It has been suggested that prevention and treatment of osteomyelitis could be achieved through local drug delivery using implantable devices, which provide therapeutic levels at the infection site with minimum side-effects. Physical blends of polycaprolactone (PCL) and poloxamine (Tetronic®) were prepared by applying a solvent-free hot melting approach to obtain cytocompatible implants with a t...

PLGA nanoparticles are useful to protect and deliver proteins in a localized or targeted manner, with a long-term systemic delivery pattern intended to last for a period of time, depending on polymer bioerosion and biodegradability. However, the principal concern regarding these carriers is the hydrolytic instability of polymer in aqueous suspension. Freeze-drying is a commonly used method to s...

We studied the population dynamics and parasite load of the foraminifer Cibicides antarcticus on its host the Antarctic scallop Adamussium colbecki from three localities differing by sea ice cover within western McMurdo Sound, Ross Sea, Antarctica: Explorers Cove, Bay of Sails and Herbertson Glacier. We also estimated CaCO3 biomass and annual production for both species. Cibicides populations v...

Bryozoan–stromatolite associations (bryostromatolites) formed conspicuous reef structures throughout the Sheinwoodian (Wenlock) to Ludfordian (Ludlow) stratigraphy on Gotland but have not been described so far. They are mainly composed of encrusting bryozoans forming a complex intergrowth with porostromate and spongiostromate microbes different from abundant stromatoporoid–coral–algal reefs res...

Highlight Research The endolithic bioeroders were identified. Cocconeis sp. was new for the science of euendolithic bioeroder Scleractinian coral. SEM revealed etch and bore coral skeleton. Pennate diatom present on cavities. Abstract Laminar coral, Montipora, contributes to reef ecosystem. laminar life form is usually used by juvenile biota shelter prey. In an intertidal area, such as Pantai K...

The exploitation of mollusks by the first anatomically modern humans is a central question for archaeologists. This paper focuses on level 8 (dated around ∼ 100 ka BP) of El Harhoura 2 Cave, located along the coastline in the Rabat-Témara region (Morocco). The large quantity of Patella sp. shells found in this level highlights questions regarding their origin and preservation. This study presen...

Coral bleaching is a stress response of corals induced by a variety of factors, but these events have become more frequent and intense in response to recent climate-change-related temperature anomalies. We tested the hypothesis that coral reefs affected by bleaching events are currently heavily infested by boring sponges, which are playing a significant role in the destruction of their physical...

The long-term success of coral reefs depends on a positive balance of calcium carbonate production exceeding dissolution, erosion, and material export. As a result of ocean acidification, coral reefs could transition from net accretion to net erosion owing to decreasing rates of calcification and increasing rates of chemical dissolution and bioerosion. Here, I present a fundamental paradigm tha...

Abstract Parrotfishes are conspicuous herbivores, microvores, and detritivores in coral reef ecosystems, the impacts of their feeding, particularly capacity to expose carbonate, have received much attention. In many cases, parrotfish assemblages been shown control algal proliferation promote settlement corals crustose coralline algae (CCA). extreme high densities parrotfishes may negatively aff...

In densely populated countries like Italy, cremation is promoted for the final disposition of dead. However, many families still choose inhumation or entombment. ordinary (traditional) tombs, bodies skeletonize slowly and partially, often need a second disposal after exhumation. The aim this study was to experimentally test functionality new type tomb, defined as “aerated”. Aerated tombs featur...