How efficient is an integrative approach in archaeological geophysics? Comparative case studies from Neolithic settlements in Thessaly (Central Greece)

The geophysical prospection of Neolithic tells imposes specific challenges due to the preservation and nature of the architectural context and the multiple, usually disturbed, soil strata. Contrary to the usual application of a single method, this paper deals with the advantages of using an integrated geophysical approach through the employment of various methodologies to map the Neolithic cul-tural and environmental landscape of Thessalian tells (magoules) in Central Greece. The success and failure of each method in resolving the various features of the magoules are discussed in detail, and as a whole, they demonstrate the benefits of a manifold geophysical prospection of the sites

Gravitational Instantons from Minimal Surfaces

Physical properties of gravitational instantons which are derivable from minimal surfaces in 3-dimensional Euclidean space are examined using the Newman-Penrose formalism for Euclidean signature. The gravitational instanton that corresponds to the helicoid minimal surface is investigated in detail. This is a metric of Bianchi Type $VII_0$, or E(2) which admits a hidden symmetry due to the existence of a quadratic Killing tensor. It leads to a complete separation of variables in the Hamilton-Jacobi equation for geodesics, as well as in Laplace's equation for a massless scalar field. The scalar Green function can be obtained in closed form which enables us to calculate the vacuum fluctuations of a massless scalar field in the background of this instanton.Comment: One figure available by fax upon request. Abstract missing in original submission. Submitted to Classical and Quantum Gravit

Archaeologies of roads: an introduction

Digital Archaeolog

Inattentive Consumers in Markets for Services

In an experiment on markets for services, we find that consumers are likely to stick to default tariffs and achieve suboptimal outcomes. We find that inattention to the task of choosing a better tariff is likely to be a substantial problem in addition to any task and tariff complexity effect. The institutional setup on which we primarily model our experiment is the UK electricity and gas markets, and our conclusion is that the new measures by the UK regulator Ofgem to improve consumer outcomes are likely to be of limited impact

Metaphors, Myths, and Transformations in Digital Archaeology

Digital Archaeolog

Investigating the spatial organization of fortress complexes in the South Caucasus using multiple survey techniques

The South Caucasus has been largely absent in broader discussions of population aggregation in greater Eurasia. This paper uses remote sensing, surface collection, and magnetometry to explore two hilltop fortress-settlements at the margins of the Kura River Basin, with a particular emphasis on the exploration of settlement off the main hill. The results support a model of settlement growth in which previously-mobile groups settled around the fortress, while maintaining some spatial and perhaps social separation. Multi-technique survey provided a complex picture of settlement organization with implications for comparative analysis of population aggregation models

“Smartphone apps are cool, but do they help me?”: A qualitative interview study of adolescents’ perspectives on using smartphone interventions to manage nonsuicidal self-injury

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a major mental health problem associated with negative psychosocial outcomes and it most often starts in early adolescence. Despite this, adolescents are rarely involved in informing the development of interventions designed to address their mental health problems. This study aimed to (1) assess adolescents’ needs and preferences about future interventions that are delivered through smartphones and (2) develop a framework with implications for designing engaging digital mental health interventions. Fifteen adolescent girls, aged 12– 18 years, who met diagnostic criteria for a current NSSI disorder and were in contact with mental health services, participated in semi-structured interviews. Following a reflexive thematic analysis approach, this study identified two main themes: (1) Experiences of NSSI (depicts the needs of young people related to their everyday experiences of managing NSSI) and (2) App in Context (por-trays preferences of young people about smartphone interventions and reflects adolescents’ views on how technology itself can improve or hinder engaging with these interventions). Adolescent patients expressed interest in using smartphone mental health interventions if they recognize them as helpful, relevant for their life situation and easy to use. The developed framework suggests that digital mental health interventions are embedded in three contexts (i.e., person using the interven-tion, mental health condition, and technology-related factors) which together need to inform the development of engaging digital resources. To achieve this, the cooperation among people with lived experience, mental health experts, and human computer interaction professionals is vital

Bridging digital approaches and legacy in archaeology

Digital Archaeolog

Testing the transportation-induced environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis: Evidence from eight developed and developing countries

This paper focuses on the relationship between air transportation, economic growth, and carbon emissions in 8 developing and 8 developed countries during the period 1980-2013 by testing the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis. We use annual panel data from the World Bank in order to demonstrate environmental sensibility of both developed and developing countries. In this context, the research results demonstrate that environmental sensitivity is pretty low for both developed and developing countries in the period 1980-2000. Afterwards, the environmental issues of the two groups of countries are evaluated over the period from 2001 to 2013 and the research results indicate that their sensitiveness has increased remarkably, which supports the inverse-U shape of the EKC. These empirical results are also consistent with the Kyoto protocol’s political aims and goals. In addition, based on the Johansen co-integration test results, there is a long-term stable relationship between as air transportation, CO2 emissions, energy use, and gross domestic product for both developed and developing countries, with the exception of Colombia and Turkey. © 2018, Econjournals. All rights reserved

Archaeological digital archiving in Turkey

Digital Archaeolog