Understanding Necrosol pedogenetical processes in post-Roman burials developed on dunes sands.

In Archaeology much emphasis is dedicated to bone preservation, but less attention is paid to the burial soil (i.e., Necrosol), despite its crucial role in governing the geochemical environment. The interaction between human remains and sediments starts after inhumation, leading to bidirectional physico-chemical changes. To approach these complex, bidirectional processes, we sampled at high resolution (n = 46) two post-Roman wooden coffin burials (one single and another double), and the coeval paleosol (n = 20; nearby pedo-sedimentary sequence). The samples were analysed for physical (grain size, colour) and chemical (pH; LOI; elemental composition: FTIR-ATR, XRF, C, N) properties. Principal component analysis enabled to identify five main pedogenetical processes: decalcification, melanization, acidification, neoformation of secondary minerals (i.e., clays) and enrichment in phosphorus. Melanization, acidification and phosphorous enrichment seem to be convergent processes in Necrosols-irrespective of the parent material. Decalcification may be restricted to carbonate containing soil/sediments. Despite not mentioned in previous research, clay formation might also be an overall process. Compared to the local, coeval paleosol, pedogenesis in the studied burial soils was low (double burial) to moderate (single burial). Our results also emphasize the need to study the finer soil fractions, as they provide clues both on soil formation and bone diagenesis.

Approaching mercury distribution in burial environment using PLS-R modelling.

Mercury environmental cycle and toxicology have been widely researched. Given the long history of mercury pollution, researching mercury trends in the past can help to understand its behaviour in the present. Archaeological skeletons have been found to be useful sources of information regarding mercury loads in the past. In our study we applied a soil multi-sampling approach in two burials dated to the 5th to 6th centuries AD. PLRS modelling was used to elucidate the factors controlling mercury distribution. The model explains 72% of mercury variance and suggests that mercury accumulation in the burial soils is the result of complex interactions. The decomposition of the bodies not only was the primary source of mercury to the soil but also responsible for the pedogenetic transformation of the sediments and the formation of soil components with the ability to retain mercury. The amount of soft tissues and bone mass also resulted in differences between burials, indicating that the skeletons were a primary/secondary source of mercury to the soil (i.e. temporary sink). Within burial variability seems to depend on the proximity of the soil to the thoracic area, where the main mercury target organs were located. We also conclude that, in coarse textured soils, as the ones studied in this investigation, the finer fraction (i.e. silt + clay) should be analysed, as it is the most reactive and the one with the higher potential to provide information on metal cycling and incipient soil processes. Finally, our study stresses the need to characterise the burial soil environment in order to fully understand the role of the interactions between soil and skeleton in mercury cycling in burial contexts.

Evaluation of the global longitudinal strain and segmental strain of the right ventricle with two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography with elevation of the legs.

Introduction: Speckle-tracking echocardiography has shown its usefulness in the evaluation of the right ventricle (RV) in healthy subjects and in pulmonary hypertension. It is unknown whether this technique could be sensitive to assess healthy RV with increases in preload. Methods: Consecutive subjects were studied without evidence of cardiopulmonary disease. They underwent speckle-tracking echocardiography in General Electric Vivid 7® equipment. The "segmental longitudinal strain" (SLS) and "global longitudinal strain" (GLS) of the RV was determined at rest and with an increase in the preload through elevation the legs to 45°. Results: We analyzed 31 subjects, 16 men and 15 women, aged 16-53 years, in which were measured SLS and GLS. Basal of the RV free wall: -29.1 ± 3.3 versus -32.7 ± 5.5%, p = 0.0002. Mid of the RV free wall: -28.6 ± 6.4 versus -31.5 ± 4.9%, p = 0.001. Apical of the free wall of the RV: -21.9 ± 6.5 versus -23.3 ± 6.1%, p = 0.118. Basal inferoseptum: -19.40 ± 3.2 versus -18.9 ± 3.0%, p = 0.204. Mid inferoseptum: -19.3 ± 3.2 versus -19 ± 3.1%, p = 0.249. Apical septum: -17.1 ± 5.1 versus -17 ± 5.4%, p = 0.457. GLS of the RV: -23.06 ± 3.4 versus -24.5 ± 2.9%, p = 0.002. ICC: 0.773, 95% CI: 0.534-0.890, p < 0.001. Conclusions: This method was sensitive to detect differences in the GLS and SLS basal and mid of the RV free wall.

Introducción y objetivos: La ecocardiografía speckle-tracking (EST) ha mostrado su utilidad en la evaluación del ventrículo derecho (VD) en sujetos sanos y en hipertensión pulmonar. Se desconoce si esta técnica es sensible para evaluar el VD en sujetos sanos con aumento en la precarga. Método: Se evaluaron sujetos consecutivos sin evidencia de enfermedad cardiopulmonar. Se realizó EST con equipo General Electric Vivid 7®. La deformación longitudinal segmentaria (DLS) y la deformación longitudinal global (DLG) del VD se determinaron en reposo y con incremento en la precarga mediante la elevación de las piernas a 45°. Resultados: Analizamos 31 sujetos, 16 hombres y 15 mujeres. Edad: 16-53 años. Basal de la pared libre del VD: ­29.1 ± 3.3 vs. ­32.7 ± 5.5%, p = 0.0002. Medio de la pared libre del VD: ­28.6 ± 6.4 vs. ­31.5 ± 4.9%, p = 0.001. Apical de la pared libre del VD: ­21.9 ± 6.5 vs. ­23.3 ± 6.1, p = 0.118. Basal septum inferior: ­19.40 ± 3.2 vs. ­18.9 ± 3.0%, p = 0.204. Medio septum inferior: ­19.3 ± 3.2 vs. ­19 ± 3.1%, p = 0.249. Apical septal −17.1% ± 5.1 vs. −17 ± 5.4, p = 0.457. DLG del VD: ­23.06 ± 3.4 vs. ­24.5 ± 2.9%, p = 0.002. CCI: 0.773, IC 95%: 0.534-0.890, p < 0.001. Conclusiones: El método fue sensible para detectar diferencias en la DLG y DLS basal y media de la pared libre del VD.

Evaluation of the global longitudinal strain and segmental strain of the right ventricle with two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography with elevation of the legs.

Introduction: Speckle-tracking echocardiography has shown its usefulness in the evaluation of the right ventricle (RV) in healthy subjects and in pulmonary hypertension. It is unknown whether this technique could be sensitive to assess healthy RV with increases in preload. Methods: Consecutive subjects were studied without evidence of cardiopulmonary disease. They underwent speckle-tracking echocardiography in General Electric Vivid 7® equipment. The "segmental longitudinal strain" (SLS) and "global longitudinal strain" (GLS) of the RV was determined at rest and with an increase in the preload through elevation the legs to 45°. Results: We analyzed 31 subjects, 16 men and 15 women, aged 16-53 years, in which were measured SLS and GLS. Basal of the RV free wall: -29.1 ± 3.3 versus -32.7 ± 5.5%, p = 0.0002. Mid of the RV free wall: -28.6 ± 6.4 versus -31.5 ± 4.9 %, p = 0.001. Apical of the free wall of the RV: -21.9 ± 6.5 versus -23.3 ± 6.1 %, p = 0.118. Basal inferoseptum: -19.40 ± 3.2 versus -18.9 ± 3.0 %, p = 0.204. Mid inferoseptum: -19.3 ± 3.2 versus -19 ± 3.1 %, p = 0.249. Apical septum: -17.1 ± 5.1 versus -17 ± 5.4 %, p = 0.457. GLS of the RV: -23.06 ± 3.4 versus -24.5 ± 2.9 %, p = 0.002. ICC: 0.773, 95 % CI: 0.534-0.890, p < 0.001. Conclusions: This method was sensitive to detect differences in the GLS and SLS basal and mid of the RV free wall.

Introducción: La ecocardiografía speckle-tracking (EST) ha mostrado su utilidad en la evaluación del ventrículo derecho (VD) en sujetos sanos y en hipertensión pulmonar. Se desconoce si esta técnica es sensible para evaluar el VD en sujetos sanos con aumento en la precarga. Método: Se evaluaron sujetos consecutivos sin evidencia de enfermedad cardiopulmonar. Se realizó EST con equipo General Electric Vivid 7®. La deformación longitudinal segmentaria (DLS) y la deformación longitudinal global (DLG) del VD se determinaron en reposo y con incremento en la precarga mediante la elevación de las piernas a 45°. Resultados: Analizamos 31 sujetos, 16 hombres y 15 mujeres. Edad: 16-53 años. Basal de la pared libre del VD: ­29.1 ± 3.3 vs. ­32.7 ± 5.5%, p = 0.0002. Medio de la pared libre del VD: ­28.6 ± 6.4 vs. ­31.5 ± 4.9%, p = 0.001. Apical de la pared libre del VD: ­21.9 ± 6.5 vs. ­23.3 ± 6.1, p = 0.118. Basal septum inferior: ­19.40 ± 3.2 vs. ­18.9 ± 3.0%, p = 0.204. Medio septum inferior: ­19.3 ± 3.2 vs. ­19 ± 3.1%, p = 0.249. Apical septal −17.1% ± 5.1 vs. −17 ± 5.4, p = 0.457. DLG del VD: ­23.06 ± 3.4 vs. ­24.5 ± 2.9%, p = 0.002. CCI: 0.773, IC 95%: 0.534-0.890, p < 0.001. Conclusiones: El método fue sensible para detectar diferencias en la DLG y DLS basal y media de la pared libre del VD.

Evaluation of the global longitudinal strain and segmental strain of the right ventricle with two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography with elevation of the legs / Evaluación de la deformación longitudinal global y segmentaria del ventrículo derecho con ecocardiografía bidimensional speckle-tracking con la elevación de las piernas

Abstract Introduction: Speckle-tracking echocardiography has shown its usefulness in the evaluation of the right ventricle (RV) in healthy subjects and in pulmonary hypertension. It is unknown whether this technique could be sensitive to assess healthy RV with increases in preload. Methods: Consecutive subjects were studied without evidence of cardiopulmonary disease. They underwent speckle-tracking echocardiography in General Electric Vivid 7® equipment. The "segmental longitudinal strain" (SLS) and "global longitudinal strain" (GLS) of the RV was determined at rest and with an increase in the preload through elevation the legs to 45°. Results: We analyzed 31 subjects, 16 men and 15 women, aged 16-53 years, in which were measured SLS and GLS. Basal of the RV free wall: —29.1 ± 3.3 versus −32.7 ± 5.5%, p = 0.0002. Mid of the RV free wall: —28.6 ± 6.4 versus —31.5 ± 4.9 %, p = 0.001. Apical of the free wall of the RV: —21.9 ± 6.5 versus —23.3 ± 6.1 %, p = 0.118. Basal inferoseptum: —19.40 ± 3.2 versus —18.9 ± 3.0 %, p = 0.204. Mid inferoseptum: —19.3 ± 3.2 versus —19 ± 3.1 %, p = 0.249. Apical septum: —17.1 ± 5.1 versus —17 ± 5.4 %, p = 0.457. GLS of the RV: —23.06 ± 3.4 versus —24.5 ± 2.9 %, p = 0.002. ICC: 0.773, 95 % CI: 0.534-0.890, p < 0.001. Conclusions: This method was sensitive to detect differences in the GLS and SLS basal and mid of the RV free wall.

Resumen Introducción: La ecocardiografía speckle-tracking (EST) ha mostrado su utilidad en la evaluación del ventrículo derecho (VD) en sujetos sanos y en hipertensión pulmonar. Se desconoce si esta técnica es sensible para evaluar el VD en sujetos sanos con aumento en la precarga. Método: Se evaluaron sujetos consecutivos sin evidencia de enfermedad cardiopulmonar. Se realizó EST con equipo General Electric Vivid 7®. La deformación longitudinal segmentaria (DLS) y la deformación longitudinal global (DLG) del VD se determinaron en reposo y con incremento en la precarga mediante la elevación de las piernas a 45°. Resultados: Analizamos 31 sujetos, 16 hombres y 15 mujeres. Edad: 16-53 años. Basal de la pared libre del VD: —29.1 ± 3.3 vs. —32.7 ± 5.5%, p = 0.0002. Medio de la pared libre del VD: —28.6 ± 6.4 vs. —31.5 ± 4.9%, p = 0.001. Apical de la pared libre del VD: —21.9 ± 6.5 vs. —23.3 ± 6.1, p = 0.118. Basal septum inferior: —19.40 ± 3.2 vs. —18.9 ± 3.0%, p = 0.204. Medio septum inferior: —19.3 ± 3.2 vs. —19 ± 3.1%, p = 0.249. Apical septal −17.1% ± 5.1 vs. −17 ± 5.4, p = 0.457. DLG del VD: —23.06 ± 3.4 vs. —24.5 ± 2.9%, p = 0.002. CCI: 0.773, IC 95%: 0.534-0.890, p < 0.001. Conclusiones: El método fue sensible para detectar diferencias en la DLG y DLS basal y media de la pared libre del VD.