Structure of grain boundaries in wet,synthetic polycrystalline,statically recrystallizing halite – evidence from cryo‐SEM observations

It is well known from nature and experiments that the presence of brine strongly affects the microstructural evolution and the mechanical and transport properties of halite. Existing interpretations of the grain boundary structure in deformed, wet, salt samples annealed statically at room temperature are based on indirect evidence from reflected light microscopy and conventional scanning electron microscopy. This paper presents direct observations of fluid‐filled grain boundaries using the cryogenic‐scanning electron microscope (cryo‐SEM) in which the grain boundary fluids were frozen before breaking the samples. The rapid cooling transforms the brine into two phases, i.e. ice and hydrohalite, which are easily recognized from characteristic segregation patterns. We studied samples of wet, synthetic, polycrystalline halite annealed under static conditions at room temperature. In coarse‐grained samples, fine‐scale segregation patterns were observed at the boundaries of the primary recrystallizing grains. These points indicate the existence of fluid films with a thickness in the range of 30 nm, but the finer scale structure of the fluid remains unknown. In fine‐grained samples, the distribution and reorganization of fluids with annealing time is recorded by the combination of contact healing and successive accumulation of fluids in triple junction tubes. The contact healing is attributed to the small initial grain size, such that the fluid film necks down by accumulating the fluids into previously existing triple junctions via neck growth. Electron backscatter diffraction measurements of both primary and secondary recrystallized grains indicate that they are euhedral, i.e. the grain growth morphology is controlled by the anisotropy of the grain boundary energy of the growing grain, which results in planar growth faces.     

夔州城市形态与空间结构的演变

地处长江三峡中心区域的夔州,其治所由白帝—赤岬城转移到"瀼西",由利于军事防守的险峻之地迁至适于民居及进行商贾贸易之处,它们分别代表军政要塞式与经济、行政功能兼具式两种不同的治所城市模式,其转移适应了峡区政治、军事功能下降和经济功能增强的需要。与此同时,自宋至清末,建于"瀼西"的夔州城成为长距离贸易中转站及地区市场中心,城市形态的形成与变化亦受此影响,特别是为明清时期夔州府城的发展提供了更大的运作空间。城市功能区的"垂直分布"与城外街区的扩展,既与峡区的地理环境相适应,又符合商业发展和人口增殖的需要,是峡区城镇布局的典型形式。     

关于坚持与发展唯物史观的几点思考--读《〈政治经济学批判〉序言》

马克思<〈政治经济学批判〉序言>所集中表述的唯物史观基本原理,主要得之于对资本主义经济制度的研究.当代资本主义的重大发展变化,为唯物史观的发展提供了巨大的理论空间;社会经济形态演进的几个时代,大体是西欧的历史实际,将其应用于不同地区和国家历史的研究,同样为唯物史观的发展提供了理论空间;"经验的事实"和"历史环境条件",既决定了在生产力发展水平没有重大不同前提下不同地区和国家社会经济形态的不同存在,又对生产力的发展具有决定性的影响.     

First Introduction and Early Exploitation of the Persian Fallow Deer on Cyprus (8000–6000 cal. bc)

The Persian fallow deer (Dama dama mesopotamica) is currently a threatened species. However, it played an important role in many Late Glacial and Early Holocene human societies in the Near and Middle East. This is especially true of the island of Cyprus, where it was introduced at the beginning of the Neolithic and held a predominant place in human subsistence throughout Cypriot prehistory until the Bronze Age. The earliest levels of the extensive Cypriot Pre‐Pottery Neolithic B site of Shillourokambos, occupied between 8400 and 7000 cal. bc , provided 3036 identified remains of this deer. It was possible to measure or determine the age‐at‐death for 1361 and 1444 remains, respectively. Analyses allow for discussions on when the fallow deer was introduced to the island of Cyprus, its origin and how populations were managed. These studies also lead to the reconstruction of acquisition and butchery techniques, as well as culinary practices, and the morphological evolution of males and females throughout time. The Persian fallow deer was introduced to Cyprus later than suids, dogs, cats, goats and cattle, and at nearly the same time as sheep, towards ca 8000 cal. bc . Despite the absence of any skeletal changes, this introduction may reflect an attempt to domesticate the fallow deer on the nearby continental mainland. However, after being introduced to the island, deer appear to have been released into the wild and hunted. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

中国古代文明和国家起源研究中的几个问题

近年来新出土的《容成氏》等战国竹书,在增加和扩充史料的同时,我们也应意识到它们依然是有其局限性的,重建上古史还得靠以考古学为基础的多学科的结合。而考古学本身也有自己的局限性,它也需要借鉴人类学的理论以及技术的、经济的、环境的、人口学的等等知识。将酋邦理论、社会分层理论与聚落形态学理论相结合是研究的趋势和方向,但理论贵在创新。因而,结合中国考古新发现,从中国的材料出发,创建出符合中国历史实际的理论,才是最上乘的文明和国家起源研究。依据近年来对山西襄汾陶寺和河南新密古城寨的考古发现,将早期文明与初始国家出现的时间,划定在龙山文化时代,应该说是有着充分事实依据的。与此相关,将中国古代的国家形态划分为邦国—王国—帝国,要比称之为古国—方国—帝国,更约定俗成更合理一些。     

Population affinities of Parsis in the Indian subcontinent

The present study was an attempt to document changes in frequencies of dental morphology traits and understand phenetic affinities of Parsis, who migrated to the Indian subcontinent around the 8th century. Despite successfully integrating themselves into the Indian society, they have retained their ethnicity and distinct cultural practices. This study was conceived as a result of an excavation at the site of Sanjan, Gujarat which, as per historical records, is believed to be the first town in the Indian subcontinent with a large Parsi settlement thereby facilitating a diachronic comparison between the ancestral and extant Parsi groups. We compared and analysed dental traits between the two groups expecting a very close relationship between them owing to their ancestor–descendent relationship. Eleven discrete dental traits were selected and scored using the Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System (ASUDAS). Frequency changes were assessed by comparing trait frequencies; whereas phenetic affinity between Parsis was assessed by statistically comparing them with 13 populations using Smith's mean measure of divergence (MMD) statistic. Comparison of dental trait frequencies between Sanjan and extant Parsi samples show significant differences in incisor morphology, Carabelli cusp and Hypocone development. Trait frequencies, MMD values and 2D multidimensional scaling (MDS) plot indicate that extant Parsis and Sanjan samples are distantly separated from each other. Extant Parsis show closer affinity to low caste Mahars and tribal Madia Gonds than South and Central Asian groups. Sanjan is distant from all other groups including extant Parsis. It is likely that genetic drift accentuated by their small numbers and strict endogamy has resulted in divergence of Parsi groups. Similarly, their convergence with Maharashtran groups indicates admixture of Parsis with local groups, which supports earlier conducted mtDNA studies. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

“Copper people” of the bronze age: The reconstruction of their health and social status

“After you shall arise another kingdom inferior to you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth” Dan. 2: 39 The Metal Age opened up new prospects for mankind and led to the emergence of a new category of professionals – miners, founders, smiths. With relation to the Bronze Age, these may be called “copper people.” The article explores new methods that can be used to identify their skeletal remains in museum collections. Based on biological data, certain aspects of the lifestyle of a male (presumably a smith) buried in an Abashevo collective grave at Pepkino, the Republic of Mari-El, Volga Federal District, and of other individuals buried in the same grave are reconstructed. Morphological, paleopathological, radiographic, and computer tomography examination of skeletal remains, as well as the results of histological, atomic absorption, and isotopic analyses of bone tissue provide information concerning diet, physiological stress, beginning of professional specialization, and the effects of heavy physical stress on their health status.     

The Retromolar Space: A Morphological Curiosity Observed Amongst the Protohistoric Arikara and Mandan

The retromolar space (RMS), defined in palaeoanthropology as a space posterior to the third molar, between the distal edge of the tooth and the anterior margin of the ascending ramus when the mandible is held in lateral view, has been described as an autapomorphic trait unique to Neanderthals despite its presence in anatomically modern humans. This study examined RMS prevalence in a sample of protohistoric Arikara and Mandan Amerindians to determine what craniofacial morphology is correlated with the RMS. It was hypothesised that the feature would be present in the Amerindians studied and associated with a long cranial length, a large nasal height, midfacial prognathism, a broad mandible, and dental wear. The results indicated that RMSs were present in the Arikara and Mandan and significantly correlated with cranial length, cranial breadth, nasal height, bizygomatic breadth, basion‐nasion length, basion‐nasiospinale, mandible length, gonial angle, bigonial breadth, and dental wear. Thus, RMSs are associated with a dolichocephalic skull, wide cranial and facial breadth, a prognathic face, large nose and a corresponding wide and long mandible with a reduced gonial angle. This suggests that the RMS is the result of these features merging together in the craniofacial complex and should not be considered a Neanderthal autapomorphy. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Repairs to an injured early Middle Cambrian Trilobite,Elkedra area,Northern Territory

Wang, Y., Shih, C., Szwedo, J. &; Ren, D. iFirst article. New fossil palaeontinids (Hemiptera, Cicadomorpha, Palaeontinidae) from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, China. Alcheringa, 1–12. ISSN 0311-5518.

A new genus and species assigned to the extinct family Palaeontinidae, Synapocossus sciacchitanoae Wang, Shih &; Ren, is described from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou in Inner Mongolia, China. This new genus is established based on well-preserved fossil specimens with body and complete forewings and hind wings. It differs from other described genera by the following characters: small body size, RP and M₁ coalescing for an interval on the forewings and M_3 + 4 without bifurcation on the hind wings. The RP coalescence with M₁ in Synapocossus Wang, Shih &; Ren previously reported only in Turgaiella Becker-Migdisova &; Wootton, seems to be associated with strengthening of the anterior wing margin. The intra-specific and individual variations of Synapocossus and numerous other insect fossils of northeastern China probably indicate long-lasting ecological stresses and a competitive environment in the Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous ecosystems.