Contexte géographique et géologique du site de Kocabaş, Bassin de Denizli,Anatolie, Turquie

The site of Kocaba? is located in the Denizli Basin, in western Anatolia, 400 km southwest of Ankara, 360 km south of Istanbul, 200 km east-southeast of Izmir and 150 km northwest of Antalya. The Denizli Basin depression, at the junction of the Buyuk Menderes and Gediz grabens, which began to form at the beginning of the Miocene, was filled in around the edges, along fault lines, by significant travertine formations, some of which are still active today. The age of the Kocaba? travertines, which yielded the Kocaba? Homo erectus skullcap, was evaluated by thermoluminescence at 828,000 years, by electron spin resonance (ESR) at 1,110,000 years and by the ²⁶Al/¹⁰Be cosmogenic nuclide method to more than 1.22 Ma and less than 1.5 Ma, a date which has been confirmed by magnetostratigraphy and biochronology.     

Conclusion. Bilan des recherches interdisciplinaires effectuées sur le site de l’Homo erectus de Denizli,Kocabaş, Bassin de Denizli,Anatolie, Turquie. L’Homo erectus aux portes de l’Europe

The study of the site of Kocaba?, which yielded an archaic Homo erectus skullcap, was undertaken in 2011 and 2012, at the request of Professor Mehmet Cihat Alçiçek. This interdisciplinary French–Turkish research programme comprised the geochronological, magnetostratigraphic, biochronological and paleoenvironmental study of the site and the paleoanthropological study of the skullcap itself. The association of large mammals enabled us to attribute the travertine formations bearing the skullcap to the second part of the Upper Pleistocene, and more specifically to between 1.5 and 1.2 million years, because of the disappearance or appearance of certain species. This biochronological age is confirmed by the paleomagnetism study, which places the travertines bearing the skullcap in a period of reversed polarity, underlying a normal polarity formation, which could be attributed to the Cobb Mountain paleomagnetic excursion, dated to 1,194,000 years. The dating of these fauna by the ²⁶Al/¹⁰Be cosmogenic nuclide method by Anne-Elisabeth Lebatard yielded an age older than 1.22 Ma and more recent than 1.5 Ma. The Hominid skullcap from this formation can be attributed to a Homo erectus, slightly more evolved than those of Homo ergaster KNM-ER 3733 (1.78 Ma) and KNM-ER 15,000 (1.5 Ma), similar to that of Daka (Bouri), which is about a million years old and older than the Bodo fossil (estimated at 600,000 years) and Kabwe (between 300,000 and120,000 years). The archaic Homo erectus skullcap from Kocaba?, referred to as Denizli Man, proves that Homo erectus was already present in Anatolia, at the crossroads of Africa, Asia and Europe, a little more than 1.2 million years ago.     

Deux Dicladispa fossiles des gisements de diatomites néogènesde Bes-Konak (Turquie) et de Murat (France) (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae, Hispinae)

Two fossil Hispini: Dicladispa bes-konakensis n. sp. from Bes-Konak (Miocene, Anatolia, Turkey) and Dicladispa muratensis n. sp. from Murat (Reuverien, Cantal, France) are described.Those species seem to belong to the mediterraneangroup in that genus.     

Associations de kystes de dinoflagellés des séries du Jurassique supérieur (Oxfordien–Tithonien) du Rif externe (Prérif interne et Mésorif,Maroc) et comparaisons régionales

A biostratigraphic study of dinoflagellate cysts of the Upper Jurassic series from the eastern External Rif Chain, has been achieved for the first time on four outcrop sections : the DM section (Douar Marticha), the TB section (the Tarhchenna “Sof”), the KSD section (the Kef Mallou “Sof”) and the Y section (Douar Lamriene) among which three sections (TB, KSD and Y) are well-dated by ammonites and calpionellids fauna. The DM and TB sections are complementary in terms of stratigraphy and correspond respectively to the upper part of the “Ferrysch” Formation, a thick shaly–silty and sandy sequence assigned to the Callovian-Oxfordian stages and to the El Gouzat limestones Formation (Kimmeridgian - Lower Tithonian age) and to the Tarhchenna marly limestones Formation (Upper Tithonian age) from the EL Gouzat area (Mesorif). The KSD and Y sections are also complementary and correspond to the Kimmeridgian-Lower Tithonian Msila limestones Formation and to the overlying marly limestones Massif Formation of Upper Tithonian age, outcropping in the Msila region (Internal Prerif). These four sections have shown many dinocysts rich levels, which had allowed characterizing the Middle? and Upper Oxfordian substages in the DM section. In the other sections, the dinoflagellate cyst assemblages are nearly similar to those of the Kimmeridgian–Tithonian of many sections from the Boreal, Sub-boreal and North tethyan realms, particularily from England, Russia and South-East France basin. The results of the present work confirm once again, the important value of dinoflagellate cysts, for age dating of ammonites-lacking Mesozoic sedimentary sequences and for biostratigraphic correlations.     

Répartition stratigraphique et biozones des kystes de dinoflagellés au passage Jurassique moyen–Jurassique supérieur (Bathonien supérieur–Oxfordien inférieur) dans le Bassin de Guercif,Maroc nord-oriental

Despite the stratigraphical significance of dinoflagellate cysts as reliable markers for correlating and dating Jurassic–Cretaceous strata, investigations into this palynomorph group in the southern Tethyan Realm, specifically northwest Africa, are sparse and somewhat parochial. Most research on Jurassic dinoflagellate cysts is focussed on European depocentres in the Boreal and Sub-Boreal realms. This study is on biostratigraphical data from two petroleum boreholes (MSD1 and KDH1) drilled during 1985 in the Guercif Basin, northeast Morocco by ONAREP (Office National de Recherche et d’Exploitation Pétrolier), now ONHYM (Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines). These boreholes penetrated a thick siliciclastic succession, attributed to the Middle and Upper Jurassic, below Miocene marls. Over sixty dinoflagellate cyst taxa were identified. Four dinoflagellate cyst biozones, named GI to GIV, are established for the late Bathonian to early Oxfordian interval. These biozones are defined on the basis of the first appearance datum (FAD) and/or the last appearance datum (LAD) of some biomarker taxa which have wide geographical distributions. These are: Ctenidodinium combazii and Ctenidodinium sellwoodii for the GI Biozone (late Bathonian–early Callovian); Ctenidodinium continuum and Meiourogonyaulax caytonensis for the GII Biozone (middle Callovian); Gonyaulacysta centriconnata and Wanaea thysanota for the GIII Biozone (late Callovian–earliest Oxfordian); and Liesbergia liesbergensis and Systematophora penicillata for the GIV Biozone (early Oxfordian). These biozones are correlated to those already established for the respective intervals in other palaeogeographic regions, such as the Boreal, Sub-boreal and Tethyan realms.     

Datation par la méthode 40Ar / 39Ar de la couche de cendres volcaniques (couche VI) de Dmanissi (Géorgie) qui a livré des restes d'hominidés fossiles de 1,81 Ma

The exceptional prehistoric site of Dmanisi, in the South of Georgia, has yielded several hominid fossil remains, including three skulls and three mandibles assigned to Homo ergaster, in volcanic ashes and fluvio-lacustrine sands lying directly on a basalt flow. These levels also contain an archaic lithic industry consisting of pebble tools, cores and flakes, and large mammal remains attributed to the beginning of the Lower Pleistocene (Biharian). The basalt flow has been previously dated to about 1.85 Ma, but the overlying volcanic ash level had not yet been dated. In this paper, we present ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of plagioclase and glass from the volcanic ash level that has yielded Quaternary fauna, lithic artefacts and several human remains, which gives an age of 1.81±0.05 Ma. The subcontemporaneity of Hominid presence and volcanic ash deposition makes Dmanisi the oldest prehistoric site currently known in Europe and proves human presence at the gates of Europe 1.81 Ma ago. To cite this article: H. de Lumley et al., C. R. Palevol 1 (2002) 181–189.     

Action de l'antimycine a sur l'activité succinoxydase des mitochondries du tubercule de Pomme de Terre,et comportement des cytochromes de type b

A kinetic study of the effect of antimycin A on succinate oxidase from plant mitochondria produced sigmoidal curves for the reduction of cytochromes b₅₆₀ and b₅₈₅ and for the inhibition of succinate oxidase. In the stationary state the interaction of the various components of the respiratory chain (flavins, ubiquinone, cytochromes…) occurs in a sequential mode which allows the application of simple equations utilizing rate constants and cytochrome concentrations. In these equations, it is assumed that there exists an excess of ubiquinone relative to other components of the respiratory chain as suggested by Kröger & Klingenberg (1970) and that the reoxidation of b cytochromes is fast. The inhibition by antimycin A, characterized by non-linear inhibition curves for succin-oxidase and inhibitor fixation in complex III on a component other than cytochrome c₁, is interpreted in terms of this model. This hypothesis presupposes the existence of an F factor between cytochrome b₅₆₀ and cytochrome c₁ as suggested by other authors. Utilizing these equations, theoretical curves for the inhibition of the reduction of cytochrome b₅₆₀ have been constructed and the results agree with the experimental data. The kinetic behavior of cytochrome b₅₆₆ during the induction of anaerobiosis suggests that it is not directly involved in the electron transfer chain but rather is either in thermodynamic equilibrium with cytochrome b₅₆₀ or in a shunt between cytochrome b₅₆₀ and factor F. From the experimental data, an equation is derived for the inhibition of the reduction of cytochrome b₅₆₆ by antimycin A. The actual effects of ATP and mClCCP on succinoxidase agree well with those predicted by the model.     

Biostratigraphie et Poissons fossilesde la formation de l'Argile de Boom (Oligocène moyen du Bassin Belge)

The Clay of Boom, Rupelian (R₂c of BelgianGeological Map) was sampled in five quarries of the type area (Sint-Niklaas, Steendorp, Schelle, Terhagen, Kruibeke) for otoliths and other fish remains.At the moment 65 species are known from this unit, of which 31 are represented in our samples by otoliths or teeth. The fish fauna of the Clay of Boom is essentially a marine fauna suggesting that the clay was deposited in a calm, rather deep part of the continental shelf.The Elasmobranch fauna has no biostratigraphic value, although 5 new species were identified: Pristiophorus rupeliensis, Raja casieri, Raja cecilae, Raja heinzelini and Raja terhagenesis.The Teleostean fauna is dominated by Gadidae.a typical Northern Atlantic group, and includes one species new to science «genus Gadidarum ensiformis. The dominance of Gadids reflects the progressive replacement of the Indo-Pacific fauna existing during the Eocene, by a more Atlantic one. Some of the 69 lithological subunits recognized on lithological features, are also characterized by different otolith associations and can be correlated in the different quarries sampled. Some of these (49, 41 and 35) are further more characterized by a high frequency of otoliths; therefore these can probably be localised in borings and used for correlation. The Teleostean - otoliths permit a local biozonation of the Clay of Boom. The upper part of the clay is limited below by bed 38 and characterized by the association Argentina parvula - «genus Gadidarum parvus (typical form), the middle part by «genus Gadidarum parvus (thick-set-form) and the lower part of which bed 30 forms the top is characterized by the association Raniceps tuberculosus - Trisopterus elegans. In this part of the clay otoliths are scarce.     

Les terrasses fluviatiles quaternaires de la Somme à Abbeville : 150 ans de recherches mêlant géologie et archéologie,de Boucher de Perthes à aujourd’hui

Paleolithic localities associated with fossil fluvial formations of the Somme River at Abbeville have played a significant role in the recognition of human antiquity. From the end of the 18th century, the work carried out in particular by the “Société d’émulation d’Abbeville” led to the emergence of studies in the Somme valley on both Quaternary Geology and Prehistory. It was within this scholarly society that Jacques Boucher de Perthes initiated his research on the famous localities of Menchecourt, Hospital and Moulin Quignon in 1837. These observations were quickly confirmed by geologists such as Albert Gaudry, Charles-Joseph Buteux or Joseph Prestwich. It was the latter who introduced the Abbeville deposits into the United-Kingdom scientist community and his observations were used as early as 1859 by Charles Lyell to demonstrate the antiquity of the archaeological remains collected from these localities. However, the controversy surrounding by the discovery of the human jaw of Moulin Quignon (1863–1864), which undermined the credibility of this locality for a long time, led to the decrease of the archaeological researches in the Somme valley, and in particular in Abbeville, but it then resumed quite quickly. However, if the work carried out by Geoffroy d’Ault du Mesnil from 1875 to 1898 had the merit to reaffirm the archaeological importance of the Abbeville deposits and to reveal the complexity of their Quaternary records, the geographical and stratigraphic imprecision resulting from these rare publications, coupled with the gradual abandonment of the various gravel pits whose exploitation he followed, cast a significant discredit on these discoveries and on the stratigraphical observations he made there. The researches carried out then by Victor Commont at Carpentier Quarry between 1904 and 1918 were characterized by the excellence of the stratigraphic and iconographic data he produced for each of the studied sites. However the absence of archaeological discoveries in the fluvial deposits he studied lead the prehistorians who succeeded him increasingly doubted of the veracity of Ault's observations, despite the efforts made by Abbé Henri Breuil to reconcile these with Commont's observations. Between the two world wars, Breuil and Léon Aufrère resumed the study of the Abbeville deposits then still accessible, tried to ensure their preservation, through the purchase and protection of the Carpentier and Léon quarries, a decisive intervention in the archaeological rehabilitation of these deposits. These works were at the origin of the chronostratigraphic studies carried out on these major localities of the ancient European prehistory until today. Over the past ten years, some of these localities have been studied again, thus largely confirming the observations made by the elders (Boucher de Perthes, d’Ault du Mesnil, Commont) and validating the major place of Abbeville in the understanding of ancient prehistory settlement of northwestern Europe.     

Apport de l’exploration cytogénétique et ultrastructurale dans le pronostic de fertilité des sujets globozoospermiques

Globozoospermia is a severe form of teratozoospermia characterized by round-headed sperms with absence or presence of a rudimentary acrosome. The objective of this study is to analyze sperm from six patients with globozoospermia syndrome and report the results of 11 intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) attempts. The investigation of these issues was carried out by studying the sperm aneuploidy rate by fluorescent in situ hybridization (sperm-FISH) for chromosomes X, Yand 18. The rate of DNA fragmentation was studied by using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) technique and a detailed ultrastructural morphology study of the sperm using transmission electron microscopy. Eleven ICSI attempts were performed in patients with low fertilization rate, (9.37%) and pregnancy did not occur. This study confirmed the variability of sperm phenotypes observed in this syndrome and the low fertilization rates after IVF-ICSI regardless of the phenotype.     

Polymorphisme electrophorétique de la post-albumine et de la transferrine dans les différentes sous-espèces de singes anthropoïdes

Summary The electrophoretic polymorphism of post-albumin and transferin was investigated in 46 apes of the Pan troglodytes. Gorilla gorilla and Pongo pygmaeus subspecies. This type of study enables the different subspecies to be distinguished and the ancestral from to be identified. The pattern of individual variability is found to be different between the various ape species and Homo sapiens.

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Polymorphisme electrophorétique de la post-albumine et de la transferrine dans les différentes sous-espèces de singes anthropoïdes

Résumé Le polymorphisme électrophorétique de la postalbumine et de la transferine est étudié chez 46 individus apprrtenent à diverses sous-espèces de Pan troglodytes, Gorilla gorilla et Pongo pygmaeus. Il est ainsi possible de distinguer les différentes sous-espèces et de proposer lesquelles d'entre elles sont les formes ancestrales. L'étendue du polymorphisme est différente chez les différentes espèces de singes et chez Homo sapiens.

     

Donnees nouvelles sur l'age des formations lacustres des bassins de Narbonne — Sigean et de leucate (aude) a l'aide des micromammiferes

Discovery of fossil rodents of oligocene and lower miocene age (Aquitanian) in the Narbonne — Sigean basin, and of pliocene age at the Leucate plateau and cliff.     

Nouveaux traceurs TEMP : exemple des traceurs des protéoglycanes et de la mélanine

The majority of research program on new radiopharmaceutics turn to tracers used for positron emission tomography (PET). Only a few teams work on new non fluorine labeled tracers. However, the coming of SPECT/CT gamma cameras, the arrival of semi-conductors gamma cameras should boost the development of non-PET tracers. We exhibit in this article the experience acquired by our laboratory in the conception and design of two new non fluorine labelled compounds. The ^99mTc-NTP 15-5 which binds to proteoglycans could be used for the diagnosis and staging of osteoarthritis and chondrosarcoma. The iodobenzamides, specific to the melanin, are nowadays compared to ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose in a phase III clinical trial for the diagnosis and detection of melanoma metastasis. Our last development focus on BZA heteroaromatic analogues usable for melanoma treatment.     

A propos des fossiles du Pliocène d'Aguilas(Sud d'Almeria,Espagne) découverte de Cirripèdes operculés (Crustacés) et discussion sur l'étho-écologie des formes épizoaires

A benthic taphocoenose from the Pliocene I of Aguilas (provinces of Murcia-Almeria, Southern Spain) conseals four Cirripedia (family of BalanidaeLeach): Balanus (Balanus) perforatus angustusGmelin, B. (B.) amphitriteDarwin, B. (Megabalanus) tintinnabulum tintinnabulumLinné and Creusia (Withersia) phryxaPajaud.The study of the last one is especially interestingfrom an ecological point of view. Indeed, all species, well-known in the Creusia-Pyrgoma group are more or less dependent on Anthozoa since Miocene, the cuplike basis of their shell buried on corallites. But not corallites were gathered in the deposits of Aguilas and the morphology of Creusia phryxa leads us to believe a fixation of the shell on a flaccid substratum. From which we may suppose that the host of this Cirriped was perhaps an Actiniaria.     

Etude du vieillissement d’Anagallis arvensis L.: Action régulatrice de la lumière,du saccharose et de l’acide indolyl-acétique sur la capacité rhizogènique des feuilles et des rameaux axillaires

The rooting capacity of leaves isolated from a vegetative clone ofAnagallis arvensis L. exposed to 9 hours of light (75 W m⁻²) at 22 °C and 15 hours of dark at 12 °C a day is significant only in F₁ young leaves and not in adult ones. The rooting capacity of the young leaves and of the vegetative shoots is greater in longer photoperiods. The leaves make roots even under weak (14 W m⁻²) irradiance. The rooting capacity of the leaves is diminished and even suppressed by exogenous sucrose (14,60 ×10⁻³M). This inhibition may be counteracted by IAA (10⁻⁶M). When leaves and shoots are taken from clones under long (16 h) photoperiods, or in constant irradiance, they progressively lose their rooting capacity during the treatment. Rooting capaoity is regained if the clones are returned again to “short day” (9 h) condition.