The Dune Buggy Site, 24RV1, and Northwestern Plains Ceramics

Abstract

The study of ceramics in the northwestern Plains has lagged since Wissler included “the lack of pottery” as one of the core Plains traits. In recent years, however, the poor development in ceramic studies is due to the lack of reported sites rather than a real void. The first part of this paper describes the Dune Buggy site and its large ceramic collection. In the second part, the pottery is identified as belonging to a non-Middle Missouri tradition and related to sites in northeastern Montana, southeastern Saskatchewan southwestern Manitoba and northwestern North Dakota. The combinations of profile, designs, and decoration appear to be heterogeneous, and an analogy is drawn to the historic period for the area to suggest an explanation for the apparent mixing. Specific problems include the lack of absolute dates and stratigraphic relationships, unpublished data, and potentially mixed components.     

A Possible Paleo-Indian and Archaic Site in the Swan Valley,Manitoba

Abstract

An archaeological site uncovered in the Swan Valley of Manitoba during road construction yie1ded a small group of artifacts including a Paleo-Indian projectile point and side-notched Archaic points. The site is significant as it lies in a corridor which probably served as a vital migration route between the Northern Plains and the diminishing lakes within the Lake Agassiz Basin.     

Comparison of Microbial Biomass,Biodiversity, and Biogeochemistry in Three Contrasting Gold Mine Tailings Deposits

Abstract

An interdisciplinary approach was used to assess the biogeochemistry of three deposits of gold mine tailings in Nopiming Provincial Park, Manitoba, Canada. Each depositional site has developed varying levels of natural revegetation over the past 70 years. Although the tailings are the products of processing similar carbonate-hosted quartz-carbonate shear zones by the same methods, the physical, chemical, and hydrogeological conditions varied among sites. The sample from the barren tailings area at the Central Manitoba site was lower in pH (4.87 ± 1.34) and higher in total sulfur (337 ± 166 μmol/g) and copper (44.5 ± 20.9 μ mol/g) than samples from the other two sites. Microbial activities have impacted the biogeochemical distribution of carbon, sulfur (total, sulfide, sulfate), and iron (total, Fe(II)) in the tailings at all three sites. The microbial communities were distributed throughout the tailings, but the biomass and biodiversity were greatest at the surface in the revegetated (Ogama-Rockland) and partially revegetated (Gunner) tailings. In contrast, the most barren set of tailings (Central Manitoba) had the greatest biomass and biodiversity in the middle layer (15 cm depth), which also had the greatest abundance of metals, anions, and carbon. The distribution of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) in the tailings was dependent on both the depth and the individual characteristics of the site. The biomass and biodiversity correlated with the physicochemical conditions, particularly as affected by water movement and hydrology. The primary determinants limiting natural attenuation of the sites may be insufficient calcite buffering, hydrogeology, and the distribution of microbes, rather than a lack of microbes.     

The Pelland and Moe Site Blades: Paleo-Indian Culture History in the Upper Midwest

Abstract

Analysis of artifacts recovered from the Moe site located in northwestern North Dakota reveals the presence of 15 blades and three blade-like flakes, the majority of which are made of Knife River Flint and have been modified by retouch flaking. A comparison of the Moe specimens to those from the Pelland site in northern Minnesota, the only other site from the study area which contains blades of Paleo-Indian age, indicates that the Moe specimens are smaller in all dimensions. The Pelland specimens are made of Knife River Flint and have been modified by retouch flaking. Examination of the literature on Paleo-Indian sites from the Plains region indicates that blade production is more common in Plano cultures particularly Agate Basin and Plainview-Goshen than in earlier Clovis or Folsom cultures or later Cody cultures. It is suggested that the Pelland and Moe site blades are Plano in age and most likely Agate Basin or Plainview-Goshen in cultural affiliation. A model provided by Leo Pettipas (1976) is used to suggest an eastward movement of Plains Plano cultures using Knife River Flint across southern Manitoba, eastern North Dakota, and into western and northern Minnesota following the recession of Glacial Lake Agassiz.     

Jackson Fall-Leaf: A Multi-Component Occupation Site Inc Northeasternc Oklahoma

Abstract

The Jackson Fall-Leaf site is a deeply buried multi-component occupation site located in the Little Caney River Valley of Northeastern Oklahoma. The site, situated in the Cross Timbers province on the southeastern periphery of the Southern Plains, contains cultural debris from the Woodland and Plains Village periods. Excavation produced a large quantity of chipped stone artifacts and allowed the delineation of an activity area within the site. Typological cross dating, in combination with intensive paleo-environmental research at the site and at other locales in the Copan area, indicates that the site dates from the period between A.D. 500 and A.D. 1300.     

Impact of variation in cancer registration practice on observed international cancer survival differences between International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership (ICBP) jurisdictions

BackgroundInternational cancer survival comparisons use cancer registration data to report cancer survival, which informs the development of cancer policy and practice. Studies like the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership (ICBP) have a duty to understand how registration differences impact on survival prior to drawing conclusions.MethodsKey informants reported differences in registration practice for capturing incidence date, death certificate case handling and registration of multiple primary tumours. Sensitivity analyses estimated their impact on one-year survival using baseline and supplementary cancer registration data from England and Sweden.ResultsVariations in registration practice accounted for up to a 7.3 percentage point difference between unadjusted (estimates from previous ICBP survival data) and adjusted (estimates recalculated accounting for registration differences) one-year survival, depending on tumour site and jurisdiction.One-year survival estimates for four jurisdictions were affected by adjustment: New South Wales, Norway, Ontario, Sweden. Sweden and Ontario’s survival reduced after adjustment, yet they remained the jurisdictions with the highest survival for breast and ovarian cancer respectively. Sweden had the highest unadjusted lung cancer survival of 43.6% which was adjusted to 39.0% leaving Victoria and Manitoba with the highest estimate at 42.7%. For colorectal cancer, Victoria’s highest survival of 85.1% remained unchanged after adjustment.ConclusionPopulation-based cancer survival comparisons can be subject to registration biases that may impact the reported ‘survival gap’ between populations. Efforts should be made to apply consistent registration practices internationally. In the meantime, survival comparison studies should provide acknowledgement of or adjustment for the registration biases that may affect their conclusions.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhynchospora galeana</Emphasis>, a new name for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhynchospora breviseta</Emphasis> (Gale) Channell (Cyperaceae)

We propose the new name Rhynchospora galeana to replace the illegitimate later homonym R. breviseta (Gale) Channell. Rhynchospora galeana is a member of section Plumosae. It grows in savannas and pinelands in the southeastern U.S.A. and the Greater Antilles.     

Trilepis tenuis (Cyperaceae: Trilepideae), a new species from Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil

Trilepis tenuis is described from the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. It differs from the other four species ofTrilepis in its delicate habit and combined features of the contraligules and fructifications.     

Dermatophytosis among children of Fulani/Hausa herdsmen living in southeastern Nigeria

BackgroundDermatophytic infections are a worldwide public health problem. In Nigeria, children of nomadic herdsmen are thought to be more at risk because of their early and continuous exposure to different kinds of animals. However, little is known about the level of infection in these children in southeastern Nigeria or elsewhere within the West African sub-region.ObjectiveThis study investigated dermatophytic infections among children of nomadic herdsmen living in isolated camps in southeastern Nigeria from October 2008 to May 2009.Methods390 children aged between 4 and 17 years with clinically suggestive lesions were sampled. Isolates were identified by microscopy, culture or both. Biochemical tests and sequencing of the ITS2 region of the ribosomal DNA were used to identify isolates with atypical morphology.Results162 children were confirmed to be infected. Ten different species of dermatophytes were recovered with Trichophyton mentagrophytes showing the highest incidence. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the frequency of isolates recovered among the different age groups screened. No significant (P > 0.05) observations were found according to gender or location of the two camps investigated.ConclusionThis study suggests that tinea capitis is the predominant clinical type of dermatophytosis among children exposed to different kinds of animals based on parental nomadic lifestyle. It also dominated in children with mixed infections in different anatomical sites. The high prevalence of 41.25% suggests that animal to child transmission may be very common.     

Additional Annotated References:

Abstract

This addendum contains 23 entrees dating between 1859 and 1927 relative to sites in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, and the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The first section of this bibliography was published in Volume 7, Number 15, of Plains Anthropologist, 1962, and contained 302 references.     

Variation in the structure of bird nests between northern Manitoba and southeastern Ontario

Traits that converge in appearance under similar environmental conditions among phylogenetically independent lineages are thought to represent adaptations to local environments. We tested for convergence in nest morphology and composition of birds breeding in two ecologically different locations in Canada: Churchill in northern Manitoba and Elgin in southeastern Ontario. We examined nests from four families of passerine birds (Turdidae: Turdus, Parulidae: Dendroica, Emberizidae: Passerculus and Fringillidae: Carduelis) where closely related populations or species breed in both locations. Nests of American Robins, Yellow Warblers, and Carduelis finches had heavier nest masses, and tended to have thicker nest-walls, in northern Manitoba compared with conspecifics or congenerics breeding in southeastern Ontario. Together, all species showed evidence for wider internal and external nest-cup diameters in northern Manitoba, while individual species showed varying patterns for internal nest-cup and external nest depths. American Robins, Yellow Warblers, and Carduelis finches in northern Manitoba achieved heavier nest masses in different ways. American Robins increased all materials in similar proportions, and Yellow Warblers and Common Redpolls used greater amounts of select materials. While changes in nest composition vary uniquely for each species, the pattern of larger nests in northern Manitoba compared to southeastern Ontario in three of our four phylogenetically-independent comparisons suggests that birds are adapting to similar selective pressures between locations.     

The Structure-taste Relationships of Aspartyl Dipeptide Esters

The molecular features common to sweet-tasting dipeptide esters are described. The molecular features of sweet amino acids were represented by the Fischer projection formulas and sweet peptides were related to the sweet amino acids through the Fischer projection formulas of the peptides. It was concluded that a peptide is sweet when it takes the formula 5a, whereas when it takes the formula 5b it is not sweet. It was also concluded that a third binding site (R₁ in 5a) besides the postulated AH–B system in a sweet molecule is necessary for an intense sweetness potency. The location of the site in the molecule relative to the AH–B system is important, as well as the shape and size of this site, because the third binding site is considered to participate in hydrophobic interaction with a similar binding site on the taste receptor. Increased sweetness is observed when these requirements are satisfied.     

New species of Hypolytrum Rich. (Cyperaceae) from the Neotropics

Five new species ofHypolytrum Rich. from South America are described and illustrated.Hypolytrum amorimii andH. jardimii, both of sect.Bullata T. Koyama, are species with pseudopetioles and colored leaves, and endemic to the rain forest of southeastern Brazil.Hypolytrum bahiense (sect.Hypolytrum), a species with a lax synflorescence and two, free and lightly scabridulous floral bracts, is endemic to the rain forest of southeastern Bahia, Brazil.Hypolytrum leptocalamum (sect.Hypolytrum), a species with lax synflorescence and spike ellipsoid to cylindrical, is restricted to area of tepuis in the Guayana Highland (Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela).Hypolytrum paraense (sect.Hypolytrum), a species with three, partly connate and densely scabridulous floral bracts, is restricted to the rain forest of the Amazon Basin, in the state of Pará, Brazil.     

Yunotrechus diannanensis n. gen., n. sp., the first troglobitic trechine (Coleoptera: Carabidae) from a tropical area of China

In the present paper Yunotrechus diannanensis n. gen., n. sp. is described and illustrated from two limestone caves which are close to each other in Wenshan and Maguan counties of southern Yunnan Province, southwestern China. Yunotrechus is an anophthalmoid, not directly related to any hypogean trechine genera hitherto known in Yunnan or in southeastern Asian countries because all of them are aphaenopsoids, with elongated prothorax and tumid propleura. The phylogenetic position of Yunotrechus within Trechinae in China or southeastern Asia remains unclear, although it may be related to Superbotrechus Deuve & Tian 2009, which was recorded from western Hubei Province, central China, and Sichuanotrechus Deuve 2006, which was recorded from northern Sichuan Province, southwestern China. Y. diannanensis n. sp. is the first troglobitic trechine beetle discovered in a tropical area of China.     

The Fort Smith Medicine Wheel,Montana

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to present information on a stone configuration in southeastern Montana, the Fort Smith Medicine Wheel (Site 24BH220), and to briefly review information on other known medicine wheels in an attempt to discover the function for which it was constructed.     

The growth of Sphagnum species in the southern Pennines

Abstract

The growth of transplants of six Sphagnum species at a blanket bog site in the southern Pennines was investigated and compared with that of similar transplants of the same provenance at a site in the Berwyn Mountains, North Wales. All species made some growth in the first year at the polluted southern Pennine site, but only Sphagnum recurvum grew in the second year. All species made good growth in both years at the relatively unpolluted North Wales site. A similar result was obtained in a later transplant experiment, and after more than 3 years, Sphagnum recurvum alone survives of the original transplants in the southern Pennines. The failure of these transplants is discussed in relation to a fumigation experinlent in which Sphagnum species were subjected to concentrations of sulphur dioxide in air and sulphate in rain similar to those occurring in the southern Pennines today. It is concluded that current concentrations of sulphur pollutants may not entirely account for the failure of the transplants.     

Walk-In Bridge Scheduling in Bluetooth Scatternets

Bluetooth scatternets may be operated in a loosely coupled mode, called Walk-In Bridge Scheduling, in which the master polls all of its slaves and bridges using E-limited service. Using the theory of queues with vacations, we derive the stability criteria for packet queues in piconet masters, slaves, and bridges. We show that the stability of the slave queues is more critical under high traffic locality, whereas the stability of the bridge queues becomes progressively more important as the non-local traffic increases. Our analysis shows that the limited exchange mode, in which the bridge residence time in a piconet is limited, performs better and has a wider stability region than the complete exchange mode in which the bridge stays in the piconet until all queued packets are exchanged. Simulations show that this scheduling approach offers good performance and excellent scalability, while maintaining scatternet stability.Vojislav B. Mii received his PhD in Computer Science from the University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1993. He is currently Assistant Professor of Computer Science, at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Previously, he has held posts at the University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include systems and software engineering and modeling and performance evaluation of wireless networks. He is a member of ACM, AIS, and IEEE.Jelena Mii received her PhD degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1993. She is currently Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Previously, she has been with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Her current research interests include wireless networks and mobile computing. She is a member of IEEE Computer Society.Ka Lok Chan received his MPhil degree in performance of Bluetooth networks at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.     

Sitio Creston (La 4939), a Stone Enclosure Site Near Las Vegas,New Mexico

Abstract

Recent work by the Museum of New Mexico resulted in the excavation of eight stone enclosures similar to those investigated by E. B. Renaud (1942), R. G. Campbell (1969), and others in southeastern Colorado and northeastern New Mexico. The site, tentatively dated within the span A.D. 1000-1150, is assigned to the Early Panhandle period defined by Campbell (1969). There is a general likeness of the ceramics to Taos Plain and Taos Incised. Projectile points consist almost entirely of a corner-notched form called Scallorn Points elsewhere. From all indications, the occupation, probably by an estimated 40 to 45 individuals, was short, with staggered abandonment. The evidence, though not conclusive, points to a hunting and gathering economy with the site serving as a base camp for a number of diversified activities. Detailed examination of the lithic remains resulted in the postulation of a projectile point production sequence which, at least in part, casts doubt on the validity of Fresno, Young and similar points as projectile points.     

Effects of a sea barrier on large-scale migration patterns studied by a network of weather radars

Capsule: Nocturnal passerine migration patterns were studied by a network of weather radars within the East-Atlantic flyway providing large-scale information on the effect of a geographical barrier.

Aims: The aim of this study was to obtain a large-scale spatial overview of the effects of a sea barrier on migratory flyways in northern Spain/western France.

Methods: Weather radar data were used from five sites at the Bay of Biscay during nights in spring 2015 to calculate flight directions and migration traffic rates (MTRs).

Results: The highest MTRs were registered by the radars at the southeastern edge of the bay, with a gradual decrease northwards. Spring migration direction was generally NNE/NE. Continuous nocturnal migration pattern indicated migration over land in the south. The radar half way up the French coast exhibited bimodal migration intensities at night, indicating sea crossing, and the northernmost corner of the bay showed little migration.

Conclusions: Radar patterns indicated migration over land and sea during spring migration. Sea crossing occurred with flight distances of up to about 500?km. Most migration activity was observed in the radars along the southeastern section of the bay, indicating that the general migration flyway from Spain funnels through the eastern side of the north Iberian Peninsula.     

A new dwarf shrubby species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Baccharis</Emphasis> subg. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Baccharis</Emphasis> (Asteraceae,Astereae) from southeastern Brazil

Baccharis dichotoma, a new dwarf shrubby species, with small leaves and few heads, of high-altitude grasslands from southeastern Brazil, is described, illustrated, and assigned to subgenus Baccharis.