The RESET project: constructing a European tephra lattice for refined synchronisation of environmental and archaeological events during the last c. 100 ka

This paper introduces the aims and scope of the RESET project (. RESponse of humans to abrupt Environmental Transitions), a programme of research funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (UK) between 2008 and 2013; it also provides the context and rationale for papers included in a special volume of Quaternary Science Reviews that report some of the project's findings. RESET examined the chronological and correlation methods employed to establish causal links between the timing of abrupt environmental transitions (AETs) on the one hand, and of human dispersal and development on the other, with a focus on the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic periods. The period of interest is the Last Glacial cycle and the early Holocene (c. 100-8 ka), during which time a number of pronounced AETs occurred. A long-running topic of debate is the degree to which human history in Europe and the Mediterranean region during the Palaeolithic was shaped by these AETs, but this has proved difficult to assess because of poor dating control. In an attempt to move the science forward, RESET examined the potential that tephra isochrons, and in particular non-visible ash layers (cryptotephras), might offer for synchronising palaeo-records with a greater degree of finesse. New tephrostratigraphical data generated by the project augment previously-established tephra frameworks for the region, and underpin a more evolved tephra 'lattice' that links palaeo-records between Greenland, the European mainland, sub-marine sequences in the Mediterranean and North Africa. The paper also outlines the significance of other contributions to this special volume: collectively, these illustrate how the lattice was constructed, how it links with cognate tephra research in Europe and elsewhere, and how the evidence of tephra isochrons is beginning to challenge long-held views about the impacts of environmental change on humans during the Palaeolithic. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.RESET was funded through Consortium Grants awarded by the Natural Environment Research Council, UK, to a collaborating team drawn from four institutions: Royal Holloway University of London (grant reference NE/E015905/1), the Natural History Museum, London (NE/E015913/1), Oxford University (NE/E015670/1) and the University of Southampton, including the National Oceanography Centre (NE/01531X/1). The authors also wish to record their deep gratitude to four members of the scientific community who formed a consultative advisory panel during the lifetime of the RESET project: Professor Barbara Wohlfarth (Stockholm University), Professor Jørgen Peder Steffensen (Niels Bohr Institute, Copenhagen), Dr. Martin Street (Romisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum, Neuwied) and Professor Clive Oppenheimer (Cambridge University). They provided excellent advice at key stages of the work, which we greatly valued. We also thank Jenny Kynaston (Geography Department, Royal Holloway) for construction of several of the figures in this paper, and Debbie Barrett (Elsevier) and Colin Murray Wallace (Editor-in-Chief, QSR) for their considerable assistance in the production of this special volume.Peer Reviewe

Using of immunocytochemistry in differential diagnosis of neoplasms of serosal cavities in dogs

The presence of tumor within the serosal cavities, often connected with accumulation of serosal effusion, is a quite common problem in the small animal veterinary medicine. The first step in diagnosis of such cases is cytopathological examination. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of cytology and immunocytochemistry, using commercially available antibodies (anti-cytokeratin, anti-vimentin, and anti-desmin), in differential diagnosis of malignant tumors located within serosal cavities in dogs. The final cytological diagnosis of carcinoma/adenocarcinoma, sarcoma, and mesothelioma was obtained on the basis of routine cytopathology and immunocytochemistry, and then confirmed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Cytoplasmic immunoreactivitiy of normal mesothelid cells and cytoplasmic immunoreactivity of hyperplastic mesothelial cells revealed constant and strong expression of all examined intermediate filaments: cytokeratin, vimentin and desmin. Application of routine cytopathology and immunocytochemistry allowed 32 neoplastic tumors to be detected: 19 cases of carcinomas/adenocarcinomas, 6 cases of sarcomas, 7 cases of mesotheliomas. Immunostaining of cytopathological samples with chosen set of antibodies: anti-cytokeratin, anti-vimentin, anti-desmin is a useful, and low invasive test for differentiation between mesotheliomas and carcinomas/adenocarcinomas in dogs

Climate and environmental changes in the Late Glacial and Holocene in the Southern Baltic area based on investigations of malacofauna and ostracod assemblages : their influence on pre-existing biocoenoses

The climate changes and related crucial environmental changes in the Late Glacial and Holocene in the Southern Baltic area can be investigated by mollusc and ostracod analyses. It is well known that accumulation of mineral and biogenic sediments in the Southern Baltic area began in the Late Glacial. The process took place in cold tundra lakes and mires. The presence of lake basins is confirmed by seismoacoustic investigations and the resulting 3D spatial model. Lacustrine sediments contain an assemblage of molluscs and ostracod fauna represented by freshwater species indicating cold climate, such as: Armiger crista f. cristatus, Gyraulus laevis, Lymnaea peregra, Pisidium casertanum, Pisidium casertanum f. ponderosa, Pisidium milium, Pisidium nitidum, Pisidium obtusale f. lapponicum, Valvata cristata, Pisidium conventus, Candona candida, Candona neglecta, Cytherissa lacustris, Darwinula stevensoni and Cypridopsis vidua. The accumulation in freshwater reservoirs was continued during the Early Holocene. Besides cold freshwater species, sediments of that age also contain freshwater species of molluscs and ostracods that required higher temperature: Bithynia tentaculata, Physa fontinalis, Pisidium amnicum, Candona compressa and Metacypris cordata. It indicates a climate warming in the Preboreal period. These lake sediments were partly destroyed and covered by marine sands during the Middle and Upper Holocene. Good indicators of changing from a freshwater to marine environment are the following marine species found in the sediments: Hydrobia ulvae, Hydrobia ventrosa, Cerastoderma glaucum, Mytilus edulis, Macoma balthica, Cyprideis torosa and Cytheromorpha fuscata

Cytomorphometry of serosal effusion in dogs

Cytomorphometry made on cytological slides is the quantitative method of precise analysis of cellular structures, including both cytoplasm and nucleus. The aim of this study was to describe cytomorphometric parameters of mesothelial cells in the course of benign reactive and malignant proliferation and to compare them to carcinomas and adenocarcinomas located within serosal cavities in dogs. The second aim was to evaluate applicability of cytomorphometry to diagnostics of diseases causing accumulation of effusion in serosal cavities. Cytological samples of normal and non-malignant mesothelium, mesothelioma and various carcinomas were collected from dogs. Cytomorphometry was made on the smears stained with Giemsa solution. Mean nuclear and cellular perimeter, mean nuclear and cellular area, mean nuclear and cellular diameter, and mean nuclear and cellular roundness were determined. Moreover, nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio (N/C) was calculated. The data revealed statistically significant differences for all parameters, excluding mean nuclear perimeter, between compared groups. Normal mesothelium cells and their nuclei were significantly smaller and more elongated than cells and nuclei of both benign reactive and malignant neoplastic mesothelium. Only a few differences were observed between benign reactive mesothelium cells and mesothelioma cells – mean nuclear area and mean nuclear diameter of benign reactive mesothelium cells were significantly larger and N/C ratio was higher in comparison to mesothelioma cells. Even though some significant differences were observed, considerable overlap of these cytomorphometric parameters in animals with different diseases limited practical role of these observations. Cytomorphometric analysis of cellular samples collected from dogs with proliferative processes affecting serosal cavities can be only an auxiliary method increasing accuracy of preoperative diagnosis

Late glacial and holocene environmental changes in the Southern Baltic Sea area based on malacofauna investigations

Zmiany klimatyczne, a za tym daleko idące zmiany środowiska w późnym glacjale i holocenie na obszarze południowego Bałtyku mogą być wyjaśniane także przez badania fauny mięczaków. Na obszarze południowego Bałtyku w okresie późnego glacjału występowały gatunki słodkowodne wskazujące na klimat zimny, takie jak: Armiger crista f. cristatus, Gyraulus laevis, Lymnaea peregra, Pisidium casertanum, Pisidium casertanum f. ponderosa, Pisidium milium, Pisidium nitidum, Pisidium obtusale f. lapponicum, Valvata cristata, Pisidium conventus. Akumulacja jeziorna w słodkowodnych zbiornikach strefy przybrzeżnej kontynuowała się w okresie wczesnego holocenu. W tym czasie oprócz gatunków słodkowodnych, zimnolubnych pojawiły się gatunki mięczaków i małżoraczków słodkowodnych, o wyższych wymogach termicznych (Bithynia tentaculata, Physa fontinalis, Pisidium amnicum). Świadczy to o ociepleniu się klimatu w okresie preborealnym. Zrastanie przybrzeżnych zbiorników rozpoczęło się w okresie borealnym i trwało również w okresie atlantyckim. W tym czasie miały miejsce wlewy wód morskich do zbiorników. Wskaźnikiem tego jest liczne występowanie morskich gatunków takich jak: Hydrobia ulvae, Hydrobia ventrosa, Cerastoderma glaucum, Mytilus edulis, Macoma balthica. W osadach piaszczystych w okresie subborealnym i subatlantyckim zdecydowanie przeważała fauna morska

The Quaternary of the Pomerania Bay and prospects of raw materials

This paper summarizes four years of geological research in the Pomerania Bay and Oder Bank. As a result of the synthesis of new and archival data,we have compiled maps, cross-sections and models depicting the geological structure of the Quaternary and its basement, and the relief of structural surfaces. Two main seismostratigraphic sedimentary complexes are distinguished. The first corresponds to Pleistocene glacial and interstadial deposits. The second one is composed of Late Glacial and Holocene lacustrine-swamp and marine sediments. The outline of geochemical condition of the sea bottom is also presented. The content of the elements is always below the acceptable concentration and the origin of the elements is geogenic. Special attention has been given to mineral resources on the bottom surface and to documenting deposits of sand containing heavy minerals. The characterization of areas with sands suitable for beach nourishment and valorization of deposits and prospective areas have also been of great importance. The history of the development of the geological structure and palaeogeography of the area is the summary of the results