Beer from the early dynasties (3500–3400 cal B.C.) of Upper Egypt,detected by archaeochemical methods

Physical and chemical analyses of beer residues recovered from a vat site at Hierakonpolis (Upper Egypt) were carried out. Radiocarbon dates of the residues suggest a dating of 3500–3400 cal B.C. and are believed to represent the oldest known beer in the world. Macroscopic and microscopic examinations of the residues revealed the presence of intact remains of grains and spikelets of wheat and barley, as well as fragments of dates and grape pips. Chemical analyses included percentages of sample ingredients, pH and total soluble ions, quantitative determinations of sugars, carboxylic acids and free amino acids. A total of 25 compounds were identified, which are components of fermentation processes that are believed to have formed in connection with the preparation of what is called Nekhen-Hoffman beer.     

Chinese origin and radiation of the Palaeozoic crinoid family Petalocrinidae

The Ordovician to Devonian family Petalocrinidae includes 28 species belonging to 5 genera. This family is unique because the arm plates are fused into a large fan or cylinder. Paleobiogeographic occurrences of this family include Laurentia, Baltica, Avalonia, South China, Sibumasu, and Perunica blocks. The family has the oldest petalocrinids from China. An early radiation of this clade resulted in three genera during the Llandovery of China. Petalocrinus became cosmopolitan during the Llandovery and Wenlock, and the youngest genus is present in the Lower Devonian of the Czech Republic. Taxonomic determination for the Petalocrinidae is based on the fused arm plates instead of cup plates. The diverse morphology of these arm plates suggests a variety of aerosol suspension-feeding modes may have been used by petalocrinids.     

New upper permian superfamily compositelasmatoidea (Brachiopoda, Terebratulida) from the east of the Russian platform: The specificity of ontogenetic transformations

A previously unknown type of ontogeny is discussed that unites features of two different types of loop development: the ancient dielasmoid type, which is typical of Upper Paleozoic terebratulids, and the angustothyridid type, which is typical of the Lower Mesozoic terebratulids. A new superfamily, Compositelasmatoidea, and a new family, Compositelasmatidae, with its type genus Compositelasma gen. nov., are established based on their unique ontogenetic changes.     

Biostratigraphie des conodontesdu Muschelkalk supérieur luxembourgeois

Biostratigraphic scale of conodonts established inthe germanic basin is found in Luxemburg. The repartition of associations allows to determine six zones which can be compared to those of neighbouring areas.     

浙江长兴灰岩中的龙鱼化石

本文记述了产自长兴阶层型剖面下部的龙鱼化石,其特征与已知属种皆有区别,而与 Saurichthys madagascariensis Piveteau 比较相似.但在鳍的大小,鳞片行数等方面有所不同,今命名为赵氏始龙鱼 (Eosaurichthys chaoi gen. et sp. nov.). 它代表已知龙鱼中最早的记录,证明古生代末期,亚洲这一区域已有龙鱼分布.始龙鱼的发现对了解该类鱼的分布,二叠三叠纪鱼群的演替,以及古地中海的范围,均有重要意义.本文还讨论了龙鱼类鳞列的演变等.     

Effects of age and sex on shoulder biomechanics and relative effort during functional tasks

Age-related decline in muscle strength can compromise shoulder function, which could increase the effort needed to perform activities of daily living (ADLs). The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine for the first time the relative shoulder effort during ADLs in healthy young and older adults.Ten healthy young adults and ten healthy older adults were tested for maximal isokinetic torque and on a set of ADL tasks. Using inverse dynamics, the shoulder torques during ADLs were referenced to the maximal isokinetic torque and relative effort was determined.Older compared to younger adults had >40% lower isokinetic shoulder abduction strength. The ratio of peak joint torque during six ADLs over the maximal isokinetic torque, i.e., relative effort, was higher in old (∼52%) compared with young adults (∼22%, p < 0.05). Relative effort in older adults was over 40% in overhead activities and particularly high in abduction and reaching tasks, over 60%.Healthy older compared with younger adults perform most ADL tasks involving the shoulder joint with nearly twice the level of relative effort. The concomitant reductions in maximal shoulder isokinetic torque and increases in relative effort may be related to the high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and shoulder dysfunction in old age reported in epidemiological studies.     

Shoulder joint loadings in post total hip replacement surgery patients during assisted walking: The influence of the crutch setup

A crutch is prescribed to permit the patient to walk safely and independently immediately after total hip replacement (THR) surgery. Purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of the crutch setup on upper limbs biomechanics, including shoulder joint kinematics and kinetics parameters that will be evaluated to detect possible differences related to the crutch length.Thirty patients were randomly assigned to elbow flexed (EF) or elbow extended (EE) forearm crutch setup. Subjects were asked to walk on the laboratory path, instrumented with motion tracking system and force platforms. Spatiotemporal gait parameters, crutch ground reaction force (GRF) and crutch displacement (measured as the relative distance between the crutch position on the floor and the shoulder joint center), were evaluated. A three-dimensional (3D) biomechanical model was implemented to determine shoulder joint kinematics and kinetics during crutch walking.Results showed that the stride length significantly decreased, and base of support width increased for the EF group when compared to the EE group. Crutch forces and distance to the body significantly decreased in the EE group. Furthermore, shoulder joint moments in all planes of motion, vertical and lateral forces were significantly reduced in the EE group.The present study showed that crutch setup influenced performance and upper limb loading during walking, with EE setup allowing a more stable walking and reducing stress on the shoulder joint when compared to the EF setup. Results may help therapists in rationalizing crutch length adjustments for patients after THR surgery.     

Small Celastraceae and Polygonaceae twigs from the Upper Cenozoic (Ituzaingó Formation) of the La Plata Basin,Argentina

Two new wood types from the Late Cenozoic of the Ituzaingó Formation, La Plata Basin, Northeast Argentina add to our knowledge of South American Cenozoic plants. The materials were preserved by siliceous cellular permineralization, and they were prepared for microscopic examination by surface polishing and in thin sections. The anatomy of these new species was described. The relationship and comparison with the nearest living relatives (NLRs) are discussed. Maytenoxylon perforatum Franco gen. and sp. nov. is described as the first fossil wood referable to Celastraceae from South America. This new fossil species is related to extant Maytenus Molina. The other fossil twig, Ruprechtioxylon breae Franco sp. nov., has features of the Polygonaceae family and particularly resembles the extant specie Ruprechtia laxiflora Meisn. The occurrence of these fossil woods in south-eastern South America suggests that a relatively warm and dry to seasonally dry climate prevailed over this region of Gondwana during the Upper Cenozoic. It also provides new evidence for the hypothesis of the more wide distribution of Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest (SDTF) during the Upper Cenozoic.