Genome-wide association study identifies six new loci influencing pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure.

Numerous genetic loci have been associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in Europeans. We now report genome-wide association studies of pulse pressure (PP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP). In discovery (N = 74,064) and follow-up studies (N = 48,607), we identified at genome-wide significance (P = 2.7 × 10(-8) to P = 2.3 × 10(-13)) four new PP loci (at 4q12 near CHIC2, 7q22.3 near PIK3CG, 8q24.12 in NOV and 11q24.3 near ADAMTS8), two new MAP loci (3p21.31 in MAP4 and 10q25.3 near ADRB1) and one locus associated with both of these traits (2q24.3 near FIGN) that has also recently been associated with SBP in east Asians. For three of the new PP loci, the estimated effect for SBP was opposite of that for DBP, in contrast to the majority of common SBP- and DBP-associated variants, which show concordant effects on both traits. These findings suggest new genetic pathways underlying blood pressure variation, some of which may differentially influence SBP and DBP.

Genetic variants influencing circulating lipid levels and risk of coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: Genetic studies might provide new insights into the biological mechanisms underlying lipid metabolism and risk of CAD. We therefore conducted a genome-wide association study to identify novel genetic determinants of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides. METHODS AND RESULTS: We combined genome-wide association data from 8 studies, comprising up to 17 723 participants with information on circulating lipid concentrations. We did independent replication studies in up to 37 774 participants from 8 populations and also in a population of Indian Asian descent. We also assessed the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at lipid loci and risk of CAD in up to 9 633 cases and 38 684 controls. We identified 4 novel genetic loci that showed reproducible associations with lipids (probability values, 1.6×10(-8) to 3.1×10(-10)). These include a potentially functional SNP in the SLC39A8 gene for HDL-C, an SNP near the MYLIP/GMPR and PPP1R3B genes for LDL-C, and at the AFF1 gene for triglycerides. SNPs showing strong statistical association with 1 or more lipid traits at the CELSR2, APOB, APOE-C1-C4-C2 cluster, LPL, ZNF259-APOA5-A4-C3-A1 cluster and TRIB1 loci were also associated with CAD risk (probability values, 1.1×10(-3) to 1.2×10(-9)). CONCLUSIONS: We have identified 4 novel loci associated with circulating lipids. We also show that in addition to those that are largely associated with LDL-C, genetic loci mainly associated with circulating triglycerides and HDL-C are also associated with risk of CAD. These findings potentially provide new insights into the biological mechanisms underlying lipid metabolism and CAD risk.

Common genetic loci influencing plasma homocysteine concentrations and their effect on risk of coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: The strong observational association between total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations and risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the null associations in the homocysteine-lowering trials have prompted the need to identify genetic variants associated with homocysteine concentrations and risk of CAD. OBJECTIVE: We tested whether common genetic polymorphisms associated with variation in tHcy are also associated with CAD. DESIGN: We conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on tHcy concentrations in 44,147 individuals of European descent. Polymorphisms associated with tHcy (P < 10(-8)) were tested for association with CAD in 31,400 cases and 92,927 controls. RESULTS: Common variants at 13 loci, explaining 5.9% of the variation in tHcy, were associated with tHcy concentrations, including 6 novel loci in or near MMACHC (2.1 Ã- 10(-9)), SLC17A3 (1.0 Ã- 10(-8)), GTPB10 (1.7 Ã- 10(-8)), CUBN (7.5 Ã- 10(-10)), HNF1A (1.2 Ã- 10(-12)), and FUT2 (6.6 Ã- 10(-9)), and variants previously reported at or near the MTHFR, MTR, CPS1, MUT, NOX4, DPEP1, and CBS genes. Individuals within the highest 10% of the genotype risk score (GRS) had 3-μmol/L higher mean tHcy concentrations than did those within the lowest 10% of the GRS (P = 1 Ã- 10(-36)). The GRS was not associated with risk of CAD (OR: 1.01; 95% CI: 0.98, 1.04; P = 0.49). CONCLUSIONS: We identified several novel loci that influence plasma tHcy concentrations. Overall, common genetic variants that influence plasma tHcy concentrations are not associated with risk of CAD in white populations, which further refutes the causal relevance of moderately elevated tHcy concentrations and tHcy-related pathways for CAD.

Analysis of the present (and impact) of women in business organizations in contemporany Spanish democracy. The impact of Spanish law of equality reviewed

Since its approval, in 2007, the Spanish Law of Equality (LO 3/2007) has been the target of many scholars on gender issues. Those analyses (and those previous to the first observable results of the Spanish Law of Equality), have largely prioritized political representative institutions and political parties as the main arenas to assess the impact of the new regulation. Nevertheless, to make a comprehensive analysis of the increase and impact of the presence of women in contemporary democracies one cannot exclude the existence of many other crucial actors in our pluralist systems, such as business organizations.In this line, in order to widen the knowledge on the presence of women in Spanish contemporary democracy, as well as to further assess the impact of Spanish Law of Equality on the presence of women in economic and political life, our paper will look at the gender bias of the executive committees in the Spanish Chambers of Commerce and business associations during the period 20010-2012. By placing those actors at the front sight, we aim to contribute with new empirical insights to the current debate on this topic.

Espectacular avenç de la biologia sintètica

L'avenç fet pel grup de Jef Boeke és importantíssim, un salt de la biologia sintètica, però cal evitar interpretacions errònies, falses esperances i temors.

Construction mechanisms and thermal evolution of upper crustal intrusions : the Saint-Jean-du-Doigt bimodal intrusion (Brittany, France)

Understanding the emplacement and growth of intrusive bodies in terms of mechanism, duration, ther¬mal evolution and rates are fundamental aspects of crustal evolution. Recent studies show that many plutons grow in several Ma by in situ accretion of discrete magma pulses, which constitute small-scale magmatic reservoirs. The residence time of magmas, and hence their capacities to interact and differentiate, are con¬trolled by the local thermal environment. The latter is highly dependant on 1) the emplacement depth, 2) the magmas and country rock composition, 3) the country rock thermal conductivity, 4) the rate of magma injection and 5) the geometry of the intrusion. In shallow level plutons, where magmas solidify quickly, evi¬dence for magma mixing and/or differentiation processes is considered by many authors to be inherited from deeper levels. This work shows however that in-situ differentiation and magma interactions occurred within basaltic and felsic sills at shallow depth (0.3 GPa) in the St-Jean-du-Doigt (SJDD) bimodal intrusion, France. This intrusion emplaced ca. 347 Ma ago (IDTIMS U/Pb on zircon) in the Precambrian crust of the Armori- can massif and preserves remarkable sill-like emplacement processes of bimodal mafic-felsic magmas. Field evidence coupled to high precision zircon U-Pb dating document progressive thermal maturation within the incrementally built ioppolith. Early m-thick mafic sills (eastern part) form the roof of the intrusion and are homogeneous and fine-grained with planar contacts with neighboring felsic sills; within a minimal 0.8 Ma time span, the system gets warmer (western part). Sills are emplaced by under-accretion under the old east¬ern part, interact and mingle. A striking feature of this younger, warmer part is in-situ differentiation of the mafic sills in the top 40 cm of the layer, which suggests liquids survival in the shallow crust. Rheological and thermal models were performed in order to determine the parameters required to allow this observed in- situ differentiation-accumulation processes. Strong constraints such as total emplacement durations (ca. 0.8 Ma, TIMS date) and pluton thickness (1.5 Km, gravity model) allow a quantitative estimation of the various parameters required (injection rates, incubation time,...). The results show that in-situ differentiation may be achieved in less than 10 years at such shallow depth, provided that: (1) The differentiating sills are injected beneath consolidated, yet still warm basalt sills, which act as low conductive insulating screens (eastern part formation in the SJDD intrusion). The latter are emplaced in a very short time (800 years) at high injection rate (0.5 m/y) in order to create a "hot zone" in the shallow crust (incubation time). This implies that nearly 1/3 of the pluton (400m) is emplaced by a subsequent and sustained magmatic activity occurring on a short time scale at the very beginning of the system. (2) Once incubation time is achieved, the calculations show that a small hot zone is created at the base of the sill pile, where new injections stay above their solidus T°C and may interact and differentiate. Extraction of differentiated residual liquids might eventually take place and mix with newly injected magma as documented in active syn-emplacement shear-zones within the "warm" part of the pluton. (3) Finally, the model show that in order to maintain a permanent hot zone at shallow level, injection rate must be of 0.03 m/y with injection of 5m thick basaltic sills eveiy 130yr, imply¬ing formation of a 15 km thick pluton. As this thickness is in contradiction with the one calculated for SJDD (1.5 Km) and exceed much the average thickness observed for many shallow level plutons, I infer that there is no permanent hot zone (or magma chambers) at such shallow level. I rather propose formation of small, ephemeral (10-15yr) reservoirs, which represent only small portions of the final size of the pluton. Thermal calculations show that, in the case of SJDD, 5m thick basaltic sills emplaced every 1500 y, allow formation of such ephemeral reservoirs. The latter are formed by several sills, which are in a mushy state and may interact and differentiate during a short time.The mineralogical, chemical and isotopic data presented in this study suggest a signature intermediate be¬tween E-MORB- and arc-like for the SJDD mafic sills and feeder dykes. The mantle source involved produced hydrated magmas and may be astenosphere modified by "arc-type" components, probably related to a sub¬ducting slab. Combined fluid mobile/immobile trace elements and Sr-Nd isotopes suggest that such subduc¬tion components are mainly fluids derived from altered oceanic crust with minor effect from the subducted sediments. Close match between the SJDD compositions and BABB may point to a continental back-arc setting with little crustal contamination. If so, the SjDD intrusion is a major witness of an extensional tectonic regime during the Early-Carboniferous, linked to the subduction of the Rheno-Hercynian Ocean beneath the Variscan terranes. Also of interest is the unusual association of cogenetic (same isotopic compositions) K-feldspar A- type granite and albite-granite. A-type granites may form by magma mixing between the mafic magma and crustal melts. Alternatively, they might derive from the melting of a biotite-bearing quartz-feldspathic crustal protolith triggered by early mafic injections at low crustal levels. Albite-granite may form by plagioclase cu¬mulate remelting issued from A-type magma differentiation.

Paroxetine use in pregnancy and cardiovascular defects

Background: Paroxetine (Paxil,) is an SSRI, used for thetreatment of depression, obsessive compulsive disorder,anxiety disorders and premenstrual dysphoria. Untilrecently, no studies had associated SSRIs as a group withan increased risk for major malformations above the 1%-3% baseline rate. However, in the past year, several studiesnoted specifically, an increase risk of cardiovascular defectsassociated with paroxetine, compared to other antidepressantswithin its class.Objectives: To determine whether paroxetine increases therisk of cardiovascular defects in infants of women exposedduring the first trimester of pregnancy.Methods: We collected prospectively ascertained cases ofinfants from Teratogen Information Services throughout theworld, exposed to paroxetine in the first trimester of pregnancyand compared them to a non-exposed Motheriskcohort.We also contacted the authors of data base studies thathad been published on antidepressants as a class, to determinehow many of these women had been exposed to paroxetineand the rates of cardiovascular defects in their infants.Results: We were able to ascertain the outcomes of 1177infants from 9 services. The rate of heart defects in the paroxetineparoxetinegroup was 0.8% versus 0.7% non-exposed group.The combined rate in the data base studies was 1.5%.Conclusions: Paroxetine does not appear to be associated withan increase risk for cardiovascular defects following use inpregnancy, as the incidence in more than 3000 infants was wellwithin the population incidence of approximately 1%.

Genetic studies of body mass index yield new insights for obesity biology

Obesity is heritable and predisposes to many diseases. To understand the genetic basis of obesity better, here we conduct a genome-wide association study and Metabochip meta-analysis of body mass index (BMI), a measure commonly used to define obesity and assess adiposity, in up to 339,224 individuals. This analysis identifies 97 BMI-associated loci (P < 5 × 10(-8)), 56 of which are novel. Five loci demonstrate clear evidence of several independent association signals, and many loci have significant effects on other metabolic phenotypes. The 97 loci account for ∼2.7% of BMI variation, and genome-wide estimates suggest that common variation accounts for >20% of BMI variation. Pathway analyses provide strong support for a role of the central nervous system in obesity susceptibility and implicate new genes and pathways, including those related to synaptic function, glutamate signalling, insulin secretion/action, energy metabolism, lipid biology and adipogenesis.

Meta-analysis and imputation refines the association of 15q25 with smoking quantity.

Smoking is a leading global cause of disease and mortality. We established the Oxford-GlaxoSmithKline study (Ox-GSK) to perform a genome-wide meta-analysis of SNP association with smoking-related behavioral traits. Our final data set included 41,150 individuals drawn from 20 disease, population and control cohorts. Our analysis confirmed an effect on smoking quantity at a locus on 15q25 (P = 9.45 x 10(-19)) that includes CHRNA5, CHRNA3 and CHRNB4, three genes encoding neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits. We used data from the 1000 Genomes project to investigate the region using imputation, which allowed for analysis of virtually all common SNPs in the region and offered a fivefold increase in marker density over HapMap2 (ref. 2) as an imputation reference panel. Our fine-mapping approach identified a SNP showing the highest significance, rs55853698, located within the promoter region of CHRNA5. Conditional analysis also identified a secondary locus (rs6495308) in CHRNA3.

Muon detector link system test set-up

CERNin tutkimuskeskuksen rakenteilla olevan hadronikiihdyttimen eräs tarkoitus on todistaa Higgsin bosonin olemassaolo. Higgsin bosonin löytyminen yhtenäistäisi nykyisen hiukkasfysiikan teorian ja antaisi selityksen sille kuinka hiukkaset saavat massansa. Kiihdyttimen CMS koeasema on tarkoitettu erityisesti myonien ilmaisuun. Tämä työ liittyy CMS koeaseman RPC-ilmaisintyypin linkkijärjestelmään, jonka tarkoituksena on käsitellä ilmaisimelta tulevia myonien aiheuttamia signaaleja ja lähettää tiedot tärkeäksi katsotuista törmäystapahtumista tallennettavaksi analysointia varten. Työssä on toteutettu linkkijärjestelmän ohjaus- ja linkkikorteille testiympäristö, jolla voidaan todeta järjestelmän eri osien keskinäinen yhteensopivuus ja toimivuus. Työn alkuosassa esitellään ilmaisimen linkkijärjestelmän eri osat ja niiden merkitykset. Työn loppuosassa käydään läpi eri testimenetelmiä ja analysoidaan niiden antamia tuloksia.

The Paleozoic magmatic history of the Maggia and Sambuco nappes, Lower Penninic, Central Lepontine Alps

Résumé : Les corps magmatiques sont des indicateurs essentiels dans toute reconstitution paléogéographique et/ou géodynamique d'un cycle orogénique, en particulier en contexte polycyclique, où la plupart des autres indices ont été oblitérés. Ils sont aisément datables et leurs caractéristiques géochimiques permettent de contraindre leur contexte tectonique de mise en place. Cette approche a été appliquée aux socles pré-mésozoïques des nappes penniques inférieures de Sambuco et de la Maggia, dans les Alpes centrales lepontines. Plusieurs événements magmatiques ont été identifiés dans le socle de Sambuco et datés par la méthode U-Pb sur zircon couplée à la technique LA-ICPMS. La suite calco-alcaline mafique rubanée de Scheggia est datée du Cambrien inférieur à 540-530 Ma ; le métagranite alumineux oeillé de Sasso Nero a un âge de 480-470 Ma, tout comme bien d'autres «older orthogneisses» des socles alpins. Il contient des zircons hérités d'âge panafricain à 630-610 Ma, indicateur d'une affiliation gondwanienne de ces terrains. Le pluton calco-alcalin du Matorello est daté à environ 300-310 Ma, et les filons lamprophyriques qu'il abrite à 300 Ma. La granodiorite de Cocco et le leucogranite de Ruscada, tous deux intrudés dans le socle de la nappe adjacente de la Maggia, ont des âges similaires à celui du Matorello. Ceci ajouté aux similitudes magmatiques observées entre Cocco et Matorello suggère une proximité paléogéographique des deux nappes au Permien-Carbonifère. Or ces dernières sont actuellement considérées appartenir à deux domaines paléogéographiques mésozoïques distincts : helvétique pour Sambuco et briançonnais pour Maggia, séparés par un bassin océanique. Si tel fut le cas, aucun mouvement décrochant ne doit avoir décalé les marges continentales de l'océan, retrouvées en parfaite coïncidence lors de sa fermeture. Le Matorello est un pluton recristallisé en faciès amphibolite et plissé par cinq phases successives de déformation non-coaxiales, qui ont conduit à son renversement complet, attesté par des indicateurs de paléogravité. Il préserve de spectaculaires phénomènes de coexistence liquide de magmas (essaims d'enclaves et Bills composites). Ce pluton était originellement tabulaire, construit par l'accumulation de multiples injections de magma en feuillets d'épaisseur métrique à décamétrique. Suivant le rythme de mise en place, les injections successives ont rapidement cristallisé avec des contours nets et bien définis (Bills composites) ou se sont mélangées avec les précédentes pour former une couche non consolidée de plusieurs dizaines de mètres d'épaisseur (granodiorite principale). Les injections individuelles sont délimitées par de subtils contrastes en granulométrie, proportions modales ou ségrégation de minéraux (schlieren), ou par des phénomènes d'érosion le long des surfaces de contact. Deux couches métriques à contour sinueux consistent en une accumulation compacte d'enclaves mafiques arrondies dans une matrice granodioritique fine. Le granoclassement des enclaves, la présence de figures de charge et de phénomènes érosifs en base de couche, ainsi que des schlieren de biotite entrecroisés évoquent l'injection de coulées de magma chargé d'enclaves et de faible viscosité en régime hydrodynamique turbulent dans un encaissant granodioritique encore largement liquide. La nature hybride des roches implique une chambre magmatique sous-jacente, en cours de différenciation et périodiquement réalimentée. Les magmas sont des liquides mafiques dérivés du manteau et des liquides anatectiques d'origine crustale, comme l'indique la gamme mesurée des rapports isotopiques initiaux du Sr (0.704 à 0.709) et des valeurs epsilon Nd (-2.1 à -4.7). Ces données montrent également que la contribution crustale est dominante, en accord avec les isotopes du plomb. Les phénomènes d'hybridation ont vraisemblablement eu lieu en base de croûte et dans la chambre magmatique sous-jacente au laccolite du Matorello. Les indicateurs de paléogravité du Matorello contribuent accessoirement à la compréhension de l'architecture actuelle de la nappe de Sambuco. Des plis isoclinaux à surface axiale verticale peuvent être mis en évidence par le contact entre les faciès dioritique et granodioritique. L'antiforme dont le Matorello forme le coeur est un synclinal, ce qui le positionne dans le Flanc inverse du grand pli couché que forme la nappe de Sambuco. Par ailleurs, des blocs de gneiss retrouvés dans le wildflysch sommital de la couverture de la nappe d'Antigorio ont été affiliés dans cette étude au pluton du Matorello. Ceci implique que le front de la nappe de Sambuco chevauchait déjà la partie est du bassin d'Antigorio au moment de sa fermeture. Par conséquent, ce n'est qu'en position externe que la nappe du Lebendun chevauche directement la nappe d'Antigorio. Abstract Magmatic bodies are important markers in paleo-geographic or geodynamic reconstructions of orogenic cycles, even more so in the case of polycyclic events where many of the other markers have been overwritten or destroyed. Plutons are relatively easy to date and their geochemical properties help constrain the tectonic context in which they were emplaced. This study focuses on the pre-mesozoic basement in the Sambuco and Maggia lower Penninic nappes located in the central Lepontine domain of the Alps. A number of magmatic events have been identified in the Sambuco basement. These events were dated using LA-ICPMS U/Pb on zircon grains. The mafic calc-alkaline banded Scheggia suite is dated as lower Cambrian, 540-530 Ma. The Al-rich Sasso-Nero lenticular gneiss is 480-470 Ma old (similarly to many older orfhogneisses of the Alpine basement) and contains 630-610 Ma old pan-African inherited zircons that illustrate the Gondwanian origin of these terranes.The calc-alkaline Matorello pluton is dated as 310-300 Ma whereas the lamprophyric bodies it contains are of 300 Ma. The Cocco granodiorite and the Ruscada leucogranite both intrude the basement of the adjacent Maggia nappe and are of similar ages to the Matorello. The ages as well as the geochemical similarities between the Cocco, Rucada and Matorello plutons suggest their paleo-geographic proximity at the Permian-Carboniferous boundary. However, these nappes are currently considered as belonging to two different Mesozoic paleo-geographic domains. Indeed, the Sambuco is considered as Helvetic whereas the Maggia is said to be Briançonnais, both separated by an oceanic basin. If this is the case, then it is essential that nostrike-slip movement has misaligned both continental margins since these coincide perfectly now that the oceanic domain closed. The Matorello pluton was originally a tabular intrusion, built up by the accumulation of multiple, several meter-thick, subhorizontal sheet-like injections of magma. Depending on their emplacement rate, the successive magma injections either solidified rapidly with sharp and rather well-defined boundaries (like the composite sills) or mingled with previous injections generating a thick molten layer up to several tens to hundred meters thick, like in the main granodioritic facies. These coalesced injections are hardly distinguishable, however subtle contrasts in granulometry, mineral modal proportions or mineral sorting (cross-bedded biotite-rich schlieren), as well as erosional features and/or crystal entrapment along contact surfaces allow to distinguish between the different injections. Two exceptional meter-thick layers display sinuous boundaries with the host granodiorite and consist of a densely packed accumulation of mafic enclaves in a granodioritic matrix. Gravitational sorting of the enclaves with load cast features at the base of the layers and sinuous biotite schlieren point to injection of low viscosity turbulent composite magma flows in the still largely molten granodiorite host. The hybrid nature of these rocks implies the existence of á periodically replenished and differentiated underlying magma chamber. Magmas are mafic liquids derived from the mantle and anatectic liquids of crustal origin, as shown by the (87Sr/86Sr), and epsilon Nd values (0.704-0.709 and -2.1 to -4.7 respectively. These data show that the crustal contribution is important, as confirmed by the Pb isotopes. The hybridisation processes seem to have occurred in the lower crust in magma chambers underlying the Matorello laccolith. The paleo-gravity markers in the Matorello help understand the architecture of the Sambuco nappe. Isoclinal folds with a vertical axial plane can be seen at the contact between dioritic and granodioritic facies. The antiform structure of which the Matorello is the heart is in fact a syncline. This places it in the inverse flanc of the large recumbent fold that constitutes the Sambuco nappe. The gneiss blocs found in the summital wildflysh cover of the Antigorio nappe have been linked to the Matorello pluton. This means that the front of the Sambuco nappe already overlapped the Antigorio basin when it closed. This implies that the Lebendun nappe can only overlap the Antigorio nappe in it's external position. Résumé grand public La chaîne alpine est la conséquence de la collision tertiaire entre deux masses continentales, l'Europe au nord et la péninsule apulienne africaine au sud, originellement séparées par l'océan mésozoïque téthysien. Cette collision a fermé un espace large de plusieurs centaines de km avec pour résultat l'écaillage de la croûte terrestre en unités tectoniques de dimensions variables, qui se sont empilées, imbriquées, éventuellement replissées en nappes de géométrie complexe. Cet amoncellement de 40 km d'épaisseur a vu sa température et sa pression lithostatique internes augmenter jusqu'à des valeurs de l'ordre de 680 °C et 6000 bars, induisant une recristallisation métamorphique des roches. L'un des objectifs de la géologie alpine est de reconstituer la géographie de la région aux temps mésozoïques de l'océan téthysien, en d'autres termes, de replacer chacune des unités tectoniques identifiées au sein de l'empilement alpin dans sa position originelle. Le défi est de taille et peut être comparé à celui de la reconstitution d'un vaste puzzle, dont certaines pièces seraient endommagées au niveau de leur contour ou leurs couleurs (métamorphisme), dissimulées par d'autres (enfouissement), voire tombées de la table de jeu (subduction, échappement latéral). Plusieurs approches ont été mises en oeuvre au cours du siècle écoulé. On citera en particulier la stratigraphie, la tectonique et le paléomagnétisme. Dans ce travail, nous avons essentiellement utilisé des techniques de datation isotopique absolue des roches (U/Pb sur zircon) qui, sur la base des connaissances acquises par l'ensemble des autres disciplines géologiques, nous ont permis de mieux contraindre ta paléogéographie mésozoïque du domaine «pennique inférieur » des Alpes centrales lépontines. Et au-delà? Nous savons tous que la disposition des continents à la surface de la Terre évolue constamment. Il est donc tentant d'essayer de remonter plus loin encore dans le temps et de reconstituer la physionomie de la marge sud européenne, tout au moins certains éléments de son histoire, au cours de l'ère paléozoïque. Les traces de ces événements très anciens sont naturellement ténues et dans ce contexte, les techniques de datation mentionnées ci-dessus deviennent les outils les plus performants. Ainsi, des datations u/Pb sur zircon nous ont permis de recenser plusieurs intrusions magmatiques, attribuées à quatre événements orogéniques anté-alpins. Des âges néoprotérozoïques (630-610 millions d'années ou Ma), cambrien inférieur (540-530 Ma), ordovicien inférieur (480-470 Ma) et carbonifère supérieur-permien inférieur (310-285 Ma) ont été obtenus dans le socle de la nappe de Sambuco. Des âges similaires à 300 Ma ont été obtenus dans la nappe voisine de la Maggia, qui permettent de relier ces deux unités. Aujourd'hui côte à côte, ces deux nappes devaient également se trouver proches l'une de l'autre il y a 300 Ma, lors de l'extension post-varisque. Les structures magmatiques spectaculaires préservées dans le pluton du Matorello (300 Ma) contraignent la géométrie actuelle de la nappe de Sambuco dans laquelle l'intrusion s'est mise en place. La forme originelle du pluton, aujourd'hui retourné et replissé plusieurs fois, s'avère être tabulaire, faite d'intrusions de faible épaisseur (1-300 m) s'étalant en forme de disque (30m à 2 km de diamètre). Les injections successives de magma se sont accumulées sous un toit dioritique précoce; elles sont issues, par le refais de fractures, d'une chambre magmatique plus profonde, périodiquement réalimentée par des magmas calco-alcalins d'origine mantellique contaminés parla croûte continentale profonde (εNd = -2.1 à -4.7). Des accumulations d'enclaves magmatiques arrondies et granoclassées dans des paléo-chenaux à fond érosif témoignent de conditions de mise en place hydrodynamiques à haute énergie. Ces enclaves sont emmenées de la chambre magmatique sous-jacente à la faveur d'épisodes de fracturation hydraulique liés à l'injection de magmas matelliques chauds dans des liquides différenciés riches en eau. Cette hypothèse est étayée par l'existence de filons composites. Une paléohorizontale a pu être déduite au sein du pluton, indiquant que cette partie de la nappe de Sambuco est verticalisée et isoclinalement replissée par la déformation alpine. Finalement, des blocs érodés du socle Sambuco ont été retrouvés dans le wildflysch sommital de la couverture sédimentaire mésozoïque de la nappe d'Antigorio sous-jacente. Ceci suggère que les blocs ont été fournis parle front de la nappe de Sambuco en train de chevaucher sur la nappe d'Antigorio au moment de la fermeture du bassin sédimentaire de cette dernière.

Vaarinpidosta virtuaaliaikaan : Sata vuotta suomalaista tilintarkastusta

Tämän tutkimuksen aiheena on tilintarkastuksen historiallinen kehittyminen Suomessa runsaan sadan vuoden aikana. Tutkimuksen tavoitteena on analysoida osakeyhtiön tilintarkastuksen kehitystä ja yhdistää vuosisadan kehityspiirteet tilintarkastuksen kokonaiskuvaksi. Tutkittava periodi alkaa 1800-luvun lopulta ja päättyy 2000-luvun taitteeseen. Tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan suomalaista tilintarkastusinstituutiota, joka jaetaan kolmeen osaan: tilintarkastusta säätelevään normistoon (normit), tilintarkastajajärjestelmään (toimijat) ja tilintarkastuksen sisältöön (tehtävät). Tutkimuksessa tavoitellaan vastauksia kysymyksiin: mitä tarkastettiin, milloin tarkastettiin, kuka tarkasti ja miten tarkastettiin eri aikakausina? Tutkimus perustuu historialliseen lähdeaineistoon, jonka muodostavat tutkimusajanjakson lainsäädäntö, lainvalmisteluasiakirjat, viranomaisten ohjeet ja päätökset, alan järjestöjen suositukset, ammattilehtien artikkelit sekä laskentatoimen ja tilintarkastuksen ammattikirjallisuus. Metodologisesti tutkimus on teoreettinen, kvalitatiivinen historiantutkimus, jossa lähdeaineistoa käsitellään lähdekriittisesti ja osittain sisältöanalyysin keinoin. Tilintarkastusta säätelevässä normistossa keskeisiä lakeja ovat olleet osakeyhtiölaki, kirjanpitolaki ja tilintarkastuslaki. Lakisääteinen tilintarkastus alkoi vuoden 1895 osakeyhtiölaista, joka uudistui vuonna 1978 ja jälleen vuonna 1997. Kirjanpitolainsäädäntö on uudistunut viidesti: 1925 ja 1928, 1945, 1973, 1993 sekä 1997. Vuoden 1994 tilintarkastuslakiin koottiin tilintarkastuksen säädökset useista laeista. Muita normistoja ovat olleet EY:n direktiivit, Kilan ohjeet, KHT-yhdistyksen suositukset, Keskuskauppakamarin säännökset ja viimeisimpinä IAS- ja ISA-standardit. Ammattimainen tilintarkastajajärjestelmä saatiin maahamme kauppiaskokousten ansiosta. Ammattimaisena tilintarkastuksen toimijana aloitti Suomen Tilintarkastajainyhdistys vuonna 1911, ja sen toimintaa jatkoi KHT-yhdistys vuodesta 1925 alkaen. Tilintarkastajien auktorisointi siirtyi Keskuskauppakamarille vuonna 1924. HTM-tilintarkastajat ovat olleet alalla vuodesta 1950 lähtien. Kauppakamarijärjestö on toiminut hyväksyttyjen tilintarkastajien valvojana koko ammattimaisen tilintarkastustoiminnan ajan. Valtion valvontaa suorittaa VALA (Valtion tilintarkastuslautakunta). Koko tutkittavan periodin ajan auktorisoitujen tilintarkastajien rinnalla osakeyhtiöiden tarkastajina ovat toimineet myös maallikot.Tilintarkastuksen tehtäviin kuului vuoden 1895 osakeyhtiölain mukaan hallinnon ja tilien tarkastus. Myöhemmin sisältö täsmentyi tilinpäätöksen, kirjanpidon ja hallinnon tarkastukseksi. Tutkimusajanjakson alussa tilintarkastus oli manuaalista kaikkien tositteiden prikkausta ja virheiden etsimistä. Myöhemmin tarkastus muuttui pistokokeiksi. Kertatarkastuksesta siirryttiin jatkuvaan valvontatarkastukseen 1900-luvun alkupuolella. Dokumentoinnista ja työpapereista alkaa olla havaintoja 1930-luvulta lähtien. Atk-tarkastus yleistyi 1970- ja 1980-luvuilla, jolloin myös riskianalyyseihin alettiin kiinnittää huomiota. Hallinnon tarkastuksen merkitys on kasvanut kaiken aikaa. Tilintarkastuskertomukset olivat tutkimusajanjakson alussa vapaamuotoisia ja sisällöltään ilmaisurikkaita ja kuvailevia. Kertomus muuttui julkiseksi vuoden 1978 osakeyhtiölain myötä. Myöhemmin KHT-yhdistyksen vakiokertomusmallit yhdenmukaistivat ja pelkistivät raportointia. Tutkimuksen perusteella tilintarkastuksen historia voidaan jakaa kolmeen kauteen, jotka ovat tilintarkastusinstituution rakentumisen kausi (1895 - 1950), vakiintumisen kausi (1951 - 1985) ja kansainvälistymisen ja julkisuuden kausi (1986 alkaen). Tutkimusajanjakson jokaisella vuosikymmenellä keskusteltiin jatkuvasti tilintarkastajien riittävyydestä, alalle pääsyn ja tutkintojen vaikeudesta, tilintarkastajien ammattitaidon tasosta,hallinnon tarkastuksen sisällöstä, tilintarkastuskertomuksesta sekä maallikkotarkastajien asemasta. 1990-luvun keskeisimmät keskusteluaiheet olivat konsultointi, riippumattomuus, odotuskuilu sekä tilintarkastuksen taso ja laadunvalvonta. Analysoitaessa tilintarkastuksen muutoksia runsaan sadan vuoden ajalta voidaan todeta, että tilintarkastuksen ydintehtävät eivät juurikaan ole muuttuneet vuosikymmenien kuluessa. Osakeyhtiön tilintarkastus on edelleenkin laillisuustarkastusta. Sen tarkoituksena on yhä kirjanpidon, tilinpäätöksen ja hallinnon tarkastus. Tilintarkastajat valvovat osakkeenomistajien etua ja raportoivat heille tarkastuksen tuloksista. Tilintarkastuksen ulkoinen maailma sen sijaan on muuttunut vuosikymmenten saatossa. Kansainvälistyminen on lisännyt säännösten määrää, odotuksia ja vaatimuksia on nykyisin enemmän, uusi tekniikka mahdollistaa nopean tiedonkulun ja valvonta on lisääntynyt nykypäivää kohti tultaessa. Tilintarkastajan pätevyys perustuu nykyään tietotekniikan, tietojärjestelmien ja yrityksen toimialantuntemukseen. Runsaan sadan vuoden takaisen lain vaarinpitovaatimuksesta on tultu virtuaaliaikaiseen maailmaan!

Seedling development and biomass as affected by seed size and morphology in durum wheat

This work evaluated the effect of seed size and morphology on the development and biomass of durum wheat seedlings. Three different seed-grading sizes selected by sieving were used in glasshouse experiments, and a set of three developmental and 23 biomass-related indices were measured on eight genotypes, at two moisture levels. The influence of seed size on seedling development was studied at high and low temperatures (22\12 mC, and 15\5 mC day\night temperatures, respectively), in growth chambers. The area of the seed and the area of the embryo were the seed morphological traits most affected by seed size. Seed size was strongly associated with seedling development and seedling biomass until the complete extension of the first two leaves, at the fourth leaf stage. The rate of first-leaf growth and the area of the first leaf were the developmental and biomass traits, respectively, most sensitive to seed-grading size.

Water status and gas exchange of umbu plants (Spondias tuberosa Arr. Cam.) propagated by seeds and stem cuttings

The experiment was carried out at the Embrapa Semi-Árido, Petrolina-PE, Brazil, in order to study the physiological responses of umbu plants propagated by seeds and by stem cuttings under water stress conditions, based on leaf water potential and gas exchange measurements. Data were collected in one-year plants established in pots containing 30 kg of a sandy soil and submitted to twenty-day progressive soil water deficit. The evaluations were based on leaf water potential and gas exchange data collection using psychrometric chambers and a portable infra-red gas analyzer, respectively. Plants propagated by seeds maintained a significantly higher water potential, stomatal conductance, transpiration and photosynthesis under decreasing soil water availability. However, plants propagated by stem cuttings were unable to maintain a favorable internal water balance, reflecting negatively on stomatal conductance and leaf gas exchange. This fact is probably because umbu plants propagated by stem cuttings are not prone to formation of root tubers which are reservoirs for water and solutes. Thus, the establishing of umbu plants propagated by stem cuttings must be avoided in areas subjected to soil water deficit.