A4 The BulleTin • Monday, april 19, 2021
Scared of T. rex? 2.5 billion of them
roamed Earth (but not all at once)
BY SETH BORENSTEIN
AP Science Writer
One Tyrannosaurus rex seems scary
enough. Now picture 2.5 billion of them.
That’s how many of the fierce dinosaur
king probably roamed Earth over the
course of a couple million years, a new
study finds.
Using calculations based on body size,
sexual maturity and the creatures’ energy
needs, a team at the University of Califor-
nia, Berkeley figured out just how many
T. rex lived over 127,000 generations, ac-
cording to a study in Thursday’s journal
Science. It’s a first-of-its-kind number, but
just an estimate with a margin of error that
is the size of a T. rex.
“That’s a lot of jaws,” said study lead
author Charles Marshall, director of the
University of California Museum of Pale-
ontology. “That’s a lot of teeth. That’s a lot
of claws.”
The species roamed North America
for about 1.2 million to 3.6 million years,
meaning the T. rex population density was
small at any one moment. There would be
about two in a place the size of the Wash-
ington, D.C., or 3,800 in California, the
study said.
“Probably like a lot of people, I literally
did a double-take to make sure that my eyes
hadn’t deceived me when I first read that
2.5 billion T. rexes have ever lived,” said Ma-
calester College paleobiologist Kristi Curry
Rogers, who wasn’t part of the study.
Marshall said the estimate helps sci-
entists figure the preservation rate of T.
rex fossils and underscores how lucky the
world is to know about them at all. About
100 or so T. rex fossils have been found —
32 of them with enough material to figure
they are adults. If there were 2.5 million T.
rex instead of 2.5 billion, we would proba-
bly have never known they existed, he said.
Marshall’s team calculated the popu-
lation by using a general biology rule of
thumb that says the bigger the animal, the
less dense its population. Then they added
estimates of how much energy the carniv-
orous T. rex needed to stay alive — some-
where between a Komodo dragon and a
Hospital
Continued from A1
“People are working dou-
ble shifts, being mandated —
they’re working so many hours
to try and cover this need.”
Critical staff shortage
Low staffing has plagued the
hospital for months.
While 116 staffers have con-
tracted COVID-19 over the
past year, more than 180 aren’t
coming to work because they
or a family member are med-
ically fragile — or they’re un-
able to find child care.
The hospital has been offer-
ing staff paid time off for child-
care. But some staffers say that
employees without children
have taken the time off, and
the hospital does not check
whether employees using the
time have children. Some staff-
ers say that has created an in-
creased burden on employees
who don’t take the time off.
The state hospital did not im-
mediately confirm details about
staff using child care time.
To deal with the staff short-
age, the hospital in November
launched an emergency staff-
ing plan with five “waves” of
staffing to replenish the ranks
as the number of staffers on
coronavirus-related leave grew.
The first three waves call
for hospital staffers to be reas-
signed in order to fill vacancies.
The fourth draws administra-
tors from throughout the Or-
egon Health Authority to help
staff the hospital floor. The fifth
requires the hospital to call in
the Oregon National Guard.
DEAR ABBY
Write to Dear Abby online at dearabby.com
or by mail at P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069
Dear Abby: I am a woman
who has been through a lot. I
grew up thinking my grand-
mother was my mother, my
mother was my sister, my un-
cle was my brother, and my
own siblings my nieces and
nephews. A “family issue”
brought it all out in the open,
and now I am estranged from
my family.
My grandmother who
adopted me passed away a
few years ago. The issue was
lies and the fact that I was
molested, which is why my
grandmother stepped in.
How do I explain to my chil-
dren, 6 and 9, that we don’t
have family on my side? They
have been asking because my
husband is very close with his
own family.
— Estranged in New Mexico
AP file
A lifesize model of a Tyrannosaurus rex terrifies children at a zoo in Hungary.
lion. The more energy required, the less
dense the population. They also factored
in that the T. rex reached sexual maturity
somewhere around 14 to 17 years old and
lived at most 28 years.
Given uncertainties in the creatures’
generation length, range and how long
they roamed, the Berkeley team said the
The hospital is now in the
third wave. But Superintendent
Dolly Matteucci said Tuesday
administrators planned to meet
this week to discuss whether to
bring in health authority staff-
ers earlier than anticipated.
“We have less available
in-house resources than we
thought we would when we
constructed the plan,” she told
The Oregonian. “We are en-
gaging in those planning con-
versations currently.”
The shortage has also
prompted administrators to
“mandate” record numbers of
employees, requiring them to
keep working past the end of
their shifts without prior warn-
ing.
Last weekend, for example,
administrators required 52 em-
ployees to work beyond their
scheduled hours. And even
then, the extra help was still
not enough to meet minimum
staffing requirements.
In response to the shortages,
the hospital’s SEIU Local 503
union chapter on Tuesday be-
gan circulating a petition call-
ing for administrators to find
an immediate solution to the
growing problem.
“We are concerned that the
Emergency Staffing Plan has
put numerous people with
limited experience in protect-
ing residents and staff onto
units creating a less safe envi-
ronment,” states the petition,
which had been signed by at
east 140 hospital staffers as of
Friday.
Problems stem not only
from staffing shortages but also
from abrupt changes to teams
total population could be as little as 140
million or as much as 42 billion with 2.4
billion as the middle value.
The science about the biggest land-liv-
ing carnivores of all time is important,
“but the truth, as I see it, is that this kind
of thing is just very cool,” said Purdue Uni-
versity geology professor James Farlow.
on the hospital floor.
Roberta O’Dell, who re-
cently retired after a 31-year
career at the hospital, said ad-
ministrators gave members of
her team less than a week of
notice before splitting them
up — a move she claimed hurt
employees and their patients.
“I think morale is very low,”
O’Dell said. “I’ve seen a lot of
changes at that hospital, and
these are not good.”
A worker from the hospital’s
vocational services program
— one of several employees in-
terviewed by The Oregonian
who asked not to be named for
fear of retaliation from admin-
istrators — said there are often
as few as four staffers on a unit
with 20 or more patients.
Worsening assaults
The staffing shortage has
also taken a physical toll on
employees, who say they’ve ex-
perienced more frequent and
serious assaults by patients
over the past several months.
At least eight workers were
injured last weekend alone, in-
cluding three who required
hospital treatment, according
to staffers. In one case, an em-
ployee suffered facial lacerations
from the sharp edge of a plastic
chair wielded by a patient.
The state hospital confirmed
three staffers were hospital-
ized last weekend. Rebeka
Gipson-King, a spokesperson
for the hospital, said not every
staff member who goes to the
hospital reports their injuries.
Other assaults from past
months have been similarly
serious.
On March 19, a patient
broke a staff member’s arm.
And in December, a patient
wrapped a piece of clothing
around an employee’s neck —
requiring two other workers to
wrestle the patient away.
While such stories pour in,
state hospital data shows the
number of reported assault
cases — ranging from a patient
spitting at a staffer to a pa-
tient causing serious physical
injury — has actually taken a
slight downturn. The hospital
averaged nearly 55 assaults per
month in 2020, as opposed to
an average of 56.5 per month
between January 2016 and De-
cember of last year.
O’Dell, the recent hospital
retiree, said frequent changes
in staffing are partly to blame
for the worsening assaults.
“Patients aren’t familiar with
these staff at all,” she said. “You
don’t have a connection with
the patients. You don’t know
what their triggers are. You
don’t know their propensity to
either verbally or physically as-
sault you.”
Patients, too, are feeling the
strain.
Some tried to start a riot to
demand better food privileges
last weekend, according to
another mental health tech-
nician.
“Apparently, patients are lis-
tening to staff talk about how
we’re short and don’t have any
staff, so they planned a mo-
ment when they were low and
tried to start a riot,” the techni-
cian said in a text message.
The state hospital did not
confirm the attempted riot.
Dear Estranged: Your fam-
ily situation is complicated,
and I don’t think it would be
appropriate for you to reveal
the details until your children
are quite a bit more mature.
Lies, cover-ups and child mo-
lestation are valid reasons to
have distanced yourself.
In the meantime, tell them
you will explain when they
are older. At some point they
may need the information in
case any of your relatives try
to contact them in the future.
Dear Abby: I broke things
off with my ex-husband in
2011. His dad passed away in
2013, and I have just learned
that his mother died two
months ago. I heard through
the wife of his friend that he
didn’t take it well, so I sent
him a sympathy card with
my phone number in case he
wanted to talk.
Today I found out he eats
only one meal a day or just
has one of those shakes. He
insisted he’s fine, but I don’t
think so. It sounds like he’s
still not handling it well. I’m
worried that he’s going to
waste away.
We live in the same state but
in two different cities. I still
love him, and I’m trying to
help him. How can I do that?
— Worried Ex in Ohio
Dear Ex: Does your ex have
relatives who live closer to
him than you do? If so, con-
tact them and express your
concerns so perhaps they can
check on him. However, if he
doesn’t, consider looking in
on him yourself. If you do, it
may not only ease your mind
but also resuscitate your re-
lationship, if he is open to a
reconciliation.
Dear Abby: I am a 64-year-
old woman. For once in my
life, my hair is long, about
elbow length. My son visits
me about once every three
months because he lives an
hour’s drive away. Today
when he arrived, the first
words out of his mouth were,
“You look like a witch!” It
made me feel very sad. He
then proceeded to tell me no
one over the age of 40 should
wear long hair. What do you
think? I’ve always been neat
and clean.
— Sad Mom in Colorado
Dear Sad Mom: I think
that at age 64, you can wear
your hair any way you like
it. Many women (and men)
have allowed their hair to
grow since the pandemic be-
gan, regardless of age. (I hap-
pen to know an 85-year-old
woman whose lush, shiny
hair is down to the middle
of her back, and she looks
great.) If you like your hair
long, keep it that way. Do not
allow your tactless son to be
your fashion arbiter. Go, Ra-
punzel!
YOUR HOROSCOPE
By Madalyn Aslan
Stars show the kind of day you’ll have
DYNAMIC | POSITIVE | AVERAGE | SO-SO | DIFFICULT
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2021: Sharp,
spontaneous and vivacious, all types of people have always surrounded you.
This year, you continue to diversify your circle, whether in a competitive field
or working for a nonprofit. Make time for outdoor activities since staying fit
allows you to maintain a busy schedule. If you stay frugal, your finances con-
tinue to grow steadily. If single, let your guard down. If attached, talk less and
listen more. TAURUS is sensual.
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
A chance encounter will make you more curious about your family
tree. Browse and register on ancestry websites. You will discover where your
roots lie, but step back if searching becomes too obsessive. Tonight: Create a
healthy eating plan.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
Speak up, and people will take you seriously. If you are insecure about
your abilities, just be passionate and honest about what you want to say.
Practice in front of the mirror. You’ll become more confident. Tonight: Sing
along to oldies.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
Extra expenses can impact your spending habits. Take a break from
buying on credit, and you’ll be in the black sooner than you think. No more
eating on the run. Take time to savor your food. Tonight: Fun with friends.
CANCER (June 21-July 22)
Get out of your comfort zone. Do something you haven’t tried be-
fore. It could be something simple like changing your exercise routine, shop-
ping at a new venue, or trying a food that has negative associations from the
past. Tonight: Yummy dessert.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
Don’t fret if you are more introspective than usual. Get a raincheck on
an invitation to lunch or dinner. Take advantage of your philosophical mood.
Turn thoughts into a blog that you share with a special few people. Tonight:
Be apologetic.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Avoid controversial discussions at work and at home. Meet up with
friends later who love to laugh at the drop of a hat. Exchange jokes, funny
stories and light gossip. Listen to what others have to say. Tonight: Bedtime
reading.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Make a plan today and follow it through. Don’t think about other
things you’d rather be doing. Choose time management over procrastina-
tion. Look up a former co-worker you’ve been meaning to contact. Exchange
ideas about a possible collaboration. Tonight: Children’s hour.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Today could fill you with nostalgia about school days. Get out your year-
book or alumni newsletter. Look up old friends online. Be prepared to be happy
and sad about what they are doing. Tonight: Watch a video and laugh out loud.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Vaccines
Continued from A1
“I don’t really anticipate that
they’re going to want it stretch
it out a bit longer.”
Fauci, who is President Joe
Biden’s chief medical adviser,
said he believed that federal
regulators could bring the
shots back with restrictions
based on age or gender or with
a blanket warning, so that it is
administered in a way “a little
bit different than we were be-
fore the pause.”
The J&J vaccine has been in
limbo after the CDC and the
Food and Drug Administration
said this month they needed
more evidence to decide if a
handful of unusual blood clots
were linked to the shot — and
if so, how big the risk is.
The reports are rare — six
cases out of more than 7 mil-
lion U.S. inoculations with J&J
vaccine. The clots were found
in six women between the ages
of 18 and 48. One person died.
The acting FDA commis-
sioner had said she expected
the pause to last only a matter
of days. Still, the decision trig-
gered swift action in Europe
and elsewhere.
Fauci said he doubted that
the U.S. would permanently
halt use of the J&J vaccine.
“I don’t think that’s going to
happen,” he said. “The pause
was to take a look, make sure
we know all the information
we can have within that time-
frame, and also warn some of
the physicians out there who
might see people, particularly
women, who have this partic-
ular adverse event, that they
treat them properly.”
More than 6.8 million doses
of the J&J vaccine have been
given in the U.S., the vast ma-
jority with no or mild side ef-
fects.
Next phase for vaccinations
in Oregon
Starting Monday, anyone 16
and older can sign up for a vac-
cination. In Central Oregon,
you can do so by going to www.
centraloregoncovidvaccine.com.
More than 3.4 million of Or-
egon’s 4.2 million residents will
now be eligible for vaccines.
That’s over 80% of the popula-
tion. The state will become one
of the last in the nation to meet
Biden’s deadline — just in time
— by joining five others open-
ing eligibility to all by April 19.
Data from the Oregon
Health Authority on Sunday
showed the state has surpassed
2.5 million vaccinations, with
more than 1 million people
being fully vaccinated against
COVID-19. That means about
a quarter of the state’s total
population is fully vaccinated.
e
Information from The Oregonian, the
Corvallis Gazette-Times and The Bulletin
is included in this report.
Earning more money is on your mind. Pursue a side retail business
with friends whose judgment and honesty you trust. Begin by selling clothes
that no longer fit on eBay or Etsy and see how it progresses. Tonight: Family
discussions.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Compromise should not be too difficult today. Be on the alert, as
someone close may call on you for an objective opinion. Be tactful since you
do not want to offend those you love. Tonight: Romance leads the way.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Fresh air and light exercise serve you well since you have been paying
more attention to your health and well-being. Prepare fresh fruit platters
and salad. Find condiments and dressings that are low-cal but tasty. Tonight:
Discuss summer plans.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
A nostalgic memory can reignite a creative passion from your child-
hood or teenage years. Take a class or join a group to test out your talent.
Communicate with someone you meet whose artistic tastes mirror your
own. Tonight: Play mood music.
Find it all online bendbulletin.com