Dinoflagellate proxies for surface water property changes in the Miocene Atlantic Ocean

Oceanographic and environmental changes had a strong impact on the climate progression during the middle and late Miocene. The climatic cooling during this time interval, involving the glaciation of Antarctica and the development of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, influenced the initiation of oceanographic features of the South Atlantic Ocean, such as the Benguela upwelling in the eastern South Atlantic Ocean. The initiation of the Benguela upwelling, together with the associated Benguela Current, specifically had a strong impact on the global heat budget. It represented an important pathway for heat transport from the South Atlantic across the equator into the North Atlantic. This heat transport, combined with the return path via the North Atlantic Deep Water, encompasses a significant part of the thermohaline circulation. Another important development during the Miocene that affected thermohaline circulation was the closure of the Central American Seaway. However, it is still a matter of intense debate if thermohaline circulation, particularly the portion regarding equatorial heat transport via the North Brazil Current as well as the production of North Atlantic Deep Water, was possible at times of an open seaway between the Atlantic and Pacific. Samples from ODP Site 1085 were investigated for changes in productivity as well as water quality with data derived from calcareous dinoflagellate cyst associations. Two distinct increases in productivity and corresponding decreases in upper water temperatures reflect upwelling pulses off Namibia in relation to the Miocene cooling events, Mi-5 and Mi-6. At about 11.1 Ma, productivity increased and the polar species Caracomia arctica was found for the first time. The occurrence of C. arctica implies a fundamental change in the water quality, which was likely related to the influence of subantarctic water and allowed upwelling to fully develop into modern conditions. C. arctica is constantly found in the association from about 10.4 Ma on, which indicates that the Benguela upwelling regime was firmly established from this time forward. Investigations into changes in the accumulation rates as well as in the association of calcareous dinoflagellate cysts were undertaken on samples from ODP Site 926. Better calcite preservation based on the cyst accumulation rate was reconstructed from about 12.4-11.8 Ma, as well as at about 11.5, 10.1 and 9.7 Ma, pointing to the influence of North Atlantic Deep Water, which was forced to flow into the South Atlantic after a first uplift of the Panama Sill. From about 11.2 Ma, the dinoflagellate cyst diversity increased. The first appearance and subsequent increase of the cyst species Leonella granifera at this time implies an influence of river discharge waters, which can be related to the developing Amazon River. Amazon River waters reached Site 926 as a result of a southward reversal of the North Brazil Current. After about 10.5 Ma, the cyst association reflects a decrease in Amazon influence, probably related to a reduction in the inflow of Pacific waters into the Atlantic and a reversal of the North Brazil Current to its modern pathway. Furthermore, samples from Site 926 were analyzed for the isotopic composition of the calcareous dinoflagellates cyst Thoracosphaera heimii. The isotope trends reflect an influence of freshwater, derived from the developing Amazon River, and delivered by the southward-flowing North Brazil Current at about 10.9 Ma. After a strong decrease in isotope values, probably related to a major sea level low stand, the isotopes increases again. This could be the result of a decrease in Amazon freshwater influence. Amazon waters were, at this time, likely transported away from Site 926 by the North Brazil Current, which changed direction again to its modern flow pattern. This shift in the current direction was probably due to a decrease in Pacific inflow through the Central American Seaway

Expression of renal and intestinal Na/Pi cotransporters in the absence of GABARAP

We have recently shown that the abundance of the renal sodium (Na)/inorganic phosphate (Pi) cotransporter NaPi-IIa is increased in the absence of the GABAA receptor-associated protein (GABARAP). Accordingly, GABARAP-deficient mice have a reduced urinary excretion of Pi. However, their circulating levels of Pi do not differ from wild-type animals, suggesting the presence of a compensatory mechanism responsible for keeping serum Pi values constant. Here, we aimed first to identify the molecular basis of this compensation by analyzing the expression of Na/Pi cotransporters known to be expressed in the kidney and intestine. We found that, in the kidney, the upregulation of NaPi-IIa is not accompanied by changes on the expression of either NaPi-IIc or PiT2, the other cotransporters known to participate in renal Pi reabsorption. In contrast, the intestinal expression of NaPi-IIb is downregulated in mutant animals, suggesting that a reduced intestinal absorption of Pi could contribute to maintain a normophosphatemic status despite the increased renal retention. The second goal of this work was to study whether the alterations on the expression of NaPi-IIa induced by chronic dietary Pi are impaired in the absence of GABARAP. Our data indicate that, in response to high Pi diets, GABARAP-deficient mice downregulate the expression of NaPi-IIa to levels comparable to those seen in wild-type animals. However, in response to low Pi diets, the upregulation of NaPi-IIa is greater in the mutant mice. Thus, both the basal expression and the dietary-induced upregulation of NaPi-IIa are increased in the absence of GABARA

Effective Biofilm Eradication on Orthopedic Implants with Methylene Blue Based Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy In Vitro

Periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) are difficult to treat due to biofilm formation on implant surfaces, often requiring removal or exchange of prostheses along with long-lasting antibiotic treatment. This in vitro study investigated the effect of methylene blue photodynamic therapy (MB-PDT) on PJI-causing biofilms on different implant materials. MB-PDT (664 nm LED, 15 J/cm2) was tested on different Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli and Cutibacterium acnes strains in both planktonic form and grown in early and mature biofilms on prosthetic materials (polyethylene, titanium alloys, cobalt–chrome-based alloys, and bone cement). The minimum bactericidal concentration with 100% killing (MBC100%) was determined. Chemical and topographical alterations were investigated on the prosthesis surfaces after MB-PDT. Results showed a MBC100% of 0.5–5 μg/mL for planktonic bacteria and 50–100 μg/mL for bacteria in biofilms—independent of the tested strain, the orthopedic material, or the maturity of the biofilm. Material testing showed no relevant surface modification. MB-PDT effectively eradicated common PJI pathogens on arthroplasty materials without damage to the materials, suggesting that MB-PDT could be used as a novel treatment method, replacing current, more invasive approaches and potentially shortening the antibiotic treatment in PJI. This would improve quality of life and reduce morbidity, mortality, and high health-care costs

Habitat partitioning in sympatric delphinids around the Falkland Islands : predicting distributions based on a limited data set

Funding: The field work was funded by the Darwin Initiative UK Overseas Territories Challenge Fund Project “Inshore Cetaceans of the Falkland Islands” (Project Ref: EIDCF019, administered jointly by Falklands Conservation & Mr Grant Munro), and Darwin Plus: Overseas Territories Environment and Climate Fund Project “Dolphins of the kelp: Data priorities for Falkland’s inshore cetaceans” (Project Ref: DPLUS042, administered by SAERI).Spatial modelling based on line transect data is a standard method for characterising marine mammal distributions and habitat preference. However, collecting the data required is costly and may be difficult in remote areas. Models based on habitat variables offer the potential to predict where the species will occur in areas outside the area of a localised survey. This has important implications for spatial management where decisions have to be made that affect wide areas over which comprehensive survey efforts may not be feasible. This study demonstrates that it is possible, using a spatially limited data set, to characterise habitat use and predict the distribution of two poorly known sympatric delphinids around the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands (FI), Commerson’s dolphins (Cephalorhynchus commersonii) and Peale’s dolphins (Lagenorhynchus australis). We used a Hurdle model approach to investigate the relationship between dolphin sightings (from a spatially restricted boat-based line transect survey) and environmental covariates. We then used the modelled relationships to predict the distribution and relative abundance of Commerson’s and Peale’s dolphins over the entire FI inshore waters. We compared the predicted distribution maps to independent sightings from a subsequent island-wide aerial line transect survey, and found a close match between predicted and observed distributions. Commerson’s dolphins preferred nearshore waters with strong tidal mixing and were most numerous close to river mouths and in upper inlets or channels. In contrast, Peale’s dolphins preferred deeper, well-stratified areas further from shore as well as nearshore waters with extensive kelp beds. While the two dolphin species are often considered sympatric, our results indicate fine-scale habitat partitioning based on specific habitat preferences, which is important to consider in further studies and marine spatial planning. We provide several methodological refinements to prepare transect sighting data for spatial analysis and implement Hurdle models more easily using the new “dshm” R-package. We also show the usefulness of such refinements applied to a carefully chosen spatially limited dataset as a cost-effective approach to elucidating species distribution patterns. Our methodology and software implementations can be easily applied to transect survey data of other marine and terrestrial taxa.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Untersuchung der Möglichkeiten einer Online-Qualitätsüberwachung (Quality Monitoring) basierend auf Maschinendaten

Die Qualitätsüberwachung in Unternehmen ist heute von größter Bedeutung. Bei der Bearbeitung von Werkstücken können sowohl im Ausgangsmaterial als auch während der Bearbeitung Fehler auftreten. Um diese Fehler zu detektieren können Monitoring-Systeme genutzt werden

Технико-экономические и экологические аспекты утилизация шламов, содержащих соединения цинка

По причине токсичности перед сбросом в водоемы ионы цинка выделяются из сточных вод в виде твердых соединений, которые осаждаются в виде шлама в прудах-накопителях. Приведены данные по количественному и качественному составам шлама в накопителеотстойнике предприятия по производству вискозного волокна. Отмечено, что такой накопитель в г. Красноярске является техногенным образованием содержащем ценное сырье - цинк. Поэтому необходима разработка и внедрение технологий переработки и утилизации цинксодержащих шламов различных производств.Zinc ions are toxic and they are isolated from sewage in the form of solid compounds before discharge into water bodies. Precipitation occurs in the form of slime in storage ponds. Data on the quantitative and qualitative composition of the sludge in the reservoir-settler of an enterprise for the production of viscose fiber are given. It is noted that such a storage facility in Krasnoyarsk is a technogenic for mation containing valuable raw materials - zinc. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and implement technologies for processing and utilization of zinc-containing slurries of various industries

Silicon solar cell–integrated stress and temperature sensors for photovoltaic modules

We propose silicon solar cell–integrated stress and temperature sensors as a new approach for the stress and temperature measurement in photovoltaic (PV) modules. The solar cell–integrated sensors enable a direct and continuous in situ measurement of mechanical stress and temperature of solar cells within PV modules. In this work, we present a proof of concept for stress and temperature sensors on a silicon solar cell wafer. Both sensors were tested in a conventional PV module setup. For the stress sensor, a sensitivity of (−47.41 ± 0.14)%/GPa has been reached, and for the temperature sensor, a sensitivity of (3.557 ± 0.008) × 10$^{-3}$ K$^{-1}$ has been reached. These sensors can already be used in research for increased measurement accuracy of the temperature and the mechanical stress in PV modules because of the implementation at the precise location of the solar cells within a laminate stack, for process evaluation, in‐situ measurements in reliability tests, and the correlation with real exposure to climates

Identification and characterization of two novel primate-specific histone H3 variants, H3.X and H3.Y

The expression of a new histone variant H3.Y increases during cellular stress to regulate cell cycle progression and gene expression

Reference intervals for selected serum biochemistry analytes in cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)

Published haematologic and serum biochemistry reference intervals are very scarce for captive cheetahs and even more for free-ranging cheetahs. The current study was performed to establish reference intervals for selected serum biochemistry analytes in cheetahs. Baseline serum biochemistry analytes were analysed from 66 healthy Namibian cheetahs. Samples were collected from 30 captive cheetahs at the AfriCat Foundation and 36 free-ranging cheetahs from central Namibia. The effects of captivity-status, age, sex and haemolysis score on the tested serum analytes were investigated. The biochemistry analytes that were measured were sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride, urea and creatinine. The 90% confidence interval of the reference limits was obtained using the non-parametric bootstrap method. Reference intervals were preferentially determined by the non-parametric method and were as follows: sodium (128 mmol/L – 166 mmol/L), potassium (3.9 mmol/L – 5.2 mmol/L), magnesium (0.8 mmol/L – 1.2 mmol/L), chloride (97 mmol/L – 130 mmol/L), urea (8.2 mmol/L – 25.1 mmol/L) and creatinine (88 μmol/L – 288 μmol/L). Reference intervals from the current study were compared with International Species Information System values for cheetahs and found to be narrower. Moreover, age, sex and haemolysis score had no significant effect on the serum analytes in this study. Separate reference intervals for captive and free-ranging cheetahs were also determined. Captive cheetahs had higher urea values, most likely due to dietary factors. This study is the first to establish reference intervals for serum biochemistry analytes in cheetahs according to international guidelines. These results can be used for future health and disease assessments in both captive and free- ranging cheetahs.The South African Veterinary Foundation (SAVF), the Wildlife Group of the South African Veterinary Association (SAVA), the Messerli Foundation in Switzerland and the Research Committee of the University of Pretoria.http://www.jsava.co.zaam2016Companion Animal Clinical Studie