Star-shaped Magnetic-plasmonic Au@Fe3O4 nano-heterostructures for photothermal therapy

Here, we synthesize a Au@Fe3O4 core@shell system with a highly uniform unprecedented star-like shell morphology with combined plasmonic and magnetic properties. An advanced electron microscopy characterization allows assessing the multifaceted nature of the Au core and its role in the growth of the peculiar epitaxial star-like shell with excellent crystallinity and homogeneity. Magnetometry and magneto-optical spectroscopy revealed a pure magnetite shell, with a superior saturation magnetization compared to similar Au@Fe3O4 heterostructures reported in the literature, which is ascribed to the star-like morphology, as well as to the large thickness of the shell. Of note, Au@Fe3O4 nanostar-loaded cancer cells displayed magneto-mechanical stress under a low frequency external alternating magnetic field (few tens of Hz). On the other hand, such a uniform, homogeneous, and thick magnetite shell enables the shift of the plasmonic resonance of the Au core to 640 nm, which is the largest red shift achievable in Au@Fe3O4 homogeneous core@shell systems, prompting application in photothermal therapy and optical imaging in the first biologically transparent window. Preliminary experiments performing irradiation of a stable water suspension of the nanostar and Au@Fe3O4-loaded cancer cell culture suspension at 658 nm confirmed their optical response and their suitability for photothermal therapy. The outstanding features of the prepared system can be thus potentially exploited as a multifunctional platform for magnetic-plasmonic applications

A flood vulnerability index for coastal cities and its use in assessing climate change impacts

Worldwide, there is a need to enhance our understanding of vulnerability and to develop methodologies and tools to assess vulnerability. One of the most important goals of assessing coastal flood vulnerability, in particular, is to create a readily understandable link between the theoretical concepts of flood vulnerability and the day-to-day decision-making process and to encapsulate this link in an easily accessible tool. This article focuses on developing a Coastal City Flood Vulnerability Index (CCFVI) based on exposure, susceptibility and resilience to coastal flooding. It is applied to nine cities around the world, each with different kinds of exposure. With the aid of this index, it is demonstrated which cities are most vulnerable to coastal flooding with regard to the system’s components, that is, hydro-geological, socio-economic and politico-administrative. The index gives a number from 0 to 1, indicating comparatively low or high coastal flood vulnerability, which shows which cities are most in need of further, more detailed investigation for decision-makers. Once its use to compare the vulnerability of a range of cities under current conditions has been demonstrated, it is used to study the impact of climate change on the vulnerability of these cities over a longer timescale. The results show that CCFVI provides a means of obtaining a broad overview of flood vulnerability and the effect of possible adaptation options. This, in turn, will allow for the direction of resources to more in-depth investigation of the most promising strategies

Tracheobronchial foreign body in children - 10 years experience

Introduction: Presentation of ENT Department - Timisoara 10 years experience of in the diagnosis and treatment of tracheobronchial foreign body in children. We studied 93 children, aged between 10 months and 8 years.Methods: The diagnosis of airways penetrating syndrome was established on history, clinical examination, cardiopulmonary X-ray, CT (virtual bronchoscopy) and rigid videotracheobronhoscopy. Foreign body removal was performed using pediatric Karl-Storz tracheobronhoscopy kit, under general anesthesia and video documentation.Results: The repartition of the cases according to age was: 76 cases were between 10 month and 3 years; 17 cases were between 3 and 8 years. Foreign body localization was: 53 cases in right bronchus, left bronchus 23 cases, 12 cases with bilateral localization, 4 cases in the trachea and 1 case with subglottic localization. In 72 cases there was an organic nature of the foreign body, while in 21 cases there was an anorganic nature. All other patients presented a good evolution, with no complication after extraction of the foreign body. Conclusions: Close cooperation between the ENT specialist, paediatrician, radiologist and anesthesiologist is necessary for the management of tracheobronchial foreign body.Supported by: ENT Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, "Victor Babes" TimisoaraDer Erstautor gibt keinen Interessenkonflikt an