Multiple primary and secondary sources for chemically similar obsidians from the area of portada covunco, west-central Neuquén, Argentina

In west-central Neuquén Province, Argentina, in the area around Estancia Llamuco, west of Zapala, south of Las Lajas and north-east of Lago Aluminé, there are multiple primary and secondary sources of obsidian. Primary sources occur within the south-east extension of the Plio-Quaternary volcanic chain that runs from Copahue volcano through Pino Hachado. Secondary sources include river-bed gravels within the valleys of Arroyo Cochicó Grande and Río Kilca as far south as where this river joins with Río Aluminé, and the Quaternary fluvial-glacial sediments cut by the valley of Río Covunco as far east as Portada Covunco. Visually variable obsidians from these two secondary sources include homogeneous black and grey-translucent types, porphyritic and banded types, and an abundant quantity of oxidized red and black obsidian. However, all these visually distinct obsidians have similar and unique chemistry, with Ba between 220 and 340ppm, different from any other obsidians previously reported from Neuquén, which all have Ba>500ppm, as do obsidians from sources to the north in Mendoza and to the west in Chile. This chemical distinctive obsidian has been exploited and transported over a wide area, beginning prior to 4000 bp, and occurs in local archaeological sites, as well as sites ≥ 300km to the north-east in La Pampa Province, ~430km to the south in Chubut Province, and >75km to the west across the Andean drainage divide in Chile.Fil: Stern, C. R.. State University of Colorado at Boulder; Estados UnidosFil: Pereda, I.. No especifíca;Fil: Aguerre, Ana Margarita. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras. Instituto de Arqueología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Country and Time Variation in Exchange Rate Pass Through: What Drives it?

A large sample of developed and emerging economies is utilized to investigate import exchange rate pass-through. Panel models reveal that various economic aspects of the destination country can explain about one third of the total variation in pass-through elasticities and the remaining variation comes largely in the form of unobserved country-specific effects. Inflation, exchange rate volatility, openness and relative wealth play a clear role as drivers of emerging markets’ pass-through whereas the output gap and protectionism appear influential more generally. Nonlinearity regarding large-versus-small changes in the exchange rate is quite pervasive. Our evidence challenges the widely-held view that pass-through has been universally falling in developed markets and that it is higher for emerging markets. The economic drivers are shown to play a role as out-of-sample predictors of pass-through. The findings confirm pricing-to-market theories and have implications for the optimal conduct of monetary policy

Obsidians in archaeological sites in the province of La Pampa, Argentina : their sources

Fil: Stern, Charles R. University of Colorado Boulder. Department of Geological Sciences; Estados Unidos.Fil: Aguerre, Ana Margarita. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras. Instituto de Arqueología; Argentina.Sixteen samples of obsidian collected from three archeological sites in the west and southwest of La Pampa province have been analyzed. Twelve samples were selected from the excavation of “Casa del Piedra 1”, Department of Puelén, on the banks of the Río Colorado, where the available radiocarbon dates indicate that obsidian was utilized, at least episodically, from the earliest occupational levels at ≥8620 ± 190 14C years BP (or ≥9720 ± 250 calibrated years BP). Four samples were selected from the surface of two sites north of the Meseta Basáltica, Department of Chicalcó. The 16 samples analyzed are derived from multiple different distant sources that include principally Laguna del Maule, located to the west of these sites in Mendoza province along the frontier with Chile, and also, after about 4000 years BP, from Cerro Huenul and Portada Covunco, located in the north and central-west of Neuquén province. Samples of obsidian from other archeological sites in La Pampa province, such as Tapera Moreira and Chenque i in Lihuel Calel, also come from these same distant sources as well as others even more distant such as Cerro Planicies/Lago Lolog in the southwest of Neuquén.Se presentan los resultados del análisis de 16 muestras de artefactos de obsidiana procedentes de tres sitios arqueológicos de La Pampa. Por un lado, se seleccionaron 12 muestras de la excavación, con fechados radiocarbónicos, del sitio “Casa de Piedra 1”, Departamento Puelén, a orillas del Río Colorado, donde la obsidiana aparece siendo utilizada, al menos episódicamente, desde el nivel más antiguo a ≥8620 ± 190 años radiocarbónicos AP (o ≥9720 ± 250 años calibrados AP). Por otro lado, se seleccionaron cuatro muestras de dos sitios de superficie, del norte de la Meseta Basáltica, departamento Chicalcó. Las 16 muestras que aquí presentamos provienen de múltiples fuentes, como Laguna del Maule, ubicada al oeste de nuestros sitios arqueológicos, en territorio mendocino casi en la frontera con Chile, y también, a partir de aproximadamente 4000 años AP, de Cerro Huenul y Portada Covunco, en el norte y centro-oeste del Neuquén respectivamente. Muestras de obsidianas procedentes de otros sitios arqueológicos en La Pampa, como Tapera Moreira y Chenque i de Lihuel Calel, al este de nuestra zona, también provienen de las mismas canteras y/o de otras más distantes, como Cerro Planicies/Lago Lolog en el sudoeste de Neuquén

Mapa de ahorro energético obtenible con sistemas solares híbridos de calentamiento de agua domiciliaria

En este trabajo se cuantificó el ahorro energético que podría conseguirse haciendo uso de la energía solar en el calentamiento de agua domiciliaria. Para lograrlo, se evaluó el consumo eléctrico de dos termotanques, uno solar compacto híbrido de baja complejidad y otro convencional. Ambos fueron sometidos a un perfil de consumo familiar que representa los hábitos típicos de la población nacional. Luego se modeló su desempeño con respecto a variables meteorológicas, y finalmente se proyectó el ahorro, diferencia de sus consumos, en otros emplazamientos del país. Los resultados de esta proyección permitieron confeccionar mapas de estimación de este ahorro energético en Argentina. Se estima que en promedio en la zona centro y norte del país este tipo de sistema solar ahorraría un 50 % de la energía que los convencionales usan, y se determinó el impacto económico de esta sustitución de tecnologías.The purpose of this project is to quantify the potential energy savings that could be achieved by using solar energy in domestic water heating. To achieve this objective, the energy performance of two water heating systems, a low complexity solar and a conventional one, were evaluated. Both were submitted to a typical household consumption profile that represents the habits of the majority of the national population. Their behavior was then modeled with respect to meteorological variables and their performance was finally the saving between them was projected in other locations in the country. The results of this projection allowed us to make estimation maps of the energy saving that its use would bring in Argentina. It is estimated that on average in the central and northern areas of the country these artifacts would save 50 % of the energy that conventional ones use on the water heating, and their economic implications are considerable.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Mapa de ahorro energético obtenible con sistemas solares híbridos de calentamiento de agua domiciliaria

En este trabajo se cuantificó el ahorro energético que podría conseguirse haciendo uso de la energía solar en el calentamiento de agua domiciliaria. Para lograrlo, se evaluó el consumo eléctrico de dos termotanques, uno solar compacto híbrido de baja complejidad y otro convencional. Ambos fueron sometidos a un perfil de consumo familiar que representa los hábitos típicos de la población nacional. Luego se modeló su desempeño con respecto a variables meteorológicas, y finalmente se proyectó el ahorro, diferencia de sus consumos, en otros emplazamientos del país. Los resultados de esta proyección permitieron confeccionar mapas de estimación de este ahorro energético en Argentina. Se estima que en promedio en la zona centro y norte del país este tipo de sistema solar ahorraría un 50 % de la energía que los convencionales usan, y se determinó el impacto económico de esta sustitución de tecnologías.The purpose of this project is to quantify the potential energy savings that could be achieved by using solar energy in domestic water heating. To achieve this objective, the energy performance of two water heating systems, a low complexity solar and a conventional one, were evaluated. Both were submitted to a typical household consumption profile that represents the habits of the majority of the national population. Their behavior was then modeled with respect to meteorological variables and their performance was finally the saving between them was projected in other locations in the country. The results of this projection allowed us to make estimation maps of the energy saving that its use would bring in Argentina. It is estimated that on average in the central and northern areas of the country these artifacts would save 50 % of the energy that conventional ones use on the water heating, and their economic implications are considerable.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Diet of the Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) during the breeding season in the Bahía Blanca Estuary, Buenos Aires, Argentina

La Gaviota Cocinera (Larus dominicanus) está ampliamente distribuida en Argentina. Es una especie de comportamiento alimentario generalista y oportunista; según algunos autores, su capacidad de explotar recursos alimentarios derivados de actividades humanas ha favorecido su expansión geográfica. En este estudio se da a conocer la dieta de la Gaviota Cocinera durante el período reproductivo en una colonia de 3114 nidos ubicada en la Isla del Puerto, estuario de Bahía Blanca, provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Se analizó un total de 1024 egagrópilas, cinco regurgitados de pichones y 12 de volantones, recolectados entre los meses de octubre y diciembre de 2003. Se registraron 39 categorías presa, de las cuales los granos (principalmente girasol) y la carroña de ganado vacuno tuvieron los mayores porcentajes en la dieta (54.6% y 29.0%, respectivamente). Ambos recursos están disponibles en grandes cantidades en las cercanías de la colonia, lo que podría estar favoreciendo el incremento poblacional observado en los últimos años. Otras presas halladas en la dieta, en orden decreciente de ocurrencia, fueron peces óseos, gasterópodos, insectos, cirripedios, basura, quitones, pelecípodos, roedores y otros. En la colonia de la Isla del Puerto, al igual que lo observado en otras colonias de la costa patagónica, la Gaviota Cocinera se comportaría como una especie generalista, con una fuerte tendencia a la explotación de recursos de origen humano y, en menor medida, de presas del ambiente marino costero.The Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) is widely distributed in Argentina. Several authors suggest that the species is expanding its geographic distribution due to its capacity to exploit food resources derived from human activities. This study shows the diet composition of the Kelp Gull during breeding season in a colony of 3114 nests located in the Del Puerto Island, Bahía Blanca estuary, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. A total of 1024 pellets, five chick regurgitates, and 12 fledgling regurgitates collected between October and December 2003 were analyzed. A total of 39 prey categories were recorded, being grains (mainly sunflower) and cattle carrion the most important items (54.6% and 29.0%, respectively). These prey items are available in large quantities in the proximity of the colony, which could favour the population increase observed in the last years. Fishes, marine snails, insects, barnacles, garbage, chitons, mussels, clams, and rodents were also observed. Gulls from this colony, as in other colonies along the Patagonian coast, are generalists with a strong tendency to the exploitation of human-derived resources and, to a lesser degree, of seashore preys

Phytochemicals as antibiotic alternatives to promote growth and enhance host health

There are heightened concerns globally on emerging drug-resistant superbugs and the lack of new antibiotics for treating human and animal diseases. For the agricultural industry, there is an urgent need to develop strategies to replace antibiotics for food-producing animals, especially poultry and livestock. The 2nd International Symposium on Alternatives to Antibiotics was held at the World Organization for Animal Health in Paris, France, December 12-15, 2016 to discuss recent scientific developments on strategic antibiotic-free management plans, to evaluate regional differences in policies regarding the reduction of antibiotics in animal agriculture and to develop antibiotic alternatives to combat the global increase in antibiotic resistance. More than 270 participants from academia, government research institutions, regulatory agencies, and private animal industries from >25 different countries came together to discuss recent research and promising novel technologies that could provide alternatives to antibiotics for use in animal health and production; assess challenges associated with their commercialization; and devise actionable strategies to facilitate the development of alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) without hampering animal production. The 3-day meeting consisted of four scientific sessions including vaccines, microbial products, phytochemicals, immune-related products, and innovative drugs, chemicals and enzymes, followed by the last session on regulation and funding. Each session was followed by an expert panel discussion that included industry representatives and session speakers. The session on phytochemicals included talks describing recent research achievements, with examples of successful agricultural use of various phytochemicals as antibiotic alternatives and their mode of action in major agricultural animals (poultry, swine and ruminants). Scientists from industry and academia and government research institutes shared their experience in developing and applying potential antibiotic-alternative phytochemicals commercially to reduce AGPs and to develop a sustainable animal production system in the absence of antibiotics.Fil: Lillehoj, Hyun. United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service; ArgentinaFil: Liu, Yanhong. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Calsamiglia, Sergio. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Fernandez Miyakawa, Mariano Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Patobiología; ArgentinaFil: Chi, Fang. Amlan International; Estados UnidosFil: Cravens, Ron L.. Amlan International; Estados UnidosFil: Oh, Sungtaek. United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service; ArgentinaFil: Gay, Cyril G.. United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service; Argentin

Exchange Rate Pass-Through into German Import Prices – A Disaggregated Perspective

This study analyzes the exchange rate pass-through into German import prices based on disaggregated data taken on a monthly basis between 1995 and 2012. Our main contribution is twofold: firstly, we employ various time-series techniques to analyze data for different product categories, and also cointegration techniques to carefully distinguish between short-run and long-run pass-through coefficients. Secondly, in a panel data approach we estimate time-varying pass-through coefficients and explain their development with regard to various macroeconomic factors. Our results show that long-run pass-through is only partly observable and incomplete, while short-run pass-through shows a more unique character, although heterogeneity across product groups does exist. We are also able to identify several macroeconomic factors which determine changes in the degree of pass-through, which is especially relevant for policymakers

Prediction of nitrogen excretion from data on dairy cows fed a wide range of diets compiled in an intercontinental database: A meta-analysis

Manure nitrogen (N) from cattle contributes to nitrous oxide and ammonia emissions and nitrate leaching. Measurement of manure N outputs on dairy farms is laborious, expensive, and impractical at large scales; therefore, models are needed to predict N excreted in urine and feces. Building robust prediction models requires extensive data from animals under different management systems worldwide. Thus, the study objectives were (1) to collate an international database of N excretion in feces and urine based on individual lactating dairy cow data from different continents; (2) to determine the suitability of key variables for predicting fecal, urinary, and total manure N excretion; and (3) to develop robust and reliable N excretion prediction models based on individual data from lactating dairy cows consuming various diets. A raw data set was created based on 5,483 individual cow observations, with 5,420 fecal N excretion and 3,621 urine N excretion measurements collected from 162 in vivo experiments conducted by 22 research institutes mostly located in Europe (n = 14) and North America (n = 5). A sequential approach was taken in developing models with increasing complexity by incrementally adding variables that had a significant individual effect on fecal, urinary, or total 2manure N excretion. Nitrogen excretion was predicted by fitting linear mixed models including experiment as a random effect. Simple models requiring dry matter intake (DMI) or N intake performed better for predicting fecal N excretion than simple models using diet nutrient composition or milk performance parameters. Simple models based on N intake performed better for urinary and total manure N excretion than those based on DMI, but simple models using milk urea N (MUN) and N intake performed even better for urinary N excretion. The full model predicting fecal N excretion had similar performance to simple models based on DMI but included several independent variables (DMI, diet crude protein content, diet neutral detergent fiber content, milk protein), depending on the location, and had root mean square prediction errors as a fraction of the observed mean values of 19.1% for intercontinental, 19.8% for European, and 17.7% for North American data sets. Complex total manure N excretion models based on N intake and MUN led to prediction errors of about 13.0% to 14.0%, which were comparable to models based on N intake alone. Intercepts and slopes of variables in optimal prediction equations developed on intercontinental, European, and North American bases differed from each other, and therefore region-specific models are preferred to predict N excretion. In conclusion, region-specific models that include information on DMI or N intake and MUN are required for good prediction of fecal, urinary, and total manure N excretion. In absence of intake data, region-specific complex equations using easily and routinely measured variables to predict fecal, urinary, or total manure N excretion may be used, but these equations have lower performance than equations based on intake