Evidence for the longest stratigraphic range of a post-Triassic Ichthyosaur: a Leptonectes tenuirostris from the Pliensbachian (Lower Jurassic) of Switzerland

A three-dimensional well-preserved ichthyosaur skull and parts of the postcranial skeleton are attributed to the species Leptonectes tenuirostris (Conybeare, 1822). It was found vertically embedded in Pliensbachian deposits representing three successive biozones (ibex to margaritatus Zone). The find is dated as early Late Pliensbachian (margaritatus Zone) by a rich ammonite and ostracod fauna. It is the first record of the genus Leptonectes from Switzerland and from the Late Pliensbachian. It is so far the best preserved and most complete ichthyosaur from this time interval worldwide. With diagnostic specimens known from the Rhaetian (Late Keuper) up to the early Late Pliensbachian (Middle Liassic), L. tenuirostris (Conybeare, 1822) has the most extensive stratigraphic range documented for any post-Triassic ichthyosaur so far.     

Territoires et mobilité des groupes moustériens en Vercors : analyse et discussion

This article focus with recent studies realized on the Vercors Mountain about middle paleolithic site in altitude context. It proposes to make the synthesis of the data concerning the exploitation and especially circulation of the various types of flint inside and near this geographic area. This level of analysis makes it possible to discuss on the mobility degree of the mousterians groups in Vercors and to advance hypotheses on the settlement system within this territory.     

Les comportements funéraires au Néolithique en France méridionale : une vue d’ensemble

The research presented in this paper is based on geographical zone chosen as context for a general discussion centred on a critical inventory of graves, burial places and funeral traditions within Neolithic communities between about 6000 and 2200 B.C. It proposes to define the characteristics and the evolution of funeral behaviours during the Neolithic times in Southern France, between about 6000 and 2200 B.C. Southern France has been considered in an extended definition, from Atlantic Ocean to the Alps, a territory constituted of 26 departments. In view of the extent of the territorial limits, the study was directly all-encompassing. It bears on 150 years of archaeological discoveries unevenly distributed on the Neolithic times. The study takes into consideration all the documentation published. The funeral traditions have been considered in the wide sense, that is tomb architecture, laying out and treatment of cadavers, study of archaeological artefacts. The study leads on to an interpretative outline of the funeral traditions whose development was closely linked to the social evolution of southern Neolithic communities. It researchs a social evolution beyond funeral behaviours, a power more and more destined to an elite who prefigures the protohistory.     

Occurrence and persistence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> O157:H7 in water

Escherichia coli O157:H7 has been associated with water related outbreaks. It has been isolated from surface and ground waters. It is capable of survival in water for days to weeks     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dalea</Emphasis> ser. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Versicolores</Emphasis> (Leguminosae: Amorpheae) from Durango,Mexico

Dalea conetensis, a new species from the central part of the State of Durango, Mexico, is described and illustrated. It is referred to Dalea subgenus Parosela sect. Parosela series Versicolores. It is morphologically similar to D. pinetorum var. pinetorum but can be distinguished by its shorter stipules, leaves, bracts, calyx teeth, petals, androecium, fewer and shorter leaflets, and the calyx pubescence.     

The invasion of the leech <Emphasis Type="Italic">Piscicola respirans</Emphasis> (Hirudinea: Piscicolidae) on the fins of European grayling <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thymallus thymallus</Emphasis>

This study presents the parasitical relationships between the leech Piscicola respirans and European grayling Thymallus thymallus. It determines leech invasion intensity and extensity as well as describes the preferences of fin selection by the parasite as a place to attach and feed. It also shows the significance of fin selection by the leech in the initial phase of life cycle. Finally, the study defines P. respirans as a predominantly fin-parasite of fishes. Most probably the host-searching mechanism is based on positive phototaxis.     

Microsatellite loci variability in the ural population of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Silene latifolia</Emphasis> (caryophyllaceae)

Microsatellite primers designed for American and European populations of the white campion and Nottingham catchfly were tested on white campion samples from six Ural populations. It was noted that the loci studied are represented by 2–43 alleles and the average observed heterozygosity varied from 11 to 100%. It was established that 2 of the 14 loci studied can be considered as markers for radiobiological studies.     

Témoins du froid. La faune dans l’art rupestre paléolithique de l’intérieur péninsulaire

It is our intention to analyse the environmental significance of the Palaeolithic artistic representations existing in the inner areas of the Iberian Peninsula. The fauna is used to create chronological and climatical criteria to affirm the condition of the castillan plateau during the last glaciation. In our opinion, it is dangerous to use the isolated animals in order to talk about coldness or heat situation because they reflect the cultural selection of their authors more than the ambiental reality. Neither the animals called thermometer nor the euritherm ones are solely represented in the tempered moments. Moreover, we have almost a no animal representation than artistic during the last finiglacial period in the peninsular interior. It means probably that the artistic representations are mainly cultural signs, which change for cultural reasons and not properly climatic ones within a general reality of glacial environment.     

Biological Efficiency of the Prepupae <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hermetia illucens</Emphasis> in the Diet of the Young Mozambique Tilapia <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreochromis mossambicus</Emphasis>

It has been noted that the introduction of small doses of dry prepupae of Hermetia illucens flies into the diet of the young Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus (0.5 g/kg feed) had a positive effect on the growth and development of fish. It was found that the average daily gain in the experimental group was 0.7 g. It was established that the blood biochemical parameters were within the norm in the fish of all groups; however, in the experimental tilapia, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate was significantly lower and a tendency to increase in the amount of hemoglobin and glucose was noted. It was revealed that in the seminiferous tubules of fish in the experimental group, the number of mature sperm was 5.9 times higher compared with the control, indicating an increase in the rate of spermatogenesis. It is assumed that the observed effects are due to the high content of manganese in the prepupae present in a biologically active divalent form.     

La culture du Paléolithique dans la région de Jungwon en Corée

The Jungwon region is located in the central part of Korea and it is one of crucial regions for understanding of the Korean Paleolithic culture. Many Paleolithic sites have been discovered in this region, from the lower Paleolithic to the upper Paleolithic. It is of interest the remarkable variety of archeological remains such as human bones, stone tools, animal bones and paleoenvironmental artifacts. As a result, it permits us to reconstruct the subsistence of prehistoric men. This region has an important role for Korean prehistoric researches.     

Le site Paléolithique de Suyanggae, Corée

The Suyanggae site is an open-air site in central part of South Korea. This site was discovered in 1980 and seven excavations have been carried out from 1983 to 1996. As a result, many stone artefacts were unearthed and 49 stone tool workshops were known. This site contains 5 cultural layers and the most important one is the Upper Paleolithic layer. This layer is dated to be 16,400 ~ 18,630 BP by ¹⁴C dating. It shows a massive blade production and microblade technique. It is one of the crucial sites for understanding the Upper Paleolithic of Korea.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hyptis maya</Emphasis>, a new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lamiaceae</Emphasis> from Belize,Central America,and the closely related <Emphasis Type="Italic">H. lanceolata</Emphasis>

A new species of Lamiaceae from Belize: Hyptis maya is described and illustrated. It is closely related to the more widespread H. lanceolata Poir., with which it is compared.     

Isolation and phenotypic characteristics of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> butanol-tolerant mutants

Resistance to butanol is a key factor affecting microbial ability to produce economically profitable amounts of butanol. In this study, an Escherichia coli strain capable of growth in the presence of 1.5% butanol was isolated. The mutant MG1655 ButR was characterized by increased resistance to ethanol, isopropanol, and bivalent ions but exhibited supersensitivity to osmotic shock. Compared to the wild type strain, the butanol-tolerant mutant was more sensitive to antibiotics inhibiting protein synthesis but was more resistant to membrane-penetrating antibiotics, such as surfactin. Increased content of unsaturated fatty acids was found in the membranes of butanol-tolerant mutants. It was revealed that overexpression of the genes encoding cold-shock proteins decreased butanol tolerance of both mutant and the wild-type strain. It was concluded that butanol tolerance was associated with multiple rearrangements of the cell genetic system, rather than with single mutations.     

False labelling due to quenching failure of N‐hydroxy‐succinimide–ester‐coupled dyes

In comparative fluorescence gel electrophoresis experiments, cross‐talk was detected. It was traced back to a failure in the quenching process in typical labelling protocols. Despite a huge excess of potential reaction sites for the N‐hydroxy‐succinimide–ester‐coupled dye, sufficient active dye molecules were available after the quenching step to label protein molecules un‐specifically. It could be shown that only a 100‐fold increase in the amount of quencher will silence residual dye to such an extent that no artificial signals are detected.     

Diurnal vertical migrations of bream <Emphasis Type="Italic">Abramis brama</Emphasis>

According to trawl-acoustic surveys, differences in the range of diurnal vertical movements of bream Abramis brama in the Rybinsk and Ivankovo reservoirs are revealed. The observed fish behavior is related to strategy of occupation of feeding biotopes. It is supposed that residence in bottom payers under conditions of low temperature is oriented to energy saving.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>-Deprenyl: Pharmacological Spectrum of its Activity

Deprenyl has been discovered by Knoll and co-workers. The R-enantiomer of deprenyl (selegiline) is a selective and irreversible inhibitor of the B-isoform of monoamine oxidase (MAO-B) enzyme. Due to its dopamine potentiating and possible neuroprotective properties it has an established role in the treatment of parkinsonian patients. By inhibiting MAO-B enzyme, R-deprenyl decreases the formation of hydrogen peroxide, alleviating the oxidative stress also reduced by increased expression of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutases and catalase) reported during chronic treatment. It was shown to prevent the detrimental effects of neurotoxins like MPTP and DSP-4. R-Deprenyl elicits neuroprotective and neuronal rescue activities in concentrations too low to inhibit MAO-B. It is extensively metabolized and some of the metabolites possess pharmacological activities, thus their contribution to neuroprotective properties was also suggested. The recently identified deprenyl-N-oxide is extensively studied in our laboratory. Effects other than neuroprotection, like influencing cell adhesion and proliferation cannot be neglected.     

Mise en place d’une équipe d’experts en physique médicale au Luxembourg : organisation, résultats qualité et radioprotection en médecine nucléaire (2002–2011)

Implementations of the statutory UE requirements concerning ionizing radiation in the medical domain (96/29/Euratom, 13th May 1996; 97/43/Euratom, 30th June 1997) have changed quality control in medical imaging departments. In Luxembourg, the Ministry of Health and the “Union of Luxembourg Hospitals” have thus created a “Medical Physics Cell” (five Medical Physics experts). It is in charge of implementing a standardized program of Quality Assurance (QA) and radiation protection relative to patients as well as staffs, on a coordinated national basis, in all five in-hospital nuclear medicine departments of the country. The program distributes QA controls between three levels, various periodicities and degrees of expertise. It sensitizes staff and medical doctors by trainings and facilitates ISO accreditation. From 2002 to 2011, in all five in-hospital departments of nuclear medicine of a small country, image quality, radiation protection and reference values of each medical equipment were defined and implemented in a standard way. In 2011, the medical physics cell, the driving force leading to the institutionalization of the discipline within the nuclear medicine departments, is considered as a partner rather than as a control body by the teams in charge of the nuclear medicine departments.     

Conception et exécution de bases de données intégrées pour l'analyse des rapports spatiotemporels des artefacts du Paléolithique

The archaeologists excavate the historic site and analyze data from the excavation site. Therefore, they study about the past affairs and circumstances unknown to the world. These data are composed of stones, plants, bones and geological features, which are stored in separate files according to the fields of study. It is important to mention that this information become the first step toward the solution of some hypothesis in Archaeology. Therefore, we need the system that can not only support integrated environment to find clues of the past, but also manage existing artifact data systematically and grasp relationships among the data. In this paper, we modeled the time, which is used in archaeology and geology, and built an entity relationship database to store Paleolithic data excavated in Jungwon region site of the Republic of Korea as one resource, which seem to give a base for integrated research and relationships in archaeology. In addition, we developed the Graphic User Interface that allows various users to connect to the established system through the web.