Ursus spelaeus del Pleistoceno Superior y fauna asociada de Loutraki (Pella, Macedonia, Grecia): excavaciones de 1999

[Abstract] The large mammal assemblage from the bear-cave A in Loutraki, Pella, Macedonia, Greece, mostly very well preserved, is described and analysed. Among Ursus spelaeus remains, other large mammalian faunal remains, found up to 1999 (the excavation is still in progress) in association with the cave-bears belong to: Crocuta spelaea , Panthera pardus , Vulpes vulpes , Capra ibex , Dama s p . One pyrite artefact, found also in association with the ursid remains, adds great interest to this site. The preliminary study showed the predominant presence of the cave-bear, while only very few specimens represent other animals. The presence of abundant deciduous bear teeth, in spite of their fragility, is remarkable. On some bones there are carnivore trace, either of other ursids or scavengers. The taphonomical approach would show interesting results

PALAEOCLIMATIC EVOLUTION IN LOUTRA ARIDEAS CAVE (ALMOPIA SPELEOPARK, MACEDONIA, N. GREECE) BY STABLE ISOTOPIC ANALYSIS OF FOSSIL BEAR BONES AND TEETH

Carbon and oxygen stable isotope values (δ13C, δ18O) were obtained from structural carbonate in the bioapatite of bear bones (Ursus ingressus) from Loutra Arideas cave, Almopia Speleopark, Macedonia, N. Greece. Samples of Late Pleistocene bear bones were studied for palaeoclimatic reconstruction of the area. The age range of the fossil layers is from 32ka BP to a maximum of 38ka BP. Generally, the palaeoclimatic proxy is correlated with literature data for climatic variations in the area during Late Pleistocene, whereas dietary behavior was investigated taking into account possible diagenetic processes that may have affected the carbonate matrix of the bones

Estudio preliminar de micromamíferos del Pleistoceno Superior de la cueva de Loutraki (Pella, Macedonia, Grecia)

[Abstract] The Loutraki Bear-cave (Northern Greece) yielded a rich Pleistocene fauna including mammals, amphibians and reptiles. In the present study the small mammal fauna associated with cave-bear remains is studied. The material comes from a long-time excavation project, which is still in progress. This study allows us to propose a Late Pleistocene age for the Loutraki fauna. The composition of the LAC-micromammalin fauna suggests a complex environment

SHORELINE EFFECTS OF 10-28 RUNWAY OF “MACEDONIA" AIRPORT EXTENSION INTO THE SEA LABORATORY STUDY

Προκειμένου να διερευνηθούν οι επιπτώσεις στις παρακείμενες ακτές από την επέκταση στη θάλασσα του διαδρόμου προσαπογειώσεων "10-28", του κρατικού διεθνή αερολιμένα Θεσσαλονίκης "Μακεδονία", ανατέθηκε από το Υ.ΠΕ.ΧΩ.Δ.Ε./Ε.Υ.Δ.Ε. Αεροδρομίων Βόρειας Ελλάδας, στο Εργαστήριο Λιμενικών Έργων του Εθνικού Μετσόβιου Πολυτεχνείου η έρευνα σε φυσικό προσομοίωμα. Κατά την πειραματική μελέτη της κυματικής διαταραχής στην περιοχή του αερολιμένα, παρατηρήθηκε μικρή αύξηση της κυματικής διαταραχής λόγω ανάκλασης των προσπιπτόντων κυματισμών στο μέτωπο του προβλεπόμενου έργου και προσωρινές ζώνες στασιμότητας ροής στις γωνίες του, ενώ δεν παρατηρήθηκε συστηματική και αξιοσημείωτη αλλοίωση της ακτογραμμής από την παρουσία του έργου. Οι κατασκευαστικές εργασίες (λιμενικά έργα) έχουν ξεκινήσει από το τέλος του 2006. Τα αποτελέσματα των πειραματικών μετρήσεων στο φυσικό προσομοίωμα επιβεβαιώνονται με την απόκριση του έργου στη φύση δεδομένου ότι δεν έχουν σημειωθεί μέχρι σήμερα αλλοιώσεις και διάβρωση της ακτογραμμής.Thessaloniki International Airport “Macedonia” had decided the extension of the existing Runway “10-28” by about 1 km west into the sea. In order to assure that no catastrophic erosion of the adjacent beaches will occur due to such a big construction into the sea, the Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works assigned Laboratory of Harbour Works of National Technical University of Athens the experimental investigation of its coastal impacts. Wave perturbation, wave overtopping and beach response to the construction of the Runway were tested. The construction of the Runway in the sea has already started. The experimental results were confirmed by field observation

Ca L2,3 edge XANES and Sr K edge EXAFS study of hydroxyapatite and fossil bone apatite

Upon burial, the organic and inorganic components of hard tissues such as bone, teeth, and tusks are subjected to various alterations as a result of interactions with the chemical milieu of soil, groundwater, and presence of microorganisms. In this study, simulation of the Ca L$_{2,3}$-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectrum of hydroxyapatite, using the CTM4XAS code, reveals that the different symmetry of the two nonequivalent Ca$_{(1)}$ and Ca${(2)}$ sites in the unit cell gives rise to specific spectral features. Moreover, Ca L$_{2,3}$-edge XANES spectroscopy is applied in order to assess variations in fossil bone apatite crystallinity due to heavy bacterial alteration and catastrophic mineral dissolution, compared to well-preserved fossil apatite, fresh bone, and geologic apatite reference samples. Fossilization-induced chemical alterations are investigated by means of Ca L$_{2,3}$-edge XANES and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and are related to histological evaluation using optical microscopy images. Finally, the variations in the bonding environment of Sr and its preference for substitution in the Ca$_{(1)}$ or Ca$_{(2)}$ sites upon increasing the Sr/Ca ratio is assessed by Sr K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy

Characterization of fossil remains using XRF, XPS and XAFS spectroscopies

Synchrotron radiation micro-X-Ray Fluorescence (m-XRF), X-ray photoelectron (XPS) and X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) spectroscopies are applied for the study of paleontological findings. More specifically the costal plate of a gigantic terrestrial turtle Titanochelon bacharidisi and a fossilized coprolite of the cave spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta spelaea are studied. Ca L2,3-edge NEXAFS and Ca 2p XPS are applied for the identification and quantification of apatite and Ca containing minerals. XRF mapping and XAFS are employed for the study of the spatial distribution and speciation of the minerals related to the deposition environment.Fil: Zougrou, I.M.. Aristotle University of Thessalonik; GreciaFil: Katsikini, M.. Aristotle University of Thessalonik; GreciaFil: Pinakidou, F.. Aristotle University of Thessalonik; GreciaFil: Brzhezinskaya, M.. No especifíca;Fil: Papadopoulou, L.. Aristotle University of Thessalonik; GreciaFil: Vlachos, Evangelos. Aristotle University of Thessalonik; Grecia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Tsoukala, E.. Aristotle University of Thessalonik; GreciaFil: Paloura, E.C.. Aristotle University of Thessalonik; Greci

Frontal sinuses and human evolution

The frontal sinuses are cavities inside the frontal bone located at the junction between the face and the cranial vault and close to the brain. Despite a long history of study, understanding of their origin and variation through evolution is limited. This work compares most hominin species? holotypes and other key individuals with extant hominids. It provides a unique and valuable perspective of the variation in sinuses position, shape, and dimensions based on a simple and reproducible methodology. We also observed a covariation between the size and shape of the sinuses and the underlying frontal lobes in hominin species from at least the appearance of Homo erectus. Our results additionally undermine hypotheses stating that hominin frontal sinuses were directly affected by biomechanical constraints resulting from either chewing or adaptation to climate. Last, we demonstrate their substantial potential for discussions of the evolutionary relationships between hominin species. Variation in frontal sinus shape and dimensions has high potential for phylogenetic discussion when studying human evolution

Probing the Links between Political Economy and Non-Traditional Security: Themes, Approaches, and Instruments

This is a pre-print of an article published in International Politics. The definitive publisher-authenticated version of: Hameiri, Shahar, and Lee Jones. "Probing the links between political economy and non-traditional security: Themes, approaches and instruments." International Politics (2015), is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/ip.2015.1In recent decades, the security agenda for states and international organisations has expanded dramatically to include a range of ‘non-traditional’, transnational security issues. It is often suggested that globalisation has been a key driver for the emergence or intensification of these problems, but, surprisingly, little sustained scholarly effort has been made to examine the link between responses to the new security agenda and the changing political economy. This curious neglect largely reflects the mutual blind-spots of the sub-disciplines of International Security Studies and International Political Economy, coupled with the dominance of approaches that tend to neglect economic factors. This special issue, which this article introduces, aims to overcome this significant gap. In particular, it focuses on three key themes: the broad relationship between security and the political economy; what is being secured in the name of security, and how this has changed; and how things are being secured – what modes of governance have emerged to manage security problems. In all of these areas, the contributions point to the crucial role of the state in translating shifting state-economy relations to new security definitions and practices

Frontal sinuses and human evolution

The frontal sinuses are cavities inside the frontal bone located at the junction between the face and the cranial vault and close to the brain. Despite a long history of study, understanding of their origin and variation through evolution is limited. This work compares most hominin species’ holotypes and other key individuals with extant hominids. It provides a unique and valuable perspective of the variation in sinuses position, shape, and dimensions based on a simple and reproducible methodology. We also observed a covariation between the size and shape of the sinuses and the underlying frontal lobes in hominin species from at least the appearance of Homo erectus. Our results additionally undermine hypotheses stating that hominin frontal sinuses were directly affected by biomechanical constraints resulting from either chewing or adaptation to climate. Last, we demonstrate their substantial potential for discussions of the evolutionary relationships between hominin species