Clinopyroxene growth rates were experimentally determined in a K-basaltic rock from Campi Flegrei Volcanic District (south Italy). The primary objective was to provide constraints on the ...clinopyroxene crystallization kinetics at high pressure: we carried out a series of experiments at 0.8 GPa, 1030–1250 °C, 1 ≤ H
2
O ≤ 4 wt.%, with durations of 0.25, 3, 6 and 9 h. Overall, growth rate reaches a maximum value in the shortest experiments (~ 3·10
−7
cm·s
−1
), decreasing to ~ 1·10
−8
cm·s
−1
in the longest duration runs. Temperature and water content do not seem to significantly affect the growth rate. Moreover, partition coefficients based on the crystal-liquid exchange show that mineral chemistry progressively approaches equilibrium with increasing run duration. Furthermore, to estimate the magma recharge of the deep reservoirs, we combined the determined growth rates with data from thermobarometry and from crystal size distribution analyses of clinopyroxenes in the most primitive scoria clasts of the Campi Flegrei Volcanic District (CFVD). We obtained a minimum residence time of ~ 5 months for the larger clinopyroxene population, and an ascent velocity of ~ 0.5·10
−4
m·s
−1
for the CFVD K-basaltic magma. The smaller clinopyroxene phenocrysts and microlite populations, however, suggest that the late stage of Procida magma crystallization took place in disequilibrium conditions.
Analysis of 772 complete severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genomes from early in the Boston-area epidemic revealed numerous introductions of the virus, a small number of ...which led to most cases. The data revealed two superspreading events. One, in a skilled nursing facility, led to rapid transmission and significant mortality in this vulnerable population but little broader spread, whereas other introductions into the facility had little effect. The second, at an international business conference, produced sustained community transmission and was exported, resulting in extensive regional, national, and international spread. The two events also differed substantially in the genetic variation they generated, suggesting varying transmission dynamics in superspreading events. Our results show how genomic epidemiology can help to understand the link between individual clusters and wider community spread.
We present new thermometers and barometers based on clinopyroxene–liquid equilibria specific to alkaline differentiated magmas. The new models were calibrated through the regression analyses of ...experimental datasets obtained by merging phase equilibria experiments from the literature with new experiments performed by using trachytic and phonolitic starting compositions. The regression strategy was twofold: (1) we have tested previous thermometric and barometric equations and recalibrated these models using the new datasets; (2) we have calibrated a new thermometer and a new barometer including only regression parameters that closely describe the compositional variability of the datasets. The new models yield more precise estimates than previous thermometers and barometers when used to predict temperatures and pressures of alkaline differentiated magmas. We have tested the reliability of the new equations by using clinopyroxene–liquid pairs from trachytes and phonolites erupted during major explosive eruptions at the Phlegrean Fields and Mt. Vesuvius (central Italy). The test yielded crystallization conditions comparable to those determined by means of melt and fluid inclusion analyses and phase equilibria studies; this validates the use of the proposed models for precise estimates of crystallization temperatures and pressures in differentiated alkaline magmas. Because these magmas feed some of the most voluminous, explosive, and threatening volcanic eruptions in the world, a better understanding of the environmental conditions of their reservoirs is mandatory and this is now possible with the new models provided here.
Microvilli are actin-bundle-supported surface protrusions that play essential roles in diverse epithelial functions. To develop our understanding of microvilli biogenesis, we used live imaging to ...directly visualize protrusion growth at early stages of epithelial differentiation. Time-lapse data revealed that specific factors, including epidermal growth factor pathway substrate 8 (EPS8) and insulin-receptor tyrosine kinase substrate (IRTKS) (also known as BAIAP2L1), appear in diffraction-limited puncta at the cell surface and mark future sites of microvillus growth. New core actin bundles elongate from these puncta in parallel with the arrival of ezrin and subsequent plasma membrane encapsulation. In addition to de novo growth, we also observed that new microvilli emerge from pre-existing protrusions. Moreover, we found that nascent microvilli can also collapse, characterized first by loss of membrane wrapping and ezrin enrichment, followed by a sharp decrease in distal tip EPS8 and IRTKS levels, and ultimately disassembly of the core actin bundle itself. These studies are the first to offer a temporally resolved microvillus growth mechanism and highlight factors that participate in this process; they also provide important insights on the growth of apical specializations that will likely apply to diverse epithelial contexts.
Display omitted
•EPS8 and IRTKS puncta mark sites of new microvillus growth•EPS8 and IRTKS puncta remain enriched at the distal tips of nearly all microvilli•Existing microvilli also serve as mothers that give rise to daughter protrusions•Microvilli collapse when membrane wrapping and EPS8/IRTKS tip enrichment are lost
Gaeta et al. show that microvillus biogenesis occurs de novo and from existing microvilli, with the actin binding proteins EPS8 and IRTKS marking new sites of growth. Nascent microvilli also undergo collapse, whereby the protrusion initially loses membrane wrapping and EPS8/IRTKS tip enrichment, ultimately leading to loss of the core actin bundle.
Transporting epithelial cells generate arrays of microvilli, known as a brush border, to enhance functional capacity. To understand brush border formation, we used live cell imaging to visualize ...apical remodeling early in this process. Strikingly, we found that individual microvilli exhibit persistent active motility, translocating across the cell surface at ∼0.2 μm/min. Perturbation with inhibitors and photokinetic experiments revealed that microvillar motility is driven by actin assembly at the barbed ends of core bundles, which in turn is linked to robust treadmilling of these structures. Actin regulatory factors IRTKS and EPS8 localize to the barbed ends of motile microvilli, where they control the kinetics and nature of movement. As the apical surface of differentiating epithelial cells is crowded with nascent microvilli, persistent motility promotes collisions between protrusions and ultimately clustering and consolidation into higher-order arrays. Thus, microvillar motility represents a previously unrecognized driving force for apical surface remodeling and maturation during epithelial differentiation.
Display omitted
•Microvilli exhibit persistent, active motility driven by actin assembly•Microvillar F-actin cores treadmill during motility•Barbed-end binding factors regulate microvillar motility•Motility promotes intermicrovillar collisions, adhesion, and cluster formation
Transporting epithelial cells assemble extensive apical arrays of microvilli, known as brush borders. Meenderink et al. use live cell imaging to reveal that nascent microvilli translocate across the cell surface. Cells harness this motility to consolidate microvilli into clusters and tightly packed arrays during differentiation.
A review of the existing chronological, stratigraphic and chemo-petrologic data of the major eruptive units from the early phase of activity (800–390 ka) in the Monti Sabatini Volcanic District ...(MSVD), belonging to the ultra-potassic magmatic region of central Italy, is presented along with new radioisotopic age determinations and geochemical analyses. Through the combined use of electron microprobe glass compositions, selected trace-element compositions, and single-crystal 40Ar/39Ar age determinations, we provide a new chrono- and chemo-stratigraphic classification of the products emplaced in the 800–390 ka time interval. Besides giving insights on the petrologic evolution of the Roman Comagmatic Region, the large dataset provides fundamental information that is applicable to tephrostratigraphic studies in the wide region encompassing the Tyrrhenian Sea margin to the Adriatic Sea basin. Distal tephras from this volcanic activity also act as important geochronologic markers for the coastal sedimentary successions deposited in response to glacio-eustatic fluctuations, as well as for successions in the Quaternary tectonic basins of the Central and Southern Apennines. An innovative approach based on the use of discrimination diagrams of Zr/Y vs Nb/Y ratios for fingerprinting altered volcanic rocks – recently developed and successfully employed in archaeometric studies – is here combined to the glass compositions for classifying the MSVD deposits and tested on two distal tephra layers, showing its potentiality for tephrostratigraphic correlation.
•We review the literature on the chronostratigraphy of Monti Sabatini Volcanic District.•We integrate a large set of new geochemical and geochronological analyses.•We provide the chrono- and chemo-stratigraphic framework of the early explosive phase.•We apply a new trace-element based criterion for identification of the distal tephra.•We provide two case-histories demonstrating applicability of the proposed correlation method.
Abstract
We present a geological-stratigraphical study aimed to provide chronologic constraints to the sea-level markers occurring at two coastal caves of central Italy (Grotta Guattari and Grotta ...dei Moscerini) and to the Neanderthal frequentation of these caves, in the light of recent archaeological and geomorphological-geochronological studies suggesting similar sea levels during MIS 5.5 and MIS 5.3, and only few m below the Present during MIS 5.1 in this region. Based on the review of previous literature data, combined with new stratigraphic observations at Grotta Guattari and re-analysis of archive material including unpublished field notes from Grotta dei Moscerini, we reconstruct a plausible sea-level history accounting for the lithological and paleoenvironmental features of their sedimentary fillings. In particular, we outline the abundant occurrence of well-rounded pumice clasts within the sedimentary deposits of Moscerini Cave, attesting for the proximity to the beach where this pumice was gathered by wave action. Through the petrographic and geochemical analysis of this pumice we evidence provenance from Phlegraean Fields and Ischia Island volcanic districts, framing their chronology in the time span 118–40 ka, consistent with literature ESR-U/Th dates providing ages ranging 101 ± 5–74 ± 7 ka for the sedimentary filling of both Moscerini and Guattari caves.
MR imaging tractography is increasingly used to perform noninvasive presurgical planning for brain gliomas. Recently, constrained spherical deconvolution tractography was shown to overcome several ...limitations of commonly used DTI tractography. The purpose of our study was to evaluate WM tract alterations of both the corticospinal tract and arcuate fasciculus in patients with high-grade gliomas, through qualitative and quantitative analysis of probabilistic constrained spherical deconvolution tractography, to perform reliable presurgical planning.
Twenty patients with frontoparietal high-grade gliomas were recruited and evaluated by using a 3T MR imaging scanner with both morphologic and diffusion sequences (60 diffusion directions). We performed probabilistic constrained spherical deconvolution tractography and tract quantification following diffusion tensor parameters: fractional anisotropy; mean diffusivity; linear, planar, and spherical coefficients.
In all patients, we obtained tractographic reconstructions of the medial and lateral portions of the corticospinal tract and arcuate fasciculus, both on the glioma-affected and nonaffected sides of the brain. The affected lateral corticospinal tract and the arcuate fasciculus showed decreased fractional anisotropy (z = 2.51, n = 20, P = .006; z = 2.52, n = 20, P = .006) and linear coefficient (z = 2.51, n = 20, P = .006; z = 2.52, n = 20, P = .006) along with increased spherical coefficient (z = -2.51, n = 20, P = .006; z = -2.52, n = 20, P = .006). Mean diffusivity values were increased only in the lateral corticospinal tract (z = -2.53, n = 20, P = .006).
In this study, we demonstrated that probabilistic constrained spherical deconvolution can provide essential qualitative and quantitative information in presurgical planning, which was not otherwise achievable with DTI. These findings can have important implications for the surgical approach and postoperative outcome in patients with glioma.
In high-income countries, homeless individuals in urban areas often live in crowded conditions with limited sanitation and personal hygiene. The environment of homelessness in high-income countries ...may result in intensified exposure to ectoparasites and urban wildlife, which can transmit infections. To date, there have been no systematic evaluations of the published literature to assess vector-borne and zoonotic disease risk to these populations.
The primary objectives of this study were to identify diversity, prevalence, and risk factors for vector-borne and zoonotic infections among people experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty in urban areas of high-income countries.
We conducted a systematic review and narrative synthesis of published epidemiologic studies of zoonotic and vector-borne infections among urban homeless and very poor people in the United States and Europe from 1990 to 2014.
Thirty-one observational studies and 14 case studies were identified (n = 45). Seroprevalence to the human louse-borne pathogen Bartonella quintana (seroprevalence range: 0-37.5%) was identified most frequently, with clinical disease specifically observed among HIV-positive individuals. Seropositivity to Bartonella henselae (range: 0-10.3%) and Rickettsia akari (range: 0-16.2%) was noted in multiple studies. Serological evidence of exposure to Rickettsia typhi, Rickettsia prowazekii, Bartonella elizabethae, West Nile virus, Borellia recurrentis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, Wohlfartiimonas chitiniclastica, Seoul hantavirus (SEOV), and Leptospira species was also identified in published studies, with SEOV associated with chronic renal disease later in life. HIV infection, injection drug use, and heavy drinking were noted across multiple studies as risk factors for infection with vector-borne and zoonotic pathogens.
B. quintana was the most frequently reported vector-borne infection identified in our article. Delousing efforts and active surveillance among HIV-positive individuals, who are at elevated risk of complication from B. quintana infection, are advised to reduce morbidity. Given documented exposure to rodent-borne zoonoses among urban homeless and marginalized people, reducing human contact with rodents remains an important public health priority.