Compressive marks from gravel substrate on vertebrate remains: A preliminary experimental study

Lakeshore sites such as Cerro de la Garita (Miocene of Teruel, Spain) and Senèze (Pliocene of Haute-Loire, France) yielded fossils with distinct puncture marks. These marks were described as >punctures surrounded by plastically deformed bone>, and were proposed to have been caused by compression or trampling on bones against coarse sediment grain when deposited in damp environments. A series of experiments was performed to test this hypothesis. Cow, red deer and fallow deer metapodials were compressed by applying a mechanical load on them against a gravel substrate under dry/damp environments. Results confirm that these characteristic puncture marks are associated with compression efforts on bones in wet environments.Project CGL 2010-19825 was funded by the Spanish Ministry of ResearchPeer Reviewe

Las nuevas excavaciones (1995-2006) en el yacimiento del Mioceno final de Venta del Moro, Valencia

Se presenta una síntesis preliminar de la metodología y de los principales resultados obtenidos en las nuevas campañas de excavación (1995-2006) en la localidad clásica de vertebrados del Mioceno final (Turoliense superior, MN13) de Venta del Moro (Valencia, España). Destaca la actualización de la lista faunística, con la incorporación de más de una decena de taxones de vertebrados no citados anteriormente en el yacimiento. Así, si consideramos sólo la asociación de mamíferos, el listado se compone, por el momento, de 43 taxones. Además, se presentan las listas provisionales de otros grupos, como los moluscos, y se cita por vez primera el hallazgo de foraminíferos.From 1995 until 2006 new paleontological excavations were carried out at Venta del Moro (Valencia, Spain), one of the classical Uppermost Miocene (Upper Turolian, MN 13) vertebrate locality of Spain. In the present paper a preliminary synthesis of the methods and main results are presented. Abundant faunal remains were recovered including ten vertebrate taxa no previously recorded from the site. Up to now 43 mammalian species are known from the site. Preliminary list of others groups, as mollusc, are given. The occurrence of foraminifera is reported for the first [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Understanding the Impact of Trampling on Rodent Bones

Experiments based on the premise of uniformitarism are an effective tool to establish patterns of taphonomic processes acting either before, or after, burial. One process that has been extensively investigated experimentally is the impact of trampling to large mammal bones. Since trampling marks caused by sedimentary friction strongly mimic cut marks made by humans using stone tools during butchery, distinguishing the origin of such modifications is especially relevant to the study of human evolution. In contrast, damage resulting from trampling on small mammal fossil bones has received less attention, despite the fact that it may solve interesting problems relating to site formation processes. While it has been observed that the impact of compression depends on the type of substrate and dryness of the skeletal elements, the fragility of small mammal bones may imply that they will break as a response to compression. Here, we have undertaken a controlled experiment using material resistance compression equipment to simulate a preliminary experiment, previously devised by one of us, on human trampling of owl pellets. Our results demonstrate that different patterns of breakage can be distinguished under wet and dry conditions in mandibles, skulls and long bones that deform or break in a consistent way. Further, small compact bones almost always remain intact, resisting breakage under compression. The pattern obtained here was applied to a Pleistocene small mammal fossil assemblage from Wonderwerk Cave (South Africa). This collection showed unusually extensive breakage and skeletal element representation that could not be entirely explained by excavation procedures or digestion by the predator. We propose that trampling was a significant factor in small mammal bone destruction at Wonderwerk Cave, partly the product of trampling caused by the raptor that introduced the microfauna into the cave, as well as by hominins and other terrestrial animals that entered the cave and trampled pellets covering the cave floor

Using Interpretable Machine Learning to Identify Baseline Predictive Factors of Remission and Drug Durability in Crohn’s Disease Patients on Ustekinumab

Ustekinumab has shown efficacy in Crohn's Disease (CD) patients. To identify patient profiles of those who benefit the most from this treatment would help to position this drug in the therapeutic paradigm of CD and generate hypotheses for future trials. The objective of this analysis was to determine whether baseline patient characteristics are predictive of remission and the drug durability of ustekinumab, and whether its positioning with respect to prior use of biologics has a significant effect after correcting for disease severity and phenotype at baseline using interpretable machine learning. Patients' data from SUSTAIN, a retrospective multicenter single-arm cohort study, were used. Disease phenotype, baseline laboratory data, and prior treatment characteristics were documented. Clinical remission was defined as the Harvey Bradshaw Index <= 4 and was tracked longitudinally. Drug durability was defined as the time until a patient discontinued treatment. A total of 439 participants from 60 centers were included and a total of 20 baseline covariates considered. Less exposure to previous biologics had a positive effect on remission, even after controlling for baseline disease severity using a non-linear, additive, multivariable model. Additionally, age, body mass index, and fecal calprotectin at baseline were found to be statistically significant as independent negative risk factors for both remission and drug survival, with further risk factors identified for remission

Impact of Biological Agents on Postsurgical Complications in Inflammatory Bowel Disease : A Multicentre Study of Geteccu

Background: The impact of biologics on the risk of postoperative complications (PC) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is still an ongoing debate. This lack of evidence is more relevant for ustekinumab and vedolizumab. Aims: To evaluate the impact of biologics on the risk of PC. Methods: A retrospective study was performed in 37 centres. Patients treated with biologics within 12 weeks before surgery were considered "exposed". The impact of the exposure on the risk of 30-day PC and the risk of infections was assessed by logistic regression and propensity score-matched analysis. Results: A total of 1535 surgeries were performed on 1370 patients. Of them, 711 surgeries were conducted in the exposed cohort (584 anti-TNF, 58 vedolizumab and 69 ustekinumab). In the multivariate analysis, male gender (OR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.2-2.0), urgent surgery (OR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.2-2.2), laparotomy approach (OR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1-1.9) and severe anaemia (OR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.3-2.6) had higher risk of PC, while academic hospitals had significantly lower risk. Exposure to biologics (either anti-TNF, vedolizumab or ustekinumab) did not increase the risk of PC (OR: 1.2; 95% CI: 0.97-1.58), although it could be a risk factor for postoperative infections (OR 1.5; 95% CI: 1.03-2.27). Conclusions: Preoperative administration of biologics does not seem to be a risk factor for overall PC, although it may be so for postoperative infections

Long-Term Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Ustekinumab in Crohn’s Disease Patients: The SUSTAIN Study

Background Large real-world-evidence studies are required to confirm the durability of response, effectiveness, and safety of ustekinumab in Crohn’s disease (CD) patients in real-world clinical practice. Methods A retrospective, multicentre study was conducted in Spain in patients with active CD who had received ≥1 intravenous dose of ustekinumab for ≥6 months. Primary outcome was ustekinumab retention rate; secondary outcomes were to identify predictive factors for drug retention, short-term remission (week 16), loss of response and predictive factors for short-term efficacy and loss of response, and ustekinumab safety. Results A total of 463 patients were included. Mean baseline Harvey-Bradshaw Index was 8.4. A total of 447 (96.5%) patients had received prior biologic therapy, 141 (30.5%) of whom had received ≥3 agents. In addition, 35.2% received concomitant immunosuppressants, and 47.1% had ≥1 abdominal surgery. At week 16, 56% had remission, 70% had response, and 26.1% required dose escalation or intensification; of these, 24.8% did not subsequently reduce dose. After a median follow-up of 15 months, 356 (77%) patients continued treatment. The incidence rate of ustekinumab discontinuation was 18% per patient-year of follow-up. Previous intestinal surgery and concomitant steroid treatment were associated with higher risk of ustekinumab discontinuation, while a maintenance schedule every 12 weeks had a lower risk; neither concomitant immunosuppressants nor the number of previous biologics were associated with ustekinumab discontinuation risk. Fifty adverse events were reported in 39 (8.4%) patients; 4 of them were severe (2 infections, 1 malignancy, and 1 fever). Conclusions Ustekinumab is effective and safe as short- and long-term treatment in a refractory cohort of CD patients in real-world clinical practice

Impact of Biological Agents on Postsurgical Complications in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Multicentre Study of Geteccu

Background: The impact of biologics on the risk of postoperative complications (PC) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is still an ongoing debate. This lack of evidence is more relevant for ustekinumab and vedolizumab. Aims: To evaluate the impact of biologics on the risk of PC. Methods: A retrospective study was performed in 37 centres. Patients treated with biologics within 12 weeks before surgery were considered “exposed”. The impact of the exposure on the risk of 30-day PC and the risk of infections was assessed by logistic regression and propensity score-matched analysis. Results: A total of 1535 surgeries were performed on 1370 patients. Of them, 711 surgeries were conducted in the exposed cohort (584 anti-TNF, 58 vedolizumab and 69 ustekinumab). In the multivariate analysis, male gender (OR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.2–2.0), urgent surgery (OR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.2–2.2), laparotomy approach (OR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1–1.9) and severe anaemia (OR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.3–2.6) had higher risk of PC, while academic hospitals had significantly lower risk. Exposure to biologics (either anti-TNF, vedolizumab or ustekinumab) did not increase the risk of PC (OR: 1.2; 95% CI: 0.97–1.58), although it could be a risk factor for postoperative infections (OR 1.5; 95% CI: 1.03–2.27). Conclusions: Preoperative administration of biologics does not seem to be a risk factor for overall PC, although it may be so for postoperative infections

Rolling bones: A preliminary study of micromammal abrasion on different initial taphonomic stages

The identification of transport process is key to interpret the palaeoecology, the dating and the site formation. Apart from dispersal and size/shape selection, bone abrasion by water and sediment is an acquired taphonomic modification that makes transport recognizable in bone assemblages. Previous experiments with rodent bones used non-digested bones or emphasized abrasion on teeth to distinguish abrasion from digestion. Experiments with large mammals included different types of taphonomically modified bones. Following this procedure, two main aspects are here studied for the first time. On the one hand, we have focused on small mammal humeri and femora, which are also used to characterize digestion. We have also included different initial states or types of bones, such as digested, weathered or fossil bones to observe differences in abrasion behaviour that may help interpreting processes of water abrasion. On the other hand, we propose an easy test methodology to quantify the amount of surface loss. The resulting index to quantify surface loss shows light changes on bones abraded by clay and silts, in contrast to a more rapid and intense rounding of the salient angles by gravels. The latest yields a greater rounding and, therefore, surface loss, statistically significant. Cancellous tissues appear exposed after 72 hours of abrasion on proximal ends of femora and distal ends of humeri, mimicking corrosion produced by digestion. In this paper we describe key traits and quantify surface loss to distinguish between digestion and abrasion in postcrania, more specifically on proximal femora and distal humeri.This paper was funded by the project CGL2016-79334P of the Spanish Ministry of Research. SGM has a predoctoral grant from the Complutense University of Madrid (CT42/18-CT43/18)

Lagomorphs in the Acheulean menu: taphonomic analysis of rabbit remains from the Valdocarros-II site (Jarama valley, Madrid, Spain)

Although in the Iberian Peninsula the consumption of small mammals by humans, especially in Pleistocene sites, is mainly restricted to lagomorphs, in other areas such as Argentina, the easy capture by humans of fossorial micro- and mesomammals that live in colonies (caviomorphs, rodents and armadillos) is commonly observed in archaeological sites. A review of the palaeoenvironmental evolution of the Pampean region (Argentina) demonstrates that humans are an important taphonomic agent that could cause distortive effects in taphonomic patterns of non-human predators and palaeoecological interpretations [1]. Humans acted as selective predators, and when they are present, an increment in the number of small mammal prey with larger sizes is observed. However, the origin of small mammal remains in fossil sites is a key issue as they are also an important source of food for a large number of non-human predators. In the Iberian Peninsula, rabbits are usually predated by humans but also by other predators such as the European Eagle Owl, the Spanish Imperial Eagle, Fox, Iberian Lynx and Wild Cat. Therefore, the presence of rabbits in archaeological contexts could be the consequence of human and non-human predation. Valdocarros-II is an open-air fossil site located in a fluvial environment associated to an abandoned meander in the Valdocarros unit from the Complex Terrace of Arganda in the Jarama valley (Madrid, central Spain). The site yielded ages of 254 ± 47 ka BP and 262 ± 0.7 ka BP, corresponding to the end of MIS8 and the beginning of MIS7. Several bone remains of large mammals have been recovered from the site and the zooarchaeological analysis suggested that hominids were the main accumulating agent of these bone remains. Apart from large mammal remains, small-vertebrate remains were also found, and rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), are dominant in the assemblage.Results obtained from the taphonomic analysis reveal the absence of possible transport events, and a high incidence of root marks, manganese staining and cracking associated to humid conditions. Weathering was not observed, supporting a probable fast burial of the bone remains or, at least, a dense vegetation cover which protected the remains from being weathered. Bone breakage was high (only the 1.39% of the elements were found complete) and most of the specimens analysed correspond to adult individuals. Digestion traces were also found in cranial and post-cranial remains, mainly concentrated in light degrees. Approximately, a 20% of the elements analysed show signs of digestion, which could be linked to the presence of a nocturnal bird of prey. Nonetheless, these percentages are lower than expected even for a European Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo). The presence of human activity in the site has been reported and the possible acquisition and consumption of rabbits by humans is supported by the presence of anthropic traces (e.g., cut marks and burnt bones). Therefore, it could be considered the intervention of different predators in the accumulation of rabbit remains in Valdocarros-II. A possible mixture produced by eagle owls and lagomorph remains discarded by humans seems to be a plausible hypothesis to explain the low digestion percentages observed, which do not fit with any known taphonomic pattern of non-human predators. Anthropic and avian activities observed were probably not simultaneous and most likely humans and raptors alternate in time-periods. Comparisons with the results obtained from lagomorph assemblages from other Middle Pleistocene sites such as PRERESA in Manzanares valley, which is clearly related to the intervention of avian predators [3], support that the exploitation of lagomorphs was probably more intense in Valdocarros-II.This work has been carried out in the framework of Grants PGC2018-093612-B-100, funded by MICIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and ERDF; CEN154P20, co-financed by the ERDF 728 (European Regional Development Fund) and the Junta CL

Small mammal taphonomy and palaeoecological Holocene interpretations in the Andean piedmont (southern Mendoza province, Argentina)

Salamanca cave (southern Mendoza province) is in the Andean piedmont, a transitional area in which small mammal communities may have been affected by climatic pulses. The site yields three archaeological components covering from the early to the late-Holocene with a mid-Holocene occupational and sedimentological hiatus. Taphonomic analyses of the small mammal assemblages indicate that barn owls (Tyto furcata) were the main accumulation agent, ensuring accurate palaeoecological inferences. Taxonomic composition of the site shows the dominance of Eligmodontia sp. followed by Thylamys pallidior, Phyllotis cf. P. vaccarum-pehuenche and Ctenomys sp., all of them indicative of shrubland and bare ground habitats. Palaeoclimatic inferences indicate a trend to warmer temperatures from the lower to the upper component with a slight increase in humidity in the middle component. This humid pulse is also supported by post-depositional taphonomic processes. The taxonomic structure and abundance of small mammals do not show deep changes amongst the three archaeological components, following the general trend observed in other archaeological sites from the Pampean region, southern Mendoza province and the arid and semi-arid zones of north Patagonia, in which changes in the taxonomic composition of small mammal communities are almost absent since Pleistocene–Holocene transition to late Holocene