511 research outputs found
A multi-isotope investigation of diet and subsistence amongst island and mainland populations from early medieval western Britain
Objectives: This is the first investigation of dietary practices amongst multiple early medieval populations (AD 500–1000) from Wales and the Isle of Man using carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur isotope analysis. The analysis will illuminate similarities or differences between the diets and subsistence strategies of populations occupying different geographical regions, specifically those living in marginal coastal regions in comparison to inland populations well-connected to ecclesiastical centres and high-status settlements.
Materials and Methods: One hundred and two human skeletons were sampled for carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis, and 69 human skeletons were sampled for sulphur isotope analysis from nine cemetery sites from western Britain (Isle of Man = 3, southwest Wales = 4, southeast Wales = 2). Thirteen faunal skeletons from St Patrick's Chapel (southwest Wales) were sampled for carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur isotope analysis.
Results: Human δ13C values range from −19.4‰ to −21.2‰ (δ13C mean=−20.4 ±0.4‰, 1σ, n = 86), and δ15N values range from 9.1‰ to 13.8‰ (δ15N mean = 10.8 ± 0.9‰, 1σ, n = 86). δ34S values range from 1.2‰ to 18.4‰ (δ34S mean = 11.6 ± 4.5‰, 1σ, n = 66). Significant differences were noted between the mean δ13C, δ15N and δ34S values according to geographic region: Isle of Man (δ13C = −20.7 ± 0.4‰, δ15N = 11.4 ±0.6‰, n = 13/86; δ34S mean = 17.1 ±0.6, n = 4/66), southwest Wales (δ13C = −20.5 ± 0.4‰, δ15N = 11.0 ±1‰, n = 32/86; δ34S = 16.1 ± 2.1, n = 21/66), and southeast Wales (δ13C =−20.3 ±0.4‰, δ15N = 10.4 ±0.7‰, n = 41/86; δ34S= 8.8 ±3‰, n = 41/66). Faunal δ13C values range from −23.1‰ to −21.2‰ (δ13C mean= −22.1 ±0.5‰, 1σ, n = 13), and δ15N values range from 6.3‰ to 9.8‰ (δ15N mean = 7.3 ± 1.1‰, 1σ, n = 13). δ34S values range from 4.7‰ to 18.4‰ (δ34S mean= 16.3 ± 3.6‰, 1σ, n = 13).
Conclusions: The data reveal a reliance on terrestrial protein, however differences are observed between the resource consumption of populations from southwest Wales and the Isle of Man in comparison to the populations from southeast Wales. Populations from the west coast have a marine sulphur signature that reflects their coastal proximity and may also include a reliance on seaweed as a fertiliser/food source. Populations in the southeast were connected to ecclesiastical centres and high-status settlements and had access to inland-grown produce. The data add support to the suggestion that δ34S can be used as a mobility indicator
Fixed-time inseminaton of suckled beef cows. 2. Cosynch and progesterone
The Cosynch protocol (GnRH 7 days before and again 48 h after PGF2 with AI at the second GnRH injection) produced pregnancy rates in suckled beef cows that exceeded 50% without heat detection and with only three handlings of all cows. The addition of an intravaginal progesterone insert to the Cosynch protocol improved pregnancy rates in two of the three breeds of cows studied
Administration of human chorionic gonadotropin at embryo transfer induced ovulation of a first-wave dominant follicle and increased progesterone and transfer pregnancy rates
Beef Cattle Research, 2011 is known as Cattlemen’s Day, 2011Embryo transfer (ET) has become more widespread in recent years as a way to improve
cattle genetics. According to the annual statistical survey of the American Embryo
Transfer Association, more than 200,000 fresh and frozen bovine embryos were
transferred in 2008. But despite advancements in reproductive technologies that have
occurred since ET was commercialized in the 1970s, industrywide pregnancy rates are
only 62.4 and 56.9% for fresh and frozen-thawed ET, respectively. Using ET helps
avoid problems from failed fertilization; however, fertilization failure has been characterized
as a relatively unimportant factor of pregnancy loss. Approximately 10% of pregnancy
failures resulted from fertilization failure and another 10% from failed embryo
development. Approximately 20 to 25% of the pregnancy loss in an ET program could
be characterized as early embryonic loss
Ohm's Law for Plasma in General Relativity and Cowling's Theorem
The general-relativistic Ohm's law for a two-component plasma which includes
the gravitomagnetic force terms even in the case of quasi-neutrality has been
derived. The equations that describe the electromagnetic processes in a plasma
surrounding a neutron star are obtained by using the general relativistic form
of Maxwell equations in a geometry of slow rotating gravitational object. In
addition to the general-relativistic effect first discussed by Khanna \&
Camenzind (1996) we predict a mechanism of the generation of azimuthal current
under the general relativistic effect of dragging of inertial frames on radial
current in a plasma around neutron star. The azimuthal current being
proportional to the angular velocity of the dragging of inertial
frames can give valuable contribution on the evolution of the stellar magnetic
field if exceeds (
is the number density of the charged particles, is the conductivity of
plasma). Thus in general relativity a rotating neutron star, embedded in
plasma, can in principle generate axial-symmetric magnetic fields even in
axisymmetry. However, classical Cowling's antidynamo theorem, according to
which a stationary axial-symmetric magnetic field can not be sustained against
ohmic diffusion, has to be hold in the general-relativistic case for the
typical plasma being responsible for the rotating neutron star.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Scienc
A varying kHz peak separation in 4U 1608-52
Using a new technique to improve the sensitivity to weak Quasi-Periodic
Oscillations (QPO) we discovered a new QPO peak at about 1100 Hz in the March
1996 outburst observations of 4U 1608-52, simultaneous with the ~ 600-900 Hz
peak previously reported from these data. The frequency separation between the
upper and the lower QPO peak varied significantly from Hz on
March 3, to Hz on March 6. This is the first case of a variable
kHz peak separation in an atoll source.Comment: Aipproc LaTeX (4 pages, 2 ps-figures), to appear in "Accretion
Processes in Astrophysical Systems", Proc. of the 8th Annual Astrophysics
Conference in Maryland, S. S. Holt & T. Kallman (eds.
Multi-isotope analysis reveals that feasts in the Stonehenge environs and across Wessex drew people and animals from throughout Britain.
The great henge complexes of southern Britain are iconic monuments of the third millennium BCE, representing great feats of engineering and labor mobilization that hosted feasting events on a previously unparalleled scale. The scale of movement and the catchments that the complexes served, however, have thus far eluded understanding. Presenting the largest five-isotope system archeological dataset (87Sr/86Sr, δ34S, δ18O, δ13C, and δ15N) yet fully published, we analyze 131 pigs, the prime feasting animals, from four Late Neolithic (approximately 2800 to 2400 BCE) complexes to explore the networks that the feasts served. Because archeological evidence excludes continental contact, sources are considered only in the context of the British Isles. This analysis reveals wide-ranging origins across Britain, with few pigs raised locally. This finding demonstrates great investment of effort in transporting pigs raised elsewhere over vast distances to supply feasts and evidences the very first phase of pan-British connectivity
A first EGRET-UNID-related agenda for the next-generation Cherenkov telescopes
The next generation of Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs) will
open the regime between approx. 30 GeV and 200 GeV to ground-based gamma
observations with unprecedented point source sensitivity and source location
accuracy. I examine the prospects of observing the unidentified objects (UNIDs)
of the Third EGRET Catalog using the IACT observatories currently under
construction by the CANGAROO, HESS, MAGIC and VERITAS collaborations. Assuming
a modest spectral steepening similar to that observed in the inverse Compton
component of the Crab Nebula spectrum and taking into account the sensitivity
of the instruments and its zenith angle dependence, a detailed list of 78
observable objects is derived which is then further constrained to 38 prime
candidates. The characteristics of this agenda are discussed.Comment: 21 pages, 5 figures, to be published in Carraminana, Reimer &
Thompson (eds.) Proc. "The nature of unidentified high-energy gamma-ray
sources (Tonantzintla, Mexico, October 2000)", Kluwer Academi
Pioglitazone improves cardiac function and alters myocardial substrate metabolism without affecting cardiac triglyceride accumulation and high-energy phosphate metabolism in patients with well-controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus
0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In T2DM patients, pioglitazone was associated with improvement in some measures of left ventricular diastolic function, myocardial glucose uptake, and whole-body insulin sensitivity. The functional changes, however, were not associated with myocardial substrate and high-energy phosphate metabolis
Surgical fixation with K-wires versus casting in adults with fracture of distal radius: DRAFFT2 multicentre randomised clinical trial
Objective
To assess wrist function, quality of life, and complications in adult patients with a dorsally displaced fracture of the distal radius, treated with either a moulded cast or surgical fixation with K-wires.
Design
Multicentre randomised clinical superiority trial,
Setting
36 hospitals in the UK National Health Service (NHS).
Participants
500 adults aged 16 or over with a dorsally displaced fracture of the distal radius, randomised after manipulation of their fracture (255 to moulded cast; 245 to surgical fixation).
Interventions
Manipulation and moulded cast was compared with manipulation and surgical fixation with K-wires plus cast. Details of the application of the cast and the insertion of the K-wires were at the discretion of the treating surgeon, according to their normal clinical practice.
Main outcome measures
The primary outcome measure was the Patient Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) score at 12 months (five questions about pain and 10 about function and disability; overall score out of 100 (best score=0 and worst score=100)). Secondary outcomes were PRWE score at three and six months, quality of life, and complications, including the need for surgery due to loss of fracture position in the first six weeks.
Results
The mean age of participants was 60 years and 417 (83%) were women; 395 (79%) completed follow-up. No statistically significant difference in the PRWE score was seen at 12 months (cast group (n=200), mean 21.2 (SD 23.1); K-wire group (n=195), mean 20.7 (22.3); adjusted mean difference −0.34 (95% confidence interval −4.33 to 3.66), P=0.87). No difference was seen at earlier time points. In the cast group, 33 (13%) of participants needed surgical fixation for loss of fracture position in the first six weeks compared with one revision surgery in the K-wire group (odds ratio 0.02, 95% confidence interval 0.001 to 0.10).
Conclusions
Among patients with a dorsally displaced distal radius fracture that needed manipulation, surgical fixation with K-wires did not improve patients’ wrist function at 12 months compared with a cast.
Trial registration ISRCTN registry ISRCTN1198054
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