Ecology, distribution, harvest, and conservation of the Amazonian manatee, Trichechus inunguis, in Ecuador

Recientes sumarios de la distribución de los manaties amazónicos Trichechus inunguis registran especimenes de la mayor parte de la cuenca amazónica en Brasil, el oriente de Peru, y el suroriente de Colombia, pero no de Ecuador. Durante octubre y noviembre de 1983 nosotros fuimos en busca de manaties en los sistemas de los rios Aguarico y Cuyabeno de la Provincia del Napo, Ecuador oriental. Aqui documentamos la existencia de manaties amazónicos en Ecuador, proveemos estimaciones aproximadas de su actual distribución, describimos varios aspectos de su ecologia en Ecuador, documentamos el uso de manaties por gentes indigenas, y documentamos la cosecha comercial actual de manaties para carne. Manaties feuron observados por nosotros en varias localidades separadas en las tierras bajas del Ecuador oriental. Adicionalmente, reportamos varias observaciones por otros, asi como tambien registros históricos publicados que fueron previamente pasados por alto. Nuestras observaciones de manaties son de habitaciones en aguas negras en selva iluviosa primaria no alterada de tierras bajas, en aguas con un pH de 5.5 a 6.0 y temperatura de 25.0 a 30.7C. En la región del alto Cuyabeno, los indios de la tribu Siona, quienes han cosechado manaties por generaciones, se han impuesto asi mismos prohibiciones en la caza de manaties en Ecuador y tierras adyacentes de Peru. La mayoria de la carne obtenida es usada por los militares ya sea ecuatorianos o peruanos. Nosotros encontramos abundantes manaties sólo en una localidad, la Laguna Lagarto Cocha. Sin embargo, esta población esta siendo activamente cazada, y la carne es vendida a los destacamentos militares del lugar. Estimamos que si el nivel actual de caza continua al mismo ritmo los manaties amazónicos habran desaparecido del Ecuador en unos 10 a 15 anios.Recent summaries of the distribution of the Amazonian manatee Trichechus inunguis record specimens from much of the Central Amazon Basin in Brazil, eastern Peru, and extreme southeastern Colombia, but not Ecuador. During October and November of 1983 we searched for manatees in the Río Aguarico and Río Cuyabeno systems of Napo Province, eastern Ecuador. Herein we document the existence of Amazonian manatees in Ecuador, provide rough estimates of their current distribution, describe several aspects of their ecology in Ecuador, document use of manatees by indigenous peoples, and document the current commercial harvest of manatees for meat. Manatees were observed by us at several separate localities in the Amazonian lowlands of eastern Ecuador. Additionally, we report several observations by others as well as a published historical record previously overlooked. Our observations of manatees are from blackwater habitats in undisturbed, primary, lowland rainforest in water with a pH of 5.5 to 6.0 and temperature of 25.0 to 30.7C. In the upper Cuyabeno region, the Siona Indians, who have harvested manatees for generations, have a self-imposed ban on manatee hunting to protect the few remaining animals in their waters. Settlers, the military, and a commercial meat hunter continue to actively harvest Amazonian manatees in Ecuador and adjacent Peru. Much of the meat obtained is used by either the Ecuadorian or Peruvian military. We found manatees abundant at only one locality, Laguna Lagarto Cocha. However, this population is being actively hunted, and the meat sold to the local military outposts. We estimate that if the current level of harvest continues unabated, Amazonian manatees will be gone from Ecuador within 10–15 years

Field Safety Experience with an Autologous Cancer Vaccine in Tumor-Bearing Cats: A Retrospective Study of 117 Cases (2015-2020)

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and severity of adverse events (AEs) reported from use of an adjuvanted whole-cell autologous cancer vaccine in cats with solid tumors under field conditions. METHODS: The case accession database at Torigen Pharmaceuticals was searched to identify client-owned cats that underwent biopsy or surgical resection of their primary tumor, had histologic confirmation of neoplasia and received at least one subcutaneous dose of an adjuvanted whole-cell autologous cancer vaccine. Records were reviewed for any reported AEs. RESULTS: In total, 117 cats met the inclusion criteria and received 422 doses of autologous cancer vaccine. Six (5.1%) cats had seven reported AEs, with the majority of these (85.7%) being characterized as grade 1 or 2 (mild) and resolving without medical intervention. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: AEs were infrequent in cats treated with an adjuvanted whole-cell autologous cancer vaccine under typical field use conditions. This form of active cancer immunotherapy appears to be well tolerated by cats and may represent a treatment option for owners who are concerned about AEs associated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Additional studies are warranted to determine the efficacy of this form of individualized immunotherapy in cats with solid tumors

Microbial stimulation and succession following a test well injection simulating CO₂ leakage into a shallow Newark Basin aquifer

In addition to efforts aimed at reducing anthropogenic production of greenhouse gases, geological storage of CO2 is being explored as a strategy to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas emission and mitigate climate change. Previous studies of the deep subsurface in North America have not fully considered the potential negative effects of CO2 leakage into shallow drinking water aquifers, especially from a microbiological perspective. A test well in the Newark Rift Basin was utilized in two field experiments to investigate patterns of microbial succession following injection of CO2-saturated water into an isolated aquifer interval, simulating a CO2 leakage scenario. A decrease in pH following injection of CO2 saturated aquifer water was accompanied by mobilization of trace elements (e.g. Fe and Mn), and increased bacterial cell concentrations in the recovered water. 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence libraries from samples collected before and after the test well injection were compared to link variability in geochemistry to changes in aquifer microbiology. Significant changes in microbial composition, compared to background conditions, were found following the test well injections, including a decrease in Proteobacteria, and an increased presence of Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia and microbial taxa often noted to be associated with iron and sulfate reduction. The concurrence of increased microbial cell concentrations and rapid microbial community succession indicate significant changes in aquifer microbial communities immediately following the experimental CO2 leakage event. Samples collected one year post-injection were similar in cell number to the original background condition and community composition, although not identical, began to revert toward the pre-injection condition, indicating microbial resilience following a leakage disturbance. This study provides a first glimpse into the in situ successional response of microbial communities to CO2 leakage after subsurface injection in the Newark Basin and the potential microbiological impact of CO2 leakage on drinking water resources

Renminbi Internationalisation: Precedents and Implications

While it is commonly assumed that there are no known precedents against which to benchmark the internationalisation of the Renminbi (RMB), this paper argues that the PRCs own development experience provides a useful perspective on the internationalisation debate. In particular it indicates that lessons can be learnt from both the successes and the shortcomings of efforts to internationalise the RMB in the 1970s. During this period state-owned banks in Hong Kong played a central role in mobilising finance for foreign trade. Access to Hong Kong’s developed financial institutions allowed the PRC to maximise receipts from foreign trade as well as minimise the risks of undue swings in capital flows. The paper shows that although China no longer faces foreign exchange scarcity, economic reforms have not yet resolved vulnerabilities in China’s financial institutions and as such Hong Kong’s role in mitigating the risk of undue capital swings remains

Settling tubes for size analysis of fine and coarse fractions of oceanic sediments

Instrumentation for rapid, high precision size analysis of silt and sand size particles has been acquired and/or developed by the marine geology group of the School of Oceanography of Oregon State University. A Cahn automatic electrobalance with particle sedimentation accessories is used for size analysis of the silt fraction of pelagic sediment; a large diameter settling tube developed at Oregon State University is used for analysis of the sand size fraction. The data generated with these systems are recorded by a strip chart recorder as well as by a high speed paper tape punch. Computer programs to deal with large volumes of data and to calculate various size parameters for each sample have been developed for this instrumentation and are documented in this report. Instrumentation has also been developed to permit specific size fractions to be separated from the bulk sediment to allow compositional studies of the different size modes. All documentation necessary to understand this instrumentation system is presented in this report, and thus is available to all students interested in textural classifications of pelagic sediments

Heterogeneity of Patients With Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults: Linkage to Autoimmunity Is Apparent Only in Those With Perceived Need for Insulin Treatment: Results from the Nord-Trøndelag Health (HUNT) study

OBJECTIVE—Subjects with the diagnosis of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) are more prone to need insulin treatment than those with type 2 diabetes. However, not all patients with LADA develop the need for insulin treatment, indicating the heterogeneity of LADA. We investigated this heterogeneity by comparing phenotypes of LADA with and without perceived need for insulin treatment (data obtained at times when diagnosis of LADA was not investigated) and also compared LADA and type 2 diabetes phenotypes