Assessing changes in Cd phytoavailability to tomato in amended calcareous soils.

A plot study was conducted to assess changes in Cd phytoavailability to a tomato cultivar in an agricultural soil in Southeastern Spain amended in two different ways (A and B), under controlled conditions. The experimental soil corresponded to a fine-loamy carbonatic thermic Calcidic Haploxeroll (Soil Survey Staff, 1998). A) Soil was amended with a single application of sewage sludge from a municipal source that had a total Cd concentration of 0.5 mg kg-1 at a rate that represented a final average concentration in the mixture of soil and sludge of less than 50 µg Cd kg-1. B) The amendment consisted of the addition of a mineral fertiliser with the same amount of NPK as in the sewage sludge application. The final levels of Cd were supposed to be negligible. A plot series without amendments was also performed (C). DTPA plus triethanolamine, and ammonium acetate extractable fractions in soils were analysed for all the plots. The time-dependent Cd accumulation in different parts of the tomato plants was studied by means of a Cd salt treatment. For each block (A, B, and C) four levels of Cd (0, 3, 30, 100 mg kg-1) were added as CdCl2. There was a significant increase in plant Cd after the initial cropping. Tomato stems, leaves and fruits were analysed separately for Cd determination. Differential Cd distribution and accumulation in tomato parts was detected.

Macrofossils in Raraku Lake (Easter Island) integrated with sedimentary and geochemical records towards a palaeoecological synthesis for the last 34,000 years

Macrofossil analysis of a composite 19 m long sediment core from Rano Raraku Lake (Easter Island)was related to litho-sedimentary and geochemical features of the sediment. Strong stratigraphical patterns are shown by indirect gradient analyses of the data. The good correspondence between the stratigraphical patterns derived from macrofossil (Correspondence Analysis) and sedimentary and geochemical data (Principal Component Analysis) shows that macrofossil associations provide sound palaeolimnological information in conjunction with sedimentary data. The main taphonomic factors in fluencing the macrofossil assemblages are run-off from the catchment, the littoral plant belt, and the depositional environment within the basin. Five main stages during the last 34,000 calibrated years BP (cal yr BP) are characterised from the lithological, geochemical, and macrofossil data. From 34 to 14.6 cal kyr BP (last glacial period) the sediments were largely derived from the catchment, indicating a high energy lake environment with much erosion and run-off bringing abundant plant trichomes, lichens, and mosses into the centre of Raraku Lake.

Fate of cadmium in rat renal tubules: a micropuncture study.

Free-flow micropuncture was carried out in superficial nephrons of Munich-Wistar type rats infused acutely with Cd acetate (CdA) or Cd-DTPA (141 microM Cd). Fluid obtained from Bowman's space (BS) or end-proximal tubule sites was analyzed for Cd and inulin. The fluid/plasma Cd concentration ratio in BS averaged 0.2 and 1.0 during CdA and Cd-DTPA infusions, respectively. End-proximal tubule fractional excretion of Cd during CdA infusion averaged 0.34. Previous administration of CdA (1.0 mg/kg, 48 hr before micropuncture) increased the level of circulating Cd-metallothioneins, as measured by radioimmunoassay, but did not affect the luminal tubular uptake of Cd during CdA infusion. No net transepithelial movement of Cd-DTPA was measured. It is concluded that Cd ultrafiltered during inorganic Cd administration is taken up to a large extent by the convoluted part of proximal tubules.

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In the past 2 decades, there has been an increase in both basic science research detailing the anatomy and biomechanics of the native posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and outcome studies evaluating manage- ment of the ruptured PCL. While the methodology of the latter continues to improve, results based on the current level of evidence must be interpreted cautiously (18). The focus of many recent studies has been double-bundle versus single-bundle reconstruction techniques. The theoretical advantage goes to double-bundle techniques, but a clinical difference in outcome has not been consistently demonstrated (8,17). Some biomechanical studies have reported improved control of posterior laxity with double-bundle reconstruc- tion; however, results appear to be more dependent on tunnel position and graft tensioning (13). In acute isolated symptomatic PCL injuries in which the posteromedial bundle and the meniscofemoral ligament remain intact, a single-bundle augmentation procedure may be the preferred surgical technique. In more complex PCL ruptures with associated injuries involving the posterolateral structures (PLS) or medial collateral ligament, more benefit may be derived from double-bundle reconstruction. Again, cadaveric testing of double-bundle PCL reconstruction has not consistently outperformed single-bundle techniques in combined PCL/PLS injury (3). Multi-ligamentous injuries are commonly associated with PCL rupture (15), and their management should be considered carefully in the decision to reconstruct one or both of the functionally dis- tinct PCL bundles. However, the technical complexity of double-bundle reconstruction, the longer surgical time required, as well as the inconclusive clinical outcome are all factors that must be weighed carefully.

Avaliação do comprimento do colo uterino em gestantes normais entre 20 e 34 semanas de gestação por meio da ultrassonografia endovaginal

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o comprimento do colo uterino pela ultrassonografia transvaginal em uma população de gestantes normais e construir uma curva de normalidade no período de 20 a 34 semanas de gestação. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Estudo de corte transversal, incluindo 145 gestantes normais, com feto único, vivo, sem enfermidades, entre 20 e 34 semanas de gravidez, examinadas nos serviços de ultrassonografia do Hospital Universitário Júlio Müller e de uma clínica privada. As gestantes foram submetidas a ultrassonografia endovaginal, com registro do comprimento cervical. Critérios de exclusão foram: parto prematuro, rotura prematura pré-termo das membranas, placenta prévia, uso de fármacos tocolíticos e/ou progesterona, cerclagem ou qualquer intervenção cirúrgica prévia no colo. A associação entre o comprimento do colo uterino e a idade gestacional foi examinada por regressão linear. RESULTADOS: O comprimento cervical diminuiu progressivamente em 0,8 mm a cada semana, à medida que a idade gestacional progrediu (r = -0,351; p < 0,001). As mulheres que tiveram afunilamento cervical apresentaram colo mais curto que as demais (p = 0,001). A interpolação dos percentis 5, 50 e 95 provê gráfico passível de ser utilizado como referência. CONCLUSÃO: O comprimento médio cervical em gestantes normais diminui 0,8 mm por semana, entre a 20ª e a 34ª semanas de gestação.

Sulfitos duplos contendo cobre (I) e um metal de transição M(II) tipo Cu2SO3.M(II)SO3.2H 2O [M(II) = Cu(II), Fe(II), Mn(II) e Cd(II)]: preparação e seletividade na incorporação de M(II)

The metal-catalyzed autooxidation of S(IV) has been studied for more than a century without a consensus being obtained as to reaction rates, rate laws or mechanisms. The main objective in this work was to explore the reaction between Cu(II) and SO2 in the presence of M(II), paying special attention to the formation of double sulfites like Cu2SO3.M(II)SO3.2H 2O. The two principal aspects studied were: i) a new way to prepare double sulfites with high purity degree and the selectivity in the M(II) incorporation during the salt formation.

Análise das isotermas de adsorção de Cu(II), Cd(II), Ni(II) e Zn(II) pela N-(3,4-dihidroxibenzil) quitosana empregando o método da regressão não linear

Adsorption of Cu(II), Ni(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) ions from aqueous solutions by N-(3,4-dihydroxybenzyl) chitosan have been carried out. The Langmuir (L), Freundlich (F), Langmuir - Freundlich (LF), Redlich-Peterson (RP) and Tóth (T) adsorption isotherms models have been applied to fit the experimental data. Nonlinear regression computational program "Enzefitte", which is a library of the more commonly used adsorption isotherm equations for obtaining tabular outuput suitable for plotting theoretical of fitted isotherms, has been used to estimate the adsorption parameters. These parameters were used to calculate the amount adsorbed q calc., a function of concentration (C).

Determinação de Cd, Ni e Zn por espectrometria de emissão atômica com plasma indutivamente acoplado, após separação e pré-concentração em coluna contendo p-dimetilaminobenzilidenorodanina adsorvida sobre sílica gel

A column packed with 5-(4-dimethylaminobenzylidene)rhodanine adsorbed on silica gel was used for the preconcentration of Cd, Ni and Zn at different spiked solutions prior to their determination by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. This column allowed recoveries over than 98% for the above elements and accurate analyses of coastal sea-water certified reference material were also achieved.

Quintet in F minor, op. 34

The Hollywood String Quartet: Slatkin, Felix, viulu ; Shure, Paul, viulu ; Robyn, Paul, alttoviulu ; Aller, Eleanor, sello.

Sonata in G Minor, Op. 34, No. 2

Soitinnus: Piano.