ALBERT

Description: Mineral exploration activities require robust predictive models that result in accurate mapping of the probability that mineral deposits can be found at a certain location. Random forest (RF) is a powerful machine data-driven predictive method that is unknown in mineral potential mapping. In this paper, performance of RF regression for the likelihood of gold deposits in the Rodalquilar mining district is explored. The RF model was developed using a comprehensive exploration GIS database composed of: gravimetric and magnetic survey, a lithogeochemical survey of 59 elements, lithology and fracture maps, a Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper image and gold occurrence locations. The results of this study indicate that the use of RF for the integration of large multisource data sets used in mineral exploration and for prediction of mineral deposit occurrences offers several advantages over existing methods. Key advantages of RF include: (1) the simplicity of parameter setting; (2) an internal unbiased estimate of the prediction error; (3) the ability to handle complex data of different statistical distributions, responding to nonlinear relationships between variables; (4) the capability to use categorical predictors; and (5) the capability to determine variable importance. Additionally, variables that RF identified as most important coincide with well-known geologic expectations. To validate and assess the effectiveness of the RF method. Statistical measures of map quality indicate that the RF method performs better than LR, with mean square errors equal to 0.12 and 0.19, respectively. The efficiency of RF is also better, achieving an optimum success rate when half of the area predicted by LR is considered.

Description: Mid-latitudinal cyclones are a key factor for understanding regional anomalies in primary meteorological parameters such as temperature or precipitation. Extreme cyclones can produce notable impacts on human society and economy, for example, by causing enormous economic losses through wind damage. Based on 41 annually initialised (1961–2001) hindcast ensembles, this study evaluates the ability of a single-model decadal forecast system (MPI-ESM-LR) to provide skilful probabilistic three-category forecasts (enhanced, normal or decreased) of winter (ONDJFM) extra-tropical cyclone frequency over the Northern Hemisphere with lead times from 1 yr up to a decade. It is shown that these predictions exhibit some significant skill, mainly for lead times of 2–5 yr, especially over the North Atlantic and Pacific. Skill for intense cyclones is generally higher than for all detected systems. A comparison of decadal hindcasts from two different initialisation techniques indicates that initialising from reanalysis fields yields slightly better results for the first forecast winter (month 10–15), while initialisation based on an assimilation experiment provides better skill for lead times between 2 and 5 yr. The reasons and mechanisms behind this predictive skill are subject to future work. Preliminary analyses suggest a strong relationship of the model’s skill over the North Atlantic with the ability to predict upper ocean temperatures modulating lower troposphere baroclinicity for the respective area and time scales.

Description: The bright colouration of the cytoplasm in intertidal rotaliid foraminifera and their particle-gathering activity reliably reveals live specimens in fresh samples, without any fixatives or dyes applied. Using this approach, we demonstrate that live representatives of three rotaliid species, all belonging to the genus Elphidium, were common on intertidal mud and sand beaches. Two species, E. excavatum clavatum and E. albiumbilicatum, lived close to freshwater outflows, whereas E. williamsoni occupied beaches bathed by waters with normal salinity (surface 26–27‰ in the western White Sea). A least 13 species were found alive in the intertidal zone. Among non-calcareous foraminifera, Miliammina fusca, Ammotium cassis and Ovammina opaca were the most numerous.

Description: According to historical data, the glacial relict higher crustaceans, Mysis relicta and Pallaseopsis quadrispinosa, as well as a plankton crustacean Limnocalanus macrurus had earlier been recorded in Lake Drüksiai. Our data and investigations of other authors evidence that these crustaceans no longer inhabit the lake. What are the prospects for the recovery of these crustaceans after restoring the natural thermal regime in Lake Drüksiai? One of the possibilities is to reintroduce these species after restoring the natural thermal regime in the lake and improving dissolved oxygen level in the hypolimnion, which would provide conditions for long-term survival and recovery of populations of these crustaceans. As reintroduction of relict species is rather costly, it is necessary to assess effectiveness of such works.

Description: Microbial aerobic methane oxidation (MOx) is intrinsically coupled to the production of carbon dioxide, favoring carbonate dissolution. Recently, microbial organic polymers were shown to be able to induce carbonate dissolution. To discriminate between different mechanisms causing calcite dissolution, experiments were conducted in the presence of solid calcite with (1) actively growing cells (2) starving cells, and (4) dead cells of the methanotrophic bacterium Methylosinus trichosporium under brackish conditions (salinity 10) near calcite saturation (saturation state (Ω) 1.76 to 2.22). Total alkalinity and the amount of dissolved calcium markedly increased in all experiments containing M. trichosporium cells. After initial system equilibration, similar calcite dissolution rates, ranging between 14.9 (dead cells) and 29.6 μmol l−1 d−1 (actively growing cells), were observed. While concentrations of transparent exopolymer particles declined with time in the presence of actively growing and starving cells, they increased in experiments with dead cells. Scanning electron microscopy images of calcite crystals revealed visible surface corrosion after exposure to live and dead M. trichosporium cells. The results of this study indicate a strong potential for microbial MOx to affect calcite stability negatively, facilitating calcite dissolution. In addition to CO2 production by methanotrophically active cells, we suggest that the release of acidic or Ca2+-chelating organic carbon compounds from dead cells could also enhance calcite dissolution.

Description: This study aimed to reveal the dynamics of inducible anti-herbivory traits in the brown seaweed Fucus vesiculosus, in response to grazing by the isopod Idotea baltica. As the molecular basis of defence induction in seaweeds is poorly understood, a transcriptomic approach was used to gain insight into cellular processes underlying defence induction and thus promote the mechanistic understanding of anti-herbivory responses in seaweeds. In a 27 day feeding-assayed induction experiment, temporal patterns of the induced anti-herbivory resistance of F. vesiculosus were assessed under laboratory conditions. Feeding assays were performed at three day intervals, using fresh and reconstituted food. Microarray hybridizations investigating the expression of genes 3 days before, as well as at the same time as, feeding assays revealed a decreased palatability of previously grazed F. vesiculosus pieces compared with non-grazed control pieces. Despite permanent exposure to grazers, F. vesiculosus palatability varied over time. Non-grazed F. vesiculosus pieces were significantly preferred to grazed pieces after 18 and again after 27 days of previous grazing, while their relative palatability for isopods was comparable at all other times during the experiment. Relative to controls, 562/402 genes were ≥ 1.5-fold up-/down-regulated in seaweed pieces that were grazed for 18 days, i.e. when induction of defences was detected in feeding assays. Massive reprogramming of the regulatory expression orchestra (translation, transcription) as well as up-regulation of genes involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, intracellular trafficking, defence and stress response was found. At the same time, down-regulation of photosynthesis was observed in grazed seaweed pieces. This study suggests a high level of temporal variability in induced anti-herbivory traits of F. vesiculosus and reveals increased expression of genes with putative defensive functions in conjunction with the reallocation of resources from primary to secondary metabolism.

Description: The impact of dense saltwater inflows on the phosphorus dynamics in the Baltic Sea is studied from tracer experiments with a three-dimensional physical model. Model simulations showed that the coasts of the North West Gotland Basin and the Gulf of Finland, the Estonian coast in the East Gotland Basin are regions where tracers from below the halocline are primarily lifted up above the halocline. After 1 yr tracers are accumulated at the surface along the Swedish east coast and at the western and southern sides of Gotland. Elevated concentrations are also found east and southeast of Gotland, in the northern Bornholm Basin and in the central parts of the East Gotland Basin. The annual supplies of phosphorus from the deeper waters to the productive surface layers are estimated to be of the same order of magnitude as the waterborne inputs of phosphorus to the entire Baltic Sea. The model results suggest that regionally the impact of these nutrients may be quite large, and the largest regional increases in surface concentrations are found after large inflows. However, the overall direct impact of major Baltic inflows on the annual uplift of nutrients from below the halocline to the surface waters is small because vertical transports are comparably large also during periods without major inflows. Our model results suggest that phosphorus released from the sediments between 60 and 100 m depth in the East Gotland Basin contributes to the eutrophication, especially in the coastal regions of the eastern Baltic Proper.

Description: Exogenous electron transfer mediators employed by Fe(III)-reducing bacteria are believed to govern the kinetics and equilibrium of bioreduction of Fe(III) in solid phase. In contrast to a large number of studies on humic substances and analog anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS), our knowledge of other potential electron shuttles involved in Fe(III) reduction is limited. The purpose of the present study was to understand the role of cystine and cysteine in reduction of iron-rich smectite (nontronite, NAu-2) by Shewanella species. A series of abiotic and biotic experiments were conducted in nongrowth media (bicarbonate buffered, pH = 7.0). Fe(II) and cysteine concentrations were monitored over the course of the bioreduction experiments with wet chemistry, and the unreduced and reduced nontronites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results indicated that all Shewanella species tested here were capable of reducing cystine to cysteine. Either cystine or cysteine amendments significantly stimulated the Fe(III) bioreduction rate and extent. The initial reduction rate was linearly correlated with cystine or cysteine concentration. The reduction extent (18.7–22.3%) calculated from bioreactor with cystine or cysteine was slightly lower than those with AQDS (26.3%). Mineralogical analysis demonstrated that cystine or cysteine facilitated the reaction of smectite to illite as a result of Fe(III) bioreduction. Thus, we concluded that, in our experiments, cystine and cysteine functioned as electron carrier in the smectite reduction systems, and were favorable factors influencing smectite illitization.

Description: Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are the most primitive prokaryotic photosynthetic organisms, that have survived and flourished on the planet for more than 3 billion years and produced the oxygen that enabled aerobic metabolism. Anabaena is a genus of filamentous cyanobacteria, known for its nitrogen fixing abilities and is one of cyanobacterial genera that produce toxins. Because of plasmid DNA, the nontoxic strain of Anabaena flos-aquae, transformed into a toxic strain that producing neuro-toxins. The major toxins those were produced by this species are anatoxin-a, homoanatoxin-a, and anatoxin-a(s). Presence of these toxins in the source of fresh water makes water toxic and every year so many reports on death of animals were documented. Several studies have been done over this toxic cyanobacterium and showed that under controlled environment this species is very useful for human being. However, presence of this alga in the water sources makes environment toxic. Several analytical methods were reported for the detection of these toxins. This review is be focused on the detailed literature survey on fresh water cyanobacterium, Anabaena flos-aquae, with respect to its importance and cure.

Description: Explaining the high variability of regenerative ability across metazoan taxa is one of the major challenges in modern biology. Although common and widespread, regeneration shows a heterogeneous distribution and most authors consider regeneration capacity to be an ancestral trait that has been restricted or completely lost over the course of metazoan evolution. Basal Metazoans show the highest capacity for regeneration. By contrast, this feature is highly variable within bilaterians, with many taxa limited in their capacity for regeneration or not regenerating at all. The causes of the loss and/or maintenance of regeneration remain poorly understood, with most explanations invoking adaptive mechanisms. In the present study Metazoan regeneration is discussed with reference to stem cell biology, tissue plasticity, evolution of tissue complexity, cell turnover and lifespan. The presence or absence of regenerative ability cannot be seen only as an adaptation to a particular environment but can also be a consequence of body plan and developmental constraints such as may arise from the evolution of an adaptive immune system.