The marine chert from Las Lezas (Biel, Zaragoza) within the lithic raw materials management in the Arba de Biel sites

The upper Arba de Biel Basin hosts an interesting archaeological ensemble composed by five sites that were repeatedly occupied by human groups from the Upper Magdalenian until the Chalcolithic (between ca. 15,000 and 4,500 years calBP).This work presents the first results of the petrographic study of the local chert (Las Lezas), as well as a dissection of the different strategies concerning its gathering, management and exploitation in every occupation period. The implications derived from the different contribution of local and exogenous raw materials are exposed in the final section of our work.The upper Arba de Biel Basin hosts an interesting archaeological ensemble composed by five sites that were repeatedly occupied by human groups from the Upper Magdalenian until the Chalcolithic (between ca. 15,000 and 4,500 years calBP). Our research group has worked at the area since 1999, revealing one of the most coherent prehistoric ensembles of the Ebro Basin. Accurately framed thanks to thirty-five radiocarbon dates, it offers great study possibilities that are the basis for several PhDs: anthracology, faunal remains or lithic raw materials are already offering copious data that help to reconstruct the prehistoric life in that secluded area.This work presents the first results of the petrographic study of the local chert (Las Lezas), which was the main lithic raw material exploited by the human groups that frequented the area. This paper is also the first one that characterizes in petrological terms this chert outcrop. The different contribution along time of this local variety and other exogenous cherts like Monegros and Evaporitic of Ebro to the lithic assemblages from the five analysed sites are exposed in the final section of our work. There is a notable shift in lithic raw materials management from Magdalenian to Neolithic times: at first, local chert is predominant, with special tools knapped in good-quality Monegros chert. In Neolithic times, Las Lezas chert is barely employed and exogenous Evaporitic white chert is especially chosen to knap blades that eventually are used to obtain double-bevel retouched geometric microliths.

The Monegros-type chert: Petrographic characterization and prehistoric use

In recent years, allusions to exploitation of a so-called “Monegros-type” chert have been a commonplace in archaeological literature, mostly in Iberia but also in southern France. It has been also a routine that these references did not include a true petrographic characterization, being mere de visu descriptions of those products.This work presents, for the first time, macro and microscopic characterizations of some of the most outstanding chert outcrops located in the Middle Ebro Basin. There, tertiary limestone sediments that form the top part of the flat plateau reliefs hold great quantities of chert nodules. The noteworthy erosive processes that have affected this area have facilitated the gathering of those cherts: they are easy to find either in their original location, still embedded in the limestone layers, or in secondary position along the enormous glacis that connect those flat reliefs to the river terraces. Two main flint varieties have been defined: Monegros and Evaporitic of Ebro. Both were originated in continental lacustrine environments. They are fine-grained and offer excellent knapping possibilities; hence its common use since prehistoric times to recent semi-industrial exploitations related to 18th century gunflint productions.This paper offers a preliminary study that will be developed in a forthcoming PhD dissertation, but we also include examples of its prehistoric exploitation in the Ebro Basin and abroad

Tecno-economía y gestión de recursos líticos en la industria finipaleolítica del Barranco Salao (Loporzano, Huesca)

Este estudio presenta los resultados de la investigación sobre los materiales líticos recopilados a lo largo de los años en el paraje del Barranco Salao (Loporzano, Huesca). A pesar de no haberse encontrado el lugar exacto de ubicación del yacimiento prehistórico, el estudio de las materias primas y de la tecno-tipología lítica permite establecer un claro patrón de aprovisionamiento y transformación de las variedades silíceas, relacionado con las prácticas económicas de las sociedades del final del Paleolítico, con presencia esporádica de elementos en sílex de cronologías más recientes

Tecno-economía y gestión de recursos líticos en la industria finipaleolítica del Barranco Salao (Loporzano, Huesca)

This study presents the results of the research on the lithic materials collected over the years in the Barranco Salao area (Loporzano, Huesca). Despite not having found the exact location of the prehistoric site, the study of the raw materials and the lithic techno-typology allows to establish a clear pattern of supply and transformation of the siliceous varieties, related to the economic practices of the societies of the end of the Palaeolithic, with occasional presence of flint elements from more recent chronologies.Este estudio presenta los resultados de la investigación sobre los materiales líticos recopilados a lo largo de los años en el paraje del Barranco Salao (Loporzano, Huesca). A pesar de no haberse encontrado el lugar exacto de ubicación del yacimiento prehistórico, el estudio de las materias primas y de la tecno-tipología lítica permite establecer un claro patrón de aprovisionamiento y transformación de las variedades silíceas, relacionado con las prácticas económicas de las sociedades del final del Paleolítico, con presencia esporádica de elementos en sílex de cronologías más recientes

Referencias anatómicas para la tenolisis percutánea de los flexores de la mano

Producción CientíficaResumen: Objetivos: La tenosinovitis estenosante de los flexores de la mano es una patología muy frecuente en el ámbito laboral. Se han descrito distintos tratamientos de tipo conservador, aunque el tratamiento definitivo de los casos que no responden a otros tratamientos es quirúrgico, siendo la técnica abierta y la liberación percutánea las dos técnicas de elección. Esta última ha obtenido resultados superiores de satisfacción aunque la ausencia de visualización incrementa las lesiones neurovasculares y el riesgo de apertura incompleta de la polea, por ello es necesario establecer puntos de referencia anatómicos para realizar una correcta liberación. Material y método: Se realizó un estudio experimental en cinco manos de cadáver en el Departamento de Anatomía de la Universidad de Valladolid. Se realizaron mediciones de las longitudes de los dedos y de la polea. Se registró la posición de la aguja y de cada uno de los dedos al realizar la polectomía percutánea y se comprobó si la sección de la polea A1 fue completa, si existió alguna laceración de los tendones o si se produjo una lesión iatrógena del paquete neurovascular o de la polea A2. Resultados: Para establecer el punto de entrada de la aguja intramuscular se tomó como referencia la intersección entre el eje del dedo y el surco dígito-palmar. En el caso del tercer y cuarto dedo la entrada fue en el punto de la intersección, mientras que en el resto se desplazó 1-1,5 mm en dirección medial. El ángulo de entrada de la aguja intramuscular en el plano anterior osciló entre 0-30 grados en función del dígito, mientras que en el plano lateral fue siempre 0 excepto en el cuarto dedo que corresponde a un valor de -60 grados respecto al eje palmar. No se observó ninguna lesión iatrógena de los tendones flexores, del paquete neurovascular o de la polea A2. La apertura fue completa en todos los dedos salvo en un caso del segundo dedo. Conclusión: La tenolisis percutánea de la polea A1 es una alternativa a la liberación abierta tradicional, aunque existe controversia debido a la relación riesgo-beneficio. El conocimiento de las referencias anatómicas así como la posición exacta del dígito y de los instrumentos utilizados ayudan a evitar la liberación incompleta de la polea, los problemas neurovasculares y la lesión de estructuras adyacente. En el presente estudio anatómico se ha comprobado que es una técnica segura ya que no ha ocurrido ninguna lesión iatrógena y fiable, que se ha conseguido una liberación completa en todos los casos salvo uno

Nuevos datos sobre la transición Pleistoceno/Holoceno en el noreste de la península ibérica: el Sauveterriense de Peña-14 (Biel, Zaragoza)

We offer the results of the study of the lithic industry recovered in level d of the Peña-14 rockshelter (Biel, Zaragoza).The system of lithic production has been thoroughly reconstructed after analysis of the technological and raw materials.Results point to Epipalaeolithic technological dynamics (local supply, technological simplification, predominance of microlaminar elements…), and more precisely to the Sauveterrian.In this sense, this paper offers new data concerning the development of this complex in NE Iberia, raising new questions concerning its chronology, industrial features and its connection with previous and neighboring traditions.Presentamos los resultados del estudio de la industria lítica del nivel d del abrigo de Peña-14 (Biel, Zaragoza). El análisis tecnológico y de materias primas efectuado permite una reconstrucción completa del sistema de producción lítica. Los resultados remiten a dinámicas tecnológicas propias del Epipaleolítico (aprovisionamiento local, simplificación tecnológica, predominancia del utillaje microlaminar…), adscribiéndose más concretamente al Sauveterriense. En este sentido, el presente trabajo ofrece nuevos datos sobre el desarrollo de este complejo en el noreste de la península ibérica, planteando nuevas cuestiones sobre su enmarque cronológico, características industriales, y su vinculación con las tradiciones previas y vecinas

Cellulose Biosynthesis Inhibitors: Comparative Effect on Bean Cell Cultures

[EN] The variety of bioassays developed to evaluate different inhibition responses for cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors makes it difficult to compare the results obtained. This work aims (i) to test a single inhibitory assay for comparing active concentrations of a set of putative cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors and (ii) to characterize their effect on cell wall polysaccharides biosynthesis following a short-term exposure. For the first aim, dose-response curves for inhibition of dry-weight increase following a 30 days exposure of bean callus-cultured cells to these inhibitors were obtained. The compound concentration capable of inhibiting dry weight increase by 50% compared to control (I50) ranged from subnanomolar (CGA 325′615) to nanomolar (AE F150944, flupoxam, triazofenamide and oxaziclomefone) and micromolar (dichlobenil, quinclorac and compound 1) concentrations. In order to gain a better understanding of the effect of the putative inhibitors on cell wall polysaccharides biosynthesis, the [14C]glucose incorporation into cell wall fractions was determined after a 20 h exposure of cell suspensions to each inhibitor at their I50 value. All the inhibitors tested decreased glucose incorporation into cellulose with the exception of quinclorac, which increased it. In some herbicide treatments, reduction in the incorporation into cellulose was accompanied by an increase in the incorporation into other fractions. In order to appreciate the effect of the inhibitors on cell wall partitioning, a cluster and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) based on the relative contribution of [14C]glucose incorporation into the different cell wall fractions were performed, and three groups of compounds were identified. The first group included quinclorac, which increased glucose incorporation into cellulose; the second group consisted of compound 1, CGA 325′615, oxaziclomefone and AE F150944, which decreased the relative glucose incorporation into cellulose but increased it into tightly-bound cellulose fractions; and the third group, comprising flupoxam, triazofenamide and dichlobenil, decreased the relative glucose incorporation into cellulose and increased it into a pectin rich fraction.SISpanish Ministry of Science and Innovation programs ( AGL2011-30545-C02-02)This work was partly supported by grants from Junta de Castilla y León (LE 48A07

Aplicación clínica de la técnica percutánea en la tenosinovitis estenosante de los flexores de la mano

Producción CientíficaLa tenosinovitis estenosante de los flexores de la mano es una patología que conduce al bloqueo de la polea de flexión proximal del dedo. Aunque el tratamiento inicial es conservador, si éste no es efectivo, está indicado el tratamiento quirúrgico mediante liberación abierta o percutánea. Material y método: Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo de 116 pacientes intervenidos de dedo en resorte en el HCUV (enero 2005- diciembre 2007), seguimiento medio 36 meses. Análisis de datos con el 91% de los pacientes (105 pacientes) con un total de 182 dedos afectos realizando comparación de ambas técnicas. Resultados: Edad media varones 53.70 años y la de las mujeres 53.95. El 34% de las manos intervenidas no presentan otras patologías asociadas. Primer dedo más afectado, seguido del tercero y cuarto. Se realizó técnica percutánea en el 42% de los pacientes, abierta en el 53% y ambas en el 5% del total. Destacan los problemas con la cicatriz en la tenolisis abierta. Técnica percutánea permite reincorporación a la vida laboral 8 días antes. Discusión: La liberación percutánea de la polea A1 es una alternativa a la liberación abierta por su bajo coste y por permitir una rápida reincorporación del paciente a su vida laboral. Gracias a estudios experimentales en cadáver, se obtienen referencias topográficas que aportan mayor seguridad, permitiendo ampliar el uso de esta técnica que ha demostrado grandes ventajas en el ámbito socio-económico y labora

The use of FTIR spectroscopy to monitor modifications in plant cell wall architecture caused by cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors

[EN] Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectroscopy is a powerful and rapid technique for analyzing cell wall components and putative cross-links, which is able to non-destructively recognize polymers and functional groups and provide abundant information about their in muro organization. FTIR spectroscopy has been reported to be a useful tool for monitoring cell wall changes occurring in muro as a result of various factors, such as growth and development processes, mutations or biotic and abiotic stresses. This mini-review examines the use of FTIR spectroscopy in conjunction with multivariate analyses to monitor cell wall changes related to (1) the exposure of diverse plant materials to cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors (CBIs) and (2) the habituation/dehabituation of plant cell cultures to this kind of herbicides. The spectra analyses show differences not only regarding the inhibitor, but also regarding how long cells have been growing in its presence.SIThis work was supported by grants from Junta de Castilla y León (LE 17/04 and LE 48A07), University of León (ULE-2006-2

Habituation and dehabituation to dichlobenil. Simply the equivalent of Penélope’s weaving and unweaving process?

[EN] The habituation of cell cultures to cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors constitutes a valuable method for learning more about the plasticity of plant cell wall composition and structure. The subculture of habituated cells in the absence of an inhibitor (dehabituation) offers complementary information: some habituation-associated modifications revert, whereas others remain, even after long-term (3-5 years) dehabituation processes. However, is dehabituation simply the opposite to the process of habituation, in the same way that the cloth woven by Penélope during the day was unwoven during the night? Principal Component Analysis applied to Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) spectra of cell walls from dichlobenil-habituated and dehabituated bean cell lines has shown that dehabituation follows a different pathway to that of habituation. Principal component loadings show that dehabituated cells have more pectins, but that these display a lower degree of methyl-esterification, than those of habituated ones. Further analysis of cell walls focusing on the first steps of habituation would serve to identify which specific modifications in pectins are responsible to the fine modulation of cell wall architecture observed during the habituation/dehabituation process.SIThis work was supported by grants from the Junta de Castilla y León (LE 048A07