Effect of analytical conditions in wavelength dispersive electron microprobe analysis on the measurement of strontium-to-calcium (Sr/Ca) ratios in otoliths of anadromous salmonids

The use of strontium-to-calcium (Sr/Ca) ratios in otoliths is becoming a standard method to describe life history type and the chronology of migrations between freshwater and seawater habitats in teleosts (e.g. Kalish, 1990; Radtke et al., 1990; Secor, 1992; Rieman et al., 1994; Radtke, 1995; Limburg, 1995; Tzeng et al. 1997; Volk et al., 2000; Zimmerman, 2000; Zimmerman and Reeves, 2000, 2002). This method provides critical information concerning the relationship and ecology of species exhibiting phenotypic variation in migratory behavior (Kalish, 1990; Secor, 1999). Methods and procedures, however, vary among laboratories because a standard method or protocol for measurement of Sr in otoliths does not exist. In this note, we examine the variations in analytical conditions in an effort to increase precision of Sr/Ca measurements. From these findings we argue that precision can be maximized with higher beam current (although there is specimen damage) than previously recommended by Gunn et al. (1992).

Effect of sulphide on corrosion of copper in seawater

The corrosion of ETP copper in natural seawater and putrid seawater has been studied. The corrosion rates and the sulphide content were monitored at regular intervals. In the absence of oxygen in the putrid media, the presence of sulphide favoured a reduction in the corrosion rate.

Effect of sulphide on Admiralty brass in seawater

The corrosion behaviour of Admiralty brass in putrified seawater has been studied. It was observed that when the dissolved oxygen in the putrified seawater medium has attained very low value (<0.53 p.p.m) the corrosion rate of admiralty brass showed decreasing trend in spite of increased level of sulphide from 21.2 to 228 p.p.m. Significant correlations (negative) were observed between corrosion rates and log period of exposure.

Luminescence temperature and pressure studies of Zn2SiO4 phosphors doped with Mn2+ and Eu3+ ions

Zn2SiO4:Mn2+, Zn2SiO4:Eu3+ and Zn2SiO4:Mn2+ Eu3+ phosphors were prepared by a sol-gel process and their luminescence spectra were investigated. The emission bands from intra-ion transitions of Mn2+ and Eu3+ samples were studied as a function of pressure. The pressure coefficient of Mn2+ emission was found to be -25.3 +/- 0.5 and -28.5 +/- 0.9 meV/GPa for Zn2SiO4:Mn2+ and Zn2SiO4:Mn2+ Eu3+, respectively. The Eu3+ emission shows only weak pressure dependence. The pressure dependences of the Mn2+ and Eu3+ emissions in Zn2SiO4:Mn2+ Eu3+ are slightly different from that in Zn2SiO4:Mn2+ and Zn2SiO4:Eu3+ samples, which can be attributed to the co-doping of Mn2+ and Eu3+ ions. The Mn2+ emission in the two samples, however, exhibits analogous temperature dependence and similar luminescence lifetimes, indicating no energy transfer from Mn2+ to Eu3+ occurs. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Stimulated luminescence and photo-gated hole burning in BaFCl0.8Br0.2 : Sm2+,Sm3+ phosphors

The photo- and thermo-stimulated luminescence (PSL and TSL) of BaFCl0.8Br0.2:Sm2+,Sm3+ phosphors were investigated. It is found that the stimulated luminescence intensity of Sm2+ is almost equal to that of Sm3+ even if the content of Sm2+ is much lower than that of Sm3+. Only the stimulated luminescence of Sm2+ is observed in the sample in which the content of Sm2+ is much higher than Sm3+, demonstrating that the PSL or TSL efficiency of Sm2+ is much higher than that of Sm3+. This is attributed to the effective overlap of the e-h emission with the absorption of Sm2+ centers which may make the energy transfer from the electron-hole pairs to Sm2+ effectively. In BaFCl0.8Br0.2:Sm2+,Sm3+ the stimulated luminescence is considered to be occurred via the recombination of photoreleased electrons with the [Sm2+ + h] or [Sm3+ + h] complex and the energy transfer from the electron-hole pairs to the luminescence centers (Sm2+ and Sm3+) is concerned to be the major step to determine the stimulated luminescence efficiency. The X-ray-induced stimulated luminescence is compared and connected to the photon gated hole burning. The net result of the two processes is quite similar and may be comparable. It is suggested from the observations of stimulated luminescence that electron migration between Sm2+ and Sm3+ is not the major process, color centers may play an important role in hole burning. The information from stimulated luminescence is helpful for the understanding of the hole burning mechanism. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Electron migration in BaFCl:Eu2+ phosphors

Here we report the electron migration by photo- or thermostimulation in BaFCl:Eu2+. Electrons released from F centers may be trapped by other defect sites to form F aggregates or another type of F center and vice versa. This migration reduces the photostimulated luminescence efficiency, lowers the imaging plate sensitivity, and causes the difference between the optical absorption and photostimulation spectra of color centers. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.

Photostimulated luminescence of BaFBr:Eu2+ phosphors

After x-irradiation for 10 s, luminescence from BaFBr:Eu2+ phosphors by photostimulation of longer wavelength than F absorption bands was observed and assigned to the surface states or intrinsic defects of the powders. It is found that the luminescence by photostimulation into F bands can be reduced via electron migration from F centers into the surface states or intrinsic defects, thus reducing the x-ray storage or image stability. Surface passivation can lower these defects and improve the phosphors or imaging plate quality. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.

PROCESS OF PHOTOLUMINESCENCE AND PHOTOSTIMULATED LUMINESCENCE IN BAFBR-EU PHOSPHORS

The photoluminescence (PL) and photostimulated luminescence (PSL) of BaFBr: Eu phosphors are reported. In the photoluminescence of BaFBr:Eu, the emission of Eu2+, e-h recombination and Eu3+ have been observed, while in the photostimulated luminescence only the emission of Eu2+ was observed. This phenomenon may be explained well by the suggestion of a two-hand model for the host emission in which the host emission energy may transfer to Eu2+ difference of excitation in those two processes results in different transfer rates which makes the PL and PSL emission different.

Specific Adsorption of Trace Amounts of Calcium and Strontium by Hydrous Oxides of Iron and Aluminum1

Freshly prepared Fe and Al hydrous oxide gels and the amorphous product of heating gibbsite selectively adsorbed traces of Ca and Sr from solutions containing a large excess (∼1M) of NaNO3. The fraction of the added Ca (Sr) adsorbed depended principally on the suspension pH, the amount of solid present, and to a lesser extent on the NaNO3 concentration. Significant Ca and Sr adsorption occurred on the Fe and Al gels, and heated gibbsite, at pH values below the points of zero charge (8.1, 9.4, and 8.3±0.1, respectively), indicating specific adsorption. The pH (± 0.10) at which 50% of the Ca was adsorbed (pH50) occurred at pH 7.15 for the Fe gel (0.093M Fe), 8.35 for the Al gel (0.093M Al), and 6.70 for the heated gibbsite (0.181M Al); for Sr, the pH50 values were 7.10, 9.00, and 6.45, respectively. For the Fe gel and heated gibbsite, an empirical model based on the law of mass action described the pH dependence of adsorption reasonably well and suggested that for each Ca or Sr fraction adsorbed, approximately one proton was released. Failure of the Al gel to fit this model may have resulted from its rapid aging.