The New Zealand Fossil Record File: a unique database of biological history

© 2020 The Royal Society of New Zealand. The New Zealand Fossil Record File, an essentially complete compilation of New Zealand’s known fossil record, with additional records from parts of Antarctica, SW Pacific, and elsewhere, is, to the best of our knowledge, unique. It has developed collaboratively, with contributions from university, government, industry, and avocational paleontologists and geologists. The distinctive Fossil Record Number has become an icon of New Zealand geological literature since inception of the original paper-based archive in the 1940s. Subsequently, the file has been digitised and currently holds >100,000 locality records and >1,000,000 individual taxonomic identifications spanning numerous plant and animal phyla. These numbers are continually growing. The database contains contextual information on geographic location, collection, stratigraphy and lithology of the fossil localities as well as taxonomic analyses that retain original identifications yet accommodate re-assignments. The data have been widely applied, initially for mapping, establishing age, depositional environment, etc., and more recently including in quantitative biostratigraphy, assessing completeness of the fossil record, understanding biodiversity history, extinction risk assessments, and climate analysis. In this paper, we provide a brief overview of the history of the Fossil Record File, indicate the general nature of the data it contains, and showcase a number of innovative applications of this most valuable resource

Stratigraphy of Reinga and Aotea basins, NW New Zealand: constraints from dredge samples on regional correlations and reservoir character

<p>Sandstone, mudstone and limestone samples dredged in the Reinga and Aotea basins, NW New Zealand during voyage TAN1312 provide age and lithological constraints on the Cretaceous–Neogene succession. A total of 46 micropaleontology and 7 macropaleontology samples were examined along with 84 thin-sectioned petrographical samples. Some were examined by X-ray diffraction and porosity-permeability analyses. Late Cretaceous sandstones are dominated by feldspathic and lithofeldspathic compositions, with mixed granitic plutoniclastic and volcaniclastic provenance; a comparison with Pakawau Group of Taranaki Basin is appropriate. Late Cretaceous–Paleogene mudstones are widespread and display close petrographical and age similarities to the Whangai Formation facies of other parts of New Zealand and fine-grained carbonate facies of the Weber and Amuri formations of eastern North and South Islands, respectively. Cretaceous limestone and Paleogene sandstone were not recovered. Carbonates and mudstones dominate the Neogene succession of Reinga and Aotea basins; rare Neogene sandstones have feldspatholithic compositions and resemble Waitemata Group sandstones of the northern North Island. In terms of petroleum prospectivity, Cretaceous sandstones represent a potential reservoir facies but are lithic with low permeability.</p

The <it>in vivo</it> performance of small-caliber nanofibrous polyurethane vascular grafts

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In a previous <it>in vitro</it> study, we confirmed that small-caliber nanofibrous polyurethane (PU) vascular grafts have favorable mechanical properties and biocompatibility. In the present study, we examined the <it>in vivo</it> biocompatibility and stability of these grafts.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Forty-eight adult male beagle dogs were randomly divided into two groups receiving, respectively, polyurethane (PU) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts (n = 24 animals / group). Each group was studied at 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks after graft implantation. Blood flow was analyzed by color Doppler ultrasound and computed tomography angiography. Patency rates were judged by animal survival rates. Coverage with endothelial and smooth muscle cells was characterized by hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistological staining, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Patency rates were significantly higher in the PU group (p = 0.02 vs. PTFE group). During the first 8 weeks, endothelial cells gradually formed a continuous layer on the internal surface of PU grafts, whereas coverage of PTFE graft by endothelial cells was inhomogeneous. After 12 weeks, neointimal thickness remained constant in the PU group, while PTFE group showed neointimal hyperplasia. At 24 weeks, some anastomotic sites of PTFE grafts became stenotic (p = 0.013 vs. PU group). Immunohistological staining revealed a continuous coverage by endothelial cells and an orderly arrangement of smooth muscle cells on PU grafts. Further, SEM showed smooth internal surfaces in PU grafts without thrombus or obvious neointimal hyperplasia.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Small-caliber nanofibrous PU vascular grafts facilitate the endothelialization process, prevent excessive neointimal hyperplasia, and improve patency rates.</p