Palaeoenvironmental turnover across the Cenomanian-Turonian transition in Oued Bahloul, Tunisia: Foraminifera and geochemical proxies

The integrated analysis of foraminiferal assemblages, geochemical proxies, and stable isotopes in the Oued Bahloul section (Tunisia) allowed us to reconstruct the environmental turnover across the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary. An increase in palaeoproductivity proxies (P/Ti, U/Al, Sr/Al) and in d13C values, and a decrease in foraminiferal diversity and d18O values mark the beginning of the Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE2) at the Rotalipora cushmani and Whiteinella archaeocretacea biozones boundary. Eutrophic conditions at the seafloor and in the water column are evidenced by high proportions of buliminids and the replacement of planktic oligotrophic specialist Rotalipora by eutrophic opportunist Hedbergella. The enrichment in organic matter and redox sensitive elements, together with the abundance of low-oxygen tolerant benthic foraminifera, indicate dysoxic conditions in the deep-water column and at the seafloor (higher Uaut than Moaut). Among planktic foraminifera, deep- and intermediate-dwellers disappear (Rotalipora and Globigerinelloides), and surface-dwellers proliferate (Hedbergella). The persistency of the poorly oxygenated conditions during the W. archaeocretacea Biozone locally produced euxinic conditions where MoEF and Moaut reach high values, diversity presents minimum values, and benthic foraminifera temporarily disappear. The maximum percentage of heterohelicids indicates a stratified water column with a well-developed oxygen minimum zone. Improved oxygen conditions returned in the upper part of the W. archaeocretacea Biozone and Helvetoglobotruncana helvetica Biozone, with a slow recovery of foraminiferal assemblages, decrease in eutrophic genera (Heterohelix) and increase in mesotrophic genera (Whiteinella). A gradual increase in d18O values suggests decreased temperatures in surface waters. The OAE2 has been attributed to global temperature changes and palaeoceanographic reorganization. The poor mixing of surface and deep waters and enhanced primary productivity related to global warming – associated with increasing continental weathering and nutrient runoff – may have favored the eutrophication of the ocean and the expansion of the oxygen minimum zone

La sedimentación carbonatada en el Prepirineo aragonés durante el Cretácico superior

Carbonate facies analysis carried out in the Upper Cretaceous of the Aragonese Prepyrenees (South-Pyrenean Basin) allows us to establish the palaeogeographic and palaeoambiental reconstruction for this area. Three stages have been established in order to show the sedimentary evolution for the Upper Cretaceous. During the Stage 1 (Upper Santonian) the sedimentary domain was initially flooded. In the Stage 2 (lowermost Campanian- Upper Campanian) offshore bars developed at the western and eastern ends; the rest of the sedimentary basin consisted of a shallow carbonate platform whose bottom-floor was inhabited by rudists and benthic foraminifera. During the Stage 3 the generalized shallowing of the platform gave way, during the Maastrichtian, to the continental Garumn facies deposit.El análisis de las facies carbonatadas realizado en el Cretácico superior del Prepirineo aragonés ha permitido establecer la reconstrucción paleogeográfica y paleoambiental para este sector de la Cuenca Surpirenaica. Se han establecido tres estadios de evolución de la sedimentación para el Cretácico superior. Durante el Estadio 1 (Santoniense superior) tuvo lugar la inundación inicial de la cuenca de sedimentación; en el Estadio 2 (Campaniense basal-Campaniense superior) se desarrollaron barras costeras en los extremos oriental y occidental del área estudiada, mientras que el resto de la cuenca estaba ocupada por una plataforma carbonatada somera cuyos fondos fueron ampliamente colonizados por organismos bentónicos, principalmente rudistas y foraminíferos. En el Estadio 3 tuvo lugar una somerización generalizada de la plataforma, que durante el Maastrichtiense dio paso al depósito de los materiales continentales correspondientes a la facies Garumn

Maastrichtian microfossils of the Shallow Marine Umir Formation, Northeastern Colombia

During the Late Cretaceous, northern South America was characterized by broad epicontinental seas, with variable surface productivity and changing bottom-water oxygenation. Global sea-level fluctuations and local tectonic shifts caused their disappearance in the latest Cretaceous. We present an integrated micropaleontological and geochemical study of a section comprising the Umir Formation and its lower stratigraphic contact with the La Luna Formation, in the Middle Magdalena Valley, northeastern Colombia. Foraminiferal assemblages were moderately diverse and mainly dominated by benthic taxa, characterizing the biozones Siphogenerinoides bramlettei and Ammobaculites colombiana (Maastrichtian). Planktonic foraminiferal assemblages were less diversified, being species assigned to Heterohelicidae and scarce keeled forms (Globotruncana spp.) the most recurrent taxa. Ostracod recovery was very scarce, and we could only identify the genus Actinocythereis. In contrast, calcareous nannofossil assemblages were moderately diversified along the section, and composed of typical Late Cretaceous low-latitude taxa such as Micula staurophora, Cribrosphaerella ehrenbergii, Gartnerago segmentatum. The identified microfossils indicate a transition from middle-inner shelf conditions, with moderately oxygenated bottom waters within the La Luna Formation, to a shallower marine setting within the Umir Formation. This interpretation is supported by Sr/Ba and log(Fe/Ca) ratios measured in bulk sediment, which indicate increased continental runoff and terrigenous input in the upper part of the section. Moreover, a significant biotic turnover was identified at the base of the section, suggesting the presence of a xenoconformity at the La Luna-Umir contact, which has been previously described and proposed as a regional stratigraphic feature. El Cretácico Tardío del norte de Sudamérica estuvo dominado por mares epicontinentales extensos, con fluctuaciones de la productividad superficial y oxigenación del agua de fondo. Cambios en los regímenes tectónicos locales y descensos globales en el nivel del mar, llevaron a la desaparición de dichos ambientes hacia fines del Cretácico. Presentamos un estudio micropaleontológico y geoquímico integrado de una sección de la Formación Umir y su contacto basal con la Formación La Luna en el Valle Medio del Magdalena, noreste de Colombia. Las asociaciones de foraminíferos fueron moderadamente diversas y estuvieron dominadas por formas bentónicas que definen las biozonas de asociación locales Siphogenerinoides bramlettei y Ammobaculites colombiana (Maastrichtiano). Las formas planctónicas, menos diversas, incluyeron ejemplares de Heterohelicidae y escasas formas quilladas (Globotruncana spp.). El registro de ostrácodos fue muy escaso, sólo pudimos reconocer al género Actinocythereis. En contraste, las asociaciones de nanofósiles calcáreos fueron moderadamente diversas y comprendieron formas típicas de bajas latitudes del Cretácico Tardío como Micula staurophora, Cribrosphaerella ehrenbergii, Gartnerago segmentatum. Las asociaciones de microfósiles indican una transición de condiciones de plataforma media-interna, moderadamente oxigenada en la Formación La Luna, a un ambiente más somero en la Formación Umir. Esta interpretación es corroborada por las relaciones de Sr/Ba y log(Fe/Ca) del sedimento que indican un aumento en la escorrentía continental y el aporte de terrígenos hacia la parte superior de la sección. De igual forma, la variación significativa en las asociaciones de microfósiles hacia la base sugiere la presencia de una xenoconformidad en el contacto La Luna-Umir, que fue previamente reportada como de carácter regional

The era of nano-bionic: 2D materials for wearable and implantable body sensors

Nano-bionics have the potential of revolutionizing modern medicine. Among nano-bionic devices, body sensors allow to monitor in real-time the health of patients, to achieve personalized medicine, and even to restore or enhance human functions. The advent of two-dimensional (2D) materials is facilitating the manufacturing of miniaturized and ultrathin bioelectronics, that can be easily integrated in the human body. Their unique electronic properties allow to efficiently transduce physical and chemical stimuli into electric current. Their flexibility and nanometric thickness facilitate the adaption and adhesion to human body. The low opacity permits to obtain transparent devices. The good cellular adhesion and reduced cytotoxicity are advantageous for the integration of the devices in vivo. Herein we review the latest and more significant examples of 2D material-based sensors for health monitoring, describing their architectures, sensing mechanisms, advantages and, as well, the challenges and drawbacks that hampers their translation into commercial clinical devices

3D Printable Conducting and Biocompatible PEDOT-graft-PLA Copolymers by Direct Ink Writing

Tailor-made polymers are needed to fully exploit the possibilities of additive manufacturing, constructing complex, and functional devices in areas such as bioelectronics. In this paper, the synthesis of a conducting and biocompatible graft copolymer which can be 3D printed using direct melting extrusion methods is shown. For this purpose, graft copolymers composed by conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and a biocompatible polymer polylactide (PLA) are designed. The PEDOT-g-PLA copolymers are synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization between 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene and PLA macromonomers. PEDOT-g-PLA copolymers with different compositions are obtained and fully characterized. The rheological characterization indicates that copolymers containing below 20 wt% of PEDOT show the right complex viscosity values suitable for direct ink writing (DIW). The 3D printing tests using the DIW methodology allows printing different parts with different shapes with high resolution (200\ua0\ub5m). The conductive and biocompatible printed patterns of PEDOT-g-PLA show excellent cell growth and maturation of neonatal cardiac myocytes cocultured with fibroblasts

Treatment of hypertriglyceridemia and HIV: fenofibrate-induced changes in the expression of chemokine genes in circulating leukocytes

Fenofibrate changed the expression of chemokine genes in circulating leukocytes of HIV-infected patients with hypertriglyceridemia. The data suggest that fenofibrate when effective in the treatment of lipoprotein abnormalities, may act as a modulator of systemic inflammation. This particular action, therefore, may also influence the clinical course of the disease