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Here we report on microfossil analysis of human dental calculus from Lapita (3000–2600 yr BP) and post-Lapita (2300–2000 yr BP) burials from Vao and Uripiv, Vanuatu. Phytoliths of introducedMusaand indigenousHeliconiain the calculus suggest the use of these taxa as food wrappings. Phytoliths and most other material in the calculus, namely sponge spicules, calcium oxalate crystals, xylem and charcoal, are unequivocal identifications. Another type of material, comprising degraded objects with a general morphology suggesting starch grains, is uncertain, however, as the unequivocal starch indicator, the Maltese cross, was not observed. We used a new method for calculus analysis, Fourier Transform InfraRed spectroscopy (FTIR), comparing the suspected starch with modern reference starch of prehistoric Pacific crops. Although the ancient FTIR analysis was limited to a small number of suspected starch grains, the results provide another line of evidence for starch. The calculus data are consistent with previous microfossil studies of Lapita deposits at the sites, and demonstrate the efficacy of this technique in contributing to the definition of the history of plant use and diet of early Pacific Island populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT To understand stress, attention must focus on the costs and limits of adaptation. The current study investigates two non-specific indicators of stress in human skeletal remains from three prehistoric sites in the Pacific Islands as an attempt to understand differential responses to island environments. The samples used in this study represent both colonising and established populations and are spread geographically throughout the Pacific Islands. In the current study both inter and intrasample comparisons of cortical index (CI) and maximum femoral length are made. Within all the samples there is evidence of an age related decline in CI and a sexual dimorphism of CI and maximum femoral length. No significant correlations are found between the non-specific indicators of stress and the temporal and spatial distributions of the samples. Overall, the indicators used in the current study show very similar results and therefore do not seem to reflect differential adaptation to Pacific Island environments through time and across island groups. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of deposits at a Lapita site in Vanuatu revealed putative starch grains of Dioscorea nummularia in ~2800-3100cal. BP layers and of Dioscorea pentaphylla in a ~2000 cal. BP layer, suggesting local cultivation of these tuberous crops. The Dioscoreaceae are a new addition to the introduced cultigens thus far directly identified for prehistoric Vanuatu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey of 2211 pigs was carried out in a pig abattoir. Salmonella was isolated from 7.0 per cent of carcase swabs and from 11.6 per cent of 2205 samples of large intestinal contents. DT104 or DT104B was found in 3.2 per cent of the large intestinal samples (27.7 per cent of the salmonella isolates found) and in 2.7 per cent of the carcase swabs (38.7 per cent of the salmonella isolates from carcases). Within individual batches of pigs, the rate of isolation of salmonella ranged from 0 to 71.4 per cent from intestinal contents, and from 0 to 100 per cent on carcases. In a smaller subsurvey, salmonella was found in 9-1 per cent of intestinal contents, 5-8 per cent of mesenteric lymph nodes and 3-8 per cent of tonsils, but in no spleen samples. The rates of isolation of salmonella from pigs from different producer groups ranged from 0 to 21.9 per cent with 0 to 88.2 per cent of farm units within groups showing evidence of infection. DT1O4 or DT104B was isolated from large intestinal samples from 16-9 per cent of farm units. The number of salmonellae found in positive pigs ranged from 1.0 to 10 cfu/g intestinal contents and from 1.0 to 10 du per 0.1 m dressed carcase surface. Sequential sampling during the slaughter process showed that 82.9 per cent of the carcases were contaminated after bleeding, a proportion which was reduced to 5.7 per cent after scalding; after singeing none were contaminated. Estimations of surface enterobacteriaceae revealed a similar pattern of reductions and resurgences of contamination to that observed with salmonella. The rate of isolation of salmonella from pigs which had been held in lairage overnight was less than that from pigs slaughtered within two to three hours of arrival. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Evaluates the treatment asthmatic children with disodium cromoglycate. Doses of inhaled drugs; Observation of dry mouth as side effects; Report of reduced school absences following therapy; Citation of the potential danger of severe exacerbation of asthma and failure of adrenocortical response if steroid doses are reduced too quickly and drastically.