X-ray production cross sections of individual L lines, L and M total of Hg were measured for 0.7 to 2.9 MeV protons. The experimental results were compared with the theoretical predictions of the plane wave Born approximation (PWBA), ECPSSR and the semiempirical formula of Orlic. Good agreements were obtained for L1 at lower energies and L2 and L3 at higher energies with Orlic and ECPSSR predictions, respectively. The influence of using different databases for x-ray fluorescence yields and Coster-Kronig transition probabilities is also discussed. The results of this work were not compared to any other reported data, since no experimental cross sections for mercury were found in the literature.

Mineral trace element concentration of human saliva from healthy volunteers, were investigated by Proton-Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) analysis. The specimens were bombarded with Proton beams of 2 MeV from a Van de Graaff accelerator at NRC . The object of this measurement was to find a normal range of trace element concentration for Iranian people.

Structural composition of 11 trace elements with Z greater than 13 ( Al , P , Si , K , Ca , Mn , Fe , Cu , Zn , Mo , I ) was analyzed for the two main groups of human gallstones according to their cholesterol and pigment types by PIXE (Proton Induced X - ray Emission). In both types of stones, the shell and the center were analyzed separately. The gallstones were obtained from 12 patients in wide age group from 22 to 78 years of age during surgical operation. The results show relatively higher values of heavy elements for ages greater than 40. The values of phosphorous in cholesterol type stones are significantly higher than in those of pigment stones. The concentration of calcium in the center of stones is large in comparison with that in the shells. In this paper, a correlation between stone structure and trace elemental concentration has been presented. Comparison of the two essential types of stones (cholesterol and pigment) shows that the center of the pigment stones is very similar to that of the cholesterol type.

No abstract

Proton Induced X-ray Emission analysis was applied to measure the concentration of Fe, Cu and Zn in liver biopsy samples with Wilson’s disease. Due to the small size of sample and non-conductive character of the material absolute measurement was not possible, therefore the ratio of elements such as Cu/Fe and Zn/Fe were determined. The comparison of these values obtained from normal liver samples helps the physicians to determine the stage of disease.