Mass size distributions, composition and dose estimates of particulate matter in Saharan dust outbreaks.

The present study highlights the importance of examining the contribution of Saharan dust (SD) sources not only in terms of overall mass contribution but also in terms of composition, size distribution and inhaled dose. The effect of SD intrusions on PM and the respective major and trace metals mass concentrations and size distributions was investigated in a suburban site in Athens, Greece. SD events were associated, on average, with lower boundary layer heights (BLH) compared to the non-Sahara (nSD) dust days. During SD events, PM1-10 concentrations showed an increasing trend with increasing atmospheric BLH, in contrary to the fine PM (PM1). Generally, increased PM1 and CO (i.e. anthropogenic origin) levels were observed for BLH lower than around 500 m. The average contribution of SD to PM10 and PM2.5 mass concentration was roughly equal to 30.9% and 19.4%, respectively. The mass size distributions of PM and specific major and trace elements (Na, Al, Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, Fe, and Zn) displayed a somewhat different behavior with respect to the mass origin (Algeria-Tunisia vs Libya-Egypt), affecting in turn the regional deposition of inhaled aerosol in the human respiratory tract (HRT). The average PM deposited mass in the upper and lower HRT was 80.1% (Head) and 26.9% (Lung; Tracheobronchial and Pulmonary region) higher for SD days than for nSD days. Higher doses were estimated in the upper and lower HRT for the majority of the elements, when SD intrusions occurred, supporting the increasingly growing interest in exploring the health effects of SD. Only the mass deposition for S, and Na in the lower HRT and Zn in the upper HRT was higher in the case of nSD.

Assessment of PM2.5 sources and their corresponding level of uncertainty in a coastal urban area using EPA PMF 5.0 enhanced diagnostics.

Datasets that include only the PM elemental composition and no other important constituents such as ions and OC, should be treated carefully when used for source apportionment. This work is demonstrating how a source apportionment study utilizing PMF 5.0 enhanced diagnostic tools can achieve an improved solution with documented levels of uncertainty for such a dataset. The uncertainty of the solution is rarely reported in source apportionment studies or it is reported partially. Reporting the uncertainty of the solution is very important especially in the case of small datasets. PM2.5 samples collected in Patras during the year 2011 were used. The concentrations of 22 elements (Z=11-33) were determined using PIXE. Source apportionment analysis revealed that PM2.5 emission sources were biomass burning (11%), sea salt (8%), shipping emissions (10%), vehicle emissions (33%), mineral dust (2%) and secondary sulfates (33%) while unaccounted mass was 3%. Although Patras city center is located in a very close proximity to the city's harbor, the contribution of shipping originating emissions was never before quantified. As rotational stability is hard to be achieved when a small dataset is used the rotational stability of the solution was thoroughly evaluated. A number of constraints were applied to the solution in order to reduce rotational ambiguity.

Proton induced quasi-monochromatic x-ray beams for soft x-ray spectroscopy studies and selective x-ray fluorescence analysis.

We present the analytical features and performance of an x-ray spectroscopy end station of moderate energy resolution operating with proton-induced quasi-monochromatic x-ray beams. The apparatus was designed, installed and operated at the 5.5 MV Tandem VdG Accelerator Laboratory of the Institute of Nuclear Physics, N.C.S.R. "Demokritos," Athens. The setup includes a two-level ultrahigh vacuum chamber that hosts in the lower level up to six primary targets in a rotatable holder; there, the irradiation of pure element materials-used as primary targets-with few-MeV high current (~µA) proton beams produces intense quasi-monochromatic x-ray beams of selectable energy. In the chamber's upper level, a six-position rotatable sample holder hosts the targets considered for x-ray spectroscopy studies. The proton-induced x-ray beam, after proper collimation, is guided to the sample position whereas various filters can be also inserted along the beam's path to eliminate the backscattered protons or/and to absorb selectively components of the x-ray beam. The apparatus incorporates an ultrathin window Si(Li) spectrometer (FWHM 136 eV at 5.89 keV) coupled with low-noise electronics capable of efficiently detecting photons down to carbon Kα. Exemplary soft x-ray spectroscopy studies and results of selective x-ray fluorescence analysis are presented.

Combined elemental analysis of ancient glass beads by means of ion beam, portable XRF, and EPMA techniques.

Ion beam analysis (IBA)- and X-ray fluorescence (XRF)-based techniques have been well adopted in cultural-heritage-related analytical studies covering a wide range of diagnostic role, i.e., from screening purposes up to full quantitative characterization. In this work, a systematic research was carried out towards the identification and evaluation of the advantages and the limitations of laboratory-based (IBA, electron probe microanalyzer) and portable (milli-XRF and micro-XRF) techniques. The study focused on the analysis of an Archaic glass bead collection recently excavated from the city of Thebes (mainland, Greece), in order to suggest an optimized and synergistic analytical methodology for similar studies and to assess the reliability of the quantification procedure of analyses conducted in particular by portable XRF spectrometers. All the employed analytical techniques and methodologies proved efficient to provide in a consistent way characterization of the glass bead composition, with analytical range and sensitivity depending on the particular technique. The obtained compositional data suggest a solid basis for the understanding of the main technological features related to the raw major and minor materials utilized for the manufacture of the Thebian ancient glass bead collection.

Application of a portable XRF spectrometer for the non-invasive analysis of museum metal artefacts.

The present paper reviews examples of the application of a portable - in house developed- XRF spectrometer for the analysis of museum metal artefacts in Greece. Specific topics are addressed, in particular, to which extent the qualitative or quantitative XRF analyses reveal important information about the raw materials and manufacture techniques used for gold, silver and bronze alloys in antiquity. The analytical information that it is gained by means of the XRF measurements is further assessed in comparison with the existing archaeometallurgical knowledge.

PLGA-mPEG nanoparticles of cisplatin: in vitro nanoparticle degradation, in vitro drug release and in vivo drug residence in blood properties.

The in vitro nanoparticle degradation, in vitro drug release and in vivo drug residence in blood properties of PLGA-mPEG nanoparticles of cisplatin were investigated. The nanoparticles were prepared by a double emulsion method and characterized with regard to their morphology, size, zeta potential and drug loading. The rate of in vitro degradation of the PLGA-mPEG nanoparticles in PBS (pH 7.4) depended on their composition, increasing when the mPEG content (mPEG:PLGA ratio) of the nanoparticles increased. Sustained cisplatin release over several hours from the PLGA-mPEG nanoparticles in vitro (PBS) was observed. The composition of the nanoparticles affected drug release: the rate of release increased when the mPEG content of the nanoparticles increased. Within the range of drug loadings investigated, the drug loading of the nanoparticles did not have any significant effect on drug release. The loading efficiency was low and needs improvement in order to obtain PLGA-mPEG nanoparticles with a satisfactory cisplatin content for therapeutic application. The i.v. administration of PLGA-mPEG nanoparticles of cisplatin in BALB/c mice resulted in prolonged cisplatin residence in systemic blood circulation. The results appear to justify further investigation of the suitability of the PLGA-mPEG nanoparticles for the controlled i.v. delivery and/or targeting of cisplatin.