Structure and growth pattern of the bizarre hemispheric prominence on the rostrum of the fossil beaked whale Globicetus hiberus (Mammalia,Cetacea, Ziphiidae)

The rostrum of most ziphiids (beaked whales) displays bizarre swollen regions, accompanied with extreme hypermineralisation and an alteration of the collagenous mesh of the bone. The functional significance of this specialization remains obscure. With the voluminous and dense hemispheric excrescence protruding from the premaxillae, the recently described fossil ziphiid Globicetus hiberus is the most spectacular case. This study describes the histological structure and interprets the growth pattern of this unique feature. Histologically, the prominence in Globicetus is made up of an atypical fibro‐lamellar complex displaying an irregular laminar organization and extreme compactness (osteosclerosis). Its development is suggested to have resulted from a protraction of periosteal accretion over the premaxillae, long after the end of somatic growth. Complex shifts in the geometry of this tissue are likely to have occurred during its accretion and no indication of Haversian remodeling could be found. X‐ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy indicate that the bone matrix in the premaxillary prominence of Globicetus closely resembles that of the rostrum of the extant beaked whale Mesoplodon densirostris: apatite crystals are of common size and strongly oriented, but the collagenous meshwork within bone matrix seems to be extremely sparse. These morphological and structural data are discussed in the light of functional interpretations proposed for the highly unusual and diverse ziphiid rostrum. J. Morphol. 277:1292–1308, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Synthesis,Molecular Modeling,and Biological Evaluation of Novel Chiral Thiosemicarbazone Derivatives as Potent Anticancer Agents

A series of new chiral thiosemicarbazones derived from homochiral amines in both enantiomeric forms were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antiproliferative activity against A549 (human alveolar adenocarcinoma), MCF‐7 (human breast adenocarcinoma), HeLa (human cervical adenocarcinoma), and HGC‐27 (human stomach carcinoma) cell lines. Some of compounds showed inhibitory activities on the growth of cancer cell lines. Especially, compound 17b exhibited the most potent activity (IC₅₀ 4.6 μM) against HGC‐27 as compared with the reference compound, sindaxel (IC₅₀ 10.3 μM), and could be used as a lead compound to search new chiral thiosemicarbazone derivatives as antiproliferative agents. Chirality 27:177–188, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Monoclonal antibodies to the hydrogenase ofThiocapsa roseopersicina

Monoclonal antibodies were produced to electrophoretically pure hydrogenase fromThiocapsa roseopersicina. Protein immunoelectroblotting was used to identify the hydrogenase-specific antibodies. Among the 18 monoclonal antibodies selected by enzyme immunoassay, three were found to react with highly immunogenic trace contaminating proteins. One cell line produced antibody that inhibitied hydrogenase activity. This was the first specific inhibitor of the hydrogenase function. The results suggest that monoclonal antibodies could provide valuable new informations about the enzyme structure as well.     

Immunological study of a hemophiliac treated according to the Bonn protocol for 2 1/2 years

A major haemophiliac A, 27 years old, has been treated during 30 months, with high dosage of imported Factor VIII, in order to reduce the titer of a F VIII antibody. A good clinical result has been obtained. No sign of immunodeficiency has been observed. Normal values were obtained for T4/T8, ratio B2 microglobulin and no antibody was detected against the LAV virus isolated from cases of AIDS.     

Large Tristichopteridae (Sarcopterygii, Tetrapodomorpha) from the Late Famennian Evieux Formation of Belgium

Remains of two large sarcopterygians are described from Famennian deposits in Belgium. One of them is referred to Eusthenodon wängsjöi Jarvik; it is the first occurrence of this genus in Belgium. The other, much larger one, appears to be a tristichopterid. It has a postspiracular; size and shape of the mandible similar to those of Platycephalichthys skuenicus and P. bischoffi ; snout and cheek patterns close to those of Eusthenodon ; unusual shape of the supratemporal resembling that of Hyneria , Mandageria and Platycephalichthys skuenicus ; and tooth histology quite similar to that of Eusthenodon and Platycephalichthys .