Hidden diversity of Palaeogene metatherians: a new family of polydolopimorphian marsupials from Peruvian Amazonia

International audienceSouth American marsupials are widely dominated by opossums and their kin today. Nevertheless, metatherian high-level taxonomic diversity was much higher before Pleistocene times. Here we describe two new species and a new genus documenting the extinct order Polydolopimorphia, based on extensive material from Eocene–Oligocene localities of Peruvian Amazonia. Wamradolops telloi Stutz sp. nov. and Pozodolops manuelorum Stutz gen. et sp. nov. are morphologically close to the early Oligocene Wamradolops tsullodon Goin and Candela, 2004 from the same area. Parsimony analyses performed here strongly suggest that these three taxa document a new early-diverging clade of Polydolopimorphia, Wamradolopidae Stutz fam. nov., restricted to tropical-equatorial lowlands and falling outside the suborders Bonapartheriiformes and Polydolopiformes. These phylogenetic affinities further point to a Paleocene–early Eocene ghost lineage for Wamradolopidae Stutz fam. nov., most likely at low latitudes of South America. Dental dimensions suggest that representatives of Wamradolopidae Stutz fam. nov. were extremely small, with estimated body masses ranging 3–55 g. With cranial dimensions comparable to those of the living long-tailed planigale and Etruscan shrew, Wamradolops telloi Stutz sp. nov. counts among the smallest mammals ever described

Crisis, breakdown and reorganization: The end of the Old Kingdom and the First Intermediate Period (2200-2050 BC)

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Les classes d’animaux dans les œuvres d’al-Fārābī

International audienceAl-Fārābī’s (d. 339/950-951) special interest in and appropriation of Aristotle’s biological corpus is increasingly recognized. Four passages can be identified where al-Fārābī seems to divide the animal genus into several categories: two in his review of Aristotle’s corpus (Falsafat Arisṭūṭālīs), and two in his Book of Political Governance (Kitāb al-Siyāsa al-madaniyya). Due to the recent recognition of al-Fārābī’s interest in Aristotelian biology, these excerpts have not yet received due attention. In this paper, we will attempt to assess the extent to which these presentations of animal classes relate to Aristotle’s work. We will consider the textual context in which al-Fārābī brings them up and explore his possible motivations for including them. It will become evident that the systems found in al-Fārābī’s works mirror some aspects of the History of Animals. Like Aristotle (if we are to trust Pierre Pellegrin’s interpretation), al-Fārābī did not adhere to one single fixed system of animal classification. Instead, he presented different groupings to highlight specific points he wanted to demonstrate. Thus, he provided a system that helps explain the function of animals in relation to a final cause, and another to position human beings within the animal world and, consequently, within the cosmos. With al-Fārābī, we have an example of an Islamicate philosopher adapting the Aristotelian device of classifying animals for the purpose of demonstration that goes beyond the study of non-human animals by offering a comprehensive reflection on the cosmos and its teleology.L’intérêt d’al-Fārābī (mort en 339/950-951) pour l’œuvre biologique d’Aristote et l’appropriation qu’il en a faite sont de plus en plus reconnus. On peut identifier quatre passages dans lesquels il semble diviser le règne animal en plusieurs catégories : deux dans son inventaire de l’œuvre d’Aristote (Falsafat Arisṭūṭālīs) et deux dans son Livre de la gouvernance politique (Kitāb al-Siyāsa al-madaniyya). Ces extraits n’ont pas encore reçu l’attention qu’ils méritent. Dans cet article, nous essayons de déterminer dans quelle mesure ces regroupements d’animaux peuvent être rattachés à l’œuvre d’Aristote, en examinant le contexte textuel dans lequel al-Fārābī les évoque et en fournissant les possibles raisons de leur mention. Nous en déduisons qu’ils reflètent certains aspects de l’Histoire des animaux. À l’instar d’Aristote (si l’on en croit l’interprétation de Pierre Pellegrin), al-Fārābī n’adhère pas à un système unique et figé de classification. Au contraire, il présente différents regroupements pour mettre en évidence les points précis qu’il souhaite démontrer. Il propose ainsi des systèmes permettant d’expliquer la fonction des animaux par rapport à une cause finale ou de positionner les êtres humains dans le monde animal et, par extension, dans le cosmos. Al-Fārābī constitue en cela un exemple de philosophe qui adapte la méthode aristotélicienne de classification des animaux à des fins de démonstration, et qui va au-delà de l’étude des animaux non humains en proposant une réflexion globale sur le cosmos et sa téléologie

On the performance of radiocarbon and quartz OSL dating in macrotidal estuarine environments: Four case studies from Western France

International audienceThe study of estuarine sedimentary archives provides valuable insights into their geomorphological evolution over the past two centuries, enhancing our understanding of estuarine responses to climate change. Establishing a reliable and precise geochronological framework is therefore essential for monitoring these changes. This study evaluates the performance of quartz Single-Aliquot Regenerative (SAR) OSL and AMS 14C dating in four estuaries along the western coast of France. The results are compared with cartographic data, serving as an independent age control. Of the 14 OSL dated samples, 10 yield depositional ages consistent with cartographic data, whereas the remaining 4 appear to overestimate ages by 20–100 years. In contrast, AMS 14C dating reveals numerous stratigraphic inversions, with at least 12 out of the 16 measured samples overestimating the depositional age in some cases by up to 5000 years, in total disagreement with cartographic data. The discrepancy between the OSL and radiocarbon ages reflects the constant reworking of allochthonous material, to which is added the further uncertainty associated with the local reservoir age. These factors fundamentally limit the reliability of 14C dating regardless of the material analyzed. By contrast, the OSL signal displays remarkable resilience, with any age overestimation linked to partial bleaching remaining minor (on the order of decades) compared with the errors affecting 14C ages. This underscores the capacity of OSL dating to resolve short-term environmental changes and positions it as the most reliable tool for constructing high-resolution chronologies of the last centuries in macrotidal estuarine settings

The Triumph of Dionysus and Heracles on a Gold Tray from Datong (Pingcheng,capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty, 398-494 CE)

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Rural sub-elites in Bronze Age Egypt: evidence and strategies of an elusive social group

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Saint Syméon le Nouveau Théologien (949-1022). Histoire et doctrines

International audienceAuteur controversé de son vivant dont la réception délicate de l’œuvre fut l’une des plus énigmatiques que connut l’hagiographie orthodoxe, Syméon le Nouveau Théologien ne laissa pas indifférent ceux qui l’approchèrent. Fort d’une grâce d’illumination mystique, il chercha sa vie durant à en déployer théologiquement tous les aspects. Cette illumination, comme expérience consciente et réelle du salut de l’âme, restaure en l’homme l’alliance avec Dieu que la désobéissance et l’absence d’humilité d’Adam avaient brisée. Ce don divin rétabli devait pour lui s’étendre – au moment de la Divine Liturgie – à la condition corporelle par la participation consciente à la chair ressuscitée et pneumatisée du Verbe. Pour Syméon, c’est au cœur de la Divine Liturgie que se manifeste la destinée ultime de toute la création. Le réalisme de cette expérience, la dévotion qu’il manifesta envers Syméon le stoudite qui l’y initia rencontra une forte résistance dans les milieux ecclésiastiques constantinopolitains. Le Nouveau Théologien connut nombre de procès, l’exil, et malgré la réhabilitation, une résistance sourde au réalisme évangélique qu’il prônait pour tout homme

Complement activation drives a compartmentalized innate immune response in C3 glomerulopathy contributing to the disease phenotype

International audienceIntroduction: C3 glomerulopathy is a rare kidney disease resulting from dysregulation of the complement alternative pathway. The mechanistic diversity of alternative pathway activation, the heterogeneous immunological and clinical profiles limit a comprehensive understanding of the disease.Methods: Here, we characterize mechanisms of complement-mediated immune response within the kidney. We studied a retrospective cohort of 47 patients diagnosed with C3 glomerulopathy and profiled systemic and intra-kidney complement activation and characterized intra-kidney immune infiltrates.Results: The immune infiltrate of the kidney showed distinct compositions between the glomerular and interstitial compartments, with most neutrophils and macrophages in the glomeruli versus a majority of B and T lymphocytes and macrophages in the interstitium. The presence of a neutrophil-rich glomerular infiltrate appeared to be associated with stronger markers of complement activation in both systemic and intra-kidney compartments. However, interstitial immune infiltrates were not associated with a specific complement activation profile. The presence of a neutrophil-rich glomerular infiltrate correlated with a better response of the kidney to treatment and kidney survival, while patients with higher interstitial infiltrate had poor kidney survival.Conclusion: Our study highlights a link between the intra-kidney immune response, complement activation profile, and the phenotypic expression of the disease, which contributes to improving our understanding of the disease

Abrodictyum polynesicum (Hymenophyllaceae, Polypodiidae), a new fern species for the French Polynesia

International audienceThe filmy fern Abrodictyum asae-grayi (Hymenophyllaceae) is thought to be distributed from New Guinea to French Polynesia. However, specimens from the Marquesas Islands and some populations from the Society Islands show clearly erect rhizomes, while the species A. asae-grayi is described as having creeping rhizomes. In-depth examination of the herbarium specimens and phylogenetic analysis demonstrate that the specimens with creeping rhizomes and those with erect rhizomes define two distinct species. The new species, A. polynesicum, endemic to French Polynesia, is discussed and described here