Calcareous Bodies Research Articles

The technology of polychrome glazed ceramics in Ifriqiya: new data from the site of Chimtou

Ifriqiya (roughly Tunisia and eastern Algeria) is believed to have played a significant role in the diffusion of ceramic glazed technologies into other regions of the Western Mediterranean. However, due to limited analysis on North African glazed ceramics, its role in technology transfer remains poorly understood. This paper uses SEM–EDS and petrographic analyses to understand the technology employed in the production of Tunisian ceramics through the study of 30 polychrome glazed ceramics from a medieval settlement at the site of Chimtou (ancient Simitthus), Tunisia, dated to the late ninth-twelfth century. The results show that these are lead-rich glazes with varying contents of alkalis, coloured with copper, iron and manganese oxide and applied over a calcareous body. Opaque glazes were obtained using cassiterite crystals as opacifier or by adding crushed quartz. The use of lead stannate as a colourant and opacifier in one light yellow glaze raises questions about the mechanisms of introduction of tin opacification technology in North Africa. Scrap metal seems to have been used as a source of lead for the glazes; while iron slag was probably used as a source of iron to colour the glaze in one sample, pointing to a cross-craft interaction between glazemaking and metallurgy.

Prevalence and Economic Impact of Cysticercus Bovis in Slaughtered Cattle at El-Menofia Governorate, Egypt

Bovine cysticercosis is regarded as a critical public health problem affecting farm animals' wealth. The current study sought to establish the prevalence of Cysticercus bovis, histopathology, and its economic effect on slaughtered cattle from Egypt's El-Menofia Province. The inspection of 4670 cattle carcasses, 2500 male and 2170 female, was done over two years, from March 2019 to February 2021, at three abattoirs (El-Shohada, El-Bagour, and Menof). The findings showed that 0.69% of slaughtered cattle had C. bovis. The prevalence was highest in summer and autumn at 0.195% followed by winter at 0.17% and spring at 0.13%. Females were more susceptible than males to infection at 0.58% and 0.11%, respectively. The presence of C. bovis was associated with the age of the inspected carcass. The increased prevalence was observed in female cattle older than 5 years. The predilection sites were masseter muscle (0.23%), heart (0.44%), and entire carcass (0.04%). Heavy infection with C. bovis was observed in two cases in El-Bagour abattoir. The recovered C. bovis morphology and histopathology were documented. Grossly, C. bovis was found either an oval live fluid-filled cyst or a degenerating dead cyst with dystrophic calcification. Histopathology of C. bovis in cow muscle showed its sucker, central spiral convoluted canal, and oval-shaped basophilic calcareous bodies. The parasite was surrounded by the host inflammatory cells. C. bovis was found live, dead, or calcified and ranged from 5-8mm in diameter, with local or heavy infestation. Cysticercosis caused significant economic losses, with an estimated total annual loss of 57970 Egyptian Pounds from the condemnation of organs in this study's inspected carcasses and a total of 1935150 EP from the total condemnation in the three abattoirs included in this study, including ours. This low prevalence of infection suggests using a good drainage system to protect cattle intermediate hosts of T. saginata to prevent human infection.

Characterization of Islamic Ceramic Production Techniques in Northeast Iberian Peninsula: The Case of Medieval Albarracin (Spain)

Ceramic objects found in the Islamic Taifa of Albarracin (Spain), 12th century CE, were studied to ascertain the main characteristics and influences of its manufacture. Production centers even from small kingdoms can add new insights in medieval ceramic technology. Several types of decorated ceramics, such as tin-opacified glazed, monochrome glazed and cuerda seca, were investigated. Ceramic bodies were analyzed by ICP-Optical Emission Spectrometry, and glazes were studied by Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry. All the ceramic bodies showed the use of Ca-rich pastes, although three groups could be distinguished and related to their decoration. Lead and silicon were the main components of the glazes, as well as scattered tin oxide in the case of white or green opacified glazes. Some features, such as calcareous bodies, double firing for tin-opacified glazes, glaze components, and coloring oxides, were common in Albarracin samples and other Islamic production centers in the Iberian Peninsula. However, some differences were also highlighted in lead/silica proportions and cuerda seca decoration, and several influences from northern or southern pottery centers. Lead isotope ratios, measured by ICP-Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry, revealed two different sources or suppliers of lead raw materials according to the type of glaze to be prepared.

Morphological Features and Structural Analysis of Plerocercoids of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae) from European Pine Marten, Martes martes (Mammalia: Mustelidae) in Ukraine

We report zoonotic Spirometra erinaceieuropaei (Rudolphi, 1819) Faust, Campbell and Kellogg, 1929 (Diphyllobothriidae), from its natural ecosystem in Europe from Martes martes in Ukraine. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed the presence of mineral concretions in the scolex area of S. erinaceieuropaei. The combination of SEM and metal analysis using a dispersive X-ray technique to study the body surface of the plerocercoid and calcareous body–like structures has never been performed before in cestodes. Gallium ion sectioning and metal analysis were performed to study mineral concretions in cestodes for the first time. The results revealed moderate levels of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium in the scolex and tegument of plerocercoids. Calcareous body–like structures included high levels of calcium and moderate levels of magnesium on their surface.

Technological aspects of an early 19th c. English and French white earthenware assemblage from Bern (Switzerland)

Ceramic material from the Brunngasshalde town-waste-dump of Berne, the capital of Switzerland (infilling 1787 - 1832) encompasses 9.2 % white earthenware. Only 1 % of the latter bear impressed stamps of English, French and Swiss manufactures. All stamped English (WEDGWOOD, n=3) and French (CREIL, n=2; NIDERVILLER n=1) material was analyzed by XRF, XRD, MEB-BSE and MEB-EDS. The Wedgwood pottery is rich in coarse SiO 2 grains, interpreted as crushed flint fragments, with abundant signs of a high temperature treatment. They lay in a finely grained siliceous-aluminous matrix, in one specimen together with grog. The Creil material is very similar, but lacks grog. The English white earthenware has lower SiO 2 (73-76 wt. %) as Creil (77-79 wt. %), similar Al 2 O 3 (18-22 wt. %), but more K 2 O (ca. 1 vs. 0.4 wt. %) and Ba (200-220 ppm vs. 130 ppm). In comparison, previously analyzed early French white earthenware from Paris (n=5), produced in Pont-aux-Choux (c. 1750-1788), bearing the characteristic rice grain decoration, differs clearly in its concentrations of SiO 2 (60-61 wt. %) and Al 2 O 3 (32-34 wt. %). Creil and Wedgwood sherds must be classified as siliceous-aluminous white earthenware. The CaO-rich (17 wt.%) Niderviller fragment pertains to the calcareous white earthenware group. A comparison with 19 already published calcareous bodies from Lorraine shows similarities (crushed SiO 2 grains and lead frit as temper in a fine grained siliceous aluminous matrix), but its chemical composition differs from the published analysis of an object stylistically attributed to Niderviller. White earthenware glazes from Niderviller, Paris and the Wegdwood manufacture are transparent lead alkali glazes, and from Creil lead glazes. Niderviller has a K 2 O rich (5 wt. %) and Wedgwood an Al 2 O 3 rich (5-8 wt. %) glaze. Chemical elements diffused from the body to the glaze (e. g. lead) and conversely (e. g. alumina). All samples are artificial bodies, made from a white-firing clay, to which were added ground flint, calcined or not, with or without grog, or ground flint/quartz sand, calcined or not, and lead frits and chalk for the calcareous white earthenware. These results are in good accordance with old recipes. They are also the first archaeometric study of undoubtly (trademark!) Creil, Niderviller and Wedgwood tableware.

Holothurians of the genus Molpadia Risso, 1826 (Molpadiida: Molpadiidae) from the shelf of Kamchatka and the Kurile islands

Two species of holothurians of the order Molpadiida were found on the shelf of Kamchatka and the Kurile Islands: Molpadia orientalis (Saveljeva, 1933) comb. nov. and M. roretzi (von Marenzeller, 1877). Molpadiid holothurians were not previously recorded in waters near Kamchatka and the Kurile Islands. Brief descriptions of the morphology of the two species, distribution and ecology data, as well as figures depicting calcareous rings and body skin ossicles, are provided.

Calcareous concretions and psammoma bodies in sputum smears: Do these similar structures have different clinical significance?

Different noncellular elements, such as round concentric calcified laminated structures, may be found in sputum smears. If these structures appear isolated on the background of the smear, the term usually used to describe them is "calcareous concretions" (CC). On the contrary, when the structures are part of epithelial cell groups or small tissue fragments, the term used to describe them is "Psammoma bodies" (PB). The aim of this work is to establish the relationship between these structures and pulmonary disease, especially lung carcinoma, by searching for the presence of CC and/or PB in sputum smears. Our study has taken as a basis 16.716 sputum smears from 696 patients obtained during a 7-year period (2003-2009). After reviewing them, it was found that from the total, 66 cases (0.39%) contained round calcified structures, 57 of them (0.34%) corresponding to CC, and the remaining 9 ones (0.05%) corresponding to PB. From these 57 CC cases, 56 corresponded to benign entities, and only one was found with lung carcinoma. On the other hand, from the 9 PB cases all of them (100%) were related to lung adenocarcinoma. We conclude that, even having a similar morphological structure, these aforementioned calcified structures we have observed in sputum smears have different and relevant clinical significance.

Two middle Pleistocene warm stages in the terrace deposits of the Apulia region (southern Italy)

We studied two middle Pleistocene terraced deposits exposed along the Trani cliff and at Coppa Nevigata in the Apulia region, southern Italy. In particular, our study focused on stromatolitic units that are present at two sites. At the Trani cliff, Unit I consists of cemented, whitish, fine-grained, massive or bedded limestone. The limestone grades upwards into massive, porous bioconstructed calcareous bodies composed of in situ Charophyta stems and/or stromatolites. The uppermost part of the unit is composed of whitish calcarenite/calcisiltite layers with Characeae. The interpreted sedimentary environment for this unit is a hypersaline-brackish lagoon.At Coppa Nevigata, the NVI unit is composed of tawny or yellow ochre sand with rare polygenic centimetric pebbles. The sand grades upwards into light yellow and ochre sandy/clayey silt or clay. Some layers are cemented and form marly limestones which contains columnar stromatolites. The uppermost part of the unit consists of yellow ochre or tawny marly limestones and marls that are rich in external moulds of Abra sp. and Cerastoderma glaucum. The interpreted sedimentary environment for this unit is a brackish lagoon.Unit I and the NVI unit have been dated to MIS 9 and MIS 11, respectively, by applying the Amino Acid Racemisation (AAR) method to ostracod shells. The stromatolites of the NVI unit are ascribable to SH type, whereas those of Unit I are ascribable to SH and LLH types and to colloform type. In particular, the stromatolites at the Trani cliff are similar in shape and sedimentary environment to the modern stromatolites in Shark Bay (Australia). The water temperature and salinity conditions under which the current stromatolites live indicate that tropical/subtropical conditions were present in the Mediterranean Sea during MIS 11 and MIS 9.Our reconstructions suggest that:1) during MIS 11, the sea surface temperatures (SSTs) were consistent with literature data, that indicate SSTs ∼3 C° higher than the current ones.2) during MIS 9, the lagoon in which Unit I formed had a mean water temperature of the coldest month at least 10–12 C° higher than that in modern southern Adriatic and at least 3–4 C° higher than that in some modern north-African lagoons. Therefore, our study supports the hypothesis that the Mediterranean Sea experienced tropical/subtropical conditions during MIS 9 that were similar to those of MIS 11.

TECHNOLOGY OF PRODUCTION OF GHAZNAVID GLAZED POTTERY FROM BUST AND LASHKAR-I BAZAR (AFGHANISTAN)

Fifteen fragments of glazed pottery were studied by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM–EDS). The fragments, dated from between the 11th and the 12th centuries, are part of a group excavated at ancient Bust and Lashkar-i Bazar (southern Afghanistan) and belonging to the International Museum of Ceramics in Faenza. All the samples are characterized by highly calcareous bodies, and all of them but one is coated with a transparent lead glaze; the last fragment is, instead, coated with a turquoise opaque lead–alkali glaze. With three exceptions, the studied fragments show underglaze decorations featuring white, red, green or black motifs applied on to a white, red or black engobe; one of the remaining glazes is applied on to a monochrome white slip and the other two directly on to the ceramic body. Optical microscopy and SEM images show that engobes and decorations were obtained by deposition of differently coloured clayey slips, the composition of which was characterized by EDS analyses. In particular, black engobes and decorative motifs were obtained by recourse to manganese and iron compounds or to chromium, magnesium and iron compounds; it appears that both possibilities could be exploited for obtaining different decorative motifs on the same object.

Cerebral Sparganosis

A 47-year-old woman presented with severe headache associated with nausea for 2 weeks. There was no fever, neck pain, dizziness, vertigo, unilateral limb weakness, blurred vision or trauma history. She had no history of systemic disease or medical problems. Brain computed tomography showed left side diffuse brain edema. Brain contrast magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mixed intensity mass lesion with heterogeneous abnormal enhancement in the left parietal lobe. The differential diagnosis included neoplasm and a lesion mimicking a neoplasm. An operative biopsy showed a grossly yellow, 3 cm, left occipital tumor. Pathological findings showed granulomatous inflammation in the brain tissue and a dead parasite body was noted. Calcareous bodies were evident inside the parasite. Cerebral sparganosis, which is an infection from Spirometra mansoni, was diagnosed. Two weeks later, she was discharged and had recovered completely. She may have been infected by eating raw meat and drinking unboiled water. Cerebral sparganosis is extremely rare and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of metastatic brain tumor, especially in endemic areas.

Establishing an Agenda for Calcareous Dinoflagellate Research (Thoracosphaeraceae, Dinophyceae) including a nomenclatural synopsis of generic names

AbstractCalcareous dinoflagellates are considered to be a monophyletic group of peridinoid taxa that have the potential to produce calcified exoskeletal structures during the life cycle, or that derive from such forms. Frequently, these calcareous bodies are excellently preserved in the fossil record and have received increased attention during the past three decades with regard to their use in biostratigraphy, climate and environmental reconstruction. Fossil and extant taxa have been classified in various, partly concurring, systematic concepts, using character complexes of the theca, cyst wall ultrastructure and archaeopyle/operculum morphology. The significance of such character complexes is briefly discussed in the light of molecular data that have been accumulated during the past decade. Over the years, the number of published taxonomic names has increased, partly due to nomenclatural changes. We propose that the entirety of calcareous dinoflagellates, and non‐calcareous relatives derived from them, is accommodated in a single family of the order Peridiniales, the Thoracosphaeraceae, combining the former segregated taxonomic units Calciodinelloideae, a subfamily within Peridiniaceae, and Thoracosphaerales, a separate dinoflagellate order. As a result of a meeting of calcareous dinoflagellate specialists, we outline major subjects that are in need of re‐investigation and ‐evaluation (an Agenda for Calcareous Dinoflagellate Research). In order to contribute to a consistent and stable nomenclature and taxonomy of calcareous dinoflagellates, we list 97 published generic names assigned to known calcareous dinoflagellates in a nomenclatural synopsis, with species names indicating their types and information on type locality and stratigraphy. We evaluate the status of these names—whether validly published and, if so, whether legitimate—, a crucial first step for any revisionary work in the future.

Calcium carbonate deposition in a cell wall sac formed in mulberry idioblasts

Although calcium carbonate is known to be a common biomineral in plants, very little attention has been given to the biological control of calcium carbonate deposition. In mulberry leaves, a subcellular structure is involved in mineral deposition and is described here by a variety of cytological techniques. Calcium carbonate was deposited in large, rounded idioblast cells located in the upper epidermal layer of mulberry leaves. Next to the outmost region ("cap") of young idioblasts, we found that the inner cell wall layer expanded to form a peculiar outgrowth, named cell wall sac in this report. This sac grew and eventually occupied the entire apoplastic space of the idioblast. Inside the mature cell wall sac, various cellulosic membranes developed and became the major site of Ca carbonate deposition. Concentrated Ca2+ was pooled in the peripheral zone, where small Ca carbonate globules were present in large numbers. Large globules were tightly packed among multiple membranes in the central zone, especially in compartments formed by cellulosic membranes and in their neighboring membranes. The maximum Ca sink capacity of a single cell wall sac was quantified using enzymatically isolated idioblasts as approximately 48 ng. The newly formed outgrowth in idioblasts is not a pure calcareous body but a complex cell wall structure filled with substantial amounts of Ca carbonate crystals.

Cerebral mass in a 13-year-old girl following long-term sojourn in the Tropics

Cysticercosis of the central nervous system is the main cause of late-onset epilepsy in tropical countries. The case of a 13-year-old German girl with a generalized seizure following long-term sojourns in the Tropics is reported. Cranial imaging showed two cerebral lesions with central calcifications. Serological, molecular and cultural examination of cerebrospinal fluid and blood was negative for various parasites, fungi and bacteria including mycobacteria. Histopathological examination after neurosurgical resection revealed calcareous bodies pathognomonic for platyhelminths, in particular tapeworms. Taken together, the radiological and histopathological findings indicate infection with cysticerci, the larvae of Taenia solium.

Sedimentary Origin of Calcareous Intrusions in the ~1 Ga Oaxacan Complex, Southern Mexico: Tectonic Implications

Intrusive calcareous bodies, marbles and calc-silicate rocks, are a distinctive feature of the highgrade metamorphic suites of the ~1 Ga northern Oaxacan Complex. They typically form dike-like intrusions up to 4 m thick which cut across the surrounding high-grade granulite- and upperamphibolite facies metamorphic rocks. Various protoliths are possible for these carbonate bodies: (1) sediments including evaporites; (2) metasomatic skarns; and (3) carbonatites. An evaporitic protolith is supported by the predominance of scapolite, low abundances of incompatible trace elements (including Nb and rare-earth elements) relative to carbonatites, and the presence of a sharp contact with host rocks without a significant contact metamorphic aureole or fenitization. It is inferred that limestones and related rocks were remobilized under granulite-facies conditions and intruded into the host rocks. The widespread distribution of such evaporites in the Oaxacan Complex is consistent with deposition after the worldwide ~1.3 Ga oxygenation event that increased the marine sulfate reservoir. Intrusion of rift-related plutons into the sediments at ~1157-1130 Ma provides a younger limit on the age of protholiths of the metamorphic suites. Modern analogues for such evaporites are rifts associated with passive margins (e.g., Red Sea) and active margins (e.g., Gulf of California). The presence of evaporites implies a paleolatitude of 10-35°, a conclusion consistent with a paleogeographic provenence for the Oaxacan Complex adjacent to either Amazonia or eastern Laurentia in Rodinia reconstructions.

Recherche d'indices sur les techniques de fabrication de zelliges du XIVe siècle (Chellah, Maroc).

The art of zellige and the buildings they decorate are an integral part of life and cultural heritage in Morocco. The architects confronted with the problems of restoration of these buildings and the zellige decorations are often forced to envisage the replication of disappeared elements. But the techniques, the texture and the composition of the material are not or badly known. Here we are interested in searching the physical characteristics of zelliges coming from the site of Chellah, in Rabat, and dating from the XIVth century. We look for some indications on one or several techniques of their manufacture. The analyse concerned the colours, by optical absorption spectrometry and chromametry, the texture, by cathodoluminescence and scanning electron microscopy, and the elementary composition of the different phases, by energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry. Colouring agents, used to colour the glazes, were identified (iron, copper and manganese). The determination of the chromatic coordinates of the colours of the glazes and their representation in the conventional spaces Yxy and L*a*b * supplies a norm repository. That can be used to direct and control the attempts of replication in purpose of restoration. We notice the presence an abundance of devitrification crystals in the glaze/body interface, probably meaning the application of the glaze suspension on an unfired calcareous body. For all the examined samples, transparent lead and tin-opacified lead glazes have been used. These data will be useful for some replication experiments in association with the local craft. It establishes a first repository system useful to compare with other from various periods, and from other Moroccan buildings.

TECHNOLOGY AND COLOUR DEVELOPMENT OF HISPANO‐MORESQUE LEAD‐GLAZED POTTERY

Lead‐glazed pottery from the medieval workshop of Les Olleries Majors (Paterna, Spain) has been studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray fluorescence and optical spectroscopy. Yellow, brown and honey‐coloured glazes occur on pots glazed on only one surface. They have virtually identical compositions and transmittance spectra, their apparent differences in colour are due to the colours of the underlying pastes. Yellow glazes occur on cream‐coloured calcareous bodies, honey‐coloured glazes occur on less calcareous bodies with some development of hematite, while brown glazes occur on red siliceous cooking‐pots. Green glazes are found on pots glazed on both surfaces; the glazes trapped CO2 evolved by decomposing carbonates, resulting in an internal reducing environment. This caused the reduction of iron to the ferrous state which coloured the glaze green by diffusion.

Roman Glazed Ceramics in the Western Mediterranean: Chemical Characterization by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry of Ceramic Bodies

Several objects of Roman lead-glazed ceramic, found in Hispania(Spain), were sampled and analysed in order to characterize them to study the spread of glazed ceramic in the western Mediterranean. Chemical analyses were carried out by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry. Studies of the chemical composition of the ceramic bodies indicate that ceramics from two different production centres reached Hispaniaduring the Roman period: a non-calcareous fabric, coming from Lyon workshops, and calcareous bodies with bicoloured glazes from another main production centre, which is suggested to be Italy. Other objects, of central Gaulish or eastern origin, have also been found in the western Mediterranean, but only occasionally.

Cutaneous Sparganosis

Sparganosis is an infection caused by migrating larvae of the cestode genus Spirometra. There have been approximately 62 cases of sparganosis reported in the United States. Although a subcutaneous mass is the most common manifestation, sparganosis is not well-described in the dermatology literature. We present a case of cutaneous sparganosis in a 52-year-old Filipino American woman. Histologically, the sections showed a granulomatous panniculitis and dermatitis containing a section of a sparganum. A transverse section of an intact sparganum reveals an eosinophilic cuticle, loose stroma, calcareous bodies, and smooth muscle fibers.

A comparative study on the fusogenic nature of echinoderm and nonechinoderm phagocytes in vitro

AbstractPhagocytes obtained from six echinoderm and four nonechinoderm species are compared in culture with respect to their ability to form syncytium. It is shown that phagocytes of all echinoderm species examined form an extensive syncytium while those of three nonechinoderm species shoe no such activity. Phagocytes of an ascidia, on the other hand, formed a less extensive type of syncytium known as a multinucleate giant cell. Kinetic analyses of the process of fusion were performed. Phagocytes of the asteroid, Asterina pectinifera, fuse more readily when transferred to culture condition in an aggregated state than as single cells. The extraordinarily fusogenic nature of echinoderm phagocyte is discussed in relation to the calcareous body wall structure of the echinoderms. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Fossil Chemosynthetic Communities Related to Vents or Seeps in Sedimentary Basins: The Pseudobioherms of Southeastern France Compared to Other World Examples

The term pseudobioherm is used for fossiliferous calcareous bodies with a bioherm-like shape but neither built by organisms, nor bulging at the sediment/water interface. Jurassic pseudobioherms of southeastern France are among the first fossiliferous carbonate bodies whose relation to deep-sea seeps was recognized. They are built by carbonate precipitation in the sediment and they contain mainly infaunal non-building animals (chiefly bivalves). They are related to active synsedimentary faults that allowed the migration of fluids to the sea floor. Chemosynthetic life could occur in the vicinity of seeps, and early diagenetic carbonate precipitated