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In this study, thermoluminescence characteristics of un-doped and Dy-doped calcium tetraborate (CaB 4 O 7 ) compounds are reported. The polycrystalline powder samples of un-doped and Dy-doped CaB 4 O 7 were prepared by a solid-state reaction at high-temperature method. The identification and characteristics of the obtained compounds were determined by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared analysis, differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The glow curves were obtained using a thermoluminescent reader. Neutron sensitivity, dose-response, and heating rate of CaB 4 O 7 compounds were determined by using a bare 252 Cf mixed neutron ? gamma (n ? c) source, and dose response results are compared to those of Harshaw TLD-600 and TLD-700 neutron dosimeters ( 6 LiF:Mg,Ti and 7 LiF:Mg,Ti). The sensitivity of CaB 4 O 7 :Dy (0.5%) sample is approximately 4.35 and 3.36 times higher than that of TLD-600 and TLD-700, respectively.

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Boron (B) is a trace element that plays an important role in the mineral, cell membrane, hormone, and enzyme metabolism of animals and humans. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of dietary calcium tetraborate (CaB4O7) supplementation on the mineral composition of egg content and eggshell of laying quails. For this purpose, a total of 20 male and 40 female quails, 6-week-old, were equally divided into 2 groups (control and additive groups) in 5 replicates (6 birds/replicate) and given CaB4O7 300 mg/kg feed in additive group. The experiment was conducted for 56 days. The eggs were collected and the mineral composition [B, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), iron (Fe), potassium (K), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn)] of egg content and eggshell samples were determined at the end of the experiment in randomly collected 6 eggs per group. Results of this study indicated dietary supplementation of CaB4O7 increased Mg (P<0.01), Na (P<0.01), and K (P<0.05) contents of edible parts of eggs compared to the control group, but B concentration were not determined in edible parts of eggs in both groups. Moreover, B (P<0.01), Mg (P<0.01), Na (P<0.01), Fe (P<0.01), K (P<0.05), Cu (P<0.05) and Zn (P<0.01) of eggshell were higher in the additive group than control. There were also significant correlations between examined minerals both edible and eggshell parts of the eggs. It may be concluded that supplementing diets with CaB4O7 could improve Ca metabolism, producing eggs enriched in minerals, promoting B, Mg, Na, Fe, K, Cu, and Zn deposition in eggshells, and improving eggshells quality. The effective B supplementation doses for functional egg production could be determined and B could be advantageous in terms of beneficial physiological effects.

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal and one of the most important environmental pollutant that is derived from agricultural and industrial sources. Boron (B) is a metalloid that has beneficial physiological effects on the metabolism of animals and humans. This research is aimed at investigating the effect of calcium tetraborate (CaB4O7) on the ovalbumin levels of quail’s egg and some egg quality traits in laying quails exposed to Cd. For this purpose, one hundred twenty Japanese quail 6-week-old were randomly divided into 4 groups (5 replicates each). During the 8 weeks, quails were fed a basal diet (control) and basal diet supplemented with Cd (100 mg of CdCl2), CaB4O7 (300 mg of CaB4O7), and Cd + CaB4O7 (100 mg of CdCl2 and 300 mg of CaB4O7). A total of 160 eggs including 40 eggs from each group were collected for assessment of the quality of the egg and the ovalbumin level of the eggs. Compared with the Cd group, supplementation of Cd + CaB4O7 increased the egg weight (P < 0.01). Results of this study indicated that dietary supplementation with Cd or CaB4O7 was not affected significantly albumen pH, yolk ratio, and yolk color (P > 0.05). Regarding the egg quality, the significant effect of Cd or CaB4O7 (P < 0.01) was found in shape index, yolk weight, albumen weight, and yolk pH. The dietary combination of Cd and CaB4O7 led to the greatest increases in albumen ratio (P < 0.01). The Cd group had the highest ovalbumin level, while CaB4O7 and Cd + CaB4O7 groups had the same ovalbumin level. The findings of this study revealed that provided new insight into the toxicity of the Cd on ovalbumin level and some egg quality traits and CaB4O7 could be used as a potential strategy to ameliorate Cd toxicity.

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The thermoluminescent (TL) properties such as glow curve structure, relative thermoluminescence sensitivity, dose response linearity of lithium fluoride thermoluminescent dosimeters 6LiF:Ti,Mg (TLD-600) and 7LiF:Ti,Mg (TLD-700) are investigated after irradiation 252Cf neutron+gamma and 90Sr-90Y beta sources at room temperature and then the obtained results are compared. The kinetic parameters, namely the order of kinetics b, activation energy and the frequency factor s, are calculated using the computerized glow curve deconvolution (CGCD) program. The effect of heating rate on the glow curves of dosimeters is also investigated. The maximum TL peak intensities and the total area under the glow curves decrease with the increasing heating rate. There is no agreement with the kinetic parameters calculated by the CGCD program for both radiation sources.