Lina Carvalho

Soil-pore water distribution of silver and gold engineered nanoparticles in undisturbed soils under unsaturated conditions

Release of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) to soil is well documented but little is known on the subsequent soil-pore water distribution of ENPs once present in soil. In this study, the availability and mobility of silver (Ag) and gold (Au) ENPs added to agricultural soils were assessed in two separate pot experiments. Pore water samples collected from pots from day 1 to 45 using porous (<0.17 μm) membrane samplers suggest that both Ag and Au are retained almost completely within 24 h with less than 13% of the total added amount present in pore water on day 1. UV-Vis and TEM results showed that AuENPs in pore water were present as both homoaggregates and heteroaggregates until day 3 after which the concentration in pore water was too low to detect the presence of aggregates. A close relation between the concentration of Au and Fe in pore water suggests that the short term solubility of Au is partly controlled by natural soil colloids. Results suggest that under normal aerated soil conditions the actual availability of Ag and AuENPs is low which is relevant in view of risk assessment even though the impact of environmental conditions and soil properties on the reactivity of ENPs (and/or large ENPs aggregates) retained in the solid matrix need to be addressed further.

Major, minor, trace and rare earth elements in sediments of the Bijagós archipelago, Guinea-Bissau

Sixty sediment samples from four sites in the Bijagós archipelago were characterized for fine fraction, loss on ignition, major, minor and trace elemental composition (Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Ti, P, Zr, Mn, Cr, Sr, Ba, B, V, Li, Zn, Ni, Pb, As, Co, U, Cu, Cs and Cd), and the elements of the La-Lu series. Element concentrations were largely explained by the Al content and the proportion of fine fraction content, with the exception of Ca and Sr. Sediments showed enhanced Ti, U, Cr, As and Cd concentrations with respect to estimated upper crust values, most likely mirroring a regional signature. Rare earth elements were in deficit relatively to the North American Shale Composite (NASC), mainly in coarser material. No pronounced Ce-anomaly was observed, while Eu-anomalies were positive in most analyzed sediments.

Rare earth elements in mud volcano sediments from the Gulf of Cadiz, South Iberian Peninsula

Eight gravity cores (GC) were retrieved from the deep mud volcanoes Sagres, Bonjardim, Soloviev and Porto in the Gulf of Cadiz. Cores with 137 to 317 cm long were sliced in intervals of 15 to 20 cm thickness, and 46 samples were analyzed for grain size distribution, loss on ignition, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Mn, Sr, Ba and the rare earth elements (REE) La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu. REE profile normalized to Post-Archean Australian Average Shale (PAAS) was dominated by a mid-REE bulge with a pronounced Eu enhancement. Sediment reducing conditions resulting from the anaerobic oxidation of methane probably contributed to the positive-Eu anomaly (1.18-2.19, PAAS normalization). Most likely, reactions near the sulfate-methane transition zone such as the precipitation of barium sulfate found at layers around 50-cm depth explain the enhancement of Eu/Eu* ratios. The Ce anomalies (0.93-1.09) were almost absent.

A Comparison of Postoperative MRI Changes between Endoscopic Endonasal and Open Approaches for Olfactory Groove Meningiomas: A Match Paired Analysis

Objective: Olfactory groove meningiomas may be associated with significant brain edema and surgical removal of these tumors may be associated with further injury to the frontal lobes. Endonasal access avoids frontal lobe manipulation, but little objective benefit has been demonstrated. Study Design: Retrospective case-cohort matched pair analysis. Methods: A retrospective review was performed at two institutions to identify patients who had either endonasal or open approach for resection of olfactory groove meningiomas. A matched pair analysis was performed and tumor volume, edema, FLAIR change, and porencephalic cave were volumetrically quantified. Results: Ten matched pairs (20 patients) were identified. The open approach was associated with more postoperative FLAIR change on MRI compared with the endoscopic approach although not statistically significant (13.3 cm3 [SD = 12.0] vs. 6.9 cm3 [SD = 10.0], p = 0.17). The endoscopic approach was also associated with smaller porencephalic cave volumes (1.7 cm3[SD=2.8] vs. 6.9 cm3[SD = 10.0), p = 0.058). In a multivariable model, the endoscopic approach was associated with less postoperative FLAIR change (p = 0.016) and smaller porencephalic cave volumes (p = 0.028). Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence that the endoscopic endonasal approach is associated with quantifiable improvements in postoperative brain imaging. Further studies including neurocognitive function are needed to confirm the significance of these findings.

FT-Raman spectroscopy ex vivo analysis of inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia from buccal mucosa

Sao Paulo State Univ, Sao Jose dos Campos Dent Sch, Dept Biosci & Oral Diag, Sao Paulo, BrazilSao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Botucatu Sch Med, Dept Dermatol & Radiotherapy, Sao Paulo, BrazilSao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Sao Jose de Campos Dent Sch, Dept Biosci & Oral Diag, Sao Paulo, BrazilSao Paulo State Univ, Botucatu Sch Med, Dept Ophthalmol & Othorrinolaringol, Sao Paulo, Brazil