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Purpose: Journal of Soils and Sediments publishes the main outcomes of SUITMA 9 Conference in its Special Issue. SUITMA (Soils of Urban, Industrial, Traffic, Mining and Military Areas) working group organizes conferences biannually all over the world. The ninth conference organized in Moscow in May 2017 involved more than 215 speakers from 25 countries, whose presentations focused on challenges and opportunities of urbanization for soil functions and ecosystem services. Materials and methods: The main outcomes of SUITMA 9 were analyzed in comparison to the previous SUIMTA conferences and the main topics were distinguished. Manuscripts accepted for publishing in the Special Issue were reviewed and presented. Results and discussion: Comparison of the topics highlighted in different special issues highlighted the evolution of the SUITMA studies from fundamental morphological descriptions and classifications to applied studies on soil engineering, assessment of SUITMA functions and ecosystem services. Conclusions: The manuscripts accepted to the Special Issue covered included various case studies of SUITMA ecosystem services (e.g. global and local climate regulation, biodiversity maintenance and improvement, nutrients balance and recreation) and disservices (e.g. pollution by heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and sulfur). The increasing role of SUITMA studies for urban management and decision making was concluded.

Green infrastructure is a cost-effective, resilient approach to managing wet weather impacts and provides many additional benefits. In New York City, Green Infrastructure (GI) is designed to effectively capture stormwater runoff at the source, thereby reducing combined sewer overflow (CSO) – a leading cause of water quality problem in urban areas. The infiltration rate is the most important measurement of a soil’s capacity to capture stormwater in a GI system. The objectives of this research are to examine the variability of infiltration rates at different sites and within a site, and to investigate the factors that contribute to such variability. Field variables such as vegetation and root density were noted. Surface soil samples were collected and analyzed for moisture, organic content, bulk density and texture. Linear correlation and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were performed to examine the relationships between these variables and infiltration rates. The surface infiltration rates varied significantly (5–20 cm/h) among sites as well as at different locations within the same site. The effect of surface capping is minimal at most sites. There is no significant correlation between infiltration rates and single soil properties, except for that between bulk density and Ksat. PCA analysis suggests that multiple inter-related soil properties and field variables that affect infiltration rates. Soil texture and organic content appear to be the most important variables that control other properties and infiltration rates at the sites included in this study.

Pesticides containing lead and arsenic were widely used in the US through the 20th century. Legacy contamination from this use poses a health risk as interest in cultivation of abandoned agricultural lands has grown in recent years. We addressed these risks by quantifying Pb and As in soils and produce from a suburban farm in New Jersey, USA and examining the ability of phosphate-bearing amendments (bone meal, triple super phosphate, manure compost and raised bed soil) in combination with Fe and/or Mn amendments to stabilize these metals and prevent their movement into vegetables. Common produce (tomato, carrot, lettuce, and radish) was grown in soils with 133–307 mg Pb kg−1 and 19–73 mg As kg−1. Our results suggest that vegetables produced on these soils can have Pb and As at levels above health and safety standards, especially root and leafy green vegetables. Phosphate-bearing amendments can reduce extractable Pb but can increase extractable As in soils, and can have similar effects on vegetables. Iron amendment increased both extractable Pb and As, likely due to the presence of elemental sulfur in the Fe amendment, which lowered soil pH, while Mn amendment had the opposite effect. Most of the Pb and As in vegetables appear to be associated with soil particles adhered to the vegetables, and the contribution from uptake was relatively small except for plots treated with Fe-amendments and for carrots. Thus, proper crop selection, rigorous cleaning, and dust and dirt control are critical to reduce the risk of contaminant exposure through the consumption of garden produce.

The continuing loss of urban wetlands due to an expanding human population and urban development pressures makes restoration or creation of urban wetlands a high priority. However, urban wetland restorations are particularly challenging due to altered hydrologic patterns, a high proportion of impervious surface and stormwater runoff, degraded urban soils, historic contamination, and competitive pressure from non-native species. Urban wetland projects must also consider human-desired socio-economic benefits. We argue that using current wetland restoration approaches and existing regulatory “success” criteria, such as meeting restoration targets for vegetation structure based on reference sites in non-urban locations, will result in “failed” urban restorations. Using three wetland Case Studies in highly urbanized locations, we describe geophysical tools, stormwater management methods, and design approaches useful in addressing urban challenges and in supporting “successful” urban rehabilitation outcomes. We suggest that in human-dominated landscapes, the current paradigm of “restoration” to a previous state must shift to a paradigm of “rehabilitation”, which prioritizes wetland functions and values rather than vegetation structure in order to provide increased ecological benefits and much needed urban open space amenities.

The New York African Burial Ground (NYABG) is the country’s oldest and largest burial site of free and enslaved Africans. Re-discovered in 1991, this site provided evidence of the biological and cultural existence of a 17th and 18th Century historic population viewing their skeletal remains. However, the skeletal remains were reburied in October 2003 and are unavailable for further investigation. The analysis of grave soil samples with modern technology allows for the assessment of trace metal presence. Portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometry provides a semi-quantitative and non-destructive method to identify trace metals of this population and in the surrounding environment. Sixty-five NYABG soil samples were analyzed on a handheld Bruker Tracer III- SD XRF with 40 kV of voltage and a 30μA current. Presence of As, Cu, and Zn can potentially decipher the influence of the local 18th Century pottery factories. Elevated levels of Sr validate the assumed heavy vegetative diets of poor and enslaved Africans of the time. Decreased levels of Ca may be due in part to the proximity of the Collect Pond, the existing water table until the early 19th Century, and Manhattan’s rising sea level causing an elevated water table washing away the leached Ca from human remains. These data help us reconstruct the lives of these early Americans in what became New York City.

This article summarizes the results from a survey of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and metal concentrations measured in surface and subsurface soil samples that were collected from background locations throughout Manhattan, New York, between August 2005 and May 2006. The 95th percentile total 16 US EPA Priority Pollutant PAH concentrations in surface and subsurface soils were 24.8 and 53.1 mg/kg, respectively. Diagnostic PAH source ratios for surface and subsurface soils are presented, which provide plausible bounds for where these ratios would and would not be able to confidently differentiate background soils from soil samples that are impacted by PAH contamination. The 95th percentile concentrations for lead in surface and subsurface soils were 891 and 2,540 mg/kg, respectively, and the 95th percentile concentrations for mercury in surface and subsurface soils were 1.9 and 2.7 mg/kg, respectively. A not-unexpected finding of the study was that most surface soils and all subsurface soils...

The influence of human activities on the development and functioning of urban soils and their profile characteristics is still inadequately understood. Microbial communities can change due to anthropogenic disturbances and it is unclear how they exist along urban soil profiles. This study investigates the dynamic soil properties (DSPs) and the bacterial communities along the profiles of urban soils in New York City (NYC) with varying degree of human disturbances. Eleven pedons were investigated across NYC as well as one control soil in a nearby non-urban area. Six soils are formed in naturally deposited materials (ND) and five in human-altered and human-transported materials (HAHT). For each soil, the profile was described and each horizon was sampled to assess DSPs and the bacterial community composition and diversity. The development and the DSPs of NYC soils are influenced by the incorporation of HAHT materials and atmospheric deposits. The most abundant bacterial taxa observed in the NYC soils are also present in most natural and urban soils worldwide. The bacterial diversity was lower in some soils formed in ND materials, in which the contribution of low-abundance taxa was more restricted. Some differences in bacterial community composition separated the soils formed in ND materials and in dredged sediments from the soils formed in high artifact fill and serpentinite till. Changes in bacterial community composition between soil horizons were more noticeable in urban soils formed in ND materials than in those formed in HAHT materials which display less differentiated profiles and in the non-urban highly weathered soil. The bacterial diversity is not linked to the degree of disturbance of the urban soils but the variations in community composition between pedons and along soil profiles could be the result of changes in soil development and properties related to human activities and should be consistently characterized in urban soils.

To remain relevant in a changing world, soil survey and soil science need to look beyond the traditional to urban applications. Urban and suburban areas generally have the highest population densities and land values and arguably the greatest need for the ecosystem services that soil can provide. The urban environment poses a distinctive set of challenges for soil scientists. The description, classification, and mapping of soils in human-altered and human-transported materials is the charge of the field soil scientist, extending above and beyond the urban setting. Environmental professionals, planners, educators, and students in urban areas are often unfamiliar with soil survey and soil science in general. This paper discusses a successful approach to establishing a soil survey or soil science program in the urban community. For over 20 years, the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) and the New York City Soil and Water Conservation District (NYCSWCD) have conducted a soil survey program in New York City, producing multiple soil surveys at different scales, culminating in a 1:12000 scale survey posted on the Web Soil Survey site in 2014. The multifaceted program has also included onsite investigations, research projects, and an education and outreach component including lectures, training sessions, and workshops, as well as volunteer and internship opportunities. New and innovative approaches in soil survey methods, product design and delivery, and outreach have been used, as appropriate, to best fit the needs of the urban environment. The NYC Soil Survey program has built a succession of partnerships with government agencies, colleges, universities, and community and commercial groups, resulting in a variety of products and services to meet local soil science needs. Over time, the program has successfully been able to raise awareness of soil science in the urban environment, establish a USDA-NRCS presence in the City, and provide useful soil information to an underserved segment of the population. Making the local connection, listening to local needs, offering a multifaceted and wide array of soil science-related services, exploring innovative approaches, and creating partnerships have shown to be successful components of establishing a soil survey program in the urban environment.

This study examines the efficiency and process of metals and metalloids removal from the runoff by an innovative stormwater capture and treatment system at the SIMS Metal recycling site in New York City. This system is one of the very early pilots of stormwater management systems in New York City, and uses a combination of natural and engineering approaches (e.g., filtration capacity of soils and patented engineering designs). The runoff, with particulate and dissolved metals, metalloids and hydrocarbons, were directed into a vegetated field with engineered soil and mulch. The spatial distribution of metals and metalloids within the soil (soil surface and soil columns) and groundwater quality (water in the StormChambers and pumped to the surface) were evaluated. Even with less than 30 cm of topsoil, the system removes metal and metalloid contaminants efficiently.

In cities, the strong heterogeneity of soils, added to the lack of standardized assessment methods, serves as a barrier to the estimation of their soil organic carbon content (SOC), soil organic carbon stocks (SOCS; kgC m(-2)) and soil organic carbon citywide totals (SOCCT; kgC). Are urban soils, even the subsoils and sealed soils, contributing to the global stock of C? To address this question, the SOCS and SOCCT of two cities, New York City (NYC) and Paris, were compared. In NYC, soil samples were collected with a pedological standardized method to 1 m depth. The bulk density (D-b) was measured; SOC and SOCS were calculated for 0-30 cm and 30-100 cm depths in open (unsealed) soils and sealed soils. In Paris, the samples were collected for 0-30 cm depth in open soils and sealed soils by different sampling methods. If SOC was measured, Db had to be estimated using pedotransfer functions (PTFs) refitted from the literature on NYC data; hence, SOCS was estimated. Globally, SOCS for open soils were not significantly different between both cities (11.3 +/- 11.5 kgC m(-2) in NYC; 9.9 +/- 3.9 kgC m(-2) in Paris). Nevertheless, SOCS was lower in sealed soils (2.9 +/- 2.6 kgC m(-2) in NYC and 3.4 +/- 1.2 kgC m(-2) in Paris). The SOCCT was similar between both cities for 0-30 cm (3.8 TgC in NYC and 3.5 TgC in Paris) and was also significant for the 30-100 cm layer in NYC (5.8 TgC). A comparison with estimated SOCCT in agricultural and forest soils demonstrated that the city's open soils represent important pools of organic carbon (respectively 110.4% and 44.5% more C in NYC and Paris than in agricultural soils, for 0-30 cm depth). That was mainly observable for the 1 m depth (146.6% more C in NYC than in agricultural soils). The methodology to assess urban SOCS was also discussed. (c) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Urban gardening, urban agriculture, and urban farming provide healthy food and promote environmental, social, cultural, and educational benefits. However, urban soil is a natural sink for contaminants derived mainly from historical anthropogenic activities. This article reports a summary of trace metal concentrations (Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) of 1,652 garden soil samples from 904 gardens in New York City. Based on the Soil Cleanup Objective (SCO) criteria developed by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (6 NYCRR Part 375). Many of the soils analyzed exceeded the limits for Pb, Cr, As, and Cd levels. Higher percentages of home gardens are contaminated than community gardens. When accounting for Pb and As levels, about 21% of the community garden samples and 71% of the home garden samples exceed respective SCO limits. Among all home and community garden samples, less than 3% meet the criteria for unrestricted use when all trace metals are considered. There are controversies on the appropriateness of SCO criteria for urban gardening situations. Consistent soil trace metal guidelines pertaining to gardening need to be developed. Expanded soil screening, greater public awareness, and education are urgently needed to ensure safe and successful urban agriculture.

Urban soil is a sink for anthropogenic lead (Pb) and the latter is a persistent threat to human health, especially to children and the gardening population. In the past decade, several organizations have tested soil samples for Pb in New York City. Here we summarize the available soil Pb data for New York City and create a spatial distribution map. The highest Pb levels were present in the oldest parts of the city, and mostly industrial and high traffic areas. There is overlap between high Pb areas with areas of high population density and high poverty rates. The analyses help delineate parts of the city that are most affected, possible sources of Pb, and where to prioritize resources for mitigation and remediation.

Although more than 600,000 coronary stents are implanted during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) annually in the United States, no real-world surveillance system exists to monitor their safety, so claims data are often used for this purpose. We used deterministic matching to link patients

New Jersey, like many states in the northeastern USA, has a high demand for grazing land for horses. Grazing lands are often intensively used because of the limited possibilities for crop rotation. A ground-penetrating radar (GPR) study was conducted in an area under different management with soils formed in old alluvium and fluviomarine sediments (Ultisols). In the grazing field, no significant signs of compaction were detected with GPR. In the feeding fields, compaction was significant within 24 cm soil from the soil surface. The GPR data were used to generate a contour map representing the depth to the compacted layer. It is concluded that soil compaction can be adequately mapped using GPR.

Reconstitution of coronary flow in aortic root replacement has generally been accomplished by (1) the Bentall (inclusion) technique, (2) the Cabrol (graft) technique, or (3) the direct reimplantation of coronary artery buttons (button technique). The inclusion and graft techniques have at times required supplementation by a Cabrol fistula from the peri-graft space to the right atrium for control of bleeding. Our experience over an 8-year period comprises 33 composite graft replacements of the aortic root (24 male, 9 female, ages 16–79). Twenty-seven patients had aneurysm (annuloaortic ectasia), 5 had acute dissection, and 1 had advanced endocarditis. The Bentall technique was used in 7 patients, the graft technique in 7, and the button technique in 19. Five were reoperations and in an additional 5 patients, therapeutic coronary bypass or valve replacement needed to be performed. Hospital mortality was 4/33 (12.1%). Actuarial overall survival 1 year after the operation was 84.8%. Complications related to aortic root replacement occurred only in patients not operated with the button technique and included persistence of the Cabrol fistula requiring reexploration in a patient done by the graft technique, saphenous vein graft stenosis in a patient done by the graft technique, and postoperative bleeding in 3 patients done with the Bentall (2 patients) and the graft (1 patient) technique. In late follow-up, survival free of complications related to the aortic replacement was 94.7% in patients done with the button technique and 57.1% in patients done with the other techniques (p

Gardening (especially food growing) in urban areas is becoming popular, but urban soils are often very contaminated for historical reasons. There is lack of sufficient information as to the bioavailability of soil heavy metals to plants and human in urban environments. This study examines the relative leachability of Cr, Ni, As, Cd, Zn, and Pb for soils with varying characteristics. The speciation and mobility of these metals can be qualitatively inferred from the leaching experiments. The goal is to use the data to shed some light on their bioavailability to plant and human, as well as the basis for soil remediation. Selective and sequential chemical leaching methods were both used to evaluate the speciation of Cr, Ni, As, Cd, Zn, and Pb in soil samples collected from New York City residential and community gardens. The sequential leaching experiment followed a standard BCR four-step procedure, while selective leaching involved seven different chemical extractants. The results from selective and sequential leaching methods are consistent. In general, very little of the heavy metals were found in the easily soluble or exchangeable fractions. Larger fractions of Cd and Zn can be leached out than other metals. Lead appears predominantly in the organic or carbonate fractions, of which ∼30–60% is in the easily soluble organic fraction. Most As cannot be leached out by any of the extractants used, but it could have been complicated by the ineffective dissolution of oxides by ammonium hydroxylamine. Ni and Cr were mostly in the residual fractions but some released in the oxidizable fractions. Therefore, the leachability of metals follow the order Cd/Zn > Pb > Ni/Cr. Despite of the controversy and inaccuracy surrounding chemical leaching methods for the speciation of metals, chemical leaching data provide important, general, and easy-to-access information on the mobility of heavy metals in soils, which in turn relates to their potential bioavailability to plant uptake and human health risk. Such data can be used to guide risk assessment of different metals and develop effective remediation strategies.

Scaling of mass within soil aggregates is characterized with a power-law model relating mass, M, and radius, r, of aggregates. When distribution of mass is fractal, the constants of the power-law model are the fractal dimension of mass, Dm, with a value 1 cm and r 1Þ of the Gladstone and Holmdel soils. For the wooded Gladstone and Holmdel soils, mass scaling of intact and eroded aggregates was statistically characterized by the same values of Dm and km, suggesting a concentric arrangement of mass, but only within aggregates that are not subjected to tillage. The km values of intact and eroded aggregates were correlated ðR ¼ 0:97Þ to aggregate bulk density of intact aggregates. Typically, small aggregates ðr < 1c mÞ, aggregates from wooded sites, and intact aggregates had larger values of lacunarity than their corresponding counterparts. This study indicates that fractal scaling of mass cannot be assumed for all soils, but it can be maintained in cultivated soils despite changes in mass scaling introduced by tillage. # 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Objectives: To determine the incidence, impact, etiology, and methods for prevention of stroke after surgery of the thoracic aorta. Methods: A total of 317 thoracic aortic operations on 303 patients (194 male, 109 female) aged 13 to 87 years (mean 61 years) were reviewed. There were 218 procedures on the ascending aorta and arch and 99 on the descending aorta. Of the 218 procedures on the ascending aorta and arch, 86 involved cardiopulmonary bypass, 122 involved deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, 2 involved antegrade cerebral perfusion, and 8 involved "clamp and sew" or left heart bypass. Of the 99 procedures on the descending aorta, 20 involved "clamp and sew," 69 involved left heart or full bypass, and 10 involved deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. A total of 206 cases were elective and 97 were emergency operations. Results: Twenty-three (7.3%) of 317 patients had a stroke. Fifteen strokes occurred in operations on the ascending aorta and 8 in operations on the descending aorta (6.9% vs 8.1%; P =.703). Stroke occurred in 16 (16.5%) of 97 emergency operations and 7 (3.4%) of 206 elective operations ( P =.001). In the 300 patients surviving the operation, stroke was a significant predictor of postoperative death (9/23 [39.1%] vs 23/277 [8.3%]; P =.001). Analysis of operative reports, brain images, and neurologic consultations revealed 15 of the 23 strokes were embolic, 3 were ischemic, 3 hemorrhagic, and 2 indeterminate. Patients with stroke had longer intensive care unit stays (18.4 vs 6.8 days; P =.0001), longer times to extubation (12.7 vs 3.8 days; P ||.0012), longer postoperative stays (31.4 vs 14.3 days; P =.001), and decreased age-adjusted survival (relative risk 2.775; P =.0013). After implementation of a rigorous antiembolic regimen, both strokes and mortality trended downward. Conclusions: (1) Stroke complicates surgery of both the ascending and descending thoracic aorta and warrants consideration in decision making. (2) Strokes are largely embolic. (3) Antiembolic measures for particles and air are essential, including gentle aortic manipulation, thorough debridement, transesophageal echocardiography to identify aortic atheromas, carbon dioxide flooding of the field, and (in descending cases) proximal clamp application before initiating femoral perfusion. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2001;122:935-45

Background —Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) induces a systemic inflammatory response that causes substantial clinical morbidity. Activation of complement during CPB contributes significantly to this inflammatory process. We examined the capability of a novel therapeutic complement inhibitor to prevent pathological complement activation and tissue injury in patients undergoing CPB. Methods and Results —A humanized, recombinant, single-chain antibody specific for human C5, h5G1.1-scFv, was intravenously administered in 1 of 4 doses ranging from 0.2 to 2.0 mg/kg before CPB. h5G1.1-scFv was found to be safe and well tolerated. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed a sustained half-life from 7.0 to 14.5 hours. Pharmacodynamic analysis demonstrated significant dose-dependent inhibition of complement hemolytic activity for up to 14 hours at 2 mg/kg. The generation of proinflammatory complement byproducts (sC5b-9) was effectively inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion. Leukocyte activation, as measured by surface expression of CD11b, was reduced ( P P =0.05) in patients who received 2 mg/kg. Sequential Mini-Mental State Examinations (MMSE) demonstrated an 80% reduction in new cognitive deficits ( P P Conclusions —A single-chain antibody specific for human C5 is a safe and effective inhibitor of pathological complement activation in patients undergoing CPB. In addition to significantly reducing sC5b-9 formation and leukocyte CD11b expression, C5 inhibition significantly attenuates postoperative myocardial injury, cognitive deficits, and blood loss. These data suggest that C5 inhibition may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for preventing complement-mediated inflammation and tissue injury.

In the search for alternative conduits, the use of radial artery (RA) grafts has found renewed interest. This study sought to evaluate prospectively the perioperative morbidity, including the postoperative complications in the donor forearm, and mortality in the routine use of RA grafts in coronary artery bypass surgery. Data were obtained prospectively on 200 consecutive patients who underwent coronary revascularization using at least one RA graft from January 1995 to April 1997. The mean age of the patents was 61.9+/-10.5 years (mean+/-standard deviation [SD]). The RA was obtained from one forearm in 197 patients and both forearms in 3 patients. Two patients (1%) required exploration for donor site hematomas, 4 patients (2%) had temporary perioperative dysesthesias in the region of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm, and none had donor site wound infection. Two patients (1%) had a myocardial infarction with electrocardiographic changes in the areas grafted by the RA in the immediate postoperative period, indicating graft failure. The two deaths in the series were due to comorbid factors. Our data suggest that the RA is a safe and suitable conduit for coronary revascularization, and it provides good clinical results. Long-term follow-up of these patients is necessary to confirm the patency of RA conduits. Free RA grafts have the potential for use in other areas of surgery where a conduit is necessary for revascularization procedures.

A long history of urbanization and industrialization has affected trace elements in New York City (NYC) soils. Selected NYC pedons were analyzed by aqua regia microwave digestion and sequential chemical extraction as follows: water soluble (WS); exchangeable (EX); specifically sorbed/carbonate bound (SS/CAR); oxide-bound (OX); organic/sulfide bound (OM/S). Soils showed a range in properties (e.g., pH 3.9 to 7.4). Sum of total extractable (SUMTE) trace elements was higher in NYC parks compared to Bronx River watershed sites. NYC surface horizons showed higher total extractable (TE) levels compared to US non-anthropogenic soils. TE levels increased over 10 year in some of the relatively undisturbed and mostly wooded park sites. Surface horizons of park sites with long-term anthropogenic inputs showed elevated TE levels vs. subsurface horizons. Conversely, some Bronx River watershed soils showed increased concentrations with depth, reflective of their formation in a thick mantle of construction debris increasing with depth and intermingled with anthrotransported soil materials. Short-range variability was evident in primary pedons and satellite samples (e.g., Pb 253 ± 143 mg/kg). Long-range variability was indicated by PbTE (348 versus 156 mg/kg) and HgTE (1 versus 0.3 mg/kg) concentrations varying several-fold in the same soil but in different geographic locations. Relative predominance of fractions: RES (37 %) > SS/CAR (22 %) > OX (20 %) > OM/S (10 %) > EX (7 %) > WS (4 %). WS and EX fractions were greatest for Hg (7 %) and Cd (14 %), respectively. RES was predominant fraction for Co, Cr, Ni, and Zn (41 to 51 %); SS/CAR for Cd and Pb (40 and 63 %); OM/S for Cu and Hg (36 and 37 %); and OX for As (59 %).

Soils in urban, industrial, traffic, mining and military areas (SUITMA) is a working group of the International Union of Soil Sciences created in 1998 to increase and promote soil science in strongly anthropized areas (Morel and Heinrich 2008). Originally dedicated to basic soil science aimed at the description, analysis, classification, and mapping of soils developed in humantransformed environments, i.e., the SUITMAs, which exhibit contrasting features in comparison with natural soils, the SUITMA group interest has shifted towards the study of soil functions, their status and restoration, and their role in the functioning and evolution of urban ecosystems. Every 2 years, the SUITMA group organizes a conference (i.e., Essen, Nancy, Cairo, Nanjing, New York City, Marrakech) which gathers 100–150 scientists and professionals whose activities are centered in urban and peri-urban environments. The 2011 conference (SUITMA 6) was held in Marrakech, Morocco. It was co-organized by the Faculte des Sciences et Techniques of Marrakech and the GISFI (http://www.gisfi.fr). One hundred participants attended the conference and a total of 45 communications and 48 posters were presented in four sessions: session 1: SUITMA properties and diversity, contamination, and remediation; session 2: role of SUITMAs in global change and water quality; session 3: biodiversity in SUITMAs; and session 4: SUITMAs as buffer for human health and social stability. Eleven peer-reviewed papers are being published in this special issue of the Journal of Soils and Sediments, which focus on the properties, processes, evolution, and management of soils in urban and human-altered environments. Targets of study include soils with technic materials (Abakumov et al. 2013; El Khalil et al. 2013; Houben et al. 2013; Huot et al. 2013; Nehls et al. 2013; Schonsky et al. 2013), those with elevated metal contents (Aboudrar et al. 2013; Jean-Soro et al. 2013), soils in storm water infiltration basins (Coulon et al. 2013; El-Mufleh et al. 2013), and soils with landmines (Preetz et al. 2013). The conference was completed with a 2-day field trip in Marrakech and its vicinity to study the impacts of mining activities on soils, the consumption of agricultural soils by urbanization (e.g., the Palmeraie of Marrakech), the management of water in arid zones, and the creation of urban parks. During the meeting, Torun, Poland, was selected for the next conference (SUITMA 7, September 16–22, 2013; http://www.suitma7.umk.pl). SUITMA will also be present in 2014 at the 20th World Congress of Soil Science in Jeju, South Korea, with a symposium entitled “Urban soils—properties, functions, and evolution.” We look forward to welcoming new members and old friends at both events. N. Dickinson Department of Ecology, Lincoln University, PO Box 84, Lincoln, Canterbury 7647, New Zealand

Free wall rupture of the myocardium is an important complication and major cause of death following acute transmural (ST segment elevation) myocardial infarction. Pathologic changes on a cellular level may combine with mechanical stressors to weaken the myocardium postinfarction. Risk factors for myocardial rupture include advanced age, female gender, prior hyper-tension, first myocardial infarction, late presentation, lack of collateral blood flow, and persisting chest pain and ST segment elevations. Thrombolytic therapy does not increase risk of rupture when given early in myocardial infarction, but late thrombolytic therapy may heighten risk. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction has reduced the incidence of myocardial rupture compared to thrombolytic therapy. This advantage likely can be ascribed to higher rates of immediate reperfusion with catheter techniques, as well as to the avoidance of thrombolytic-mediated hemorrhagic transformation of the infarction zone. Careful regulation of blood pressure and pulse using nitrates and beta-adrenergic blockers may mitigate the tendency toward myocardial rupture. Early and accurate diagnosis based on clinical and echocardiographic evidence can lead to successful surgical treatment.

Background Recently, surgeons have embraced axillary artery cannulation for type A aortic dissection repair out of concern for malperfusion phenomena with traditional femoral artery cannulation. My colleagues and I sought to determine whether these concerns are justified. Methods Records of 86 consecutive patients (51 men and 35 women; age, 30 to 86 years; mean, 62 years) undergoing surgical repair for acute type A dissection were reviewed. Cannulation site, specific operative repair, and complications related to cannulation were noted. Results Seventy-nine cannulations were performed in the femoral artery (47 left, 23 right, and 9 unspecified), 3 in the axillary artery (1 left and 2 right), and 4 in the ascending aorta or arch. Deep hypothermic arrest was used in 64 operations. Seven involved re-sternotomy. Seventy patients had supracoronary grafts (2 with valve replacement and 10 with valve resuspension), and 16 underwent aortic root replacement. Fourteen patients were in shock from cardiac tamponade. Eighty patients survived the operation, and 71 were hospital survivors. Malperfusion on initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass was noted in 3 patients. In 1, the original cannulation site was the ascending aorta, and the cannula was moved to the femoral artery for correction. In 2, the original cannulation site was the femoral artery, and the cannula was moved to the ascending aorta. Malperfusion on clamping of the aorta or on resumption of aortic flow was noted in no patient. Postoperative ischemia of any vascular bed was noted locally only in 3 (cannulated) lower extremities. Conclusions Straight femoral cannulation for all phases of type A dissection repair is appropriate and yields excellent clinical results. The anticipated malperfusion events are actually rare (2 of 79 with femoral artery cannulation, or 2.5%).

To the Editor: It is unclear whether aortic dissection is associated with high-intensity strength training. Methods. From our Yale University aortic database, and from outside cases brought to our attention after lay press reports of our aortic research, we identified and reviewed case materials of 5 patients who experienced acute dissection of the ascending aorta in the setting of high-intensity weight training or other strenuous exercise. Results. The 5 patients ranged in age between 19 and 53 years. None had previously diagnosed aneurysm or personal history of hypertension or collagen vascular disease. Only 1 patient had a family history of aortic disease. None had signs of Marfan syndrome. All patients were involved in strenuous strength training at the instant that their dissection pain occurred. Two patients were weight training, a third was attempting to move a heavy granite structure, and the other 2 were doing push-ups. All patients manifested acute ascending aortic dissection. Diagnosis was made by computed tomography scan in 3 patients, by echocardiography in 1, and by autopsy in the fifth. The diameter of the aorta on the imaging studies performed immediately after dissection ranged from 4.0 to 5.2 cm, indicating underlying enlargement, but not to a level expected to present a high risk of dissection. Three patients underwent successful urgent surgical repair of the acute dissection. These patients survived and are without sequelae at 4, 20, and 48 months. One patient died shortly after diagnosis and before transfer to another facility could be made, and the fifth died before a diagnosis was made. Pathological analysis, available in 4 patients, showed underlying cystic medial necrosis, which was of mild to moderate severity in 2 patients. Comment. The risk of weight lifting as a cause of aortic dissection has generally been underappreciated. We recommend caution in patients with known aneurysms or connective tissue diseases, a family history of aneurysm or dissection, or underlying hypertension, as well those at or beyond middle age, because aneurysm, connective-tissue disease, family history, and hypertension predispose to aortic dissection and because aortic stiffness increases with age. None of the patients in this series, however, had these known risk factors. Furthermore, because limiting maximal effort prevents extreme ( 200 mm Hg) elevations in blood pressure, it also seems reasonable to limit weight lifting in individuals at risk.

Controversy exists regarding the management of angiographically disease-free saphenous vein grafts at the time of redo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Some authorities favor replacement of these disease-free grafts, arguing that occlusion is likely in the near future. Others believe that these grafts are "biologically privileged" and should not be replaced.One hundred thirty-two consecutive patients (113 men, 19 women, aged 46 to 88 years, mean 67 years) underwent redo revascularization with one or more angiographically disease-free saphenous vein grafts at the time of redo CABG. Thirty-six patients had the disease-free grafts replaced (R) and 96 did not (NR). The mean interval from the first CABG was 9.25 years.Surgical mortality was comparable in the NR and R groups (5 of 96 or 5.2% versus 3 of 36 or 8.3%, respectively; p0.5). Survival at 1 and 3 years was higher in the NR group than the R group (98% versus 80%, and 95% vs. 66% respectively; p0.0001). Late myocardial infarction was less common in the NR group than in the R group (12 of 91 or 12.9% versus 12 of 33 or 36.4%; p0.003). Recurrent angina was less common in the NR than in the R group (21 of 91 or 23.1% versus 15 of 33 or 45.5%; p0.015). Cardiac hospitalization was required less commonly in the NR than in the R group (11 of 91 or 12.1% versus 12 of 33 or 36.4%; p0.002). In nondiseased grafts undergoing angiographic evaluation late after redo CABG, rate of new stenosis was lower in NR grafts than in R grafts (2 of 12 or 16.7% versus 2 of 3 or 66.7%; p0.05).With a conservative approach that does not replace nondiseased saphenous vein grafts at redo CABG (1) there is no increase in operative mortality, (2) good late survival is obtained, (3) clinical ischemia related to the NR saphenous vein grafts is uncommon, and (4) NR grafts continue to be patent. We conclude that disease-free vein grafts may not require routine replacement at redo CABG. A randomized study is required for definitive resolution.

Air within a pacemaker pocket may cause transient malfunction of a replacement unipolar cardiac pacemaker. This was noted in a patient in whom entrapped air prevented tissue contact of the anode, resulting in complete cessation of myocardial stimulation and absence of an electrocardiographic pacemaker artifact. Methods for avoiding this complication are proposed.

Three cases of primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus are presented with emphasis on the gross and histopathologic features. Grossly, the tumors tended to be polypoid with a smooth predominantly intact overlying mucosa. Microscopically a junctional lentiginous growth pattern was characteristic as well as a tendency to expand and fill the submucosa without invading the muscularis. A given tumor invariably was more extensive than grossly suspected and the lateral junctional spread was striking in two of the cases. Primary malignant melanoma should be included in the preoperative differential diagnosis of radiographically unusual esophageal tumors, particularly if the lesion is polypoid. Because of the potentially widespread intramucosal component, surgical treatment of esophageal melanoma required a radical procedure with a far greater margin than for the usual squamous cell carcinoma. Intracavitary radiotherapy may be a useful form of adjuvant therapy in selected patients.

The use of an automated system equipped with a microprocessor-based controller and data handler is presented for the analysis of soil extracts for P, K, Ca, and Mg. With the aid of drift, gain, and carryover correction features, the system has the potential to improve accuracy and precision of analytical results. Moreover, the system allows the use of faster sampling rates in its operation. Accuracy and precision are evaluated for P, K, Ca, and Mg analyses, determined in standard solutions with the automated system at 50, 85, 120 and 155 hourly sampling rates. Results of P, K, Ca, and Mg analyses in 3 extracts of 50 soil samples, determined with the new system at the 120 hourly sampling rate, are also presented. Analyses performed by the microprocessor- based automated system are compared with those obtained using different nonautomated techniques.

Thirty-seven quadriplegic patients with respiratory paralysis were treated by electrical stimulation of the phrenic nerves to pace the diaphragm. Full-time ventilatory support by diaphragm pacing was accomplished in 13 patients. At least half-time support was achieved in 10 others. There were two deaths unrelated to pacing in these two groups. Fourteen patients could not be paced satisfactorily, and 8 of these patients died, most of them from respiratory infections. The average time the 13 patients on total ventilatory support have had bilateral diaphragm pacemakers is 26 months. The longest is 60 months. Many of these patients are out of the hospital and several are in school or working. Injury to the phrenic nerves either by the initial trauma to the cervical cord or during operation for implantation of the nerve cuff was the most significant complication. Nerve damage from prolonged electrical stimulation has not been a problem thus far. A description of the pacemaker, the technique of its implantation, and the pacing schedule are reported.

Sudden unexplained death is a common cause of late mortality after aortic valve replacement. To evaluate the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmia in patients with aortic valve replacement, two 24 hour ambulatory electrocardiographic recordings were obtained in 45 such patients (mean age 55 years) who had undergone replacement an average of 3.3 years previously. In 43 patients, ventricular arrhythmia was detected; it was rare (mean premature ventricular complex frequency less than 1 15 min) in 18 patients (40 percent), moderately frequent (mean frequency 1− 10 15 min) in 14 patients (31 percent) and frequent (mean frequency more than 10 15 min) in 11 patients (24 percent). Multiformity was noted in 40 (89 percent), bigeminy in 27 (60 percent), couplets in 27 (60 percent) and ventricular tachycardia in 16 (36 percent) of the 45 patients studied. The occurrence of ventricular arrhythmia was not related to the predominant hemodynamic lesion or to the presence of coronary artery disease as determined at the time of preoperative cardiac catheterization. Radionuclide left ventricular ejection fraction, determined at the time of electrocardiographic monitoring in 39 patients, demonstrated normal left ventricular function (ejection fraction greater than 50 percent) in 27 patients (60 percent), moderately depressed function (ejection fraction 36 to 50 percent) in 8 (21 percent) and severe dysfunction in 4 (10 percent). When patients with abnormal versus normal left ventricular performance were compared, the mean premature ventricular complex frequency was 21 ± 26 15 min versus 5 ± 11 15 min ( p ; couplets occurred in 10 (83 percent) of 12 versus 13 (48 percent) of 27 patients (p

✓ The electrophysiological status of phrenic nerve function has been determined by an assessment of the conduction time and diaphragm muscle action potential in patients who were being evaluated as candidates for diaphragm pacing, or who were being studied for suspected phrenic nerve injury or disease. The conduction time and muscle action potential were evoked by transcutaneous phrenic nerve stimulation or by stimulation with a permanently implanted diaphragm pacemaker. In normal volunteers, the conduction time was found to be 8.40 msec ± 0.78 msec (SD). Transcutaneous phrenic nerve stimulation was successful in predicting phrenic nerve viability in 116 of 120 nerves studied. The four false negatives were due to technical difficulty in locating the nerves in obese or uncooperative subjects. In patients who were selected for implantation of a diaphragm pacemaker, a conduction time that was prolonged (10 to 14 msec) preoperatively did not preclude successful diaphragm pacing. Postoperatively, a prolonged (> 10 msec) conduction time was associated with severe systemic disease or local nerve injury caused by trauma or infection. The elucidation of phrenic nerve function by such electrophysiological studies serves as a valuable adjunct to the selection and management of patients undergoing diaphragm pacing.

When burns complicate the management of an otherwise severely injured patient, modifications in treatment must be undertaken for both problems. The unique situation of this type of patient often requires the use of multiple therapeutic interventions which may differ from the usual. The use of controlled hypotension and aggressive surgical burn management was successful in allowing the postponement of vascular surgery in a young male patient with a traumatic aortic disruption and extensive burns resulting from a 60-foot fall and severe thermal burns.