Trace fossils and palynomorphs in Holocene calcareous concretions from Lake Selbusjøen, Mid-Norway: Post-glacial environmental records

Trace fossils and palynomorphs are recorded for the first time in Holocene calcareous concretions from Lake Selbusjøen, Central Norway. The described trace fossils can be assigned to the Mermia ichnofacies, characterizing lake deposits with good oxygenation and low depositional energy. The predominance of simple grazing trails and shallow burrows (e.g. Cochlichnus, Helminthoidichnites and Treptichnus) in silty and sandy concretions possibly represent relatively low-energy sublittoral parts of the lake, while the occurrence of Vagorichnus and Arenicolites in sandy substrate points to littoral and shallow sublittoral areas with moderate depositional energy. The trace fossils and palynomorph assemblages from Lake Selbusjøen appear to relate to periods of climatic warming during Pre-Boreal times, and possibly also Atlantic times.

Quick diagnostic and management community acquired pneumonia at Sumbawa hospital: a case report

Pneumonia is most common cause of respiratory distress an infection of the pulmonary parenchyma. Despite being the cause of significant morbidity and mortality, it is often misdiagnosed, mistreated, and underestimated. Pneumonia historically was Typically classified as community-acquired (CAP), hospital-acquired (HAP), or ventilator-associated (VAP). A 68-year-old male was sent to the emergency department from clinic with an oxygen saturation of 86%. She has fevers with cough and generalized weakness for one week. She had been evaluated by her primary care provider on day two of illness and was started empirically on cefixime without improvement of her symptoms. The patient arrived febrile, tachycardic, tachypneic, and hypoxic on room air with right-sided crackles on exam. Lung Ultrasound of the right lower lobe demonstrates lung hepatization, a classic finding for pneumonia. In addition, a shred sign is present with both air bronchograms and focal B lines-all suggestive of poorly aerated, consolidated lung. Authors critically evaluate the evidence for the use lung ultrasound for rapid diagnostic. It is important to understand this disease, rapid diagnostic with ultrasound and when treated promptly and effectively, these patients will rapidly recovery. Good oxygenation, intravenous Antibiotic, intravenous fluids and symptomatic treatment which should be started within minutes of the patients’ arrival to emergency department.

EFICIENCIA SOLAR DE UN NUEVO FOTO-CATALIZADOR TiO2 DEPOSITADO SOBRE UN PAPEL FOTO-INERTE PARA LA DEGRADACIÓN TOTAL DE VARIOS PLAGUICIDAS Y COLORANTES

ABSTRACTA specially designed titania photocatalyst was prepared by coating Ahlstrom non-woven paper, used as a flexible photocatalytic support, with Millennium PC500 anatase. At the same time, a new solar photoreactor (STEP) was designed based on the multi-step cascade falling-film principle to ensure good exposure to sunlight and good oxygenation of the effluent to be treated. Several types of reactants were treated: 4-chlorophenol as a model organic pollutant; formetanate, a widely used pesticide in horticulture; a mixture of pesticides used in vineyards; and Indigo Carmine and Congo Red, which are complex multifunctional dye molecules. Each reaction was performed simultaneously in a solar CPC slurry photoreactor and in the STEP photoreactor under identical solar exposure to better evaluate and validate the results obtained. The STEP solar reactor was found to be as efficient as the CPC one for 4-chlorophenol and formetanate total degradation. Keywords.-Pesticide, Degradation, Photocatalyst. RESUMENUn diseño especial de un fotocalizador de TiO2 fue depositado sobre un papel foto inerte. Al mismo tiempo un nuevo fotoreactor solar (STEP) fue diseñado en base a una cascada multipaso, generando buenos resultados a la exposición de la luz solar con buena oxigenación del efluente que se trato. Se utilizaron como reactivos a tratar: 4- clorofenol como un contaminante orgánico, formetano ampliamente usado como pesticida en horticultura, y una mezcla de pesticidas usadas en viñedos; así mismo el índigo carmín y congo red como complejos multifuncional de colorantes. Cada reacción fue realizada en un reactor STEP con agitación y exposición solar CPC simultáneamente para tener una mejor evaluación de los resultados obtenidos. El reactor solar STEP fue muy eficiente como el CPC, para el 4-clorofenol y formetano se obtuvo una degradación total. Palabras clave.- Plaguicidas, Degradación, Fotocatalizador.

EFFICIENCY EVALUATION OF AN ALGISTATIC TREATMENT BASED ON BARLEY STRAW IN A HYPERTROPHIC POND

Eutrophication processes were closely examined in a hypertrophic pond that was subjected to a barley straw treatment to inhibit cyanobacteria blooms. A phytoplankton activity was present from February to November 2010 with Chlorophyll a concentrations that ranged between 8 and 83 μg L-1 . The good oxygenation of the pond provided by primary production all along the year seems to maintain an oxic layer at the top of the sedimentary column. A high-frequency monitoring of algal development pointed out the end of the diatom bloom at the end of April and the growth of green algae from beginning of May. One month later, the development of cyanobacteria supplanted other algae several times. The implementation of barley straw does not seem to hinder the growth of cyanobacteria in June, August and September and do not promote the development of other algae potentially favoured by such a treatment. As a consequence, a barley straw treatment does not seem to be really appropriate for this kind of ponds in Northern France and more tests should still be undertaken to prove its real efficiency.

Palaeoenvironmental interpretation of echinoderm assemblages from Bathonian ore-bearing clays at Gnaszyn (Kraków-Silesia Homocline, Poland)

ABSTRACT Boczarowski A. 2012. Palaeoenvironmental interpretation of echinoderm assemblages from Bathonian ore-bearing clays at Gnaszyn (Krakow-Silesia Homocline, Poland). Acta Geologica Polonica, 62(3), 351-366. Warszawa. This paper presents the results of an investigation into the variability of echinoderm assemblages from Bathonian ore-bearing clays from Gnaszyn. Remains of Crinoidea, Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, Echinoidea, and Holothuroidea have been studied from 38 rock samples. The most common echinoderms represented are the crinoids Balanocrinusberchteni and Chariocrinus andreae and a few species of the holothurian genera Priscopedatus, Calclamna, Staurocaudina, Eocaudina, Achistrum, Theelia and Hemisphaeranthos. The echinoderms from Gnaszyn show various life strategies: benthic or epibenthic forms, sessile sestonophages (Crinoidea), motile macrophages (Asteroidea) and detritivores (Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, Echinoidea), infaunal and epifaunal detritus feeders, sediment feeders or rake-feeders (Holothuroidea). Their presence suggests well oxygenated and presumably relatively cold bottom marine waters. The parts of the Gnaszyn section around concretion horizons and characterized by the ubiquitous occurrence of the holothurian Theelia and echinoids were deposited during phases of optimal living conditions with sufficient influx of plant detritus and good oxygenation of the sea bottom. These parts commonly host echinoderm associations dominated by crinoid remains, which occasionally are still articulated (or disarticulated but remaining intact) - this points to a quiet environment with normal oxygenation of the bottom waters but anaerobic/dysaerobic conditions in the sediment.

High-frequency oscillatory ventilation in neonatal RDS: initial volume optimization and respiratory mechanics

To determine whether initial lung volume optimization influences respiratory mechanics, which could indicate the achievement of optimal volume, we studied 17 premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) assisted by high-frequency oscillatory ventilation. The continuous distending pressure (CDP) was increased stepwise from 6–8 cmH2O up to optimal CDP (OCDP), i.e., that allowing good oxygenation with the lowest inspired O2 fraction. Respiratory system compliance (Crs) and resistance were concomitantly measured. Mean OCDP was 16.5 ± 1.2 cmH2O. Inspired O2 fraction could be reduced from an initial level of 0.73 ± 0.17 to 0.33 ± 0.07. However, Crs (0.45 ± 0.14 ml ⋅ cmH2O−1 ⋅ kg−1at starting CDP point) remained unchanged through lung volume optimization but appeared inversely related to OCDP. Similarly, respiratory system resistance was not affected. We conclude that there is a marked dissociation between oxygenation improvement and Crs profile during the initial phase of lung recruitment by early high-frequency oscillatory ventilation in infants with RDS. Thus optimal lung volume cannot be defined by serial Crs measurement. At the most, low initial Crs suggests that higher CDP will be needed.