Aportación arqueológica al conocimiento del proceso de descomposición del cuerpo humano en posición sentada/ flexionada

La excavación arqueológica de restos humanos permite recabar datos sobre el proceso de descomposición. Basándose en estos conocimientos, se puede establecer la disposición original de los restos, distinguir entre manipulación intencional y eventos tafonómicos, así como revelar la presencia de material orgánico desaparecido. A partir de observaciones en contexto arqueológico, se presentan las modalidades de descomposición en posición sentada/flexionada de un fardo funerario y se ilustra cómo los huesos se desplazan naturalmente durante el proceso

The collective burials of Tablada de Lurin (Lurin Valley, Peru; A.D. 1-300)

The Tablada de Lurin necropolis of the first half of the Early Intermediate Period had two distinct phases. The aims of this work were to reconstruct the funerary ritual representative of the second phase and to study decomposition in a sitting/ squatting position. Fieldwork and analysis of previous excavation documents provided details on how the dead were buried and how the remains were moved around the burial chamber. Information was also gathered on decomposition in a sitting/squatting position. Laboratory analysis of the remains confirmed the taphonomical field observations. It also demonstrated the presence of secondary burials and the under-representation of foetuses and infants younger than one year. In conclusion, the subterranean stone burial chambers held collective primary and secondary burials. The dead were placed in baskets, in a sitting/squatting position, and wrapped in a shroud. As the different individuals arrived, the remains were moved to the back and the sides of the tomb, finally forming a large cluster of bones. Subterranean stone burial chambers are present in other parts of Peru, especially in the mountains. Collective burial is not an unknown practice in the Central Highlands. Nevertheless, the Tablada collective funerary ritual stands out because it was applied to all, both young and old, female and male. It was also different to the mortuary treatment of the first phase of the cemetery

The Durotriges Project, Phase Two: an interim statement

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Housekeeping genes for quantitative expression studies in the three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus

Background During the last years the quantification of immune response under immunological challenges, e.g. parasitation, has been a major focus of research. In this context, the expression of immune response genes in teleost fish has been surveyed for scientific and commercial purposes. Despite the fact that it was shown in teleostei and other taxa that the gene for beta-actin is not the most stably expressed housekeeping gene (HKG), depending on the tissue and experimental treatment, the gene has been us Results To establish a reliable method for the measurement of immune gene expression in Gasterosteus aculeatus, sequences from the now available genome database and an EST library of the same species were used to select oligonucleotide primers for HKG, in order to perform quantitative reverse-transcription (RT) PCR. The expression stability of ten candidate reference genes was evaluated in three different tissues, and in five parasite treatment groups, using the three algorithms BestKeeper, geNorm and N Conclusion As they were the most stably expressed genes in all tissues examined, we suggest using the genes for the L13a ribosomal binding protein and ubiquitin as alternative or additional reference genes in expression analysis in Gasterosteus aculeatus.

COMPACT LEFT-HANDED DUAL-BAND FILTERS BASED ON SHUNDTED STUB RESONATORS

In this paper, super-compact microstrip dual-band resonator is presented, designed using the superposition of two simple left-handed (LH) resonators with single shunt stub. The proposed resonator exhibits spurious response in wide frequency range and therefore allows construction of dual-band filters using the superposition principle. The equivalent circuit model of the proposed resonator is crated and the influence of different geometrical parameters to the performances of the resonator are analyzed in details. As an examples, two dual-band filters that operate simultaneously at the WiMAX frequency bands are designed

Tumor Volume Distributions Based on Weibull Distributions of Maximum Tumor Diameters

(1) Background: The distribution of tumor volumes is important for various aspects of cancer research. Unfortunately, tumor volume is rarely documented in tumor registries; usually only maximum tumor diameter is. This paper presents a method to derive tumor volume distributions from tumor diameter distributions. (2) Methods: The hypothesis is made that tumor maximum diameters d are Weibull distributed, and tumor volume is proportional to dk, where k is a parameter from the Weibull distribution of d. The assumption is tested by using a test dataset of 176 segmented tumor volumes and comparing the k obtained by fitting the Weibull distribution of d and from a direct fit of the volumes. Finally, tumor volume distributions are calculated from the maximum diameters of the SEER database for breast, NSCLC and liver. (3) Results: For the test dataset, the k values obtained from the two separate methods were found to be k = 2.14 ± 0.36 (from Weibull distribution of d) and 2.21 ± 0.25 (from tumor volume). The tumor diameter data from the SEER database were fitted to a Weibull distribution, and the resulting parameters were used to calculate the corresponding exponential tumor volume distributions with an average volume obtained from the diameter fit. (4) Conclusions: The agreement of the fitted k using independent data supports the presented methodology to obtain tumor volume distributions. The method can be used to obtain tumor volume distributions when only maximum tumor diameters are available

Microfluidic EBG Sensor Based on Phase-Shift Method Realized Using 3D Printing Technology

In this article, we propose a novel microfluidic microstrip electromagnetic band gap (EBG) sensor realized using cost-effective 3D printing technology. Microstrip sensor allows monitoring of the fluid properties flowing in the microchannel embedded between the microstrip line and ground plane. The sensor’s operating principle is based on the phase-shift method, which allows the characterization at a single operating frequency of 6 GHz. The defected electromagnetic band gap (EBG) structure is realized as a pattern in the microstrip ground plane to improve sensor sensitivity. The designed microfluidic channel is fabricated using a fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D printing process without additional supporting layers, while the conductive layers are realized using sticky aluminium tape. The measurement results show that the change of permittivity of the fluid in the microfluidic channel from 1 to 80 results in the phase-shift difference of almost 90°. The potential application is demonstrated through the implementation of a proposed sensor for the detection of toluene concentration in toluene–methanol mixture where various concentrations of toluene were analysed

Using Blockchain to Sustainably Manage Containers in International Shipping

This paper investigates how blockchain technology can improve information flows on empty container repositioning at an inter-organizational level in the shipping industry. By adopting a theory-generating design science research approach, we develop and evaluate an industry-wide blockchain artefact, named Greenbox Platform, where container owners can register, trade and share containers. It brings efficiency for shipping companies via cost reduction through minimizing the need for empty container repositioning, and effectiveness for leasing companies via container proof of ownership. The paper contributes to its application domain by a practical, theory-driven and novel application of blockchain technology to the shipping industry. Theorizing on its development and evaluation, the paper provides preliminary groundwork for two nascent design principles: 1) Explicitly define a structure of incentives for interorganizational and cross-industrial blockchain applications where stakeholders’ interests are not necessarily aligned; and 2) Consider environmental sustainability as a non-functional requirement in the development of a blockchain artefact