The Nerineacea form a distinctive and significant component of shallow marine Mesozoic Tethyan macrofaunas. They occur in shelf sediments deposited in tropical regions during the Jurassic and Cretaceous. The group first appears in the early Jurassic and high diversity levels had developed by late Jurassic and early Cretaceous times. A major extinction episode occurred during the latter part of the Cenomanian and the Turonian, with the Nerineacea becoming finally extinct in the Maastrichtian. The heterostrophic nature of the ncrineacean protoconch (described here from Nerineidae and Nerinellidae species) indicates opisthobranch affinities. The Nerineacea is placed in the Entomotacniata, an independent order within the Opisthobranchia. The Entomotaeniata is considered to show greatest affinities with some members of the Acteonacea. The Pyramidcllacea are not included in the Entomotaeniata. The order contains the Ceritellidae, Nerineidae, Nerinellidae and ltieriidae. Early phylogenetic separation of the first three families is indicated. Within each family a limited number of "stable" internal fold patterns developed independently which reflected anatomical features of the abapical portion of the nerineid animal. The Nerineacea typically inhabited warm, clear, carbonate-dominated shallow marine environments on and around off-shore "highs", however, some genera lived in prelittoral or lagoonal situations. Only Ptygmatis shows any evidence of tolerance of abnormal salinities. Carbon and oxygen isotope analyses demonstrate that Nerinella and Simploptyxis specimens from Austrian Gosau deposits lived in water of normal marine salinity. Most Cretaceous nerineid genera were probably mobile epifaunal herbivores, although Nerinellidae species may have been infaunal. Cretaceous Nerineacea are taxonomically reviewed; the diagnoses of the subfamily Umboneinae; Diozoptyxis, Adiozoptyxis; Julesia and Phaneroptyxis are revised. Stratigraphic and palaeogeographic ranges indicate that certain species could potentially be used for correlation. Quantitative measurements of various parameters are included in specific descriptions; the value of these in specific resolution is tested in appropriate cases. An analysis of morphological range in one species (Diozoptyxis cochleaeformis) demonstrates wide continuous variation in overall shell shape and whorl concavity. However, external ornament and internal fold pattern do not show significant intraspecific variation; these features therefore provide reliable characters for species definition.

This thesis concentrates on discovering the best consolidant or consolidants for stabilizing a Columbian mammoth’s sub-fossilized mandibles, a distal femur, an ulna, a radius, and a tooth. It was recovered from a wet, sandy gravel pit owned by the Vernor Family located in Clute, Texas. Based on thermoluminescence dating, the mammoth dates to around 66,000 years ago. The bones are fragile and unstable. They retain a minute amount of organic material (collagen) and hydroxyapatite, but not enough to retain any structural support. Experiments and analyses were conducted on various bone samples to compare each of the following consolidants’ properties. The consolidants examined were silicone oil, polyvinyl acetate (PVA) with viscosity of 25, Acryloid B-72, Butvar 98, Starbond EM-02, methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS), Paleo-bond, and Rhoplex (Primal) WS24. Stability, strength, and appearance were evaluated by measurable observations. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and the Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM) at the Microscopy and Imaging Center at Texas A&M University were used to map penetration of these consolidants. SEM was utilized for both imaging and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) to examine the presence and absence of certain elements. ESEM was used to view consolidants at the microscopic level to further examine the bonding between the consolidant and the bone’s cellular structure. By examining and testing all the consolidants, methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) was chosen to stabilize the ulna, radius, left and right mandibles, distal femur, and tooth. This research opened new avenues to different methods in preserving sub-fossilized bone and broadens our understanding of bone conservation.

This thesis concentrates on discovering the best consolidant or consolidants for stabilizing a Columbian mammoth’s sub-fossilized mandibles, a distal femur, an ulna, a radius, and a tooth. It was recovered from a wet, sandy gravel pit owned by the Vernor Family located in Clute, Texas. Based on thermoluminescence dating, the mammoth dates to around 66,000 years ago. The bones are fragile and unstable. They retain a minute amount of organic material (collagen) and hydroxyapatite, but not enough to retain any structural support. Experiments and analyses were conducted on various bone samples to compare each of the following consolidants’ properties. The consolidants examined were silicone oil, polyvinyl acetate (PVA) with viscosity of 25, Acryloid B-72, Butvar 98, Starbond EM-02, methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS), Paleo-bond, and Rhoplex (Primal) WS24. Stability, strength, and appearance were evaluated by measurable observations. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and the Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM) at the Microscopy and Imaging Center at Texas A&M University were used to map penetration of these consolidants. SEM was utilized for both imaging and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) to examine the presence and absence of certain elements. ESEM was used to view consolidants at the microscopic level to further examine the bonding between the consolidant and the bone’s cellular structure. By examining and testing all the consolidants, methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) was chosen to stabilize the ulna, radius, left and right mandibles, distal femur, and tooth. This research opened new avenues to different methods in preserving sub-fossilized bone and broadens our understanding of bone conservation.

For a better understanding of how to search for an extraterrestrial life, scientists study hidden biospheres on Earth. The subseafloor crust is recognized as a vast microbial habitat and it is hypothesized that extremophilic microorganisms, occurring there, can be the first living organisms on Earth. Those extremophiles does not require oxygen due their ability to derive bioavailable energy from fluid-rock interactions, resembling conditions on Mars. Hence, in this study, geological samples from such environments are analysed. Overall, this report examines a concept of biogenicity and evaluates a set of methods used for the determination of biologic origin. Fossilized microbial remains were discovered in unconsolidated sediments from the volcaniclastic apron of Gran Canaria and in aragonite veins in ultramafic rocks from the North Pond at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Mentioned sediments and rocks were collected during Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 157 and 209. The fossil record from Gran Canaria is consistent with Foraminifera. The microbial remains from North Pond are consistent with Frutexites microstromatolites. Both fossilized communities have characteristic compositions associated with carbonaceous matter (CM) and different configurations of trace elements such as Si, Al, Mg, Mn, Ni, Fe, and Co. This study confirms the biologic origin of the fossilized remains and shows that the applied methods are suitable for astrobiological application. / För en bättre förståelse på hur man söker efter utomjordiskt liv, studerar forskare dem dolda biosfärer på jorden. Djuphavsbotten är uppskattad att vara ett stort mikrobiellt habitat och det antas att extremofila mikroorganismer, som förekommer där, kan vara de första levande organismerna på jorden. Dessa extremofiler kräver inte syre på grund av deras förmåga att härleda biologiskt tillgänglig energi från vätske-bergartsinteraktioner, vilket liknar förhållandena på Mars. I denna studie analyseras därför geologiska prover från sådana miljöer. Övergripande, granskar denna rapport begreppet biogenecitet och utvärderar en uppsättning av metoder, som används för bestämning av biologiskt ursprung. Fossiliserade mikrobiella lämningar återfanns i okonsoliderat sediment från Gran Canarias vulkaniklastiska förkläde och i aragonitåror i ultramafiska bergarter från North Pond vid Mittatlantiska ryggen. Nämnda sediment och bergarter samlades in under Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 157 och 209. Det fossila arkivet från Gran Canaria överensstämmer med Foraminifera. Dem mikrobiella resterna från North Pond är förenliga med Frutexites mikrostromatoliter. Båda dem fossiliserade samhällena har karakteristiska kompositioner associerade med kolhaltiga ämnen (CM) och olika konfigurationer av spårämnen, såsom Si, Al, Mg, Mn, Ni, Fe och Co. Denna studie bekräftar biologiska ursprungen hos dem fossila lämningarna och visar att applicerade metoder är lämpliga för astrobiologisk tillämpning.

<p>The first part of this essay focuses on how we relate to the landscape at the international and the national level today. The landscape convention is presented and compared to actual current Swedish policies. Different definitions of landscape are discussed. The second part renders the landscape in different archaeological contexts. The central theme is the attempt to investigate if and how we can approach prehistoric man by looking at the landscape as a socially constructed concept. How we should relate to thelandscape from a prehistoric standpoint today is the topic of the third and final part of the study.</p>

The first part of this essay focuses on how we relate to the landscape at the international and the national level today. The landscape convention is presented and compared to actual current Swedish policies. Different definitions of landscape are discussed. The second part renders the landscape in different archaeological contexts. The central theme is the attempt to investigate if and how we can approach prehistoric man by looking at the landscape as a socially constructed concept. How we should relate to thelandscape from a prehistoric standpoint today is the topic of the third and final part of the study.