Spinal Cord Evolution in Early Homo

Spinal cord evolution in early Homo

Authors:

Meyer et al

Abstract:

The discovery at Nariokotome of the Homo erectus skeleton KNM-WT 15000, with a narrow spinal canal, seemed to show that this relatively large-brained hominin retained the primitive spinal cord size of African apes and that brain size expansion preceded postcranial neurological evolution. Here we compare the size and shape of the KNM-WT 15000 spinal canal with modern and fossil taxa including H. erectus from Dmanisi, Homo antecessor, the European middle Pleistocene hominins from Sima de los Huesos, and Pan troglodytes. In terms of shape and absolute and relative size of the spinal canal, we find all of the Dmanisi and most of the vertebrae of KNM-WT 15000 are within the human range of variation except for the C7, T2, and T3 of KNM-WT 15000, which are constricted, suggesting spinal stenosis. While additional fossils might definitively indicate whether H. erectus had evolved a human-like enlarged spinal canal, the evidence from the Dmanisi spinal canal and the unaffected levels of KNM-WT 15000 show that unlike Australopithecus, H. erectus had a spinal canal size and shape equivalent to that of modern humans. Subadult status is unlikely to affect our results, as spinal canal growth is complete in both individuals. We contest the notion that vertebrae yield information about respiratory control or language evolution, but suggest that, like H. antecessor and European middle Pleistocene hominins from Sima de los Huesos, early Homo possessed a postcranial neurological endowment roughly commensurate to modern humans, with implications for neurological, structural, and vascular improvements over Pan and Australopithecus.

Russia's Most Syrian Adventure #22

Video claims to be from Al-Harra, about 10 km from the Israeli border.

Russia has starting attacking in the south in Syria's Daraa province.

No word yet on the number of strikes.  Russia has started briefing that information every other or every few days rather than daily as before.

Supposedly 600 have been killed in Syria to date by Russian airstrikes. 

Has the drop off in strikes in Syria really been about Russian logistical problems rather than equipment failures?

 The rebel factions apparently worked together to retake a town, , and the Russians started striking it afterwards.

The Russians claim they are actively engaged - in discussions! - with the Syrian rebels.

A Light in the Darkness

Scuffle in the South China Sea #2

The US Navy is planning to sail closer than 12 miles from the artificial islands China made in the South China Sea again.

Chinese warships shadowed the USS Lassen the first sail-by.

U.S. chief of naval operations Admiral John Richardson and his Chinese counterpart Admiral Wu Shengli will hold a teleconference over the incident.

China is reportedly REALLY angry over the sailing and future sailings of the US Navy by its islands.

The Chinese have stated they will respond with all necessary means the next time the US does the sail-by.

China reportedly hacked the website of Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and started spreading malware from the webpage. The court is where the Phillipines filed its dispute with the Chinese over the South China Sea territorial claims.

In a bit of delicious irony, Merkel suggested China settle the South China Sea dispute in the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

The Proterozoic Record of Eukaryotes

The Proterozoic Record of Eukaryotes

Authors:

Cohen et al

Abstract:

Proterozoic strata host evidence of global “Snowball Earth” glaciations, large perturbations to the carbon cycle, proposed changes in the redox state of oceans, the diversification of microscopic eukaryotes, and the rise of metazoans. Over the past half century, the number of fossils described from Proterozoic rocks has increased exponentially. These discoveries have occurred alongside an increased understanding of the Proterozoic Earth system and the geological context of fossil occurrences, including improved age constraints. However, the evaluation of relationships between Proterozoic environmental change and fossil diversity has been hampered by several factors, particularly lithological and taphonomic biases. Here we compile and analyze the current record of eukaryotic fossils in Proterozoic strata to assess the effect of biases and better constrain diversity through time. Our results show that mean within assemblage diversity increases through the Proterozoic Eon due to an increase in high diversity assemblages, and that this trend is robust to various external factors including lithology and paleogeographic location. In addition, assemblage composition changes dramatically through time. Most notably, robust recalcitrant taxa appear in the early Neoproterozoic Era, only to disappear by the beginning of the Ediacaran Period. Within assemblage diversity is significantly lower in the Cryogenian Period than in the preceding and following intervals, but the short duration of the nonglacial interlude and unusual depositional conditions may present additional biases. In general, large scale patterns of diversity are robust while smaller scale patterns are difficult to discern through the lens of lithological, taphonomic, and geographic variability.

Ukraine War Update: Вспышка и взрыва, лягушка

In a troubling development, fighting flared up and down the contact line.  The fighting has been restricted to small arms, automatic grenade launchers and 82mm mortars with a trio exceptions.  Those exceptions are really worrisome. 

The Donetsk Airport has blown up again.  So has Gorlovka and Optyne.  In all three cases, tanks are being used.  These are tanks that were supposed to have been withdrawn. At the airport, reports are of artillery starting to be used, too.  Again, artillery that was supposed to be withdrawn.

Zakharchenko has made numerous demands and stated if those demands were not met, the DNR would go to war again.  The Ukrainains have flipped him the bird and stated if he does, they will immediately respond. 

I have a hard time believing Putin would allow the DNR to go to war with the Ukrainians unless he intends for them to collapse.  I don't think that's his intentions at all, so Zakharchenko will be reigned in: Putin can't afford both the war in Ukraine and the war in Syria.

However, the fighting is concerning and soldiers have been wounded and died.

• Red - Solidarity, Poroshenko Bloc
• Light blue - Opposition bloc (ex. Party of Regions)
• Dark blue - Svoboda
• White - Fatherland Party (Tymoshenko)
• Dark Green - Self Help Party
• Light Green - Ukrop (Dill)
• Brown - Revival (Renaissance) Party

The fighting took place after Ukraine had country wide elections, save for in the DNR and LNR.  Poroshenko's ruling block came out with a majority, but the margin slipped.  Everyone was rather worried about Tymoshenko coming back.  Her party floundered again.  I'm ALMOST tempted to call her a political has-been.  Three interesting bits: one, the old Party of Regions reformed to some extent and took some seats in the old stopping grounds of the east and south.  Second, Ukraine's elections had some irregularities, mostly in the east, but were hailed as very clean in general by monitors.  Third, people are very unhappy with the rate of progress in the country.  They want the reforms faster.  HOWEVER!  They feel the current Poroshenko allies are the best of the lot to actually reform.

 One of the OSCE monitors was forced to resign.  He got drunk and belligerent.  It also turned out he was a Russian GRU officer!  Whoops!  It explains some of the oddities with the OSCE reports.

Common Lizards Face Threat From Climate Change

While there is no doubt that climate change is affecting many organisms, some species might be more sensitive than others. Reptiles, whose body temperature depends directly on environmental temperature, may be particularly vulnerable. Scientists have now shown experimentally that lizards cope very poorly with the climate predicted for the year 2100.

In a new study, publishing in the Open Access journal PLOS Biology on October 26th, Elvire Bestion, Julien Cote and colleagues examined the consequences of a 2°C warmer climate on the persistence of populations of common lizards (Zootoca vivipara), a widespread European reptile. Their results show that many common lizard populations could disappear rapidly as a consequence of such warmer temperatures.

"Breed fast and die young" seems to be the new mantra of common lizards in the face of climate change; it is also the conclusion reached by researchers from the Station d'écologie expérimentale du CNRS à Moulis (SEEM) and the Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB, CNRS/Université Toulouse 3 Paul Sabatier/ENFA) who studied this small European reptile species.

link.

Will Russia's Reserve Fund be Exhausted by end of Next Year?

Next year could become the last for the Reserve Fund, Russia’s Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said Tuesday. The minister noted that Russia’s Reserve Fund will no longer be the main source to finance budget deficit from 2017.

"Our reserves volume [in 2015 - TASS] will decrease by approximately 2.6 trillion rubles ($40.85 bln) - more than half. This means that 2016 is the last year when we are able to spend our reserves that way. After that we will not have such resources," he said.

In the draft budget for 2016, the Reserve Fund is considered as the main source to finance the budget deficit. In particular, it is planned to allocate 2.137 trillion rubles for this purpose.

As a result, in the end of 2016 the fund will shrink to 1.051 trillion rubles ($16.4 bln), or 1.3% of GDP. In the beginning of 2015 the fund amounted to 4.946 trillion rubles ($77.161 bln), or 6.7% of GDP.

According to the 2016 budget draft by the Ministry of Finance, revenues of Russia’s federal budget for 2016 are projected at 13.577 trillion rubles ($217 bln), expenses at 15.761 trillion rubles ($252 bln), leading to budget deficit of 2.184 trillion rubles ($34.9 bln).

link.

Venus has Stronger Surface Winds Than Earth

Surface winds on Venus: Probability distribution from in-situ measurements

Author:

Lorenz

Abstract:

A surface wind specification is needed for future landed missions to Venus. While sparse, there exist enough data from the limited surface and near-surface measurements to date to define a probability density function that guides expectations of winds for rational design of landing systems. Following a review of all available data (mostly from the Venera missions), a Weibull function, used previously for Mars and Titan, and widely used in terrestrial engineering applications, is proposed. Best-estimate wind measurements are reasonably described by P( greater than V) = exp[−(V/c)k], with c = 0.8 m/s, k = 1.9: this function yields a 95% chance of winds less than 1.4 m/s and 99% less than 1.8 m/s. A worst-case function, allowing the high end of Venera measurement uncertainties to force the fit, has slightly higher values (c = 0.9 m/s, k = 1.7; 95% wind 1.7 m/s; 99%, 2.2 m/s). The data suggest that winds strong enough to move dust and sand on Venus are rather common (more so than is typical for Mars, Earth or Titan), a prediction testable with radar interferometry on future orbital missions and/or from landed observations. More elaborate analyses should take site-specific factors such as slope or time of day into account, but cannot be meaningfully constrained by present data.

Live Blogging the Republican Debate: Masochism at its Best!

I am only going to tackle the big kid's table and IDK how long this will run: I may end up stopping early.  We shall see though.

Just found a livestream.  Here we go.

 17:25 PM PT: Oh gawd.  Paul's going to start filibuster tomorrow.  greeeaaaat.

CNBC is losing control already.

Taxes, budgets:

Trump beats his chest.

Carson says his tax plan will be at 15% for everyone and cut government.  Contradicts CNBC.

Kasich attacks others and says others are making fantasies for people.  Slamming Trump and Carson.

Trump rips Kasich.  Kasich was on Lehman Brothers board.  Claims Kasich got lucky with fracking.

Everyone is stroking the flat tax.  gah.

Fiorina snarks on point about tax reform being the perennial issue that's never finished.

Rubio.  o.O  Told to wait his turn.  He says he's the savior, hallelujah.

Bush slams Rubio.  Man, slams him hard.

Rubio: slams back.  trips Bush pretty hard so far.

Bush claims he'd be a great leader and avoids question what he is melting down.

Fiorina based on HP experience: NASDAQ dropped 80%, HP stock lost 50%, HP was dying.

Cruz: Slams the media.  has a point.  chooses not to answer the question.  bleh.

CNBC cannot keep in control.

Paul: Opposes budget deal for cutting entitlements only to increase spending more elsewhere.  Paul says blackmail how you reform government.

Christie:  Social compact broken.  Social security going bankrupt in 7 years.  uh huh  Heard this every 4 years for the last 32 years.

Huckabee: social security shouldn't be touched.   This is a matter of morality.

Christie: tell the truth.  money stolen.

Cruz: republican leadership betrayed us in congress.  Then talks about social security.  uh.

Huckabee:  means testing means government decides.  madoff did less than the government with respect to social security.

Break time.

Trump on atlantic city.  he used the law to his benefit.  that would be called 'criminal in law.'

Carson on drug prices: profiteering in drugs, yes.  turns this into regulations on small business huh???

Christie:  hypocrite.  Good grief.  You bet he'd NOT actually hunt any business.

Bush: wuh?  cut taxes.  cut taxes.  wuh?

Fiorina, internet sales tax: avoids question.  wants to talk crony capitalism.  Betcha she's avoiding the fact a lot of the things she's talking about happened under Bush.  Wait.  is she talking about trust busting????  hmmm.  no, not really.  She's jumped onto a track and kept going.

Rubio, money problems: his finances were because he struggled from working class.

Kasich, wants to kill Export/Import Bank or incentives: This is welfare for rich people.  wants balanced budget amendment.

Cruz, on women wage equality: no legislation for equality.

Fiorina, on women: lift everyone, blame democrats.

Carson on gays:  Marriage man/woman, but really gay friendly, honestly.

Carson, on manitech:  audience lash out at the questions.

Break.

Rubio, wants to be tech industry savior:  reform the H-1B.  bar companies that abuse system.

Trump, in favor of immigration:  for harvard etc. grads from other countries to stay.  For reforming SuperPACs.  Get rid of them and bad decisions because of it.

Cruz, the fed: concerns about fed and audit the fed.  rules based monetary policy.  wants to get rid of fed independence.  he's a GOLD BUG!

Paul, the fed:  audit the fed.  blames fed for income inequality.  blames fed for housing boom and crisis.  no price controls on money.  o.O

Carson, subsidies bad but for ethanol ok:  Admits he was wrong (or says he).

Huckabee, income inequality:  whoa points at JLENS!  lol.  Disagree with him, but I do dislike the JLENS.  No government reg.  he's right about the income inequality.  Not how.

Bush, tax reform, capital gains:  no, really!  middle class is best in my plan!  avoid the question damned fast!

Rubio, tax plan benefits highest: no, you're wrong.  tax foundation wrong.  Rubio tripping.  Greatest gains for percentage for lower class, middle class.  Not absolute.

Paul, tax plan: gets rid of payroll tax.  uhhh...  this doesn't work really.

Cruz: Kill IRS.

CNBC cannot control this debate.  geez.

Kasich, 420: no revenue problem.  drugs bad.  m'kay.  income inequality biggest problem, freeze regulations, wuh.

BREAK.

Interesting that they haven't had trump and carson front and center as much.  trump has also been very muted compared to past debates.

 Trump, H-1B: in favor for people coming legally.  Avoiding the real question.

Rubio, immigration:  change from based on merit, not family.

Trump, guns: comfortable with employees carrying.  Gun free zones are target practice.  Change gun free zone policies.

Huckabee, moral authority: Trump doesn't need him moralizing.  seriously anti clinton.

Christie, moral authority: Christie.  Talking moral authority.  o.O  Is crime REALLY going up?  Christie supports police, period.  hrm.  cops need to be accountable, really, Christie!

Fiorinia, freelance economy retirement: No, feds in retirement plans.  Only rich benefit from government intervention.

Kasich, student debt: wants to downsize university assets, public service to pay off debt, also universities shouldn't get paid for nongraduating students.  uh... most frosh don't become sophomore.

Bush: no federal involvement in university debt.

Bush, are fantasy sports gambling: should be regulated.

Christie: are we really talking about fantasy football!?!  point.

Christie, climate change: don't do what the democrats idea.  hrmph hrmph hrmph.  slams moderator pretty well.  look at my energy plan for climate change.

Paul, medicare: government does a bad job.  can't pay for itself.  points out the demographics. and worker ratios.  Was that really his response?  not because it was stupid, but because there was some thought in it.  o.O

BREAK.

Huckabee, medicare response: 85% of cost of medicare is chronic disease.  Fix the health problem rather than fix medicare.

Bush: I HAVE A PLAN!  I MATTER!  REALLY!

Trump: Grow economy so fast the medicare reform irrelevant.

Bush: wealthy don't get same benefits, reform medicare.

Kasich: reformed medicaid without cutting benefits.  can't grow your way out of demographics.

Paul:must reform.

Carson, individual plans: o.O people can't afford their medical costs, they can save?!  privatize. 

Christie:  dude. are you participating in the same debate I am listening to?!

Rubio: reform for future, not current people.

Fiorina: we talk the same thing every election.

CLOSING STATEMENTS:

Paul:  small government.   claims no limit to debt limit.

Christie: sounds like an early 90s infomercial.  I'm awesome.

Cruz: who stands up to anyone?  I'm the serial contrarian, damnit. 

Fiorina: we always talk about the same things.  I am repeating the same things I have said before again.  because I need to say the same thing again.  I am Hillary's worst nightmare.  Hillary Carly debate.

Carson: thank you everybody.

Trump:we are losers.  america is a loser nation. 

Rubio: america is great!  rahrah! 

Bush: DC pols making everything worse.  I'm the savior!  gah.

Huckabee: wants to improve everything, thinking of future generations.

Kasich: sounding like traditional conservative. 



Closing statements.

US Navy Checking to See if ALL Virginia Class Nuclear Submarines can be Built with Virginia Payload Module Starting in 2019

The Program Executive Office for Submarines would like to see the Virginia Payload Module built into all its Block V subs from a warfighting perspective but will have to verify that doing so will not hurt ongoing Virginia sub construction or upcoming Ohio Replacement Program construction..

PEO Subs executive director George Drakeley said last week at the annual Naval Submarine League symposium that the Virginia Payload Module would help the Virginia-class attack subs (SSN-774) replace the SSGN guided missile subs.

“The warfighters have come to love that platform,” Drakeley said of the SSGNs.
“Those ships are getting used and used hard,” with parts wearing out earlier than expected due to heavy use in the fleet.

“The VPM is the follow-on basically for SSGNs, and with the kind of support it has, the program is actually probably in pretty good shape,” he said.

“Right now the plan of record is to build one VPM a year starting in [Fiscal Year 2019] through the shipbuilding plan. There is now kind of support for the possibility of, after we start building Virginia VPM … to make all of the Virginias VPM-Virginias. I think that makes sense from a shipbuilding point of view, and from a capability for the Navy” point of view, he said.

link.

US Navy Starting SSN(X) Attack Sub Program a Decade "Early"

Though the Virginia-class attack submarine program (SSN-774) is still going strong, delivering boats ahead of schedule and below original cost estimates, the Navy needs to start planning the next generation of attack submarines soon, according to the program executive office for submarines.

PEO Subs executive director George Drakeley said last week at the annual Naval Submarine League symposium that an analysis of alternatives for the next-generation sub, or SSN(X), would take place in 2024.

To prepare for that milestone, PEO Subs has created a future capabilities group to begin studying what the operating environment might look like in the 2050 timeframe, what technologies submarines would require to be successful in that environment, and what enablers the research and development community can start working on now to set up the future program for success, he said.

“We’re already putting together a team to look at, what does the future submarine after Virginia need to look like? This is looking forward just as the Ohio Replacement Program is looking forward, but it’s important that we do this now,” Drakeley said.
“We need to identify the technologies that we’re going to need out in the future years in the attack submarine business. … This is going to be a submarine that will have to be better integrated with [unmanned underwater vehicles] and other sensors and other capabilities that we maybe haven’t even thought of yet.”

In 2013 the Navy expanded the Virginia class from a 30-boat program to 48, which now puts the last Virginia-class sub at delivering in 2034, he said. The SSN(X) analysis of alternatives will take place in 2024, the authorization for the lead ship in the new class will happen in 2034, and the new class will reach initial operational capability in 2044, according to current PEO Subs plans.

Starting the SSN(X) discussion nearly a decade ahead of the AoA will help ensure that mature technologies and design tools are ready when the program starts, which reduces risk and cost; will help the Navy understand the impact of external factors and other programs on the SSN(X) design and mission; and build affordability into the program, Drakeley said during his presentation.

link.

There are two possibilities here.  1.  The Navy is doing something really stupid.  They are going to waste money starting the program long, long before it will go to production.  A DECADE! of budget line item that's not producing anything and another TWO decades before IOC for the first SSN(X).

The other possibility is the navy thinks they will get the greenlight to start the AOA and program much earlier, probably in the next administration, and have their ducks in a row so they can.  In that light, this looks like a good idea. 

In the light of starting a program *30* years before IOC of the first sub is dumber than dumb.  

A retired admiral is criticizing the navy and stating the navy needs to accelerate submarine innovation.

JLENS Down in Pennsylvannia

Multiple reports state the loose JLENS blimp, after traveling almost 200 miles, has landed and military and police are descending on the area to secure it.

link.

Should Australia Acquire Nuclear Weapons?

Over the past century, Australia has been America’s most dependable military ally. In every major U.S. conflict, including World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq, Australians have fought alongside.

Yet as competition between China and the United States heats up in the Western Pacific, Australia is cautious not to provoke its greatest trading partner. When it comes to a potential U.S.-China conflict, Australia is doing all it can to keep its options open – and with good reason.

Australia is highly vulnerable to long-range missile attack, including those carrying nuclear payloads. Despite Australia being a continental power, almost all its population is concentrated in a half-dozen major cities — easy targets for small numbers of warheads.

In a high-intensity conflict between the United States and China, it is conceivable that China may target Australia with long-range nuclear missiles as a step up the escalation ladder, demonstrating to the United States its capacity, and willingness, to conduct nuclear strikes over intercontinental ranges.

In this eventuality, extended nuclear deterrence would hardly be credible. Retaliating on Australia’s behalf would demonstrably mean accepting large-scale nuclear attack by China on the continental United States.

For this reason, many Australians believe entering into conflict with the world’s most populous nuclear power, for any reason and under any circumstance, is unthinkable – despite very strong support for the Australia-U.S. alliance overall. The most effective means for Australia to insulate itself from long-range nuclear attack is to develop or acquire its own reliable long-range nuclear deterrent.

link.

Global Dust Clouds Present During the Permian

Coal derived rates of atmospheric dust deposition during the Permian

Authors:

Marshall et al

Abstract:

Despite widespread evidence for atmospheric dust deposition prior to the Quaternary, quantitative rate data remains sparse. As dust influences both climate and biological productivity, the absence of quantitative dust data limits the comprehensiveness of models of pre-Quaternary climate and biogeochemical cycles. Here, we propose that inorganic matter contained in coal primarily records atmospheric dust deposition. To test this, we use the average concentration of inorganic matter in Permian coal to map global patterns and deposition rates of atmospheric dust over Pangea. The dust accumulation rate is calculated assuming Permian peat carbon accumulation rates in temperate climates were similar to Holocene rates and accounting for the loss of carbon during coalification. Coal-derived rates vary from 0.02 to 25 g m- 2 yr- 1, values that fall within the present-day global range. A well constrained East-West pattern of dust deposition corresponding to expected palaeoclimate gradients extends across Gondwana with maximum dust deposition rates occurring close to arid regions. A similar pattern is partially defined over the northern hemisphere. Patterns are consistent with the presence of two large global dust plumes centred on the tropics. The spatial patterns of dust deposition also were compared to dust cycle simulations for the Permian made with the Community Climate System Model version 3 (CCSM3). Key differences between the simulations and the coal data are the lack of evidence for an Antarctic dust source, higher than expected dust deposition over N and S China and greater dust deposition rates over Western Gondwana. This new coal-based dust accumulation rate data expands the pre-Neogene quantitative record of atmospheric dust and can help to inform and validate models of global circulation and biogeochemical cycles over the past 350 Myr.

US Army's Cruise Missile Tracking JLENS Blimp has Broken Loose, Being Chased by two F-16s

One of two tethered US Army aerostats that can be seen floating above Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, has broken free from its tether and is moving in a northeast trajectory.

The Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS) consists of both a fire control system aerostat and a surveillance aerostat and is undergoing operational exercises at Aberdeen Proving Ground.

The surveillance aerostat detached from its mooring station at 12:20 p.m. EST today, NORAD spokesman Michael Kucharek told Defense News.

The aerostat was last seen traveling over Pennsylvania and is being trailed by two F-16 fighter jets from Atlantic City, New Jersey, Kucharek said.

link.

Nacholapithecus kerioi: a Miocene Neogene Hominoid From Kenya That Moved Like Orangutans in the Trees

Morphology of the thoracolumbar spine of the middle Miocene hominoid Nacholapithecus kerioi from northern Kenya

Authors:

Kikuchi et al

Abstract:

A new caudal thoracic and a new lumbar vertebra of Nacholapithecus kerioi, a middle Miocene hominoid from northern Kenya, are reported. The caudal thoracic vertebral body of N. kerioi has a rounded median ventral keel and its lateral sides are moderately concave. The lumbar vertebral body has an obvious median ventral keel. Based on a comparison of vertebral body cranial articular surface size between the caudal thoracic vertebrae in the present study and one discussed in a previous study (KNM-BG 35250BO, a diaphragmatic vertebra), N. kerioi has at least two post-diaphragmatic vertebrae (rib-bearing lumbar-type thoracic vertebrae), unlike extant hominoids. It also has thick, rounded, and moderately long metapophyses on the lumbar vertebra that project dorsolaterally. The spinous process bases of its caudal thoracic and lumbar vertebrae originate caudally between the postzygapophyses, as described previously in the KNM-BG 35250 holotype specimen. In other words, the postzygapophyses of N. kerioi do not project below the caudal border of the spinous processes, similar to those of extant great apes, and unlike small apes and monkeys, which have more caudally projecting postzygapophyses. Nacholapithecus kerioi has a craniocaudally expanded spinous process in relation to vertebral body length, also similar to extant great apes. Both these spinous process features of N. kerioi differ from those of Proconsul nyanzae. The caudal thoracic vertebra of N. kerioi has a caudally-directed spinous process, whose tip is tear-drop shaped. These features resemble those of extant apes. The morphology of the spinous process tips presumably helps vertebral stability by closely stacking adjacent spinous process tips as seen in extant hominoids. The morphology of the spinous process and postzygapophyses limits the intervertebral space and contributes to the stability of the functional lumbar region as seen in extant great apes, suggesting that antipronograde activity was included in the positional behavior of N. kerioi.

Russia's Most Syrian Adventure #21

Over the last two days, Russia has conducted 118 airstrikes in Syria.  This is half the rate of two days ago.  However, I would be cautious about declaring Russia's aircraft are all breaking down.  They may be having trouble, but we'll see if the rate stabilizes, fall further or if Russia ships in more aircraft.

A Russian armored column, heavy in artillery, left Latakia.  This would hint the Russians are going to try to provide artillery support now in addition to air strikes and some fighters from Ukraine plus special forces.  Putin must love him some tarbaby quagmire pie.

The Iranians are apparently suffering heavy grounds losses if reports are to be believed.  I wonder if the original deal was Russia wuld provide air support and the Iranians would provide ground combat troops.

Complicating that is that the American generals are talking about placing American ground troops in Iraqi units to fight IS.  Iran's supply lines might get rather complicated if there are significant American troops in Iraq.

Mood

Are Iron Isotopes From Archean Deposits Biosignatures?

Does a Heavy Fe-Isotope Composition of Akilia Quartz-Amphibole-Pyroxene Rocks Necessitate a BIF Origin?

Authors:

Whitehouse et al

Abstract:

The age and origin of the quartz-amphibole-pyroxene (qap) gneiss from the island of Akilia, southern West Greenland, have been the subject of intense debate since the light C-isotope composition of graphite inclusions in apatite was interpreted to indicate the presence of Earth's earliest biological activity. Although this claim for biogenic relicts has been vigorously challenged, the possibility that the rocks might represent some of Earth's earliest water-lain sediments and, hence, a suitable repository for life remains an open question. While some workers have suggested that the entire sequence represents an originally mafic-ultramafic igneous precursor subsequently modified by metasomatism, quartz injection, high-grade metamorphism, and extreme ductile deformation, others maintain that at least a small part of the sequence retains geochemical characteristics indicative of a chemical sedimentary origin. Fractionated Fe isotopes with δ56Fe values similar to those observed in Isua BIF have been reported from high-SiO2 units of qap and used to support a chemical sedimentary protolith for the qap unit. Here, we present new Fe isotope data from all lithologic variants in the qap gneiss on Akilia, including layers of undisputed ultramafic igneous origin. Since the latter require introduction of fractionated Fe into at least part of the qap unit, we argue that Fe isotopes must therefore be treated with considerable caution when used to infer BIF for part or all of the qap protolith.