No abstract

Researchers in paleontological and paleoecological sciences often need complete disaggregation of rock materials for certain lines of investigation. However, complete disaggregation of more lithified sedimentary rock is known to be problematic. A complete shale disaggregation method implementing quaternary ammonium surfactants,widely used in paleontological sciences for poorly lithified shale and mudstone, was successfully used on well lithified Devonian shale in the Appalachian Basin ofWestern New York. Over 50 Devonian gray and black shale samples were collected from multiple localities in western New York (Cashaqua, Rhinestreet, Skaneateles, Windom, and Ludlowville), coarsely crushed, and fully immersed in a quaternary ammonium surfactant until complete disaggregation was achieved (5–14 days); aliquots were run through a series of nested sieves. The sieved sediments contained hundreds of well-preserved microfossils released from the shale: ostracods, dacryoconarids, and previously unreported palymorphs, charophytes, agglutinated foraminifera, miospores, and other microspherules. These microfossils were easily found within disaggregated and sieved samples but were unrecognizable on the shale surface and destroyed in prior investigations of whole rock thin sections. In addition to more traditional approaches, inclusion of this complete rock disaggregation method may assist in a more complete analysis of material, increase our understandings of ancient basin systems and have important implications on our understanding of the paleoecology during the Late Devonian marine biotic crises.

Beyond yielding signals of extinction or stressed ecological conditions, modern and ancient foraminiferal assemblages reflect specific marine depositional environments and depths. Foraminiferal predominance facies and benthic foraminiferal depth zonation has been successfully used to identify specific marine environments dating back to the Carboniferous. Using insights from modern equivalents, correlative assemblages allow for paleoecological analysis and insights. Middle to Late Devonian (Frasnian) black and gray shale beds of western New York contain hundreds of diminutive calcareous and agglutinated foraminifera. The genera within these beds are reminiscent of shallow modern predominance facies. These foraminiferal assemblages and their associated predominance facies correlate well with prior lithologic and geochemical investigations that establish this portion of the Appalachian Basin as a deltaic setting but suggest it is likely inner neritic zone. Dominant genera include several species of Ammobaculites and Saccammina which suggest that paleodepths did not exceed 50 m throughout the Frasnian. Opportunistic genera reflect a muted crisis associated with the punctata isotopic event (Rhinestreet Event) and Lower Kellwasser (Pipe Creek) events. While there are definite shifts in the diversity of assemblages between gray and black shale, the foraminiferal type and feeding mode, indicative of depth and oxygen availability respectively, there is little variation between the distinct shale units. No significance was found between total organic carbon and foraminiferal type of feeding mode. Identification at the species level is problematic but assemblages at the genus-level suggest that the depositional environment was stressed. However, the effects of these marine crisis events were not significant for these foraminifera in comparison to those frequently reported; we found no local extinction for foraminifera at least through the lower Hanover Shale, just prior to the Hangenberg marine crisis event, within this deltaic complex of the Appalachian Basin in western New York.

As the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) establishes its prevalence as a global health emergency, novel drugs and medications have become increasingly necessary for prevention and treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has played a pivotal role in containing the virus, and herbal formulas such as Sang Ju Yin have held substantial promise in reducing mortality rates and promoting recovery. However, the exact targets and mechanisms of Sang Ju Yin in COVID-19 treatment have not been extensively explored. Therefore, the objective of this study was to use network pharmacology to identify the interactions between Sang Ju Yin and COVID-19. A total of 170 active ingredients and 1476 targets of Sang Ju Yin were retrieved from multiple databases and combined with 1313 COVID-19 targets to obtain 233 common targets. These core targets were integrated into a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and active-ingredient-disease-target network using STRING and Cytoscape 3.9.1 software. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis was performed using DAVID and Metascape to determine related biological processes and signaling pathways. The results indicate that Sang Ju Yin likely regulates inflammatory and immune responses in COVID-19 by targeting AKT1, IL-6, and MAPK3. The active ingredients luteolin, kaempferol, and quercetin physically bind to and inhibit the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro) required for viral invasion and replication. The results of this study provide evidence for the therapeutic effects of Sang Ju Yin on COVID-19 and support the application of TCM for treatment worldwide.