Evolutionary implications of design and performance characteristics of prehistoric pottery

A Darwinian evolutionary approach offers a powerful means of examining change archaeologically. The approach is based on the tenet that materials contained in the archaeological record were parts of human phenotypes, as were behaviors behind the manufacture, use, and discard of the materials. Engineering-design analysis and performance analysis of material remains — here variously tempered ceramic cooking vessels from the midwestern United States — extend the archaeologist's ability to see and map variation beyond that which is readily apparent and thus are logical points from which to begin examination of human adaptation. The approach is essentially indistinguishable from that used by biologists to study design and function of biologically based features as well as phylogenetic histories of such features.     

Icarus of Basel? Oecolampadius and the Early Swiss Reformation

This article examines the role of Johannes Oecolampadius in the establishment of reformation at Basel specifically and his place in the Swiss Reformation generally. In this context there is an overview of reformation tactics and activities at Basel in the 1520s, especially concerning the role of the city council, popular movements advocating iconoclasm, and the Anabaptist problem. Oecolampadius' relations with Luther, Zwingli, Erasmus and the radical reformers are considered.     

Identifying Areas with Elevated Disease Incidence Rates Using Empirical Bayes Estimators

Using maps of observed disease incidence rates to identify regions with potentially elevated risk may be misleading due to the instability of the observed rates in regions with small populations. We use a simulation study to examine the use of maps based on observed incidence rates in identifying such high-risk areas as compared to maps based on empirical Bayes and constrained empirical Bayes rate estimates. In addition, because the existence of clusters of areas with elevated risk violates the usual distributional assumptions underlying the empirical Bayes approach, we also examine the robustness of the estimates and the impact of incorrect assumptions on identification of high-risk regions. The simulation results indicate that the observed incidence rates were quite sensitive in terms of identifying areas with truly elevated rates. However, due to the instability of the observed rates, maps based on observed incidence incorrectly identified areas as high risk more frequently than did maps based on the estimators. The standard and constrained empirical Bayes estimates were more stable than the observed rates even when based on incorrect distributional assumptions. The standard empirical Bayes estimates, however, were oversmoothed in that too few areas were identified as having elevated risk. The constrained empirical Bayes approach provided sensitivity closer to that of the observed rates yet with the percentage of areas incorrectly identified as high risk equal to that of the standard empirical Bayes estimates. We illustrate an application of these results with an analysis of the geographic distribution of brain cancer mortality among counties in Ohio.     

The world-systems perspective and archaeology: Forward into the past

This article reviews previous attempts to extend world-system theory from the modern era to prehistoric and archaeological settings. It summarizes major debates among scholars from several disciplines who are comparing the modern world-system with earlier world-systems. Special attention centers on the problems of conceptualizing world-systems, the spatial bounding of world-systems, and understandings of systemic logics.     

SOCIAL SEGREGATION IN ATHENS

This paper deals with changes in the Athenian social structure, mainly in its geographical organization, between 1971 and 1981. These changes are identified by clustering all communities in the Athens region on the basis of socio-professional location quotients and then examining socio-professional ratio changes in the resulting clusters. A process of social segregation is found to be well under way although, during the same period, the Athenian social structure tended to depolarize (middle class increase). Explanatory hypotheses are formulated on the basis of industrial stagnation, tertiarization, public sector employment, housing and urban practices and policies as well as urban congestion and air pollution. Finally, a link is attempted with more recent developments and tendencies.     

Unpacking Central Place Geometry I: Single Level Theoretical k Systems

This paper examines the spatial and potential economic consequences of relaxing the geometrical packing requirement of classical central place theory. Diagrams are used to demonstrate that geometric packing is not necessary to satisfy demand at all discrete points at a given hierarchical level. With unpacked landscapes the same population can be served from fewer, more widely spaced, central places without increasing the length of journey to shop. Consumers have fewer choices in an unpacked landscape, but economies of scale may increase the array of consumer goods and services available. Relaxing the packing requirement allows the development of a range of stable k systems (i.e., further market entry is disallowed). Between the limits of the k = 3 system (Christaller's marketing principle) and the k = 7 system (the sociopolitical or administrative principle), a range of unpacked k systems can develop including a k = 5 and a k = 6 system. Noninteger k systems are also possible as are systems which are stable mixtures of coexisting k principles. In certain instances, it is economically advantageous for two or more entrepreneurs to co-locate in the same central place rather than attempting monopolistic control over a more limited hinterland. Such a result is consistent with both Berry and Garrison's concept of the duplication ratio and with recent trends in retail location.     

EURATOM,ENEA und die nationale Kernenergiepolitik in Deutschland

EURATOM was created by politicians who put the advancement of European integration above all other goals. However, the science and energy policies of the individual member states were still largely conceived within a national framework. After its official establishment, EURATOM began to develop a life of its own. Significant conflicts arose between national and EURATOM interests as the records of the German Foreign Office and the German Ministry of Atomic Energy demonstrate. German scientists, engineers and business leaders preferred the more liberal approach to the development of nuclear energy taken by OEEC and its affiliate, the European Nuclear Energy Agency ENEA. In conjunction with the IAEA in Vienna, however, EURATOM performed a particularly useful service in helping to control the proliferation of fissionable material.