Regional Variation in the Importance and uses of Maize in the Early and Middle Formative Olmec Heartland: New Archaeobotanical Data from the San Carlos Homestead, Southern Veracruz

AbstractThis article presents an archaeobotanical analysis from the site of San Carlos, a small Early/Middle Formative period homestead situated in the Coatzacoalcos River basin in the southern Veracruz lowlands, approximately 9 km southeast of San Lorenzo. Although archaeobotanical data from the Olmec heartland have become more widely reported in recent years, we still lack sufficient data to capture regional and temporal variation in plant foodways. Thus, we report the macrobotanical data from San Carlos and provide a quantitative comparison with existing data sets from other southern Veracruz sites with Early and Middle Formative components (La Joya and Tres Zapotes). Comparative analysis reveals that these three sites vary dramatically in terms of the ubiquity and abundance of maize, in addition to the frequencies of different fruit types. We interpret these differences in terms of (1) settlement location with respect to geographical positioning in terms of access to riverine wetlands and their resources and (2) their association with areas of developing sociopolitical power structures.

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THE EARLY FORMATIVE PERIOD IN THE SOUTHERN ISTHMUS: EXCAVATIONS AT BARRIO TEPALCATE, IXTEPEC, OAXACA

Ancient Mesoamerica ◽

10.1017/s0956536110000076 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 151-163 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Liliana Carla Reyes González ◽

Marcus Winter

Keyword(s):

Formative Period ◽

San Jose ◽

San Lorenzo ◽

The North ◽

Late Formative ◽

Isthmus Of Tehuantepec ◽

Middle Formative ◽

Design Motifs ◽

The Village ◽

Early Formative

AbstractBarrio Tepalcate, on the Los Perros River just outside Ciudad Ixtepec, Oaxaca, 18 km upriver from Laguna Zope, is one of the few Early and Middle Formative period sites known in the southern Isthmus of Tehuantepec region. Our salvage excavation in 2005 showed that the village covered no more than four hectares. It was probably one of several villages along the river in a two-tiered settlement hierarchy centered on Laguna Zope. The presence of Early Formative period ceramics suggests that the inhabitants of Barrio Tepalcate participated in the Early Olmec style horizon, although the design motifs on their pottery are simpler than those from San Lorenzo 150 km to the north. We found little evidence of imported ceramics from San Lorenzo, which may be due to the small size of the sample and the site, or to differences in how San Lorenzo interacted with highland sites, such as Etlatongo and San José Mogote, and Isthmian sites, such as Barrio Tepalcate. The Early Formative inhabitants of the southern Isthmus were members of the Mixe-Zoque language family, and specifically Mixe speakers by the Late Formative.

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Integration of Atomistic Simulation with Experiment Using Time−Temperature Superposition for a Cross-Linked Epoxy Network

10.26434/chemrxiv.8326172 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Ketan Khare ◽

Frederick R. Phelan Jr.

Keyword(s):

Master Curve ◽

Glassy State ◽

Superposition Principle ◽

Quantitative Comparison ◽

Time Shift ◽

Data Sets ◽

Epoxy Network ◽

Temperature Superposition ◽

Time Temperature Superposition ◽

Time Temperature Superposition Principle

<a></a><a>Quantitative comparison of atomistic simulations with experiment for glass-forming materials is made difficult by the vast mismatch between computationally and experimentally accessible timescales. Recently, we presented results for an epoxy network showing that the computation of specific volume vs. temperature as a function of cooling rate in conjunction with the time–temperature superposition principle (TTSP) enables direct quantitative comparison of simulation with experiment. Here, we follow-up and present results for the translational dynamics of the same material over a temperature range from the rubbery to the glassy state. Using TTSP, we obtain results for translational dynamics out to 109 s in TTSP reduced time – a macroscopic timescale. Further, we show that the mean squared displacement (MSD) trends of the network atoms can be collapsed onto a master curve at a reference temperature. The computational master curve is compared with the experimental master curve of the creep compliance for the same network using literature data. We find that the temporal features of the two data sets can be quantitatively compared providing an integrated view relating molecular level dynamics to the macroscopic thermophysical measurement. The time-shift factors needed for the superposition also show excellent agreement with experiment further establishing the veracity of the approach</a>.

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mtDNAcombine: tools to combine sequences from multiple studies

BMC Bioinformatics ◽

10.1186/s12859-021-04048-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Eleanor F. Miller ◽

Andrea Manica

Keyword(s):

Sequence Data ◽

Data Extraction ◽

Bayesian Skyline Plot ◽

Model Organisms ◽

Data Sets ◽

Data Handling ◽

Online Database ◽

Genetic Studies ◽

Wide Range ◽

Existing Data

Abstract Background Today an unprecedented amount of genetic sequence data is stored in publicly available repositories. For decades now, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been the workhorse of genetic studies, and as a result, there is a large volume of mtDNA data available in these repositories for a wide range of species. Indeed, whilst whole genome sequencing is an exciting prospect for the future, for most non-model organisms’ classical markers such as mtDNA remain widely used. By compiling existing data from multiple original studies, it is possible to build powerful new datasets capable of exploring many questions in ecology, evolution and conservation biology. One key question that these data can help inform is what happened in a species’ demographic past. However, compiling data in this manner is not trivial, there are many complexities associated with data extraction, data quality and data handling. Results Here we present the mtDNAcombine package, a collection of tools developed to manage some of the major decisions associated with handling multi-study sequence data with a particular focus on preparing sequence data for Bayesian skyline plot demographic reconstructions. Conclusions There is now more genetic information available than ever before and large meta-data sets offer great opportunities to explore new and exciting avenues of research. However, compiling multi-study datasets still remains a technically challenging prospect. The mtDNAcombine package provides a pipeline to streamline the process of downloading, curating, and analysing sequence data, guiding the process of compiling data sets from the online database GenBank.

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Dehydration of seabird prey during transport to the colony: effects on wet weight energy densities

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z87-427 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 65 (11) ◽

pp. 2822-2824 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

W. A. Montevecchi ◽

J. F. Piatt

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Data Sets ◽

Fresh Weight ◽

Present Evidence ◽

Wet Weight ◽

Cautious Interpretation ◽

Existing Data

We present evidence to indicate that dehydration of prey transported by seabirds from capture sites at sea to chicks at colonies inflates estimates of wet weight energy densities. These findings and a comparison of wet and dry weight energy densities reported in the literature emphasize the importance of (i) accurate measurement of the fresh weight and water content of prey, (ii) use of dry weight energy densities in comparisons among species, seasons, and regions, and (iii) cautious interpretation and extrapolation of existing data sets.

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Meta-Analysis Combining New and Existing Data Sets Confirms that the TERT–CLPTM1L Locus Influences Melanoma Risk

Journal of Investigative Dermatology ◽

10.1038/jid.2011.322 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 132 (2) ◽

pp. 485-487 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Matthew H. Law ◽

Grant W. Montgomery ◽

Kevin M. Brown ◽

Nicholas G. Martin ◽

Graham J. Mann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Meta Analysis ◽

Data Sets ◽

Melanoma Risk ◽

Existing Data

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Lidar survey of ancient Maya settlement in the Puuc region of Yucatan, Mexico

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0249314 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. e0249314

Author(s):

William M. Ringle ◽

Tomás Gallareta Negrón ◽

Rossana May Ciau ◽

Kenneth E. Seligson ◽

Juan C. Fernandez-Diaz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Landscape Archaeology ◽

Formative Period ◽

Ancient Maya ◽

Late Classic ◽

Maya Lowlands ◽

Civic Architecture ◽

Sensing Technology ◽

Cultivable Land ◽

Middle Formative ◽

Storage Technologies

The application of lidar remote-sensing technology has revolutionized the practice of settlement and landscape archaeology, perhaps nowhere more so than in the Maya lowlands. This contribution presents a substantial lidar dataset from the Puuc region of Yucatan, Mexico, a cultural subregion of the ancient Maya and a distinct physiographic zone within the Yucatan peninsula. Despite the high density of known sites, no large site has been fully surveyed, and little is known about intersite demography. Lidar technology allows determination of settlement distribution for the first time, showing that population was elevated but nucleated, although without any evidence of defensive features. Population estimates suggest a region among the most densely settled within the Maya lowlands, though hinterland levels are modest. Lacking natural bodies of surface water, the ancient Puuc inhabitants relied upon various storage technologies, primarily chultuns (cisterns) and aguadas (natural or modified reservoirs for potable water). Both are visible in the lidar imagery, allowing calculation of aguada capacities by means of GIS software. The imagery also demonstrates an intensive and widespread stone working industry. Ovens visible in the imagery were probably used for the production of lime, used for construction purposes and perhaps also as a softening agent for maize. Quarries can also be discerned, including in some cases substantial portions of entire hills. With respect to agriculture, terrain classification permits identification of patches of prime cultivable land and calculation of their extents. Lidar imagery also provides the first unequivocal evidence for terracing in the Puuc, indeed in all northern Yucatan. Finally, several types of civic architecture and architectural complexes are visible, including four large acropolises probably dating to the Middle Formative period (700–450 B.C.). Later instances of civic architecture include numerous Early Puuc Civic Complexes, suggesting a common form of civic organization at the beginning of the Late Classic demographic surge, (A.D. 600–750).

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Prior Beliefs and Ambiguity Attitudes in Decision from Experience

Management Science ◽

10.1287/mnsc.2020.3841 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ilke Aydogan

Keyword(s):

Decision Analysis ◽

Crucial Role ◽

Decision Model ◽

Data Sets ◽

Subjective Probabilities ◽

Prior Beliefs ◽

Decisions From Experience ◽

Ambiguity Attitudes ◽

Existing Data

Prior beliefs and their updating play a crucial role in decisions under uncertainty, and theories about them have been well established in classical Bayesianism. Yet, they are almost absent for ambiguous decisions from experience. This paper proposes a new decision model that incorporates the role of prior beliefs, beyond the role of ambiguity attitudes, into the analysis of such decisions. Hence, it connects ambiguity theories, popular in economics, with decision from experience, popular (mostly) in psychology, to the benefit of both. A reanalysis of some existing data sets from the literature on decisions from experience shows that the model that incorporates prior beliefs into the estimation of subjective probabilities outperforms the commonly used model that approximates subjective probabilities with observed relative frequencies. Controlling for subjective priors, we obtain more accurate measurements of ambiguity attitudes, and thus a new explanation of the gap between decision from description and decision from experience. This paper was accepted by Manel Baucells, decision analysis.

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Benthic Habitats and the Effects of Fishing

Benthic Habitats and the Effects of Fishing ◽

10.47886/9781888569605.ch45 ◽

2005 ◽

Keyword(s):

Gadus Morhua ◽

Atlantic Cod ◽

Fish Habitat ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Data Sets ◽

Fish Stocks ◽

Habitat Features ◽

The Irish Sea ◽

Belfast Lough ◽

Existing Data

Abstract. Fishers have often complained that standard United Kingdom groundfish survey data do not adequately reflect the grounds targeted by commercial fishers, and hence, scientists tend to make overcautious estimates of fish abundance. Such criticisms are of particular importance if we are to make a creditable attempt to classify potential essential fish habitat (EFH) using existing data from groundfish surveys. Nevertheless, these data sets provide a powerful tool to examine temporal abundance of fish on a large spatial scale. Here, we report a questionnaire-type survey of fishers (2001–2002) that invited them to plot the location of grounds of key importance in the Irish Sea and to comment on key habitat features that might constitute EFH for Atlantic cod Gadus morhua, haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus, and European whiting Merlangius merlangus. Plotted grounds were cross-checked using records of vessel sightings by fishery protection aircraft (1985–1999). A comparison of the areas of seabed highlighted by fishers and the observations made on groundfish surveys were broadly compatible for all three species of gadoids examined. Both methods indicated important grounds for cod and European whiting off northern Wales, the Ribble estuary, Solway Firth, north of Dublin, and Belfast Lough. The majority of vessel sightings by aircraft did not match the areas plotted by fishers. However, fishing restrictions, adverse weather conditions, and seasonal variation of fish stocks may have forced fishers to operate outside their favored areas on the (few) occasions that they had been recorded by aircraft. Fishers provided biological observations that were consistent among several independent sources (e.g., the occurrence of haddock over brittle star [ophiuroid] beds). We conclude that fishers’ knowledge is a useful supplement to existing data sets that can better focus more detailed EFH studies.

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