Quality of the forage apparently consumed by beef calves in natural grassland under fertilization and oversown with cool season forage species

The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition of the forage apparently consumed by steers in a natural grassland on region of Campanha, in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, subjected or not to different inputs: NP - natural pasture without inputs; FNP - fertilized natural pasture and INP - improved natural grassland with fertilization and over-seeded with cultivated winter species. Three Angus steers testers and a variable number of regulator animals per experimental unit were utilized in order to maintain 13 kg of DM/100 kg of live weight (LW) as forage allowance. One time at each season, hand plucking samples were performed along the daily grazing time simulating forage harvested by the animals. The collected samples after drying and grind were submitted to chemical analysis to determine the forage quality. Except in winter and spring, the values of neutral detergent fiber were higher than the critical value of 550 g/kg of DM, which could limit forage intake, demonstrating that the values of forage on offer provided (15.6; 13.7; 13.5; 15.8 kg of DM/100 kg of LW/day in summer, autumn, winter and spring, respectively) were not restrictive to intake. The oversowing of winter cultivated species or fertilization positively alter the degradable fiber content. The seasons had marked influence on the chemical composition of forage apparently consumed; positively increasing some fractions of forage chemical composition in the seasons in which native or cultivated winter species increased their participation. The forage chemical composition is the determining factor in animal performance in natural pasture

Ancylotherium pentelicum (Gaudry and Lartet, 1856) (Perissodactyla, Mammalia) from the classic locality of Pikermi (Attica, Greece), stored in the Palaeontological and Geological Museum of Athens [Ancylotherium pentelicum (Gaudry and Lartet, 1856) (Perissodactyla, Mammalia) de la localité classique de Pikermi (Attique, Grèce), déposé au Muséum de Paléontologie et Géologie d'Athènes]

The collection under study is one of the richest in postcranial material of Ancylotherium pentelicum. Its importance is great since it comes from the classic locality of Pikermi, type locality of the species, and includes some rare or barely known skeletal parts. Moreover, it gives us a better aspect for the size range of A. pentelicum, a species relatively rare in Late Miocene localities. © 2001 Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS

The Eurasian occurrence of the shovel-tusker Konobelodon (Mammalia, Proboscidea) as illuminated by its presence in the late Miocene of Pikermi (Greece)

Presented here are the tetralophodont proboscidean remains from the late Miocene locality Pikermi (Attica, Greece). The study of the Pikermi tetralophodons and their comparison with other relevant specimens revealed that the late Miocene species Tetralophodon atticus and Mastodon grandincisivus are synonymous. The morphological characters of the Pikermi specimens, as well as of those attributed to Mastodon grandincisivus, are consistent with the North American shovel-tusker Amebelodon (Konobelodon). However, generic rank revision of Konobelodon at generic rank is deemed appropriate. The observed differences between the type species Konobelodon britti and the Pikermi tetralophodon indicate that the latter belongs to a distinct species, Konobelodon atticus. This species encompasses the Turolian tetralophodont shovel-tuskers from eastern Europe-western Asia. The paleogeographic distribution and biostratigraphy of Konobelodon atticus are discussed, as well as the evolution and the possible migrational scenarios of Konobelodon. © 2014 by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Reprint of: The huge-sized deinothere Deinotherium proavum (Proboscidea, Mammalia) from the Late Miocene localities Pikermi and Halmyropotamos (Greece)

Presented here are the deinotheriid dental and postcranial remains from the Late Miocene localities Pikermi and Halmyropotamos (Greece). The study and comparison of the available juvenile dental material from Pikermi with other relevant specimens from Europe showed that it belongs to the huge-sized Deinotherium proavum (= D. gigantissimum). Additionally, several postcranial specimens from Pikermi, as well as from Halmyropotamos, present deinotheriid features, which distinguish them from elephantoids, and permit their attribution also to D. proavum. This species is known from the Turolian and represents the terminal evolutionary stage of the European deinotheres. Its presence in Pikermi and Halmyropotamos is compatible with the middle Turolian (MN 12) age of the localities. Additionally, the taxonomy of European deinotheres is discussed, as well as the biostratigraphical and geographical distribution of D. proavum. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd and INQU

How Do Fossilized Mammalian Bones Behave During Chemical Conservation? The Histological Case Studies of Tilos and Kerassia

The present study concerns the histological description of fossilized mammalian bone behavior, under the effect of hydrogen peroxide, acetic acid, and formic acid. These reagents have been applied on such material for decades, mainly for matrix removal and surface cleaning. The material used includes fossil bone parts from two different fossiliferous sites in Greece, Charkadio Cave on Tilos Island (Dodecanese) and Kerassia (Euboea Island). In order to conclude on the extent of histological damage on fossilized bone by the different chemicals and discuss their optimum application on bone, numerous experiments were realized. In each of these, samples from both sites were exposed to different combinations of parameters such as the type and concentration of reagents and the duration of exposure. The methodology applied included the detailed observation of bone histology under a scanning electron microscope (SEM), as well as qualitative chemical analyses through X-ray microanalysis (EDS) and mineralogical analyses by X-ray diffraction (XRD) when needed. pH measurements were collected during each subsequent stage of the experiment. All samples underwent density and porosity measurements before and after treatment. In conclusion, the results of this study confirmed that the initial state of preservation is the determinant factor when deciding upon the conservation strategy to be followed and the type and concentration of the applied chemical on fossilized skeletal remains. Also, it became evident that high concentrations of acetic and formic acid tend to deteriorate the microstructure of fossils and thus render any histological study impossible. © 2018, The European Association for Conservation of the Geological Heritage

An almost complete skeleton of Metailurus parvulus (Carnivora, Felidae) from the late Miocene of Kerassia (Northern Euboea, Greece)

We describe a partial skeleton of Metailurus parvulus from the Turolian site of Kerassia 1 (Northern Euboea, Greece). The material, which consists of a mandible, the anterior and posterior limb-bone elements, some sternal bones and some vertebrae, is the most complete known of this species. The dental material is compared to specimens from Pikermi and Chomateri (Greece), and China. The limb-bones available offer us the possibility to discuss the status of some previously described specimens from Pikermi. The limb proportions indicate that M. parvulus had elongated posterior limbs relative to the anterior ones, which reflects developed jumping skills. M. parvulus had moderately developed cursorial abilities, intermediate between open and closed habitat felids, and probably frequented primarily relatively open woodlands. © 2006 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved

The inner morphology of the petrosal bone of the endemic elephant of tilos island, greece

The bony labyrinth, as part of the inner structure of the petrosal bone, contains the sensory organs of balance and hearing. The semicircular canals, as part of the vestib-ular apparatus of the inner ear, are involved in the detection of angular motion of the head for maintaining balance and guiding locomotor behavior. While the overall structure of the bony labyrinth is inaccessible embedded in the petrosal bone, high resolu-tion computed tomography makes the study of these structures possible. The purpose of this study is to visualize and precisely quantify the complex inner ear structures of the insular mammal Palaeoloxodon tiliensis and comment on the relationship of these morphologies to the agility and hearing frequency ranges. This study focuses on imaging the shape of the bony labyrinth as well as the semicircular canals, of three petrosal bones, using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Shape and size analysis of the cochlea allow for an assessment of morphological differences between species. Spe-cifically, measuring the dimensions of inner ear components as well as the angular dis-tances can express the variation in their balancing abilities and the frequencies of their auditory perception. The morphological characteristics obtained through micro-CT lead to the conclusion that P. tiliensis retained similar conditions to that of its larger relatives, and it was an animal that had hearing in the low frequency ranges. © June 2021 Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Room temperature persistent photoconductivity in GaP:S

The build-up and the decay of persistent photoconductivity (PP) have been measured at room temperature in GaP. The PP effect in our samples is attributed to the existence of defect clusters in the bulk material. Irradiation of the samples with α-particles generates defect clusters and enhances further the PP effect. Persistent photoconductivity at room temperature may have technical applications i.e. photon dose meters and image storage. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd