The distinct roles of two intertidal foraminiferal species in phytodetrital carbon and nitrogen fluxes – results from laboratory feeding experiments

Benthic foraminifera play a major role as primary consumers and detrivores redistributing organic carbon and nitrogen in intertidal environments. Here we compared the differences of phytodetrital carbon and nitrogen intake and turnover of two dominant intertidal foraminifera, Ammonia tepida and Haynesina germanica. Their lifestyles in relation to feeding behavior (feeding preferences, intake and turnover of phytodetrital carbon and nitrogen) and temperature adaptations were compared to obtain a closer definition of their specific roles in intertidal organic matter processing. For this comparison, we carried out a series of short-term laboratory incubations with stable-isotope-labeled (13C and 15N) detritus as the food source. We compared the response of the two species to diatom detritus at three different temperatures (15, 20, 25&thinsp;°C). Ammonia tepida showed a very high, temperature-influenced intake and turnover rates with more excessive carbon turnover, compared to nitrogen. The fairly low metabolic nitrogen turnover in H. germanica was not affected by temperature and was higher than the carbon turnover. This might be related with the chloroplast husbandry in H. germanica and its lower demands for food-derived nitrogen sources. Ammonia tepida prefers a soft chlorophyte food source over diatom detritus, which is harder to break down. In conclusion, A. tepida shows a generalist behavior that links with high fluxes of organic matter (OM). Due to its high rates of OM processing and abundances, we conclude that A. tepida is an important key player in intertidal carbon and nitrogen turnover, specifically in the short-term processing of OM and the mediation of dissolved nutrients to associated microbes and primary producers. In contrast, H. germanica is a highly specialized species with low rates of carbon and nitrogen budgeting.</p

Novel alterations in corneal neuroimmune phenotypes in mice with central nervous system tauopathy

BACKGROUND: Tauopathy in the central nervous system (CNS) is a histopathological hallmark of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although AD is accompanied by various ocular changes, the effects of tauopathy on the integrity of the cornea, which is densely innervated by the peripheral nervous system and is populated by resident dendritic cells, is still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate if neuroimmune interactions in the cornea are affected by CNS tauopathy. METHODS: Corneas from wild type (WT) and transgenic rTg4510 mice that express the P301L tau mutation were examined at 2, 6, 8, and 11 months. Clinical assessment of the anterior segment of the eye was performed using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. The density of the corneal epithelial sensory nerves and the number and field area of resident epithelial dendritic cells were assessed using immunofluorescence. The immunological activation state of corneal and splenic dendritic cells was examined using flow cytometry and compared between the two genotypes at 9 months of age. RESULTS: Compared to age-matched WT mice, rTg4510 mice had a significantly lower density of corneal nerve axons at both 8 and 11 months of age. Corneal nerves in rTg4510 mice also displayed a higher percentage of beaded nerve axons and a lower density of epithelial dendritic cells compared to WT mice. From 6 months of age, the size of the corneal dendritic cells was significantly smaller in rTg4510 compared to WT mice. Phenotypic characterization by flow cytometry demonstrated an activated state of dendritic cells (CD86+ and CD45+ CD11b+CD11c+) in the corneas of rTg4510 compared to WT mice, with no distinct changes in the spleen monocytes/dendritic cells. At 2 months of age, there were no significant differences in the neural or immune structures between the two genotypes. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal sensory nerves and epithelial dendritic cells were altered in the rTg4510 mouse model of tauopathy, with temporal changes observed with aging. The activation of corneal dendritic cells prior to the gradual loss of neighboring sensory nerves suggests an early involvement of corneal immune cells in tau-associated pathology originating in the CNS

Smelting slags from Copper and Bronze Age archaeological sites in Trentino and Alto Adige

More than 100 Ltvalitic metalluraicul slags from prehistoric copper production sites in d~e Easrern Alp; wcre <.;J~alY7.ed by ch\ue8mical and minerulogrcal techniques, The im-estigated sarnples include the oldest hnds ot metullurgical .ictivity in Trentino und ;\lco _-\dige and yidd iniormarion t'or rhe interpretation of tbc introduction .ind development ot merallurgical tecb niqucs in tbc E"lstcrn A.lps, 'I'lie slags fllLlnd in most drcn;;lcological sites are distinct into rwo groups having ditterer.t minerulogjcal, chemical, and tcxtural fcatures, ,,11le! thev are inrcrpreted as derived lrom two di Fferent steps oF the copper smelring process tr01T1 sulphides. Cooling rates derived rrorn the Invulitc te:-:rUi.-CS arc consistent with this interorc.ution

Analisi di scorie di estrazione del rame provenienti da siti dell\u2019Et\ue0 del Bronzo dell\u2019Alto Adige

Sono state analizzate, attraverso tecniche chimiche e mineralogiche, pi\uf9 di 100 scorie metallurgiche provenienti da 12 siti preistorici di produzione del rame situati nelle Alpi Orientali. I campioni studiati includono le scorie dovute ad attivit\ue0 metallurgica pi\uf9 vecchie rinvenute in Trentino e Alto Adige, e danno informazioni per l\u2019interpretazione dell\u2019introduzione e dello sviluppo delle tecniche metallurgiche nelle Alpi Orientali. Le scorie trovate nella maggior parte dei siti sono distinte in due gruppi con propriet\ue0 mineralogiche, chimiche e tessiturali differenti e sono interpretate come derivanti da due differenti metodi di raffreddamento dello stesso processo di smelting da solfuri. Le velocit\ue0 di raffreddamento derivate dalla tessitura dei cristalli di fayalite sono consistenti con questa interpretazione

Predictive ability of regression models. Part II: Selection of the best predictive PLS model

A procedure called GOLPE is suggested in order to detect those variables which increase the predictivity of PLS models. The procedure is based on evaluating the predictive power of a number of PLS models built by different combinations of variables selected according to a factorial design strategy. Examples are given of the efficiency of this variable selection procedure, which shows how these predictive PLS models are better than those obtained by all variables and better than the corresponding ordinary regression model

An online acquisition method for monitoring the surface growth of flame retardant protective layers

This paper describes the development of a video acquisition system aimed at monitoring the surface growth of flame-retarded polymers during flammability and combustion tests. The system minimizes the disturbances of the flames on the image sensors, thus gathering a video of the material surface. The device continuously records and quantitatively measures the carbonization front growth rate. The apparatus consists of a camera with customized lighting and dedicated software acquiring images of the burning specimen. The UL94 test procedure has been used during the development of the device and as test bed for the apparatus