Pleistocene hares from the East Siberian Arctic (Lagomorpha, Leporidae)

Isolated fossil hare bones from seven Pleistocene localities in the east Siberian Arctic are attributed to Lepus tanaiticus vereschagini Averianov, 1995 (Mamontovaya Khayata) and to L. tanaiticus subsp. indet. (other localities)

OSTEOCONDUCTIVE COMPOSITE MATERIALS BASED ON POLY-L-LACTIDE AND NANOCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE MODIFIED WITH POLY(GLUTAMIC ACID)

The aim of this work was to obtain the series of composite polymeric materials based on poly-L-lactide (PLLA) with different contents of hydrophilic nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and modified with poly(glutamic acid) (PGlu) nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC-PGlu) (5, 10 and 15 wt%) as fillers. For this purpose several methods for modifying NCC with poly(glutamic acid) were tested. The best result was demonstrated by the partial oxidation of the NCC and the subsequent interaction of the obtained aldehyde NCC groups with the terminal amino groups of PGlu.The research was carried out with the use of some equipment of the Research Park of St. Petersburg State University: “Interdisciplinary Center for Nanotechnology” and “Center for Chemical Analysis and Materials Research”

The first dinosaur egg from the Lower Cretaceous of Western Siberia, Russia

© 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group The Lower Cretaceous Ilek Formation in Western Siberia (Russia) has yielded various vertebrate fossils, including skeletal remains of dinosaurs. Here we report on a fragmentary theropod egg from the vertebrate locality Shestakovo 3 of the Ilek Formation in Kemerovo Province. We assign the specimen to the oogenus Prismatoolithus (oofamily Prismatoolithidae) as Prismatoolithus ilekensis oosp. nov., on the basis of the following unique combination of characters: ovoid-shaped egg; thin eggshell 300–330 μm thick; angustiprismatic morphotype; eggshell with three different layers; gradual transition between mammillary layer and prismatic layer; abrupt contact between prismatic layer and external layer; mammillary layer to prismatic layer to external layer thickness ratio is 1:3:0.6; prismatic layer with ill-defined squamatic texture; angusticanaliculate pore system; and smooth outer surface. Like other Early Creataceous Prismatoolithus, the egg of Prismatoolithus ilekensis oosp. nov. was laid by a small bodied theropod dinosaur (troodontid or primitive bird) and this taxonomic attribution is supported by results of our phylogenetic analysis. Prismatoolithus ilekensis oosp. nov. is the first Early Cretaceous ootaxon from Russia. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:734EAD40-86C3-488B-A61E-B5FF7378BC0

Концепция развития пульмонологической помощи населению Российской Федерации (2004-2008 гг.)

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Антитела класса G, специфичные к бензо[а]пирену, эстрадиолу и прогестерону у женщин с колоректальным раком и раком молочной железы

The study was aimed to determine the level of class G antibodies specific to Bp, Es, Pg (IgG-Bp, IgG-Es, IgG-Pg) in patients with colorectal and breast cancers. Material and methods. The content of these antibodies in the blood serum of healthy women (n=401), patients with colorectal cancer (n=219) and patients with breast cancer (n=1469) was studied using a non-competitive enzyme immunoassay. Statistical analysis of the results was performed using the Statistica 8.0 software. Results. The levels of IgG-Bp >7 and IgG-Es>6 were higher in patients with colorectal cancer than in healthy controls (66 % vs 25 %, p<0.0001, OR=5.9 and 58 % vs s 45 %, p=0.002, OR=1.7, respectively). The individual antibody ratios of IgG-Bp/IgG-Es >1, IgG-Bp/IgG-Pg>1.5, and IgG-Es/IgG-Pg>1.5 were also higher in patients with colorectal cancer than in healthy controls (74 % vs 34 %, p<0.0001, OR=5.6; 75 % vs 28 %, p<0.0001, and 58 % vs 38 %, p<0.0001, OR=2.3, respectively). Compared to healthy controls, breast cancer patients had higher values of IgG-Bp >6 (57 % vs 33 %, p<0.0001, OR=2.7) and IgG-Es>5 (62 % vs 53 %, p=0.003, or=1.4) and ratios of IgG-Bp/IgG-Es>1 (55 % vs 34 %, p<0.0001, or=2.4), IgG-Bp/IgG-Pg>1.3 (71 % vs 36 %, p<0.0001, or=4.5) and IgG-Es/IgG-Pg>1.4 (62 % vs 44 %, p<0.0001, or=2.1). Compared to breast cancer patients, colorectal cancer patients had higher values of IgG-Bp>7 (66 % vs 50 %, p<0.0001) and the ratios of igg-Bp/IgG-Es >1 (74 % vs 55 %, p<0.0001) and IgG-Bp/IgG-Pg>1.5 (76 % vs 60 %, p<0.0001). Conclusion. IgG-Bp, IgG-Es, and IgG-Pg immunoassay could serve as a screening tool to identify population at risk of colorectal and breast cancers.Цель исследования ‒ определение уровня антител класса G, специфичных к бензо[а]пирену (IgG-Bp), эстрадиолу (IgG-Es) и прогестерону (IgG-Pg) у больных колоректальным раком и раком молочной железы. Материал и методы. С помощью неконкурентного иммуноферментного анализа исследовали содержание этих антител в сыворотке крови здоровых женщин (n=401), больных колоректальным раком (n=219) и раком молочной железы (n=1469). Статистический анализ результатов проводили с помощью программы Statistica 8.0. Результаты. У больных колоректальным раком по сравнению со здоровыми лицами чаще встречались высокие значения IgG-Bp >7 (66 % vs 25 %, p<0,0001, OR=5,9) и IgG-Es >6 (58 % vs 45 %, p=0,002, OR=1,7), а также индивидуальные соотношения антител: IgG-Bp / IgG-Es >1 (74 % vs в 34 %, p<0,0001, OR=5,6); IgG-Bp / IgG-Pg >1,5 (75 % vs 28 %, p<0,0001, OR=7,8); IgG-Es / IgG-Pg >1,5 (58 % vs 38 %, p<0,0001, OR=2,3). У больных раком молочной железы по сравнению со здоровыми лицами чаще встречались высокие значения IgG-Bp >6 (57 % vs 33 %, p<0,0001, oR=2,7) IgG-Es >5 (62 % vs 53 %, p=0,003, OR=1,4), а также соотношения IgG-Bp/ IgG-Es >1 (55 % vs 34 %, p<0,0001, OR=2,4), IgG-Bp / IgG-Pg >1,3 (71 % vs 36 %, p<0,0001, OR=4,5) и IgG-Es / IgG-Pg >1,4 (62 % vs 44 %, p<0,0001, OR=2,1). У больных колоректальным раком по сравнению с больными раком молочной железы чаще встречались высокие значения IgG-Bp >7 (66 % vs 50 %, p<0,0001), а также соотношения IgG-Bp / IgG-Es >1 (74 % vs 55 %, p<0,0001) и IgG-Bp IgG-Pg >1,5 (76 % vs 60 %, p<0,0001). Заключение. Иммуноанализ IgG-Bp, IgG-Es и IgG-Pg можно использовать для создания диагностических тест-систем колоректального рака и рака молочной железы

Morphology of the petrosal and stapes of Borealestes (Mammaliaformes, Docodonta) from the Middle Jurassic of Skye, Scotland

We describe, in unprecedented detail, the petros-als and stapes of the docodont Borealestes from the Middle Jurassic of Scotland, using high resolution lCT and phase- contrast synchrotron imaging. We describe the inner ear endocast and the vascularized interior structure of the pet-rosal, and provide the first endocranial view of a docodontan petrosal. Our study confirms some similarities in petrosal and stapedial morphology with the better known Haldan-odon of the Late Jurassic of Portugal, including: (1) the degree of curvature of the cochlea; (2) multiple features related to the highly pneumatized paroccipital region; (3) the shape of lateral trough, the fossa of the M. tensor tym-pani, and the ridge on the promontorium; (4) the round shape of the fenestra vestibuli; and (5) overall morphology of the stapes. But Borealestes differs from Haldanodon in having a bony ridge that separates the tympanic opening of the prootic canal, the secondary facial foramen and the hia-tus Fallopii, from the fenestra vestibuli. We identify two new vascular structures: the anterior and posterior trans-cochlear sinuses, which traverse the pars cochlearis around the cochlear nerve (VIII). These trans-cochlear sinuses have not been observed in previous docodont specimens, and could be an autapomorphy of Borealestes, or apomorphic for this clade. We also establish the anatomical relationship of the circum-promontorium plexus to the inner endocast. The high quality of our scans has made these structures visible for the first time

The mandible and dentition of Borealestes serendipitus (Docodonta) from the Middle Jurassic of Skye, Scotland

The Middle Jurassic docodont Borealestes serendipitus was the first Mesozoic mammal found in Scotland over 40 years ago. Its affinities and morphology have remained poorly understood. Although multiple dentary fragments and isolated teeth have been recovered from Scotland and England, they have not yet been described in sufficient detail. We report new, more complete specimens collected during recent field work on Skye, Scotland, combined with previously collected material. This includes upper and lower dentition and an almost complete right dentary. We present an updated description and diagnosis of the genus Borealestes, based on high-resolution micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and synchrotron scans. We identify seven key features that distinguish Borealestes from other docodonts, including a pronounced a–c crest, absence of the a–g crest on cusp a, an anterior fovea at the buccolingual midpoint of the upper molar, and the convergence of the Meckel’s groove with the ventral margin of the mandible. We also present a revised diagnosis for the second species, B. mussettae. Our phylogenetic analysis supports a clade formed by Borealestes, Haldanodon, Docofossor, and Docodon. Ontogenetic variation in the mandibular morphology of Borealestes is similar to that seen in Docodon and Haldanodon, with the delayed emergence of the ultimate lower molar, the shift of the last molar to the front of the coronoid process, and a posterior shift of the Meckel’s sulcus in successively older individuals. This supports a distinctive growth pattern in the clade including Borealestes and Docodon, one that may be present in Docodonta as a whole

A review of the fossil record of turtles of the clade Pan-Carettochelys

Turtles of the total clade Pan-Carettochelys have a relatively poor fossil record that extends from the Early Cretaceous. The clade is only found in Asia during the Cretaceous, but spreads to Europe and North America during the Eocene. Neogene finds are restricted to Europe, Africa and Australia, whereas the only surviving species, Carettochelys insculpta, lives in New Guinea and the Northern Territories of Australia. The ecology of fossil pan-carettochelyids appears similar to that of the extant C. insculpta, although more primitive representatives were likely less adapted to brackish water. Current phylogenies only recognize three internested clades: Pan- Carettochelys, Carettochelyidae and Carettochelyinae. A taxonomic review of the group concludes that of 25 named taxa, 13 are nomina valida, 7 are nomina invalida, 3 are nomina dubia, and 2 are nomina nuda