Diet and mobility of an Iron Age population in Switzerland; Stable carbon, nitrogen and sulphur isotope analysis of the human remains from Münsingen

The 220 abundantly equipped burials from the Late Iron Age cemetery of Münsingen (420 – 240 BC) marked a milestone for Iron Age research. The evident horizontal spread throughout the time of occupancy laid the foundation for the chronology system of the Late Iron Age. Today the skulls of 77 individuals and some postcranial bones are still preserved. The aim was to obtain information about nutrition, social stratification and migration of the individuals from Münsingen. Stable isotope ratios of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur were analysed. The results of 63 individuals show that all consumed C3 plants as staple food with significant differences between males and females in δ13C and δ15N values. The results indicate a gender restriction in access to animal protein. Stable isotope values of one male buried with weapons and meat as grave goods suggest a diet with more animal proteins than the other individuals. It is possible that he was privileged due to high status. Furthermore, the δ34S values indicate minor mobility. Assuming that the subadults represent the local signal of δ34S it is very likely that adults with enriched δ34S could have migrated to Münsingen at some point during their lives. This study presents stable isotope values of one of the most important Late Iron Age burial sites in Central Europe. The presented data provide new insight into diet, migration and social stratification of the population from Münsingen.

Social stratigraphy in Late Iron Age Switzerland: Analysis of human remains from Münsingen

The Iron Age cemetery of Münsingen in Switzerland with 220 abundantly equipped burials marked a milestone for Iron Age research. The horizontal spread throughout the time of its occupancy laid the foundation for the chronology system of the Late Iron Age. Today, skulls of 77 individuals and some postcranial bones are still preserved and were investigated anthropologically. Collagen was analysed via stable isotope mass spectrometry (carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur). Additionally, some bones showed pathologies or lesions which were examined via imaging and histological methods. The aim of the study was to obtain biological-anthropological information about the Iron Age population. There are significant differences between males and females in δ13C and δ15N values. This points to a gender restriction in the access to animal protein with males having more access to meat and dairy products. Differences in δ15N values were also observed for different age classes. δ34S values indicate a terrestrial-based diet with no significant intake of marine or freshwater fish. Seven adults with enriched δ34S values might have immigrated to Münsingen, four of which were found in the oldest part of the cemetery. Furthermore, possible changes of the vegetation are indicated by the more positive stable carbon ratios in the later phases. The results lead to the suggestion that especially males buried with weapons might have played a special role in the Iron Age society. Also, skull trepanations in two males suggest that surgical treatment of injuries caused by weapons may have been performed.

The hundred most cited articles in bariatric surgery

BACKGROUND Many studies quantitatively analyzing scientific papers have appeared in the last 2 years. Citation analysis is a commonly used bibliometric method. In spite of some limitations, it remains a good measure of the impact an article has on a specific field, specialty, or a journal. The aim of this study was to analyze the qualities and characteristics of the 100 most cited articles in the field of bariatric surgery. METHODS The Thomson Reuters Web of Knowledge was used to list all bariatric surgery-related articles (BSRA) published from 1945 to 2014. The top 100 most cited BSRA in 354 surgical and high impact general journals were selected for further analysis. RESULTS Most of the articles were published in the 2000s (60%). The top 100 most cited were published in 17 of the 354 journals. Leading countries were USA followed by Canada and Australia. Most of the articles published (76%) were clinical experience articles. The most common level of evidence was IV (42%). CONCLUSIONS Many of the milestone papers in bariatric surgery have been included in this bibliometric study. A huge increase in research activity during the last decade is clearly visible in the field. It is apparent that the number of citations of an article is not related to its level of evidence; a fact that is increasingly being emphasized in surgical research.

Developing drugs for use before, during and soon after percutaneous coronary intervention.

INTRODUCTION Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a milestone for treating coronary artery disease (CAD). Antithrombotic therapy is essential to prevent ischemic complications, including the microvascular no-reflow, while minimizing bleeding events. Areas covered: This overview discusses available and developing drugs for PCI including anticoagulants, antiplatelets and treatment of no-reflow. Expert opinion: For years unfractionated heparin (UFH) has been the unique anticoagulant to be used before and during PCI. Enoxaparin showed similar efficacy and safety, yet, based on recent trials, bivalirudin has been shown to have some benefits, particularly for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The evidence concerning new anticoagulants is still preliminary, except for new oral anticoagulants, particularly rivaroxaban that showed intriguing findings and is currently under investigation. Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is the standard of care after PCI, but new developments have recently emerged. Indeed, ticagrelor and prasugrel are currently recommended over clopidogrel due to their significant reduction of ischemic events in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) whereas clopidogrel remains the choice in stable CAD. Among new agents, vorapaxar and cangrelor showed positive but limited evidence and might be considered at least in selected patients. Conversely, evidence on effective treatments for no-reflow remains limited and would require future dedicated research.

Water chemistry, and biological traits and mercury content of Salvelinus alpinus and S. namaycush in Laflamme and Pingualuit lake

Pingualuk Lake fills a deep crater in the Parc National des Pingualuit on the Ungava Peninsula (Nunavik, Canada) and is isolated from nearby surface waters. The main objectives of this study were to determine and compare the concentrations of two atmospherically derived contaminants, mercury and perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), in the lake water column and fish of Pingualuk Lake and to assess the physical and biological factors influencing contaminant concentrations. Mercury concentrations in arctic char muscle tissue were comparable to those of char in other Arctic lakes, while the total amount of PFCs was below reported levels for remote lakes in the Arctic and elsewhere. Stable isotope and stomach content analyses were made to investigate the feeding ecology of the Pingualuk Lake arctic char population and indicated the possibility of multiple feeding groups. Genetics characteristics (MH and mtDNA) of fish from Pingualuk Lake revealed that this population is likely distinct from that of nearby Laflamme Lake. However, both arctic char populations exhibit differential variation of their allele families. Physical characteristics determined for Lake Pingualuk revealed that the water column was inversely stratified beneath the ice and extremely transparent to visible and ultraviolet radiation. The highest mercury concentrations (3- 6 pg/mL THg) occurred just beneath the ice surface in each lake. Pingualuk Lake, given its near pristine state and exceptional limnological features, may serve as a most valuable reference ecosystem for monitoring environmental stressors, such as contaminants, in the Arctic.

La flexibilidad del obispo : Gregorio Magno, los judíos y la Regula pastoralis

El episcopado de Gregorio Magno (590-604) representa un hito al momento de analizar el derrotero del cristianismo entre la Antigüedad Tardía y el Alto Medioevo. Hombre de enorme flexibilidad política y discursiva, construyó -a lo largo de su vida- un repertorio textual de incalculable valor para el historiador moderno. En una de sus obras de mayor impacto en los siglos posteriores -la Regula pastoralis- el obispo de Roma analiza minuciosamente el rol del hombre de Iglesia en todas sus facetas, realizando especial hincapié en la parénesis. El objetivo de este trabajo será comparar algunas de las directivas allí vertidas con el accionar efectivo de Gregorio, observable en el Registrum epistularum. Para lograr tal fin, nos concentraremos en las epístolas referidas al judaísmo en general y a los judíos en particular. Observaremos, de tal modo, la concordancia entre algunos de los lineamientos gregorianos establecidos en la Regula y su aplicación en el caso judío

En los albores de la celestinesca : Sobre el "Romance nuevamente hecho de Calisto y Melibea" en el pliego suelto de 1513

El Romance nueuamente hecho de Calisto y Melibea, pliego suelto impreso en 1513 (Jacobo Cromberger, Sevilla), un "romance-cuento" (según Menéndez Pidal) de 680 versos octosilábicos, atestigua una pronta transformación genérica: de la prosa dramática de Celestina a un poema narrativo con narrador extradiegético. La trama concisa incluye los típicos motivos narrativos del romancero hispánico (por ejemplo, el protagonista como un cazador) y acentúa el tema del pecado y el castigo (tomado de los paratextos de Celestina), también presente en los primeros pliegos sueltos cantados por ciegos. Existen evidencias de que el texto base ha sido la Comedia, no la Tragicomedia. Este texto temprano debería ser considerado un hito en la historia de la celestinesca

La flexibilidad del obispo : Gregorio Magno, los judíos y la Regula pastoralis

El episcopado de Gregorio Magno (590-604) representa un hito al momento de analizar el derrotero del cristianismo entre la Antigüedad Tardía y el Alto Medioevo. Hombre de enorme flexibilidad política y discursiva, construyó -a lo largo de su vida- un repertorio textual de incalculable valor para el historiador moderno. En una de sus obras de mayor impacto en los siglos posteriores -la Regula pastoralis- el obispo de Roma analiza minuciosamente el rol del hombre de Iglesia en todas sus facetas, realizando especial hincapié en la parénesis. El objetivo de este trabajo será comparar algunas de las directivas allí vertidas con el accionar efectivo de Gregorio, observable en el Registrum epistularum. Para lograr tal fin, nos concentraremos en las epístolas referidas al judaísmo en general y a los judíos en particular. Observaremos, de tal modo, la concordancia entre algunos de los lineamientos gregorianos establecidos en la Regula y su aplicación en el caso judío

En los albores de la celestinesca : Sobre el "Romance nuevamente hecho de Calisto y Melibea" en el pliego suelto de 1513

El Romance nueuamente hecho de Calisto y Melibea, pliego suelto impreso en 1513 (Jacobo Cromberger, Sevilla), un "romance-cuento" (según Menéndez Pidal) de 680 versos octosilábicos, atestigua una pronta transformación genérica: de la prosa dramática de Celestina a un poema narrativo con narrador extradiegético. La trama concisa incluye los típicos motivos narrativos del romancero hispánico (por ejemplo, el protagonista como un cazador) y acentúa el tema del pecado y el castigo (tomado de los paratextos de Celestina), también presente en los primeros pliegos sueltos cantados por ciegos. Existen evidencias de que el texto base ha sido la Comedia, no la Tragicomedia. Este texto temprano debería ser considerado un hito en la historia de la celestinesca

La flexibilidad del obispo : Gregorio Magno, los judíos y la Regula pastoralis

El episcopado de Gregorio Magno (590-604) representa un hito al momento de analizar el derrotero del cristianismo entre la Antigüedad Tardía y el Alto Medioevo. Hombre de enorme flexibilidad política y discursiva, construyó -a lo largo de su vida- un repertorio textual de incalculable valor para el historiador moderno. En una de sus obras de mayor impacto en los siglos posteriores -la Regula pastoralis- el obispo de Roma analiza minuciosamente el rol del hombre de Iglesia en todas sus facetas, realizando especial hincapié en la parénesis. El objetivo de este trabajo será comparar algunas de las directivas allí vertidas con el accionar efectivo de Gregorio, observable en el Registrum epistularum. Para lograr tal fin, nos concentraremos en las epístolas referidas al judaísmo en general y a los judíos en particular. Observaremos, de tal modo, la concordancia entre algunos de los lineamientos gregorianos establecidos en la Regula y su aplicación en el caso judío

En los albores de la celestinesca : Sobre el "Romance nuevamente hecho de Calisto y Melibea" en el pliego suelto de 1513

El Romance nueuamente hecho de Calisto y Melibea, pliego suelto impreso en 1513 (Jacobo Cromberger, Sevilla), un "romance-cuento" (según Menéndez Pidal) de 680 versos octosilábicos, atestigua una pronta transformación genérica: de la prosa dramática de Celestina a un poema narrativo con narrador extradiegético. La trama concisa incluye los típicos motivos narrativos del romancero hispánico (por ejemplo, el protagonista como un cazador) y acentúa el tema del pecado y el castigo (tomado de los paratextos de Celestina), también presente en los primeros pliegos sueltos cantados por ciegos. Existen evidencias de que el texto base ha sido la Comedia, no la Tragicomedia. Este texto temprano debería ser considerado un hito en la historia de la celestinesca

Isotopic signatures and mercury content of arctic char and their prey, and water chemistry of 18 arctic Canadian lakes

Concentrations of mercury (Hg) have increased slowly in landlocked Arctic char over a 10- to 15-year period in the Arctic. Fluxes of Hg to sediments also show increases in most Arctic lakes. Correlation of Hg with trophic level (TL) was used to investigate and compare biomagnification of Hg in food webs from lakes in the Canadian Arctic sampled from 2002 to 2007. Concentrations of Hg (total Hg and methylmercury [MeHg]) in food webs were compared across longitudinal and latitudinal gradients in relation to d13C and d15N in periphyton, zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, and Arctic char of varying size-classes. Trophic magnification factors (TMFs) were calculated for the food web in each lake and related to available physical and chemical characteristics of the lakes. The relative content of MeHg increased with trophic level from 4.3 to 12.2% in periphyton, 41 to 79% in zooplankton, 59 to 72% in insects, and 74 to 100% in juvenile and adult char. The d13C signatures of adult char indicated coupling with benthic invertebrates. Cannibalism among char lengthened the food chain. Biomagnification was confirmed in all 18 lakes, with TMFs ranging from 3.5 ± 1.1 to 64.3 ± 0.8. Results indicate that TMFs and food chain length (FCL) are key factors in explaining interlake variability in biomagnification of [Hg] among different lakes.

(Table 1) Age, fork length, tissue d15N and d13C and mercury content of arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) across the Canadian Arctic

Among-lake variation in mercury (Hg) concentrations in landlocked Arctic char was examined in 27 char populations from remote lakes across the Canadian Arctic. A total of 520 landlocked Arctic char were collected from 27 lakes, as well as sediments and surface water from a subset of lakes in 1999, 2002, and 2005 to 2007. Size, length, age, and trophic position (d15N) of individual char were determined and relationships with total Hg (THg) concentrations investigated, to identify a common covariate for adjustment using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). A subset of 216 char from 24 populations was used for spatial comparison, after length-adjustment. The influence of trophic position and food web length and abiotic characteristics such as location, geomorphology, lake area, catchment area, catchment-to-lake area ratio of the lakes on adjusted THg concentrations in char muscle tissue were then evaluated. Arctic char from Amituk Lake (Cornwallis Island) had the highest Hg concentrations (1.31 µg/g wet wt), while Tessisoak Lake (Labrador, 0.07 µg/g wet wt) had the lowest. Concentrations of THg were positively correlated with size, d15N, and age, respectively, in 88,71, and 58% of 24 char populations. Length and d15N were correlated in 67% of 24 char populations. Food chain length did not explain the differences in length-adjusted THg concentrations in char. No relationships between adjusted THg concentrations in char and latitude or longitude were found, however, THg concentrations in char showed a positive correlation with catchment-to-lake area ratio. Furthermore, we conclude that inputs from the surrounding environment may influence THg concentrations, and will ultimately affect THg concentrations in char as a result of predicted climate-driven changes that may occur in Arctic lake watersheds.