Description of the skull of the genus Syluiornis Poplin, 1980 (Aves, Galliformes, Sylviornithidae new family), a giant extinct bird from the Holocene of New Caledonia.

El crani de Sylviornismostra una articulació crania rostral completament mòbil, amb dos còndils articulars situats sobre el rostrum, el qual s'insereix al crani en dues superfícies articulars allargades. La presència de dos procesos rostropterigoideus sobre el basisfenoide del rostrum i la forma dels palatins permet confirmar que aquest gènere pertany als Galliformes, però les característiques altament derivades del crani justifiquen el seu emplaçament a una nova família, extingida, Sylviornithidae. El crani de Syluiornis està extremadament eixamplat i dorsoventralment aplanat, mentre que el rostrum és massís, lateralment comprimit, dorsoventralment aixecat i mostra unes cristae tomiales molt fondes. El rostrum exhibeix un ornament ossi gran. La mandíbula mostra una símfisi molt allargada, les branques laterals també presenten unes cristae tomiales fondes, i la part posterior de la mandíbula és molt gruixada. Es discuteix el possible origen i l'alimentació de Syluiornis.The skull of Syluiornis shows a completely mobile craniorostral articulation, with two articular condyles situated on the rostrum, which insert into two elongated articular surfaces on the cranium. The presence of two rostropterygoíd processes on the basisphenoid rostrum and the shape of the palatines make it possible to confirm that this genus belongs to the Galliformes, but the highly derived characteristics of the skull justify its placement in a new, extinct family Sylviornithidae. The cranium of Syluiornis is extremely widened and dorsoventrally flattened, while the rostrum is massive, laterally compressed, dorsoventrally raised and displays very sharp cristae tomiales. The rostrum bears a large bony ornament. The mandible shows a very elongated symphysis, the lateral branches also show sharp cristae tomiales, and the posterior part of the mandible is very thick. The possible diet of Syluiornis is discussed

Using the grey literature to better understand the potential health impacts of cabin air quality

This paper presents an extensive database of 450 chemicals reported in the grey literature (technical reports and documents) in association with the aircraft cabin environment. 72% (325 chemicals) of these exhibited toxic properties. The most affected target organs were skin (302 chemicals), eyes (294 chemicals), respiratory system (234 chemicals), and central nervous system (94 chemicals). The database includes available occupational exposure limits for a wide range of these pollutants (118). Results from technical reports on pollutant levels in aircraft were compared against their threshold health-based screening values. When performing a human health risk assessment on a chemical-by-chemical basis, there were no exceedances of average concentrations against workplace exposure limits. However, there were exceedances in maximum reported concentrations for ozone and acrolein. When chemical exposure was assessed additively for chemicals affecting the same target organs, the average concentrations did not exceed workplace limits. However, there were exceedances for maximum concentrations for compounds that targeted the eyes, skin, cardiovascular system, blood, and respiratory system. When performing a conservative additive risk assessment of endocrine disruptors (and potential endocrine disruptors), exceedances were observed when compared with no observed adverse effect levels (NOAEL) and workplace exposure thresholds established for confirmed endocrine disruption. Our results indicate that no single chemical is responsible for the adverse health effects reported by aircrew and instead point towards a combination of chemicals and additional factors. This work stresses the need for more comprehensive assessments that are coupled with epidemiological studies and risk assessments that consider exposure to multiple pollutants and specificities of the environment inside aircraft

Phytoscreening for Chlorinated Solvents using Rapid in Vitro SPME Sampling: Application to Urban Plume in Verl, Germany

Rapid Detection and Delineation of Contaminants in Urban Settings is Critically Important in Protecting Human Health. Cores from Trees Growing above a Plume of Contaminated Groundwater in Verl, Germany, Were Collected in 1 Day, with Subsequent Analysis and Plume Mapping Completed over Several Days. Solid-Phase Microextraction (SPME) Analysis Was Applied to Detect Tetrachloroethene (PCE) and Trichloroethene (TCE) to Below Nanogram/liter Levels in the Transpiration Stream of the Trees. the Tree Core Concentrations Showed a Clear Areal Correlation to the Distribution of PCE and TCE in the Groundwater. Concentrations in Tree Cores Were Lower Than the Underlying Groundwater, as Anticipated; However, the Tree Core Water Retained the PCE:TCE Signature of the Underlying Groundwater in the Urban, Populated Area. the PCE:TCE Ratio Can Indicate Areas of Differing Degradation Activity. Therefore, the Phytoscreening Analysis Was Capable Not Only of Mapping the Spatial Distribution of Groundwater Contamination But Also of Delineating Zones of Potentially Differing Contaminant Sources and Degradation. the Simplicity of Tree Coring and the Ability to Collect a Large Number of Samples in a Day with Minimal Disruption or Property Damage in the Urban Setting Demonstrates that Phytoscreening Can Be a Powerful Tool for Gaining Reconnaissance-Level Information on Groundwater Contaminated by Chlorinated Solvents. the Use of SPME Decreases the Detection Level Considerably and Increases the Sensitivity of Phytoscreening as an Assessment, Monitoring, and Phytoforensic Tool. with Rapid, Inexpensive, and Noninvasive Methods of Detecting and Delineating Contaminants Underlying Homes, as in This Case, Human Health Can Be Better Protected through Screening of Broader Areas and with Far Faster Response Times. © 2011 American Chemical Society

Investigating the potential for transisomerisation of trycresyl phosphate with a palladium catalyst and its implications for aircraft cabin air quality

The quality of aircraft cabin air has been an area of concern for several decades. Many investigations have linked the presence of organophosphates in air to Aerotoxic Syndrome with adverse symptoms reported by thousands of aircraft crew across the globe. Currently the source of organophosphates has been under debate, with studies pointing towards tricresylphosphates (TCP) in aircraft oil as the main source due to leaks in engine seals resulting in fumes entering the cabin. However, comparisons of oil and cabin samples have shown that the cabin samples contain a much higher proportion of ortho-substituted TCP than is commonly detected in oil. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the potential for palladium catalysts (present in aircraft air conditioning systems) to convert meta- and para-substituted TCP to produce ortho-substituted TCP through transisomerisation. This experiment was performed in a controlled laboratory setting aimed to represent the conditions likely to be experienced in aircraft. Samples were introduced to a stainless steel micro reactor tube containing the pelletized palladium catalyst using a HPLC pump with a 0.2 ml/min feed flow rate. The temperature maintained at 400 °C over a period of 1 h and samples collected using a condensing vesicle. These were then diluted and transferred to a 2 mL vial for analysis by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. No evidence supporting the transisomerisation of tricresylphosphate was obtained. This indicates that more emphasis should be placed on identifying other potential sources of ortho substituted TCP

Les caractères aviens généraux : distribution et interprétation systématique

The distribution of the general avian characters reveals that these characters are often shared by other vertebrates while many exceptions occur within birds. As an exemple, the furcula is present in at least 6 species of reptiles and is absent in many birds. The fairly high number of exceptions and the presence of these characters in some other species show the difficulty to find characters that could define the class Aves.L'étude de la distribution des caractères aviens "généraux" fait apparaître que nombre de ces caractères sont présents chez d'autres vertébrés, tandis que d'autres caractères présentent de plus ou moins nombreuses exceptions au sein des oiseaux. Ainsi la furcula est-elle présente chez au moins 6 espèces de reptiles tandis qu'elle est absente chez beaucoup d'oiseaux. Le nombre parfois élevé d'exceptions à la généralité de ces caractères au sein des oiseaux, et la présence de certains de ces caractères chez d'autres vertébrés soulignent la difficulté de trouver des caractères qui puissent définir l'ensemble de la classe Aves.Balouet Jean-Christophe. Les caractères aviens généraux : distribution et interprétation systématique. In: Documents des Laboratoires de Géologie, Lyon, n°99, 1987. L'évolution des oiseaux d'après le témoignage des fossiles. Table ronde internationale du CNRS, Lyon-Villeurbanne, 18-21 septembre 1985. pp. 49-55

Bibliographie : Oiseaux et reptiles fossiles de Nouvelle-Caledonie / Birds and fossil Reptiles of New Caledonia : Bibliography

Balouet Jean-Christophe. Bibliographie : Oiseaux et reptiles fossiles de Nouvelle-Caledonie / Birds and fossil Reptiles of New Caledonia : Bibliography. In: Le Pacifique, l’océan, ses rivages et ses îles / The Pacific, the ocean, its shore and islands. Trente ans de recherche scientifique française dans le Pacifique (1960-1990) Actes du colloques du colloque organisé le 6-11-1990 par la Fondation Singer-Polignac. Talence : Centre de Recherches sur les Espaces Tropicaux (Université Michel de Montaigne, Bordeaux 3), 1991. p. 363. (Îles et Archipels, 14

Use of Dendrochemistry to assess contamination history of polluted sites

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ScanChem, a new software for dendrochemistry

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Phytoforensics, Dendrochemistry, and Phytoscreening: New Green Tools for Delineating Contaminants from Past and Present

As Plants Evolved to Be Extremely Proficient in Mass Transfer with their Surroundings and Survive as Earth\u27s Dominant Biomass, They Also Accumulate and Store Some Contaminants from Surroundings, Acting as Passive Samplers. Novel Applications and Analytical Methods Have Been Utilized to Gain Information About a Wide Range of Contaminants in the Biosphere Soil, Water, and Air, with Information Available on Both Past (Dendrochemistry) and Present (Phytoscreening). Collectively These Sampling Approaches Provide Rapid, Cheap, Ecologically Friendly, and overall Green Tools Termed Phytoforensics . © 2011 American Chemical Society

Phytoscreening-based assessment of mercury in soil

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