CPS Energy 2014 Annual Permit: Final Report For Eight CPS Energy Projects Under Antiquities Permit Number 6851, Bexar County, Texas

On behalf of CPS Energy, SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) conducted cultural resources investigations of eight CPS Energy projects within Bexar County, Texas. The eight cultural resources investigations conducted under the annual permit include background records review and file searches, archaeological investigations such as surface reconnaissance and intensive cultural resources surveys and construction monitoring. The investigations were conducted to identify all historic or prehistoric cultural resources located within CPS Energy projects, establish vertical and horizontal site boundaries as appropriate within the project areas, and evaluate the significance and eligibility of all sites recorded for designation as a State Antiquities Landmark. All work was done in accordance with the standards and guidelines of the Antiquities Code of Texas under CPS Energy’s annual permit 6851. In coordination with the Texas Historical Commission (THC) and the San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation (SA-OHP), CPS Energy and SWCA applied existing Categorical Exclusions (CEs) from the THC regulations and developed new CEs specific to CPS Energy projects. Projects were reviewed under the defined CEs and some CEs are conditional upon their location within or outside of the original 36-square-mile city limit (herein referred to as City Limit) for the City of San Antonio. CPS Energy’s projects were primarily within an urban setting in downtown San Antonio and surrounding suburbs. Most of the projects occurred within the existing rights-of-way of previous utilities and roads. The CPS Energy projects consisted of new electric and gas transmission and distribution projects; upgrading and maintaining existing electric and gas infrastructure; and a variety of construction and maintenance activities for substations. The investigations consisted of two intensive pedestrian surveys and six monitoring investigations. Of the eight, five were within City Limit as defined by the CEs. The remaining three were outside of the City Limit but did not qualify under a CE. Overall, none of the projects encountered significant cultural resources and no further work was recommended. SWCA made a reasonable and good faith effort to identify cultural resource properties within the project areas. Based on the results of these investigations, the undertaking did not have any effect on any significant cultural resources. SWCA recommended no further archaeological investigations within the APEs and the THC/SA-OHP concurred with each of the project’s findings. No artifacts were collected; thus, only field records and photographs will be curated at the Center for Archaeological Research at The University of Texas at San Antonio

Cultural Resources Investigations for the Gregory Haul Road Project, San Patricio County, Texas

On behalf of Gulf Coast Growth Venture Asset Holding, LLC (GCGV LLC), Atkins North America, Inc. (Atkins) conducted an intensive cultural resources survey of a 2.37-kilometer (km; 1.47 miles [mi]) haul road and 0.32-km (0.20 mi) duct bank location near Gregory, Texas, in San Patricio County, Texas. The proposed haul road is located southwest of the town of Gregory, between Farm-to-Market (FM) Road 2986 and U.S. Highway (US) 181 (Figure 1). The property is owned by the Port of Corpus Christi Authority (POCCA), a political-subdivision of the state, which requires the proposed work to comply with the Antiquities Code of Texas under Permit No. 8112. In addition, in the event that a Section 404 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) permit is required for the man-made drainage ditch, the work also was conducted in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended, and its implementing regulations under the Procedures of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, as amended in 2004 (Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Part 800 [36 CFR 800]). The investigations consisted of a thorough background review and an intensive pedestrian survey with shovel testing focused around the drainage ditch. The direct Area of Potential Effect (APE) for the project is approximately 2.69 km (1.67 mi) in length, which includes the proposed 2.37-km (1.47-mi) long haul road and the 0.32-km (0.20 mi) long American Electric Power relocation impacts for a proposed duct bank that is part of the project (Figure 2). The width of the APE will include associated temporary and permanent construction impacts within a 61-meter (m; 200-foot [ft]) wide corridor for the road, and a 33- m (100-ft) wide corridor for the duct bank. Thus, the APE will be approximately 38.1 acres in size with depths of impacts ranging from 0.6 m (2 ft) to 6 m (20 ft) to account for the road grade, proposed bridge pilons, and duct bank, respectively. The APE for indirect effects is a 150-ft buffer around the direct APE. The results of the background review determined that no previously recorded cultural sites were within or adjacent to the APE, and a small section had been surveyed previously for cultural resources. In addition, a review of historic maps revealed that the drainage ditch was historic in age, dating to the early 20th century. The APE for direct effects was approximately 38.1 acres in size, with shovel testing focused within the 3-acre USACE jurisdictional area, specifically 300 m (984 ft) on either side of the drainage ditch. A total of six shovel tests were excavated within the USACE jurisdictional area and the entire 38.1 acres was inspected visually due to the existing disturbances. The Texas Historical Commission (THC) survey standards require two shovel tests per acre for projects 3 acres to 10 acres in size, or six shovel tests for the USACE jurisdictional area . Thus, the shovel test investigations within the USACE jurisdictional area met the survey standards, and the shovel tests were all negative for cultural materials. The APE consisted of harvested and fallow agricultural fields with ground surface visibility ranging from 20 percent to 100 percent. The investigations recorded the historic-age drainage ditch as Resource 01. Resource 01 is a historic-age drainage ditch dating to the early-twentieth century. The drainage ditch was possibly part of a large company farm associated with the Coleman-Fulton Pasture Company. The site extends outside of the APE and has no evidence of significant cultural features or diagnostic artifacts. Atkins determined that Resource 01 within the APE is not eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The site does not meet eligibility under Criteria A, B, C, or D, as defined by the evaluation criteria set in the National Register (36 CRF 60.4). Based on the investigations, Atkins made a reasonable and good-faith effort to identify historic properties within the APE. Since no properties were identified that meet criteria for listing on the NRHP under 36 CFR 60.04, Atkins recommends no further work is needed and a finding of no historic properties present within the project area is mad

Cultural Resources Investigations of the Vista Ridge Regional Water Supply Project in Burleson, Lee, Bastrop, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Comal and Bexar Counties, Texas

On behalf of VRRSP Consultants, LLC and Central Texas Regional Water Supply Corporation (CTRWSC), SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) conducted cultural resources investigations of the Vista Ridge Regional Water Supply (Vista Ridge) Project in Burleson, Lee, Bastrop, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Comal, and Bexar Counties. The work will involve installation of a 139.45-mile-long, 60-inch-diameter water pipeline from northcentral San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, to Deanville, Burleson County, Texas. The report details the findings of investigations from June 2015 to December 2015, on the alignment dated December 8, 2015 (December 8th). The Vista Ridge Project is subject to review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (54 USC 306108) and its implementing regulations (36 CFR 800), in anticipation of a Nationwide Permit 12 from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in accordance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. In addition, the work is subject to compliance with the Antiquities Code of Texas under Permit Number 7295, as the Vista Ridge Project will be ultimately owned by a political subdivision of the State of Texas. The cultural resources investigations included a background review and intensive field survey. The background review identified previous investigations, recorded archaeological sites, National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) properties, cemeteries, standing structures, and other known cultural resources within a 0.50-mile radius of the project area. The field investigations conducted from June 2015 through December 2015 assessed all accessible portions of the proposed December 8th alignment as of December 25, 2015. Approximately 101.8 miles of the 139.45-mile alignment has been surveyed. Approximately 24.42 miles were not surveyed based on the results of the background review and extensive disturbances as confirmed by vehicular survey. The remaining 13.23 miles that require survey were either unavailable due to landowner restrictions or part of a newly adopted reroute. SWCA also surveyed additional mileage, which includes rerouted areas that are no longer part of the December 8th alignment. The inventory identified 59 cultural resources, including 52 archaeological sites and seven isolated finds. In addition to newly recorded resources, two previously recorded archaeological sites were revisited, and two cemeteries were documented. Of the 52 newly recorded archaeological sites, seven are recommended for further work or avoidance. Of the two revisited archeological sites, one is recommended for further work or avoidance within the project area. Avoidance is recommended for both documented cemeteries. The resources with undetermined eligibility require additional testing or other avenues of research before SWCA can make a firm recommendation about their eligibility for nomination to the NRHP and designation as State Antiquities Landmarks (SALs). As part of a management strategy, the resources with undetermined eligibility may also be avoided by reroute or boring beneath. The remaining 45 cultural resources are recommended not eligible for inclusion to the NRHP or for designation as SALs and no further cultural resources investigations or avoidance strategies are recommended

Melatonin Targets Metabolism in Head and Neck Cancer Cells by Regulating Mitochondrial Structure and Function

This study was funded by grants from the Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad y por el Fondo de Desarrollo Regional FEDER, Spain nº SAF2013-49019, SAF2017-85903-P, and from the Consejería de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa, Junta de Andalucía (P07- CTS- 03135, P10- CTS- 5784, and CTS- 101), Spain. J.F. and L.M. have FPU fellowships from the Ministerio de Educación Cultura y Deporte, Spain. C.R.S. was a schorlarship holder from the Plan Propio de Investigación of the University of Granada.We wish to thank Michael O’Shea for proofreading the paper.Metabolic reprogramming, which is characteristic of cancer cells that rapidly adapt to the hypoxic microenvironment and is crucial for tumor growth and metastasis, is recognized as one of the major mechanisms underlying therapeutic resistance. Mitochondria, which are directly involved in metabolic reprogramming, are used to design novel mitochondria-targeted anticancer agents. Despite being targeted by melatonin, the functional role of mitochondria in melatonin's oncostatic activity remains unclear. In this study, we aim to investigate the role of melatonin in mitochondrial metabolism and its functional consequences in head and neck cancer. We analyzed the effects of melatonin on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines (Cal-27 and SCC-9), which were treated with 100, 500, and 1500 mu M of melatonin for 1, 3, and 5 days, and found a connection between a change of metabolism following melatonin treatment and its effects on mitochondria. Our results demonstrate that melatonin induces a shift to an aerobic mitochondrial metabolism that is associated with changes in mitochondrial morphology, function, fusion, and fission in HNSCC. We found that melatonin increases oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and inhibits glycolysis in HNSCC, resulting in increased ROS production, apoptosis, and mitophagy, and decreased cell proliferation. Our findings highlight new molecular pathways involved in melatonin's oncostatic activity, suggesting that it could act as an adjuvant agent in a potential therapy for cancer patients. We also found that high doses of melatonin, such as those used in this study for its cytotoxic impact on HNSCC cells, might lead to additional effects through melatonin receptors.Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad y por el Fondo de Desarrollo Regional FEDER, Spain SAF2013-49019 SAF2017-85903-PJunta de Andalucia P07-CTS-03135 P10-CTS-5784 CTS-101Ministerio de Educacion Cultura y Deporte, SpainPlan Propio de Investigacion of the University of Granad

Melatonin Enhances Cisplatin and Radiation Cytotoxicity in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Stimulating Mitochondrial ROS Generation, Apoptosis, and Autophagy

Head and neck cancer is the sixth leading cancer by incidence worldwide. Unfortunately, drug resistance and relapse are the principal limitations of clinical oncology for many patients, and the failure of conventional treatments is an extremely demoralizing experience. It is therefore crucial to find new therapeutic targets and drugs to enhance the cytotoxic effects of conventional treatments without potentiating or offsetting the adverse effects. Melatonin has oncostatic effects, although the mechanisms involved and doses required remain unclear. The purpose of this study is to determine the precise underlying mitochondrial mechanisms of melatonin, which increase the cytotoxicity of oncological treatments, and also to propose new melatonin treatments in order to alleviate and reverse radio- and chemoresistant processes. We analyzed the effects of melatonin on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines (Cal-27 and SCC-9), which were treated with 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 1.5mM melatonin combined with 8 Gy irradiation or 10 μM cisplatin. Clonogenic and MTT assays, as well as autophagy and apoptosis, involving flow cytometry and western blot, were performed in order to determine the cytotoxic effects of the treatments. Mitochondrial function was evaluated by measuring mitochondrial respiration, mtDNA content (RT-PCR), and mitochondrial mass (NAO). ROS production, antioxidant enzyme activity, and GSH/GSSG levels were analyzed using a fluorometric method. We show that high concentrations of melatonin potentiate the cytotoxic effects of radiotherapy and CDDP in HNSCC, which are associated with increased mitochondrial function in these cells. In HNSCC, melatonin induces intracellular ROS, whose accumulation plays an upstream role in mitochondria-mediated apoptosis and autophagy. Our findings indicate that melatonin, at high concentrations, combined with cisplatin and radiotherapy to improve its effectiveness, is a potential adjuvant agent.This study was partially supported by grants from the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain, and the FEDER Regional Development Fund (nos. SAF2013-49019 and SAF2017-85903), from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (no. CB/10/00238), and from the Consejería de Economía, Innovación, Ciencia y Empleo, Junta de Andalucía (CTS-101)

Latin Americans show wide-spread Converso ancestry and imprint of local Native ancestry on physical appearance

Historical records and genetic analyses indicate that Latin Americans trace their ancestry mainly to the intermixing (admixture) of Native Americans, Europeans and Sub-Saharan Africans. Using novel haplotype-based methods, here we infer sub-continental ancestry in over 6,500 Latin Americans and evaluate the impact of regional ancestry variation on physical appearance. We find that Native American ancestry components in Latin Americans correspond geographically to the present-day genetic structure of Native groups, and that sources of non-Native ancestry, and admixture timings, match documented migratory flows. We also detect South/East Mediterranean ancestry across Latin America, probably stemming mostly from the clandestine colonial migration of Christian converts of non-European origin (Conversos). Furthermore, we find that ancestry related to highland (Central Andean) versus lowland (Mapuche) Natives is associated with variation in facial features, particularly nose morphology, and detect significant differences in allele frequencies between these groups at loci previously associated with nose morphology in this sample.Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celula

Latin Americans show wide-spread Converso ancestry and imprint of local Native ancestry on physical appearance

Historical records and genetic analyses indicate that Latin Americans trace their ancestry mainly to the intermixing (admixture) of Native Americans, Europeans and Sub-Saharan Africans. Using novel haplotype-based methods, here we infer sub-continental ancestry in over 6,500 Latin Americans and evaluate the impact of regional ancestry variation on physical appearance. We find that Native American ancestry components in Latin Americans correspond geographically to the present-day genetic structure of Native groups, and that sources of non-Native ancestry, and admixture timings, match documented migratory flows. We also detect South/East Mediterranean ancestry across Latin America, probably stemming mostly from the clandestine colonial migration of Christian converts of non-European origin (Conversos). Furthermore, we find that ancestry related to highland (Central Andean) versus lowland (Mapuche) Natives is associated with variation in facial features, particularly nose morphology, and detect significant differences in allele frequencies between these groups at loci previously associated with nose morphology in this sample.Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celula

Reconstructing Native American Population History

The peopling of the Americas has been the subject of extensive genetic, archaeological and linguistic research; however, central questions remain unresolved1–5. One contentious issue is whether the settlement occurred via a single6–8 or multiple streams of migration from Siberia9–15. The pattern of dispersals within the Americas is also poorly understood. To address these questions at higher resolution than was previously possible, we assembled data from 52 Native American and 17 Siberian groups genotyped at 364,470 single nucleotide polymorphisms. We show that Native Americans descend from at least three streams of Asian gene flow. Most descend entirely from a single ancestral population that we call “First American”. However, speakers of Eskimo-Aleut languages from the Arctic inherit almost half their ancestry from a second stream of Asian gene flow, and the Na-Dene-speaking Chipewyan from Canada inherit roughly one-tenth of their ancestry from a third stream. We show that the initial peopling followed a southward expansion facilitated by the coast, with sequential population splits and little gene flow after divergence, especially in South America. A major exception is in Chibchan-speakers on both sides of the Panama Isthmus, who have ancestry from both North and South America

Challenge B: Human sciences in transition scenarios

Coordinators: Josep Martí Pérez (IMF, CSIC), Idoia Murga Castro (IH, CSIC).This challenge is formulated in terms of “humanities in transition,” that is, their approach and articulation in the face of the changes they must undergo to achieve the social weight that, due to their intrinsic relevance, should correspond to them. Faced with these situations that would demand a reinforcement in research and dissemination in diverse aspects of the humanities, from multiple perspectives, paradoxically an adverse panorama is drawn for the development and dissemination of humanistic knowledge, which concerns different factors. Some are related to the consideration of the area of knowledge itself, its organization within the scientific system, the questioning of its own limits, and the interaction with another knowledge. Considering current transition scenarios does not mean having to abandon old objectives, but it adds to the work conducted new objects of study closely related to current reality, such as: the informational revolution; the relations with the ecosystem and the environmental crisis; globalization; the intensification of human mobility and migration flows; the growing economic and social inequality; the frictions derived from the articulation of collective identities; the decolonization of discourses; demographic dynamics; integration of technological advances; and viability and support for alternative models of society.Peer reviewe