Radiocarbon dates for the late Pleistocene and Early Holocene occupations of Cova Rosa (Ribadesella, Asturias, Spain)

Four excavations have been performed at the archaeological site of Cova Rosa (Asturias, Cantabrian Spain): three of them in the second half of last century and the other in this decade. Although little of the archaeological material found in those excavations has been published, here we attempt the stratigraphic correlation of sections revealed by the different excavations and we present 22 new radiocarbon dates for bones and marine shells, built in a Bayesian statistical model. This has enabled the documentation of occupations that mainly took place during the Last Glacial period, in the Solutrean (middle and upper phases) and Magdalenian (archaic, lower, and upper phases), and also in the early Holocene (Mesolithic). These occupations are compared with the record at other sites in Cantabrian Spain in general and in Asturias, in particular.Introduction Cova Rosa Cave - Geographical and Geological Setting - History of Research - Stratigraphy Radiocarbon dates at Cova Rosa - Method - Validity Analysis - Results and Critical Assessment - Solutrean - Magdalenian - Mesolithic Discussion: 14C chronology of Cova Rosa Conclusion

Integrase strand-transfer inhibitors for treatment of early HIV infection : A case series

This study evaluated whether the interval from the first clinic visit until the start of antiretroviral treatment (ART) was correlated with common parameters of immunological recovery among patients with early HIV infection (EHI).We reviewed the medical records of patients with EHI who started ART using integrase strand-transfer inhibitors (ISTIs) within the first 6 months after diagnosis. Simple linear regression analyses were performed to determine whether the interval from the first visit to the start of ART was correlated with 1-year changes in CD4+ cell count, CD8+ cell count, CD4+ percentage, and CD4+/CD8+ ratio.Fifty-three patients with probable or definite EHI started ART using ISTIs between April 2014 and August 2016. Forty-nine patients completed 1 year of follow-up, including 48 men. The routes of HIV transmission were 1 case of needle sharing, 5 cases of heterosexual activity, and 43 cases of men who had sex with men. None of the immunological recovery parameters were correlated with time to the start of ART (CD4+ cell count: R = .12, P = .42; CD8+ cell count: R = .107, P = .5; CD4+ percentage: R = .14, P = .34; CD4+/CD8+ ratio: R = .23, P = .14). Furthermore, subgroup sensitivity analyses failed to detect significant correlations based on definite or probable diagnoses, treatment using elvitegravir or dolutegravir, or the time from HIV diagnosis to ART initiation.This series of EHI cases indicate that using ART with ISTI-based regimens is efficacious and well-tolerated. However, earlier initiation of treatment was not significantly correlated with common parameters of immunological recovery

Meat Quality Evaluation of Broiler Breast Fillets Affected by Aging Time and Marination

Abstract: Poultry meat production in Argentina has experienced an important increase. Poultry processors have incorporated different strategies to reduce processing time and improve quality of breast fillets. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of deboning time and marination on meat quality of broiler breast fillets produced in Argentina. Three hundred sixty commercial 48 d old male broilers were aged for 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 or 24 h before deboning. After deboning pH and color were determined. The right fillet of each breast was immediately quick-frozen and the left fillet was marinated by injection and then quick-frozen. All breast fillets were stored when frozen for 60 d and then thawed for pH, color, Warner-Bratzler shear force and thawing loss determinations. pH measured at deboning decreased during the first 4 h of aging in not marinated fillets. Measures taken after frozen storage showed no changes in pH with aging time. Lightness measured at deboning increased with aging time. Shear values in both marinated and not marinated fillets decreased as from 6 h of aging. Furthermore, marinated treatment reduced shear values in all aging time

Bacterial community composition and optical signature of DOM shape empirical leucine-to-carbon conversion factors in north-eastern Atlantic waters (0-4000 m)

Oral communicationMicrobial heterotrophic activity is a major process regulating the flux of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the ocean. DOM quantity and quality strongly influence its microbial utilization and fate in the ocean. In order to broaden the vertical resolution of leucine-to-carbon conversion factors (CFs), needed for converting substrate incorporation into biomass production by heterotrophic bacteria, nine dilution experiments were performed in the north Atlantic. We found a very consistent depth-stratification in empirical CFs values from epipelagic to bathypelagic waters (3.95 ± 0.05 to 0.90 ± 0.51 kg C mol Leu-1). Our results demonstrated that the customarily used CF of 1.55 kg C mol Leu-1 in oceanic waters leads to an underestimation of prokaryotic heterotrophic production in epi- and mesopelagic waters, while it causes a severe overestimation in bathypelagic waters. Pearson correlations showed that CFs were related not only to hydrographic variables but also to specific phylogenetic groups and DOM quality and quantity indicators. Furthermore, a multiple linear regression model predicting CFs from relatively simple hydrographic and optical spectroscopic measurements is provided. Taken together, our results suggest that differences in CFs throughout the water column might be mostly associated to the quality of DOM affecting the response of particular phylogenetic groups.ASL

CD4 cell count and the risk of AIDS or death in HIV-Infected adults on combination antiretroviral therapy with a suppressed viral load: a longitudinal cohort study from COHERE.

BACKGROUND: Most adults infected with HIV achieve viral suppression within a year of starting combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). It is important to understand the risk of AIDS events or death for patients with a suppressed viral load. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Using data from the Collaboration of Observational HIV Epidemiological Research Europe (2010 merger), we assessed the risk of a new AIDS-defining event or death in successfully treated patients. We accumulated episodes of viral suppression for each patient while on cART, each episode beginning with the second of two consecutive plasma viral load measurements 500 copies/µl, the first of two consecutive measurements between 50-500 copies/µl, cART interruption or administrative censoring. We used stratified multivariate Cox models to estimate the association between time updated CD4 cell count and a new AIDS event or death or death alone. 75,336 patients contributed 104,265 suppression episodes and were suppressed while on cART for a median 2.7 years. The mortality rate was 4.8 per 1,000 years of viral suppression. A higher CD4 cell count was always associated with a reduced risk of a new AIDS event or death; with a hazard ratio per 100 cells/µl (95% CI) of: 0.35 (0.30-0.40) for counts <200 cells/µl, 0.81 (0.71-0.92) for counts 200 to <350 cells/µl, 0.74 (0.66-0.83) for counts 350 to <500 cells/µl, and 0.96 (0.92-0.99) for counts ≥500 cells/µl. A higher CD4 cell count became even more beneficial over time for patients with CD4 cell counts <200 cells/µl. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the low mortality rate, the risk of a new AIDS event or death follows a CD4 cell count gradient in patients with viral suppression. A higher CD4 cell count was associated with the greatest benefit for patients with a CD4 cell count <200 cells/µl but still some slight benefit for those with a CD4 cell count ≥500 cells/µl

Antiretroviral pill count and clinical outcomes in treatment-naive patients with HIV infection

Objectives: Treatment guidelines recommend single-tablet regimens for patients with HIV infection starting antiretroviral therapy. These regimens might be as effective and cost less if taken as separate drugs. We assessed whether the one pill once a day combination of efavirenz, emtricitabine and tenofovir reduces the risk of disease progression compared with multiple-pill formulations of the same regimen. Methods: We selected treatment-naïve patients starting one-, two- or three-pill formulations of this regimen in data from the Antiretroviral Therapy Cohort Collaboration. These patients were followed until an AIDS event or death or until they modified their regimen. We analysed these data using Cox regression models, then used our models to predict the potential consequences of exposing a future population to either a one-pill regimen or a three-pill regimen. Results: Among 11 739 treatment-naïve patients starting the regimen, there were 386 AIDS events and 87 deaths. Follow-up often ended when patients switched to the same regimen with fewer pills. After the first month, two pills rather than one was associated with an increase in the risk of AIDS or death [hazard ratio (HR) 1.39; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.91], but three pills rather than two did not appreciably add to that increase (HR 1.19; 95% CI 0.84-1.68). We estimate that 77 patients would need to be exposed to a one-pill regimen rather than a three-pill regimen for 1 year to avoid one additional AIDS event or death. Conclusions: This particular single-tablet regimen is associated with a modest decrease in the risk of AIDS or death relative to multiple-pill formulations

Al oeste del Sella. Geoarqueología y cronoestratigrafía del registro del Pleistoceno superior de la cueva de El Cierro (Fresnu, Ribadesella, Asturias, España).

La cueva de El Cierro (Fresno, Ribadesella, Asturias) es una cavidad kárstica situada en la margen oeste del río Sella y desarrollada en las calizas carboníferas del Macizo Asturiano de la Cordillera Cantábrica (norte de la Península Ibérica), que contiene un importante registro sedimentario, arqueológico y paleontológico del Pleistoceno superior y Holoceno inferior, con abundantes evidencias tecnológicas y restos faunísticos. El registro arqueológico arranca con un nivel que podría corresponder al Paleolítico medio final, sigue con una completa secuencia del Paleolítico superior de la que se cuenta con un nivel del Magdaleniense inferior claramente identificado y datado, y termina con unos niveles datados a finales del Paleolítico superior/Aziliense y en el Mesolítico que configuran un conchero. La secuencia estratigráfica se compone de catorce niveles agrupados en dos unidades litoestratigráficas con características sedimentarias muy distintas, una inferior, siliciclástica y otra superior biogénica formada por la acumulación de conchas y huesos de aporte antrópico, que se estudian con metodología geoarqueológica. En este trabajo se analiza la secuencia litoestratigráfica y se presentan los datos de los análisis granulométricos, mineralógicos, edafológicos y radiométricos. El resultado de estos análisis permite interpretar con precisión tanto la litoestratigrafía del depósito como los procesos sedimentarios y diagenéticos responsables de su formación y posterior evolución. Las dataciones radiocarbónicas disponibles permiten situar los niveles superiores de la secuencia siliciclástica en el GS 2b y el conchero inferior en el GI 1 y el GS 1 (Dryas reciente), al final del Pleistoceno superior, mientras que el conchero superior estaría situado en la cronozona Boreal en los inicios del Holoceno

Geoarchaeological and Chronostratigraphic study of the Upper Pleistocene record of the Cierro cave (Fresno, Ribadesella, Asturias, Spain)

Resumen: La cueva de El Cierro (Fresno, Ribadesella, Asturias) es una cavidad kárstica situada en la margen oeste del río Sella y desarrollada en las calizas carboníferas del Macizo Asturiano de la Cordillera Cantábrica (norte de la Península Ibérica), que contiene un importante registro sedimentario, arqueológico y paleontológico del Pleistoceno superior y Holoceno inferior, con abundantes evidencias tecnológicas y restos faunísticos. El registro arqueológico arranca con un nivel que podría corresponder al Paleolítico medio final, sigue con una completa secuencia del Paleolítico superior de la que se cuenta con un nivel del Magdaleniense inferior claramente identificado y datado, y termina con unos niveles datados a finales del Paleolítico superior/Aziliense y en el Mesolítico que configuran un conchero. La secuencia estratigráfica se compone de catorce niveles agrupados en dos unidades litoestratigráficas con características sedimentarias muy distintas, una inferior, siliciclástica y otra superior biogénica formada por la acumulación de conchas y huesos de aporte antrópico, que se estudian con metodología geoarqueológica. En este trabajo se analiza la secuencia litoestratigráfica y se presentan los datos de los análisis granulométricos, mineralógicos, edafológicos y radiométricos. El resultado de estos análisis permite interpretar con precisión tanto la litoestratigrafía del depósito como los procesos sedimentarios y diagenéticos responsables de su formación y posterior evolución. Las dataciones radiocarbónicas disponibles permiten situar los niveles superiores de la secuencia siliciclástica en el GS 2b y el conchero inferior en el GI 1 y el GS 1 (Dryas reciente), al final del Pleistoceno superior, mientras que el conchero superior estaría situado en la cronozona Boreal en los inicios del Holoceno.Abstract: The Cierro Cave (Fresno, Ribadesella, Asturias) is a karst cavity located in the west bank of the Sella river anddeveloped in the Carboniferous limestone of the Asturian Massif of the Cantabrian Range (northern Iberian Peninsula). This cave contains an important sedimentary, archaeological and palaeontological record of the Upper Pleistocene and Early Holocene with abundant technological remains (lithic and bone industries) and bone remains of mammals and others vertebrates. The archaeological record starts with a probably Middle Palaeolithic level, followed by a complete sequence of the Upper Paleolithic, with a Lower Magdalenian level clearly identified and dated, and ends with levels of the Late Upper Magdalenian/Azilian and the Mesolithic forming three shell middens. The stratigraphic sequence consists of fourteen levels grouped in two litostratigraphic units with very different sedimentary characteristics studied by geoarchaeological methods. The lower unit is characterized by the significant presence of siliceous sands and silts while the upper unit is formed by three anthropic shell middens cemented by carbonates. This paper analyzes the lithostratigraphic sequence and shows the results of the granulometric, mineralogical, edaphic and radiometric analysis. These results allows us to interpret precisely the lithostratigraphy of the deposits and the sedimentary and diagenetic processes responsible for their formation and evolution. In addition, the radiocarbon dates obtained allow us to place the upper levels of the clastic sequence in the GS 2b and the lower shell midden in GI 1 and GS 1 at the end of the Upper Pleistocene, while the upper shell midden would be located in the Boreal cronozona in the Early Holocene.Este trabajo ha sido financiado por el Plan Nacional de I+D+I del Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad en el marco de los proyectos de investigación HAR2011-29907-\ud C03-03/HIST (investigador principal: Dr. Esteban Álvarez- Fernández) y HAR2011-29907-C03-00/HIST (investigador principal: Dr. Pablo Arias Cabal)