Pleistocene edible dormice (Rodentia Mammalia) from Slovenia, and their relations to the present day Glis glis (Linnaeus 1766)

A Pleistocene new material of dormice (Genus Glis) is described. Three morphological species are recognized on the basis of size and morphology of the teeth: Glis sackdillingensis Heller, 1930, Glis mihevci nov. sp., and Glis perkoi nov. sp. The two new species, larger than G. sackdillingensis, are morphologically less evolved than the present day Glis glis of Slovenia, which has larger teeth

Early Late Pliocene Paleokarstic Fillings Predating the Major Plio-Pleistocene Erosion of the Quercy Table, SW-France

Early late Pliocene rodent tooth remains, have been found in situ within Quercy paleokarstic fillings. They provide evidence of a sedimentary episode related to a high Pliocene marine level ca 3.5 Ma ago, that illustrates the situation predating the regional erosion phase and setting up of the hydrographic system

Predicción diaria de temperaturas extremas y precipitación en la región Áncash mediante posprocesamiento estadístico del modelo GFS

Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina. Facultad de Ciencias. Departamento Académico de Ingeniería Ambiental, Física y MeteorologíaEn esta investigación, se desarrollaron modelos de pronóstico para temperaturas extremas y probabilidad de precipitación en el área del Parque Nacional Huascarán y sus alrededores, en la región Áncash. Se utilizaron los datos grillados de PISCOp para calibrar los modelos de precipitación y datos de temperaturas extremas diarias recopilados de 10 estaciones en el área de estudio para calibrar los modelos de temperatura. Se aplicó el método Model Output Statistics (MOS) junto con técnicas específicas para cada tipo de predicción. Los predictores para estos modelos corresponden a pronósticos del modelo numérico Global Forecast System (GFS) con una resolución de 0.25°. Para las predicciones de temperaturas extremas diarias, se empleó la técnica de reducción de dimensionalidad conocida como análisis de componentes principales (PCA), junto con la regresión lineal múltiple para obtener las ecuaciones de pronóstico. En el caso de los modelos de probabilidad de precipitación, se utilizaron tanto la técnica de PCA como Random Forests para tareas de clasificación. Los modelos desarrollados para las temperaturas extremas superaron las predicciones sin posprocesamiento del modelo GFS en la zona de estudio y también superaron las predicciones por persistencia. Se observó una mayor precisión en la predicción de las temperaturas mínimas en comparación con las temperaturas máximas. Sin embargo, se identificaron ciertas limitaciones en la capacidad del modelo para prever la magnitud de eventos extremos de temperatura. En relación con la probabilidad de precipitación, los resultados variaron según el umbral establecido. Los modelos para umbrales de 0.1 mm/día y 1 mm/día demostraron ser eficaces en las predicciones, mientras que el modelo para 5 mm/día generó un alto número de falsas alarmas. Estos hallazgos indican que los modelos desarrollados son prometedores, pero también señalan áreas que podrían ser mejoradas para aumentar su precisión, especialmente en la identificación de eventos extremos.In this research, forecast models were developed for extreme temperatures and precipitation probability in the area of Huascarán National Park and its surroundings, in the Áncash region. Gridded data from PISCOp were used to calibrate the precipitation models and daily extreme temperature data collected from 10 stations in the study area were used to calibrate the temperature models. The Model Output Statistics (MOS) method was applied together with specific techniques for each type of prediction. The predictors for these models correspond to forecasts from the Global Forecast System (GFS) numerical model with a resolution of 0.25°. For the daily extreme temperature forecasts, the dimensionality reduction technique known as principal component analysis (PCA) was used, together with multiple linear regression to obtain the forecast equations. In the case of the precipitation probability models, both PCA and Random Forests were used for classification tasks. The models developed for extreme temperatures outperformed the non-post-processed predictions of the GFS model in the study area and also outperformed the predictions by persistence. Higher accuracy was observed in the prediction of minimum temperatures compared to maximum temperatures. However, certain limitations were identified in the model's ability to predict the magnitude of extreme temperature events. In relation to the probability of precipitation, results varied depending on the threshold set. The models for thresholds of 0.1 mm/day and 1 mm/day proved to be effective in predictions, while the model for 5 mm/day generated a high number of false alarms. These findings indicate that the developed models are promising, but also point to areas that could be improved to increase their accuracy, especially in the identification of extreme events

Mid-Neogene Mediterranean marine-continental correlations: an alternative interpretation

Recent revised magnetostratigraphic and astrochronologic calibrations of several calcareous planktonic microfossil datum events (in particular Coccolithus miopelagicus and Neogloboquadrina acostaensis) combined with our magnetobiostratigraphic investigation of a 10 m-thick section at Ecotet, near Lyon (France), in which terrestrial micromammals (Vallesian Zone MN9) are intercalated with calcareous nannoplankton and planktonic foraminifera belonging to Zones NN6-NN8 and N14-15 (=M11 and M12), respectively, lead us to question the recent recalibration by Krijgsman et al. [(1996) Eart Planet. Sci. Lett. 142, 367-380) of the Aragonian/Vallesian (MN7-8/MN9) boundary with Chron C5r.1r (~11.1 Ma) and the lower/upper Vallesian (MN9/10) boundary with Chron C4Ar.2n (~9.6-9.7 Ma). Ecotet, with a uniform reverse polarity, is shown to be assignable uniquely to Chron C5r. Interregional correlation of Ecotet with Mediterranean terrestrial stratigraphies indicates that Progonomys (whose First Occurrence (FO) has been traditionally placed in Mediterranean Mammal Zone MN10) was already present in Mediterranean Zone MN9 at ~11.4 Ma and did not experience a 2 million-year delay in its putative prochoresis from Asia

The structure of the agrochemical fungicidal 4-Chloro-3-(3,5-dichloropheny)-1H-pyrazole, RPA 406194 and related compounds

The difficulties to obtain convenient monocrystals of the important fungicide RPA 406194 have been overcome by a combination of solid state 13C NMR, X-ray powder diffraction and molecular modeling. The compound, a 3-aryl tautomer, crystallizes forming infinite chains of molecules bonded by N–H· · ·N hydrogen bonds, leading to needle-shaped crystals. The tautomerism (equilibrium constant and energy barrier) of this compound in solution has been studied

Action plan for the conservation of habitats and species associated with seamounts, underwater caves and canyons, aphotic hard beds and chemo-synthetic phenomena in the Mediterranean Sea (Dark Habitats action plan)

Dark habitats are environments where the luminosity is extremely weak, or even absent (aphotic area) leading to an absence of macroscopic autochthonous photosynthesis. The bathymetric extension of this lightless area depends to a great extent on the turbidity of the water and corresponds to benthic and pelagic habitats starting from the deep circa-littoral. Caves which show environmental conditions that favour the installation on of organisms characteristic of dark habitats, are also taken into account. Dark habitats are dependent on very diverse geomorphological structures (e.g. underwater caves, canyons, slopes, isolated rocks, abyssal plains, cold seeps, brine anoxic lakes, hydrothermal springs and seamounts). Dark habitats represent outstanding and potential ecosystems with regard to their: Frailty and vulnerability to any land-based pressure Play an important part in the way the Mediterranean ecosystem functions, insofar as they constitute the main route for transferring matter between the coast and the deep sea Considered as biodiversity hotspots and recruiting areas forming a veritable reservoirs of knowledge and biodiversity Natural habitats that come under Habitat Directive on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora and appear as such as priority habitats requiring protection (Directive 92/43). A certain number of underwater caves enjoy protection status because they fall within the geographical boundaries of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Understanding of these functions is necessary for a better understanding and management of the biodiversity of Mediterranean coastal zones and continental shelf.peer-reviewe

Development of lifetime comorbidity in the world health organization world mental health surveys

CONTEXT: Although numerous studies have examined the role of latent variables in the structure of comorbidity among mental disorders, none has examined their role in the development of comorbidity. OBJECTIVE: To study the role of latent variables in the development of comorbidity among 18 lifetime DSM-IV disorders in the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys. DESIGN: Nationally or regionally representative community surveys. SETTING: Fourteen countries. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 21 229 survey respondents. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: First onset of 18 lifetime DSM-IV anxiety, mood, behavior, and substance disorders assessed retrospectively in the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview. RESULTS: Separate internalizing (anxiety and mood disorders) and externalizing (behavior and substance disorders) factors were found in exploratory factor analysis of lifetime disorders. Consistently significant positive time-lagged associations were found in survival analyses for virtually all temporally primary lifetime disorders predicting subsequent onset of other disorders. Within-domain (ie, internalizing or externalizing) associations were generally stronger than between-domain associations. Most time-lagged associations were explained by a model that assumed the existence of mediating latent internalizing and externalizing variables. Specific phobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (internalizing) and hyperactivity and oppositional defiant disorders (externalizing) were the most important predictors. A small number of residual associations remained significant after controlling the latent variables. CONCLUSIONS: The good fit of the latent variable model suggests that common causal pathways account for most of the comorbidity among the disorders considered herein. These common pathways should be the focus of future research on the development of comorbidity, although several important pairwise associations that cannot be accounted for by latent variables also exist that warrant further focused study