The Mungo Mega-Lake Event, Semi-Arid Australia: Non-Linear Descent into the Last Ice Age, Implications for Human Behaviour.

The Willandra Lakes complex is one of the few locations in semi-arid Australia to preserve both paleoenvironmental and Paleolithic archeological archives at high resolution. The stratigraphy of transverse lunette dunes on the lakes' downwind margins record a late Quaternary sequence of wetting and drying. Within the Willandra system, the Lake Mungo lunette is best known for its preservation of the world's oldest known ritual burials, and high densities of archeological traces documenting human adaptation to changing environmental conditions over the last 45 ka.

Impact of microscopic foreign debris on post-surgical complications.

Minute pieces of debris left in the surgical site can interfere with optimal wound healing. Even when these microbodies are not obvious without magnification, their presence can cause post-surgical complications including infections, amplified and prolonged inflammation, permanent tissue damage, exaggerated and reduced quality scarring, granulomas, adhesions, organ dysfunction, infertility, and other pathological consequences. This chapter reviews foreign debris-initiated, post-surgical complications; presents associated pathological mechanisms; identifies sources of debris contamination; describes foreign-microbody characteristics that can further amplify pathological responses; and presents recommendations for minimizing their presence.

Immunomodulatory effect of endotoxin on the development of latex allergy.

Background: Although numerous studies have been conducted delineating the clinical manifestations of latex allergy and characterizing the protein allergens, little is known regarding the natural history of the disease.

Objective: These studies were undertaken to investigate the immunomodulatory role of inhaled endotoxin on the development of latex-specific IgE-mediated responses to natural rubber latex (NRL) proteins by using a mouse model.

Methods: Female BALB/c mice were exposed to 25 microg of NRL proteins with or without increasing concentrations of endotoxin (50-25,000 EU) through the respiratory tract.

Factors that impact on the infection control capability of gloves.

The use of gloves can reduce the risk of cross-infection for patients and health-care professionals. This is dependent, however, on the correct type of glove being selected for the appropriate job. Care must be taken to ensure that gloves are stored and worn correctly, to reduce the chance of exposing them to factors that may damage their integrity.