Black earths from Veneto and Piedmont (Northern Italy): origin, composition and potential use in different painting techniques

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Identification of Metabolites in the Normal Ovary and Their Transformation in Primary and Metastatic Ovarian Cancer

In this study, we characterized the metabolome of the human ovary and identified metabolic alternations that coincide with primary epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and metastatic tumors resulting from primary ovarian cancer (MOC) using three analytical platforms: gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) using buffer systems and instrument settings to catalog positive or negative ions. The human ovarian metabolome was found to contain 364 biochemicals and upon transformation of the ovary caused changes in energy utilization, altering metabolites associated with glycolysis and β-oxidation of fatty acids—such as carnitine (1.79 fold in EOC, p<0.001; 1.88 fold in MOC, p<0.001), acetylcarnitine (1.75 fold in EOC, p<0.001; 2.39 fold in MOC, p<0.001), and butyrylcarnitine (3.62 fold, p<0.0094 in EOC; 7.88 fold, p<0.001 in MOC). There were also significant changes in phenylalanine catabolism marked by increases in phenylpyruvate (4.21 fold; p = 0.0098) and phenyllactate (195.45 fold; p<0.0023) in EOC. Ovarian cancer also displayed an enhanced oxidative stress response as indicated by increases in 2-aminobutyrate in EOC (1.46 fold, p = 0.0316) and in MOC (2.25 fold, p<0.001) and several isoforms of tocopherols. We have also identified novel metabolites in the ovary, specifically N-acetylasparate and N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate, whose role in ovarian physiology has yet to be determined. These data enhance our understanding of the diverse biochemistry of the human ovary and demonstrate metabolic alterations upon transformation. Furthermore, metabolites with significant changes between groups provide insight into biochemical consequences of transformation and are candidate biomarkers of ovarian oncogenesis. Validation studies are warranted to determine whether these compounds have clinical utility in the diagnosis or clinical management of ovarian cancer patients

Definition of a global boundary stratotype section and point for the Campanian/ Maastrichtian boundary

The Maastrichtian Working Group of the Subcommission of Cretaceous Stratigraphy looked for a section which could contain the Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point in the Campanian/ Maastrichtian transition. Over the last three years new data have been collected from a section situated in the Tethyan Realm, but connected with the Temperate Realm. During the meeting in Brussels, the working group considered the markers which could be used for the localisation of this boundary. Various sections in which this boundary is well exposed, were compared. The characteristics of these sections were discussed in respect of the requirements recommended by the Commission on Stratigraphy for the Boundary stratotype point. As a result, the Campanian/ Maastrichtian boundary will be proposed at a precise point in the disused quarry at Tercis (Landes, France) at the immediate proximity of the level where the oldest Pachydiscus neubergicus (von HAUER, 1858) has been found. At this site, that level has been directly related with the appearance or disappearance of taxa of different groups, including a very diverse and rich echinoid fauna, various inoceramids, ammonites of which the replacement allows a zonation. Furthermore, the sediments contain sufficient material which permits the fundamental characterisation by benthic and planktonic foraminifera, dinocysts and pollens and calcareous nannofossils. Other faunal groups are also present, such as the brachiopods, crinoids, asteroids, ophiuroids which can be used as biostratigraphical tools amongst others for the necessary connection between the historical stratotypes and the succession at Tercis. Also for the characterisation and correlation, lithostratigraphical, chemostratigraphical and magnetostratigraphical tools are also being studied in detail. The strata of the Tercis quarry are already well studied, but their richness means that one can envisage other important developments in the future