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Este articulo propone una interesante lectura de la guerra a través del registro arqueológico donde se revela que ésta no es un estado permanente entre las sociedades humanas, por lo tanto subyace el interés por replantear la idea que la guerra es connatural al ser humano. En efecto, el autor se soporta en el registro arqueológico de la región Anasazi, al suroccidente de los Estados Unidos, y en datos arqueológicos del Este de Norteamérica para demostrar cómo las sociedades que poblaron estas latitudes experimentaron importantes períodos de paz. En última instancia, el artículo revela la importancia de la arqueología para superar la percepción de que la guerra es el medio más recurrente de interacción entre las sociedades humanas.This article propases an interesting reading on war through archeological data, where it is shown that it isn't a permanent state between human societies, therefore it is necessary to restate the idea that war is connatural to human beings. In effect the author bases his study on archeological data of the Anasazi area in the southwestern part of the United States and the eastern part of North America, to demonstrate how the societies that settled in these latitudes went through time periods of peace. In this last instance, the article reveals the importance of archeology to overcome the perception that war is the most recurrent manner of interaction between human societies

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Este articulo propone una interesante lectura de la guerra a través del registro arqueológico donde se revela que ésta no es un estado permanente entre las sociedades humanas, por lo tanto subyace el interés por replantear la idea que la guerra es connatural al ser humano. En efecto, el autor se soporta en el registro arqueológico de la región Anasazi, al suroccidente de los Estados Unidos, y en datos arqueológicos del Este de Norteamérica para demostrar cómo las sociedades que poblaron estas latitudes experimentaron importantes períodos de paz. En última instancia, el artículo revela la importancia de la arqueología para superar la percepción de que la guerra es el medio más recurrente de interacción entre las sociedades humanas.This article propases an interesting reading on war through archeological data, where it is shown that it isn't a permanent state between human societies, therefore it is necessary to restate the idea that war is connatural to human beings. In effect the author bases his study on archeological data of the Anasazi area in the southwestern part of the United States and the eastern part of North America, to demonstrate how the societies that settled in these latitudes went through time periods of peace. In this last instance, the article reveals the importance of archeology to overcome the perception that war is the most recurrent manner of interaction between human societies

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Este articulo propone una interesante lectura de la guerra a través del registro arqueológico donde se revela que ésta no es un estado permanente entre las sociedades humanas, por lo tanto subyace el interés por replantear la idea que la guerra es connatural al ser humano. En efecto, el autor se soporta en el registro arqueológico de la región Anasazi, al suroccidente de los Estados Unidos, y en datos arqueológicos del Este de Norteamérica para demostrar cómo las sociedades que poblaron estas latitudes experimentaron importantes períodos de paz. En última instancia, el artículo revela la importancia de la arqueología para superar la percepción de que la guerra es el medio más recurrente de interacción entre las sociedades humanas.This article propases an interesting reading on war through archeological data, where it is shown that it isn't a permanent state between human societies, therefore it is necessary to restate the idea that war is connatural to human beings. In effect the author bases his study on archeological data of the Anasazi area in the southwestern part of the United States and the eastern part of North America, to demonstrate how the societies that settled in these latitudes went through time periods of peace. In this last instance, the article reveals the importance of archeology to overcome the perception that war is the most recurrent manner of interaction between human societies

Systematic approach for finite element analysis of thermoplastic impregnated 3D filament winding structures – General concept and first validation results

This work presents a systematic procedure for the detailed, mesoscopic Finite Element simulation of 3D filament wound fiber skeletons with thermoplastic impregnation. First, relevant structural constituents of thermoplastic fiber skeletons are identified and mechanically characterized by means of specially adapted test methods and specimens. In the next step, the mechanical behavior of the structural constituents is simulated in separate FE models, so-called sub-models. This includes the selection, implementation and parametrization of suitable material models. After that, a Finite Element model for a simple demonstrator fiber skeleton is created, the so-called main model, into which the sub-models are integrated. Finally, the simulation results of the main model are compared to mechanical tests of the demonstrator fiber skeleton. The main model developed in this work allows a precise calculation of the maximum bearable load and a good representation of the delamination process occurring before rupture

Expedition to the volcanoes of the Arctic seafloor : the AMORE Expedition headed for the so-called “Gakkel Ridge” where, on the floor of the Arctic Ocean, there is hot work afoot – for this ocean ridge is composed of active volcanoes

Beginning: When Jules Verne made his imaginary journey of exploration to the centre of the earth through the vents in an Icelandic volcano over a hundred years ago, he assumed that all volcanoes are interlinked in a subterranean system. But even his imagination failed to visualise the world-wide system of submarine volcanoes that extends over a distance of over 60,000 kilometres and only breaks the surface of the ocean at Iceland. This mid-oceanic ridge, which spans the entire world ocean, has evolved along the boundaries between the tectonic plates of the Earth’s crust. Gakkel Ridge, in the central eastern Arctic Ocean is the northern most spur of the plate boundary between Eurasia and North America, and at the same time the most slowly opening ridge segment in the world, opening only a few millimetres each year

How Deep Is Deep enough for RNA-Seq Profiling of Bacterial Transcriptomes?

Background: High-throughput sequencing of cDNA libraries (RNA-Seq) has proven to be a highly effective approach for studying bacterial transcriptomes. A central challenge in designing RNA-Seq-based experiments is estimating a priori the number of reads per sample needed to detect and quantify thousands of individual transcripts with a large dynamic range of abundance. Results: We have conducted a systematic examination of how changes in the number of RNA-Seq reads per sample influences both profiling of a single bacterial transcriptome and the comparison of gene expression among samples. Our findings suggest that the number of reads typically produced in a single lane of the Illumina HiSeq sequencer far exceeds the number needed to saturate the annotated transcriptomes of diverse bacteria growing in monoculture. Moreover, as sequencing depth increases, so too does the detection of cDNAs that likely correspond to spurious transcripts or genomic DNA contamination. Finally, even when dozens of barcoded individual cDNA libraries are sequenced in a single lane, the vast majority of transcripts in each sample can be detected and numerous genes differentially expressed between samples can be identified. Conclusions: Our analysis provides a guide for the many researchers seeking to determine the appropriate sequencing depth for RNA-Seq-based studies of diverse bacterial species

Artefactual nanoparticle activation of the inflammasome platform: in vitro evidence with a nano-formed calcium phosphate.

AIM: To determine whether in vitro experimental conditions dictate cellular activation of the inflammasome by apatitic calcium phosphate nanoparticles. MATERIAL & METHODS: The responses of blood-derived primary human cells to in situ-formed apatite were investigated under different experimental conditions to assess the effect of aseptic culture, cell rest and duration of particle exposure. Cell death and particle uptake were assessed, while IL-1β and caspase 1 responses, with and without lipopolysaccharide prestimulation, were evaluated as markers of inflammasome activation. RESULTS: Under carefully addressed experimental conditions, apatitic nanoparticles did not induce cell death or engage the inflammasome platform, although both could be triggered through artefacts of experimentation. CONCLUSION: In vitro studies often predict that engineered nanoparticles, such as synthetic apatite, are candidates for inflammasome activation and, hence, are toxic. However, the experimental setting must be very carefully considered as it may promote false-positive outcomes

A GIS Tool for Applying Habitat Suitability Models to Inform Management (Poster)

Habitat suitability models are used to guide habitat management for species of conservation concern. Models quantify relationships between known species locations and environmental attributes, which are used to identify and map areas most likely to support species of concern. Managers can then restrict human activities with negative impacts on habitat suitability in these areas. Application of habitat suitability models, however, typically requires technical expertise not available to most land managers. We developed a prototype GIS tool that facilitates application of habitat suitability models to guide management of habitat for woodpecker species of conservation concern. The tool operates within an ArcGIS environment, which is readily available to most managers, and will be capable of generating habitat suitability maps for several species of concern (i.e., Black-backed Woodpecker [Picoides arcticus], Three-toed Woodpecker [P. dorsalis], Lewis’s Woodpecker [Melanerpes lewis], and White-headed Woodpeckers [P. albolvartus]). The tool also automates much of the model application process, reducing requisite technical expertise, and making habitat suitability models widely available. The tool will be accompanied by a manual describing implementation and interpretation of resulting habitat suitability maps. The tool will be especially helpful for informing management of post-disturbance forests (i.e. after wildfire and beetle infestations) to identify suitable habitat for disturbance specialists (e.g., Black-backed, Three-toed, and Lewis’s Woodpeckers).  Identification of suitable habitat is necessary to effectively develop management plans that incorporate the needs of habitat specialists in post-disturbance landscapes. Our prototype is currently being tested by U.S. Forest Service biologists

Systematic Approach for Finite Element Analysis of Thermoplastic Impregnated 3D Filament Winding Structures—Advancements and Validation

This work aims to enhance and validate a systematic approach for the structural finite element (FE) analysis of thermoplastic impregnated 3D filament winding structures (fiber skeletons). The idealized modeling of geometrically complex fiber skeletons used in previous publications is refined by considering additional characteristic dimensions and investigating their mechanical influence. Moreover, the modeling approach is transferred from the meso- to the macro-level in order to reduce modeling and computational effort. The properties of meso- and macro-level FE models are compared using the example of simple loop specimens. Based on the results, respective application fields are defined. In the next step, the same modeling approach is applied to a more complex, three-dimensional specimen—the inclined loop. For its macro-level FE model, additional material characterization and modeling, as well as enhancements in the modeling of the geometry, are proposed. Together with previously determined effective composite properties of fiber skeletons, these results are validated in experimental tensile tests on inclined loop specimens

CyberKnife Boost for Patients with Cervical Cancer Unable to Undergo Brachytherapy

Standard radiation therapy for patients undergoing primary chemosensitized radiation for carcinomas of the cervix usually consists of external beam radiation followed by an intracavitary brachytherapy boost. On occasion, the brachytherapy boost cannot be performed due to unfavorable anatomy or because of coexisting medical conditions. We examined the safety and efficacy of using CyberKnife stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) as a boost to the cervix after external beam radiation in those patients unable to have brachytherapy to give a more effective dose to the cervix than with conventional external beam radiation alone. Six consecutive patients with anatomic or medical conditions precluding a tandem and ovoid boost were treated with combined external beam radiation and CyberKnife boost to the cervix. Five patients received 45 Gy to the pelvis with serial intensity-modulated radiation therapy boost to the uterus and cervix to a dose of 61.2 Gy. These five patients received an SBRT boost to the cervix to a dose of 20 Gy in five fractions of 4 Gy each. One patient was treated to the pelvis to a dose of 45 Gy with an external beam boost to the uterus and cervix to a dose of 50.4 Gy. This patient received an SBRT boost to the cervix to a dose of 19.5 Gy in three fractions of 6.5 Gy. Five percent volumes of the bladder and rectum were kept to ≤75 Gy in all patients (i.e., V75 Gy ≤ 5%). All of the patients remain locally controlled with no evidence of disease following treatment. Grade 1 diarrhea occurred in 4/6 patients during the conventional external beam radiation. There has been no grade 3 or 4 rectal or bladder toxicity. There were no toxicities observed following SBRT boost. At a median follow-up of 14 months, CyberKnife radiosurgical boost is well tolerated and efficacious in providing a boost to patients with cervix cancer who are unable to undergo brachytherapy boost. Further follow-up is required to see if these results remain durable