Soil Erosion and Age Determination of Soils in a Forest-steppe Ecosystem in Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Large parts of Central and Eastern Europe are covered by extremely biodiverse forest-steppe landscapes. For many of these sites, there is a presumption that they have existed for very long periods of time, despite a climatic suitability for forest vegetation. The forest-grasslands around the city of Cluj-Napoca in Transylvania, Romania, were studied to find evidence of such a Holocene continuity of grasslands with open patches of forest. Three sites currently covered with grass vegetation show evidence of soil polygenesis. Chemical soil properties as well as the presence of thick root channels are indications of former forest cover. This may be an indication of the change in ground-covering vegetation that has taken place in the course of soil formation. A minimum soil age was calculated for the four sites investigated. The investigated soils show relatively high ages between 20 ka to about 125 ka, indicating an onset of soil genesis before the onset of the Holocene. In addition, erosion rates were calculated on different time scales. The calculated long-term erosion rates for the entire period since the onset of soil formation of the present-day soils range between 0.18 t ha-1 a-1 and 0.78 t ha-1 a-1. The short-term erosion rates of the last 60 years or so are many times higher and in some cases ten times higher between 1.35 t ha-1 a-1 and 5.4 t ha-1 a-1. These large differences are an indication of the large, mainly anthropogenic, threats posed by soil erosion to these ecosystems

Single-Molecule Peptide Identification Using Fluorescence Blinking Fingerprints

The ability to identify peptides with single-molecule sensitivity would lead to next-generation proteomics methods for basic research and clinical applications. Existing single-molecule peptide sequencing methods can read some amino acid sequences, but they are limited in their ability to distinguish between similar amino acids or post-translational modifications. Here, we demonstrate that the fluorescence intermittency of a peptide labeled with a spontaneously blinking fluorophore contains information about the structure of the peptide. Using a deep learning algorithm, this single-molecule blinking pattern can be used to identify the peptide. This method can distinguish between peptides with different sequences, peptides with the same sequence but different phosphorylation patterns, and even peptides that differ only by the presence of epimerized residues. This study builds the foundation for a targeted proteomics method with single-molecule sensitivity

Ötzi, the Iceman and his Leather Clothes

Over 5000 years ago, a man climbed up to the icy heights of the glacier in South Tyrol, Italy and died. He was found by accident in 1991, with his clothes and equipment, mummified and frozen: an archaeological sensation and a unique snapshot of a Copper Age man. For several years highly specialised research teams have examined the mummy and all accompanying items. This paper describes how fur and leather clothes of the iceman could have been tanned. Details of the analytical tests undertaken on the 5000 year old leather samples and what they revealed are presented

A review of the fossil record of turtles of the clade Thalassochelydia

The Late Jurassic (Oxfordian to Tithonian) fossil record of Europe and South America has yielded a particularly rich assemblage of aquatic pan-cryptodiran turtles that are herein tentatively hypothesized to form a monophyletic group named Thalassochelydia. Thalassochelydians were traditionally referred to three families, Eurysternidae, Plesiochelyidae, and Thalassemydidae, but the current understanding of phylogenetic relationships is insufficient to support the monophyly of either group. Given their pervasive usage in the literature, however, these three names are herein retained informally. Relationships with marine turtles from the Cretaceous have been suggested in the past, but these hypotheses still lack strong character support. Thalassochelydians are universally found in near-shore marine sediments and show adaptations to aquatic habitats, but isotopic evidence hints at a broad spectrum of specializations ranging from freshwater aquatic to fully marine. A taxonomic review of the group concludes that of 68 named taxa, 27 are nomina valida, 18 are nomina invalida, 18 are nomina dubia, and 5 nomina oblita

The comparative osteology of Plesiochelys bigleri n. sp., a new coastal marine turtle from the Late Jurassic of Porrentruy (Switzerland)

During the Late Jurassic, several groups of eucryptodiran turtles inhabited the shallow epicontinental seas of Western Europe. Plesiochelyidae are an important part of this first radiation of crown-group turtles into coastal marine ecosystems. Fossils of Plesiochelyidae occur in many European localities, and are especially abundant in the Kimmeridgian layers of the Swiss Jura Mountains (Solothurn and Porrentruy). In the mid-19th century, the quarries of Solothurn (NW Switzerland) already provided a large amount of fossil turtles, most notably Plesiochelys etalloni, the best-known plesiochelyid species. Recent excavations in the Porrentruy area (NW Switzerland) revealed new fossils of Plesiochelys, including numerous well-preserved shells with associated cranial and postcranial material.Out of 80 shells referred to Plesiochelys, 41 are assigned to a new species, Plesiochelys bigleri n. sp., including a skull–shell association. We furthermore refer 15 shells to Plesiochelys etalloni, and 24 shells to Plesiochelys sp. Anatomical comparisons show that Plesiochelys bigleri can clearly be differentiated from Plesiochelys etalloni by cranial features. The shell anatomy and the appendicular skeleton of Plesiochelys bigleri and Plesiochelys etalloni are very similar. However, a statistical analysis demonstrates that the thickness of neural bones allows to separate the two species based on incomplete material. This study furthermore illustrates the extent of intraspecific variation in the shell anatomy of Plesiochelys bigleri and Plesiochelys etalloni

A taxonomic review of the Late Jurassic eucryptodiran turtles from the Jura Mountains (Switzerland and France)

Background. Eucryptodiran turtles from the Late Jurassic (mainly Kimmeridgian) deposits of the Jura Mountains (Switzerland and France) are among the earliest named species traditionally referred to the Plesiochelyidae, Thalassemydidae, and Eurysternidae. As such, they are a reference for the study of Late Jurassic eucryptodires at the European scale. Fifteen species and four genera have been typified based on material from the Late Jurassic of the Jura Mountains. In the past 50 years, diverging taxonomic reassessments have been proposed for these turtles with little agreement in sight. In addition, there has been a shift of focus from shell to cranial anatomy in the past forty years, although most of these species are only represented by shell material. As a result, the taxonomic status of many of these 15 species remains ambiguous, which prevents comprehensive comparison of Late Jurassic turtle assemblages throughout Europe and hinders description of new discoveries, such as the new assemblage recently unearthed in the vicinity of Porrentruy, Switzerland.Methods. An exhaustive reassessment of the available material provides new insights into the comparative anatomy of these turtles. The taxonomic status of each of the 15 species typified based on material from the Late Jurassic of the Jura Mountains is evaluated. New diagnoses and general descriptions are provided for each valid taxon.Results. Six out of the 15 available species names are recognized as valid: Plesiochelys etalloni, Craspedochelys picteti, Craspedochelys jaccardi, Tropidemys langii, Thalassemys hugii, and ‘Thalassemys’ moseri. The intraspecific variability of the shell of P. etalloni is discussed based on a sample of about 30 relatively complete specimens from Solothurn, Switzerland. New characters are proposed to differentiate P. etalloni, C. picteti, and C. jaccardi, therefore rejecting the previously proposed synonymy of these forms. Based partly on previously undescribed specimens, the plastral morphology of Th. hugii is redescribed. The presence of lateral plastral fontanelles is notably revealed in this species, which calls into question the traditional definitions of the Thalassemydidae and Eurysternidae. Based on these new data, Eurysternum ignoratum is considered a junior synonym of Th. hugii. The Eurysternidae are therefore only represented by Solnhofia parsonsi in the Late Jurassic of the Jura Mountains. Finally, ‘Th.’ moseri is recognized as a valid species, although a referral to the genus Thalassemys is refuted

Den Schmerz im Fokus : Verlauf einer konservativen Behandlung nach Achillessehnenruptur

Hintergrund: Achillessehnenrupturen sind die häufigsten Sehnenverletzungen weltweit. Ob ein Heilungsverlauf physiologisch verläuft, kann unter anderem anhand der vorhandenen Schmerzen eingeschätzt werden. Derzeit fehlen genaue Beschreibungen des Schmerzverhaltens bei der Genesung nach einer Achillessehnenruptur. Ziel: Die vorliegende Studie beschreibt das Schmerzverhalten bei einer Patientin in konservativer Behandlung nach einer Achillessehnenruptur in den Schlüsselphasen der Plantarflexionsreduktion und liefert so für Betroffene und Therapierende Hinweise auf die zu erwartenden Schmerzen. Methode: Anhand der Einzelfallanalyse einer 48-jährigen Patientin, welche die ersten 188 Tage nach Trauma ein Schmerztagebuch führte, wird der Schmerzverlauf mittels deskriptiven Auswertungsverfahren dargestellt und analysiert. Die Behandlung der Achillessehnenruptur fand konservativ mittels Künzli Achilles- Schuh statt. Der Fokus liegt auf den Schmerzen morgens, abends sowie in der Nacht. Ergebnisse: Der prognostizierte Schmerzanstieg abends fand in zwei der drei Phasen der Plantarflexionsreduktion statt. Der Schmerz abends und morgens normalisierte sich nach der Plantarflexionsreduktion innerhalb von maximal fünf Tagen auf das Niveau von davor. Nicht-prognostizierte Schmerzanstiege oder Nachtschmerz waren laut Patientin auf unerwartete Ereignisse oder eine erhöhte Aktivität zurückzuführen. Schlussfolgerung: Die Beobachtung der Schmerzen bietet im Heilungsverlauf nach konservativer Behandlung einer Achillessehnenruptur eine Möglichkeit zur Beurteilung der Genesung. Der Schmerzverlauf in den Phasen der Plantarflexionsreduktion ist eng an die optimale Belastung der Sehne gekoppelt.Background: Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) ranks as the most common tendon injury worldwide. Amongst other signs of inflammation, the physiological recovery can be assessed based on pain. To date, there are no precise descriptions of pain behavior during recovery following ATR. Objective: This study describes pain behavior during the phases of plantar flexion reduction of a patient with ATR undergoing conservative treatment and thus provides indications for other patients or therapists. Method: Based on a case study of a 48-year-old female who filled out a pain diary for the first 188 days after trauma, the pain behavior is analyzed using descriptive statistics. The treatment of ATR was performed conservatively using a Künzli Achillesboot. The focus lies on the pain in the morning, evening and at night. Results: The predicted pain increase in the evening during the analyzed phases of plantar flexion reduction took place in two of the three phases. Within a maximum of five days after the adjustment of plantar flexion, the pain in the evening and in the morning returned to the level of before the plantar flexion reduction. According to the patient, non-predicted increases in pain (also at night) were due to unexpected events or increased physical activity. Conclusion: The observation of pain during the healing process after conservatively treated ATR offers a possibility for assessing the recovery. Furthermore, pain during the phases of plantar flexion reduction is closely linked to the optimal tendon loading