Ecological interactions in glacier environments: a review of studies on a model Alpine glacier.

Glaciers host a variety of cold-adapted taxa, many of which have not yet been described. Interactions among glacier organisms are even less clear. Understanding ecological interactions is crucial to unravelling the functioning of glacier ecosystems, particularly in light of current glacier retreat. Through a review of the existing literature, we aim to provide a first overview of the biodiversity, primary production, trophic networks, and matter flow of a glacier ecosystem. We use the Forni Glacier (Central Italian Alps) - one of the best studied alpine glaciers in the world - as a model system for our literature review and integrate additional original data. We reveal the importance of allochthonous organic matter inputs, of Cyanobacteria and eukaryotic green algae in primary production, and the key role of springtails (Vertagopus glacialis) on the glacier surface in sustaining populations of two apex terrestrial predators: Nebria castanea (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and Pardosa saturatior (Araneae: Lycosidae). The cryophilic tardigrade Cryobiotus klebelsbergi is the apex consumer in cryoconite holes. This short food web highlights the fragility of nodes represented by invertebrates, contrasting with structured microbial communities in all glacier habitats. Although further research is necessary to quantify the ecological interactions of glacier organisms, this review summarises and integrates existing knowledge about the ecological processes on alpine glaciers and supports the importance of glacier-adapted organisms in providing ecosystem services.

Robotic monitoring of Alpine screes: a dataset from the EU Natura2000 habitat 8110 in the Italian Alps.

The surveying of European Union (EU) Annex I habitat "8110 - Siliceous scree of the montane to snow levels (Androsacetalia alpinae and Galeopsietalia ladani)" is generally executed by humans. However, robots could increase human monitoring capabilities. To this end, we collected information on this habitat employing the quadrupedal robot ANYmal C. These data include videos of eight different typical or early warning species. Additionally, data on four relevés are provided. These consist, for instance, of the robot state, and videos and pictures collected to evaluate the habitat conservation status. The aim of this dataset is to help researchers in a variety of fields. For instance, information on plant species collected by the robot can be utilized to develop new procedures and new metrics to assess the habitat conservation status or to train neural networks for plant classification. On the other hand, engineers can use robot state information to validate their algorithms. This database is publicly available in the provided Zenodo repository.

Environmental DNA of insects and springtails from caves reveals complex processes of eDNA transfer in soils.

Subterranean environments host a substantial amount of biodiversity, however assessing the distribution of species living underground is still extremely challenging. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is a powerful tool to estimate biodiversity in poorly known environments and has excellent performance for soil organisms. Here, we tested 1) whether eDNA metabarcoding from cave soils/sediments allows to successfully detect springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola) and insects (Hexapoda: Insecta); 2) whether eDNA mostly represents autochthonous (cave-dwelling) organisms or it also incorporates information from species living in surface environments; 3) whether eDNA detection probability changes across taxa with different ecology. Environmental DNA metabarcoding analyses detected a large number of Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) for both insects and springtails. For springtails, detection probability was high, with a substantial proportion of hypogean species, suggesting that eDNA provides good information on the distribution of these organisms in caves. Conversely, for insects most of MOTUs represented taxa living outside caves, and the majority of them represented taxa/organisms living in freshwater environments (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera). The eDNA of freshwater insects was particularly abundant in deep sectors of caves, far from the entrance. Furthermore, average detection probability of insects was significantly lower than the one of springtails. This suggests that cave soils/sediments act as "conveyer belts of biodiversity information", possibly because percolating water lead to the accumulation of eDNA of organisms living in nearby areas. Cave soils hold a complex mix of autochthonous and allochthonous eDNA. eDNA provided unprecedented information on the understudied subterranean cave organisms; analyses of detection probability and occupancy can help teasing apart local eDNA from the eDNA representing spatially-integrated biodiversity for whole landscape.

[Outcome differences in pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus depending on their HLA-DQ genotypes]. / Diferencias evolutivas en pacientes pediátricos con diabetes mellitus de tipo 1 en función de su grupo genético HLA-DQ.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Our hypothesis is that there is a relationship between the short term outcomes of pediatric patients with type I diabetes mellitus and their HLA-DQ genotypes. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We performed a descriptive epidemiologic study of 129 children and adolescents under 16 years old with type 1 diabetes mellitus. We studied their HLA DQ genotypes and classified them into groups of diabetogenic risk. We studied general clinic and analytic parameters at onset of the disease and during a period of 3 years, and the development of associated chronic complications. RESULTS: In total, 93.8% of our patients had diabetes-risk HLA-DQ genotypes. Onset of the disease occurred earlier in patients who belonged to risk group III, and they had less pancreatic reserve. During the follow-up period, significant differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure were found in patients in risk group III, and in diastolic blood pressure in patients in risk group I. CONCLUSIONS: Patients in risk group III have an onset at a lower age and present significant differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure during the follow up period.

Ecosystem Birth Near Melting Glaciers: A Review on the Pioneer Role of Ground-Dwelling Arthropods.

As glaciers retreat, their forelands represent "natural laboratories" for the study of primary succession. This review describes how certain arthropods conquer pristine ground and develop food webs before the establishment of vascular plants. Based on soil samples, pitfall traps, fallout and sticky traps, gut content studies, and some unpublished data, we compare early arthropod succession on glacial forelands of northern Europe (Iceland, Norway including Svalbard, and Sweden) and of the Alps (Austria, Italy). While macroarthropod predators like ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones), and spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) have usually been considered as pioneers, assumed to feed on airborne prey, this review explains a different pattern. Here, we highlight that springtails (Collembola), probably feeding on biofilm made up of algae or cyanobacteria, are super-pioneers, even at high altitudes and under arctic conditions. We also point out that macroarthropod predators can use locally available prey, such as springtails or non-biting midges (Diptera: Chironomidae). Pioneer arthropod communities vary under different biogeographical and climatic conditions. Two pioneer food webs, from northern Europe and the Alps, respectively, differed in structure and function. However, certain genera and orders were common to both. Generalists and specialists live together in a pioneer community. Cold-adapted specialists are threatened by glacier melting.

Hipoglucemia hiperinsulinémica congénita persistente, reporte de un caso / Persistent congenital hyperinsulinemic hypoglucemia, case report

Resumen La placenta y el hígado son los encargados del metabolismo de los carbohidratos. La glucosa es fundamental para el metabolismo cerebral. La hipoglucemia se define con valores < 47 mg/dl. La hipoglicemia que persiste más de 7 días se atribuye a problemas metabólicos o endocrinológicos y requiere un flujo de glucosa > 12 mg/kg/min para alcanzar normo-glicemia. La hipoglicemia hiperinsulinémica congénita persistente (HHCP) es poco común (1:50,000 nacidos vivos), es la causa más común de hipoglicemia persistente secundaria a una secreción inadecuada de insulina, que puede afectar el neurodesarrollo. Hay una forma difusa y una focal, con manifestaciones clínicas idénticas, pero con mecanismos patológicos diferentes. El tratamiento médico es a base de diazóxido y ocreótide. En el 95% de los casos no hay respuesta al tratamiento médico, requiriendo pancreatectomía subtotal. Se utilizó ocreótide y nifedipino. La tomografía computada con emisión de positrones (PET/TC 18F-DOPA) encontró incremento en la capación pancreática de insulina, se realizó pancreactectomía. Se egresó sin complicaciones y en seguimiento pediátrico sin alteraciones neurológicas.

Abstract The placenta and liver are responsible for the metabolism of carbohydrates. The glucose is fundamental for brain metabolism. Hypoglycaemia is defined as values < 47 mg/dl. Hypoglycaemia that persists for more than 7 days is attributed to metabolic or endocrine problems and requires glucose flow > 12 GKM to reach normoglycemia. Persistent congenital hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (PCHH) is uncommon (1:50,000 live births) is the most common cause of persistent hypoglycemia secondary to inadequate insulin secretion, can significantly affect neurodevelopment. There is a diffuse and a focal form, with identical clinical manifestations, but with different pathological mechanisms. The medical treatment is diazoxide and ocreotide. In 95% of cases there is no response to medical treatment, requiring subtotal pancreatectomy. Ocreotide and nifedipine were used. Positron emission computed tomography (PET/CT 18F-DOPA) found an increase in pancreatic insulin capacity, a pancreactectomy was performed. He was discharged without complications and in pediatric follow-up without neurological alterations.