Sedimentary context and palaeoecology of Gigantoproductus shell beds in the Mississippian Eyam Limestone Formation, Derbyshire carbonate platform, central England

A sedimentological study was conducted at two localities exposing the Mississippian Eyam Limestone Formation of the Derbyshire carbonate platform, UK. Ricklow Quarry comprises seven facies with diverse skeletal assemblages, representing deposition on the inner to middle ramp within open marine waters. Once-a-Week Quarry comprises four facies, dominated by crinoidal debris representing deposition on the inner ramp. Both localities expose Gigantoproductus shell beds. Palaeoecological analysis of a single shell bed from each locality enabled investigation of the rapid colonization and success of this taxon on the platform. At Ricklow Quarry, on the eastern side of a localized mud mound, both life (>72% of thin and thick-shelled brachiopods in life position) and neighbourhood assemblages are present. A low-moderate diversity community (<1.37 and <0.8 Shannon diversity index) rapidly established over relict Brigantian mud mounds. Shell beds are preluded by intervals of decreased energy that allowed larvae to settle. Once established, the dominance of thick-shelled individuals enabled baffling, potentially providing localized shelter for larvae and nearby individuals. At Once-a-Week Quarry, where no mud mound is present, only thick-shelled Gigantoproductus species and a low diversity community (<1.07 Shannon diversity index) exclusively comprising neighbourhood assemblages (37% in life position) is present. The presence of inactive mud mounds at Ricklow Quarry appears to have been the key to the success of Gigantoproductus species enabling the onset of stable communities in the shelter provided by the relict mound. Once the first palaeocommunities were established, larvae dispersed and colonized higher energy settings, such as at Once-a-Week Quarry

Robotic Monitoring of Habitats: the Natural Intelligence Approach

In this paper, we first discuss the challenges related to habitat monitoring and review possible robotic solutions. Then, we propose a framework to perform terrestrial habitat monitoring exploiting the mobility of legged robotic systems. The idea is to provide the robot with the Natural Intelligence introduced as the combination of the environment in which it moves, the intelligence embedded in the design of its body, and the algorithms composing its mind. This approach aims to solve the challenges of deploying robots in real natural environments, such as irregular and rough terrains, long-lasting operations, and unexpected collisions, with the final objective of assisting humans in assessing the habitat conservation status. Finally, we present examples of robotic monitoring of habitats in four different environments: forests, grasslands, dunes, and screes

Brachiopod-based oxygen-isotope thermometer: Update and review

In the early 1950\u2019s, McCrea and Epstein and co-workers laid the foundation for the oxygen isotope-based thermometers. Many variations of the thermometer have been since formulated based on synthetic and biogenic carbonates. Overall, the use and application of oxygen isotope thermometers must consider and be specific as to the mineralogy, and whether it is synthetic, abiogenic or biogenic carbonate. Here, we propose an updated and refined oxygen-isotope thermometer based on a large database of articulated brachiopods from high to low latitudes, cold to warm and shallow to deep-water regimes. In general, brachiopod-based oxygen isotopes are offset from abiogenic calcite precipitated in thermodynamic equilibrium by about -1 . They maintain this offset and that allows for the determination of robust ambient water temperatures over the full marine spectrum. Thus, the specific brachiopod-based oxygen-isotope thermometer applies, with few exceptions, to most modern articulated brachiopods, and potentially their ancient counterparts, and it is as follows: T\ub0C =17.3750 \u2013 4.2535 (\u3b4c-\u3b4w) + 0.1473 (\u3b4c-\u3b4w)2 (N=578, r2 = 0.980) Furthermore, it is imperative that mineralogy and taxa be considered for their appropriateness in the application of oxygen isotope thermometers on synthetic, abiogenic and biogenic marine carbonates. Articulated brachiopods are ideal recorders of oceanographic parameters due to their sessile nature, widespread distribution, high abundance in the Paleozoic and Mesozoic, high resilience to most environmental stresses (e.g., climate change - global warming, ocean acidification), and the resistance of the calcite shell \u2013 the archive \u2013 to post-depositional diagenetic alteration

Revisiting the upper Visean mud mounds from Derbyshire (UK): the role of brachiopods in their growth

Several brachiopod-rich mud mounds occur in the upper Visean (Brigantian) of the Derbyshire Carbonate Platform succession in UK. The re-evaluation of the lithofacies architecture of a Derbyshire mud mound complex, developed in an intraplatform middle-ramp environment, led to the recognition of three lithofacies associations: (a) a 10 m thick basal unit of automicrite boundstone with siliceous sponge spicules and brachiopod–bryozoan packstone to wackestone beds; (b) a 10 m thick, 250 m wide, lens-shaped, convex-up massive core of clotted peloidal micrite and fenestellid bryozoan boundstone with sponge spicules; (c) inclined brachiopod–bryozoan–crinoid packstone flank beds. In the mud mound complex core, most of the carbonate mud with clotted peloidal and structureless micrite fabric is the result of biologically induced and influenced in-situ precipitation processes (automicrite). Brachiopods are not, as previously thought, limited to storm-scoured “pockets” in the mud mound complex core but are abundant and diverse in all lithofacies and lived on the irregular mud mound complex surface concentrating in depressions sustained by automicrite boundstone and the growth of bryozoans and sponges. The upper Visean Derbyshire mud mounds are, thus, representatives of a newly defined fenestellid bryozoan–brachiopod–siliceous sponge mud mound category, occurring in various middle–upper Visean Western European sites, a sub-type of the fenestellid bryozoan–crinoid–brachiopod Type 3 buildups of Bridges et al. (1995). These mud mounds, and other types of brachiopod-rich buildups, developed in carbonate platform settings between fair-weather and storm wave base, in dysphotic environments with dispersed food resources during the Visean. Brachiopod mud mound colonisation was favoured by moderate water depth, availability of food resources, and diverse substrates

Laparoscopic colonic resection for splenic flexure cancer: our experience

Background: The treatment of colon cancer located in splenic flexure is not standardized. Laparoscopic approach is still considered a challenging procedure. This study reviews two Institutions experience in laparoscopic treatment of left colonic flexure cancer. Intraoperative, pathologic and postoperative data from patients undergoing laparoscopic splenic flexure resection were analyzed to assess oncological safety as well as early and medium-term outcomes. Methods: From October 2005 to May 2014 laparoscopic splenic flexure resection was performed in 23 patients. Results: Conversion rate was nihil. In 7 cases the anastomosis was performed intracorporeally. Specimen mean length was 21.2 cm, while the distance of distal and proximal resection margin from tumor site was 6.5 and 11.5 respectively. The mean number of harvested lymph nodes was 20.8. Mean operative time was 190 min and mean estimated blood loss was equal to 55 ml. As regard major postoperative complications, one case of postoperative acute pancreatitis and one case of postoperative bleeding from the anastomotic suture line were reported. Conclusions: Although our experience is limited and appropriate indications must be set by future randomized studies, we believe that laparoscopic resection with intracorporeal anastomosis appears feasible and safe for patients affected by splenic flexure cancer

Deletion of the Imprinted Phlda2 Gene Increases Placental Passive Permeability in the Mouse

Genomic imprinting, an epigenetic phenomenon that causes the expression of a small set of genes in a parent-of-origin-specific manner, is thought to have co-evolved with placentation. Many imprinted genes are expressed in the placenta, where they play diverse roles related to development and nutrient supply function. However, only a small number of imprinted genes have been functionally tested for a role in nutrient transfer capacity in relation to the structural characteristics of the exchange labyrinthine zone. Here, we examine the transfer capacity in a mouse model deficient for the maternally expressed Phlda2 gene, which results in placental overgrowth and a transient reduction in fetal growth. Using stereology, we show that the morphology of the labyrinthine zone in Phlda2−/+ mutants is normal at E16 and E19. In vivo placental transfer of radiolabeled solutes 14C-methyl-D-glucose and 14C-MeAIB remains unaffected at both gestational time points. However, placental passive permeability, as measured using two inert hydrophilic solutes (14C-mannitol; 14C-inulin), is significantly higher in mutants. Importantly, this increase in passive permeability is associated with fetal catch-up growth. Our findings uncover a key role played by the imprinted Phlda2 gene in modifying placental passive permeability that may be important for determining fetal growth

Alnus glutinosa Riparian Woodlands of Italy and Corsica: Phytosociological Classification and Floristic Diversity

A comparative analysis of the riparian vegetation dominated by Alnus glutinosa in Italy and Tyrrhenian islands, based on literature data and unpublished releves, is presented. A total of 456 phytosociological releves were processed. For the definition of plant communities and alliances, hierarchical clustering was performed by using Bray-Curtis coefficient and Detrended Correspondence Analysis ordination methods. Identification of diagnostic species of the vegetation units was performed by means of the phi fidelity index. Quantum GIS software version 3.6 was used for the interpolation of the bioclimatic variables and A. glutinosa communities. Overall, a total of 18 A. glutinosa-riparian wood communities were distinguished for Italy and Tyrrhenian islands, of which two new associations and one new subassassociation are described. The classification of the releves showed two main vegetation groups: the first one including the plant communities of the Osmundo-Alnion alliance, and the other including the vegetation of the Ligustro vulgaris-Alnion glutinosae alliance. This latest includes the riparian meso-thermophilous communities of central and northern Italy. Within the Osmundo-Alnion alliance, two subgroups can be recognized: the first one includes the thermophilous communities of the Hyperico hircini-Alnenion glutinosae sub-alliance, mainly spread in the Tyrrhenian islands, while the second group includes the mesophilous communities attributed to the new suballiance Struthioptero-Alnenion glutinosae, widespread in central Italy and the Corsican mountains. The present paper provides the first comprehensive and exhaustive scheme of the A. glutinosa riparian woodlands diversity in Italy and Corsica