A New Genus and Species of a Minute Suckermouth Armored Catfish (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Rio Tocantins Drainage, Central Brazil: The Smallest Known Loricariid Catfish

Nannoplecostomus eleonorae, a new genus and species of a miniature suckermouth armored catfish, is described based on specimens collected from the karst region of Sao Domingos, upper Rio Tocantins basin, Goias State, central Brazil. The new genus and species can be diagnosed among loricariids by presenting a unique reductive pattern of lateral dermal plates, with most of the body covered by only three series of plates (viz., dorsal, mid-ventral, and ventral). Based on the available published phylogenetic studies for the family, we provisionally consider Nannoplecostomus eleonorae as being an incertae sedis taxon within Loricariidae. Achieving a maximum standard length of 22.2 mm SL, Nannoplecostomus eleonorae is the smallest known loricariid catfish, and a list of the remaining smallest loricariids is provided.

A new genus and species of cavernicolous Pomatiopsidae (Mollusca, Caenogastropoda) in Bahia, Brazil

Spiripockia punctatais a new genus and species of Pomatiopsidae found in a cave from Serra Ramalho, SW Bahia, Brazil. The taxon is troglobiont (restricted to subterranean realm), and is characterized by the shell weakly elongated, fragile, translucent, normally sculptured by pustules with periostracum hair on tip of pustules; peristome highly expanded; umbilicus opened; radular rachidian with 6 apical and 3 pairs of lateral cusps; osphradium short, arched; gill filaments with rounded tip; prostate flattened, with vas deferens inserting subterminally; penis duct narrow and weakly sinuous; pallial oviduct simple anteriorly, possessing convoluted bypass connecting base of bulged portion of transition between visceral and pallial oviducts with base of seminal receptacle; spermathecal duct complete, originated from albumen gland. The description of this endemic species may raise protective environmental actions to that cave and to the Serra Ramalho Karst area.

The Influence of Fractures on Vulnerability to Pollution of a Carbonate Aquifer: Monte Conero (Italy)

The carbonate outcrops of the anticline of Monte Conero (Italy) were studied in order to characterize the geometry of the fractures and to establish their influence on the petrophysical properties (hydraulic conductivity) and on the vulnerability to pollution. The outcrops form an analog for a fractured aquifer and belong to the Maiolica Fm. and the Scaglia Rossa Fm. The geometrical properties of fractures such as orientation, length, spacing and aperture were collected and statistically analyzed. Five types of mechanical fractures were observed: veins, joints, stylolites, breccias and faults. The types of fractures are arranged in different sets and geometric assemblages which form fracture networks. In addition, the fractures were analyzed at the microscale using thin sections. The fracture age-relationships resulted similar to those observed at the outcrop scale, indicating that at least three geological episodes have occurred in Monte Conero. A conceptual model for fault development was based on the observations of veins and stylolites. The fracture sets were modelled by the code FracSim3D to generate fracture network models. The permeability of a breccia zone was estimated at microscale by and point counting and binary image methods, whereas at the outcrop scale with Oda’s method. Microstructure analysis revealed that only faults and breccias are potential pathways for fluid flow since all veins observed are filled with calcite. According this, three scenarios were designed to asses the vulnerability to pollution of the analogue aquifer: the first scenario considers the Monte Conero without fractures, second scenario with all observed systematic fractures and the third scenario with open veins, joints and faults/breccias. The fractures influence the carbonate aquifer by increasing its porosity and hydraulic conductivity. The vulnerability to pollution depends also on the presence of karst zones, detric zones and the material of the vadose zone.

Geomorphologische Untersuchungen im Land der tausend Hügel - oder: Wie europäisch ist die rwandische Landschaftsentwicklung?

Das ursprüngliche Ziel der vorliegenden Dissertation war die Untersuchung der Talgenese im Zentralen Hügelland Rwandas. Entstehung und Form der Täler, die Stratigraphie und das Alter der Hang- und Talsedimente sowie die wirkenden reliefgestaltenden Prozesse sind bei weitem nicht abschließend erforscht. Da Strukturen und Prozesse im Rahmen von Prozessresponssystemen in Wechselwirkung stehen, bietet die Untersuchung der Strukturen gleich zwei Möglichkeiten, sich den Prozessen zu nähern: Strukturen sind sowohl Verursacher als auch Indikatoren von Prozessen. Entsprechend der ursprünglichen Fragestellung sollten nach einer Beschreibung der gegenwärtigen Strukturen (morphographische Geomorphologie) die formbildenden Prozesse ergründet werden (funktionale Geomorphologie), um dann die Entwicklung der Strukturen und Prozesse unter Einbeziehung der relevanten Phasen der Erdgeschichte und des Paläoklimas zu rekonstruieren (genetische Geomorphologie). Im Verlauf der zu diesem Zweck durchgeführten geomorphologisch-stratigraphischen Untersuchungen in den Tälern der Region von Butare (Südrwanda) stellten sich aber die holozänen Hangdeckschichten und Talfüllungen als derart mächtig heraus, dass tiefer liegende Sedimente nicht erschlossen werden konnten. Die älteren Strukturen ließen sich daher nur unzureichend rekonstruieren und die eingangs formulierte Fragestellung konnte nicht wie erwartet bearbeitet werden. Angesichts der Mächtigkeit der Sedimente wurde offensichtlich, dass sowohl die spätpleistozäne als auch die holozäne Dimension der Sedimentbildung völlig unterschätzt wurde. Diese Beobachtungen warfen zwei grundlegende Fragen auf: einerseits die Frage warum die holozänen Sedimente so mächtig ausgebildet sind, und andererseits, weshalb ihre Mächtigkeit derartig unterschätzt wurde. Rasch stellte sich heraus, dass die Bearbeitung der ersten Frage eine interdisziplinäre Öffnung und die der zweiten Frage eine interkulturelle Öffnung der Fragestellung erforderte. Dabei stellen sich vor allem zwei Fragen: Zum einen, inwiefern der europäische Ursprung der Begriffe, Theorien und Modelle, die zur Beschreibung und Interpretation der rwandischen landschaftlichen und landschaftsgestaltenden Prozesse verwendet werden, eben jene Beschreibung und Interpretation beeinflusst, und zum anderen, ob und inwiefern auch naturwissenschaftliche Disziplinen in ihrem Umgang mit ‚natürlich gedachten’ Strukturen und Prozessen von diesen Konstruktionen betroffen sind. Ziel der Dekonstruktion der Begriffe, Theorien und Modelle ist kein ‚richtigerer’ oder ‚wahrhaftigerer’, sondern ein ‚bewussterer’ Umgang mit den Begriffen, Theorien und Modellen und dadurch eine bewusstere Rekonstruktion der Strukturen und Prozesse der Landschaften und Paläolandschaften des rwandischen Zentralen Hügellandes.rn

Speleogenesis and secondary cave minerals in quartz-sandstone and quartzite environment

The main objective of this research is to improve the comprehension of the processes controlling the formation of caves and karst-like morphologies in quartz-rich lithologies (more than 90% quartz), like quartz-sandstones and metamorphic quartzites. In the scientific community the processes actually most retained to be responsible of these formations are explained in the “Arenisation Theory”. This implies a slow but pervasive dissolution of the quartz grain/mineral boundaries increasing the general porosity until the rock becomes incohesive and can be easily eroded by running waters. The loose sands produced by the weathering processes are then evacuated to the surface through processes of piping due to the infiltration of waters from the fracture network or the bedding planes. To deal with these problems we adopted a multidisciplinary approach through the exploration and the study of several cave systems in different tepuis. The first step was to build a theoretical model of the arenisation process, considering the most recent knowledge about the dissolution kinetics of quartz, the intergranular/grain boundaries diffusion processes, the primary diffusion porosity, in the simplified conditions of an open fracture crossed by a continuous flow of undersatured water. The results of the model were then compared with the world’s widest dataset (more than 150 analyses) of water geochemistry collected till now on the tepui, in superficial and cave settings. All these studies allowed verifying the importance and the effectiveness of the arenisation process that is confirmed to be the main process responsible of the primary formation of these caves and of the karst-like superficial morphologies. The numerical modelling and the field observations allowed evaluating a possible age of the cave systems around 20-30 million of years.

Morfometria di forme carsiche in un possibile "landing site" marziano

Starting from some satellite photos, we try to understand if someone of the many negatives roundish shapes recognized into a complex of two impacts craters could verify the karst phenomenon on Mars. This fact if confirmed could be extremely important to find microbiological life living underground in an area of contact between water and sulfates, shielded from cosmic radiation. In order to verify if these negatives shapes have a karst origin or an impact one, we made several morphometric measurements with particular attention to the length of the axes and to the depth of these depressions. We also studied some other forms (such jagged ridges) as another possible witness of the karst.

Analisi di morfologie carsiche o crio-carsiche in relazione alla mobilizzazione di fluidi nella regione di Arabia Terra, Marte.

This thesis tries to interpret the origin and evolution of karst-like forms present in Arabia Terra, a region of Mars that develops in the equatorial zone of the planet. The work has been carried out specifically in the craters Crommelin (4o 91’ N-10o 51’ E), 12000088 (3o 48’ N-1o 30’ E), NE 12000088 (4° 20’ N-2° 50’ E), C "2" (3° 54’ N-1° W), and in their surrounding areas. These craters contain layered deposits characterized by a high albedo and on which erosion is very pronounced. The area containing the craters is a plateau that has the same characteristics of albedo and texture. The preliminary morphological study has made use of instrumentation such as the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), in particular HiRISE images (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment), CTX (Context Camera) and CRISM (Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometers for Mars). A regional geomorphological map has been drawn up containing the main morphotypes, and detailed geomorphological maps were prepared for different karst-like morphologies. The analysis of spectral data collected from CRISM instrumentation has allowed to identify the footprint of sulphate minerals in the external area. Data were collected for morphometric negative forms (karst-like) and positive forms (mud volcanoes, dikes and pingos). For the analysis of the relief forms DTMs (Digital Terrain Models) produced by the union of stereographic CTX couples or HiRISE were used. From the analysis of high-resolution images morphological footprints similar to periglacial environments have been identified, including the presence of patterned ground and polygonal cracks found all over the area of investigation, and relief structures similar to pingos present in the crater C "2". These observations allow us to imagine a geological past with a cold climate at the equator able to freeze the few fluids present in the Martian arid terrain. The development of karst-like landforms, on the other hand, can be attributed to a subsequent improval of the weather conditions that led to a normal climate regime for the equatorial areas, resulting in the degradation of the permafrost. The melt waters have thus allowed the partial dissolution of the sulphate layers. The karst-like forms look rather fresh suggesting them to be not that old.

Because someone has recommended it - Patients’ reasons for choosing acupuncture or qigong

Question: Recent research has indicated a considerable contribution of placebo effects to the outcome of acupuncture treatments: especially patients’ expectations seem to have an influence [1] and [2]. In this context it is important to better understand the patient–practitioner relationship. The aim of this study was to investigate why patients in Switzerland choose acupuncture or qigong, and what they expect from the treatment and the practitioners [3]. Methods: A qualitative survey with open questions was performed among 38 patients newly enrolled for treatment in 7 different practices for Traditional Chinese Medicine ((TCM); 6 practices for acupuncture, 1 for qigong). Questions aimed to identify reasons for choosing TCM, knowledge about its range of indications, and patients’ expectations towards method and therapist. Answers were categorised and analysed by frequency. Results: The most common reasons for choosing TCM were recommendation by acquaintances, the idea of trying a new treatment and the perception of TCM as being a gentle method. The majority of respondents had poor knowledge about the range of conditions to be treated with TCM: pain of the musculoskeletal system, headaches and chronic problems were considered as main indications. Surprisingly, gynaecological or gastro-intestinal diseases were not mentioned by the respondents. Practitioners were expected to have professional competence, provide information, empathy and understanding. Conclusions: The most striking result of this survey was the fact that patients knew very little about TCM and its indications. Thus, more precise information about TCM and other complementary methods should be offered to the general public, which would help patients to decide whether to consider TCM for the treatment of their disease. And, on the other hand, for the therapists it is important to better understand and respond to patients’ expectations in order to achieve better treatment results. The results of this qualitative survey were briefly discussed with the participating practitioners, who found them remarkable and support further quantitative studies. We plan to further investigate this topic. References 1. J. Pariente, P. White, R.S.J. Frackowiak, G. Lewith. Neuroimage, 25 (2005), pp. 1161–1167 2. M. Karst, D. Schneidewind, D. Scheinichen. Forsch Komplementmed, 17 (2010), pp. 21–27 3. S.D. Klein. Dt Ztschr f Akup, 52 (2009), pp. 18–23

Integrated Geophysical Investigation of the St. James Fault Complex: A Case Study

We noninvasively detected the characteristics and location of a regional fault in an area of poor bedrock exposure complicated by karst weathering features in the subsurface. Because this regional fault is associated with sinkhole formation, its location is important for hazard avoidance. The bedrock lithologies on either side of the fault trace are similar; hence, we chose an approach that capitalized on the complementary strengths of very low frequency (VLF) electromagnetic, resistivity, and gravity methods. VLF proved most useful as a first-order reconnaissance tool, allowing us to define a narrow target area for further geophysical exploration. Fault-related epikarst was delineated using resistivity. Ultimately, a high-resolution gravity survey and subsequent inverse modeling using the results of the resistivity survey helped to further constrain the location and approximate orientation of the fault. The combined results indicated that the location of the fault trace needed to be adjusted 53 m south of the current published location and was consistent with a north-dipping thrust fault. Additionally, a gravity low south of the fault trace agreed with the location of conductive material from the resistivity and VLF surveys. We interpreted these anomalies to represent enhanced epikarst in the fault footwall. We clearly found that a staged approach involving a progression of methods beginning with a reconnaissance VLF survey, followed by high-resolution gravity and electrical resistivity surveys, can be used to characterize a fault and fault-related karst in an area of poor bedrock surface exposure.

Patient acceptance of awake craniotomy

The aim of this study was to objectively assess the patients' acceptance for awake craniotomy in a group of neurosurgical patients, who underwent this procedure for removal of lesions in or close to eloquent brain areas.

Determination of ajulemic acid and its glucuronide in human plasma by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A method using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) was developed for the determination of ajulemic acid (AJA), a non-psychoactive synthetic cannabinoid with interesting therapeutic potential, in human plasma. When using two calibration graphs, the assay linearity ranged from 10 to 750 ng/ml, and 750 to 3000 ng/ml AJA. The intra- and inter-day precision (R.S.D., %), assessed across the linear ranges of the assay, was between 1.5 and 7.0, and 3.6 and 7.9, respectively. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) was 10 ng/ml. The amount of AJA glucuronide was determined by calculating the difference in the AJA concentration before ("free AJA") and after enzymatic hydrolysis ("total AJA"). The present method was used within a clinical study on 21 patients suffering from neuropathic pain with hyperalgesia and allodynia. For example, plasma levels of 599.4+/-37.2 ng/ml (mean+/-R.S.D., n=9) AJA were obtained for samples taken 2 h after the administration of an oral dose of 20 mg AJA. The mean AJA glucuronide concentration at 2h was 63.8+/-127.9 ng/ml.

Identification of glacial meltwater runoff in a karstic environment and its implication for present and future water availability

Glaciers all over the world are expected to continue to retreat due to the global warming throughout the 21st century. Consequently, future seasonal water availability might become scarce once glacier areas have declined below a certain threshold affecting future water management strategies. Particular attention should be paid to glaciers located in a karstic environment, as parts of the meltwater can be drained by underlying karst systems, making it difficult to assess water availability. In this study tracer experiments, karst modeling and glacier melt modeling are combined in order to identify flow paths in a high alpine, glacierized, karstic environment (Glacier de la Plaine Morte, Switzerland) and to investigate current and predict future downstream water availability. Flow paths through the karst underground were determined with natural and fluorescent tracers. Subsequently, geologic information and the findings from tracer experiments were assembled in a karst model. Finally, glacier melt projections driven with a climate scenario were performed to discuss future water availability in the area surrounding the glacier. The results suggest that during late summer glacier meltwater is rapidly drained through well-developed channels at the glacier bottom to the north of the glacier, while during low flow season meltwater enters into the karst and is drained to the south. Climate change projections with the glacier melt model reveal that by the end of the century glacier melt will be significantly reduced in the summer, jeopardizing water availability in glacier-fed karst springs.

Distinct lake level lowstand in Lake Prespa (SE Europe) at the time of the 74 (75) ka Toba eruption

Abstract. The 74 (75) ka Toba eruption in Sumatra, Indonesia, is considered to be one of the largest volcanic events during the Quaternary. Tephra from the Toba eruption has been found in many terrestrial and marine sedimentary deposits, and acidity peaks related to the eruption have been used to synchronize ice core records from Greenland and Antarctica. Seismic profiles and sedimentological data from Lake Prespa on the Balkan Peninsula, SE Europe, indicate a lake level lowstand at 73.6±7.7 ka based on ESR dating of shells. Tephrostratigraphy, radiocarbon dating and tuning of the total organic carbon content with the NGRIP isotope record, corroborate that the lake level lowstand was a short-term event superimposed on the general cooling trend at the end of MIS 5, most likely at the onset of the Greenland Stadial GS- 20. Acknowledging that tectonic events or karst processes could have triggered this lake level lowstand, the chronological correspondence between the lowstand and the Toba eruption is intriguing. Therefore a Toba-driven short-term shift to aridity in the Balkan region, leading to lake level changes and triggering spatial expansion events in one of the lake’s most abundant benthic species, the carino mussel Dreissena presbensis, cannot be excluded.

Environmental change within the Balkan region during the past ca. 50 ka recorded in the sediments from lakes Prespa and Ohrid

Abstract. Lakes Prespa and Ohrid, in the Balkan region, are considered to be amongst the oldest lakes in Europe. Both lakes are hydraulically connected via karst aquifers. From Lake Ohrid, several sediment cores up to 15m long have been studied over the last few years. Here, we document the first long sediment record from nearby Lake Prespa to clarify the influence of Lake Prespa on Lake Ohrid and the environmental history of the region. Radiocarbon dating and dated tephra layers provide robust age control and indicate that the 10.5m long sediment record from Lake Prespa reaches back to 48 ka. Glacial sedimentation is characterized by low organic matter content and absence of carbonates in the sediments, which indicate oligotrophic conditions in both lakes. Holocene sedimentation is characterized by particularly high carbonate content in Lake Ohrid and by particularly high organic matter content in Lake Prespa, which indicates a shift towards more mesotrophic conditions in the latter. Long-term environmental change and short-term events, such as related to the Heinrich events during the Pleistocene or the 8.2 ka cooling event during the Holocene, are well recorded in both lakes, but are only evident in certain proxies. The comparison of the sediment cores from both lakes indicates that environmental change affects particularly the trophic state of Lake Prespa due to its lower volume and water depth.