Insights From New Age Constraints and Sediment Volumes From the Austrian Northern Alpine Foreland Basin

Detailed characterization of variations in sediment architecture, flux, and transport processes in peri-orogenic basins offers insights into external climatic or tectonic forcings. We tested how four well-known tectonic/erosional events in the Oligocene/Miocene Alpine source area are recorded in the sediment-accumulation rates (SARs) of the deep marine sink in the Northern Alpine Foreland Basin (NAFB): exhumation of the Lepontine Dome (starting at 30 Ma) and the Tauern Window (23-21 Ma), erosion of the Augenstein Formation (∼21 Ma), and the visco-elastic relaxation of the European Plate. The Upper Austrian NAFB offers a unique opportunity to investigate external forcings on sedimentary infill due to the large amount of data on the Alpine hinterland and foreland. Deep-marine sedimentation, forming the Puchkirchen Group and the basal Hall Formation, was controlled by a basin-axial submarine channel (3–5 km wide, >100 km length). Two basin-wide unconformities were recognized in seismic-reflection data: the Northern Slope Unconformity (NSU) and the Base Hall Unconformity (BHU). We combine biostratigraphic and chemostratigraphic analyses of 316 drill-cutting samples from three wells with a large 3D-seismic-reflection data set (3300 km2, >5 km depth) to determine age and duration of the unconformities and to calculate spatially averaged SARs for the submarine channel and its overbanks, separately. Deepening of the basin, recorded by the NSU, occurred between 28.1 and 26.9 Ma. The Puchkirchen Group (26.9–19.6 Ma) is characterized by constant SARs (within standard deviation) in the channel [432–623 (t/m2/Ma)] and on the overbanks [240–340 (t/m2/Ma)]. The visco-elastic relaxation of the European Plate results in low SARs on the overbanks [186 (t/m2/Ma)], a decrease in sediment grain size in channel deposits and a decrease in sea level at the BHU (19.6–19.0 Ma). In the upper Hall Formation (19.0–18.1 Ma), clinoforms prograding from the south filled up the basin [1497 (t/m2/Ma)] within 1 Myrs. We conclude that only two of the tectonic signals are recorded in this part of the deep-marine sink, erosion of Augenstein Formation and visco-elastic relaxation of the European Plate; the exhumation of the Tauern Window and Lepontine Dome remain unrecorded

Multilocus sequence typing of Scedosporium apiospermum and Pseudallescheria boydii isolates from cystic fibrosis patients

Background: Scedosporium and Pseudallescheria species are the second most common lung-colonising fungi in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. For epidemiological reasons it is important to trace sources of infection, routes of transmission and to determine whether these fungi are transient or permanent colonisers of the respiratory tract. Molecular typing methods like multilocus sequence typing (MLST) help provide this data. Methods: Clinical isolates of the P. boydii complex (including S. apiospermum and P. boydii) from CF patients in different regions of Germany were studied using MLST. Five gene loci, ACT, CAL, RPB2, BT2 and SOD2, were analysed. Results: The S. apiospermum isolates from 34 patients were assigned to 32 sequence types (STs), and the P. boydii isolates from 14 patients to 8 STs. The results revealed that patients can be colonised by individual strains for years. Conclusions: The MLST scheme developed for S. apiospermum and P. boydii is a highly effective tool for epidemiologic studies worldwide. The MLST data are accessible at http://mlst.mycologylab.org/

Depositional and erosional signatures in sedimentary successions on the continental slope and rise off Prydz Bay, East Antarctica– implications for Pliocene paleoclimate

The Prydz Bay region of Antarctica is the immediate recipient of ice and sediments transported by the Lambert Glacier, the single largest outflow from the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. The continental slope and rise provide records covering multiple glacial cycles and containing paleoclimatic information. Marine geological and geophysical data collected from the continental shelf and adjacent slope of Prydz Bay, Antarctica, including seismic reflection data, bathymetry, and core records from ODP drilling sites, reveal the history of glacial sediment transport and deposition since the early Pliocene times. Seismic facies are interpreted in terms of episodes of slope progradation, contourite, turbidite, trough-mouth fan, and mass transport deposition. Two seismic units with estimated age of early to late Pliocene and late Pliocene to recent have been analyzed in detail for the area immediately offshore the Lambert Glacier and Prydz Bay and the adjacent Mac. Robertson margin. The upper slope is dominated by episodic mass transport deposits, many of which accumulated to form a trough mouth fan since Early Pliocene times. The trough mouth fan contrasts with the adjacent steep (4-6 degrees) continental slope of the Mac. Robertson margin, where glacigenic sediments have been transported down slope as high-velocity turbidity currents via submarine channels. The distal region exhibits evidence for contrasting effects of high-energy, traction-dominated versus lower-energy, fallout-dominated suspension flows. The counter-clockwise Coriolis force modifies the erosion and deposition patterns of turbidity currents creating an asymmetric channel-levee architecture. Since the early Pliocene, turbidite sedimentation surpassed the amount of sediment reworked and transported by westward-flowing contour currents along the base of slope. On the continental rise, contourites and sediment waves were deposited in response to enhanced bottom-water formation, which is consistent with climatic cooling since late Pliocene times. This study, based on existing seismic reflection and ODP data, highlights the need for a future scientific ocean drilling proposal on the Prydz Bay continental slope and rise in order to more accurately determine the timing of the important events that have influenced the evolution of this margin

Early Miocene tectono-sedimentary shift in the eastern North Alpine Foreland Basin and its relation to changes in tectonic style in the Eastern Alps

A striking difference along the Alpine Orogen is the style of collisional tectonics during the Oligo-Miocene, with the onset of escape tectonics in the Eastern Alps (Fig. 1A). The indentation of the Adriatic Plate into the Eastern Alpine Orogen resulted in the formation of conjugate dextral and sinistral strike-slip faults in the vicinity of the Tauern Window. Moreover, major changes occurred in the foreland of the Eastern and Southern Alps in the Early Miocene, with the cessation of the northern Alpine front propagation and the onset of thrusting along the Southern Alpine Front. In this study, we present new results from structural, stratigraphic and subsidence analyses of the eastern North Alpine Foreland Basin (NAFB; Fig. 1B) as part of the “Mountain Building in 4 Dimensions” project, German branch of the European AlpArray initiative, which aims at better understanding the deep crustal-mantle structures of the Alpine Orogen and their relation to surface processes. Our results show a first phase of onset of foreland sedimentation in the eastern NAFB between c. 33-28 Ma, followed by a strong tectonic-driven subsidence between c. 28-25 Ma ending by a phase of erosion and the formation of a basin-wide Northern Slope Unconformity (NSU; Fig. 1C & 1D). During this time period, the rift-related Mesozoic normal faults of the European platform were reactivated and are capped by the NSU (Fig. 1D). We interpret this phase as an increase in the flexure of the subducting European Plate under the growing Alpine Orogen. Between 25-19 Ma, the eastern NAFB remained in a deep-marine, underfilled state with a gently increase in subsidence. A major shift took place around 19-17 Ma with strong tectonic-driven uplift, ranging from 200 m (absolute minimum) to 1200 m depending on uncertainties on paleo-water depths, and rapid sedimentary infill of the basin (Fig. 1C & 1D). We discuss the possible causes for this major tectono-sedimentary shift in the eastern NAFB in relation to contemporaneous changes in collisional tectonics within the Eastern and Southern Alps, and with a potential Early Miocene slab break-off event beneath the Eastern Alps

Notes from the field: Lessons learned from using ecosystem service approaches to inform real-world decisions

While there have been rapid advances in assessments of biodiversity and ecosystem services (BES), a critical remaining challenge is how to move from scientific knowledge to real-world decision making. We offer 6 lessons from our experiences applying new approaches and tools for quantifying BES in 20 pilot demonstrations: (1) Applying a BES approach is most effective in leading to policy change as part of an iterative science-policy process; (2) simple ecological production function models have been useful in a diverse set of decision contexts, across a broad range of biophysical, social, and governance systems. Key limitations of simple models arise at very small scales, and in predicting specific future BES values; (3) training local experts in the approaches and tools is important for building local capacity, ownership, trust, and long-term success; (4) decision makers and stakeholders prefer to use a variety of BES value metrics, not only monetary values; (5) an important science gap exists in linking changes in BES to changes in livelihoods, health, cultural values, and other metrics of human wellbeing; and (6) communicating uncertainty in useful and transparent ways remains challenging

Surgical and functional outcome after resection of 64 petroclival meningiomas

Objective: The management of petroclival meningiomas (PCMs) remains notoriously difficult due to their close association with neurovascular structures and their complex anatomy, hence the surgical paradigm change from radical to functional resection in the past. With this study, we aimed to analyze surgical and functional outcomes of a modern consecutive series of patients with PCMs. Methods: We reviewed patient charts and imaging data of 64 consecutive patients from 2006 to 2018 with a PCM resected at our institution and compared surgical and functional outcomes between subgroups stratified by surgical approach. Results: Females comprised 67.2% of patients (n = 43), with a mean age of 55 years (median 56; range 21–84). Follow-up data were available for 68.8% and reached a mean of 42.3 months (range 1–129) with a median of 28.5 months. The mean tumor diameter was 37.3 mm (standard deviation (SD) 15.4; median 37.0). Infiltration of the cavernous sinus was observed in 34 cases (53.1%), and the lesions affected the brain stem in 28 cases (43.8%). Preoperative cranial nerve palsy was observed in 73.4% of cases; trigeminal neuropathy (42.2%), hearing loss (32.8%), and impairment of vision (18.8%) were the most common. A retrosigmoid approach was employed in 47 cases (78.1%), pterional in 10 (15.6%), combined petrosal in 2 (3.1%), and transnasal and subtemporal in 1 (1.6%). Fifteen cases (23.4%) were resected in a two-staged fashion. Gross total resection (GTR) was attempted in 30 (46.9%) cases without cavernous sinus infiltration and was achieved in 21 (70.0%) of these cases. Surgical complications occurred in 13 cases (20.3%), most commonly meningitis (n = 4; 6.3%). Postoperatively, 56 patients (87.5%) developed new cranial nerve palsy, of which 36 (63.6%) had improved or resolved on last follow up. Achieving GTR was not significantly associated with higher rates of surgical complications (chi-square; p = 0.288) or postoperative cranial nerve palsy (chi-square; p = 0.842). Of all cases, 20 (31.3%) underwent postoperative radiation. Tumor progression was observed in 10 patients (15.9%) after a mean 102 months (median 124). Conclusions: Surgical resection remains the mainstay of treatment for PCMs, with perioperative cranial neuropathies exhibiting favorable recovery rates. Most essentially, the preselection of patients with hallmarks of brain stem affection and cavernous sinus infiltration should dictate whether to strive for a functionally oriented strategy in favor of radical resection

Transport and accumulation of litter in submarine canyons: a geoscience perspective

Marine litter is one of the most pervasive and fast-growing aspects of contamination in the global ocean, and has been observed in every environmental setting, including the deep seafloor where little is known about the magnitude and consequences of the problem. Submarine canyons, the main conduits for the transport of sediment, organic matter and water masses from shallow to abyssal depths, have been claimed to be preferential pathways for litter transport and accumulation in the deep sea. This is supported by ongoing evidence of large litter piles at great water depths, highlighting efficient transfer via canyons. The aim of this article is to present an overview of the current knowledge about marine litter in submarine canyons, taking a geological, process-based point of view. We evaluate sources, transport mechanisms and deposition of litter within canyons to assess the main factors responsible for its transport and accumulation in the deep sea. Few studies relate litter distribution to transport and depositional processes; nevertheless, results from available literature show that canyons represent accumulation areas for both land-based and maritime-based litter. Particularly, accumulation of fishing-related debris is mainly observed at the canyon heads and walls and is related to fishing activities carried out in and adjacent to canyons, while transport and accumulation of general waste and plastic along canyon axes can be related to different mechanisms, encompassing enhanced bottom currents, dense water cascading and turbidity currents, and is related to the proximity of canyons to shore. Global assessment of canyons exposure to riverine plastic inputs and fishing-related debris indicates varying susceptibility of canyons to litter, also highlighting that most of the canyons prone to receive large amounts of anthropogenic debris have not yet been surveyed. Considering that litter research in canyons is still in its infancy, several knowledge gaps need to be filled before the role of canyons as litter traps and the implication for benthic ecosystems can be fully understood

Predicting and experimental evaluating bio-electrochemical synthesis — A case study with Clostridium kluyveri

Microbial electrosynthesis is a highly promising application of microbial electrochemical technologies for the sustainable production of organic compounds. At the same time a multitude of questions need to be answered and challenges to be met. Central for its further development is using appropriate electroactive microorganisms and their efficient extracellular electron transfer (EET) as well as wiring of the metabolism to EET. Among others, Clostridia are believed to represent electroactive microbes being highly promising for microbial electrosynthesis. We investigated the potential steps and challenges for the bio-electrochemical fermentation (electro-fermentation) of mid-chain organic acids using Clostridium kluyveri. Starting from a metabolic model the potential limitations of the metabolism as well as beneficial scenarios for electrochemical stimulation were identified and experimentally investigated. C. kluyveri was shown to not be able to exchange electrons with an electrode directly. Therefore, exogenous mediators (2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, potassium ferrocyanide, neutral red, methyl viologen, methylene blue, and the macrocyclic cobalt hexaamine [Co(trans-diammac)]) were tested for their toxicity and electro-fermentations were performed in 1\ua0L bioreactors covering 38 biotic and 8 abiotic runs. When using C. kluyveri and mediators, maximum absolute current densities higher than the abiotic controls were detected for all runs. At the same time, no significant impact on the cell metabolism (product formation, carbon recovery, growth rate) was found. From this observation, we deduce general potential limitations of electro-fermentations with C. kluyveri and discuss strategies to successfully overcome them

Treatment fidelity monitoring, reporting and findings in a complex aphasia intervention trial: a substudy of the Very Early Rehabilitation in SpEech (VERSE) trial

Background: Treatment fidelity is inconsistently reported in aphasia research, contributing to uncertainty about the effectiveness of types of aphasia therapy following stroke. We outline the processes and outcomes of treatment fidelity monitoring in a pre-specified secondary analysis of the VERSE trial. Methods: VERSE was a 3-arm, single-blinded RCT with a 12-week primary endpoint comparing Usual Care (UC) to two higher intensity treatments: Usual Care-Plus (UC-Plus) and VERSE, a prescribed intervention. Primary outcome results were previously reported. This secondary analysis focused on treatment fidelity. Video-recorded treatment sessions in the higher intensity study arms were evaluated for treatment adherence and treatment differentiation. Treatment components were evaluated using a pre-determined fidelity checklist. Primary outcome: prescribed amount of therapy time (minutes); secondary outcomes: (i) adherence to therapy protocol (%) and (ii) treatment differentiation between control and high intensity groups. Results: Two hundred forty-six participants were randomised to Usual Care (n=81), Usual Care-Plus (n=82), and VERSE (n=83). One hundred thirty-five (82%) participants in higher intensity intervention arms received the minimum prescribed therapy minutes. From 10,805 (UC 7787; UC-Plus 1450; VERSE 1568) service events, 431 treatment protocol deviations were noted in 114 participants. Four hundred thirty-seven videos were evaluated. The VERSE therapists achieved over 84% adherence to key protocol elements. Higher stroke and aphasia severity, older age, and being in the UC-Plus group predicted more treatment deviations. Conclusions: We found high levels of treatment adherence and differentiation between the intervention arms, providing greater confidence interpreting our results. The comprehensive systems for intervention fidelity monitoring and reporting in this trial make an important contribution to aphasia research and, we argue, should set a new standard for future aphasia studies

Treatment fidelity monitoring, reporting and findings in a complex aphasia intervention trial: A substudy of the very early rehabilitation in SpEech (VERSE) trial

Background: Treatment fidelity is inconsistently reported in aphasia research, contributing to uncertainty about the effectiveness of types of aphasia therapy following stroke. We outline the processes and outcomes of treatment fidelity monitoring in a pre-specified secondary analysis of the VERSE trial. Methods: VERSE was a 3-arm, single-blinded RCT with a 12-week primary endpoint comparing Usual Care (UC) to two higher intensity treatments: Usual Care-Plus (UC-Plus) and VERSE, a prescribed intervention. Primary outcome results were previously reported. This secondary analysis focused on treatment fidelity. Video-recorded treatment sessions in the higher intensity study arms were evaluated for treatment adherence and treatment differentiation. Treatment components were evaluated using a pre-determined fidelity checklist. Primary outcome: prescribed amount of therapy time (minutes); secondary outcomes: (i) adherence to therapy protocol (%) and (ii) treatment differentiation between control and high intensity groups. Results: Two hundred forty-six participants were randomised to Usual Care (n = 81), Usual Care-Plus (n=82), and VERSE (n = 83). One hundred thirty-five (82%) participants in higher intensity intervention arms received the minimum prescribed therapy minutes. From 10,805 (UC 7787; UC-Plus 1450; VERSE 1568) service events, 431 treatment protocol deviations were noted in 114 participants. Four hundred thirty-seven videos were evaluated. The VERSE therapists achieved over 84% adherence to key protocol elements. Higher stroke and aphasia severity, older age, and being in the UC-Plus group predicted more treatment deviations. Conclusions: We found high levels of treatment adherence and differentiation between the intervention arms, providing greater confidence interpreting our results. The comprehensive systems for intervention fidelity monitoring and reporting in this trial make an important contribution to aphasia research and, we argue, should set a new standard for future aphasia studies. Trial registration: ACTRN 1261300077670