Blind tests in microscopic residue analysis: comments on Wadley et al. (2004)

In this comment, we critique a recent paper by Wadley, Lombard and Williamson entitled ‘The first residue analysis blind tests: results and lessons learnt’ (Journal of Archaeological Science 31 (2004) 1491–1501) as a means of assessing the role and utility of such blind tests. We find that apart from not being the first residue analysis blind tests, the tests conducted by Wadley et al. exhibit problems at each stage of experimental design. Most of the issues identified can be attributed to loss of experimental control, including lack of documentation of residues prior to blind testing and contamination of their samples. We suggest possible means of avoiding these issues in future microscopic residue analysis blind tests.     

对县权公开改革试点的实证调查分析

县权公开经过一段时间的试点工作已经取得了一定的成效和经验,但是要使县权公开的改革试点工作取得最终成效,还需要以系统思维的方式来理清多重关系,把握改革中的关键和重点,建立和完善县权公开制度,进一步加强各项监督机制。对此,笔者基于有关试点县的实证调查分析,对县权公开的改革试点工作提出了一些建议和基本思路。     

The Ohio Data Archives

The Ottoman government obtained current information on the empire's sources of revenue through periodic registers called tahrir defterleri. These documents include detailed information on taxpaying subjects and taxable resources, making it possible to study the economic and social history of the Middle East and eastern Europe in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Although the use of these documents has been typically limited to the construction of local histories, adopting a more optimistic attitude toward their potential and using appropriate sampling procedures can greatly increase their contribution to historical scholarship. They can be used in comprehensive quantitative studies and in addressing questions of broader historical significance or larger social scientific relevance.     

A spatial approach to upland vegetation change and human impact: the Aber Valley,Snowdonia

Abstract

Uplands have long been considered important ‘barometers’ for human-environment relationships. Five pollen sequences from the upper Aber Valley (Snowdonia), across an altitudinal gradient, reveal that human impacts have varied temporally on small spatial scales in the region. Woodland taxa persisted into the later Holocene at lower altitudes and sites located at higher altitude reveal a more open landscape history, possibly as a result of increased exposure limiting tree growth at high elevation. Continuous pastoral human land use is evident in the high upland (400 to >600 m AOD) landscape with evidence of clearing, burning and grazing indicators throughout the records covering the last ～6000 years, with increased activity apparent during the last 2000 years. There is no clear evidence to suggest that climate change (e.g. deteriorating climatic conditions from ～850 BC) resulted in land abandonment and it appears more likely that climatic shifts could have led to changes in human land management. The results demonstrate that pastoral land use varied at different altitudes across the Aber Valley upland, and have highlighted the value and potential of high/fine spatial sampling in providing insights into land use history and the mosaic of habitats that result.     

Seasonality of birth and diet of pigs from stable isotope analyses of tooth enamel (δO, δC): a modern reference data set from Corsica,France

Since domestication during the mid 11th millennium BP in the Near East and the 8th millennium BP in China, the pig has played an important role in human diet and economy. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential of stable oxygen and carbon isotopes sequential analyses of pig tooth enamel to investigate pig seasonality of birth and diet, as these are important parameters for the reconstruction of pig herding strategies in ancient societies.     

吴越细绳纹类青铜礼器成形技术研究

吴越青铜器发展到春秋中晚期,出现了一批极富地域文化特色的青铜器,器表饰有细绳纹和细薄而峻深的纹饰,或在纹饰间布满细芒刺突起的棘刺纹。本工作通过对吴越青铜器陶范铸造技术的探索和吴越细绳纹类青铜礼器的复原试验,以期揭示出这类细绳纹类青铜礼器的成形技术。实验过程是以绳索为模,在湿陶范内埋入绳索,当陶范入窑焙烧时,绳索焚烧后形成绳索状凹槽,浇注青铜液后则成为具有突起状绳纹装饰的青铜器。焚烧绳索形成纹饰,是一种在平面上形成三维纹饰的技艺,能在青铜器表面形成规整的绳纹,可能为东周时期吴越地区古代工匠铸造细绳纹类青铜礼器的一种方法。     

基于旅游者网络关注度的旅游景区日游客量预测研究——以不同客户端百度指数为例

网络搜索引擎是旅游者获取旅游信息的最重要入口,百度指数通过反映关键词被搜索的次数表征旅游者的网络关注度。文章以三清山为例,首先利用协整理论及格兰杰因果检验分析了PC端和移动端百度指数与实际游客量之间的关系,进一步建立日游客量ARMA模型和分别加入PC 端和移动端百度指数的VAR模型,对游客量预测结果及预测能力进行比较分析,以期通过不同客户端、不同搜索关键词来填补游客量预测过程中旅游网络数据提取的单一性,得到更好的预测效果。发现移动端比PC端百度指数模型具有更好的预测效果,移动端比PC端百度指数对实际游客量的变动具有更好的解释能力。     

用于古建筑琉璃瓦保护的高分子聚合物材料的分析研究

为探索高分子聚合物用于古建筑琉璃瓦的保护研究,采用所选择的9种有机高分子聚合物对现代黄釉琉璃瓦进行保护处理,分析保护材料的耐光性能及保护后琉璃瓦的憎水性、耐冻融性和化学稳定性等性能,同时选择性能较好的材料用于胎体酥粉古琉璃瓦的保护,分析憎水性、耐冻融性、耐折、抗压强度、透气性以及进行保护机理研究.结果表明,保护材料丙烯酸类材料的Primal SF和1372耐光性能较差;用于现代琉璃瓦保护的Primal SF憎水性和耐冻融性较差;有机硅的耐酸碱性较差;聚氨酯和硅丙乳液的憎水性和耐碱性能较差;氟碳清漆、氟树脂和复配材料的各项性能相对较好;含氟聚合物及其氟树脂为主的复配材料用于胎体酥粉古琉璃瓦保护的憎水性、耐冻融性、耐折、抗压强度和透气性等性能相对较好,保护材料以良好的渗透能力渗入古琉璃胎体内部,有效提高胎体强度,起到填充空隙和防止水分破坏的作用.综合几项指标,含氟聚合物及其复配材料的各种性能优良,为选择中国古建筑琉璃瓦的保护材料提供科学依据.     

Finite element modeling of slug tests in an aquifer with stratigraphical and structural heterogeneities

Slug interference tests using an array of multilevel active and monitoring wells permit enhanced aquifer characterization. Analyses of these field test data rely on numerical inverse models. In order to provide synthetic data sets and to have a better understanding of the flow mechanisms, we used a three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEHM) to explore the effects of idealized, stratigraphical (strata) and structural (faults) heterogeneities with low permeability values on the transient head field that is associated with slug tests in an aquifer. Firstly, we tested our model on homogeneous aquifers and the effectiveness of our modeling strategies have been validated via the excellent agreement of our modeling results with those of the semi-analytical model of Liu & Butler (1995) . In our heterogeneity investigations, we embedded vertical and horizontal zones of lower permeability into a homogenous, isotropic, and confined aquifer to represent low-permeability faults and strata respectively. A slugged interval is located at the center of the aquifer. Effects of strata thickness and permeability contrast as well as other effects associated with the offset of low-permeability strata were explored. In particular, modeling results are represented by contour maps of peak travel time and maximum head perturbation of generated hydraulic pulses. Furthermore, various phenomena, such as real-time matrix diffusion, intermittent matrix–fracture interactions, and faster pulse arrival through a longer flow trajectory, are concretely presented in the snapshots of head perturbations in the aquifer. Our finite element modeling provides useful information for understanding the behaviors of diffusive pressure propagation in an aquifer with stratigraphical and/or structural heterogeneities, and for designing hydraulic tomography to enhance aquifer characterization.     

Detecting modes in low-dimensional archaeological data

An approach to testing for modes in low-dimensional data, Silverman’s test, novel in an archaeological setting, is described and illustrated. ‘Patterns’ in archaeological data can be suggested by the presence of modes. Reassurance is needed that modes suggested by graphical analysis are genuine before attempting substantive archaeological interpretation. The test either provides such reassurance, or else guards against over-interpretation, particularly with small samples. Data on loomweight dimensions, lead isotope ratios, and ceramic compositions are used to illustrate use of the test, dealing with issues concerning outliers and small samples as they arise. The focus is on univariate mode detection.