article presented in detail each data processing step of the MRS-N Pipeline, such as removing cosmic rays, merging single exposure, fitting sky light emission lines, wavelength recalibration, subtracting skylight, measuring nebular parameters, creating catalogs and packing spectra. Finally, a description of the data products, including nebular spectra files and parameter catalogs, is provided.

Protein Profiling of WERI-RB1 and Etoposide-Resistant WERI-ETOR Reveals New Insights into Topoisomerase Inhibitor Resistance in Retinoblastoma.

Chemotherapy resistance is one of the reasons for eye loss in patients with retinoblastoma (RB). RB chemotherapy resistance has been studied in different cell culture models, such as WERI-RB1. In addition, chemotherapy-resistant RB subclones, such as the etoposide-resistant WERI-ETOR cell line have been established to improve the understanding of chemotherapy resistance in RB. The objective of this study was to characterize cell line models of an etoposide-sensitive WERI-RB1 and its etoposide-resistant subclone, WERI-ETOR, by proteomic analysis. Subsequently, quantitative proteomics data served for correlation analysis with known drug perturbation profiles. Methodically, WERI-RB1 and WERI-ETOR were cultured, and prepared for quantitative mass spectrometry (MS). This was carried out in a data-independent acquisition (DIA) mode. The raw SWATH (sequential window acquisition of all theoretical mass spectra) files were processed using neural networks in a library-free mode along with machine-learning algorithms. Pathway-enrichment analysis was performed using the REACTOME-pathway resource, and correlated to the molecular signature database (MSigDB) hallmark gene set collections for functional annotation. Furthermore, a drug-connectivity analysis using the L1000 database was carried out to associate the mechanism of action (MOA) for different anticancer reagents to WERI-RB1/WERI-ETOR signatures. A total of 4756 proteins were identified across all samples, showing a distinct clustering between the groups. Of these proteins, 64 were significantly altered (q < 0.05 & log2FC |>2|, 22 higher in WERI-ETOR). Pathway analysis revealed the “retinoid metabolism and transport” pathway as an enriched metabolic pathway in WERI-ETOR cells, while the “sphingolipid de novo biosynthesis” pathway was identified in the WERI-RB1 cell line. In addition, this study revealed similar protein signatures of topoisomerase inhibitors in WERI-ETOR cells as well as ATPase inhibitors, acetylcholine receptor antagonists, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) inhibitors in the WERI-RB1 cell line. In this study, WERI-RB1 and WERI-ETOR were analyzed as a cell line model for chemotherapy resistance in RB using data-independent MS. Analysis of the global proteome identified activation of “sphingolipid de novo biosynthesis” in WERI-RB1, and revealed future potential treatment options for etoposide resistance in RB.

The Bridge between Screening and Assessment: Establishment and Application of Online Screening Platform for Food Risk Substances

In order to improve the risk identification ability of the technical support system of food safety supervision, an online screening platform for food risk substances (hereafter referred to as “platform”) was established. The platform aims at the qualitative analysis of unknown compounds and consists of three parts: a standard spectrum library, screening model, and online comparison module. The standard library contains the standard spectra of 527 food risk substances by high-performance liquid chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry. The screening comparison algorithm, the core of the screening model, is obtained through the improvement of the existing spectral library search algorithm. The inspector uploads the original spectrum file through the online comparison module; the online comparison module calls the corresponding script to convert the original spectrum file into a standard spectrum file and then uses the screening and comparison algorithm to achieve online real-time comparison. The comparison results are used to determine whether the sample to be tested contains the food risk substances contained in the standard library, so as to realize the preliminary screening of potential food risk substances. The platform supports the spectrogram data format of mainstream instrument manufacturers. The standard spectrogram database can be coconstructed and shared by cooperative laboratories to effectively enrich the types of food risk substances. Through laboratory comparison, data calibration, and model optimization, the screening accuracy of the platform can reach more than 97%. The platform adopts the Internet online screening method, which greatly facilitates the risk investigation and control of national food safety inspection and testing institutions. At the same time, the construction of the screening platform for food risk substances based on high-performance liquid chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry, the Internet, big data, and other technologies will provide a new technical means for food safety risk management and control. Hence, it can build a bridge between the screening of risk substances and illegally added substances, as well as risk assessment, risk management, and control.

Identifying Optimal Wavelengths as Disease Signatures Using Hyperspectral Sensor and Machine Learning

Hyperspectral sensors combined with machine learning are increasingly utilized in agricultural crop systems for diverse applications, including plant disease detection. This study was designed to identify the most important wavelengths to discriminate between healthy and diseased peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) plants infected with Athelia rolfsii, the causal agent of peanut stem rot, using in-situ spectroscopy and machine learning. In greenhouse experiments, daily measurements were conducted to inspect disease symptoms visually and to collect spectral reflectance of peanut leaves on lateral stems of plants mock-inoculated and inoculated with A. rolfsii. Spectrum files were categorized into five classes based on foliar wilting symptoms. Five feature selection methods were compared to select the top 10 ranked wavelengths with and without a custom minimum distance of 20 nm. Recursive feature elimination methods outperformed the chi-square and SelectFromModel methods. Adding the minimum distance of 20 nm into the top selected wavelengths improved classification performance. Wavelengths of 501–505, 690–694, 763 and 884 nm were repeatedly selected by two or more feature selection methods. These selected wavelengths can be applied in designing optical sensors for automated stem rot detection in peanut fields. The machine-learning-based methodology can be adapted to identify spectral signatures of disease in other plant-pathogen systems.

Tools for Remote Exploration: A Lithium (Li) Dedicated Spectral Library of the Fregeneda–Almendra Aplite–Pegmatite Field

The existence of diagnostic features in the visible and infrared regions makes it possible to use reflectance spectra not only to identify mineral assemblages but also for calibration and classification of satellite images, considering lithological and/or mineral mapping. For this purpose, a consistent spectral library with the target spectra of minerals and rocks is needed. Currently, there is big market pressure for raw materials including lithium (Li) that has driven new satellite image applications for Li exploration. However, there are no reference spectra for petalite (a Li mineral) in large, open spectral datasets. In this work, a spectral library was built exclusively dedicated to Li minerals and Li pegmatite exploration through satellite remote sensing. The database includes field and laboratory spectra collected in the Fregeneda–Almendra region (Spain–Portugal) from (i) distinct Li minerals (spodumene, petalite, lepidolite); (ii) several Li pegmatites and other outcropping lithologies to allow satellite-based lithological mapping; (iii) areas previously misclassified as Li pegmatites using machine learning algorithms to allow comparisons between these regions and the target areas. Ancillary data include (i) sample location and coordinates, (ii) sample conditions, (iii) sample color, (iv) type of face measured, (v) equipment used, and for the laboratory spectra, (vi) sample photographs, (vii) continuum removed spectra files, and (viii) statistics on the main absorption features automatically extracted. The potential future uses of this spectral library are reinforced by its major advantages: (i) data is provided in a universal file format; (ii) it allows users to compare field and laboratory spectra; (iii) a large number of complementary data allow the comparison of shape, asymmetry, and depth of the absorption features of the distinct Li minerals.

ChemSpectra: a web-based spectra editor for analytical data

ChemSpectra, a web-based software to visualize and analyze spectroscopic data, integrating solutions for infrared spectroscopy (IR), mass spectrometry (MS), and one-dimensional 1H and 13C NMR (proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy, is described. ChemSpectra serves as web-based tool for the analysis of the most often used types of one-dimensional spectroscopic data in synthetic (organic) chemistry research. It was developed to support in particular processes for the use of open file formats which enable the work according to the FAIR data principles. The software can deal with the open file formats JCAMP-DX (IR, MS, NMR) and mzML (MS) proposing these data file types to gain interoperable data. ChemSpectra can be extended to read also other formats as exemplified by selected proprietary mass spectrometry data files of type RAW and NMR spectra files of type FID. The JavaScript-based editor can be integrated with other software, as demonstrated by integration into the Chemotion electronic lab notebook (ELN) and Chemotion repository, demonstrating the implementation into a digital work environment that offers additional functionality and sustainable research data management options. ChemSpectra supports different functions for working with spectroscopic data such as zoom functions, peak picking and automatic peak detection according to a default or manually defined threshold. NMR specific functions include the definition of a reference signal, the integration of signals, coupling constant calculation and multiplicity assignment. Embedded into a web application such as an ELN or a repository, the editor can also be used to generate an association of spectra to a sample and a file management. The file management supports the storage of the original spectra along with the last edited version and an automatically generated image of the spectra in png format. To maximize the benefit of the spectra editor for e.g. ELN users, an automated procedure for the transfer of the detected or manually chosen signals to the ELN was implemented. ChemSpectra is released under the AGPL license to encourage its re-use and further developments by the community.

Using information on ART costs and benefits to mobilise resources – comparing different methods and contexts

Sustaining HIV and AIDS responses depends on a mix of donor, government and private funders. Their decisions about investing in HIV treatment may be informed by various types of economic evaluations, which may be more or less useful for different contexts. This paper benchmarks methods against each other. Epidemiological and demographic impacts of HIV and antiretroviral therapy (ART) from 1996–2015 were quantified using country- specific spectrum files. The study compared societal benefits of ART using the full income (FI) methodology with “conventional” benefit, utility and effectiveness estimates produced with the same data. The FI estimates suggested $3.50 in benefits per dollar spent on ART globally, 2.6 times larger than productivity-related measures of benefits, of $1.33 in benefits per dollar. Higher benefit-cost ratios are mainly because FI reflects value of life beyond what people produce at work and in non-working age groups, and allocates the future stream of benefits in the year that death is avoided. ART costs were 0.78 times per capita GDP per quality-adjusted life-years gained globally. FI benefit-cost ratios are considerably higher in upper- and lower-middle-income countries than in low- or high-income countries. Productivity-based benefits also exceeded costs in all but one region but had smaller ratios and different regional patterns. Per capita GDP per quality-adjusted life-years ratios were below 1.2 for all regions and country income bands, suggesting cost effectiveness. The fact that FI returns of ART are higher than productivity returns, helps to quantify developmental benefits of interventions that directly extend life and its quality, arguably the objective of development. They provide an important argument to increase budget allocations to health sectors for ART scale-up, and not just reallocate existing health resources. Benchmarking FI returns against cost per quality- adjusted life-years may allow comparison to other “cost effective” health interventions. However, caution should be taken in extrapolations between measures, because they produce different rankings across country categories.

Launching dynamic analysis for tank on the move based on dynamic simulation

Achieving high firing accuracy of tank on the move is challenging. For improving firing accuracy, better understanding launching dynamic behavior of tank firing on the move is required. This study established a rigid-flexible coupling dynamic model of tank firing on the move. Thereinto, the barrel flexibility was considered based on the FFlex body technology, and the contact-impact algorithm was used to describe the projectile-barrel interaction. With the sinusoid superposition method, a three-dimensional road surface spectrum file considering the coherence of left and right tracks was created. Based on the results obtained in simulation, this study discussed the dynamic behaviors of a tank gun system such as the barrel curvature and the influence of projectile-barrel interaction on firing accuracy of tank firing on the move, in which the factors including projectile type, driving speed and road roughness were taken into consideration. The results indicated that the barrel curvature and the muzzle vibration do not increase simply with the increase of road roughness and driving speed as common sense.

CAX and Xsel: a software bundle to aid in automating NAA spectrum analysis

In this work, the scripting capabilities of Genie-2000 were used to develop a software (CAX) that automatically analyses all spectrum files in either Ortec's CHN or Canberra's MCA or CNF formats in a folder, generating two output files: a print-ready text file (.DAT) and a Comma-Separated Values (.CSV) file which can be easily imported in any major spreadsheet software. A second tool, named Xsel, consists in an Excel spreadsheet which automatically identifies the spectrum lines associated with the elements of interest, generating a clean output sheet which can be easily imported in a general spreadsheet that calculates the concentrations; an important addition to this spreadsheet is the ability to automatically recalibrate each spectrum, increasing the reliability of the peak identification procedure. These software are already used in daily routines in IPEN's Neutron Activation Laboratory, greatly reducing the time required for sample analyses, as well as reducing the possibility of transcription errors.

A Data Analysis Protocol for Quantitative Data-Independent Acquisition Proteomics.

Data-independent acquisition (DIA) mode of mass spectrometry, such as the SWATH-MS technology, enables accurate and consistent measurement of proteins, which is crucial for comparative proteomics studies. However, there is lack of free and easy to implement data analysis protocols that can handle the different data processing steps from raw spectrum files to peptide intensity matrix and its downstream analysis. Here, we provide a data analysis protocol, named diatools, covering all these steps from spectral library building to differential expression analysis of DIA proteomics data. The data analysis tools used in this protocol are open source and the protocol is distributed at Docker Hub as a complete software environment that supports Linux, Windows, and macOS operating systems.

Instrumentation effects on U and Pu CBNM standards spectra quality measured on a 500 mm3CdZnTe and a 2×2 inch LaBr3detectors

Nowadays, there is interest in developing gamma-ray measuring devices based on the room temperature operated medium resolution detectors such as semiconductor detectors of the CdZnTe type and scintillators of the LaBr3type. This is true also for safeguards applications and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has launched a project devoted to the assessment of medium resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy for the verification of the isotopic composition of U and Pu bearing samples. This project is carried out within the Non-Destructive Assay Working Group of the European Safeguards Research and Development Association (ESARDA). In this study we analyze medium resolution spectra of U and Pu standards with the aim to develop an isotopic composition determination algorithm, particularly suited for these types of detectors. We show how the peak shape of a CdZnTe detector is influenced by the instrumentation parameters. The experimental setup consisted of a 500 mm3CdZnTe detector, a 2×2 inch LaBr3detector, two types of measurement instrumentation – an analogue one and a digital one, and a set of certified samples – a207Bi point source and U and Pu CBNM standards. The results of our measurements indicate that the lowest contribution to the peak asymmetry and thus the smallest impact on the resolution of the 500 mm3 CdZnTe detector was achieved with the digital MCA. Analysis of acquired spectra allowed to reject poor quality measurement runs and produce summed spectra files with the least impact of instrumentation instabilities. This work is preliminary to further studies concerning the development of an isotopic composition determination algorithm particularly suited for CZT and LaBr3 detectors for safeguards applications.

Development of easy-to-use interface for nuclear transmutation computing, VCINDER code

Abstract The CINDER code has about 60 years of development history, and is thus one of the world's best transmutation computing codes to date. Unfortunately, it is complex and cumbersome to use. Preparing auxiliary input files for activation computation from MCNPX output and executing them using Perl script (activation script) is the first difficulty, and separation of gamma source computing script (gamma script), which analyzes the spectra files produced by CINDER code and creates source definition format for MCNPX code, is the second difficulty. In addition, for highly nonlinear problems, multiple human interventions may increase the possibility of errors. Postprocessing such as making plots with large text outputs is also time consuming. One way to improve these limitations is to make a graphical user interface wrapper that includes all codes, such as MCNPX and CINDER, and all scripts with a visual C#.NET tool. The graphical user interface merges all the codes and provides easy postprocessing of graphics data and Microsoft office tools, such as Excel sheets, which make the CINDER code easy to use. This study describes the VCINDER code (with visual C#.NET) and gives a typical application example.

GUMAP: A GUPIXWIN-compatible code for extracting regional spectra from nuclear microbeam list mode files

Abstract The newly developed GUMAP software creates element maps from OMDAQ list mode files, displays these maps individually or collectively, and facilitates on-screen definitions of specified regions from which a PIXE spectrum can be built. These include a free-hand region defined by moving the cursor. The regional charge is entered automatically into the spectrum file in a new GUPIXWIN-compatible format, enabling a GUPIXWIN analysis of the spectrum. The code defaults to the OMDAQ dead time treatment but also facilitates two other methods for dead time correction in sample regions with count rates different from the average.

Improving estimates of children living with HIV from the Spectrum AIDS Impact Model.

Estimated numbers of children living with HIV determine programmatic and treatment needs. We explain the changes made to the UNAIDS estimates between 2015 and 2016, and describe the challenges around these estimates. Estimates of children newly infected, living with HIV, and dying of AIDS are developed by country teams using Spectrum software. Spectrum files are available for 160 countries, which represent 98% of the global population. In 2016, the methods were updated to reflect the latest evidence on mother-to-child HIV transmission and improved assumptions on the age children initiate antiretroviral therapy. We report updated results using the 2016 model and validate these estimates against mother-to-child transmission rates and HIV prevalence from population-based surveys for the survey year. The revised 2016 model estimates 27% fewer children living with HIV in 2014 than the 2015 model, primarily due to changes in the probability of mother-to-child transmission among women with incident HIV during pregnancy. The revised estimates were consistent with population-based surveys of HIV transmission and HIV prevalence among children aged 5-9 years, but were lower than surveys among children aged 10-14 years. The revised 2016 model is an improvement on previous models. Paediatric HIV models will continue to evolve as further improvements are made to the assumptions. Commodities forecasting and programme planning rely on these estimates, and increasing accuracy will be critical to enable effective scale-up and optimal use of resources. Efforts are needed to improve empirical measures of HIV prevalence, incidence, and mortality among children.

CDBTools - Evaluate Positron Annihilation Coincidence Doppler Broadening Spectrum

CDBTools is a lightweight and easy to use application designed to provide you with an analysis tool for coincidence Doppler broadening (CDB) of the positron annihilation energy spectrum files. This application enables you to analyze the CDB and ratio curves, plots as well as graphs representing the evolution of the orbital electron momentum spectrum. The CDB extraction is provided by selectable filters applied at the diagonal line of the input matrix. To achieve CDB ratio curves with minimal error caused by 511keV peak shift, spectrum curves are recalculated by penalized regression spline.

Radioactivity concentration measurement and analysis in construction floor materials of Korea

ABSTRACTIn this study, the radioactive concentrations contained in samples of commonly used building floor materials were measured. This result can be used as basic information for public health and the environment. Among building floor materials, samples of induction blocks, cement bricks, artificial granite blocks and compact high-pressure blocks were chosen and used. A detailed gamma nuclide analysis was performed with a multichannel analyzer by putting these samples on a high-purity germanium detector which is a semiconductor detector. In order to measure the concentration of radionuclides, a spectrum file was obtained by analyzing the concentration of gamma radionuclides and setting the measurement time as 1000, 4000, 7000 and 10,000 s. According to the study results, K-40, Bi-214, Pb-214, Ra-226 and U-235 were detected in the induction blocks measured at 10,000 s and K-40, Th-230, Bi-214, Pb-214, Ra-226 and Na-22 were detected in the cement bricks measured at 10,000 s. K-40, Bi-214, Pb-214, Th-234, U-235 and Ra-223 were detected in the artificial granite blocks measured at 10,000 s and K-40, Bi-214, Pb-214, Th-234, Ra-226, Ra-223 and Mn-54 were detected in the compact high-pressure blocks. In conclusion, low-level radioactivity was detected in building floor materials, so it is thought that measures to reduce radioactivity and further studies on this will be needed.

Estimation of selected properties of forest soils using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR)

Abstract The study was focused on the application of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) as a tool for evaluation of selected properties of forest soils. We analysed 144 soil samples from the topsoil of nine plots located in southern Poland. Six plots were established under pine stands, and three plots under oak stands. The NIR measurements were performed using Antharis II FT scanner. On the basis of the spectrum files obtained from scanning of 96 samples and the measurement results obtained for selected properties of the soil samples, we developed a calibration model. The model was validated using 48 independent samples. We attempted to estimate the following properties of forest soils: pH, C:N ratio, the organic carbon content (Ct), total nitrogen (Nt), clay content (Clay), base cation content (BC), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and total acidity (TA). We conclude that estimation of soil properties using NIR method can be applied as additional (to laboratory analysis) or initial assessment of soil quality. Our results also suggest that forest species composition may affect the mathematical model applied to NIR spectra analysis, however, this hypothesis needs some of further investigations.