scholarly journals Meiofaunal communities and nematode diversity characterizing the Secca delle Fumose shallow vent area (Gulf of Naples, Italy)

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9058 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Baldrighi ◽  
Daniela Zeppilli ◽  
Luca Appolloni ◽  
Luigia Donnarumma ◽  
Elena Chianese ◽  
...  

Hydrothermal venting is rather prevalent in many marine areas around the world, and marine shallow vents are relatively abundant in the Mediterranean Sea, especially around Italy. However, investigations focusing on the characterization of meiofaunal organisms inhabiting shallow vent sediments are still scant compared to that on macrofauna. In the present study, we investigated the meiobenthic assemblages and nematode diversity inhabiting the Secca delle Fumose (SdF), a shallow water vent area located in the Gulf of Naples (Italy). In this area, characterized by a rapid change in the environmental conditions on a relative small spatial scale (i.e., 100 m), we selected four sampling sites: one diffusive emission site (H); one geyser site (G) and two inactive sites (CN, CS). Total meiofauna abundance did not vary significantly between active and inactive sites and between surface and deeper sediment layers due to a high inter-replicate variability, suggesting a pronounced spatial-scale patchiness in distribution of meiofauna. Nematofauna at site H presented the typical features of deep-sea vents with low structural and functional diversity, high biomass and dominance of few genera (i.e., Oncholaimus; Daptonema) while from site G we reported diversity values comparable to that of the inactive sites. We hypothesized that site G presented a condition of “intermediate disturbance” that could maintain a high nematode diversity. Environmental features such as sediment temperature, pH, total organic carbon and interstitial waters ions were found to be key factors influencing patterns of meiofauna and nematofauna assemblages at SdF. Even though the general theory is that nematodes inhabiting shallow vent areas include a subset of species that live in background sediments, this was not the case for SdF vent area. Due to a marked change in nematode composition between all sites and to the presence of many exclusive species, every single investigated site was characterized by a distinct nematofauna reflecting the high spatial heterogeneity of SdF.

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 1863
Author(s):  
Luciana Cristina de Carvalho Santa-Rosa ◽  
Sibelle Trevisan Disaró ◽  
Violeta Totah ◽  
Silvia Watanabe ◽  
Ana Tereza Bittencourt Guimarães

Living benthic foraminifera (>63 µm) were studied to characterize the continental slope of the Potiguar Basin (SW Atlantic). Foraminifers from the surface (0–2 cm), subsurface (2–5 cm), and integrated (0–5 cm) sediment layers were analyzed to verify their contribution to environmental characterization. It was also estimated if and which changes occur when the subsurface is added. Sampling stations were distributed in five transects in four isobaths (150, 400, 1000, and 2000 m). Sediment samples were fixed with 4% buffered formaldehyde and stained with Bengal rose. Were recorded 396 species in the surface layer, 228 in the subsurface, and 449 in integrating both layers. This study did not include tubular agglutinated species. The assemblages from 150 m isobath indicated the upper slope, from 400 m indicated the middle slope and the ones from the 2000 m indicated the lower slope. The surface layer’s assemblage at 1000 m isobath was more similar to the middle slope; in contrast, its subsurface layer´s assemblage had more similarity with the lower slope. Rarefaction curves, Permanova, and NMDS routines indicated a high resemblance between surface and integrated layers. Therefore, the first two centimeters were sufficient to characterize this region based on living benthic foraminifera.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 546
Author(s):  
Pilar Sabuquillo ◽  
Jaime Cubero

Xanthomonasarboricola pv. pruni (Xap) causes bacterial spot of stone fruit and almond, an important plant disease with a high economic impact. Biofilm formation is one of the mechanisms that microbial communities use to adapt to environmental changes and to survive and colonize plants. Herein, biofilm formation by Xap was analyzed on abiotic and biotic surfaces using different microscopy techniques which allowed characterization of the different biofilm stages compared to the planktonic condition. All Xap strains assayed were able to form real biofilms creating organized structures comprised by viable cells. Xap in biofilms differentiated from free-living bacteria forming complex matrix-encased multicellular structures which become surrounded by a network of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Moreover, nutrient content of the environment and bacterial growth have been shown as key factors for biofilm formation and its development. Besides, this is the first work where different cell structures involved in bacterial attachment and aggregation have been identified during Xap biofilm progression. Our findings provide insights regarding different aspects of the biofilm formation of Xap which improve our understanding of the bacterial infection process occurred in Prunus spp and that may help in future disease control approaches.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 1934578X2110233
Author(s):  
Masahiro Saiki ◽  
Naomichi Takemoto ◽  
Maki Nagata ◽  
Masako Matsumoto ◽  
Yhiya Amen ◽  
...  

In recent years, entomophagy has attracted increased attention, as it was recommended as a potential source of food by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. In Japan, Oxya yezoensisis one of the most widely eaten insect species, but studies of its functionality as a food are limited. In this study, we reported the optimal characterization of the total phenolic compounds in methanolic extract (OME) and different fractions of OME. Additionally, the antioxidant and antiallergic activities of the OME fractions were evaluated. The results showed that the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of OME has potential antioxidant activity, whereas the n-hexane-soluble fraction showed the strongest inhibition of β-hexosaminidase, which is one of the key factors in allergic reactions. It was concluded that phenolic compounds might contribute to the antioxidant activity while unsaturated fatty acids contribute to the antiallergy activity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-101

In this work, different parameters of E7 liquid crystal (LC) have been calculated under the influence of an electric field in THz frequency. The E7 LC parameters have positive as well as negative values of order parameter and birefringence under the influence for an electric field. The director angle of E7 LC shows fast fluctuations above the angle θ=45° and due to rapid change in the orientation of molecules, fast electro-optical switching devices based on E7 LC can be designed. The refractive index of the E7 LC maintains stability in THz frequency.


Author(s):  
Jorge Cruz-González ◽  
Miriam Delgado-Verde

The dynamic capabilities Perspective has emerged in the last decade to improve the explanatory power of the Resource-Based View of the firm with regard to obtaining sustainable competitive advantage by firms operating in rapid change environments. However, some aspects of its conceptualization, especially in relation to the factors that make up them, do not appear to be entirely clear. Accordingly, the aim of the present chapter is to provide a conceptual synthesis of the construct, trying to identify the key factors involved in the development of dynamic capabilities by firms. Based on a sample of 177 companies around the world operating in the software industry, the authors derive an empirical study. Their findings suggest that firms that jointly develop absorptive capacity and innovative capacity achieve better results.


2012 ◽  
Vol 263-266 ◽  
pp. 1208-1213
Author(s):  
Junseok Oh ◽  
Taisiya Kim ◽  
Soo Kyung Park ◽  
Bong Gyou Lee

The mobile network has been developed from 2nd Generation (2G) to Long Term Evolution (LTE) network in Korea. The purpose of this paper is to examine the key factors which affect network development, and to recognize how the mobile carriers and users perceive the rapid change of mobile technology. This study focuses on a pretest to confirm the important factors from the Focus Group Interview (FGI) to Korean Telco representatives and mobile device users. The results show that mobile device users consider devices and contents as more important factors while Korean Telco representatives pursue various strategies and priorities for network evolution. The study will contribute to recognize the differences between providers and users for introducing the new mobile network. Since this paper only describes the pretest results, further research will be conducted with in-depth interview data and statistical approaches.


Author(s):  
Robert W. Charlson ◽  
Matthew S. Robbins

In recent years, the characterization of the neurobiology of migraine and other headache disorders has been driven by the search to better understand several key factors: genetics, the role of neuromodulators such as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), processes including central and peripheral sensitization, neurogenic inflammation, central pain networks, and areas of activation demonstrated by advancing functional neuroimaging techniques. Yet the ultimate causes of migraine remain unknown. Nonetheless, recent work has advanced our understanding of this complex disorder, and pointed toward a future where these modalities may provide an integrated understanding of its pathophysiology and provide specific treatment targets.


Parasitology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 147 (13) ◽  
pp. 1443-1451
Author(s):  
Anna Graff ◽  
Emma Bennion-Pedley ◽  
Ariadin K. Jones ◽  
Marissa L. Ledger ◽  
Koen Deforce ◽  
...  

AbstractThe aim of this study is to determine the species of parasite that infected the population of Brussels during the Medieval and Renaissance periods, and determine if there was notable variation between different households within the city. We compared multiple sediment layers from cesspits beneath three different latrines dating from the 14th–17th centuries. Helminths and protozoa were detected using microscopy and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We identified Ascaris sp., Capillaria sp., Dicrocoelium dendriticum, Entamoeba histolytica, Fasciola hepatica, Giardia duodenalis, Taenia sp. and Trichuris sp. in Medieval samples, and continuing presence of Ascaris sp., D. dendriticum, F. hepatica, G. duodenalis and Trichuris sp. into the Renaissance. While some variation existed between households, there was a broadly consistent pattern with the domination of species spread by fecal contamination of food and drink (whipworm, roundworm and protozoa that cause dysentery). These data allow us to explore diet and hygiene, together with routes for the spread of fecal–oral parasites. Key factors explaining our findings are manuring practices with human excrement in market gardens, and flooding of the polluted River Senne during the 14th–17th centuries.


2011 ◽  
Vol 239-242 ◽  
pp. 524-527
Author(s):  
Su De Ma ◽  
Guo Lin Song ◽  
Zong Cheng Miao ◽  
Deng Wu Wang

Microencapsulated phase change material (MEPCM) was successfully prepared by using paraffin as the core material and PMMA as shell material. Both raw materials are innocuous, cheap and rich in resource. The influences of the key factors (i.e. emulsifier, stabilizer, concentration of the oil phase) on synthesis reaction were systematically evaluated. Conditions of synthesis reaction were also optimized. The relevant research results indicate that the prepared microcapsules are regular spheres with smooth and compact surface. The diameter of these spheres ranges from 1 to 2 mm. No obvious overcooling or overheating phenomena can be observed even when the content of paraffin of MEPCM reaches approximately 50 wt%. TGA analyses indicate that the heat resistance of the microcapsule increases by 10 °C compared to the pure paraffin. Accelerated thermal cycling tests also verify that the MEPCM displays good thermal reliability. The MEPCMs synthesized in the current study have potentials for thermal energy storage purposes such as PCM slurries, textiles and building materials.


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