LIPIDS FROM SAMPLES OF SKIN FROM SEVEN DUTCH BOG BODIES: PRELIMINARY REPORT

A combination of micro-analytical techniques including thin layer chromatography (TLC), gas chromatography (GC). and combined gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GCIMS) have been employed to study the lipid compositions of samples of skin from seven Dutch bog bodies. TLC showed that, while phospholipids have been degraded, other acyl lipids, for example triacylglycerols and steryl esters, may remain intact. GC and GC/MS analyses, following treatment of the total lipid extracts with acidified methanol, showed the presence of abundant fatty carboxylic acids and sterols. Molecular analysis by GC/MS allowed distinctions to be drawn between components originating from the bog body and the surrounding peat. Additionally, substances derived from microbial alteration of endogenous skin lipids and from the lipids of the micro-organisms themselves can be distinguished.     

ROMAN POTTERY FROM AUGUSTA PRAETORIA (AOSTA,ITALY): A PROVENANCE STUDY

Forty-five sherds of Roman pottery, 21 terrae sigillutae and 24 common wares excavated in Augusta Praeroria, were analysed for 12 elements by atomic absorption and emission spectroscopy. Hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis, principal component analysis, and non-linear mapping were performed on the analytical data in order to classify the objects in groups which could account for different provenances; soft independent modelling of class analogy (SIMCA) and K nearest neighbours (KNN) were used for solving doubtful assignments. The classification results indicate that local productions of terra sigillatu can be easily distinguished from the imported ones, and that common wares have compositional patterns which differ from those of both local and imported terrae sigillatue.     

LES VERRES ANCIENS: LA QUESTION DE LA DATABILITÉ PAR THERMOLUMINESCENCE

La plupart des échantillons de verres archéologiques ne sont pas datables par thermoluminescence. Une analyse des causes limitant l'extension de la datation par thermoluminescence aux verres anciens montre que celles-ci sont directement issues de caracteristiques de l'etat vitreux. Toutefois. dans certains cas particuliers, la datation est possible. Most archaeological glass samples cannot be dated using thermoluminescence (TL). An analysis of the causes which limit the extension of the TL dating method to ancient glass shows that these causes come from the vitreous state characteristics. Nevertheless in some cases, dating is still possible.     

FORECASTING TURNING POINTS IN METROPOLITAN EMPLOYMENT GROWTH RATES USING BAYESIAN TECHNIQUES

In this paper, I adapt to the regional level a Bayesian approach developed by Zellner, Hong, and Min (1990) to analyze forecasts of turning points in a multicountry setting. The techniques applied to a regional setting treat the individual metropolitan areas in the same way that Zellner, Hong, and Min treated countries. The findings in this study indicate that the techniques and models employed by Zellner, Hong, and Min work just as well at the metropolitan-area level as they did in the multicountry setting. The best models, from those studied here, forecast around 70 percent of the downturns and 80 percent of the upturns correctly, which compares favorably to the performance of the same techniques in Zellner, Hong, and Min.     

Women and children last: the poverty and marginalization of one-parent families

The spatial distribution and socioeconomic status of one-parent families in Great Britain and Australia are described, and reasons for the increase in this type of family are analyzed. The author finds that "one-parent families, largely composed of women and children, constitute one of the most rapidly-growing family types. Evidence from Britain and Australia reveals their extreme marginalization in the labour market, and their concentration into public housing. These problems are related to patriarchal structures within society, particularly the expectations of traditional gender roles and the segregation of women's job opportunities."