L’industrie aurignacienne de la grotte de Šandalja II (Istrie, Croatie) dans le contexte de la région de l’Est de l’Adriatique

This paper presents the results obtained by lithic analysis of Early Upper Palaeolithic levels in Šandalja II Cave, Istria, Croatia. Technological and typological analysis of stone and typological analysis of bone artefacts have been carried out. Production of flakes in Aurignacian levels (G, F, E and E/F) is dominant, but blade and bladelets production is also present. Blades and bladelets were produced by direct soft hammer technique. Aurignacian people of Šandalja II produced their debitage mainly on local grey chert, which is often patinated. Šandalja II is one of the rare—if not the only—site with Aurignacian industry in eastern Adriatic region. The main reason for absence of such industry at other sites can be seen in scarce population or abandonment of some parts of this region.     

Resultados preliminares de un programa comunitario de prevención de caídas: estudio Precari (prevención de caídas en La Ribera)

Objective

To evaluate the results of a fall prevention programme designed to be applied to the elderly living in the community.

Material and methods

The sample consisted of 249 participants ≥70 years of age, who were randomly assigned to one of three groups. The monthly intervention group (GIM): instructions on fall prevention and healthy exercises to improve physical function and balance at beginning of the study, and a monthly theoretical and practical refresher session. The quarterly intervention group (GIT), with the same beginning intervention and a refresher session every three months. The control group (GC), the same beginning intervention but no refresher sessions.

Results

The mean age of the sample was 74.47 years (SD 5.33), with 64% women. The incidence of falls was reduced from 0.64 per patient year in the previous year to 0.39 in the post-intervention year in GIM, from 0.49 to 0.47 in GIT, and in the GC it remained at 0.47 before and twelve months after, but with no significant differences in the reduction between groups (P=.062). At the end of the study there was a decrease in Rizzo scale of 0.72 points (95% CI: 0.57-0.88, P<.001).

Conclusion

An interdisciplinary community intervention programme can contribute to reducing the incidence of falls. Further studies are required to continue research into the incidence of falls in the elderly living in the community.     

Ultrastructure comparée de la spermiogenèse et du spermatozoïde de trois espèces de Paravortex (Rhabdocoela, "Dalyellioida", Graffillidae), Turbellariés parasites intestinaux de Mollusques

Three species of the genus Paravortex were studied. Spermiogenesis involves progressive lengthening of the spermatid. No centriole nor axoneme were found. Thc mature spermatozoon is threadlike, 30μm long and aflagellate. It contains a nucleus, two longitudinal parallel mitochondria, numerous dense bodies limited by a membrane, a row of cortical microtubules and granules. The spatial arrangement of the microtubules wah deduced from a statistical analysis of their number in transverse section. The microtubules are continuous along the length of the spermatozoon and are arranged along a long cone. The granules, not limited by a membrane, are about 25 nm in diameter. They are arranged in a semicircle and represent a new structure for sperm of Platyhclminthes. A statistical comparison demonstrated that two species may be distinguished by the number of their cortical sperm microtubules. This is the tirst ultrastructural study of an aflagellate spermatozoon in the Rhabdocoela. A rickettsia was found in P. cardii .     

Ultrastructure de la Grégarine Callynthrochlamys phronimae Frenzel; Étude Comparée de son Noyau avec Celui de Thalicola salpae (Frenzel) (Eugregarina)

SYNOPSIS. The structure of the gregarine Callynthrochlamys phronimae has been studied with the electron microscope. The cuticular complex is not different from those previously described in other species of gregarines. It is composed of 2 layers of different thickness delimited by 3 unit membranes and constitutes series of oblique folds at the surface of the deutomerite. Longitudinal rods of dense material surrounded by a slight pellicle are seen under the cuticle. Pinocytic vacuoles are present under the surface of the gregarine. Cytoplasmic organelles include mitochondria, Golgi complexes, endoplasmic reticulum, vacuoles and dense bodies from different sizes. There is a connection between the different features of the cytoplasm in the protomerite and deutomerite and the corresponding cuticular organization.
A characteristic feature of the species is the peculiar differentiation of the nuclear membrane. The nucleus is surrounded by a typical double membrane of which the inner one has a dense fibrillar layer apposed to it. In mature trophozoites, tubular expansions without inner layer arise from the double membrane; the same type of nuclear membrane occurs in another species, Thalicola salpae.     

Estudio paleoecológico de Foraminíferos de testigos del Holoceno de Golfo Nuevo (Patagonia, Argentina)

A micropaleontological study (Order Foraminiferida) was conducted on two Holocene cores from Golfo Nuevo (Patagonia, Argentina). The most abundant species are Buccellaperuviana f. campsi (Boltovskoy) and Bulimina patagonica (d’Orbigny), suggesting an inner-shelf environment. Qualitative and quantitative analyses indicate the paleoecological and paleoenvironmental variations along cores. A transition from normal marine conditions of the inner shelf during the Middle Holocene (ca. 8160-7700 years B.P.) to marginal marine conditions in the Late Holocene (ca. 1890 years B.P.) is inferred. This transition was accompanied by lower oxygen levels than the current values in Golfo Nuevo. These variations may have been due to an increase in precipitation near the study zone and a rise in sea level caused by an improvement in the climatic conditions related to the Climate Optimum (ca. 7000 years B.P.). These new conditions of higher temperature and lower salinity of the surface waters may have hindered deep-water renewal, producing a change in the circulation dynamics of the gulf and causing a reducing environment.     

Conodontos carboníferos de la sección del río Cares (Unidad de Picos de Europa, Zona Cantábrica, NO de España)

The first Carboniferous conodonts studied from the Cares river section correspond to fifteen species and one subspecies from seven genera, some of them reported from the Picos de Europa Unit for the first time. The conodonts belong to several zones between the upper Tournaisian and the upper Serpukhovian-lower Bashkirian. Furthermore, the species Idiognathodus incurvus Dunn is reported for the first time in the Cantabrian Mountains and southern Europe, from upper Bashkirian or lower Moscovian beds.     

Régulation de la biosynthèse de l'aspartate-ammonium lyase (aspartase) de Pseudomonas fluorescens

Variations in aspartasic activity in various media are due to aspartate-ammonium lyase induction and to regulation of the biosynthesis of this enzyme. Evidence for neosynthesis of the enzyme is provided by labelling and separation of the protein. The inducer appears to be aspartic acid. The biosynthesis is subject to pronounced catabolic repression. The physiological function of aspartate-ammonium lyase is discussed.