The fragmented character of Middle Palaeolithic stone tool technology

The importance of the transport of stone artefacts in structuring Neandertal lithic assemblages has often been addressed, but the degree to which this led to fragmentation of lithic reduction over Middle Palaeolithic landscapes has not been explicitly studied thus far. Large-scale excavations of Middle Palaeolithic open-air sites and refitting studies of the retrieved assemblages have yielded new, high-resolution data on the mobile aspects of Neandertal stone tool technology. In this paper, we integrate lithic technology and raw material data from recent studies of Middle Palaeolithic open-air and rock shelter sites in Western Europe. We demonstrate that the results of a variety of typological, technological (especially refitting), and lithological studies have important consequences for our knowledge of the acquisition of raw materials and subsequent production, usage and discard of stone artefacts in the Middle Palaeolithic. Neandertal production and use of stone tools was fragmented in three domains: the spatial, the temporal and the social domain. We show that this versatile segmentation of stone artefact handling strategies is a main determinant of the character of the Neandertal archaeological record. Our data testify to ubiquitous and continuous transport of stone artefacts of a wide variety of forms, picked by Neandertals using selection criteria that were sometimes far removed from what archaeologists have traditionally considered, and to some degree still consider, to be desired end products of knapping activities. The data presented here testify to the variability and versatility of Middle Palaeolithic stone tool technology, whose fragmented character created very heterogeneous archaeological assemblages, usually the product of a wide variety of independent import, use, discard and/or subsequent transport events.     

Development of Iron-Phosphate Biofilms on Pyritic Mine Waste Rock Surfaces Previously Treated with Natural Phosphate Rocks

Various treatments have been proposed to attenuate and eventually inhibit the generation of acid mine drainage (AMD) or acid-rock drainage (ARD). The addition of Natural Phosphate Rocks (NPR) to mining wastes has been shown to reduce acid generation. The biogeochemical reactions underlying the phosphate precipitation reactions are however poorly understood, even though the chemical reactions are well defined. The present study was designed to study the role of solution chemistry and bacterial activity on phosphate precipitation on waste rock surfaces. Waste rock samples (rich in sulphides) previously weathered for 989 days in the presence of NPR were submersed in 2 different phosphate-rich growth media in order to enhance the growth of acidophilic and neutrophilic bacteria. DAPI and FISH analyses revealed that most cells belonged to the bacteria domain, and that alpha- and beta-proteobacteria were the dominant neutrophiles. ESEM, SEM and TEM observations of the samples revealed the presence of a biofilm on the surface of the rocks at both pH conditions. Bacteria and fine-grained precipitates were trapped in an exopolymer matrix. At low pH, the formation of fine precipitates rich in Fe and P within the biofilm corresponded to a decline of phosphate concentrations in the growth medium. This was in agreement with the solubility calculations which indicated that the medium became over-saturated with respect to some Fe-phosphate minerals. In the pH neutral system, solubility calculations indicated that Ca- and Mg-phosphate minerals were stable, but they were not detected in the biofilm. Solubility calculations also indicated that vivianite became unstable over time, which could explain the release of soluble phosphate over time in the pH neutral system. Our results showed that precipitation reactions played an important role in the solubility of phosphate in both systems, but a series of complex nucleation reactions involving bacterial exopolymers and the presence of microenvironments within the biofilms were likely important factors as well. Our findings also imply that the reduction of acid generation in NPR-treated waste rocks could be due in part to the formation of biofilms on the rock surfaces because the biofilms would act as a physical and chemcial barrier to limit the extent of pyrite oxidation.     

Indicators of Microbial Sulfate Reduction in Acidic Sulfide-Rich Mine Tailings

Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are thought to be actively involved in the cycling of sulfur in acidic mine tailings. However, most studies have used circumstantial evidence to assess microbial sulfate activity in such environments. In order to fully ascertain the role of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in sulfur cycling in acidic mine tailings, we measured sulfate reduction rates, sulfur isotopic composition of reduced sulfide fractions, porewaters and solid-phase geochemistry and SRB populations in four different Cu-Zn tailings located in Timmins, Ontario, Canada. The tailings were sampled in the summer and in the spring, shortly after snowmelt. The results first indicate that all four sites showed very high sulfate reduction rates in the summer (～100–1000 nmol cm^{? 3}d^?1), which corresponded to the presence of sulfide in the porewaters and to high SRB populations. In some of the sites, zones of microbial sulfate reduction also corresponded to a decline of organic carbon and to an apparent pyrite (with slightly negative δ³⁴S values) enrichment around the same depth. Microbial sulfate reduction was also important in permanently acidic (pH 2–3) mine tailings sites, suggesting that SRB can be active under very acidic conditions. Secondly, the results showed that microbial sulfate reduction was greatly reduced in the spring, suggesting that temperature might be a key factor in the activity of SRB. However, a closer look at the results indicated that temperature was not the sole factor and that acidic conditions and limited substrate availability in the spring appeared to be important as well in limiting microbial sulfate par reduction in sulfidic mine tailings. Finally, the results indicate that sulfur undergoes rapid cycling throughout the year and that microbial sulfate reduction and metal sulfide precipitation do not appear to be a permanent sink for metals.     

Precipitation of iron,silica, and sulfate on bacterial cell surfaces

The present study documents the precipitation of Fe(III), silica, and sulfate in the presence of 3 different bacteria (Bacillus subtilus, Bacillus licheniformis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), under different total Fe(III) concentrations (10^?2 M, 10^?3 M, 10^?4 M) at constant pH (4.0). Morphology and chemical composition of the precipitates were compared with those formed in abiotic control systems, while chemical composition and precipitation of the precipitates were modeled according to solution chemistry data. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations showed morphological differences between the biotic and abiotic systems. All systems contained small grains (diam. 2–50 nm), but amorphous material (i.e., material without any specific morphology) and nodules were present only in the cell systems. This is because bacterial surfaces and exopolymers provided numerous binding sites for metal and anion sorption and promoted heterogeneous nucleation of hydrous ferric oxides (HFO). The initial Fe/Si and Fe/SO₄ molar ratios of the solutions dictated the type of precipitates in most systems, since abiotic control systems were saturated to oversaturated with respect to amorphous silica, siliceous ferrihydrite, schwertmannite, ferrihydrite, goethite, or combinations of these. Of the three strains studied, B. licheniformis appeared to have the greatest influence on the chemical composition of the precipitates, especially in the presence of Si. B. licheniformis (a gram‐positive bacterium with a large capsule) favored the precipitation of HFO containing less Si than the predicted solids, because Si rather than Fe oxides was preferentially sorted to extracellular polymers (capsule). On the other hand, the formation of SO₄‐rich HFO (similar to schwertmannite) did not seem to be affected by the presence of bacteria.     

Up-regulation of GABAB Receptor Signaling by Constitutive Assembly with the K+ Channel Tetramerization Domain-containing Protein 12 (KCTD12)

GABA_B receptors are the G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) for GABA, the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Native GABA_B receptors comprise principle and auxiliary subunits that regulate receptor properties in distinct ways. The principle subunits GABA_B1a, GABA_B1b, and GABA_B2 form fully functional heteromeric GABA_B(1a,2) and GABA_B(1b,2) receptors. Principal subunits regulate forward trafficking of the receptors from the endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane and control receptor distribution to axons and dendrites. The auxiliary subunits KCTD8, -12, -12b, and -16 are cytosolic proteins that influence agonist potency and G-protein signaling of GABA_B(1a,2) and GABA_B(1b,2) receptors. Here, we used transfected cells to study assembly, surface trafficking, and internalization of GABA_B receptors in the presence of the KCTD12 subunit. Using bimolecular fluorescence complementation and metabolic labeling, we show that GABA_B receptors associate with KCTD12 while they reside in the endoplasmic reticulum. Glycosylation experiments support that association with KCTD12 does not influence maturation of the receptor complex. Immunoprecipitation and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer experiments demonstrate that KCTD12 remains associated with the receptor during receptor activity and receptor internalization from the cell surface. We further show that KCTD12 reduces constitutive receptor internalization and thereby increases the magnitude of receptor signaling at the cell surface. Accordingly, knock-out or knockdown of KCTD12 in cultured hippocampal neurons reduces the magnitude of the GABA_B receptor-mediated K⁺ current response. In summary, our experiments support that the up-regulation of functional GABA_B receptors at the neuronal plasma membrane is an additional physiological role of the auxiliary subunit KCTD12.     

The Src Homology 3 Domain-containing Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor Is Overexpressed in High-grade Gliomas and Promotes Tumor Necrosis Factor-like Weak Inducer of Apoptosis-Fibroblast Growth Factor-inducible 14-induced Cell Migration and Invasion via Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-associated Factor 2

Glioblastoma (GB) is the highest grade of primary adult brain tumors, characterized by a poorly defined and highly invasive cell population. Importantly, these invading cells are attributed with having a decreased sensitivity to radiation and chemotherapy. TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK)-Fn14 ligand-receptor signaling is one mechanism in GB that promotes cell invasiveness and survival and is dependent upon the activity of multiple Rho GTPases, including Rac1. Here we report that Src homology 3 domain-containing guanine nucleotide exchange factor (SGEF), a RhoG-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor, is overexpressed in GB tumors and promotes TWEAK-Fn14-mediated glioma invasion. Importantly, levels of SGEF expression in GB tumors inversely correlate with patient survival. SGEF mRNA expression is increased in GB cells at the invasive rim relative to those in the tumor core, and knockdown of SGEF expression by shRNA decreases glioma cell migration in vitro and invasion ex vivo. Furthermore, we showed that, upon TWEAK stimulation, SGEF is recruited to the Fn14 cytoplasmic tail via TRAF2. Mutation of the Fn14-TRAF domain site or depletion of TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) expression by siRNA oligonucleotides blocked SGEF recruitment to Fn14 and inhibited SGEF activity and subsequent GB cell migration. We also showed that knockdown of either SGEF or RhoG diminished TWEAK activation of Rac1 and subsequent lamellipodia formation. Together, these results indicate that SGEF-RhoG is an important downstream regulator of TWEAK-Fn14-driven GB cell migration and invasion.     

Monitoring resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis in the field by performing bioassays with each Cry toxin separately

Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti) is increasingly used worldwide for mosquito control and is the only larvicide used in the French Rhône-Alpes region since decades. The artificial selection of mosquitoes with field-persistent Bti collected in breeding sites from this region led to a moderate level of resistance to Bti, but to relatively high levels of resistance to individual Bti Cry toxins. Based on this observation, we developed a bioassay procedure using each Bti Cry toxin separately to detect cryptic Bti-resistance evolving in field mosquito populations. Although no resistance to Bti was detected in none of the three mosquito species tested (Aedes rusticus, Aedes sticticus and Aedes vexans), an increased tolerance to Cry4Aa (3.5-fold) and Cry11Aa toxins (8-fold) was found in one Ae. sticticus population compared to other populations of the same species, suggesting that resistance to Bti may be arising in this population. This study confirms previous works showing a lack of Bti resistance in field mosquito populations treated for decades with this bioinsecticide. It also provides a first panorama of their susceptibility status to individual Bti Cry toxins. In combination with bioassays with Bti, bioassays with separate Cry toxins allow a more sensitive monitoring of Bti-resistance in the field.     

Dual effect of chemokine CCL7/MCP-3 in the development of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis

Most end-stage renal disease kidneys display accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the renal tubular compartment (tubular interstitial fibrosis – TIF) which is strongly correlated with the future loss of renal function. Although inflammation is a key event in the development of TIF, it can also have a beneficial anti-fibrotic role depending in particular on the stage of the pathology. Chemokines play an important role in monocyte extravasation in the inflammatory process. CCL2 has already been shown to be involved in the development of TIF but CCL7, a close relative of CCL2 and able to bind to similar receptors, has not been studied in renal disease. We therefore studied chemokine CCL7 in a model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced TIF. We observed that the role of CCL7 differs depending on the stage of the pathology. In early stages (0–8 days), CCL7 deficient (CCL7-KO) mice displayed attenuated TIF potentially involving two mechanisms: an early (0–3 days) decrease of inflammatory cell infiltration followed (3–8 days) by a decrease in tubular ECM production independent of inflammation. In contrast, during later stages of obstruction (10–14 days), CCL7-KO mice displayed increased TIF which was again associated with reduced inflammation. Interestingly, the switch between this anti- to profibrotic effect was accompanied by an increased influx of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells. In conclusion, these results highlight for the first time a dual role for CCL7 in the development of renal TIF, deleterious in early stages but beneficial during later stages.     

Les profils de composition en oligoéléments des pollens,marqueurs potentiels en cladistique végétale

In botany tentative attempts have been made to classify species, based not on the plant as a whole, but on a particular character, for example pollen characteristics. Pollen, which is involved in the transmission of male genetic information during sexual reproduction, is of particular interest in distinguishing plants and their relationships.

These characters, observed in photon- and scanning electron- microscopy are symmetry, form, number and position of germinating areas. Being genetically stable for a given species, they identify a plant.

Recently, a novel character has been added: the concentration of elements in the exine, determined by electron probe micro-X-ray analysis. It is interesting to follow relationship of plant species, based on the mineral composition of their pollen as a whole, taking into account both plastic and oligoelements, obtained via an inductive coupled plasma spectrometer. Samples of pollen from different plant species, at distinct taxonomic levels, were analyzed; the results were submitted to a normalisation procedure and the standard patterns obtained were investigated by means of a number of numerical techniques (clustering and factor analysis). The aim was to establish if elements could be considered as chemical markers in plant cladistics. The mineral composition in a given species appeared quite stable and this furnished a convenient identification-critorion.

This approach further allows a chemo-taxonomy of species, in as much as organization of families, and perhaps orders, would conform to the phylogenetic proximity-criterion. Hence, we found clusters including pollen of Gramineae, Coniferae, Betulaceae…

This methodology, that should be completed and corroborated on a wider range of samples would provide an original responsee to the problems of identification and classification encountered in a pollen bank. It follows that:

Hence, the working hypothesis that the chemical markers and, in particular, oligo-elements, complete pollen typologies based on morphological and structural characters, appears quite reasonable.

In conclusion, this paper brings a complement to the mineral composition of the exine.

En botanique, des tentatives ont été faites pour classer les espèces non plus à partir d'individus pris dans leur intégralité, mais sur la base d'une de leurs particularités, par exemple à partir des caractéristiques offertes par les pollens. Ainsi, le pollen, dont le rôle est de transmettre l'information génétique mâle de la plante au moment de la reproduction sexuée, présente des caractères de premier ordre utilisables pour distinguer les différentes plantes et pour situer leur parenté et leur filiation.

Ces caractères, que l'on observe en microscopies photonique et électronique à balayage sont la symétrie, la forme, le nombre et la position des zones germinatives. Pour une espèce génétiquement stable, ils constituent la carte d'identité de la plante.

Il est intéressant de continuer à explorer la voie de la structuration des espèces végétales basée sur la connaissance chimique du pollen en déterminant sa composition en oligo-éléments par l'utilisation d'un spectromètre à plasma à couplage inductif. Ainsi, des échantillons de pollens appartenant à diverses espèces végétales situées à différents niveaux taxinomiques ont été analysés et les résultats normalisés sous forme de profils standard ont été soumis à différentes techniques d'analyse statistique mathématique (classification automatique et analyse factorielle). Le but de cette approche est d'apprécier l'aptitude des éléments minéraux à être des marqueurs chimiques en cladistique végétale.

Les résultats obtenus ont permis de constater la relative stabilité du profil en composition minérale au sein d'une même espèce végétale, ce qui donne accès à un critère d'identification commode.

Cette approche permet d'autre part une chimiotaxinomie des plantes étudiées.

Cette approche méthodologique semble susceptible d'apporter une réponse originale aux problèmes de conservation. Les pollens conservés doivent avoir la même composition minérale que les pollens frais.

— the pattern of pollen composition of oligo-elements, calcium and magnesium is a marker in plant cladistics. Since a typology depending on proximity is found between plant species, families and orders.

— an unknown pollen sample may be located, tentatively, on the base of a described model of pollen relation (shortest connexion network — Prim algorithm — and pollen of Bactris-oil palm and Phoenix dactylifera).