A Lithocodium and Bacinella signature of a late Hauterivian, local microbial event: the Urgonian limestone in South-East France

Sediment binding crusts of Lithocodium aggregatum and associated Bacinella irregularis abound in a shallow water limestone layer, in South–East France. The sudden appearance of these crusts denotes a local, conspicuous change in an otherwise balanced, open marine depositional environment. Based on regional correlation, the layer belongs to the Lower Hauterivian, Ligatus Zone, directly dated by an assemblage of orbitolinid foraminifera, and indirectly by a specimen of ammonite. It is older than the Faraoni oceanic anoxic event (OAE), (latest Hauterivian, Angulicostata auct. Zone), and presumably not linked with a global climate change. Two facies are recognized: (1) Lithocodium bindstone, with Bacinella, other microencrusters, and fluorescent automicrite of microbial origin; (2) fl oatstones containing numerous fragments of Lithocodium and accompanying biota. Coarse rhombohedral dolomite is locally present. Two modern analogues of microbial mediation are put forward to explain the Lithocodium event: (a) Lagoa Vermelha, in Brazil, along with anoxic, marginal marine conditions; (b) Highborne Cay, in the Bahamas, along with oxic, open marine conditions. A stack of four Upper Hauterivian parasequences is described: Parasequence 1 ends with oolitic deposits; the somewhat deeper water Parasequence 2 occurs only in the south-eastern part of the study area, towards the Subalpine depocenter; Parasequence 3 matches the layer with Lithocodium and Bacinella, of variable thickness (0.8 m – 11 m), resulting from syn-sedimentary tectonic activity in the area of the Vuache fault system which is a major feature; Parasequence 4 corresponds with the resumption of the normal, Urgonian carbonate factory

Strategies and challenges to facilitate situated learning in virtual worlds post-Second Life

Virtual worlds can establish a stimulating environment to support a situated learning approach in which students simulate a task within a safe environment. While in previous years Second Life played a major role in providing such a virtual environment, there are now more and more alternative—often OpenSim-based—solutions deployed within the educational community. By drawing parallels to social networks, we discuss two aspects: how to link individually hosted virtual worlds together in order to implement context for immersion and how to identify and avoid “fake” avatars so people behind these avatars can be held accountable for their actions

Calcareous algae, foraminifera and sequence stratigraphy of the Fahliyan Formation at Kuh-e-Surmeh (Zagros Basin, SW of Iran)

Palaeontological, environmental and sequence stratigraphic studies were carried out on the shallow carbonate platform facies of the Berriasian to Hauterivian Fahliyan Formation and the lower part of the Gadvan Formation, at Kuh-e-Surmeh. The studies were based on calcareous green algae (mainly Dasycladales) and accompanying benthic foraminifera, focusing on revision of the considerable, pioneering work of GOLLESTANEH (1965, 1979), initially undertaken on behalf of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC). Thirty two species of calcareous green algae and thirty four species of benthic foraminifera were identifi ed from the Fahliyan Formation and from the lower part of the Gadvan Formation. A number of the recognized calcareous green algae were previously given different names by other authors working in SW Iran. Additional taxa were also recorded for the fi rst time in the Zagros basin, including Clypeina dragastani, C. estevezii, C. solkani, C. parasolkani, Holosporella arabica, Otternstella lemmensis, Salpingoporella circassa, S. istriana and S. katzeri. Salpingoporella circassa is quite common and apparently recorded for the fi rst time from Southern Tethys. Also Salpingoporella? inopinata n. sp., (originally named Iranella inopinata by GOLLESTANEH, a nomen nudum) appears to be quite common in the Fahliyan Formation, although apparently endemic to SW Iran. Three main depositional environments were recognized based on the faunal/fl oral association, lithological and sedimentological characteristics: inner ramp/restricted platform, mid ramp/margin to open platform, and outer ramp/platform slope, with water depths ranging from about 5m to 20m, rarely reaching 40m. Facies changes facilitated the recognition of three large scale sequences throughout the studied succession, bringing interesting relationships with the sequence bundles identifi ed in the Arabian Plate

Optimized dispersion of nanoparticles for biological in vitro and in vivo studies

Background: The aim of this study was to establish and validate a practical method to disperse nanoparticles in physiological solutions for biological in vitro and in vivo studies. Results: TiO(2) (rutile) dispersions were prepared in distilled water, PBS, or RPMI 1640 cell culture medium. Different ultrasound energies, various dispersion stabilizers (human, bovine, and mouse serum albumin, Tween 80, and mouse serum), various concentrations of stabilizers, and different sequences of preparation steps were applied. The size distribution of dispersed nanoparticles was analyzed by dynamic light scattering and zeta potential was measured using phase analysis light scattering. Nanoparticle size was also verified by transmission electron microscopy. A specific ultrasound energy of 4.2 x 10(5) kJ/m(3) was sufficient to disaggregate TiO(2) (rutile) nanoparticles, whereas higher energy input did not further improve size reduction. The optimal sequence was first to sonicate the nanoparticles in water, then to add dispersion stabilizers, and finally to add buffered salt solution to the dispersion. The formation of coarse TiO(2) (rutile) agglomerates in PBS or RPMI was prevented by addition of 1.5 mg/ml of human, bovine or mouse serum albumin, or mouse serum. The required concentration of albumin to stabilize the nanoparticle dispersion depended on the concentration of the nanoparticles in the dispersion. TiO(2) (rutile) particle dispersions at a concentration lower than 0.2 mg/ml could be stabilized by the addition of 1.5 mg/ml albumin. TiO(2) (rutile) particle dispersions prepared by this method were stable for up to at least 1 week. This method was suitable for preparing dispersions without coarse agglomerates (average diameter < 290 nm) from nanosized TiO(2) (rutile), ZnO, Ag, SiO(x), SWNT, MWNT, and diesel SRM2975 particulate matter. Conclusion: The optimized dispersion method presented here appears to be effective and practicable for preparing dispersions of nanoparticles in physiological solutions without creating coarse agglomerates

SARS‐CoV‐2 receptor ACE 2 and TMPRSS 2 are primarily expressed in bronchial transient secretory cells

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic affecting the human respiratory system severely challenges public health and urgently demands for increasing our understanding of COVID-19 pathogenesis, especially host factors facilitating virus infection and replication. SARS-CoV-2 was reported to enter cells via binding to ACE2, followed by its priming by TMPRSS2. Here, we investigate ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression levels and their distribution across cell types in lung tissue (twelve donors, 39,778 cells) and in cells derived from subsegmental bronchial branches (four donors, 17,521 cells) by single nuclei and single cell RNA sequencing, respectively. While TMPRSS2 is strongly expressed in both tissues, in the subsegmental bronchial branches ACE2 is predominantly expressed in a transient secretory cell type. Interestingly, these transiently differentiating cells show an enrichment for pathways related to RHO GTPase function and viral processes suggesting increased vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our data provide a rich resource for future investigations of COVID-19 infection and pathogenesis

Engineering aspects of hydrothermal pretreatment: from batch to continuous operation, scale-up and pilot reactor under biorefinery concept

Different pretreatments strategies have been developed over the years mainly to enhance enzymatic cellulose degradation. In the new biorefinery era, a more holistic view on pretreatment is required to secure optimal use of the whole biomass. Hydrothermal pretreatment technology is regarded as very promising for lignocellulose biomass fractionation biorefinery and to be implemented at the industrial scale for biorefineries of second generation and circular bioeconomy, since it does not require no chemical inputs other than liquid water or steam and heat. This review focuses on the fundamentals of hydrothermal pretreatment, structure changes of biomass during this pretreatment, multiproduct strategies in terms of biorefinery, reactor technology and engineering aspects from batch to continuous operation. The treatise includes a case study of hydrothermal biomass pretreatment at pilot plant scale and integrated process design.The authors gratefully thank the Secretary of Public Education ofMexico – Mexican Science and Technology Council (SEP-CONACYT,Mexico) for the Basic Science Project -2015-01 (Ref. 254808), EnergySustainability Fund 2014-05 (CONACYT-SENER), Mexican Centre forInnovation in Bioenergy (Cemie-Bio), Cluster of Bioalcohols (Ref.249564) and the BMBF for the financial support (reference number:031B0660A).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

B-Type Natriuretic Peptide and Cardiac Troponin I Are Associated With Adverse Outcomes in Stable Kidney Transplant Recipients

Approximately 200,000 kidney transplant recipients are living in the US; they are at increased risk for cardiovascular and other adverse outcomes. Biomarkers predicting these outcomes are needed. Using specimens collected during the FAVORIT (Folic Acid for Vascular Outcome Reduction In Transplantation) trial, we determined whether plasma levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and cardiac troponin I are associated with adverse outcomes in stable kidney transplant recipients

Increasing student engagement through virtual interactions: how?

Our ongoing research is focusing on identifying and taxonomising the elements and the factors that affect learner engagement with virtual worlds when hybrid virtual learning models are used. Our main hypothesis links learner engagement with interactions, both in the virtual world and in the physical classroom. In order to examine this subject, there is an elaboration on and consideration of aspects such as the learners’ prior experiences in the use of virtual worlds, their preconceptions about using them as a learning tool and the impact that the instructional designers’ choices have on enhancing the opportunities for interactions. In this paper, we examine the impact that the orientation process has on university students who study computer science and have almost no experience in the use of virtual worlds. Our findings suggest that the orientation process contributed positively to students’ smooth induction and that resulted in having meaningful and engaging interactions. Furthermore, students’ simultaneous coexistence in both environments eliminated the drawbacks of each educational approach and broadened the network of interactions