Recovering Dietary Information from Extant and Extinct Primates Using Plant Microremains

When reconstructing the diets of primates, researchers often rely on several well established methods, such as direct observation, studies of discarded plant parts, and analysis of macrobotanical remains in fecal matter. Most of these studies can be performed only on living primate groups, however, and the diets of extinct, subfossil, and fossil groups are known only from proxy methods. Plant microremains, tiny plant structures with distinctive morphologies, can record the exact plant foods that an individual consumed. They can be recovered from recently deceased and fossil primate samples, and can also be used to supplement traditional dietary analyses in living groups. Here I briefly introduce plant microremains, provide examples of how they have been successfully used to reconstruct the diets of humans and other species, and describe methods for their application in studies of primate dietary ecology

Símbolo do coração The heart as symbol

A simbologia foi criada pelo homem pela necessidade de expressar através de objetos ou formas sua religião ou sua arte visual. Muito antes da descoberta da função de bomba impulsionadora do sangue, o coração foi tido como centro da vida, da coragem e da razão. Seu símbolo é o mais universal. De onde, e, quando, surgiu essa representação, sempre despertou a curiosidade dos historiadores, vez que pouco tem a ver com o coração anatômico. Para alguns, sua origem deve-se à semelhança com a folha da hera, que na Antiguidade representava o símbolo da imortalidade e do poder. Abordamos a curiosa origem do símbolo e a finalidade para a qual foi criado.<br>Man created symbols because he needed to express his religion or visual art through objects or shapes. Much before the heart's role in pumping blood was discovered, the organ was seen as the center of life, of courage, and of reason. It is the most universal of symbols. Historians have always been curious as to how and whence this representation appeared, since it has little to do with the anatomical organ. For some, the origin lies in the heart's resemblance to an ivy leaf, which in ancient times was a symbol of immortality and power. The article explores the curious origin of this symbol and the reason it came into being

Opioid prescriber screening practices to detect risk for developing opioid use disorder: Qualitative perspectives from providers during the fourth wave of the opioid crisis

Little is known about how clinical providers assess risk for opioid use disorder (OUD), especially when considering prescriptions for opioid-naïve patients with acute pain. While formal screening tools exist, they are not widely used, and may not be sensitive enough to identify low-risk individuals who are susceptible to developing an OUD. Therefore, we sought to understand opioid prescribers' perspectives on their screening practices. We conducted qualitative interviews with 32 opioid prescribers across Massachusetts (11/2020–08/2021); approximately half (47%) used screening tools to identify risk for developing an OUD. We inquired about providers' risk-related screening practices before prescribing opioids, management of high-risk patients, and perspectives on barriers and facilitators to effective screening. We used a deductive content analytic approach, examining the results through a stratified lens based on use of screening methods. General prescribing and risk assessment practices did not vary by strata; however, perspectives on screening were different, as were challenges and barriers that providers identified. Recommendations from those who utilized screeners focused on standardizing and streamlining screening processes; those who did not screen suggested making risk assessments clear to avoid interpretation issues and limiting biases toward certain population groups. Findings are framed in the context of the Normalization Process Theory, addressing a lack of coherence in providers’ understanding of screeners and lack of cognitive participation and collective action across their practices surrounding OUD screening. Future research with providers should focus on strategies to integrate effective procedures around OUD prevention into their practices and methods to evaluate their impact