Oxidative deterioration or modifications of proteins which appear during meat storage and processes can result in the impairment of technological, sensorial and nutritional qualities. Improving the quality involves a better understanding of the biochemical mechanisms responsible for protein oxidation in meat. For that purpose, an analysis was conducted to investigate the relationships between the early post-mortem sarcoplasmic proteome, which contains the majority of enzymes involved in the oxidative process, and protein oxidation generated during meat storage and cooking. This study was performed in Longissimus lumborum pig muscle. In order to have sufficient variability in the proteome and in the meat oxidation level, five groups of 10 animals issued from two different breeds and raised in three different rearing systems were analysed. Protein oxidation was estimated by the measurement of carbonyl groups after 1 and 4days of refrigerated storage, and after 100°C experimental cooking of the 4days aged meat. Significant correlations (p<0.05) were observed between the level of carbonyl groups and the intensities of 104 spots of the 2D electrophoresis, out of which 52 were clearly identified. The possible involvement of some proteins in the muscle oxidative stress leading to protein oxidation is discussed.

The South Middle Atlas front constitutes a northeast-trending shear zone, located north of the Neogene Missour basin and east of the Taza Guercif basin. This paper analyses the Southern Middle Atlas Fault Zone (SMAFZ) deformation since the Pliocene. The set of structures observed suggests that reverse and thrust faulting along the central part of the SMAFZ are combined with left-lateral slip along N–S striking faults of its south-western termination and right-lateral faulting along E–NE striking faults of the east–northeast termination. Thrusts and oblique thrust-related anticlines of the two lateral ramps partly accommodate north-west directed motion of the African plate. The Thrusts probably resulted from rejuvenation of Jurassic normal faults; they were active during the Upper Miocene–Pliocene and the Pleistocene. The geometries of positive inversion structures and buttressing effects are clearly dependent on the geometry and sedimentology of the original basin-controlling fault system and on the presence of a décollement level. Field mapping is integrated with Landsat imagery and a digital elevation model to investigate the morphotectonic evolution of the south-eastern range front of the Middle Atlas. Geomorphological features provide significant information on the processes that govern lateral propagation of active anticlines. Both suggest that the deformation front may have been active since Pliocene.

Stress occurring in pigs, before and during slaughter favours destructured meat (Franck et al., 2000, 2002). We supposed that a restraint stress provoked by immobilising hind limbs by links during a few minutes should be sufficient to induce destructured meat lesions. This kind of stress may be divided into a physical component (muscular effort) and an emotional component (fear). In order to study the two components separately we compared the effects of immobilisation by physical links with the effects of immobilization by chemical muscle relaxation. An infusion of succhinylcholine was used to induce leg paralysis without conscience lost. The situation is considered to be emotionaly very painful.

In the Touques drainage basin, Jive alluvial terraces have been distinguished. A multiscale approach in a continental basin was undertaken, combining different stratigraphic and geomorphic analyses. Stratigraphic and sedimentologic analyses play an essential role, because of the interaction between climate and sea-level variations and tectonics. In the Touques valley, the alluvial sheets cover the Middle and Upper Quaternary. Each fluvial sequence is correlated with a glacial-interglacial climatic cycle. The numerous episodes of channel entrenchment and terrace formation arise from a Quaternary regional uplift. Valuable information is obtained through detailed analysis of the morphology (morphometric and drainage pattern analyses). The longitudinal profiles of the rivers and the hypsometric integrals are related to the immaturity of the drainage basins subjected to recurrent sea-level changes. (C) Academie des sciences/Elsevier, Paris.