Age at death estimates for the protohistoric Arikara using molar attrition rates: A new quantification method

Dental attrition is positively related to ageing and has often been used to determine age at death of animals and prehistoric/historic humans. A newly designed molar-attrition-scoring standard was applied to a protohistoric skeletal sample, the Arikara (N = 143) from the North American Plains. Several criteria are used in producing a molar tooth crown wear (MTCW) score. These include: (i) the size of enamel wear facets, (ii) the amount of dentine and secondary dentine exposure, (iii) the height of the tooth, (iv) the enamel rim thickness, and (v) the amount of pulp-cavity exposure in the advanced stages. Age-at-death estimates were generated from ordinary least-squares (OLS) analysis, with estimated age regressed independently on the total molar attrition score (TMAS), mean molar-1 tooth crown wear (ȲM1TCW), mean molar-2 tooth crown wear (ȲM2TCW), and mean molar-3 tooth crown wear (ȲM3TCW). In all analyses (with the exception of the third molar), the coefficient of determination (r²) revealed a strong relationship between molar attrition and age. Multiple-regression analysis revealed a significant sex difference in molar-attrition rates. Besides intercept and slope differences, the female scatter showed greater molar attrition variation than the male scatter. There was no statistical difference between mean upper molar attrition score (UMAS) and lower molar attrition score (LMAS). There was no significant difference in molar attrition rates by side, and side by molar tooth.     

Investigating space-time patterns of regional industrial resilience through a micro-level approach: An application to the Italian wine industry

This paper introduces a new methodology to identify space-time patterns of regional resilience using a micro-level approach. The novel empirical tool combines geographically weighted regression with panel stochastic frontier analysis with endogenous covariates. The analysis is implemented on a panel of farm holdings operating in the Italian wine industry, focusing on the impact of a major institutional change. The results show the effectiveness of the new procedure in identifying geographical clusters of wine producers who reacted to the shock in similar ways. The responses are found to be homogeneous within specific territories and heterogeneous between regions.     

Of Barriers to Entry for Medium and Large n Multiple Streams Applications: Methodological and Conceptual Considerations

Recent literature reviews on contributions applying the multiple streams framework (MSF) concluded that although the framework is prolific, there is a lack of contributions testing it in a larger sample size. By addressing which barriers to entry medium and large n MSF applications face and by suggesting ways to handle them, we aim at providing researchers with a benchmark contribution for developing MSF‐guided research designs based on a medium to a high number of cases. Building on an overview of the few existing medium and large n MSF studies, we address three challenges researchers must deal with: (1) choice of dependent variables and case selection; (2) operationalization and measurement of the framework's (predominantly figurative) key concepts; and (3) choice of a method that corresponds with the framework's research questions. In the latter regard, we focus on the pros and cons of employing regression analysis and qualitative comparative analysis. We conclude that although the barriers to entry are high for testing the MSF in a larger sample size, they are not insurmountable.     

环境公正视角下空气污染和死亡人数的空间分析及关系研究——以河北省为例

基于空气污染的环境公正研究在国际上受到较多关注,但在发展中国家、尤其是中国,相关研究较为缺乏。本文使用2010年河北省人口普查和空气质量数据,采用空间分析、描述性统计以及空间回归模型等方法对基于乡镇街道层面的空气污染和死亡人数的空间分布、社会分布及其关系进行研究。结果表明,河北省空气污染和死亡人数在城市和农村地区存在显著差异;基于乡镇街道层面,河北省的婴儿（1岁及以下）、老年人（60岁及以上）、失业者和省外农村流动人口更多地居住在空气污染比较严重的地区;婴儿、老年人、使用固体燃料或住房无洗澡设施的家庭户聚集的乡镇街道其死亡人数较多;空气污染与死亡人数之间存在显著的正相关。本研究旨在促进对中国环境公正与健康不平等的理解和认识,为发展更为公平、有效的环境健康政策提供科学依据。     

Alternatives to record-linkage in the study of urban migration: The uses of naturalization records

Abstract

In this article, the authors examine the growth of secondary school attainment in the United States between 1940 and 1980, exploring several different conceptual frames of reference. Using state-level data, the authors identify a diffusion model of educational expansion using a fixed-effects panel regression approach. This method is used to analyze change over time, with particular attention to evaluating nonlinear processes of growth. The authors consider the effect of a number of correlates on changing patterns of enrollment in the postwar era. Regional differences in attainment diminished during each decade, and a limited number of social and economic developments appear to have influenced rising enrollment, although most attainment growth appears to have been linked to a self-generating process of diffusion.     

Bizygomatic breadth determination in damaged skulls

Metric and discriminant function analyses of the skull have been used successfully to determine ancestry and sex from human skeletal remains in both forensic and archaeological contexts. However, skulls are frequently discovered in damaged condition. One structure that is commonly fragmented, even when the rest of the skull is preserved, is the zygomatic arch. The bizygomatic width is an important measurement in craniometry and in forensic facial reconstruction for determining facial width; therefore we propose a simple linear regression model to predict the bizygomatic width of skulls with damaged zygomatic arches. Thirty‐one adult skulls originating from the Indian sub‐continent were used to measure the bizygomatic width. Then, on the same skulls, a straight steel wire was placed at the superior surface of the temporal and zygomatic origins of the zygomatic arch to simulate the zygomatic arch reconstruction on damaged skulls. These wire measurements were used to fit a simple linear regression model between the bizygomatic widths and the wire measurements, and the estimated regression model; Bizygomatic Width (bone) = 0.61 + 1.02(wire measurement), has a very high R2 value of 0.91. Hence, this model could effectively be used to predict bizygomatic widths based on wire measurements. In addition, the bizygomatic widths and wire measurements were collected from 14 New Zealand European skulls to test the ability of the regression model to determine bizygomatic widths from different ethnic groups. This model accurately predicted the bizygomatic widths in New Zealands of European origin skulls and therefore suggests that this regression model could be used for other ethnic groups. The importance of the bizygomatic width for craniometric analysis makes this regression model particularly useful for analysing archaeological samples. Furthermore, this regression line can be used in the field of forensic facial reconstruction to reconstruct damaged zygomatic arches prior to facial reconstructions. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

City–suburban electoral polarization in Great Britain, 1950–2001

The degree to which residents of British inner cities and suburbs have diverged in their voting behaviour over the post-war period is analysed in this article. Examining aggregate election results by constituency, it is demonstrated that residents of inner cities and suburbs are indeed polarizing in their electoral choices. OLS regression analysis is conducted using constituency-level data to determine the relevance of intra-urban differences for understanding geographic variation in the vote in relation to those for region, size of conurbation and urban–rural distinctions. Results show that urban place of residence is particularly important for understanding the shifting geography of Conservative support. The implications of this research for electoral change in Britain are discussed.     

中俄双边旅游与进出口贸易互动关系的实证研究

以1998-2011年中俄两国旅游与贸易数据为基础,利用格兰杰因果关系检验发现俄国出境旅游是进出口贸易的单向格兰杰原因,中国进出口贸易是出境旅游的单向格兰杰原因。旅游与贸易互动关系研究结果表明:俄国出境旅游对进出口中国贸易均有着明显的推动作用,并对进口贸易的推动作用要明显强一些;中国进出口贸易对出境俄旅游都有明显的促进作用,进口贸易的促进作用要略强一点。俄罗斯断面看,占中国入境旅游比对对华贸易依存度有一定影响;中国断面看,中国对俄贸易依存度对出境俄旅游偏好和占俄入境旅游比影响均较大。两国旅游与贸易的互动性差异特征分析能为两国双边旅游与贸易良性互动发展提供相应参考。     

Estimation of adult skeletal age‐at‐death: statistical assumptions and applications

We examine the statistical assumptions underlying different techniques of estimating the age‐at‐death of a skeleton from one or more age indicators. The preferred method depends on which property of the distribution of the data in the reference sample is preserved in the skeleton to be aged. In cases where the conditional distribution of age given indicator is preserved, we provide ‘look‐up’ tables giving essentially unbiased age estimates and prediction intervals, using a large reference sample and the auricular surface and pubic symphysis age indicators. Where this assumption is violated, but the conditional distribution of indicator given age is preserved, we find that an alternative model which attempts to capture the biological process of development of an individual has some attractive features, which may make it suitable for further study. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

微观个体行为时空数据的生产过程与质量管理——以北京居民活动日志调查为例

微观个体行为的时空数据逐渐成为人文地理学微观过程研究和非汇总方法应用的重要定量依据,而如何高效而准确地生产和管理较大样本的行为数据则是当前制约城市活动-移动系统分析与规划的重要瓶颈。本文以2007年在北京市进行的两天活动日志调查作为案例分析,在国内首次从理论和方法论上探讨微观个体行为时空数据的生产过程和数据质量管理。其中,侧重于理论与经验,从调查内容、调查方式、日志设计、样本抽样和数据库设计等五个方面探讨微观个体行为时空数据的生产过程;并侧重于方法论,探讨如何定量地评估数据的可靠性、有效性和完整性等质量管理标准。最后提出,高质量个体行为数据的获得需要更多的数据生产和管理经验的研究与分享,以及更多数据源的合作共享与比较分析。