Faunes du Jurassique supérieur dans les séries pélagiques de l'escarpement de Malte (Mer Ionienne). Implications paléogéographiques Upper Jurassic Fauna in the Pelagic Series of the Malta Escarpment (Lonian Sea). Paleogeographic Implications

Au cours d'une campagne de plongée sur les escarpements qui bordent le bassin Ionien profond, des roches sédimentaires d'âge jurassique supérieur ont pu être récoltées dans l'escarpement de Malte, associées à des coulées de pillow-lavas. Les faunes d'Ammonites, typiquement mésogéennes, indiquent des âges oxfordien et tithonique. Elles peuvent correspondre à un milieu de dépôt profond. Les foraminifères recueillis dans les niveaux équivalents, riches en radiolaires, sclérites d'holothuries, fragments d'aptychus et rares Ostracodes, indiquent un âge oxfordien au sens large et un milieu de dépôt relativement profond. Cette série, relativement condensée et profonde, est comparable aux séries du même âge connues en Sicile. Elle s'oppose aux séries de calcaires de plate-forme néritiques du Trias-Lias inférieur qui constituent la base de la coupe. II y a donc eu un changement radical de milieu de sédimentation entre le Lias et le Callovo-Oxfordien, accompagné d'une distension révélée par un magmatisme important. <br> During a diving campaing along the escarpments bordering the deep lonian Basin, Upper Jurassic sedimentary rocks were gathered from the Malta escarpment, associated with pillow-lava. Typically Mesogean ammonite fauna indicate Oxfordian and Tithonian ages. They correspond to a relatively deep deposition environment. The Foraminifers gathered in the equivalent levels, which proved to be rich in radiolarians, holothuroid sclerites, aptychus fragments and sparse ostracodes, indicate an Oxfordian age and a relatively deep deposition environnent. This relatively condensed and deep series can be compared with series of the same age known in Sicily. It is opposed to the Lower Triassic-Lias neritic platform limestone series making up the bottom of the section. A radical change in sedimentation thus occured between the Lias and the Callovo-Oxfordain, accompanied by a distension revealed by extensive magmatism

Reversible lysozyme immobilization onto N,N'-bis-(3-(4-morpholino)- propyl)-3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic acid dimide (MPPDI) attached polymeric nanospheres

Novel hydrophobic nanospheres with an average size of 200 nm utilizing N,N'-bis-(3-(4-morpholino)-propyl)-3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic acid dimide (MPPDI) as a monomer were prepared by surfactant free emulsion polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and MPPDI conducted in an aqueous dispersion medium. The nanospheres were used for the adsorption of lysozyme. The system parameters, such as effect of the adsorption conditions (i.e. enzyme concentration, medium pH, and temperature) and the reusability of the support were studied. Specific surface area of the nonporous nanospheres was found 664 m 2/g. Poly(HEMA-MPPDI) nanospheres were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), elemental analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Then, poly(HEMA-MPPDI) nanospheres were used in the adsorption of lysozyme in batch system. Using an optimized adsorption protocol, 400 mg lysozyme/g nanosphere loading capacity was obtained. The adsorption phenomena appeared to follow a typical Langmuir isotherm. Lysozyme could be repeatedly adsorbed and desorbed with poly(HEMA-MPPDI) nanospheres without noticeable loss in the adsorption capacity. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Late Jurassic dinosaur footprint sites of southern Jura (France)

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Integrated stratigraphy of the Oxfordian global stratotype section and point (GSSP) candidate in the Subalpine Basin (SE France)

An integrated biostratigraphic approach, based on ammonites, calcareous nannofossils, dinoflagellates, combined with sedimentology, carbon-isotope and physical stratigraphy, is proposed for the Subalpine Basin (Thuoux and Saint-Pierre d’Argençon sections). Within the expanded marl deposits of the Terres Noires Fm., the Callovian-Oxfordian boundary is particularly well defined by ammonite taxa from different families (i.e. Cardioceratidae, Oppeliidae, Aspidoceratidae and Perisphinctidae), calcareous nannoplankton (first occurrence of large-sized Stephanolithion bigotii) and dinoflagellate cysts (first occurrence of Wanaea fimbriata). This precise biostratigraphy and diversity of ammonites permit long-range correlations with Boreal and Pacific domains. The exceptional outcrop conditions and continuous sedimentation allow high-resolution chemostratigraphy and cyclostratigraphy to be used. Variations of the δ13C record (1.5‰ increase during the Lamberti Zone), consistent with data from other sections of the Subalpine Basin and with the Paris Basin, provide additional markers to characterise the Callovian-Oxfordian boundary. Promising results from cyclostratigraphy should serve to constrain the duration of biostratigraphic units and thus improve the Late Jurassic Geologic Time Scale. Comparisons are made with the two other candidates for an Oxfordian GSSP, Redcliff Point (UK) and Dubki (Russian Platform). Finally, the advantages of the Subalpine Basin sections support the proposal of Thuoux as a suitable GSSP candidate for the base of the Oxfordian Stag