Archaeometric analysis of ceramics from the first millennium of the Era at the Miriguaca river gorge (Antofagasta de la Sierra, Catamarca, Argentina)

El estudio de la tecnología y la procedencia de la cerámica ha contribuido a establecer la existencia de conexiones entre diversas áreas y comunidades. Conocer estos aspectos es importante para entender las relaciones que se dan entre los grupos humanos y aproximarnos a sus formas de organización social. En este trabajo abordamos la procedencia de la cerámica vinculada a los primeros momentos del período Formativo en la quebrada de Miriguaca, en la zona de Antofagasta de la Sierra (Catamarca, Argentina). Para ello, analizamos la tipología, los rasgos estilísticos, la composición petrográfica y química mediante activación neutrónica instrumental de la cerámica recuperada del sitio Las Escondidas (ca. 2000-1600 AP). Los resultados obtenidos permiten complementar los modelos explicativos aplicados a las sociedades del período Formativo y evidencian que la cerámica de la quebrada no responde a producciones locales, aunque la amplia mayoría parece tener un mismo origen. Esta situación mostraría la existencia de vínculos sociales entre los distintos grupos humanos que habitaron la Puna catamarqueña durante este momento. Esta conectividad habría potenciado la existencia de estrategias de cohesión social a nivel macro-regional, que pudieron ser especialmente importantes en un contexto de creciente complejidad social y de profundos cambios en las formas de organización de estas poblaciones.The study of the technology and provenance of ceramics has contributed to establish the relationships between different human groups and areas. The knowledge of these aspects is important to understand the connections among human groups and their social organization. In this paper, we address the provenance of the ceramics linked to the first moments of the Formative Period in the Miriguaca gorge in Antofagasta de la Sierra (Catamarca, Argentina). To this end, we analyzed the typology, stylistic features, petrographic and chemical composition through neutron activation of the ceramics recovered at Las Escondidas site (ca. 2000-1600 AP). The results obtained complement the explanatory models available for the societies of the Formative period and show that the Miriguaca gorge ceramics were not local productions, although the vast majority seems to have the same origin. This situation could show the existence of social networks among the human groups that inhabited the puna of Catamarca during this time. This connectivity would have promoted the existence of macro-regional strategies of social cohesion that could be especially important in a context of increasing social complexity and profound changes in the organization of these populations

Eligibility criteria for Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT): a position statement from a consortium of scientific societies for the use of MHT in women with medical conditions. MHT Eligibility Criteria Group

This project aims to develop eligibility criteria for menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). The tool should be similar to those already established for contraception A consortium of scientific societies coordinated by the Spanish Menopause Society met to formulate recommendations for the use of MHT by women with medical conditions based on the best available evidence. The project was developed in two phases. As a first step, we conducted 14 systematic reviews and 32 metanalyses on the safety of MHT (in nine areas: age, time of menopause onset, treatment duration, women with thrombotic risk, women with a personal history of cardiovascular disease, women with metabolic syndrome, women with gastrointestinal diseases, survivors of breast cancer or of other cancers, and women who smoke) and on the most relevant pharmacological interactions with MHT. These systematic reviews and metanalyses helped inform a structured process in which a panel of experts defined the eligibility criteria according to a specific framework, which facilitated the discussion and development process. To unify the proposal, the following eligibility criteria have been defined in accordance with the WHO international nomenclature for the different alternatives for MHT (category 1, no restriction on the use of MHT; category 2, the benefits outweigh the risks; category 3, the risks generally outweigh the benefits; category 4, MHT should not be used). Quality was classified as high, moderate, low or very low, based on several factors (including risk of bias, inaccuracy, inconsistency, lack of directionality and publication bias). When no direct evidence was identified, but plausibility, clinical experience or indirect evidence were available, "Expert opinion" was categorized. For the first time, a set of eligibility criteria, based on clinical evidence and developed according to the most rigorous methodological tools, has been defined. This will provide health professionals with a powerful decision-making tool that can be used to manage menopausal symptoms

Characterization of atmospheric emission sources of heavy metalsand trace elements through a local-scale monitoringnetwork using T. capillaris

This research work presents new insights regarding biomonitoring studies, source apportionment at a local scale, and influence of wind and topography on dispersion of atmospheric pollutants in a complex scenario. The monitoring network consisted of transplanted Tillandsia capillaris biomonitors throughout 3 sampling periods in order to assess the effects of the different emission sources and their atmospheric dispersions in a region from the province of Córdoba, Argentina. The elements Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb, were analyzed by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS, pseudo-total metal content) and As, Ba, Ca, Ce, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, Hf, La, Lu, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Ta, Tb, Th, U, Yb and Zn, by Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA, total metal content). The following atmospheric emission sources were characterized in the study area: cement plant, with emissions of Cd, Pb, CoFAAS, Ni and Ca; waste dumping site fires, with emissions of the elements Sm, Yb, Ba, La, ZnNAA, Ce, Th and Hf; brick kilns with emissions of the elements Na, Ba, As, Se, Cr, Tb, Sc, FeNAA, CoNAA, Ta; vehicular traffic with emissions of ZnFAAS and Sb and soil re-suspension with emissions of Ni, ZnFAAS, Br, U, Mn, Rb and Eu. It was noticeable that topography played an important role in the dispersion of the pollutants in the study area and this was reflected in the biomonitors. Our results provide a step forward in the application field of this biomonitoring species for characterizing emission sources in a complex scenario at a local scale.Fil: Abril, Gabriela Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (p); ArgentinaFil: Wannaz, Eduardo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (p); ArgentinaFil: Mateos, Ana Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (p); ArgentinaFil: Invernizzi, R.. Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica; ArgentinaFil: Plá, R. R.. Comision Nacional de Energia Atomica; ArgentinaFil: Pignata, M. L.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (p); Argentin