Taphonomic analysis of micromammal remains from striped owl (Pseudoscops clamator) pellets in Northeastern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina: implications for archaeological sites formation

The main objective of this study was to determine the taxonomic and taphonomic characteristics of the micromammal remains recovered from pellets of Pseudoscops clamator (striped owl), collected at three localities in northeastern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina (Punta Lara Natural Reserve, 34 49’02,6’’S, 58 03’03,9’’W; Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve, 34 36’6,44"S, 58 21’33,22"W; Los Robles Park, 34 40’22,03’’S, 58 52’18,88’’W). The main taphonomic variables (e.g. evidence of digestive action, breakage patterns and relative abundance of skeletal elements) suggest that this owl mainly produces intermediate to moderate modification. On the other hand, P. clamator preyed mainly upon large-sized (>150 g) micromammals (e.g. Lutreolina crassicaudata, Cavia aperea, Holochilus brasiliensis and Rattus sp.), and to a lesser degree on medium- (50–150 g) and small-sized species (<50 g) (e.g. Scapteromys aquaticus, Calomys sp., Oligoryzomys flavescens, Akodon azarae and Mus musculus). Fossil assemblages with a dominance of large-sized micromammals are commonly associated with humans as agents of accumulation. However, this study demonstrates that this owl produces assemblages with abundant large-sized micromammals, which introduces an equifinality problem. In that sense, digestive corrosion marks, breakage patterns and the relative abundance of skeletal remains are the main attributes to differentiate P. clamator from humans, as agents of accumulation. Finally, our results might serve as an analytical model for the taphonomic interpretation of the fossil record of micromammals from paleontological and archaeological sites, which fall within the distributional range and habitat of P. clamator.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Phosphorylase activity in rat uterus after catecholamine administration

The effects of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and isoproterenol on uterine phosphorylase were studied in intact, anesthetized rats. All three agents were found to increase uterine phosphorylase a activity when administered in large doses by intraperitoneal injection. Total phosphorylase activity was unaffected. The time course for the effects of epinephrine on uterine phosphorylase activity and glycogen content was also studied. Peak phosphorylase activation occurred within 5 min after injection, and the effect had disappeared within 1 hr. Increase in phosphorylase a activity was accompanied by a decrease in uterine glycogen levels, which were still depressed at a time when phosphorylase a activity had returned to normal.Epinephrine was shown to stimulate phosphorylase a activity in the uteri of ovariectomized and estrogen-primed rats as well as in normal intact animals. Ovariectomized animals treated with estradiol had higher resting phosphorylase a activity than had normal untreated animals.The relative ability of several adrenergic blocking agents to prevent catecholamineinduced increases in uterine phosphorylase a activity was investigated, It was suggested that the catecholamines produced their effects on the uterus both directly, via [beta]-adrenergic stimulation, and indirectly, via ischemia and resultant tissue anoxia induced by activation of a-adrenergic receptors in the uterine vasculature.The ability of epinephrine to activate uterine phosphorylase when administered by intravenous infusion was also demonstrated.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/32054/1/0000097.pd

Impact of a hospital improvement initiative in Bangladesh on patient experiences and satisfaction with services: two cross-sectional studies

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Bangladesh government implemented a pilot Hospital Improvement Initiative (HII) in five hospitals in Sylhet division between 1998 and 2003. This included management and behaviour change training for staff, waste disposal and procurement, and referral arrangements. Two linked cross-sectional surveys in 2000 and 2003 assessed the impact of the HII, assessing both patients' experience and satisfaction and public views and use of the hospitals.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In each survey we asked 300 consecutive outpatients and a stratified random sample of 300 inpatients in the five hospitals about waiting and consultation time, use of an agent for admission, and satisfaction with privacy, cleanliness, and staff behaviour. The field teams observed cleanliness and privacy arrangements, and visited a sample of households in communities near the hospitals to ask about their opinions and use of the hospital services. Analysis examined changes over time in patients' experience and views. Multivariate analysis took account of other variables potentially associated with the outcomes. Survey managers discussed the survey findings with gender stratified focus groups in each sample community.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared with 2000, an outpatient in three of the hospitals in 2003 was more likely to be seen within 10 minutes and for at least five minutes by the doctor, but outpatients were less likely to report receiving all the prescribed medicines from the hospital. In 2003, inpatients were more likely to have secured admission without using an agent. Although patients’ satisfaction with several aspects of care improved, most changes were not statistically significant. Households in 2003 were significantly more likely to rate the hospitals as good than in 2000. Use of the hospitals did not change, except that more households used the medical college hospital for inpatient care in 2003. Focus groups confirmed criticisms of services and suggested improvements.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Improvements in some aspects of patients' experience may have been due to the programme, but the decreased availability of medicines in government facilities across the country over the period also occurred in these hospitals. Monitoring patients’ experience and satisfaction as well as public views and use of hospital services is feasible and useful for assessing service interventions.</p

Study on operating load of the compression ignition engine

Operation of car engines definitely shows varied values of parameters such as crankshaft speed or load. This paper presents the research and results on load and crankshaft speed in a compression ignition engine. Therefore, the research focused on an operation of a passenger car under urban and non-urban conditions. Our NI Diadem Analysis-based research referred to the data acquired by an OBD-II system. The results obtained enabled some layered charts to depict a frequency of operating states as specified by engine load and speed as well as histograms of these parameters in individual rides. Our investigation showed that operating conditions have an impact on engine operating states. In urban conditions, our engine operated within the range of 700-2000 rpm but idle was more than 50% of the time and load in most cases was not higher than 20%. In non-urban conditions, our engine operated within the range from 700 to 3000 rpm and load was up to 70%

Sequence of the indoleglycerol phosphate synthase (trpC) gene from Rhodobacter capsulatus.

We have isolated, cloned, and sequenced the indoleglycerol phosphate synthase gene (trpC) from Rhodobacter capsulatus. Normalized alignment scores comparing the trpC gene of R. capsulatus with the trpC genes of other bacterial species are reported. An unexpected degree of similarity to the trpC gene of Bacillus subtilis was found