Strontium isoscape of sub-Saharan Africa allows tracing origins of victims of the transatlantic slave trade.

Strontium isotope (Sr/Sr) analysis with reference to strontium isotope landscapes (Sr isoscapes) allows reconstructing mobility and migration in archaeology, ecology, and forensics. However, despite the vast potential of research involving Sr/Sr analysis particularly in Africa, Sr isoscapes remain unavailable for the largest parts of the continent. Here, we measure the Sr/Sr ratios in 778 environmental samples from 24 African countries and combine this data with published data to model a bioavailable Sr isoscape for sub-Saharan Africa using random forest regression.

Environmental variability supports chimpanzee behavioural diversity.

Large brains and behavioural innovation are positively correlated, species-specific traits, associated with the behavioural flexibility animals need for adapting to seasonal and unpredictable habitats. Similar ecological challenges would have been important drivers throughout human evolution. However, studies examining the influence of environmental variability on within-species behavioural diversity are lacking despite the critical assumption that population diversification precedes genetic divergence and speciation.

Sources partitioning in the diet of the shipworm Bankia carinata (J.E. Gray, 1827): An experimental study based on stable isotopes.

Adaptations that allow teredinids to maintain and thrive on wood, a nutritionally unbalanced food, make these marine bivalves remarkable. Capable of filter-feeding, shipworms house endosymbiotic bacteria synthesizing cellulolytic enzymes for digestion of wood carbohydrates and providing nitrogen to their host through nitrogen fixation. To what extent each of these nutrition modes contributes to the shipworm's metabolism remains an open question.

Chimpanzee accumulative stone throwing.

The study of the archaeological remains of fossil hominins must rely on reconstructions to elucidate the behaviour that may have resulted in particular stone tools and their accumulation. Comparatively, stone tool use among living primates has illuminated behaviours that are also amenable to archaeological examination, permitting direct observations of the behaviour leading to artefacts and their assemblages to be incorporated. Here, we describe newly discovered stone tool-use behaviour and stone accumulation sites in wild chimpanzees reminiscent of human cairns.

[Risks acceptability related to obstetrical epidural analgesia].

Objectives: Evaluation of the acceptability of complications related to obstetrical epidural analgesia in two populations, parturients and anesthesiologists.

Study Design: Prospective, transversal, single center study.

Materials And Methods: Evaluation of the acceptability of complications associated with obstetric epidural analgesia performed using a questionnaire of six clinical scenarii in two populations: parturients cared at the University maternity of Nancy and anesthesiologists of Lorraine.

Probing the micellar solubilisation and inter-micellar exchange of polyphenols using the DPPH· free radical.

Encapsulation of polyphenols can be used for improving their stability and targeting. We present here a spectrophotometric method to probe the micellar solubilisation and inter-micellar exchange of polyphenols using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH·) free radical as a visible probe. Our method relies on the partitioning of DPPH· into micelles, on the reduction of DPPH· by polyphenols, and on the change in absorbance of DPPH· when reduced/oxidised.

Exercise with incorporated expiratory manoeuvres was as effective as breathing techniques for airway clearance in children with cystic fibrosis: a randomised crossover trial.

Question: : Can a session of exercise with incorporated expiratory manoeuvres substitute for a session of breathing techniques for airway clearance in children with cystic fibrosis? Are children with cystic fibrosis as co-operative and satisfied with the exercise regimen as with the breathing techniques?.

Design: Randomised, cross-over trial with concealed allocation and intention-to-treat analysis.

Participants: 34 children with cystic fibrosis in a stable clinical state.

Meta-analysis on the performance of sonography for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Objective: We aimed to review and pool recent large methodological studies evaluating the diagnosis performance of ultrasonography vs electrodiagnostic testing (EDX).

Methods: Using the keywords: "carpal tunnel syndrome", "ultrasound", and "validity", recent articles evaluating ultrasonography compared with a reference including EDX were selected from 4 databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of science, and BDSP) and from previous review for older articles, after 2 rounds. Relevant data for different thresholds of cross-sectional area of the median nerve were extracted from the articles to calculate the pooled sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios.

Growth hormone to improve short bowel syndrome intestinal autonomy: a pediatric randomized open-label clinical trial.

Background: The ability of growth hormone (GH) to promote the weaning-off of parenteral nutrition (PN) in short bowel syndrome (SBS) is unclear. No randomized controlled study is available in children. This study was undertaken to determine if GH could enhance the weaning off of PN in PN-dependent children with SBS.

Hyperpolarized 3He MR for sensitive imaging of ventilation function and treatment efficiency in young cystic fibrosis patients with normal lung function.

Purpose: To assess the sensitivity of hyperpolarized helium 3 ((3)He) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for the detection of peripheral airway obstruction in younger cystic fibrosis (CF) patients showing normal spirometric results (mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV(1)], 112% +/- 14.5 [standard deviation]) and to observe the immediate effects of a single chest physical therapy (CPT) session, thereby comparing two image quantification techniques.

Materials And Methods: Ten pediatric CF patients (age range, 8-16 years) with normal spirometric results were included in this study after approval from the local research ethics committee.

[A positioning pillow to improve lumbar puncture in paediatric haematology-oncology patients: a randomized controlled trial.].

ObjectivesLumbar punctures (LPs) are common in children with cancer. Although pain management during the LP has been well standardised, dealing with stress and anxiety is not well addressed yet. Our objective was to evaluate the potential improvement of the LPs success rate using a positioning pillow, to ensure maximum lumbar flexion, and allow paravertebral muscles to relax, in children who are awake, with either conscious sedation or no sedation.

A positioning pillow to improve lumbar puncture success rate in paediatric haematology-oncology patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Lumbar punctures (LPs) are common in children with cancer. Although pain management during the lumbar puncture has been well standardized, dealing with stress and anxiety is not well addressed yet. Our objective was to evaluate the potential improvement of the LP success rate using a positioning pillow, to ensure maximum lumbar flexion, and allow paravertebral muscles to relax, in children who are awake, with either conscious sedation or no sedation.

Tricaesium tris-(pyridine-2,6-dicarboxyl-ato-κO,N,O)lutetium(III) octa-hydrate.

Colourless block crystals of the title compound, Cs(3)[Lu(dipic)(3)]·8H(2)O [dipic is dipicolinate or pyridine-2,6-dicarboxyl-ate, C(7)H(3)NO(4)] were synthesized by slow evaporation of the solvent. The crystal structure of this Lu(III)-complex, isostructural with the Dy(III) and Eu(III) complexes, was determined from a crystal twinned by inversion and consists of discrete [Lu(dipic)(3)](3-) anions, Cs(+) cations and water mol-ecules involving hydrogen bonding. The Lu atom lies on a twofold rotation axis and is coordinated by six O atoms and three N atoms of three dipicolinate ligands.

Successful use of covered stent to treat superior systemic baffle obstruction and leak after atrial switch procedure.

Progressive dyspnea and cyanosis occurred in a 41-year-old patient status after Mustard atrial switch repair for transposition of great arteries. Cardiac catheterization and magnetic resonance imaging revealed the association of superior limb systemic venous baffle obstruction and leaks with right-to-left shunting. He underwent successful dilation of the venous channel and obstruction of baffle leaks by using a covered stent.

[Medium and long-term results of anatomical correction of transposition of the great arteries in Marseille].

The object of this study was to evaluate the results of anatomical correction of transposition of the great arteries (TGA) in an inter-regional centre. The characteristics of 220 patients operated between 1985 and 2002 were analysed. Prenatal diagnosis of TGA was made in 38 patients (17%) including 36 of the 109 patients operated since 1995 (33%) and leading to earlier atrial septostomy in this situation (p= 0.

Pressure-induced lock-in in an aperiodic nanoporous crystal.

This Letter reports on the first observation of a commensurate lock-in inside an aperiodic composite. This result is obtained by neutron diffraction, under hydrostatic pressure, in the prototype self-assembled crystal of hexadecane urea. A selective compressibility of the sublattices is a required condition together with the existence of a lock-in energy term in these supramolecular materials.

Complete correction of interrupted right aortic arch with isolation of left subclavian artery.

Isolation of the left subclavian artery is a rare aortic arch anomaly. Association with a right interrupted aortic arch and a double patent ductus arteriosus is exceptional. We report a case of such an association with successful surgical correction.

[Extracorporeal assistance in paediatric intensive care].

Objective: For 3 years we have used extracorporeal assistance in intensive care frequently. This study evaluates our results.

Method: We studied the patient records for those treated between January 2002 and January 2005.

[Results of surgery for coarctation of the aorta in children under one year of age].

The aim of this study was to determine the surgical results of repair of coarcta tion of the aorta in children under 1 year of age and to assess the risk of recoarctation. Between 1984 and 2004, 206 children under 1 were operated for coarctation of the aorta. Three groups of patients were identified: Group I (isolated coarctation, N=99), Group II (associated ventricular septal defect, N=63), and Group III (complex congenital heart disease, N=44).

[Medico-surgical treatment of occlusion of the left pulmonary artery by extension of ductal tissue (pulmonary coarctation)].

The authors report the results of surgical treatment completed by interventional catheterisation of occlusion of the left pulmonary artery by extension of ductal tissue. Since 2001, 7 patients operated for occlusive coarctation of the left pulmonary artery at an average age of 11 months (3 to 37 months) had a restenosis. The cardiac malformation was pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (N=4), tetralofy of Fallot (N=2) and critical pulmonary valvular stenosis (N=1).

[Efficacy of angioplasty of native coarctations of the aorta of the big infant and of the adult with systematic endoprosthesis implantation].

The angioplasty of native coarcatations of the aorta remains a controversial treatment due to recurrences and the potential risk of aneurysm or of descending aorta dissection during catheterization. The interest of a systematic implantation of an endoprothesis is poorly documented. We report our experience in a small series of 3 patients aged from 7, 28 to 52 years at the moment of the angioplasty of their native aortic coarctation.

The role of topically administered FK506 (tacrolimus) at the time of facial nerve repair using entubulation neurorrhaphy in a rabbit model.

Peripheral facial nerve palsy is a common sequela of traumatic craniofacial injury, often resulting in dramatic and sometimes permanent functional deficits. Exogenous agents and methods of repair that accelerate axonal regeneration would be of great benefit to the multitude of patients with facial nerve injuries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of FK506 at the time of facial nerve repair using entubulation neurorrhaphy, and to compare entubulation neurorrhaphy versus interposition autograft in critical facial nerve gap defects.