A palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the Middle Jurassic of Sardinia (Italy) based on integrated palaeobotanical, palynological and lithofacies data assessment

During the Jurassic, Sardinia was close to continental Europe. Emerged lands started from a single island forming in time a progressively sinking archipelago. This complex palaeogeographic situation gave origin to a diverse landscape with a variety of habitats. Collection- and literature-based palaeobotanical, palynological and lithofacies studies were carried out on the Genna Selole Formation for palaeoenvironmental interpretations. They evidence a generally warm and humid climate, affected occasionally by drier periods. Several distinct ecosystems can be discerned in this climate, including alluvial fans with braided streams (Laconi-Gadoni lithofacies), paralic swamps and coasts (Nurri-Escalaplano lithofacies), and lagoons and shallow marine environments (Ussassai-Perdasdefogu lithofacies). The non-marine environments were covered by extensive lowland and a reduced coastal and tidally influenced environment. Both the river and the upland/hinterland environments are of limited impact for the reconstruction. The difference between the composition of the palynological and palaeobotanical associations evidence the discrepancies obtained using only one of those proxies. The macroremains reflect the local palaeoenvironments better, although subjected to a transport bias (e.g. missing upland elements and delicate organs), whereas the palynomorphs permit to reconstruct the regional palaeoclimate. Considering that the flora of Sardinia is the southernmost of all Middle Jurassic European floras, this multidisciplinary study increases our understanding of the terrestrial environments during that period of time

NEW GEOLOGICAL AND STRATIGRAPHICAL DATA AND DISCOVERY OF LOWER ORDOVICIAN ACRITARCHS IN THE SAN VITO SANDSTONE OF THE GENN'ARGIOLAS UNIT (SARRABUS, SOUTHEASTERN SARDINIA)

The subject of this paper is new geological and stratigraphical data regarding the Paleozoic in the Sarrabus area (Southeastern Sardinia). More particularly Tremadocian (Lower Ordovician) acritarchs have been found in samples taken for microfossils research from the weakly metamorphosed terrigenous sediments of the San Vito Sandstone. Until recently only acritarchs from the Middle and Upper Cambrian has been found in the San Vito Sandstone. This new finding provides a more precise dating of the San Vito Sandstone, a more exact correlation between this Sarrabus formation and analogous formations with acritarchs in Central- Eastern Sardinia and also further confirmation of the Intraordovician age of the Sarrabese Phase and of the corresponding Sardic Phase of Iglesiente-Sulcis area (Southwestern Sardinia)

PRESENZA Dl TREMADOCIANO AD ACRITARCHI IN UNITA' TETTONICHE ERCINICHE A SUD DEL LAGO Dl MULARGIA (SARDEGNA CENTRALE)

The activity of the first Hercynian tectonic phase is documented in the Lake Mulargia area (central Sardinia) by the presence of numerous tectonic units. We have examined in particular the southern region of the lake, where one of the upper tectonic units (the Bruncu Maresusus Unit) outcrops. It has at its base a thick silicoclastic succession where we have found Tremadocian Acritarchs in its stratigraphically upper part. This formation is time—equivalent to the Solanas Formation and the Arenarie di San Vito Auct. Another tectonic unit, Bruncu Brevexilis, constitu ted from bottom to top of metavolcanities of probable middle Ordovician age and fossiliferous sediments of Caradocian, Silurian and Devonian age, is also present in the same area and lies under the Bruncu Maresusus Unit

Sea level changes and past vegetation in the Punic period (5th–4th century BC): Archaeological, geomorphological and palaeobotanical indicators (South Sardinia – West Mediterranean Sea)

The ancient shorelines and main differences in the vegetational landscape of S Sardinia during the Punic period (5th–4th century BC) have been recognized by an interdisciplinary archaeological, paleobotanical and geomorphological approach. Sixteen trading amphoras and one olla of Punic manufacture brought to light during underwater exploration in Santa Gilla Lagoon (S Sardinia, W Mediterranean) provide data on relative sea level changes. The infilling mud of each retrieved amphora is representative of the ages lasting for about 200–300 years. The macro-archaebotanical contents document the use of seeds and fruits of Vitis, Sorbus, Ficus, Olea and Prunus during Punic trading and suggest the occurrence of agro-pastoral practices in the surrounding plains or the area behind the lagoon system. The palynological analysis documents the presence of holm and cork oak forests, a widespread Mediterranean forest with Juniper and Pinus, and a developed stagnant coastal system, and reveals a climate-induced past vegetation change that is likely to have been emphasized by anthropogenic pressure and agriculture activity during the 4th century BC. The GPS localization of the amphoras shows a distribution according to curved alignments that probably correspond to the shorelines (5th-4th century BC) at – 1.95 ± 10 m and −1.70 ± 10 m. Geomorphological data reveal a sea level rise of about 25 cm during a century, corresponding to 300 m of shoreline regression towards the alluvial plain. With these rapid processes of drowning of the coastal plain, the presence of Punic settlements along the lagoon borders documents the reorganization of commercial and economic activities. This shows the great adaptability of the ancient population to the sea level rise (SLR) and fast-flooding processes of the coastline in a lagoonal area vulnerable to subsidence phenomena

Origins of the fern genus Hymenophyllum (Hymenophyllaceae) in New Caledonia: Multiple independent colonizations from surrounding territories and limited in situ diversification

International audienc

In vitro transformation assays for non-clinical safety assessment of CRISPR/Cas9 genome-edited cells

Off-target editing is one of the main safety concerns for the use of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing in gene therapy. Although theoretically rare, these unwanted modifications could lead to malignant transformation, which renders tumorigenicity assessment of the cell therapy product indispensable. Here, we establish two in vitro assays, the soft agar colony forming assay (SACF) and growth in low attachment plates (GILA), as valid, quick and cost-efficient methods for tumorigenicity assessment of genome-edited cells. Using a CRISPR/Cas9 based approach to transform immortalized MCF10A cells, we identified PTPN12, a known tumor suppressor, as first true positive control in GILA and SACF. Next, we assessed the limit of detection for both assays and found that SACF is more sensitive than GILA (0.8% vs. 3.2% transformed cells). We further validated SACF and GILA by identifying a set of positive and negative controls. In contrast to SACF and GILA, an in vivo tumorigenicity study failed to detect the known tumorigenic potential of PTPN12-/- demonstrating the importance of including GILA and SACF in tumorigenicity testing. In conclusion, SACF and GILA are both attractive and valuable additions to non-clinical safety assessment of genome-edited cells