Petrographic analysis and INAA geochemistry of prehistoric ceramics from Robinson Pueblo, New Mexico

The examination of thin sections is a successful method for discovering provenance groupings of archaeological ceramics if non-clay inclusions in pottery paste can be identified with petrographically distinctive geologic sources. When this is not the case, geochemical analysis must be employed to search for more subtle evidence of such groupings. This situation is likely to arise in studies, such as the present one, where the objective is to discern local or subregional patterns of pottery manufacture and exchange. Ninety potsherds from site LA46326 in New Mexico were subjected to both INAA and petrographic analysis. The results of this conjoint approach are assessed in relation to geochemical theory and are analysed graphically and statistically.     

Bayesian Updating of Seismic Demand Models and Fragility Estimates for Reinforced Concrete Bridges with Two-Column Bents

Probabilistic models have been developed in a previous study by the authors to estimate the seismic deformation demands on structural components of reinforced concrete (RC) bridges with two-column bents. However, such models should be updated to reflect the latest laboratory of field data. Using a Bayesian approach, this article updates a currently available probabilistic model for the deformation demands of columns in bridges with two-column RC bents. The updated model incorporates information from newly available experimental data from shake table tests conducted based on a record of the 1994 Northridge Earthquake for a structural system with three bents with two columns per bent. The updated model is more accurate than the previous one in predicting the deformation demand of bridges with two-column RC bents and reduces the statistical uncertainty due to the addition of new data. As an application, fragility estimates for an example bridge are computed using the updated model both at the component (column) and system (bridge) levels.     

Seismic Vulnerability Assessment of Modular Steel Buildings

Contemporary seismic design is based on dissipating earthquake energy through significant inelastic deformations. This study aims at developing an understanding of the inelastic behavior of braced frames of modular steel buildings (MSBs) and assessing their seismic demands and capacities. Incremental dynamic analysis is performed on typical MSB frames. The analysis accounts for their unique detailing requirements. Maximum inter-story drift and peak global roof drift were adopted as critical response parameters. The study revealed significant global seismic capacity and a satisfactory performance at design intensity levels. High concentration of inelasticity due to limited redistribution of internal forces was observed.     

Application of an Extended Bouc-Wen Model in Seismic Response Prediction of Unbonded Fiber-Reinforced Isolators

The focus of this article is on seismic-response prediction of Stable Unbonded-Fiber Reinforced Elastomeric Isolators (SU-FREIs). The lateral load-displacement of a SU-FREI can be characterized with a gradual softening that is followed by stiffening. An extended Bouc-Wen Model is developed to simulate the response behavior of SU-FREIs under seismic events. To examine the accuracy of model, the response of a base isolated structure to different input earthquakes were simulated and compared with the results of a previous shake table study. Results of this study indicate that the proposed Bouc-Wen Model is robust and reasonably accurate in seismic analysis of SU-FREIs.     

Scaling ceramic provenience at Lydian Sardis,Western Turkey

We present a multistage strategy to define the scale and geographic distribution of ‘local’ ceramic production at Lydian Sardis based on geochemical analysis (NAA) of a large diverse ceramic sample (n = 281). Within the sphere of local ceramic production, our results demonstrate an unusual pattern of reliance on a single resource relative to other contemporary Iron Age centers. When our NAA results are combined with legacy NAA provenience data for production centers in Western Anatolia, we can differentiate ceramic emulation from exchange, establish probable proveniences for the non-local component of the dataset, and define new non-local groups with as yet no known provenience.     

Evaluating the efficiency of museums using multiple outputs: evidence from a regional system of museums in Spain

Data Envelopment Analysis is used to evaluate museum efficiency. This approach enables us to create a relative efficiency measure for each museum, taking into account resources used by museums and the performance of their activities based on four well-defined tasks: conservation, research, communication and exhibition. Empirical analysis of data from a regional museum system in Spain is performed, considering a complex production function with several inputs and outputs. The main findings indicate that at least half the museums chosen operate efficiently, with the major cause for inefficiency being inadequate resource management. Only few museums evidenced significant inadequate scaling problems. Major progress, mainly due to improvements in internal efficiency, is evident in the museum system ratios when analysing productivity evolution using the Malmquist Index. By contrast, technological change has less impact, proving that cultural heritage is less receptive to new technologies as compared to other cultural industries.     

2000年中国的美国问题研究定量分析

通过对2000年中国的4594篇美国问题文章的定量分析,可以发现该年度中国的美国问题研究有七个方面的特点：全方位研究态势进一步发展;经济、政治、文化为三大研究热点;军事研究凸现;教育研究引人注目,历史和社会研究相对薄弱;普及文章独占鳌头,学术文章和译文比例减小：中美关系占有重要地位,借鉴性文章也大幅度增加;某些课题研究亟待充实。但同时也存在着若干明显的不足。今后中国的美国问题研究,应重视普及工作,坚持实事求是的思想路线,重视跟踪考察和理论创新,全方位、多侧面地关注美国问题,加强学术评论,完善学术规范,加快信息库建设,从而提高中国的美国问题研究的学术水平。     

法国巴黎集美博物馆藏克孜尔石窟壁画调查与原位考证

本文在前人研究基础上,结合笔者数十年的石窟工作经验以及远赴国外广泛调查的结果,将法国巴黎集美博物馆收藏的15块克孜尔石窟壁画残片进行了核对与测量,找到了全部壁画所出洞窟及原位,并通过电脑技术对图片进行了复原。     

An Improved Algorithm for Selecting Ground Motions to Match a Conditional Spectrum

This paper describes an algorithm to efficiently select ground motions from a database while matching a target mean, variance, and correlations of response spectral values at a range of periods. The approach improves an earlier algorithm by Jayaram et al. [2011]. Key steps in the process are to screen a ground motion database for suitable motions, statistically simulate response spectra from a target distribution, find motions whose spectra match each statistically simulated response spectrum, and then perform an optimization to further improve the consistency of the selected motions with the target distribution. These steps are discussed in detail, and the computational expense of the algorithm is evaluated. A brief example selection exercise is performed, to illustrate the type of results that can be obtained. Source code for the algorithm has been provided, along with metadata for several popular databases of recorded and simulated ground motions, which should facilitate a variety of exploratory and research studies.     

Using provenance data to assess archaeological landscapes: an example from Calabria, Italy

Ceramic provenance studies have helped archaeologists examine trade and exchange in multiple scales, the organization of production, and even vessel function. Yet, they may go even further, to provide a venue for the examination of past people’s perception of their landscape. To do so, a methodology is needed that links the choices prehistoric potters made, as reflected in their ceramics, with the choices their landscape could afford them, as reflected in the extent and distribution of local clays, and the physical, chemical and mineralogical characteristics of these clays. Using the region of Bova Marina in southwestern Calabria as a case study, we have combined a raw materials survey with field and laboratory experiments, along with chemical and mineralogical analyses of the collected sediments to understand the distribution and the physical, chemical and mineralogical variability of locally available clays and provide baseline data against which prehistoric ceramic materials from the region may be compared. We show that the local sediments can be divided into three major units, based on their macroscopic, mineralogical and chemical characteristics, that correspond well with the major geological units outcropping in the study area. While two of these units have internally consistent properties, the third is variable.