Macrohabitat Composition Surrounding Successful and Depredated Northern Bobwhite Nests

Relationships among macrohabitat and depredation of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) nests are poorly understood. Yet, macrohabitat composition may influence the nest predator community and, therefore, the vulnerability of northern bobwhite nests to depredation. We determined if macrohabitat composition surrounding bobwhite nests influenced nest placement, nest success, and which predators were responsible for depredating nests. We characterized macrohabitats at 2 scales, 8 and 16 ha, by surrounding both bobwhite nests, and an equal number of random locations, with a circular buffer. Random points were placed within the area used by bobwhites on our study area. We then determined the acreage of each macrohabitat category within each circular buffer to determine the macrohabitat composition. Macrohabitat categories included hardwood forested drains, upland pine forests burned in March of the same calendar year, upland pine forests burned in March of the previous calendar year, and fields. We documented nest predators using infrared video cameras placed at the nest site. We monitored 104 bobwhite nests on Tall Timbers Research Station (TTRS) during 1999 and 2000. Size of the circular buffer around nests did not qualitatively affect results. Area (ha) of upland pine forests and fields were similar at depredated nests, hatched nests, and random locations. However, there was an average of 81% and 56% more area of hardwood drain in the circular buffers associated with random locations than at successful and depredated nests, respectively. Area of upland pine forests and fields were similar for nests depredated by raccoon (Procyon lotor), armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) and snake (Elaphus spp.). However, there was an average of 6.1 and 3.3 times more area of hardwood drain surrounding nests that were depredated by snakes relative to nests depredated by raccoons and armadillos, respectively. While our sample sizes were low, bobwhites exhibited a tendency to place nests in landscapes with less hardwood drain than were generally available on the study area. Macrohabitat surrounding nests influenced the type of nest predator to depredate nests. To minimize depredation of bobwhite nests by snakes, we suggest nesting cover should be developed away from drain edges

Sandia's Geothermal Advanced Drill Rig Instrumentation Assists Critical Oil and Gas Drilling Operation

On November 23, 1998, an 18,000-foot-deep wild-cat natural gas well being drilled near Bakersfield, CA blew out and caught fire. All attempts to kill this well failed, and the well continues to flow under limited control, producing large volumes of natural gas, salt water, and some oil. The oil and some of the water is being separated and trucked off site, and the remaining gas and water is being burned at the well head. A relief well is being drilled approximately one-quarter mile away in an attempt to intercept the first well. If the relief well is successful, it will be used to cement in and kill the first well. Epoch Wellsite Services, Inc., the mud-logging company for the initial well and the relief well, requested Sandia's rolling float meter (RFM) for these critical drilling operations. The RFM is being used to measure the mud outflow rate and detect kicks while drilling the relief well, which will undoubtedly encounter reservoir conditions similar to those responsible for the blow out. Based on its prior experience with the RFM, Epoch believes that it is the only instrument capable of providing the level of accuracy and response to mudflow needed to quickly detect kicks and minimize the risk of a blowout on this second critical well. In response to the urgent request from industry, Sandia and Epoch technicians installed the RFM on the relief well return line, and completed its initial calibration. The data from the RFM is displayed in real-time for the driller, the companyman, and the toolpusher via Epochs RIGWATCH Drilling Instmmentation System. The RFM has already detected several small kicks while drilling toward the annulus of the blown out well. A conventional paddle meter is located downstream of the RFM to provide redundancy and the opportunity to compare the two meters in an actual drilling operation, The relief well is nearing 14,000 feet deep, targeting an intercept of the first well near 17,600 feet. The relief well is expected to be completed in about 30 days. Several other Sandia instruments being developed for geothermal drilling are also being evaluated during this operation, Successful performance of these instruments on this important drilling job will reinforce our efforts to commercialize this technology for the geothermal and oil and gas drilling industries. Sandia's Rolling Float Meter was developed through the Lost Circulation Technology Program sponsored by the U. S. Department of Energy, Office of Geothermal Technologies. It monitors drilling fluid returns to rapidly detect loss of circulation during geothermal drilling. Lost circulation is particularly prevalent in geothermal wells, and can add as much as 10% to the total cost of drilling the well. Consequently, rapid detection and treatment of lost circulation is necessary for cost- effective geothermal drilling. Sandia has been evaluating and demonstrating the capabilities of the RFM to the geothermal industry for several years. In addition to lost circulation, the RFM is also useful for accurately detecting well kicks. Contacts have been made with mud logging companies that are involved with both geothermal and oil and gas drilling operations

Reconsiderando la introducción del maíz en el occidente de América del Sur

Numerosos investigadores en las ciencias sociales y naturales han discutido el origen y antigüedad del maíz en la región noroeste de América del Sur. En este artículo nos referimos a la evidencia disponible y a algunas de las teorías de los estudiosos sobre este tema. Presentamos además un nuevo método que permite establecer los usos que se le han dado al maíz, a través del estudio de los opalofitolitos encontrados en restos carbonizados procedentes de vasijas cerámicas de uso ritual. La excavación de una plataforma o montículo ceremonial en el sitio Valdivia de La Emerenciana ha permitido el hallazgo de numerosos rasgos arqueológicos, la mayor parte de los cuales son ofrendas rituales. Se analizaron restos carbonizados de las superficies interiores de dichas vasijas con el propósito de detectar la presencia de fitolitos de ópalo. Tres de las diez muestras analizadas procedentes de contextos confiables con fechados radiocarbónicos (calibrados) que abarcan entre 2203 y 1679 A.C. presentan fitolitos de maíz. Los restos de carbón de dos de las diez muestras fueron fechados con el método de aceleración de partículas (AMS) para establecer su cronología con mayor precisión. Se incorporan en este estudio datos complementarios obtenidos del análisis de isótopos de carbono de los esqueletos Valdivianos de contextos más tempranos de otros lugares de la costa, y cromatografía de papel para detectar aminoácidos. Asimismo, se consideran y discuten distintos aspectos vinculados con las asociaciones contextuales y los aspectos teóricos referidos a la difusión del maíz en el noroeste de Sudamérica. Nuestras conclusiones indican que el maíz fue introducido en la economía de subsistencia Valdivia en las últimas épocas de la secuencia, más como planta con valor ritual que económico.De nombreux chercheurs en sciences sociales et naturelles ont discuté sur l’origine et l’ancienneté du maïs au nord-ouest de l’Amérique du Sud. Dans cet article, nous nous référons aux preuves disponibles et à quelques unes des théories des chercheurs sur ce thème. Nous présentons, en outre, une nouvelle méthode permettant d’établir les usages donnés au maïs à travers l’étude des opalo-phytolithes retrouvés dans les restes carbonisés de céramiques à usage rituel. La fouille d’une plateforme ou monticule cérémoniel sur le site Valdivia de La Emerenciana a permis de trouver de nombreux restes archéologiques, dont une grande partie sont des offrandes rituelles. Des restes carbonisés des superficies intérieures de ces céramiques ont été analysés afin de détecter la présence de phytolithes d’opale. Sur les 10 échantillons analysés provenant de contextes fiables avec des datations radiocarboniques (calibrages) qui vont de 2203 a 1679 a.C., trois présentent des phytolithes de maïs. Les restes de charbon de 2 des 10 échantillons ont été datés grâce à la méthode d’accélération des particules (AMS) afin d’établir leur chronologie avec une plus grande précision. En outre, on ajoute à cette étude des informations complémentaires obtenues de l’analyse des isotopoes de carbone des squelettes de l’époque Valdivia, de contextes plus anciens provenant d’autres endroits de la côte ; on utilise également du papier chromatographique pour détecter les acides aminés. De même, nous considérons et discutons certains aspects líes aux associations contextuelles ainsi que les aspects théoriques concernant la diffusion du maïs dans le nord-ouest de l’Amérique du Sud. Nos conclusions indiquent que le maïs fut introduit dans l’économie de subsistance Valdivia au cours des derniers moments de la séquence, plutôt avec une valeur rituelle qu’économique.A number of scholars in the social and natural sciences have debated the origin and antiquity of maize in northwestern South America. In this article we directly address some of the evidence and theories presented regarding this issue and present a new method for tracing the use of maize using opal phytolith assemblages from food residues in utilized ceramics. Archaeological excavations of a ceremonial platform mound at the Valdivia site at La Emerenciana have uncovered numerous archaeological features consisting primarily of ritual offerings. Carbon residues from the interior surfaces of excavated pottery contained in such features were analyzed for the presence of opal phytoliths. Three of the ten samples analyzed contain phytolith assemblages representative of maize cob chaff. The samples are from secure archaeological contexts in a layer radiocarbon dated to between 2203 and 1679 B.C. Carbon residues from two of the ten samples were AMS dated to more precisely establish their age. Complementary data recovered by paper chromatography of amino acids and carbon isotope analysis are incorporated into this study as were phytoliths removed from two of the four Valdivia burials from the La Emerenciana excavations. Contextual and theoretical issues as well as carbon isotope data from Valdivia skeletons from earlier contexts and from other regions of the coast are also reviewed regarding their significance to the initial spread of maize in northwestern South America. Our results indicate that maize was introduced into coastal Ecuador during the final portion of the Valdivia culture sequence and that it may have been integrated into the subsistence economy as a ritual rather than an economic plant

Mammalian ANP32A and ANP32B proteins drive differential polymerase adaptations in avian influenza virus

ANP32 proteins, which act as influenza polymerase cofactors, vary between birds and mammals. In mammals, ANP32A and ANP32B have been reported to serve essential but redundant roles to support influenza polymerase activity. The well-known mammalian adaptation PB2-E627K enables influenza polymerase to use mammalian ANP32 proteins. However, some mammalian-adapted influenza viruses do not harbor this substitution. Here, we show that alternative PB2 adaptations, Q591R and D701N, also allow influenza polymerase to use mammalian ANP32 proteins, whereas other PB2 mutations, G158E, T271A, and D740N, increase polymerase activity in the presence of avian ANP32 proteins as well. Furthermore, PB2-E627K strongly favors use of mammalian ANP32B proteins, whereas D701N shows no such bias. Accordingly, PB2-E627K adaptation emerges in species with strong pro-viral ANP32B proteins, such as humans and mice, while D701N is more commonly seen in isolates from swine, dogs, and horses, where ANP32A proteins are the preferred cofactor. Using an experimental evolution approach, we show that the passage of viruses containing avian polymerases in human cells drove acquisition of PB2-E627K, but not in the absence of ANP32B. Finally, we show that the strong pro-viral support of ANP32B for PB2-E627K maps to the low-complexity acidic region (LCAR) tail of ANP32B. IMPORTANCE Influenza viruses naturally reside in wild aquatic birds. However, the high mutation rate of influenza viruses allows them to rapidly and frequently adapt to new hosts, including mammals. Viruses that succeed in these zoonotic jumps pose a pandemic threat whereby the virus adapts sufficiently to efficiently transmit human-to-human. The influenza virus polymerase is central to viral replication and restriction of polymerase activity is a major barrier to species jumps. ANP32 proteins are essential for influenza polymerase activity. In this study, we describe how avian influenza viruses can adapt in several different ways to use mammalian ANP32 proteins. We further show that differences between mammalian ANP32 proteins can select different adaptive changes and are responsible for some of the typical mutations that arise in mammalian-adapted influenza polymerases. These different adaptive mutations may determine the relative zoonotic potential of influenza viruses and thus help assess their pandemic risk

Introduced Fruit Species as Food Heritage in the Quebrada de Humahuaca, Jujuy Province, Argentina

European conquerors introduced peaches (Prunus persica) into northwestern Argentina early in the colonial period. Among communities in the Quebrada de Humahuaca peaches represent an important crop and food. This contribution explores whether peaches may be considered food heritage in this part of the Andes. The perception that this exotic species is perceived as heritage is founded in the traditional strategies of management in selecting for certain characteristics that have cultural associations and certain characteristics that dramatically reduced peach diversity at a regional scale. Thus, culture, crop, and environment are interlaced to form—at present—a set of 9 ethno-varieties with typical features and defined uses. People selected peaches with regard to preferences of consumption, and in recent times their importance to commercialization. Peaches, as in the case of different Andean crops, such as potatoes and corn, are important to local consumption and ethnic identity resulting in networks of exchange—fairs and markets—enabling these communities to share in the fruits of their ethnic communities. Heritage is characterized as the capacity to symbolically represent the identity of a community, through phenotypic distinctions of the local variety of peaches or “duraznos de la Quebrada” (peaches from the Quebrada).Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Species specific differences in use of ANP32 proteins by influenza A virus

Influenza A viruses (IAV) are subject to species barriers that prevent frequent zoonotic transmission and pandemics. One of these barriers is the poor activity of avian IAV polymerases in human cells. Differences between avian and mammalian ANP32 proteins underlie this host range barrier. Human ANP32A and ANP32B homologues both support function of human-adapted influenza polymerase but do not support efficient activity of avian IAV polymerase which requires avian ANP32A. We show here that the gene currently designated as avian ANP32B is evolutionarily distinct from mammalian ANP32B, and that chicken ANP32B does not support IAV polymerase activity even of human-adapted viruses. Consequently, IAV relies solely on chicken ANP32A to support its replication in chicken cells. Amino acids 129I and 130N, accounted for the inactivity of chicken ANP32B. Transfer of these residues to chicken ANP32A abolished support of IAV polymerase. Understanding ANP32 function will help develop antiviral strategies and aid the design of influenza virus resilient genome edited chickens

ANP32 proteins are essential for influenza virus replication in human cells

ANP32 proteins have been implicated in supporting influenza virus replication, but most of the work to date has focused on the ability of avian Anp32 proteins to overcome restriction of avian influenza polymerases in human cells. Using a CRISPR approach we show that human ANP32A and ANP32B are functionally redundant but essential host factors for mammalian-adapted influenza A virus (IAV) and influenza B virus (IBV) replication in human cells. When both proteins are absent from human cells, influenza polymerases are unable to replicate the viral genome, and infectious virus cannot propagate. Provision of exogenous ANP32A or –B recovers polymerase activity and virus growth. We demonstrate that this redundancy is absent in the murine Anp32 orthologues: murine Anp32A is incapable of recovering IAV polymerase activity, while murine Anp32B can. Intriguingly, IBV polymerase is able to use murine Anp32A. We show using a domain swap and point mutations that the LRR 5 region comprises an important functional domain for mammalian ANP32 proteins. Our approach has identified a pair of essential host factors for influenza virus replication and can be harnessed to inform future interventions

Foodways in transition: food plants, diet and local perceptions of change in a Costa Rican Ngäbe community

Background Indigenous populations are undergoing rapid ethnobiological, nutritional and socioeconomic transitions while being increasingly integrated into modernizing societies. To better understand the dynamics of these transitions, this article aims to characterize the cultural domain of food plants and analyze its relation with current day diets, and the local perceptions of changes given amongst the Ngäbe people of Southern Conte-Burica, Costa Rica, as production of food plants by its residents is hypothesized to be drastically in recession with an decreased local production in the area and new conservation and development paradigms being implemented. Methods Extensive freelisting, interviews and workshops were used to collect the data from 72 participants on their knowledge of food plants, their current dietary practices and their perceptions of change in local foodways, while cultural domain analysis, descriptive statistical analyses and development of fundamental explanatory themes were employed to analyze the data. Results Results show a food plants domain composed of 140 species, of which 85 % grow in the area, with a medium level of cultural consensus, and some age-based variation. Although many plants still grow in the area, in many key species a decrease on local production–even abandonment–was found, with much reduced cultivation areas. Yet, the domain appears to be largely theoretical, with little evidence of use; and the diet today is predominantly dependent on foods bought from the store (more than 50 % of basic ingredients), many of which were not salient or not even recognized as ‘food plants’ in freelists exercises. While changes in the importance of food plants were largely deemed a result of changes in cultural preferences for store bought processed food stuffs and changing values associated with farming and being food self-sufficient, Ngäbe were also aware of how changing household livelihood activities, and the subsequent loss of knowledge and use of food plants, were in fact being driven by changes in social and political policies, despite increases in forest cover and biodiversity. Conclusions Ngäbe foodways are changing in different and somewhat disconnected ways: knowledge of food plants is varied, reflecting most relevant changes in dietary practices such as lower cultivation areas and greater dependence on food from stores by all families. We attribute dietary shifts to socioeconomic and political changes in recent decades, in particular to a reduction of local production of food, new economic structures and agents related to the State and globalization