Preliminary study of total arsenic in a pampean lagoon with horticultural activity

El objetivo de la presente investigación fue evaluar la adsorción de arsénico en sedimentos de la laguna de los Padres en relación a aquellos parámetros que pueden influenciar su movilidad; proponiéndose este estudio como punto de partida para el análisis posterior de posibles aportes externos a esta cuenca. Se tomaron muestras de sedimentos y de agua en la laguna y su cuenca superficial. Las concentraciones de arsénico, hierro y manganeso fueron determinadas por espectroscopia de absorción atómica y de plasma inductivamente acoplado. Las concentraciones de As en sedimentos (5,8 -13,5 mg/kg) fueron significativamente superiores a las encontradas en agua (13,8-18,0 ug/L), evidenciando una baja movilidad. Se encontraron correlaciones significativamente positivas entre las concentraciones de arsénico y hierro, no así con manganeso. Estos resultados sugieren la relación entre ambos metales, provocando esa baja movilidad y la partición favorecida hacia los sedimentos.Centro de Investigaciones Geológica

A large topographic feature on the surface of the trans-Neptunian object (307261) 2002 MS4_4 measured from stellar occultations

This work aims at constraining the size, shape, and geometric albedo of the dwarf planet candidate 2002 MS4 through the analysis of nine stellar occultation events. Using multichord detection, we also studied the object's topography by analyzing the obtained limb and the residuals between observed chords and the best-fitted ellipse. We predicted and organized the observational campaigns of nine stellar occultations by 2002 MS4 between 2019 and 2022, resulting in two single-chord events, four double-chord detections, and three events with three to up to sixty-one positive chords. Using 13 selected chords from the 8 August 2020 event, we determined the global elliptical limb of 2002 MS4. The best-fitted ellipse, combined with the object's rotational information from the literature, constrains the object's size, shape, and albedo. Additionally, we developed a new method to characterize topography features on the object's limb. The global limb has a semi-major axis of 412 $\pm$ 10 km, a semi-minor axis of 385 $\pm$ 17 km, and the position angle of the minor axis is 121 $^\circ$ $\pm$ 16$^\circ$. From this instantaneous limb, we obtained 2002 MS4's geometric albedo and the projected area-equivalent diameter. Significant deviations from the fitted ellipse in the northernmost limb are detected from multiple sites highlighting three distinct topographic features: one 11 km depth depression followed by a 25$^{+4}_{-5}$ km height elevation next to a crater-like depression with an extension of 322 $\pm$ 39 km and 45.1 $\pm$ 1.5 km deep. Our results present an object that is $\approx$138 km smaller in diameter than derived from thermal data, possibly indicating the presence of a so-far unknown satellite. However, within the error bars, the geometric albedo in the V-band agrees with the results published in the literature, even with the radiometric-derived albedo

Special Cycle-Ergometer to Optimize the Rider Position through Force Measurement

This paper presents an original 7-degrees of freedom device to analyze, test and optimize different positions of a bicycle rider. The system allows data acquisitions of forces, angles and velocities during cycling performance. An overall of eight forces and three angles are simultaneously measured. An efficient position enables the rider to reduce the muscular effort for a given power produced. Basically good bike position presents three general parameters: saddle height, saddle-to-bar distance, and fore/aft saddle position. Determining the correct horizontal saddle position is of relevant importance in finding the correct fit for a road cyclist and the optimal frame geometry. Moreover saddle position determines seat tube angle as well as the top tube/stem length dimension. The traditional method consists of positioning the rider's saddle so that the knee (the tibial tuberosity) is over the pedal spindle with the crank in horizontal position. This method considers only partially the relation between the positions of arms and torso for different physiques. This special device, adjusted through hydraulic cylinder actuators, allows to achieve optimum horizontal saddle position by measuring horizontal forces on saddle and handlebar. The aim of the research is to determine a quantitative method to establish the optimum rider position in order to minimize the muscular efforts in aerobic phase. Moreover special pedals, developed both for cycling sport performances and for clinical analysis, equipped with three-axial load cells, measure the effective pedalling force exerted by the rider in three orthogonal directions. In particular the lateral force components on the pedals, perpendicular to the para-sagittal plane are measured. Notwithstanding literature usually neglects the lateral components in pathological and non pathological subjects, these components provide meaningful information in rehabilitation treatment of pathological subjects and moreover the biomechanical analysis of pedalling through three-axial force measurements over each pedal allows to improve efficiency during cycling performance

Blood derived eye drops for the treatment of cornea and ocular surface diseases

The use of blood derived eye drops for the treatment of ocular surface disorders has become increasingly popular in recent years. The mechanism of action is the stimulation of cellular proliferation and migration by supplying an active mixture of growth factors and cytokines at the ocular surface, thus mimicking the function of the lacking natural tears. Blood derived eye drops have been used in the last decades for the treatment of a variety of ocular surface diseases, including mainly dry eye disease, persistent corneal epithelial defect, corneal ulcer, ocular surface burn, recurrent corneal erosion and limbal stem-cell deficiency. Among overall blood derived eye drops, both autologous (from the patients themselves) and homologous (from donors) products exist, with different advantages and disadvantages. Autologous serum, obtained from the patient's own peripheral blood, is the first introduced and most commonly used product. Despite several randomized clinical trials showed its safety and efficacy, a recent Cochraine meta-analysis failed to show significant results due to low evidence. Homologous sources including allogeneic serum obtained from healthy donors, and umbilical cord blood serum collected at the time of delivery, are efficient alternatives, especially when autologous serum therapy is contraindicated or not appropriate. Platelet-derived eye drops are prepared and used in various but poor standardized preparations, namely platelet-rich plasma, plasma rich in growth factors, and platelet lysate. Future perspectives of blood-derived products include the introduction of tailored eye drops, screened for the proper content of growth factors and cytokines according to each patient and ocular surface disease

Targeting growth factor supply in keratopathy treatment: Comparison between maternal peripheral blood and cord blood as sources for the preparation of topical eye drops

Background. Epitheliotrophic growth factors (GF) can be supplied topically to patients with severe keratopathy through a variety of blood-derived products. We compared GF content in adult peripheral blood serum (PB-S) and cord blood serum (CB-S) as potential sources of GF. To limit inter-individual variability the assessment was performed in maternal-child pairs at the time of delivery. Material and methods. The amounts of epidermal GF (EGF), insulin-like GF (IGF), transforming GF-beta (TGF-β), vascular endothelial GF (VEGF) in CB units collected from the umbilical vein and PB from mothers (each group n=30) were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Obstetric characteristics and haematological data were recorded from the archives of the Emilia Romagna Cord Blood Bank. Statistical evaluations were performed by Wilcoxon's test and correlations between variables were determined using Spearman's (ρ) coefficient; p-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results. EGF, TGF-β and VEGF levels were significantly higher in CB-S than in PB-S (median 1,254.4 vs 646.0 pg/mL, 51.3 vs 38.4 μg/mL and 686.8 vs 30 pg/mL, respectively; all p<0.0001) whereas IGF content was significantly higher in PB-S than in CB-S (159.9 vs 53.5 pg/mL, respectively; p<0.0001). In CB-S, the CD34+ cell concentration appeared to be related to EGF, IGF and TGF-β levels whereas white blood cell count appeared to be related to EGF and TGF-β levels. VEGF levels showed no relation to the haematological parameters considered. Platelet counts were not related to GF level in either CB or PB. Discussion. The GF content in the two blood sources was different, with CB containing larger amounts. Each GF selectively regulates cellular processes involved in corneal healing, so the use of PB or CB should be targeted to supply specific GF on the basis of the type and severity of the keratopathy

Cord blood serum-based eye drops; the impact of donor haematological and obstetric factors on the variability of epidermal growth factor levels

BACKGROUND: Cord blood serum (CBS)-based eye drops are successfully used in corneal epithelial wound healing and are prepared to supply a known amount of epidermal growth factor (EGF). Product standardisation includes expensive EGF dosage in all cord blood (CB) units. The influence of donor obstetric and haematological characteristics on EGF content was evaluated, to exclude unsuitable CBS and pre-select those CB units able to provide the correct EGF supply for healing corneal wounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected from 135 donors included in the Emilia Romagna Cord Blood Bank records. Obstetric characteristics, parity and gestational age of the mother, sex, birth weight and Apgar score of the neonate, placental weight, duration of labour and mode of delivery were considered. Haematological characteristics, CD34+ cell number, and total nucleated cell, white blood cell and platelet counts were recorded. EGF content in CB units was estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical evaluation was performed by Mann-Whitney unpaired and Student's t tests. Correlations between variables were evaluated by using Pearson's (r) or Spearman's (ρ) correlation coefficients. RESULTS: EGF content was significantly higher in CBS from donors aged <30 years and after vaginal deliveries as compared with scheduled Caesarean sections (1,386±580 vs 1,106±391 pg/mL; P=0.002). EGF content was significantly correlated with duration of labour (r=0.45; P=0.0001), number of CD34+ cells/mL (r=0.3; P=0.002) particularly in vaginal deliveries (r=0.36; P=0.003), mother's age (-0.25; P=0.005), neonate's birth weight (r=0.27; P=0.005), and total nucleated cell (r=0.25; P=0.006), white cell (r=0.29; P=0.001) and platelet (r=0.24; P=0.009) counts. No significant correlations were found between EGF content and parity, gestational age, placental weight, neonate's sex or Apgar scores. DISCUSSION: EGF levels are higher in CB units from younger mothers (6 hours), and higher CD34+ cell content (>0.05×10(6)/mL). In order to optimise the preparation and costs of CBS-based eye drops, pre-selection of CB units is recommended

Impact assessment of EMFF measures on Good Environmental Status (GES) as defined by Italy

Fisheries involve an intensive use of European maritime regions according to the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The recent CFP reform has adopted an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management that is characterised by enhanced regionalisation and multi-annual management plans. It aims to avoid the adverse environmental impacts of fishing activities, which are to be mitigated as far as possible, while the wasteful practice of discarding unwanted catches is to be phased out by 2019, at least for species with minimum landing size. The paper investigates the ability of selected measures, envisaged by the CFP reform through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), to sustain and attain the objectives of the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive, which aims at achieving Good Environmental Status (GES) in marine waters according to an ecosystem-based approach. The analysis uses an expert judgment-based approach and a specially devised questionnaire, where fisheries science and management experts were asked to assess the impact and interaction of selected EMFF measures on GES achievement as defined for the Italian seas. Their responses are discussed and compared with information coming from an extensive literature review. The results of the analysis highlight a general agreement between EMFF actions and GES objectives but also identify some potential conflicts

Topical Treatment with Cord Blood Serum in Glaucoma Patients: A Preliminary Report

Purpose. To report data which happened to be observed in two glaucoma patients treated with Cord Blood Serum (CBS) eye drops. Design. A case report and retrospective data analysis. Methods. CBS topical eye drops, characterized in advance for growth factors (GFs) content, were administered for two months with the aim to relieve their subjective symptoms, in two patients who had referred ocular surface discomfort, although in absence of any sign of keratopathy. As patients were also affected by advanced glaucoma at risk of vision loss and under treatment with hypotensive drugs, they had been also monitored over the same period with IOP controls and visual field tests in our unit. Results. During subsequent visits, data from Mean Deviation and Pattern Standard Deviation in the visual fields were retrospectively collected and compared with before and after treatment with CBS, and an amelioration was observed. Conclusions. CBS contains a combination of GFs, which potentially exert a neuroprotective action and elect CBS as an interesting natural source to be delivered in neurodegenerative ocular disorders. The incidentally observed amelioration in these two patients deserves further investigation in this respect