Reconstitution de la végétation et du paléoclimat à partir de charbons de bois prélevés sur les sites du Paléolithique dans la région de Jungwon en Corée

Hundreds samples of the charcoals and waterlogged woods excavated from three late Paleolithic sites (Suyanggae, Gunang-gul and Sorori) in the Jungwon Region in Korea were analyzed to reconstruct the vegetation and paleoclimate in the region. Analyzed charcoal samples from the Suyanggae site show that the climate was cold in the lower part and it became more warm and dry in the upper part. From the Gunang-gul site, only Picea spp. was identified, indicating cool climates. From the Sorori site, two species were found; Alnus spp. (95%) and Ulmus spp. (5%). No conifers were discovered. The species composition indicates that the climate condition of central Korean peninsula around 8,800 BP was little cooler and wetter condition.     

Dynamic data replacement and adaptive scheduling policies in spark

Improper data replacement and inappropriate selection of job scheduling policy are important reasons for the degradation of Spark system operation speed, which directly causes the performance degradation of Spark parallel computing. In this paper, we analyze the existing caching mechanism of Spark and find that there is still more room for optimization of the existing caching policy. For the task structure analysis, the key information of Spark tasks is taken out to obtain the data and memory usage during the task runtime, and based on this, an RDD weight calculation method is proposed, which integrates various factors affecting the RDD usage and establishes an RDD weight model. Based on this model, a minimum weight replacement algorithm based on RDD structure analyzing is proposed. The algorithm ensure that the relatively more valuable data in the data replacement process can be cached into memory. In addition, the default job scheduling algorithm of the Spark framework considers a single factor, which cannot form effective scheduling for jobs and causes a waste of cluster resources. In this paper, an adaptive job scheduling policy based on job classification is proposed to solve the above problem. The policy can classify job types and schedule resources more effectively for different types of jobs. The experimental results show that the proposed dynamic data replacement algorithm effectively improves Spark's memory utilization. The proposed job classification-based adaptive job scheduling algorithm effectively improves the system resource utilization and shortens the job completion time.

     

Phylogeny of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gunnera</Emphasis>

 The phylogeny of the genus Gunnera is investigated for the first time. Twelve species representing the six currently recognised subgenera are analysed. Two chloroplast DNA regions, the rbcL gene and the rps16 intron, together provide 46 informative characters out of 2335. A combined analysis of both genes gives four most parsimonious trees, firmly establishing the east South American G. herteri as sister group to the rest of the genus. The African G. perpensa is sister group to two well-supported clades, one including the South American subgenera Misandra and Panke, the other the Australian/New Zealand/Malayan species of subgenera Milligania and Pseudogunnera. Thus, South America is a composite area for Gunnera, showing up at two different levels in the cladogram. Our analysis supports a close biogeographic relationship between Australia and New Zealand. The evolution of some morphological characters is discussed. Lastly, the unusual structure of some of the rbcL sequences is reported. Received July 6, 2000 Accepted October 24, 2000     

Genetics of the cell cycle: Adaptive modification of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">CycB</Emphasis><Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">2g</Emphasis></Superscript> mutation expression in dividing cells of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila melanogaster</Emphasis>

The effect of mutation CycB ^2g on mitosis in neural ganglia and imaginal disks was studied in third-instar larvae of Drosophila melanogaster. Chromosome condensation and segregation were shown to be impaired in dividing cells of mutant larvae. During the three-year period of maintenance of the mutation in heterozygote, frequencies of some defects decreased via cellular adaptive modification.Translated from Genetika, Vol. 41, No. 3, 2005, pp. 312–319.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Lebedeva, Trunova, Omelyanchuk.     

L'hominidé du Pléistocène supérieur en Corée

Since the middle of 1970s, one rock-shelter, six caves and one open archaeological site have yielded several hominid fossils. Among them, fossils from Yonggok, Mandal, Sangsi and Hungsu cave sites are useful to reconstruct the general shape of the Upper Pleistocene Hominids in Korea. The main study of this paper is to focus on the reconstruction of the general shape of the upper Pleistocene hominids, and to examine the cause of cranial changes from the late upper Paleolithic to Mesolithic period in Korea. Biomechanical principles are also applied to reconstruct the social activity of the upper Paleolithic man in Korea. In addition, it is assumed that main proponent of Paleolithic cultures in Korea might be Homo sapiens rather than any other species. Based on the anatomical characteristics of skull, the axillary border of the scapular and the midshaft of the femur, general appearance of Homo sapiens during the Pleistocene in Korea could be reconstructed.     

Variability of esterase patterns in adult flies of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">saltans</Emphasis> species group of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila</Emphasis> (subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sophophora</Emphasis>)

Esterases are known for their involvement in several physiological processes and high degree of polymorphism, in many organisms. Such polymorphism has been used to characterize species and species groups and to study genetic changes occurred in their evolutionary history. In the present study, the esterase patterns of 19 strains from 10 species representative of the five subgroups of the saltans species group were analyzed using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and α- and β- naphthyl acetates as substrates. Fifty-one esterase bands were detected and classified as 31 α-esterases, 18 β-esterases and two α/β-esterases. On the basis of the inhibition patterns using Malathion and eserine sulfate, 34 bands were classified as carboxylesterases, 14 as acethylesterases and three as cholinesterases. Ten gene loci were tentatively established on the basis of data on band position in the gel, substrate preference and inhibition pattern. Twenty bands were species-specific, the remaining being shared by species from the same or different subgroups. Bands detected exclusively in males and bands with a different frequency or degree of expression between sexes were also detected. In the gels prepared for analysis of gene expression in the body parts (head, thorax and abdomen), the degree of expression of the β-esterases was higher in the thorax, while the α-esterases were expressed predominantly in the abdomen and thorax. A global view of the data available at present on the esterases of the species from the saltans group and their degree of polymorphism are presented, as well as the possibility of using some β-esterases, because of their characteristics in the gels, as markers for species identification.     

Manifestation of salt tolerance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spirulina platensis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spirulina maxima</Emphasis> cyanobacteria of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arthrospira (Spirulina)</Emphasis>

The salt tolerance of two representatives of genus Spirulina (Arthrospira) Spirulina platensis and Spirulina maxima has been investigated. They both are the wide-spread objects of photobiotechnology and it has been shown that the content of 5–15 % sea-water in medium has not caused the decreasing of biomass yield more than 15–20% as compared with control. The further decreasing of biomass was proportionate to sea-water content in medium. The investigation of reactivity of native (intravital) exometabolites secreted into cultural medium has showed that the sea-water content influence the oxidative activity (OA) of exometabolites and hour’s rhythmics.     

Comparison of tolerance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica juncea</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vigna radiata</Emphasis> to cadmium

The effect of different cadmium concentrations (6–120 μM) on Hill reaction activity (HRA) of isolated chloroplasts, contents of chlorophylls (Chls) and carotenoids (Cars), and Cd uptake and accumulation in plant organs of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. cv. Vitasso) and mung bean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] were determined. The Cd stress inhibited photochemical activity of isolated chloroplasts of both species and in both tested developmental stages. On the basis of EC₅₀ values, the mung bean showed a higher sensitivity to Cd treatment than Indian mustard. The higher sensitivity of both species was determined in the earlier than in the older developmental stage. The leaves of Cd-treated plants possessed lower contents of Chls and Cars in both species and the negative effect increased with Cd concentration. A difference between species was also found in Cd uptake and accumulation. In both species, Cd was accumulated more in roots than in shoots, with higher accumulation in Indian mustard than in mung bean.     

Le groupe des « bisons adossés » de Lascaux. Étude de la technique de l'artiste par analyse des pigments

The painting matter of the “back to back bison's panel” of Lascaux was examined and analysed by electron microscopy in order to understand the know-how of Magdalenian artists. The observation of several samples coming from specific areas of the two bisons give an access to the nature of the used pigments, to the preparation mode used to obtain various colours and also to the application mode. Thanks to this physicochemical approach, we can make hypotheses about the mind and the gestures of the artists.     

Study of the enhancer-blocking activities of new boundaries in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">bithorax</Emphasis> complex of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila melanogaster</Emphasis>

It was shown earlier that the Mcp, Fab-7, and Fab-8 boundaries of the bithorax complex contain insulators that effectively block the enhancers of the yellow and white genes. Other boundaries have not been studied so far. The recent mapping of binding sites for the insulator protein dCTCF in the regulatory regions of the bithorax complex genes permitted the Fab-3, Fab-4, and Fab-6 boundaries to be localized. Here, we showed that, despite the presence of dCTCF-binding sites, fragments of the Fab-3, Fab-4, and Fab-6 boundaries do not exhibit the properties of insulators in the model system with the yellow and white genes. Moreover, in some regions of the genome the Fab-4 and Fab-6 boundaries display the properties of silencers.     

Expression of modified oxidase of D-aminoacids of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trigonopsis variabilis</Emphasis> in methylotrophic yeasts <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pichia pastoris</Emphasis>

Effective recombinant strains Pichia pastoris that produce functionally active hybrid of Trigonopsis variabilis D-aminoacids bond with chitin-connecting domain of chitinase A1 of Bacillus circulans (DAOcbd) were obtained. The dependence of DAOcbd production levels from production of the number of copies of “expression cassette” integrated in the AOX1 locus of recombinant strains was studied. It was indicated that synthesized DAOcbd may be easily purified and immobilized on chitin sorbents and possessed high specific activity. Produced strains and methods of their cultivation and DAOcbd extraction may be used for development of technologies of obtaining of biocatalyzers in technological processes of obtaining of 7-aminocepha-losporane acid.     

« Flûte » et pointes de la Grosse Badlhöhle, Autriche

The Grosse Badlhöhle (Austria, Steiermark) is the origin of one of the most perfect bone points of the early Aurignacian and one of the best perforated femurs of the same period, which can be regarded as musical instruments. Two other fragments of points raise intriguing questions on the first Homo sapiens sapiens which cannot be solved today but will contribute to future research. A review on the debate of Palaeolithic flutes will follow with experimental proofs of boring artificial holes with high quality pictures on the blow-hole and the lack of gnawing traces on the opposite face. The musical possibility of an instrument with only one hole is discussed with ethnographic analogies. Hafting, optimal conditions of strength and possible use of arrows will close the discussion on the Badlhöhle bone artefacts.     

Peculiarities of Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-regulation of functional activity of myocardium of frog <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rana temporaria</Emphasis>

To elucidate role of intra- and extracellular Ca²⁺ in regulation of rhythm and strength of frog heart contractions, there were studied ECC and isometric contraction of myocardium preparations in response to verapamil, adrenaline, and blockers of α- and β-adrenoreceptors. It has been shown that after an intramuscular injection of verapamil (6 mg/kg), bradycardia develops, the heart rate (HR) decreasing by 50–70%. Further, the cardiac arrest occurred; however, administration to the animals of adrenaline (100 mg/kg) restored the cardiac rhythm for a short while. After an intramuscular injection of adrenaline at doses of 0.1–10 mg/kg, no essential changes were observed in the potential action amplitude and HR; an increase of the administered adrenalin concentration to 100 mg/kg was not accompanied by the cardiac rhythm stimulation, as this takes place in homoiothermal animals and human; on the contrary, an essential HR deceleration was revealed. Phentolamine (5 mg/kg) gradually decelerated HR rhythm by 32–45%. The potential amplitude changed insignificantly. A subsequent intracardiac injection of adrenaline (100 mg/kg) on the background of block of α-adrenoreceptors produced acceleration of the rhythm (by 15–21%) and fall of the electrogram amplitude. These results can indicate that in the frog heart phentolamine interacts predominantly with α 1-adrenoreceptors. An intracardial administration of propranolol (1 mg/kg) to frogs promoted inhibition of β-adrenergic receptors and produced a gradual cardiac rhythm deceleration. In experiments on assessment of verapamil effect on the character of contractions this preparation at a concentration of 150 μM was established to produce a significant dose-dependent decrease of the contraction strength. A rise of verapamil concentration in the sample to 200 μM led to a decrease of the amplitude, on average, by 68–70% and in individual preparations—by 80–85%; however, administration into the sample of adrenaline (10 μM) restored the cardiac contraction strength. Adrenaline (1 nM–100 μM) increased markedly the contraction amplitude. Phentolamine (10 μM) did not inhibit transmission of contractile signal to cardiomyocytes; this was manifested in that the contraction amplitude after addition of adrenaline (10 μM) into the sample was approximately the same as in the sample containing no phentolamine. Propranolol (10 μM) eliminated the stimulatory action of adrenaline (10 μM). The results of these experiments indicate that in the frog ventricular cardiomyocytes the main adrenaline acceptors are β-adrenoreceptors.     

Isolation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">madA</Emphasis> homologs in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pilobolus crystallinus</Emphasis>

Pilobolus crystallinus shows unique photoresponses at various growing stages. cDNAs for putative photoreceptors were cloned from this fungus. Three genes named pcmada1, pcmada2, and pcmada3 were identified from the PCR fragments, and amplified with degenerated primers for the LOV domain, which is conserved in many blue-light receptors. Deduced amino acid sequences for PCMADA1, PCMADA2, and PCMADA3 had one light-oxygen-voltage (LOV)-sensing and two PER-ARNT-SIM (PAS) domains. A zinc finger DNA-binding motif was conserved in the C-terminals of PCMADA1 and PCMADA3. However, PCMADA2 lacked the zinc finger motif. Expression of pcmada1 was suppressed by blue light whereas that of pcmada3 was promoted by blue-light irradiation.