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Le début du Crétacé a été marqué en Europe occidentale par le développement de paléoaltérations de type latéritique. Les argiles rouges à cuirasse ferrugineuse pisolitique du graben de Saint-Maixent-l’École (seuil du Poitou) peuvent constituer un exemple-témoin de ce type d’altération. Toutefois, leur âge reste inconnu et leur position stratigraphique, au-dessus des calcaires oligocènes du fond du graben, ne permet pas d’exclure un âge de formation beaucoup plus récent. Des pisolites de goethite provenant de ces sols latéritiques ont été échantillonnés dans la forêt de Fouilloux et ont fait l’objet d’analyses isotopiques Rb-Sr, U-Th et δ18O-δD, afin de tenter de lever l’indétermination sur l’âge de leur formation. Pour Rb-Sr, outre les analyses sur pisolites totaux, des expériences de lessivages ménagés ont été effectuées afin d’essayer d’isoler un composant radiogénique. Les résultats obtenus n’ont pas permis de donner un âge fiable par la méthode des isochrones, même si les données tendraient plutôt à faire remonter l’épisode d’altération au début du Crétacé. Les analyses δ18O-δD ont été effectuées sur des pisolites de goethite totaux, ainsi que sur des fragments sous-échantillonnés. Les résultats plaident en faveur de conditions de formation en zone climatique chaude et/ou aride. Aucun argument en faveur d’un âge fini ou post-oligocène ne peut être tiré de l’étude des isotopes de l’oxygène et de l’hydrogène. Enfin, les analyses U-Th ont été effectuées sur des goethites totales ainsi que sur des fragments sous-échantillonnés. Les rapports d’activités 234U/238U sont tous légèrement supérieurs à l’équilibre séculaire, indiquant que les goethites évoluent actuellement et/ou ont évolué récemment en système ouvert. Ainsi, les sols latéritiques apparaissent toujours comme géochimiquement actifs. Si cette étude n’a pas permis d’apporter une réponse claire sur l’âge des sols latéritiques, l’hypothèse la plus probable au vu des données isotopiques est que ces sols latéritiques se sont développés au-dessus des calcaires kimméridgiens sur les bordures du graben de Saint-Maixent-l’École, puis remaniés et finalement resédimentés au fond du graben.

The crystal structure and crystal chemistry of dioctahedral smectites in high-enthalpy geothermal systems were investigated through samples collected in two wells drilled in the Bouillante geothermal area to understand the factors that control their vertical variation. Smectites were examined by optical and scanning electron microscopy, electron microprobe analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), and oxygen-isotope analysis. Smectites predominate within the upper part of the drill holes (up to 260 m depth; temperature range: 67-163 [degrees]C). The XRD, FTIR, and chemical microanalyses clearly demonstrate a transition from montmorillonite to beidellite with increasing depth and temperature that proceeded through interstratification of beidellite-like and montmorillonite-like layers. Montmorillonite predominates at temperatures below 100 [degrees]C, whereas beidellite predominates between 110 and 163 [degrees]C. However, this transition is not explained by a thermally controlled beidellitization process but appears to be related to hydrothermal fluids from which these smectites precipitated. The [[delta].sup.18]O values of the fluids that equilibrated with smectites (-3.3 to 0.4[per thousand]) indicate that beidellitic smectite precipitated from the hot geothermal fluid associated with minor amounts of residual solutions resulting from local boiling. In the same way, montmorillonitic smectite precipitated from reacting solutions whose origin lies in the phreatic water table ([+ or -] seawater contribution) associated with minor amounts of liquids resulting from the condensation of vapors escaped from the boiling zones. The mixing rate of geothermal fluid with meteoric waters exerted a major influence on the montmorillonite vs. beidellite ratio of the smectite material as underlined by the irregular depth-related smectite transition. Keywords: Beidellite, montmorillonite, crystal chemistry, crystal-structure, oxygen isotope, high enthalpy geothermal field, Bouillante, Guadeloupe

The New Caledonian sea pen Lituaria australasiae yields three new 25-membered ring lactones, lituarines A, B and C. X-ray and spectroscopic studies reveal that the lactones, formulated respectively as C38H55O9N, C40H57O12N and C38H55O11N, consist of two fused tetrahydropyrans, a tetrahydrofuran, an oxirane and a long polyketoether chain. Lituarines are the first isolated marine macrocyclic lactones with coupled tetrahydropyrans. They are shown by assays to possess antifungal, cytotoxic and antineoplastic properties.

We tested the potential for sand calcites to serve as a novel paleoclimate archive by investigating their age and formation conditions. Fontainebleau sand calcites are Pleistocene in age (based on 14C and U-Th dating) and were primarily formed during glacial periods. δ13C values increase with the depth at which these sand calcites formed, consistent with open and closed CO2 systems. Interpretation of the δ18O-T relationship in sand calcites points primarily to their formation at a low temperature, around 2°C in shallow ground water and at about 9°C in deeper ground-water settings. Their occurrence, characteristics, and compositions suggest crystallization from paleo-ground waters in permafrost environments. Crystallization of sand calcites was triggered by degassing of cold carbonate-containing surface waters as they infiltrated warmer subsurface ground-water environments. We consider sand calcites to be important indicators of interactions between meteoric water and ground water in Pleistocene periglacial landscapes. Their disposition may point to specific features of periglacial landscapes, and their ages could permit an assessment of landscape incision rates. Large crystals and zoned spheroliths may, in fact, encapsulate continuous high-resolution records of continental glacial and periglacial paleoenvironments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uranium--lead (U--Pb) dating of carbonates by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) spot analysis is an increasingly used method in the field of geosciences, as it brings very strong constraints over the geological history of basins, faults or reservoirs. Most ages currently published are based on the measurement of U and Pb ratios on spot ablations, using nanosecond lasers coupled to sector field or multi-collector ICP-MS. Here, we test a new strategy for the U--Pb dating of carbonates from 2D isotopic ratio maps, based on the use of a robust regression approach in the data reduction workflow. The isotopic maps, with a minimum area of 0.65mm2 (~1000 pixels of 13 x 25 µm resolution), are obtained using a 257 nm femtosecond laser ablation system at a high repetition rate (500 Hz) coupled to a high-resolution ICP-MS. The maps commonly show significant variations in isotope ratios at the pixel scale, allowing the plotting of pixel U--Pb ratios in concordia or isochron diagrams and the calculation of U--Pb ages. Due to the absence of individual ratio uncertainties, the ages are calculated using MM-robust linear regression rather than the more commonly used York-type regression. The goodness of fit to the data is assessed by the calculation of the residual standard error (RSE) of the regression and by the calculation of a mean square of weight deviates (MSWD) on discretised data. Several examples are provided that compare the ages calculated by robust regression with those obtained by other techniques (e.g. isotope dilution, LA-ICP-MS spot analyses and the pixel-pooling approach). For most samples, characterised by high U concentrations (>1 ppm), robust regression allows for the calculation of ages and uncertainties similar to those obtained with the other approaches. However, for samples with lower U concentrations (<0.5 ppm), the ages obtained are up to 10% too young due to pixels with high U= Pb acting as leverage points for the regression. We conclude that the U--Pb ages calculated by the regression method tested here, although statistically robust, should be critically analysed before validation, especially for samples with low U concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Root development and tree growth were compared for ground level and deeply planted spruces. [•] A major part of the root system of black and white spruce trees was adventitious after 17years. [•] Adventitious roots formed early after planting and their size was greater for deeply planted trees. [•] Deep planting increased tree height and basal diameter of white spruce, but only height of black spruce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Geochemical modeling of the CO2 injection into the Rousse depleted gas reservoir (Lacq CO2 injection pilot, France) requires an accurate knowledge of initial mineralogical and geochemical conditions in the formation. Therefore, the primary objective of this work was to provide a detailed mineralogical and chemical composition of the Rousse reservoir (Mano dolomite), and accurate relative mineral proportions. This was achieved by use of a combination of techniques including in-house developed methodology for bulk rock quantitative mineralogy and complementary approaches such as optical microscopy, SEM-Quantax (chemical mapping) and Electron Miroprobe Analysis (mineral chemical composition). Particular attention was paid the minute amounts of chlorite occurring in the reservoir, in order to obtain its exact chemical composition and textural habitus. The chlorite revealed to be Mg-rich and of a sudoite-like nature. As a consequence the initial geochemical model, which assumed the chlorite to be Fe-rich was corrected, so as to ensure more accurate reactive geochemical modeling. A refined quantitative mineralogy and chemical composition of the Rousse reservoir (Mano dolomite), fulfilling thermodynamic equilibrium at initial conditions (150°C, 480bar), is provided. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Although studies in the past have reported that the deeper planting of conifers has no effect on seedling performance, most planting guidelines in use today still recommend that seedlings be planted to the rootcollar. Past studies were mostly observational, used bareroot seedlings, and often reported early results from just one or two depths of planting treatments. Most of the results available regarding planting depth for boreal species are anecdotal, although they are planted by the hundreds of millions every year. The present study reports no short-term (1 year) or long-term (15 to 19 years) negative effect of planting depth on the survival and height and diameter growth of black spruce, white spruce, and jack pine seedlings over three large, replicated experiments in the boreal forest of eastern and northern Quebec (eastern Canada). Four different depth treatments were compared, from manual planting at the rootcollar to the deepest mechanical planting treatment at 10 cm or more, making this the largest, longest-lasting study of its kind. Although, as expected, important differences in growth were present between species, all three commonly planted conifers reacted similarly to the planting depth treatments (no effect). This result can in part be attributed to an almost perfect control of frost heaving in the deepest two treatments. Planting depth effects were assessed using analysis of variance, multiple Tukey honestly significant difference, and uncorrected pairwise one-tailed t-tests to increase the probability of detecting a negative effect. Absolute differences and effect sizes (generally small and often positive with greater depths) were also analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Annals of Public & Cooperative Economics is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Économie et Solidarité is the property of Presses de l'Universite du Quebec and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Stable isotope characterization of porewater, and dissolved species, in mudrocks and argillaceous rocks is notoriously difficult. Techniques based on physical or chemical extraction of porewater can generate significant analytical artefacts. The authors report a novel, simple approach to determine the δ 18O of porewater and δ 13C of dissolved C in argillites. The method uses core samples placed in specifically-designed outgassing cells, sealed shortly after drilling and stored in well-controlled conditions. After 1–2 months, CO2 naturally outgassed by argillite porewater is collected, purified and analyzed for C and O isotopes. Porewater δ 18O and dissolved C δ 13C are calculated from CO2 isotope data using appropriate fractionation factors. This methodology was successfully applied to the Callovo-Oxfordian argillites from Bure (eastern Paris Basin, France) and the Opalinus Clay formation from Mont Terri (Switzerland). In both clay formations, results indicate that porewater is meteoric and dissolved C is of marine origin. The main advantage of the approach is that it does not induce any major physical or chemical disturbance to the clay–water system investigated. Further testing on argillaceous rocks of variable composition and organic content is needed to assess extent of applicability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper deals with the purification and the partial characterization of glutathione S -transferase (GST) isoforms from the clam Ruditapes decussatus . For the first step of purification, two affinity columns, reduced glutathione (GSH)–agarose and S -hexyl GSH–agarose, were mounted in series. Four affinity fractions were thus recovered. Further purification was performed using anion exchange chromatography. Seven fractions, which present a GST activity with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) as substrate, were collected and analyzed by RP-HPLC. Seven distinct GST isoforms were purified, six of them were homodimers, the last one was a heterodimer consisting of the subunits 3 and 6. Kinetic parameters were studied. Results showed that isoforms have distinct affinity and V max for GSH and CDNB as substrates. The catalytic activity of the heterodimer isoform appeared to be a combination of the ability of each subunit. The immunological properties of each purified isoform were investigated using three antisera anti-pi, anti-mu and anti-alpha mammalian GST classes. Three isoforms (3-3, 6-6 and 3-6) seem to be closely related to the pi-class GST. Both isoforms 1-1 and 2-2 cross-reacted with antisera to pi and alpha classes and the isoform 5-5 cross-reacted with the antisera to mu and pi classes. Subunit 4 was recognized by the three antisera used, and its N-terminal amino acid analysis showed high identity (53%) with a conserved sequence of an alpha/mµ/pi GST from Fasciola hepatica . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural derivatives of indole-3-carbaldehyde were isolated from the tropical marine ascidian Stomoza murrayi. A series of 13 derivatives, three natural and 10 synthetic (brominated and N-methylated), were examined for their effects on cell division of sea urchin eggs. These derivatives were shown to inhibit the first mitotic cycle in a concentration-dependent manner. By comparing the IC50 values with the structure of the various molecules, we were able to determine that bromination increased the cytotoxicity of the compound with a maximum occurring when bromine was added to carbon number 2, while addition of N-methylation was shown to markedly reduce the cytotoxicity of these same compounds brominated at carbon 2 only. Biological activity of this family of compounds has been characterized, via detailed study of addition of the most active derivative, 2,5,6-tribromoindole-3-carbaldehyde, on macromolecule synthesis and cytoskeleton reorganization during the first mitotic cycle of fertilized sea urchin eggs. Fluorescence localization of chromatin and microtubules revealed that 2,5,6-tribromoindole-3-carbaldehyde allowed pronuclei migration and fusion but prevented the condensation of chromatin, nuclear envelope breakdown, and bipolar mitotic spindle assembly, inducing an arrest of sea urchin embryogenesis at the beginning of mitosis. It is postulated here that this phenotype is likely to be due to a strong inhibition of DNA replication and protein synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of glutathione S-transferase (GST) induction were performed in the Mediterranean clam Ruditapes decussatus after controlled exposure to organics in holding tanks. Clams were treated with phenobarbital (PB), benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), and 2,2-bis-(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichlorethylene (p,p′-DDE). Three different substrates, i.e., 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB), ethacrynic acid (ETHA), and paranitrobenzene chloride (PNBC), were used to determine GST activities in order to distinguish the isoenzymes induced by contamination. The isoforms conjugating ETHA were significantly induced by treatment with PB and BaP, whereas exposure to p, p&pime;-DDE induced isoforms conjugating CDNB and ETHA. An antibody against affinity-purified GSTs from R. decussatus was prepared by injection into rabbit. The serum containing the antibody gave a positive reaction with both the purified GSTs from R. decussatus and the low molecular weight GSTs from rat. Subcellular fractions from both control and treated animals were analyzed by Western blot. Cytosolic extracts from clams contaminated with PB and p, p′-DDE showed a 24-kDa band in addition to the 26-kDa band recognized by the antibody. Results of these studies suggest that, in R. decussatus, organics may induce GSTs belonging to the π class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Induction of both CYP1A1 and metallothioneins (MTs) in fish liver is increasingly being used in ecotoxicological studies. The interaction of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb) with the CYP1A induction response and MT levels was studied in trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hepatocyte cultures. Cells were exposed to 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) or to increasing heavy metal concentrations or to a mixture of both (3-MC and one heavy metal). Metal cytotoxicity was assessed by the neutral red test. Ranking of toxicity was Cd(II) < Cu(II) < Zn(II) < Pb(II) (EC50: 45, 222, 873, and 945 µM, respectively). CYP1A1 expression was monitored by ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity as well as by Western and Northern blots. As expected, 3-MC induced EROD activity in a time- and dose-dependent manner (maximal induction 5 times that of the control at 0.5 µM and after a 72-h exposure period). These data were confirmed by Western blot (intense band of 55-60 KDa) and Northern blot analyses. Induction caused by 0.5 µM 3-MC was reduced to less than 50% of control by the concomitant exposure to Cd, Cu, Pb, or Zn (EC50: from 1 µM for Cd(II) to 18 µM for Pb(II)). The MTs were significantly induced in hepatocytes exposed to heavy metals for 24 h. In the presence of 3-MC (0.5 µM), MT levels were significantly lower than those found in cells treated with metals alone at 24 h only. Our results lead to the conclusion that heavy metals significantly affect CYP expression and that a CYP1A1 inducer (3-MC) can modulate the induction of MTs. These data have to be taken into consideration in biomarker monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which used microcolonies of Stylophora pistillata to examine the kinetics of organic matrix biosynethesis and incorporation into scleractinian coral skeleton. Information on the acid used to label the organic matrix; How rates of calcification was measured; Results of the study.