Neanderthal markers of the frontal bone--a conspicuous Hallstatt cranium of the burial field Dietfurt/Oberpfalz

Between the skulls from early Iron Age cemeteries of the Hallstatt period (Beilngries, Dietfurt, Schirndorf and some other localities) in the Upper Palatinate (Bavaria) the skull Dietfurt 13/1 attracted attention because of its archaic traits at the viscerocranium and because of its extraordinarily large cranial capacity (1654 cm3). Such large cranial capacities were well known from Neandertals. Therefore this skull was examined for other neandertaloid traits: It was shown that the values for the angle of inclination and the vault-angle of the frontal bone fell into the neandertaloid range. With regard to the traits of the frontal bone Dietfurt 13/1 takes a more intermediate position between Homo sapiens sapiens and the Neandertals than the frontal bone from Hahn?fersand, which is dated about 36.300 +/- 600 years B.P. (Br?uer 1980). It is discussed, whether the specific traits of the frontal bone of Dietfurt 13/1 could fall within the variability of the subfossil Homo sapiens sapiens without postulating a phase of hybridization between Neandertals and anatomically modern man. Consequently, in the compilation of prehistorical skeleton-series more attention should be given to measures of the frontal bone.     

Palynological evidence of mead: a prehistoric drink dating back to the 3rd millennium b.c.

Human coprolites from Birka, Sweden and Dürrnberg, Austria, have been found, dated and palynologically analysed as a part of interdisciplinary studies. All their pollen spectra are dominated by insect-pollinated taxa well-known as nectar producing flowers, suggesting some consumption of honey. Among those spectra, some show significantly high values of Filipendula ulmaria (meadowsweet) pollen, which was historically used as flavouring in mead production, and which together with other indicators for honey, suggest that mead was part of the historic and prehistoric diet both in Birka and Dürrnberg. An evaluation of the background pollen suggests for the Birka specimen that honey was imported to the site from southern Baltic areas. The use of mead based on written sources is known at least from the Roman period. Archaeological studies demonstrate mead as an old crust residue on the inside of pots and other earthenware used as important funeral gifts from at least the 27th–25th centuries b.c. in Georgia. A comparison of the pollen records of European honey/mead samples strongly suggests that Filipendula is indicative of mead.     

Multistratigraphy of condensed ammonoid beds of the Rappoltstein (Berchtesgaden,southern Germany): unravelling palaeoenvironmental conditions on ‘Hallstatt deep swells’ during the Reingraben Event (Late Lower Carnian)

Two new sites of condensed Hallstatt Red Limestones were found in the Rappoltstein mountain range near Berchtesgaden (SE Bavaria). Conodont and ammonoid assemblages allowed for a concise age-dating of the lower two of seven already described Hallstatt ammonoid horizons as latest Ladinian to Lower Carnian (Upper Triassic). Biostratigraphy, microfacies analysis and stratigraphic cross-correlation of other Hallstatt sites allowed the documentation of the Late Lower Carnian ‘Reingraben Event’ within a mixed allochthonous–autochthonous carbonaceous lithofacies at the Rappoltstein, and gave further insights into the special architecture of the so-called ‘Hallstatt deep swells’ and the Hallstatt Basin. δ¹⁸O_phos of conodont apatite was measured in order to reconstruct marine palaeotemperatures. The reconstructed low seawater temperatures may be at least due to different palaeoclimatic scenarios that could have preceded the ‘Carnian crisis’.     

Biochronostratigraphy of the Reingraben Turnover (Hallstatt Facies Belt): Local black shale events controlled by regional tectonics, climatic change and plate tectonics

For the first time, two outcrops near Bad Dürrnberg (2 km SSW Hallein, Austria) allowed for a continuous multistratigraphical investigation of the Reingraben Turnover in the Hallstatt facies belt. After a phase of reefal sedimentation during the Julian 1 (Early Carnian), a sudden increase in terrigenous input (Reingraben Turnover) caused the breakdown of the carbonate factory at the beginning of the Julian 2 (late Early Carnian). In starved basins produced by syndepositional tectonism, black shales locally accumulated. Stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon do not suggest a change in seawater chemistry during the turnover. Shallow-water carbonate production resumed slowly during the Tuvalian (Late Carnian), and complete recovery was finished near the Carnian-Norian transition. Because similar events are recorded globally, climatic changes (monsoonal circulation) controlled by plate tectonics are favoured as triggers of the event.Based on lithology and microfacies, detailed sampling, and analysis of conodont faunas and the resulting detailed conodont zonation enabled us to establish the duration of the Reingraben Turnover (Julian 1/IIc to Julian 2/II).     

Carnian-Norian biomagnetostratigraphy at Silická Brezová (Slovakia): correlation to other Tethyan sections and to the Newark Basin

Correlations of Upper Triassic magnetic stratigraphies from Tethyan sections have been hampered by difficulties with conodont biostratigraphy and taxonomy, and discontinuous sedimentation, particularly in the ‘Hallstatt Limestones’ of Turkey and Austria. The magnetic stratigraphy and conodont biostratigraphy from the Upper Carnian to Upper Norian limestones exposed at Silická Brezová (Slovakia) can be correlated to other Tethyan sections and to the continental succession in the Newark Basin. The resulting correlations help to resolve some of the apparent discrepancies in existing conodont zonations, and result in a revised correlation to North American terrestrial vertebrate and palynological zones. The correlations imply that the Norian-Rhaetian boundary lies within Newark polarity zone E17r at ∼207 Ma. The Carnian-Norian boundary lies close to the base of Newark polarity zone E7r at ∼226 Ma. This implies durations for the Norian and Rhaetian stages of 19 Myr and 7 Myr, respectively.     

Genetic studies in the Cologne administrative district (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany): DNA-STR systems FGA, TH01, VWA and YNZ22

The DNA-STR systems FGA, TH01, VWA, YNZ22 have been studied in two German population samples (Eschweiler, Stolberg and Hürtgenwald, Inden, Langerwehe, administrative area of Cologne, Northrhine-Westphalia). The cluster analysis, including data from Düsseldorf, Germany and from Poland, resulted in a cluster with Eschweiler, Stolberg and Düsseldorf, separating to a certain degree Hürtgenwald, Inden, Langerwehe and Poland more clearly. In contrary to the expectations (based on the history of the migration from Northeastern Europe to Northrhine-Westfalia) and the results of the study of 22 hemogenetic systems (Scheil & Huckenbeck 2000) there was a somewhat larger genetic distance between Eschweiler, Stolberg and Poland than between Hürtgenwald, Inden, Langerwehe and Poland. The combined data of the four STRs and the 22 hemogenetic systems resulted--as expected--in smaller genetic distances between Eschweiler, Stolberg and Poland as well as between Düsseldorf and Poland. These different genetic distances are interpreted as a result of the migration from North-East Europe to North Rhine-Westphalia in the last 130 years and the selective geographic distribution of the migrants in the industrial and urbanised areas.     

Evidence for a new allele at the esterase D (E.C.3.1.1.1) locus

A new rare allele for esterase D (ESD) is described in a family from Düsseldorf. The variant was tentatively named ESD Düs 2.     

A tribute to Achim Trebst at the time of his doctor honoris causa,University of Düsseldorf

On June 9, 2009, we celebrate the 80th birthday of Achim Trebst. I present below the “Tribute” (Laudatio) that I read on February 11, 2000 on the occasion of his receiving Doctor honoris causa of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences of the Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf. The text below is a translation from the original German to English with minor editorial changes by Govindjee.     

Effect of two plant extracts and Lactobacillus fermentum on colonization of gastrointestinal tract by Salmonella enterica var. Düsseldorf in chicks

According to published data, it is well known that essential oils from plants possess antimicrobial activity against a wide range of pathogens, including Salmonella strains. The influence of the administration of essential oils from oregano (Origanum vulgare) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) as well as Lactobacillus fermentum on crop, caecum, liver and spleen colonization by Salmonella enterica var. Düsseldorf in chicks was investigated in this study. For the experiment, one hundred 1-day old chicks were used, and they were divided into four groups: (i) untreated (C); (ii) treated with L. fermentum (L); (iii) treated with a mixture of oregano and thyme essential oils (OT); and (iv) treated with a combination of L. fermentum and a mixture of oregano and thyme essential oils (LOT). Essential oils from oregano and thyme were mixed with commercial poultry diet, which was offered ad libitum to chicks in appertaining groups. L. fermentum was added daily to drinking water. After 3 days all the chicks were challenged orally with S. enterica var. Düsseldorf. The crops, ceca, spleens and livers of the birds were examined for S. enterica var. Düsseldorf colonization 5 days after the challenge. Our results showed that a combined administration of L. fermentum and essential oils (oregano and thyme) in group with combined application of essential oils and lactobacillus strain reduced the percentage of colonized crops and ceca when compared to the control group without any treatment. Presented at the Second Probiotic Conference, Košice, 15–19 September 2004, Slovakia.     

Exkursion in Rheinland‐Pfalz: An Nahe und Mosel

Excursion to the riverscapes of the Nahe and the Moselle in Rhineland‐Palatinate The river valleys of the Nahe and the Moselle in Rhineland‐Palatinate are situated in the rain shadow of the Hunsrück and the Eifel. They exhibit xerothermic, poor sites with several extraordinary animal and plant species. Great rock faces are forming the undercut slopes of both rivers and carry plant species of Mediterranean and Pontic provenance. The mosaic display of vineyards, abandoned vineyards, arid grasslands, dry shrubberies, forests and – in case of the Nahe – near‐natural river banks causes an amazing biodiversity. These valleys are well‐known for a huge amount of relict species as the mountain Apollo (Parnassius apollo vinningensis), the western green lizard (Lacerta bilineata), the saddle‐backed bush cricket (Ephippiger ephippiger vitium) and the dice snake (Natrix tessellata).     

Carl Düsing (1884) on the regulation of the sex-ratio

In three publications in 1883 and 1884 Carl Düsing of Jena gave a mathematical account of the influence of natural selection on the sex ratio based on the same argument that Darwin had advanced in The Descent of Man (1871). The argument thus became quite well known, being included in the principal books on the subject around the turn of the century, as well as in the Encyclopaedia Britannica, references to Düsing being given. By 1930, when Fisher gave a verbal account of the argument in The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection, he saw no need to give references, and no other book of the period treated the subject, as a result of which Düsing's contribution became lost to view. We here give the important paragraphs of Düsing's mathematical account, translated into English.     

Population genetic studies in an isolate of Southern Germany

This study imparts and discusses the results of two random sample studies of 23 hemogenetic systems (blood groups, polymorphisms of serum proteins and erythrocyte enzymes) in an isolate in the Upper Swabian area and in Ulm and its surroundings. The isolate is in an area known as the Lutherische Berge (Lutheran Mountains). It is a Protestant diaspora amidst an almost exclusively Catholic population. For the purpose of comparison, data has been drawn upon from the regions of Freiburg and Düsseldorf. Through the comparison of the four random samples, clear differences between the allele and haplotype frequencies resp. in the isolate population compared to the three other large city populations become evident. This fact is also reflected in the dendrogram for genetic distances according to Rogers. In addition, the possible causes for these differentiations are discussed.     

Nuclear grooves. Valuable diagnostic feature in May-Grünwald-Giemsa-stained fine needle aspirates of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid.

Recent reports have indicated the usefulness of nuclear grooves (clefts or notches) as an additional criterion for the diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma in fine needle aspirates; most of these studies were carried out on alcohol-fixed material stained with the Papanicolaou stain or with hematoxylin and eosin, which yield good nuclear details. In the present study air-dried thyroid aspirates stained with the widely used May-Grünwald-Giemsa stain were evaluated. Nuclear grooves were observed in 88% of the May-Grünwald-Giemsa-stained aspirates from papillary thyroid carcinoma, usually in substantial numbers. A few grooved nuclei were seen in a small percentage of the other thyroid aspirates studied. These results show that nuclear grooves can also be used as a possible marker of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid in May-Grünwald-Giemsa-stained aspirates.     

Phenotype incidence of some hemo-genetic polymorphism markers in the Lower Rhine region (Kleve, Goch, Kalkar area)]

In a sample of 262 individuals from the Lower Rhine region (Kleve, Goch, Kalkar: Germany) 27 hemogenetic polymorphisms have been studied. There were no significant differences in phenotype frequencies between the Lower Rhine and the Düsseldorf region.     

The Boring Cunctichnus probans Fürsich,Palmer and Goodyear, 1994, from the Type Maastrichtian (Upper Cretaceous,Northeast Belgium)

The ichnogenus Cunctichnus Fürsich, Palmer and Goodyear, 1994 is monotypic, its type ichnospecies, C. probans Fürsich, Palmer and Goodyear, 1994, having hitherto been described solely from the Upper Jurassic (Tithonian) of southern England and the Paris Basin. Cunctichnus probans is recorded herein from the type Maastrichtian (Upper Cretaceous) of the province of Liège, northeast Belgium, that is, about 75 million years younger than previous published records. This specimen differs from the holotype in having a Y-shaped branch.     

Decrease in the secretion of anti-Müllerian hormone by the chick testis during development

At the end of embryonic life the chick embryonic testis possesses a low anti-Müllerian activity, as evidenced by the grafting method to female hosts. The percentage of grafted embryos presenting a Müllerian duct regression is not increased by administration of an anti-estrogenic drug (tamoxifen). This observation does not favour the hypothesis according to which the low percentage of regression could be due to a protection of Müllerian ducts by estrogens from the host ovary. It shows rather that the anti-Müllerian hormone secretion actually decreases during development.     

The amino acid composition of meat and bone meals and its predictability

Für den vorliegenden Versuch wurden Jungbullen der Rasse Deutsches Fleckvieh ab einer Lebendmasse von 200 kg entweder mit hoher Energiezufuhr (Zunahmeniveau etwa 1200–1500 g täglich) oder mit begrenzter Energiezufuhr (Zunahmeniveau etwa 900 g täglich) versorgt. Bei 200 kg Lebendmasse (‐Versuchsbeginn), 350 kg, 500 kg, 575 kg und 650 kg wurden je neun Tiere der Schlachtung zugeführt und eine Schlachtkörperhälfte nach DLG‐Schnittführung in 13 Teilstücke zerlegt. Anschließend erfolgte eine grobgewebliche Trennung der Teilstücke in Muskel‐, Knochen‐ und Fettgewebe sowie Sehnen und eine Gesamtfett‐, Rohprotein‐ und Rohaschebestimmung in den Geweben der Teilstücke.

Die Unterschiede in der Rohnährstoffzusammensetzung der Gewebe aller Teilstücke spiegeln sich am deutlichsten in einer fütterungs‐ und masseabhängig differierenden Gesamtfetteinlagerung wider. Der mittlere Fettgehalt des Muskelgewebes aller Teilstücke erhöht sich bei den intensiv voersorgten Bullen deutlich von 1,8% (200 kg Lebendmasse) auf 3,5% (650 kg Lebendmasse), während der Anstieg bei begrenzter Enerigezufuhr sehr gering ist (2,3 %, 650 kg Lebendmasse). Dabei unterscheiden sich die fettreicheren Teilstücke (z.B. Dünnungen, Brust, Spannrippe, Bug oder Hochrippe) etwas stärker als die weiteren, fettärmeren Teilstücke. Dagegen ist der Rohprotein‐ und Rohaschegehalt mit mittleren Werten von 21,9 % bzw. 1,2 % des Muskelgewebes aller Teilstücke relativ unbeeinflußt von Fütterungsintensität und Mastendmasse.

Aber auch der Fettgehalt des Fettgewebes der Teilstücke erhöht sich von etwa 46 % (200 kg, Mastbeginn) auf knapp 70 % (Fütterung intensiv) bzw. 60 % (Fütterung begrenzt) bei Mastende (650 kg Lebendmasse) deutlich. Demgegenüber bleibt der mittlere Fettgehalt des Knochengewebes der Teilstücke mit etwa 15 % Fett von den Untersuchungsfaktoren weitgehend unbeeinflußt, jedoch differiert der mittlere Fettgehalt zwischen den Teilstücken von etwa 21 % (Keule, Vorder‐, Hinterhesse, Bug) bis 9 % (Dünnungen, Brust, Spannrippe) erheblich. Der Rohproteingehalt des Knochengewebes (im Mittel 21%) nimmt unbeeinflußt von der Fütterungsintensität mit zunehmender Lebendmasse etwas, der Rohaschegehalt deutlicher von knapp 21 % auf etwa 31 % zu. Die Unterschiede in den Rohaschegehalten des Knochengewebes zwischen den Teilstücken sind gering.     

Southern kalahari phytosociology

Summary The vegetation of the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, which lies in the centre of the semi-arid Southern Kalahari, was studied. This area is considered to be largely representative of the Southern Kalahari in general. The region is covered by a layer of red sand piled into dunes. Two large dry river-beds cross the area and numerous pans occur. Calcrete outcrops are found along rivercourses and around pans. The vegetation is generally an extremely open shrub or tree savanna and phytogeographically the area is regarded as belonging to the Karoo-Namib Region. 132 quadrats, most of which covered 100 m², were studied and the vegetation is classified according to the Zürich-Montpellier method. The physiognomy of all phytocoenoses was determined according to the system ofFosberg (1967). A striking correlation was found between plant communities and the four main habitats: sand, calcrete, pans and river-beds. Twelve syntaxa were recognized, eight of these are described as associations and one as a subassociation. They are as follows:— 1. On sand: Stipagrostietum amabilis (with subass. terminalietosum) found on dune crests, Hirpicio echini-Asthenatheretum on more compact red sand in dune valleys, Monechma incanum-Stipagrostis ciliata (two communities) on pink to whitish sand, Peliostomo-Stipagrostietum obtusae on whitish compact sand; 2. On calcrete: Aizoo-Indigoferetum auricomae; 3. On pans and pan-like formations: Sporobolo lampranthi-Zygophylletum tenuis on pan-like alluvial flats in the Nossob rivercourse, Sporoboletum coromandelianion the central parts of pans, Sporoboletum rangei along the periphery of pans and on sand accretions on the pan surface, Lycium tenue community on small loamy sand accretions on pans or in river-beds; 4. In river-beds: Panicetum colorati. Life form spectra based on total cover-abundance values are given. Differences in the spectra of various communities are briefly discussed with reference to their habitats. Therophytes were shown to be the most important life form in all syntaxa except the Sporoboletum rangei. The vegetation exhibits a very marked zonation and a sequential relationship between communities is demonstrated.

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Zusammenfassung Die Vegetation des Kalahari Gemsbok Nationalparks, welcher im Zentrum der semi-ariden Südlichen Kalahari gelegen ist, wurde untersucht. Der Park wird als weitgehend typisch für die gesamte Südliche Kalahari betrachtet. Das Gebiet wird von einer Sandschicht bedeckt die zu Dünen aufgeworfen ist. Zwei grosse Flussbetten durchqueren das Gebiet und zahlreiche Pfannen werden angetroffen. Oberfl?chenkalk kommt l?ngs den Flussl?ufen und um Pfannen herum vor. Die Vegetation ist im allgemeinen eine extrem offene Strauch- oder Baumsavanne und phytogeographisch wird das Gebiet zur Karoo-Namib Florenregion gerechnet. 132 Relevés, von denen die meisten eine Oberfl?che von 100 m² hatten, wurden aufgenommen, und die Vegetation wurde nach der Zürich-Montpellier-Methode klassifiziert. Die Physiognomie aller Phytoz?nosen wurde nach dem System vonFosberg (1967) bestimmt. Eine auffallende Wechselbeziehung zwischen Pflanzengesellschaften und den folgenden vier wichtigsten Standorten wurde festgestellt: Sand, Kalk, Pfannen und Flussbetten. Zw?lf Syntaxa wurden erkannt, wovon acht als Assoziationen und eine als Subassoziation beschrieben werden. Sie sind die folgenden: (1) Auf Sand: Stipagrostietum amabilis (mit Subass. terminalietosum) auf Dünenk?mmen, Hirpicio echini-Asthenatheretum auf kompakterem roten Sand in Dünent?lern, Monechma incanum-Stipagrostis ciliata (zwei Gesellschaften) auf rosa bis weisslichem Sand, und Peliostomo-Stipagrostietum obtusaeauf weisslichem kompaktem Sand; (2) Auf Oberfl?chenkalk: Aizoo-Indigoferetum auricomae; (3) Auf Pfannen und pfannenartigen Formationen: Sporobolo lampranthi-Zygophylletum tenuis auf pfannenartigen Alluvialfl?chen im Flusslauf des Nossob, Sporoboletum coromandeliani im Zentrum von Pfannen, Sporoboletum rangei auf Pfannenr?ndern und auf Sandanh?ufungen auf Pfannenoberfl?chen, Lycium tenue-Gesellschaft auf kleinen lehmigen Sandanh?ufungen auf Pfannen oder in Flussbetten; (4) In Flussbetten: Panicetum colorati. Lebensformspektren, die auf Artm?chtigkeitswerten basieren, sind in Diagrammen für die verschiedenen Syntaxa zusammengestellt. Unterschiede zwischen den Spektren der verschiedenen Gesellschaften werden besprochen mit Bezug auf ihre Standorte. Therophyten sind in allen Syntaxa, mit Ausnahme des Sporoboletum rangei, die wichtigste Lebensform. Die Vegetation l?sst deutliche Zonierung erkennen. Es wird gezeigt in welcher wechselseitigen Beziehung die Gesellschaften zueinander stehen.

     

Triassic nannoplankton limestones of deep basin origin in the central mediterranean region

Samples of Triassic pelagic limestones collected in several regions of the Central Mediterranean area were examined with the electron microscope. They show calcareous nannoplankton existing already from Middle Triassic time. The Middle Triassic nannofossils are contained in nodular limestones such as the “Ammonitico Rosso” of Epidaurus (Greece); the Upper Triassic ones are contained in nodular limestones like the Ammonitico Rosso of Hallstatt (Austria), as well as in Halobia cherty limestones of the Pindos basin in Italy, Yugoslavia and Greece. In the Halobia limestones it is possible, in spite of the recrystallization effects, to recognize such an abundance of organic forms — even if in fragments — that we can suppose the original sediment to be a kind of nannoplankton ooze.Because of the very low accumulation rate (few metres/m.y.) of the Middle Triassic Ammonitico Rosso limestones, the coccoliths cannot be considered a significant factor of carbonate pelagic sedimentation at this time; the very high accumulation rate (up to 25 metres/m.y.) of the Upper Triassic cherty limestones in the Pindos basin, on the contrary, allows the nannoplankton to be considered a very important agent of calcareous pelagic sedimentation. The authors hypothesize that the Dogger-Malm, mainly represented by radiolarites, was only a temporary interlude in the Mesozoic pelagic carbonate sedimentation.