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The transition from the Middle Stone Age (MSA) to the Later Stone Age (LSA) in South Africa was not associated with the appearance of anatomically modern humans and the extinction of Neandertals, as in the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition in Western Europe. It has therefore attracted less attention, yet it provides insights into patterns of technological evolution not associated with a new hominin. Data from Border Cave (KwaZulu-Natal) show a strong pattern of technological change at approximately 44-42 ka cal BP, marked by adoption of techniques and materials that were present but scarcely used in the previous MSA, and some novelties. The agent of change was neither a revolution nor the advent of a new species of human. Although most evident in personal ornaments and symbolic markings, the change from one way of living to another was not restricted to aesthetics. Our analysis shows that: (i) at Border Cave two assemblages, dated to 45-49 and >49 ka, show a gradual abandonment of the technology and tool types of the post-Howiesons Poort period and can be considered transitional industries; (ii) the 44-42 ka cal BP assemblages are based on an expedient technology dominated by bipolar knapping, with microliths hafted with pitch from Podocarpus bark, worked suid tusks, ostrich eggshell beads, bone arrowheads, engraved bones, bored stones, and digging sticks; (iii) these assemblages mark the beginning of the LSA in South Africa; (iv) the LSA emerged by internal evolution; and (v) the process of change began sometime after 56 ka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The published ambulance referral criteria (ARC) for assessing individuals with acute recreational drug toxicity in the prehospital setting consist of nine domains. The ARC recommend that an ambulance is called to transfer those with a score ≥1 to hospital. Methods: Individuals presenting to a physician-led medical facility with acute drug and/or ethanol toxicity during an outdoor festival were assessed to determine whether the ARC recommended hospital transfer. Final disposition following management in the facility was compared with ARC assessment to determine if physician-led management reduced the need for hospital transfer. Results: A total of 28 patients were presented during the study period; 16 (57.1%) had an initial ARC ≥1 (range 1-5). Twelve (75%) of these were discharged after management in the facility. Four were transferred to hospital: two for severe acute recreational drug toxicity and two due to closure of the facility at the end of the event. Conclusions: Physicians present at this festival event significantly reduced the need for hospital transfer of individuals with acute recreational drug toxicity. Organisers of similar festivals should consider whether it would be appropriate to arrange for appropriate physician-level support to reduce the use of local health-care resources during the event for individuals with acute recreational drug/ethanol toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Located between Daniëlskuil and Kuruman in the Northern Cape province of South Africa is Wonderwerk Cave, where excavations from 1978 to 1996 revealed a ∼6-m depth of deposits made up of nine Major Units (MUs), of which some have been dated by radiocarbon, the U-series method and palaeomagnetism. The lithic succession in those sediments was found to be Later Stone Age in MU1 at 1.0–12.5 kyr ago, Middle Stone Age in MU2 at ∼70 to >220 kyr ago, Fauresmith in MUs 3–4 at ∼270-c. 500 kyr ago, and very sparse biface assemblages before then to >0.78 Myr BP. Associated behaviours are represented by collected exotic river pebbles and quartz crystals in MUs 2–4, incised lines on portable stones in MUs 1–4, a grass bedding area in MU4, red pigment pieces in MUs 1–7, and traces of the use of fire in MUs 1–9. These findings, as a whole, are taken to support a scenario that sees the upland savannas at the southern end of Africa as a focal region of biocultural evolution over a period extending back to before the onset of the Middle Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study that summarized and compared several existing day hospitalization programs for the treatment of eating disorders in order to highlight program similarities and differences. General overview of day hospitals; Rationale for the use of day hospital programs; Advantages and disadvantages of day hospitalization.