Subsistence Strategies and Burial Rituals: Social Practices in the Late Deccan Chalcolithic

Shifts in subsistence strategies during the transition between Early Jorwe (1400-1000 B.C.) and Late Jorwe (1000-700 B.C.) periods of the western Deccan region of India have been the focus of much archaeological research. This article reviews the various theories proposed by researchers to explain transformations in subsistence practices at this time and suggests that these changes had multiple repercussions in the realm of social organization. These changes contrast markedly with a continuity in infant burial practices. Reconfirming burial traditions may have served to counterbalance the changes that occurred in daily practices. Even though burial practices were upheld over time, individuals and groups varied slightly in their interpretation of burial tradition, as well as their desire and ability to perform burial rites according to tradition. KEYWORDS: subsistence, burial practices, Chalcolithic, India, Deccan

The effect of 2,4-D and ABA on respiration of isolated mitochondria from maize coleoptiles

The susceptibility of isolated maize mitochondria to the growth regulators: 2,4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and abscisic acid (ABA) was studied. It was found that 2,4-D (a herbicide) inhibits respiration in mitochondria, as do other herbicides or phenoxy-acids. In the entire range of concentrations used (10-3-10-9 M), 2,4-D introduced into the medium before the respiration reaction was begun, or during it, limited the intensity of succinate oxidation. It did not, however, markedly change phosphorylation properties. Uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation took place only after preincubation of mitochondria with 2,4-D and was the result of the destruction of mitochondria! membranes. ABA (a growth inhibitor of plants) caused a similar response in maize mitochondria. Preincubation of mitochondria with ABA lead to the uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation. Whereas ABA introduced during respiration (state 4 respiration) or before its onset, lowered the oxidative potential of mitochondria, it also changed the pattern of state 4-3-4 transition after addition of ADP (it was especially visible at high concentrations), which indicates that the coupling of oxidative phosphorylation with the respiratory chain has faltered. It seems that this negative etTect of 2,4-D and ABA on respiration of isolated maize mitochondria is connected with the inhibitory etTect of these growth regulators on the growth of maize coleoptiles. Interference in the organization mitochondrial membranes results in a lowered supply of ATP - a source of energy needed in elongation processes

The Woods Watch: Spotting Climate Change in the Catskills with Longtime Locals

Tracy Raczek observes signs of climate change through in her encounters with longtime locals in the Catskills forests

Growth of maize coleoptiles in the presence of natural and synthetic growth regulators. Growth correlations

The effect of natura) (IAA, FC, ABA) and synthetic (2,4-D) growth substances on the increase of the fresh weight of maize coleoptile segments and change of the pH of the incubation medium, accepted here as criteria of maize coleoptile growth, was studied. The growth of maize coleoptiles depended on the concentration of the growth substances, as well as, on the composition of the incubation medium. The highest stimulation of coleoptile growth was seen with FC at a· concentration of I0-4 M, whereas ABA at 10-J M gave the highest inhibition of maize coleoptile fresh weight increase and caused alkalization of the medium. The presence of K + ions in the incubation medium enhanced the stimulatory effect of IAA and FC on the increase of the coleoptile fresh weight, whereas the presence of these ions and phosphate buffer abolished the growth-promoting effect of !AA and FC. The best correlation of the "fresh weight" and "pH" effects was found in the case of the growth of maize coleoptiles in the presence of FC (r,y = 0.67). The inhibition of maize coleo­ptile growth in the presence of high concentrations of IAA can be explained by the destructive effect of natura) auxin at these concentrations on the integrity of mitochondria) membranes, and therefore on the norma) functioning of mitochondria

Two-Stage, Extreme Albitization of A-type Granites from Rajasthan, NW India

Albitization is a common process during which hydrothermal fluids convert plagioclase and/or K-feldspar into nearly pure albite; however, its specific mechanism in granitoids is not well understood. The c. 1700 Ma A-type metaluminous ferroan granites in the Khetri complex of Rajasthan, NW India, have been albitized to a large extent by two metasomatic fronts, an initial transformation of oligoclase to nearly pure albite and a subsequent replacement of microcline by albite, with sharp contacts between the microcline-bearing and microcline-free zones. Albitization has bleached the original pinkish grey granite and turned it white. The mineralogical changes include transformation of oligoclase (∼An12) and microcline (∼Or95) to almost pure albite (∼An0·5-2), amphibole from potassian ferropargasite (XFe 0·84-0·86) to potassic hastingsite (XFe 0·88-0·97) and actinolite (XFe 0·32-0·67), and biotite from annite (XFe 0·71-0·74) to annite (XFe 0·90-0·91). Whole-rock isocon diagrams show that, during albitization, the granites experienced major hydration, slight gain in Si and major gain in Na, whereas K, Mg, Fe and Ca were lost along with Rb, Ba, Sr, Zn, light rare earth elements and U. Whole-rock Sm-Nd isotope data plot on an apparent isochron of 1419 ± 98 Ma and reveal significant disturbance and at least partial resetting of the intrusion age. Severe scatter in the whole-rock Rb-Sr isochron plot reflects the extreme Rb loss in the completely albitized samples, effectively freezing 87Sr/86Sr ratios in the albite granites at very high values (0·725-0·735). This indicates either infiltration of highly radiogenic Sr from the country rock or, more likely, radiogenic ingrowth during a considerable time lag (estimated to be at least 300 Myr) between original intrusion and albitization. The albitization took place at ∼350-400°C. It was caused by the infiltration of an ascending hydrothermal fluid that had acquired high Na/K and Na/Ca ratios during migration through metamorphic rocks at even lower temperatures in the periphery of the plutons. Oxygen isotope ratios increase from δ18O = 7‰ in the original granite to values of 9-10‰ in completely albitized samples, suggesting that the fluid had equilibrated with surrounding metamorphosed crust. A metasomatic model, using chromatographic theory of fluid infiltration, explains the process for generating the observed zonation in terms of a leading metasomatic front where oligoclase of the original granite is converted to albite, and a second, trailing front where microcline is also converted to albite. The temperature gradients driving the fluid infiltration may have been produced by the high heat production of the granites themselves. The confinement of the albitized granites along the NE-SW-trending Khetri lineament and the pervasive nature of the albitization suggest that the albitizing fluids possibly originated during reactivation of the lineament. More generally, steady-state temperature gradients induced by the high internal heat production of A-type granites may provide the driving force for similar metasomatic and ore-forming processes in other highly enriched granitoid bodie

Chai and Conversation: Crafting Field Identities and Archaeological Practice in South Asia

In this article, we present examples from four research projects in India that were influenced by the values and ethics of decolonized and participatory research, and shaped by engendered perspectives. Each project built on earlier experiences that forced us to critically examine the ways we engaged with participants, crafted our field identities, and formed relationships. Using insights from linguistic anthropology and attending to intersectional inequalities and the construction of epistemic authority, we showcase how conducting an ethnography of communication and employing tactics of intersubjectivity influenced archaeological outcomes. We argue that close attention to context of communication, identity expression, and intersectional inequality enhances intersubjectivity, a necessary ingredient for successful participatory archaeology projects

Narodowe Centrum Nauki

Na podstawie Europejskiej Rady Badań wzorowane jest Narodowe Centrum Nauki. Centrum umożliwia wprowadzenie w Polsce najnowocześniejszych standardów zarządzania finansami na naukę, ale też ułatwia polskim badaczom włączanie się do prestiżowych, międzynarodowych zespołów badawczych. Polska - uruchamiając NCN w dniu 4 marca 2010 roku w Krakowie - dołączyła do elity europejskich państw, które już posiadają podobne, niezależne agencje zarządzające publicznymi finansami na badania, takich jak Austria, Portugalia, Szwecja czy Niemcy. Doświadczenia zachodnich państw pokazały, że zarządzanie środkami publicznymi na badania przez autonomiczne gremia naukowe w krótkiej perspektywie podnosi jakość badań i wzmacnia ich konkurencyjność w wymiarze Europy i świata. [fragm. tekstu

Weduty, panoramy, prospekty, capriccia, mariny albo o swoistej prolegomenie do Atlasu Mnemosyne Aby’ego Warburga

21st century. Every part of the article referes to different manner of using landscape according to current  cultural needs. In accordance with Warburg’s thesis no distinction was made between paintings being included in order  of the so-called highbrow art and images taken  from  mass media  and  popular  culture.  Such an  approach  enabled  to underline  general accompanying purposes for image production  both in historical ages as well as in our  times. The  article  emphasizes  the  ceaseless necessity of the  human kind for presenting  its most immediate  environment,  willingness to keep or to create determined  images of cities, as well as various forms of using landscapes arisen currently or in the past. Being based on a method implemented  by Warburg that is, juxtapositing various images together within individual boards, the article shows its possible applications enabled  by new technologies  in order  to bulid a hiperlinkes  structures  which connect images not only within one board but also in between them. It results in production  of hyperlinked  arrangements  that  once again confirm tha  fact that  Aby Warburg  should be perceived not only as the father  of modern  art history, but also as the founder  of visual studies