Ossification of the interosseous ligaments between the metapodials in horses: a new recording methodology and preliminary study

This article presents a methodology for recording and quantifying the ossification of the interosseous ligaments between the metapodials in horses, including a scoring system for defining stages in the development of this lesion. The method is applied to a sample of ten Przewalski's horse skeletons from the National Museum, Prague. This case study demonstrates the nature of this lesion in a sample of unworked animals and presents a preliminary sample for comparison with archaeological assemblages. The results show that the condition can occur in animals that are not worked. They also indicate that age is an important factor in the development of the lesion. The expression of the pathology in this sample appears to be linked to how the weight of the animal acts through the legs, in that it occurs earliest, and is generally more advanced, in the areas that support a greater burden. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

历史时期内蒙古LUCC时空过程及其驱动机制

本文的研究中,在内蒙古地区地质学、古地理学和环境演变方面已有研究成果以及考古与历史文献资料的基础上,修复和描述了内蒙古陆地形成以来的地质历史时期和人类历史时期内蒙古土地利用/覆盖时空演变过程,并探索其驱动机制与因素,从而为正确把握内蒙古地区近现代土地利用/覆盖变化时空轨迹提供科学依据。古代相当长的历史时期,内蒙古地区基本上被游牧民族所占据,达到了一种古代的可持续发展。清代中期以后,特别是进入20世纪以来,随着几次大规模的移民拓荒高潮,耕地面积急速扩展而草场面积日益退缩,内蒙古草原生态环境遭遇空前的破坏,沙漠化和草原退化急速加快,土地利用变化和土地利用方式成为了土地覆盖变化的最主要驱动因子。土地利用变化(开垦草原、毁林开荒)的驱动因子主要有人口因素、经济利益和政府决策等三个方面,而且每一次大规模开荒时期三者往往相辅相成,促成新一轮的开荒高潮。     

Late Prehistoric Mortuary Features in the Greater Illinois Area: A Discussion of Form,Function, and Ritual Use

Numerous Late Prehistoric nonburial mortuary features have been identified in the greater Illinois region. Often, and sometimes uncritically, these features have been referred to as “charnel houses” in the literature. To date, there has been no attempt to tie all of the information on these features together. This study critically examines the features’ attributes and provides possible explanations of how they were used in the context of mortuary ritual. Two major types of features have been identified. The first is an above-ground feature consisting of a scaffold or small structure supported by posts. The entire feature is surrounded by a lightly built wall or fence. The close association of secondary human remains with these features suggests that they were used to expose, store, or display them. The second type is an enclosed area or a lightly built structure constructed directly on the ground. Examples from the American Bottom differ from those noted elsewhere. In some instances, the two feature types were paired at a single site, suggesting that they had complementary functions. The presence of multiple examples of nearly identical features at some sites also suggests that the remains may have been segregated according to kin-group affiliation.     

实现保护性再利用的旧址博物馆

旧址博物馆是指利用特殊的空间来展示社会发展、事件发生、人物活动历史瞬间的博物馆,其中历史建筑旧址博物馆、名人故居旧址博物馆、工业遗产旧址博物馆等均是重要的表现形式。充分挖掘这些旧址博物馆的文化内涵,展示建筑旧址的文化面貌及特色,探索保护旧址博物馆真实遗存、历史环境的有效方式,从而实现对旧址博物馆文化遗产的合理再利用等课题,在当前具有重要的意义。     

Dissecting Policy Designs: An Application of the Institutional Grammar Tool

An enduring challenge for the policy and political sciences is valid and reliable depiction of policy designs. One emerging approach for dissecting policy designs is the application of Sue Crawford and Elinor Ostrom's institutional grammar tool. The grammar tool offers a method to identify, systematically, the core elements that comprise policies, including target audiences, expected patterns of behavior, and formal modes of sanctioning for noncompliance. This article provides three contributions to the study of policy designs by developing and applying the institutional grammar tool. First, we provide revised guidelines for applying the institutional grammar tool to the study of policy design. Second, an additional component to the grammar, called the oBject, is introduced. Third, we apply the modified grammar tool to four policies that shape Colorado State Aquaculture to demonstrate its effectiveness and utility in illuminating institutional linkages across levels of analysis. The conclusion summarizes the contributions of the article as well as points to future research and applications of the institutional grammar tool.     

Hardwood ash nixtamalization may lead to false negatives for the presence of maize by depleting bulk δC in carbonized residues

Among the multiple proxies for detecting maize in precontact economies is the use of δ¹³C analysis of carbonized residues from ceramic cooking vessels. Although maize horticulture was widely established in Eastern North America (ENA) by A.D. 1000, there are carbonized residues from ceramic assemblages after this date that lack the elevated δ¹³C values indicative of the presence of maize. This may be due to the true absence of maize, or other factors including the masking of maize. Prior experimental research by Hart et al. demonstrated that the addition of C₃ plants or consumers to two part mixes with maize can mask maize presence even when maize is the dominant ingredient. Here we investigate the effect of alkali processing of maize (nixtamalization) on δ¹³C using the widespread ENA process of boiling maize kernels with wood ash, a C₃ product, to create hominy. Our experiments test whether or not the process of hardwood ash nixtamalization can mask the presence of maize in adhering carbonized residues by depleting δ¹³C values, and whether there is a reciprocal δ¹³C enrichment effect on the hardwood ash employed in nixtamalization. Overall, there is substantial δ¹³C depletion of residues when maize is cooked with hardwood ash, and hardwood ash cooked with maize shows the reciprocal enrichment. Therefore, the depleted values after the adoption of maize may be false negatives due to the nixtamalization process.     

古栉拾零

我国古代的栉,既是一种重要的首服饰物,又是一种必备的梳理用具。作为人类精神创造和物质创造的结晶,栉以其独特的方式,不仅记录了社会生活状态的变化,同时也记录了人们审美理念的变化,在人类文化发展史上占有相当重要的地位。可是,由于人们对栉的使用习以为常,乃至于忽视了它们的存在价值。本文运用对比分析的方法,辨识出"不为人识"、"不明全貌"、"不辨其形"的三例古栉,并通过对相关遗存的分析,指出了这些古栉不仅在标识使用者身份方面具有重要的作用,而且在反映不同地区、不同人群的精神面貌方面同样具有不可忽视的作用。     

日美欧电力市场化改革的经验及借鉴

本文从电力市场化改革的目标、途径、市场建设、电价、监管、立法、操作过程等几个方面,归纳总结了日美欧各国电力市场化改革的共性和经验,并且指出了存在的问题,最后在借鉴的基础上,提出了深化我国电力市场化改革的政策建议。