GEOCHEMICAL APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF LIFE AND DEATH OF DINOSAURS FROM THE EARLY CRETACEOUS CEDAR MOUNTAIN FORMATION, UTAH

In this dissertation, geochemical analysis of fossil vertebrate remains are carried out to elucidate fossil diagenesis and for paleoenvironmental reconstructions. Rare earth elements (REE) are analyzed via laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in order to determine REE distribution within a bone. Analysis indicates REE can vary significantly within a single bone and that thin-walled bones fossilized in vadose settings should not be analyzed via solution ICP-MS. Stable isotopic analysis of oxygen preserved in tooth enamel and scale ganoine is used to discriminate water reservoirs used by the taxa making up several faunal assemblages from the Cedar Mountain Formation. Based on the isotopic composition of calculated ingested/living water of theses taxa, it can be determined that the proximity of the Western Interior Seaway and the rise of the Sevier Mountains were the cause of isotopic variability and dominant control on regional climate during the Cedar Mountain Formation time

Faunal composition, non-marine vertebrates, of the upper Cedar Mountain formation (Cretaceous: Albian-Cenomanian), central Utah.

Finally, taxonomic associations were examined using correspondence analyses. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to determine which taxa were significantly abundant (or absent) at each site. Each family and most mammal species were found to occur in one or more sites in greater than expected abundances; each site had a unique composition of animals, but some sites shared general patterns of association. Ubertaxa and families were found to form three loose associations; a terrestrial assemblage and two distinct aquatic assemblages. Correspondance analyses on taxa based on habitat, diet, and thermoregulation were all significantly non-random, suggesting an ecological basis for the patterns in faunal distribution among sites.Microsites were found to vary significantly in faunal composition using principal components analyses and Pearson's correlation coefficients. The best resolutions of taxonomic distinctness occurred at the inclusive family level and at the mammal species level.The faunal composition of the upper Cedar Mountain Formation (Mussentuchit Member) in Emery County, Utah, is herein examined based on fossils and associated data from twelve microvertebrate fossil localities.Eleven of the sites examined for sedimentary structures and other geologic features in order to determine depositional environment and energy. Similarity based on geology did not correspond with similarity based on taxonomy, using Mantel tests and Kendall's Tau. Depositional processes, while altering the overall faunal composition in the Mussentuchit Member, apparently operated in a similar manner among sites.Next, species accumulation curves were plotted by adding taxa from different sites. The number of families and the number of mammal species as yet undiscovered were estimated. While several families are probably still undiscovered in the fauna, nearly all mammal species appear to have been found and sampling in this member has reached the point of diminishing returns.First, raw abundances were corrected for differences in preservation potential among families, using a weighted abundance of elements method. Biases in preservation strongly favored fishes and crocodiles. These groups were consequently overrepresented in the record, distorting ecological patterns

A new microvertebrate assemblage from the Mussentuchit Member, Cedar Mountain Formation: insights into the paleobiodiversity and paleobiogeography of early Late Cretaceous ecosystems in western North America

The vertebrate fauna of the Late Cretaceous Mussentuchit Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation has been studied for nearly three decades, yet the fossil-rich unit continues to produce new information about life in western North America approximately 97 million years ago. Here we report on the composition of the Cliffs of Insanity (COI) microvertebrate locality, a newly sampled site containing perhaps one of the densest concentrations of microvertebrate fossils yet discovered in the Mussentuchit Member. The COI locality preserves osteichthyan, lissamphibian, testudinatan, mesoeucrocodylian, dinosaurian, metatherian, and trace fossil remains and is among the most taxonomically rich microvertebrate localities in the Mussentuchit Member. To better refine taxonomic identifications of isolated theropod dinosaur teeth, we used quantitative analyses of taxonomically comprehensive databases of theropod tooth measurements, adding new data on theropod tooth morphodiversity in this poorly understood interval. We further provide the first descriptions of tyrannosauroid premaxillary teeth and document the earliest North American record of adocid remains, extending the appearance of this ancestrally Asian clade by 5 million years in western North America and supporting studies of pre-Cenomaninan Laurasian faunal exchange across Beringia. The overabundance of mesoeucrocodylian remains at the COI locality produces a comparatively low measure of relative biodiversity when compared to other microvertebrate sites in the Mussentuchit Member using both raw and subsampling methods. Much more microvertebrate research is necessary to understand the roles of changing ecology and taphonomy that may be linked to transgression of the Western Interior Seaway or microhabitat variation

The Molecular Epidemiology and Evolution of Murray Valley Encephalitis Virus: Recent Emergence of Distinct Sub-lineages of the Dominant Genotype 1

© 2015 Williams et al. Background: Recent increased activity of the mosquito-borne Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) in Australia has renewed concerns regarding its potential to spread and cause disease. Methodology/Principal Findings: To better understand the genetic relationships between earlier and more recent circulating strains, patterns of virus movement, as well as the molecular basis of MVEV evolution, complete pre-membrane (prM) and Envelope (Env) genes were sequenced from sixty-six MVEV strains from different regions of the Australasian region, isolated over a sixty year period (1951–2011). Phylogenetic analyses indicated that, of the four recognized genotypes, only G1 and G2 are contemporary. G1 viruses were dominant over the sampling period and found across the known geographic range of MVEV. Two distinct sub-lineages of G1 were observed (1A and 1B). Although G1B strains have been isolated from across mainland Australia, Australian G1A strains have not been detected outside northwest Australia. Similarly, G2 is comprised of only Western Australian isolates from mosquitoes, suggesting G1B and G2 viruses have geographic or ecological restrictions. No evidence of recombination was found and a single amino acid substitution in the Env protein (S332G) was found to be under positive selection, while several others were found to be under directional evolution. Evolutionary analyses indicated that extant genotypes of MVEV began to diverge from a common ancestor approximately 200 years ago. G2 was the first genotype to diverge, followed by G3 and G4, and finally G1, from which subtypes G1A and G1B diverged between 1964 and 1994. Conclusions/Significance: The results of this study provides new insights into the genetic diversity and evolution of MVEV. The demonstration of co-circulation of all contemporary genetic lineages of MVEV in northwestern Australia, supports the contention that this region is the enzootic focus for this virus

Climate, Diseases, and the Origins of Corruption

It has been commonly observed that tropical countries typically suffer from intense corruption and underdevelopment. I offer an explanation for this long-standing disparity across the world based on variation in the intensity of ultraviolet radiation (UV-R). The central idea of this paper holds that UV-R is positively associated with the (historical) prevalence of eye diseases, which significantly shortens work-life expectancy as a skilled worker. This arguably shapes the global pattern of corrupt practices. Interestingly, this finding appears to be strong and insensitive to accounting for different theories explaining differences in corruption levels across the globe. Further analyses using individual-level data taken from the World Values Survey and provincial level data for China lend strong credence to the cross-country evidence

Climate, Diseases, and the Origins of Corruption

It has been commonly observed that tropical countries typically suffer from intense corruption and underdevelopment. I offer an explanation for this long-standing disparity across the world based on variation in the intensity of ultraviolet radiation (UV-R). The central idea of this paper holds that UV-R is positively associated with the (historical) prevalence of eye diseases, which significantly shortens work-life expectancy as a skilled worker. This arguably shapes the global pattern of corrupt practices. Interestingly, this finding appears to be strong and insensitive to accounting for different theories explaining differences in corruption levels across the globe. Further analyses using individual-level data taken from the World Values Survey and provincial level data for China lend strong credence to the cross-country evidence

Max Weber and Pentecostals in Latin America: The Protestant Ethic, Social Capital and Spiritual Capital

Many scholars claim that Pentecostalism is the fastest growing religious phenomenon in human history. Using two important essays of Max Weber as a foundation, this thesis examines whether growth of Pentecostalism in Latin America is promoting the Protestant Ethic described by Weber as well as Social Capital and Spiritual Capital. Analyzing data from the World Values Survey, this thesis argues that growth of Pentecostalism in Latin America is not creating a new Protestant Ethic among its followers, nor is Pentecostalism creating any greater Social Capital or Spiritual Capital among its followers when compared to other religious groups in the region. This thesis argues that the strong emotional character of Pentecostalism weighs against the creation or Social Capital and Spiritual Capital and that the tendency of Pentecostals to find assurance of their salvation in emotional experience does not promote the frugality or rationalization of work necessary for the Protestant Ethic

EPIC Proportions: Violence Against Women in California 1992-99

EPIC Proportions is a series of reports on injury control produced by the Epidemiology and Prevention for Injury Control (EPIC) Branch. This report, prepared by Laura E. Lund, M.A., updates a previous EPIC Proportions: Violent Injuries to Women in California

From cultural distance to cultural archetypes: an innovative approach to define cultural patterns

The purpose of this thesis is to present an innovative approach in the field of cultural studies, which emerges as the most recent and successful attempt to describe cultural patterns within and across countries. In 2015, cultural archetypes established as an alternative approach to the cultural distance construct, introduced by Geert Hofstede in the 1980s.ope