296 research outputs found
Radiocarbon dates for the late Middle Palaeolithic at Pech de l'Azé IV, France
No full textThis paper reports a series of radiocarbon dates on bone samples coming from the Mousterian of Acheulian Tradition (MTA) Layer 3 at the top of the Pech de l'Azé IV (Pech IV, France) Middle Palaeolithic sequence. All of these samples showed evidence of human impact, and they were prepared using current pre-treatment techniques to remove or identify contamination. The results indicate that the MTA at Pech IV started prior to the current limit of radiocarbon calibration (circa 50 ka BP) and ended by 45 ka cal. BP. These dates are supported by additional TL and ESR dates from the sequence, confirm previously suggested correlations between Pech I and IV, and generally fit within the known age range for the MTA. The oldest dates reported here may also lend support to still older TL dates for the MTA that taken together suggest that the MTA extended from late MIS 4 or early OIS 3 through to the end of the Middle Palaeolithic in southwest France. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd
Gammaropsis elvirae Paz-Ríos & Pech 2019, sp. nov.
No full textGammaropsis elvirae sp. nov. (Figs 1–6) ? Gammaropsis sp. A LeCroy, 2000: 138, fig. 179. Gammaropsis sp. B LeCroy, 2000: 139, fig. 180. ―in Paz-Ríos & Ardisson, 2013: 153. Holotype. Male (dissected and drawn), 4.2 mm, northern Yucatan shelf, Yucatan, Mexico, 21.9335°N, 86.9833°W, 25 m, 29 August 2016, coll. A. León-Hernández, ECOSUR0200. Paratypes. Gravid female (dissected and drawn), 4.9 mm, northern Yucatan shelf, Yucatan, Mexico, 21.4668°N, 91.3835°W, 44 m, 7 September 2016, coll. S. Balam-Zetina, ECOSUR0201; two males and two females (one male dissected and drawn, 3 mm), northern Yucatan shelf, Yucatan, Mexico, 21.8833°N, 89.6336°W, 42 m, 31 August 2016, coll. A. León-Hernández, ECOSUR0202; two males (one male dissected and drawn, 3 mm), northern Yucatan shelf, Yucatan, Mexico, 20.7770°N, 90.9584°W, 22 m, 2 December 2012, coll. A. León- Hernández, ECOSUR0203. Type locality. Northern Yucatan Shelf, Yucatan, Mexico, 21.9335°N, 86.9833°W. Etymology. The new species is named after Elvira Maldonado, the beloved wife of the first author, for her unconditional support and passion for marine life. Diagnosis. Lateral cephalic lobes rounded. Article 2 of mandibular palp longer than article 3. Outer lobes of lower lip with one cone on each lobe. Coxae 2–4 subrectangular, slightly broader than long. Gnathopod 1 propodus longer than carpus. Gnathopod 2, basis, carpus and propodus with a dense marginal fringe of long setae; propodus enlarged with small convoluted processes on posterior margin; palmar margin weakly sinuous, and palmar angle undefined; dactylus short, less than one half in length of propodus, with setae on anterior margin. Epimera 1–3 rounded. Uropods 1–3, inner ramus longer than outer ramus. Telson emarginated. . Description. Based on holotype male, 4.2 mm, ECOSUR0200. Head with lateral cephalic lobes rounded and strongly produced, subocular cephalic margin strongly recessed, extending behind posterior margin of eye. Eyes ovate. Antennae missing. Upper lip with a small apical notch, pubescent apically. Lower lip inner and outer lobe pubescent apically; outer lobes with one cone on each lobe, inner margin with robust setae and mandibular process well developed with lobes apically acute. Mandible incisor well developed, six-dentate; molar triturative with a short plumose seta; four-toothed lacinia mobilis; accessory setal row with eight dentate setae; palp article 2 longest and setose; palp article 3 spatulate, heavily setose apically, without an apical notch. Maxilla 1 inner plate with apex acute bearing three subapically long slender setae; outer plate with ten serrate robust setae; palp two-articulated, apical part of palp article 2 with five robust and three slender setae subapically. Maxilla 2 inner plate smaller than outer, with a marginal row of long slender setae and an oblique row of setae on the surface; outer plate rounded apically and subapically, with slender setae and lateral margin with pubescence. Maxilliped inner plate with three apical robust setae and an oblique row of plumose setae on surface reaching the apex, outer margin with distal corner bearing one robust setae; outer plate not reaching end of article 2 on palp, with six distal robust setae and three apical plumose setae, outer margin with distal corner bearing one robust setae; palp four-articulate, article 2 longest bearing long slender setae, article 3 with four subapical plumose setae on inner margin, article 4 with one apical serrate seta. Coxal plate 1 subquadrate; plate 2 subrectangular, about 1.6 times broader than long; plates 3–4 subrectangular, about 1.2 times broader than long; plates 5–6 bilobate, anterior lobe rounded, larger than posterior lobe, expanded distally and bearing several long slender setae; plate 7 subovate with setae on anterior and posterior margins. Gnathopod 1 subchelate, slightly smaller than gnathopod 2; basis with setae on anterior margin; carpus and propodus setose on inner lateral surface; propodus broadly subovate with four robust setae on posterior margin (three robust setae on right propodus, not illustrated) and small processes on posterodistal margin; dactylus falcate, slightly more than two thirds in length of propodus, anterior margin with four setae. Gnathopod 2 subchelate, basis, carpus and propodus with a dense marginal fringe of long setae; propodus enlarged with two small convoluted processes on posterior margin, palmar margin weakly sinuous, with palmar angle undefined; dactylus falcate, less than one half in length of propodus, anterior margin with five setae. Pereopods 3–4 similar in shape, slender; basis linear; carpus subequal in length and width to merus; propodus longer than carpus. Pereopods 5–7 basis slightly expanded, distinctly longer than broad with an anterior marginal row of robust setae; anterodistal and posterodistal corner of basis, merus, carpus, and propodus defined by one or two robust setae; propodus longer than carpus; dactylus bearing a proximal plumose seta. Epimeral plates 1–3 rounded on the posteroventral corner. Urosomites 1–2 smooth dorsolaterally. Uropod 1 peduncle subrectangular, subequal in length to rami, with four and five robust setae on inner and outer margin, respectively, inter-ramal process well developed; both rami linear and slender with a group of four robust setae on apex, inner ramus slightly longer than outer ramus (more notorious on right ramus, not illustrated). Uropod 2 peduncle shorter than both rami in length, with distal and subdistal robust setae dorsolaterally and a ventral row of three robust setae; both rami linear and slender with a group of four robust setae on the apex, inner ramus longer than outer ramus. Uropod 3 peduncle shorter than both rami in length, with one distal robust setae dorsolaterally; both rami with slender and robust setae on apex; inner ramus longer than outer ramus. Telson emarginate, with the apex of each side bearing three robust setae and one slender setae. Female (sexually dimorphic characters). Based on paratype female, 4.9 mm, ECOSUR0201. Gnathopod 1 basis strongly narrowing proximally, with short slender setae on anterior and posterior margin; carpus enlarged, subequal in length to propodus; propodus elongate, with three robust setae on ventral margin (two in left gnathopod 1, not illustrated) increasing in size distally, ventrodistal margin evenly rounded and minutely serrate; dactylus falcate, inner margin serrate with 4–5 posterior teeth, outer margin with three slender setae. Gnathopod 2 similar in shape to gnathopod 1; long oostegites, narrow with long marginal setae; propodus with two robust setae on ventral margin and small processes on ventrodistal margin, located at dactylus hinge. Remarks. Variations from holotype male were observed on a paratype male (ECOSUR0202) with gnathopod 1 propodus (not illustrated) bearing 2–3 robust setae on posterior margin (instead 3–4), a distal palmar margin of gnathopod 2 propodus (illustrated) with small convoluted processes (instead weakly sinuous), and outer margin of gnathopod 2 dactylus with six setae (instead five); on another paratype male (ECOSUR0203) bearing two robust setae on posterior margin of gnathopod 2 propodus (illustrated). Gammaropsis elvirae sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other congeners by the unique combination of characteristics such as the lateral cephalic lobes rounded, outer lobes of lower lip with one cone on each lobe, gnathopod 2 propodus enlarged with small convoluted processes on posterior margin and palmar angle undefined, a dense setation on basis, carpus, and propodus of gnathopod 2, epimeral plates 1–3 rounded, inner ramus longer than outer ramus on uropods 1–3, and telson emarginated. The dense setation on gnathopod 2 is a remarkable characteristic presents in other congeners as G. arawakia, G. setifera (Schellenberg, 1938), G. shoemakeri, G. thompsoni, G. tonichi, and G. tawahi Barnard, 1972, but, G. elvirae sp. nov. is differentiated from all these species (except from G. setifera) by the following characteristics (but not limited to these): lateral cephalic lobes rounded (acute on those species) and epimeral plate 1–3 rounded (notched or toothed on those species). It differs from G. setifera by palm gnathopod 1–2 evenly round (convex, defined by a middle tooth on G. setifera); rami uropod 3 longer than peduncle (rami subequal in length to peduncle on G. setifera); telson emarginated (entire and triangularly hollow posteromedially on G. setifera). The new species resembles G. dubia in the head recession; lateral cephalic lobes rounded; shape of female gnathopods 1–2; epimera 1–3 rounded; uropod 3, inner ramus longer than outer ramus, but it is differentiated by inner plate on maxilla 1 with apex acute (rounded on G. dubia); carpus gnathopod 1 shorther than propodus (carpus subequal than propodus on G. dubia); propodus gnathopod 2 slightly larger than gnathopod 1 and dactylus short (both propodus and dactylus gnathopod 2 greatly enlarged on G. dubia), telson emarginated (telson entire on G. dubia). The presence of robust setae on posterior margin of gnathopod 2 propodus is a shared feature with juvenile males of Gammaropsis dentata Chevreux, 1900 (a very different species to G. elvirae sp. nov.), however, this feature disappears on the adult stage. The loss of robust setae due a morphological variation in the propodus of gnathopod 2 in males during its development is a signal of an ontogenetic change from juvenile to adult. The new species shows a close similarity with a generic species (Gammaropsis sp. A) identified by LeCroy (2000) from southern Florida, but, is distinguished by the relatively elongated article 2 of mandibular palp (relatively stout in Gammaropsis sp. A), propodus longer than carpus in peraeopods 3–4 (subequal to carpus in Gammaropsis sp. A), and presence of small convoluted processes on posterior margin of gnathopod 2 propodus (processes absent in Gammaropsis sp. A). Regarding this last characteristic, LeCroy (2000) suggested that probably the gnathopod 2 illustrated for males of Gammaropsis sp. A is for younger specimens, that eventually, could be well developed with small convoluted processes on posterior margin, as in G. elvirae sp. nov.Published as part of Paz-Ríos, Carlos E. & Pech, Daniel, 2019, Gammaropsis elvirae sp. nov., a widely distributed amphipod (Amphipoda: Photidae) in the Yucatan Shelf, with ecological comments and a key for the genus in tropical America, pp. 359-371 in Zootaxa 4555 (3) on pages 360-365, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4555.3.5, http://zenodo.org/record/262448
Graf Armand - Don Mus.Ms. 248a,b
No full textBeiliegend Soufflierstimme. - Stimmen zum Teil mit Sängernamen: "Walther" (Daniel), "Kalliwoda" (Antonio), "Vollmar" (Mikeli), "Sulger" (Graf), "Keller" (1. Commandant), "Hasenfratz" (2. Comandant), "Delli Pech" (S), "Elsässer" (S), "Willmann" (B), "Pech" (B). - Aufführungsvermerk auf der Stimme des zweiten Comandanten: "Zum erstenmale aufgeführt d: 26: Jener 1824. Bald darauf wiederholt im nämlichen Jahre d: 22 Februar 1824. Aufgef. d: 9. November 1827. Zum 4. Male d: 29. Juni 1828". - Vermerk auf der Stimme der Constanza: "fehlt die Marzeline Don: d: 10. III. 39. FB". - other parts missingLuigi CherubiniQuelle: manuscript. - Provenienz: Fürstlich Fürstenbergische Hofbibliothek, Donaueschingen[prompt-book:] Graf Armand. | Oper in 3. Akten | Par | M|r Cherubin
Portfolio decisions on life annuities and financial assets with longevity and income uncertainty
No full textThere are two stylised facts, namely weak demand for life-annuities and flat age-wealth profile that contradict the life-cycle hypothesis. In this paper we design a theoretical framework, which combines plausible arguments, which have been put forward in the literature to reconcile theory with empirical evidence. Besides the existence of an annuity market and of a public pension system we assume risk-averse individuals who are uncertain about lifetime and disposable income and who have preferences for leaving bequests. It is shown that this framework can contribute to explain the observed portfolio decision in favour of financial assets relatively to annuities.savings; life annuities; bequests; uncertain lifetime; uncertain income; social security
Adverse Selection with individual- and joint-life annuities
No full textThis paper includes couples on the demand side and analyses their implications on the problem of adverse selection in the annuity market. First, we examine the pooling equilibrium for individual-life annuities and show that in the presence of couples the rate of return on individuallife annuities is lower in case that couples do not have the advantage of joint consumption of "family public goods" as well as in case of a logarithmic utility function. Second, we examine the market for joint-life annuities. Due to their higher chance that only one partner survives to the retirement, couples with short-lived partners put more weight on the survivor benefit than couples with at least one longer-lived partner. This fact is used by annuity companies to separate couples according to their partners' life-expectancies. Hence, we find that only a separating equilibrium may exist. These results are obtained in a framework where couples are mandated to buy joint-life annuities and only single persons buy individual-life annuities. When relaxing this assumption by allowing couples to choose between individual- and joint-life annuities, we find that in equilibrium couples with long-lived partners buy individual-life annuities, while couples with short-lived partners buy joint-life annuities. However, couples with one long-lived and one short-lived partner may decide for either type of annuities, depending on the exogenous parameters. Accordingly, we identify two different types of equilibria.annuity market; uncertain lifetime; adverse selection; equilibrium
A Landau-Ginzburg model for Lagrangian Grassmannians, Langlands duality and relations in quantum cohomology
No full textIn [Rie08], the second author defined a Landau-Ginzburg model for homogeneous spaces G/P, as a regular function on an affine subvariety of the Langlands dual group. In this paper, we reformulate this LG-model (X^,W_t) in the case of the Lagrangian Grassmannian LG(m) as a rational function on a Langlands dual orthogonal Grassmannian, in the spirit of work by R. Marsh and the second author [MR12] for type A Grassmannians. This LG model has some very interesting features, which are not visible in the type A case, to do with the non-triviality of Langlands duality. We also formulate a conjecture relating our superpotential with the quantum differential equations of LG(m). Finally, our expression for W_t also leads us to conjecture new formulas in the quantum Schubert calculus of LG(m)
A Landau-Ginzburg model for Lagrangian Grassmannians, Langlands duality and relations in quantum cohomology
No full textIn [Rie08], the second author defined a Landau-Ginzburg model for homogeneous spaces G/P, as a regular function on an affine subvariety of the Langlands dual group. In this paper, we reformulate this LG-model (X^,W_t) in the case of the Lagrangian Grassmannian LG(m) as a rational function on a Langlands dual orthogonal Grassmannian, in the spirit of work by R. Marsh and the second author [MR12] for type A Grassmannians. This LG model has some very interesting features, which are not visible in the type A case, to do with the non-triviality of Langlands duality.
We also formulate a conjecture relating our superpotential with the quantum differential equations of LG(m). Finally, our expression for W_t also leads us to conjecture new formulas in the quantum Schubert calculus of LG(m)
Mechanism of Fruit Ripening - Chapter 16
No full textThe fruit ripening process has been viewed over the last decades as being
successively of physiological, biochemical, and molecular nature. Fruit ripening
is accompanied by a number of biochemical events, including changes in color,
sugar, acidity, texture, and aroma volatiles that are crucial for the sensory quality
(Fig. 16.1). At the late stages of ripening, some senescence-related physiological
changes occur that lead to membrane deterioration and cell death. In that regard,
fruit ripening can thus be considered as the first step of a programmed cell death
process. All biochemical and physiological changes that take place during fruit
ripening are driven by the coordinated expression of fruit ripening-related genes.
These genes encode enzymes that participate directly in biochemical and physiological
changes. They also encode regulatory proteins that participate in the signaling
pathways, and in the transcriptional machinery that regulate gene expression
and set in motion the ripening developmental progra
Selection and use of manganese dioxide by Neanderthals
No full textSeveral Mousterian sites in France have yielded large numbers of small black blocs. The usual interpretation is that these ‘manganese oxides’ were collected for their colouring properties and used in body decoration, potentially for symbolic expression. Neanderthals habitually used fire and if they needed black material for decoration, soot and charcoal were readily available, whereas obtaining manganese oxides would have incurred considerably higher costs. Compositional analyses lead us to infer that late Neanderthals at Pech-de-l’Azé I were deliberately selecting manganese dioxide. Combustion experiments and thermo-gravimetric measurements demonstrate that manganese dioxide reduces wood’s auto-ignition temperature and substantially increases the rate of char combustion, leading us to conclude that the most beneficial use for manganese dioxide was in fire-making. With archaeological evidence for fire places and the conversion of the manganese dioxide to powder, we argue that Neanderthals at Pech-de-l’Azé I used manganese dioxide in fire-making and produced fire on demand.Process and EnergyMechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineerin
Metabolic and molecular events occurring during chromoplast biogenesis
No full textChromoplasts are nonphotosynthetic plastids that accumulate carotenoids. They derive from other plastid forms, mostly chloroplasts. The biochemical events responsible for the interconversion of one plastid form into another are poorly documented. However, thanks to transcriptomics and proteomics approaches, novel information is now available. Data of proteomic and biochemical analysis revealed the importance of lipid metabolism and carotenoids biosynthetic activities. The loss of photosynthetic activity was associated with the absence of the chlorophyll biosynthesis branch and the presence of proteins involved in chlorophyll degradation. Surprisingly, the entire set of Calvin cycle and of the oxidative pentose phosphate pathwaypersisted after the transition from chloroplast to chromoplast. The role of plastoglobules in the formation and organisation of carotenoid-containing structures and that of the Or gene in the control of chromoplastogenesis are reviewed. Finally, using transcriptomic data, an overview is given the expression pattern of a number of genes encoding plastid-located proteins during tomato fruit ripening
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