Transport of dust across the Solar System: Constraints on the spatial origin of individual micrometeorites from cosmic-ray exposure.

The origin of micrometeorites (MMs) from asteroids and comets is well-established, but the relative contribution from these two classes remains poorly resolved. Likewise, determining the precise origin of individual MMs is an open challenge. Here, cosmic-ray exposure ages are used to resolve the spatial origins of 12 MMs collected from urban areas and Antarctica. Their 26Al and 10Be concentration, produced during cosmic-ray irradiation in space, were measured by accelerator mass spectrometry. These data are compared to results from a model simulating the transport and irradiation of the MM precursors in space. This model, for the first time, considers a variety of orbits, precursor particle sizes, compositions and densities and incorporates non-isotropic solar and galactic cosmic-ray flux profiles, depth-dependent production rates, as well as spherical evaporation during atmospheric entry. While the origin for six MMs remains ambiguous, two MMs show a preferential tendency towards an origin in the Inner Solar System (Near Earth Objects to the Asteroid Belt) and four towards an origin in the Outer Solar System (Jupiter Family Comets to the Kuiper Belt). These findings challenge the notion that dust originating from the Outer Solar System is unlikely to survive long-term transport and delivery to the terrestrial planets. This article is part of the theme issue 'Dust in the Solar System and beyond'.

A method to calibrate fetal µCT scans using histological sections from the same specimens.

Craniofacial morphogenesis is an intricate developmental process in 3D, which therefore merits visualization and investigation in 3D. To better understand the process, we utilize µCT imaging, and describe a method to calibrate each cone beam µCT individually. Calibration is necessary, because during development, fetuses undergo tissue differentiation, which affects the acquisition process for radiographic images. Additionally, tissue fixation and conservation agents may influence the physical properties of the specimens and may affect image acquisition. After taking a µCT scan from each specimen, we separated a horizontal slice from each neck (which is inconsequential to our question with relation to the whole head). These neck specimens were prepared as horizontal histological serial sections and stained. With these as a reference, the µCT visualization parameters could be adjusted until they matched the selected virtual section planes, which correspond exactly to the planes of the histological sections with a precision (pixel size) of 0.69µm.

[Effects of amalgam fillings on the mercury concentrations in amniotic fluid and breast milk]. / Der Einfluss von Amalgamfüllungen auf die Quecksilberkonzentrationen in Fruchtwasser und Muttermilch.

Human amniotic fluid was gained from 95 pregnant women by amniocentesis (group 1) and from 20 women during delivery (group 2). The concentrations of inorganic mercury in amniotic fluid as assessed directly by cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry (CV-AAS) averaged 0.29 +/- 0.1 microgram/l in group 1 and 0.86 +/- 0.25 microgram/l in group 2. Surface areas of dental amalgam fillings were also estimated in these women and ranged between 0 and 930 mm2. There was no correlation between the surface area of maternal amalgam fillings and the concentrations of inorganic mercury in amniotic fluid (r = -0.122 and -0.069, respectively). Furthermore, no positive correlation existed between amalgam fillings and the concentration of total mercury in maternal blood (4.48 +/- 2.33 micrograms/l) and in neonatal blood (3.28 +/- 1.57 micrograms/l) as measured by CV-AAS in group 2 (r = -0.4 and -0.12, respectively). Concentrations of total mercury were also measured by CV-AAS in the breast milk of 86 women, five to ten days after delivery. These concentrations averaged 1.9 +/- 1.6 micrograms/l and were also not significantly correlated to the maternal amalgam surface areas (r = 0.188). In conclusion, maternal amalgam fillings are of no importance for the mercury load of the fetus and the neonate.