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Abstract Bone tissue is constantly regenerated and repaired through a finely balanced process known as bone remodeling. Many miRNAs act as regulators of the signaling pathways involved in bone metabolic processes to maintain tissue homeostasis. This study aimed to assess the circulating levels of MIR21, MIR34a, and MIR155 in human serum and their bone expression, and the expression of bone turnover-related genes which can reflect the bone quality. This prospective study was conducted on 60 patients (30 males and 30 females) indicated for surgical interventions for neural decompression +/- fixation. Relative quantification of expression of MIR21, miR34a, and MIR155 and bone related genes was assayed using PCR. The serum levels of osteocalcin and Serum Bone Alkaline Phosphatase (sBAP) were assayed using a human ELISA kit. The main finding of the present work was the strong positive association between the circulating levels of only miR21 and MIR155 and their bone expression in the population under study and with bone markers and target genes Also, a positive association was found between both bone expression and circulating MIR21 levels with age and sBAP. These results suggest that the circulating levels of these microRNAs as early markers for the predication of bone quality.

Abstract We present the first open-access, island-wide isotopic database (IsoMad) for modern biologically relevant materials collected on Madagascar within the past 150 years from both terrestrial and nearshore marine environments. Isotopic research on the island has increasingly helped with biological studies of endemic organisms, including evaluating foraging niches and investigating factors that affect the spatial distribution and abundance of species. The IsoMad database should facilitate future work by making it easy for researchers to access existing data (even for those who are relatively unfamiliar with the literature) and identify both research gaps and opportunities for using various isotope systems to answer research questions. We also hope that this database will encourage full data reporting in future publications.

Abstract The recently discovered deep-sea Capelinhos hydrothermal edifice, ~ 1.5 km of the main Lucky Strike (LS) vent field (northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge), contrasts with the other LS edifices in having poorly-altered end-member hydrothermal fluids with low pH and chlorine, and high metal concentrations. Capelinhos unique chemistry and location offer the opportunity to test the effects of local abiotic filters on faunal community structure while avoiding the often-correlated influence of dispersal limitation and depth. In this paper, we characterize for the first time the distribution patterns of the Capelinhos faunal communities, and analyze the benthic invertebrates (> 250 µm) inhabiting diffusive-flow areas and their trophic structures (δ13C, δ15N and δ34S). We hypothesized that faunal communities would differ from those of the nearest LS vent edifices, showing an impoverished species subset due to the potential toxicity of the chemical environment. Conversely, our results show that: (1) community distribution resembles that of other LS edifices, with assemblages visually dominated by shrimps (close to high-temperature focused-fluid areas) and mussels (at low-temperature diffuse flow areas); (2) most species from diffuse flow areas are well-known LS inhabitants, including the bed-forming and chemosymbiotic mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus and (3) communities are as diverse as those of the most diverse LS edifices. On the contrary, stable isotopes suggest different trophodynamics at Capelinhos. The high δ15N and, especially, δ13C and δ34S values suggest an important role of methane oxidation (i.e., methanotrophy), rather than the sulfide oxidation (i.e., thiotrophy) that predominates at most LS edifices. Our results indicate that Capelinhos shows unique environmental conditions, trophic structure and trophodynamics, yet similar fauna, compared to other LS edifices, which suggest a great environmental and trophic plasticity of the vent faunal communities at the LS.

We used high-resolution imagery within a Geographic Information System (GIS), free gas and porewater analyses and animal bulk stable isotope measurements to characterize the biotic and abiotic aspects of the newly discovered Vestbrona Carbonate Field (VCF) seep site on the Norwegian shelf (63°28′N, 6° 31′E, ∿270 m water depth). Free gas was mainly composed of microbial methane. Sediment porewater sulfide concentrations were in the millimolar range and thus high enough to sustain seep chemosymbiotrophic animals. Nonetheless, the VCF lacked chemosymbiotrophic animals despite an abundance of methane-derived carbonate crusts which are formed by the same anaerobic processes that sustain chemosymbiotrophic animals at seeps. Furthermore, none of the sampled taxa, across various trophic guilds exhibited a detectable contribution of chemosynthetically fixed carbon to their diets based on bulk stable isotope values, suggesting a predominantly photosynthetic source of carbon to the VCF seep food web. We link the absence of chemosymbiotrophic animals to highly localized methane flow pathways, which may act as a “shunt-bypass” of the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) and by extension sulfide generation, thus leading to sediment sulfide concentrations that are highly heterogeneous over very short lateral distances, inhibiting the successful colonization of chemosymbiotrophic animals at the VCF seep. Instead, the seep hosted diverse biological communities, consisting of heterotrophic benthic fauna, including long lived taxa, such as soft corals (e.g., Paragorgia arborea) and stony corals (i.e., Desmophyllum pertusum, formerly known as Lophelia pertusa). Compared to the surrounding non-seep seafloor, we measured heightened megafaunal density at the seep, which we attribute to increased habitat heterogeneity and the presence of a variety of hard substrates (i.e., methane-derived authigenic carbonates, dropstones and coral rubble), particularly since the most abundant taxa all belonged to the phylum Porifera. Compared to the surrounding non-seep seafloor, marine litter was denser within the VCF seep, which we link to the more variable local topography due to authigenic carbonates, which can rip off parts of bottom trawling nets thereby making the seep act as catchment area for marine litter.

Spectroscopic factors involving well bound nucleons in light nuclei are calculated with standard shell model, no-core shell model and Gamow shell model. Continuum coupling is included exactly in the Gamow shell model, due to the use of the Berggren basis, which contains bound, resonance and scattering states. Conversely, it is absent from standard and no-core shell models, where a basis of harmonic oscillator states is used. As the A−1 nuclei for which spectroscopic factors are calculated are either weakly bound or unbound, coupling to continuum is prominent, even though the A nuclei are well bound. It is then showed that Gamow shell model can properly reproduce experimental data and is a predictive tool for detailed nuclear structure at drip-line, contrary to standard and no-core shell model.

We used ancient DNA (aDNA) extraction methods to sequence museum voucher samples of Oligobrachia webbi, a frenulate siboglinid polychaete described from a northern Norwegian fjord over fifty years ago. Our sequencing results indicate a genetic match with the cryptic seep species, Oligobrachia haakonmosbiensis (99% pairwise identity for 574 bp mtCOI fragments). Due to its similarity with O. webbi, the identity of O. haakonmosbiensis has been a matter of debate since its description, which we have now resolved. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that chemosynthesis-based siboglinids, that constitute the bulk of the biomass at Arctic seeps are not seep specialists. Our data on sediment geochemistry and carbon and nitrogen content reveal reduced conditions in fjords/sounds, similar to those at seep systems. Accumulation and decomposition of both terrestrial and marine organic matter results in the buildup of methane and sulfide that apparently can sustain chemosymbiotic fauna. The occurrence of fjords and by extension, highly reducing habitats, could have led to Arctic chemosymbiotic species being relatively generalist with their habitat, as opposed to being seep or vent specialists. Our stable isotope analyses indicate the incorporation of photosynthetically derived carbon in some individuals, which aligns with experiments conducted on frenulates before the discovery of chemosynthesis that demonstrated their ability to take up organic molecules from the surrounding sediment. Since reduced gases in non-seep environments are ultimately sourced from photosynthetic processes, we suggest that the extreme seasonality of the Arctic has resulted in Arctic chemosymbiotic animals seasonally changing their degree of reliance on chemosynthetic partners. Overall, the role of chemosynthesis in Arctic benthos and marine ecosystems and links to photosynthesis may be complex, and more extensive than currently known.

La Scala Vent Field, near the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean, comprises diffuse vents and vigorous black smokers and hosts large beds of stalked barnacles and bacterial mats at vent peripheries, according to ship-borne multi-beam echo sounding and remotely operated vehicle surveys.

We have applied the Gamow shell model to calculate nuclear observables of 26−31Ne isotopes pertaining to one-neutron halo structure, these nuclei being situated close to neutron drip-line. As both many-body correlations and continuum coupling are taken into account in that approach, halo structure can be analyzed properly. Our calculations provide good descriptions of 26−31Ne, where asymptotic behavior is crucial for that matter. One-body density, neutron root-mean-square radii of 26−31Ne, and one-neutron overlap functions of 29,31Ne have been calculated as well. Our results support the presence of a one-neutron p-wave halo in 31Ne, already pointed out experimentally. A similar situation also occurs in the ground state of 29Ne, which is mainly a p-wave valence neutron coupled to the inner 28Ne core. The 3/2+ excited state of 29Ne, which is dominated by a d-wave valence neutron, has also been considered. A larger radius and more extended wave function occur for the ground state of 29Ne when compared to its 3/2+ first excited state. The present results suggest that 29Ne is a good candidate for one-neutron p-wave halo in the medium-mass region.

To date, two main vent faunal assemblages have been described on active sulfide edifices along the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge (nMAR): one dominated by bathymodiolin mussels in low temperature areas and the other dominated by alvinocaridid shrimp in warmer habitats. In this study, we describe the ecology of new types of assemblage, dominated by gastropods, that are recurrent in several nMAR vent fields, from ~830 m to 3500 m depth. We assessed and compared the composition, abundance, diversity and trophic niche of these assemblages from three vent fields (Menez Gwen, Lucky Strike and Snake Pit) and characterized their habitats in terms of key environmental conditions. These assemblages, first seen during the Momarsat cruise in 2012 at the Lucky Strike vent field, were investigated during several subsequent cruises. They appear to be widespread along the nMAR, forming two distinct assemblages, one dominated by Lepetodrilus atlanticusat the shallowest vent field Menez Gwen, and the other by Peltospira smaragdina at the other investigated fields. Our data seem to indicate that these gastropods dominate an intermediate habitat at MAR vents and may play an important ecological role in these communities.

Abstract Background Nematodes are an important component of deep-sea hydrothermal vent communities, but only few nematode species are able to cope to the harsh conditions of the most active vent sites. The genus Oncholaimus is known to tolerate extreme geothermal conditions and high sulphide concentrations in shallow water hydrothermal vents, but it was only occasionally reported in deep-sea vents. In this study, we performed morphological, genetic and ecological investigations (including feeding strategies) on an abundant species of Oncholaimus recently discovered at Lucky strike vent field on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 1700 m water depth. Results We described this species as Oncholaimus dyvae sp. nov.. This new species differs from all other members of the genus by the combination of the following characters: body length (up to 9 mm), the presence of a long spicule (79 μm) with a distally pointed end, a complex pericloacal setal ornamentation with one precloacal papilla surrounded by short spines, and a body cuticule with very fine striation shortly posterior to the amphid opening. Overall, O. dyvae sp. nov. abundance increased with increasing temperature and vent emissions. Carbon isotopic ratios suggest that this species could consume both thiotroph and methanotrophic producers. Furthermore sulfur-oxidizing bacteria related to Epsilonproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria were detected in the cuticle, in the digestive cavity and in the intestine of O. dyvae sp. nov. suggesting a potential symbiotic association. Conclusions This study improves our understanding of vent biology and ecology, revealing a new nematode species able to adapt and be very abundant in active vent areas due to their association with chemosynthetic micro-organisms. Faced by the rapid increase of anthropogenic pressure to access mineral resources in the deep sea, hydrothermal vents are particularly susceptible to be impacted by exploitation of seafloor massive sulfide deposits. It is necessary to document and understand vent species able to flourish in these peculiar ecosystems.

Starting from chiral two-nucleon (2NF) and chiral three-nucleon (3NF) potentials, we present a detailed study of 17Ne, a Borromean system, with the Gamow shell model which can capture continuum effects. More precisely, we take advantage of the normal-ordering approach to include the 3NF and the Berggren representation to treat bound, resonant and continuum states on equal footing in a complex-momentum plane. In our framework, 3NF is essential to reproduce the Borromean structure of 17Ne, while the continuum is more crucial for the halo property of the nucleus. The two-proton halo structure is demonstrated by calculating the valence proton density and correlation density. The astrophysically interesting 3/2− excited state has its energy above the threshold of the proton emission, and therefore the two-proton decay should be expected from the state.

Among hydrothermal vent species, Rimicaris exoculata is one of the most emblematic, hosting abundant and diverse ectosymbioses that provide most of its nutrition. Rimicaris exoculata co-occurs in dense aggregates with the much less abundant Rimicaris chacei in many Mid-Atlantic Ridge vent fields. This second shrimp also houses ectosymbiotic microorganisms but has a mixotrophic diet. Recent observations have suggested potential misidentifications between these species at their juvenile stages, which could have led to misinterpretations of their early-life ecology. Here, we confirm erroneous identification of the earliest stages and propose a new set of morphological characters unambiguously identifying juveniles of each species. On the basis of this reassessment, combined use of C, N and S stable isotope ratios reveals distinct ontogenic trophic niche shifts in both species, from photosynthesis-based nutrition before settlement, towards a chemosynthetic diet afterwards. Furthermore, isotopic compositions in the earliest juvenile stages suggest differences in larval histories. Each species thus exhibits specific early-life strategies that would, without our re-examination, have been interpreted as ontogenetic variations. Overall, our results provide a good illustration of the identification issues persisting in deep-sea ecosystems and the importance of integrative taxonomy in providing an accurate view of fundamental aspects of the biology and ecology of species inhabiting these environments.

Gamow shell model (GSM) is usually performed within the Woods-Saxon (WS) basis in which the WS parameters need to be determined by fitting experimental single-particle energies including their resonance widths. In the multi-shell case, such a fit is difficult due to the lack of experimental data of cross-shell single-particle energies and widths. In this paper, we develop an ab-initio GSM by introducing the Gamow Hartree-Fock (GHF) basis that is obtained using the same interaction as the one used in the construction of the shell-model Hamiltonian. GSM makes use of the complex-momentum Berggren representation, then including resonance and continuum components. Hence, GSM gives a good description of weakly bound and unbound nuclei. Starting from chiral effective field theory and employing many-body perturbation theory (MBPT) (called nondegenerate Qˆ-box folded-diagram renormalization) in the GHF basis, a multi-shell Hamiltonian (sd-pf shells in this work) can be constructed. The single-particle energies and their resonance widths can also been obtained using MBPT. We investigated 23−28O and 23−31F isotopes, for which multi-shell calculations are necessary. Calculations show that continuum effects and the inclusion of the pf shell are important elements to understand the structure of nuclei close to and beyond driplines. Keywords: Gamow shell model, Gamow Hartree-Fock, Chiral effective field theory, Many-body perturbation theory, Resonance, Continuum

Intense and purified radioactive beam of post-accelerated 14O was used to study the low-lying states in the unbound 15F nucleus. Exploiting resonant elastic scattering in inverse kinematics with a thick target, the second excited state, a resonance at ER=4.757(6)(10) MeV with a width of Γ=36(5)(14) keV was measured for the first time with high precision. The structure of this narrow above-barrier state in a nucleus located two neutrons beyond the proton drip line was investigated using the Gamow Shell Model in the coupled channel representation with a 12C core and three valence protons. It is found that it is an almost pure wave function of two quasi-bound protons in the 2s1/2 shell.

Centronuclear myopathy (CNM) is a congenital myopathy that is histopathologically characterized by centrally located nuclei, central aggregation of oxidative activity, and type I fiber predominance and hypotrophy. Here, we obtained commercially available mice overexpressing phospholamban (PlnOE), a well-known inhibitor of sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPases (SERCAs), in their slow-twitch type I skeletal muscle fibers to determine the effects on SERCA function. As expected with a 6- to 7-fold overexpression of phospholamban, SERCA dysfunction was evident in PlnOE muscles, with marked reductions in rates of Ca2+ uptake, maximal ATPase activity and the apparent affinity of SERCA for Ca2+. However, our most significant discovery was that the soleus and gluteus minimus muscles from the PlnOE mice displayed overt signs of myopathy: they histopathologically resembled human CNM, with centrally located nuclei, central aggregation of oxidative activity, type I fiber predominance and hypotrophy, progressive fibrosis and muscle weakness. This phenotype is associated with significant upregulation of muscle sarcolipin and dynamin 2, increased Ca2+-activated proteolysis, oxidative stress and protein nitrosylation. Moreover, in our assessment of muscle biopsies from three human CNM patients, we found a significant 53% reduction in SERCA activity and increases in both total and monomeric PLN content compared with five healthy subjects, thereby justifying future studies with more CNM patients. Altogether, our results suggest that the commercially available PlnOE mouse phenotypically resembles human CNM and could be used as a model to test potential mechanisms and therapeutic strategies. To date, there is no cure for CNM and our results suggest that targeting SERCA function, which has already been shown to be an effective therapeutic target for murine muscular dystrophy and human cardiomyopathy, might represent a novel therapeutic strategy to combat CNM.