bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lessons learned from the Academic Reading Format International Study: Developing and coordinating a large international study
Authors: Mizrachi Diane , Salaz Alicia , Kurbanoğlu Serap , Boustany Joumana
Published: December 2018

The Academic Reading Format International Study (ARFIS) was born at the 2014 European Conference on Information Literacy (ECIL) where Diane Mizrachi presented her study of UCLA undergraduates’ reading format preferences, either print or electronic, and invited colleagues to examine their own students’ format preferences and behaviors.Serap Kubanoğlu, and Joumana Boustany approached Mizrachi with the idea of performing an international comparative study with colleagues at several other institutions. We now have data from more than 18,000 students in 33 countries, and have discussed and published our findings as they evolve in several venues.At ECIL 2017, six ARFIS researchers presented a panel discussion of our experiences conducting this large study, including some of the challenges and opportunities associated with such a large and distributed collaborative research project. Responses to our presentation were very positive, and we decided to share our insights with a broader audience of LIS colleagues who might be formulating or participating in distributed research networks.In this article, we discuss the process of organizing a large international comparative study, strategies used for communicating across language and cultural differences, foreseen and unforeseen challenges, lessons learned, and our goals for the near future.
Librarian sabbaticals: Overcoming the hurdles and realizing the benefits
Authors: Johnson Anna Marie
Published: December 2018

The idea of librarians taking a sabbatical might seem odd to some, but there are a number of important reasons why librarians, if eligible, should apply and take one. In the library literature, the reasons for sabbaticals include an antidote to stress and burnout, helping the organization move forward, and serving to provide equivalency to teaching faculty, but only a relatively small percentage of eligible librarians actually take their sabbaticals.
Internet Reviews
Authors: Roberts Joni R. , Drost Carol A.
Published: December 2018

Alaska’s Digital ArchivesClinton Digital LibraryYaleGlobal Online
El concepto de “conflictividad social” en las fuentes literarias latinas. Perspectivas diacrónicas = The Concept of “Social Conflictivity” in Latin Literary Sources. Diachronic Perspectives
Authors: Serrano Madroñal Raúl
Published: December 2018

En un ejercicio absoluto de abstracción, la sociología contemporánea y los estudios vinculados de otras disciplinas han sido capaces de teorizar sobre las “colisiones” o conflictus de un conjunto de individuos configurados en societas. No obstante, una generalización de grado semejante podría parecer verdaderamente ajena a la lengua latina tanto en el período clásico como en el posclásico y tardío. Inmersos en esta problemática, el presente artículo persigue dilucidar la existencia de una construcción conceptual que se corresponda con la idea actual de “conflicto social” mediante un análisis diacrónico de las fuentes literarias desde el “siglo de oro” hasta la tardo-antigüedad.  Contemporary Sociology and related studies of other disciplines have been able to theorize, through an absolute exercise of abstraction, about the "collisions" or conflictus of a set of individuals configured in societas. However, a generalization of a similar degree might seem truly strange to the Latin language in the classical, postclassical and later periods. Immersed in this problem, this paper seeks to elucidate the existence of a conceptual construction that corresponds to the current idea of "social conflict" through a diachronic analysis of literary sources from the "Golden age" to the Late Antiquity.
Un taller musivo en Jaén (España) = A Mosaic Workshop in Jaaén (Spain)
Authors: San Nicolás Pedraz Pilar
Published: December 2018

Se pone de relieve, en base al estudio del original mosaico romano de los Amores de Cástulo, la existencia de un posible taller en Jaén durante el siglo II, como ocurre en otros lugares de la Bética, sin descartar el influjo que pueda tener de otras provincias romanas. Con ello lo encuadraríamos en la denominada «Escuela del Medio Guadalquivir» abriendo nuevas vías de investigación en este reciente y novedoso ámbito de estudio.In this paper we deal with the possibility of the existence of a mosaic workshop in Jaén during the second century, as it has been proved in other areas of Baetica. It could be inside the so called «Escuela del Medio Guadalquivir». In this way we contribute in opening new ways of studies in this recent research area of the local mosaic workshops.
Cantando na escola: caminhos e possibilidades para a educação vocal
Authors:   UFMS - UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE MATO GROSSO DO SUL, Moreira Ana Lúcia Iara Gaborim , Egg Marisleusa de Souza ,   UNESPAR
Published: December 2018

este artigo aborda a prática da música cantada nas escolas, enfatizando o uso da voz pelo professor e pelas crianças. Os assuntos aqui discutidos são parte das reflexões apresentadas nas pesquisas de mestrado e doutorado das autoras e trazem o aporte de pesquisadores da área de educação musical e vocal. No intento de investigar o estado da arte no campo das práticas vocais escolares, analisamos esse contexto com suas dificuldades e desafios inerentes. A partir desse contexto, apresentamos alguns caminhos e possibilidades para o trabalho docente, no sentido de auxiliar o professor a compreender a sua própria voz e de saber conduzir as vozes das crianças de modo saudável, apropriado e eficiente. O artigo traz ainda, alguns exemplos práticos de experiências já realizadas em aulas de música e ensaios de coro infantojuvenil, proporcionando um melhor entendimento das propostas aqui apresentadas.
“Escutar música por dentro”: Sentidos da música e as aulas de técnica vocal e violão para um surdo profundo
Authors:   UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL DE MARINGÁ - UEM, Suiti Scarlat
Published: December 2018

Este texto trás um recorte de uma pesquisa realizada como requisito final para a conclusão do curso de Licenciatura em Educação Musical na Universidade XXXXX, que teve como objetivo investigar a aprendizagem musical de um aluno surdo que estuda técnica vocal e violão. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio de observações e entrevistas semiestruturadas. Aqui, apresento, inicialmente, uma breve revisão de literatura, sobre a temática; na sequencia abordo a metodologia usada na pesquisa e, por fim, trago parte dos resultados da pesquisa. Os dados indicam que a música na vida de um surdo não é somente de entretenimento, mas sim de um desenvolvimento social que contribui na relação dele com o seu cotidiano. Além disso, mostram parte da dinâmica e organização das aulas de violão e técnica vocal com um surdo profundo.
Concertation ou négociation? Distinguer les deux afin de faciliter les prises de décisions en contexte de réadaptation au travail
Authors: Gouin Marie-Michelle , Truchon Manon
Published: December 2018

En contexte de réadaptation au travail, l’action concertée (concertation) serait déterminante pour le succès du retour au travail. Or, un débat théorique entoure toujours le concept de « concertation », qui peut être rapproché (ou non) de la « négociation ». De plus, aucune étude n’a encore exploré les processus de prises de décisions collectives à partir d’échanges entre les multiples parties prenantes à un programme de réadaptation au travail. Cet article vise à proposer des définitions opérationnelles distinguant la concertation de la négociation, puis à les tester en contexte de réadaptation au travail.

D’abord, des définitions de « l’action concertée », de la « concertation » et de la « négociation » sont comparées, afin d’en venir à distinguer ces deux derniers concepts, notamment par la présence de conflit(s) et des relations (de coopération/collaboration) entre les parties. Les définitions proposées sont, ensuite, testées empiriquement à partir de données issues d’une étude de cas multiples (N=6) qui explore les processus de prises de décisions entre les parties prenantes à un programme de réadaptation au travail.

Les données de l’étude montrent l’importance de comprendre la concertation et la négociation comme des types de processus de prises de décisions complexes et dynamiques. L’étude permet aussi de distinguer la concertation et la négociation à l’aide des définitions proposées en contexte de réadaptation au travail. Le recours à ces définitions pourrait engendrer d’importantes retombées, notamment sur le plan des pratiques en réadaptation au travail.

Ces définitions pourraient, en effet, permettre de mieux cibler des stratégies à privilégier pour atteindre des décisions favorables au retour durable et en bonne santé des travailleurs en incapacité, selon le type de prise de décisions anticipé. Ceci dit, d’autres études devront venir approfondir la connaissance des processus de prises de décisions collectives (incluant la concertation et la négociation) en contexte de réadaptation au travail, ainsi que leurs liens possibles avec le succès ou l’échec du retour au travail.
Aberrant repair initiated by the adenine-DNA glycosylase does not play a role in UV-induced mutagenesis inEscherichia coli
Authors: Zutterling Caroline , Mursalimov Aibek , Talhaoui Ibtissam , Koshenov Zhanat , Akishev Zhiger , Bissenbaev Amangeldy K. , Mazon Gerard , Geacintov Nicolas E. , Gasparutto Didier , Groisman Regina , Zharkov Dmitry O. , Matkarimov Bakhyt T. , Saparbaev Murat
Published: December 2018

Background

DNA repair is essential to counteract damage to DNA induced by endo- and exogenous factors, to maintain genome stability. However, challenges to the faithful discrimination between damaged and non-damaged DNA strands do exist, such as mismatched pairs between two regular bases resulting from spontaneous deamination of 5-methylcytosine or DNA polymerase errors during replication. To counteract these mutagenic threats to genome stability, cells evolved the mismatch-specific DNA glycosylases that can recognize and remove regular DNA bases in the mismatched DNA duplexes. TheEscherichia coliadenine-DNA glycosylase (MutY/MicA) protects cells against oxidative stress-induced mutagenesis by removing adenine which is mispaired with 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (8oxoG) in the base excision repair pathway. However, MutY does not discriminate between template and newly synthesized DNA strands. Therefore the ability to remove A from 8oxoG•A mispair, which is generated via misincorporation of an 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine-5′-triphosphate precursor during DNA replication and in which A is the template base, can induce A•T→C•G transversions. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that human MUTYH, homologous to the bacterial MutY, might be involved in the aberrant processing of ultraviolet (UV) induced DNA damage.

Methods

Here, we investigated the role of MutY in UV-induced mutagenesis inE. coli. MutY was probed on DNA duplexes containing cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) and pyrimidine (6–4) pyrimidone photoproduct (6–4PP). UV irradiation ofE. coliinduces Save Our Souls (SOS) response characterized by increased production of DNA repair enzymes and mutagenesis. To study the role of MutY in vivo, the mutation frequencies to rifampicin-resistant (RifR) after UV irradiation of wild type and mutantE. colistrains were measured.

Results

We demonstrated that MutY does not excise Adenine when it is paired with CPD and 6–4PP adducts in duplex DNA. At the same time, MutY excises Adenine in A•G and A•8oxoG mispairs. Interestingly,E. coli mutYstrains, which have elevated spontaneous mutation rate, exhibited low mutational induction after UV exposure as compared to MutY-proficient strains. However, sequence analysis of RifRmutants revealed that the frequencies of C→T transitions dramatically increased after UV irradiation in both MutY-proficient and -deficientE. colistrains.

Discussion

These findings indicate that the bacterial MutY is not involved in the aberrant DNA repair of UV-induced DNA damage.
High‐throughput isolation of circulating tumor DNA: a comparison of automated platforms
Authors: van Dessel Lisanne F. , Vitale Silvia R. , Helmijr Jean C. A. , Wilting Saskia M. , van der Vlugt‐Daane Michelle , Oomen‐de Hoop Esther , Sleijfer Stefan , Martens John W. M. , Jansen Maurice P. H. M. , Lolkema Martijn P.
Published: December 2018

The emerging interest in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analyses for clinical trials has necessitated the development of a high‐throughput method for fast, reproducible, and efficient isolation of ctDNA. Currently, the majority of ctDNA studies use the manual QIAamp (QA) platform to isolate DNA from blood. The purpose of this study was to compare two competing automated DNA isolation platforms [Maxwell (MX) and QIAsymphony (QS)] to the current ‘gold standard’ QA to facilitate high‐throughput processing of samples in prospective trials. We obtained blood samples from healthy blood donors and metastatic cancer patients for plasma isolation. Total cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) quantity was assessed by TERT quantitative PCR. Recovery efficiency was investigated by quantitative PCR analysis of spiked‐in synthetic plant DNA. In addition, a β‐actin fragmentation assay was performed to determine the amount of contamination by genomic DNA from lysed leukocytes. ctDNA quality was assessed by digital PCR for somatic variant detection. cfDNA quantity and recovery efficiency were lowest using the MX platform, whereas QA and QS showed a comparable performance. All platforms preferentially isolated small (136 bp) DNA fragments over large (420 and 2000 bp) DNA fragments. Detection of the number variant and wild‐type molecules was most comparable between QA and QS. However, there was no significant difference in variant allele frequency comparing QS and MX to QA. In summary, we show that the QS platform has comparable performance to QA, the ‘gold standard’, and outperformed the MX platform depending on the readout used. We conclude that the QS can replace the more laborious QA platform, especially when high‐throughput cfDNA isolation is needed.
Chloride promotes refolding of active Vibrio alkaline phosphatase through an inactive dimeric intermediate with an altered interface
Authors: Hjörleifsson Jens Guðmundur , Ásgeirsson Bjarni
Published: December 2018

Most enzymes are homodimers or higher order multimers. Cold‐active alkaline phosphatase from Vibrio splendidus (VAP) transitions into a dimer with very low activity under mild denaturation conditions. The desire to understand why this dimer fails to efficiently catalyse phosphomonoester hydrolysis led us to investigate interfacial communication between subunits. Here, we studied in detail the unfolding mechanism at two pH values and in the presence or absence of sodium chloride. At pH 8.0, the denaturation model had to include an inactive dimer intermediate and follow the pathway: N2 → I2 → 2U. At pH 10.5, the model was of a two‐state nature. Enzyme activity was not recovered under several examined refolding conditions. However, in the presence of 0.5 m NaCl, the enzyme was nearly fully reactivated after urea treatment. Thermal inactivation experiments were biphasic where the inactivation could be detected using CD spectroscopy at 190–200 nm. By incorporating a bimane fluorescence probe at the dimer interface, we could monitor inactivation/denaturation at two distinct sites at the dimer interface. A change in bimane fluorescence at both sites was observed during inactivation, but prior to the global unfolding event. Furthermore, the rate of change in bimane fluorescence correlated with inactivation rates at 40 °C. These results indicate and support the hypothesis that the subunits of VAP are only functional in the dimeric state due to the cooperative nature of the reaction mechanism when proper crosstalk between subunits is facilitated.
Computer‐Assisted Restoration
Authors: Lowe Adam
Published: December 2018

Computer‐assisted restoration is a noncontact methodology that employs digital technologies to reconstruct the appearance of works of art, and archaeological and heritage sites by integrating high‐resolution color and three‐dimensional (3D) data with materials such as conservation reports, preliminary sketches, and historical images. As a technique, it is proving useful for conservators and restorers who are able to trial a variety of different options before carrying out a physical intervention. Art historians and archaeologists can visualize hypotheses in virtual environments. It is possible to revisit a known work of art by installing a facsimile in the location for which it was created; or view different versions of the work as part of a virtual environment accessible to a great number of people. This entry proposes that digital restoration enables a deep understanding of cultural heritage, leading to a reevaluation of the concepts of originality and authenticity by means of reconstructions that can sometimes be more “complete” than the original objects. It considers potential methodologies for the process of digital restoration, illustrated with two case studies.
Conservation
Authors: Sloggett Robyn
Published: December 2018

Conservation is the action undertaken to preserve cultural heritage, in all its forms, in order that a secure and stable cultural record is available into the future. Conservation achieves this through the actions of preservation, remedial conservation, and restoration. These activities are framed by professional codes of ethics that describe conservation philosophy and practice, define conservation terminology, and guide decision making in conservation planning, treatment, and research.
Conservation Documentation
Authors: Pozeilov Yosi
Published: December 2018

Documentation varies according to the conservation activity that is being performed. Documentation can be categorized as: image‐based, text‐based, and data‐based. Following well‐established documentation guidelines is important during the conservation activities involving any cultural heritage property. A primary use of the documentation is to record the physical state in which an art object is found at a determinate time and place. Documentation is also used to record the different stages that it will go through during its treatment and conservation intervention, and to monitor changes during transportation and handling across venues and time. The storage and long‐term management of documentation data is also important and has to be taken into account. Conservation documentation is one of the principal cornerstones involved in the stewardship of cultural heritage property, and as such it has to be considered and performed thoughtfully.
Conservation of Bone, Horn, and Ivory
Authors: O'Connor Sonia
Published: December 2018

The conservation of bone, horn, and ivory begins with understanding how these materials degrade in a range of burial environments and knowing the other factors that can affect preservation. As biocomposites, these tissues have particularly complex degradation pathways. Conservation begins from the moment of excavation, protecting, supporting, and inhibiting dimensional changes and biodegradation. Keratinous tissues may only be present in the form of mineral preserved organics (MPOs). Good external support of friable objects is the preferred strategy, rather than consolidation prior to lifting. The key to long‐term passive conservation is stability of curation conditions.
Conservation of Fibrous Materials
Authors: Burr Elizabeth
Published: December 2018

Fibrous artifacts such as basketry, textiles, and paper include a wide range of plant materials, construction technologies, and forms. These artifacts are very rare, and typically found in fragmentary and weakened degraded states. Conservation can include a number of steps, including first‐aid recovery in the field, examination, analysis, preventive conservation measures, and stabilization treatment. Treatments for fibrous artifacts are minimal in nature, though highly fragile and unstable materials may require a more interventive approach, especially for waterlogged fibrous artifacts.
Conservation of Mosaics
Authors: Roby Thomas
Published: December 2018

Mosaics are a type of architectural surface decoration which developed in the Hellenistic and Roman periods primarily for floors but also for walls and vaults. The conservation of mosaics presents serious challenges for archaeological heritage authorities due to decades of neglect and poor decisions in the past, which favored detaching mosaic surfaces (
tessellatum
) from their context and replacing them on new supports, frequently panels of reinforced concrete. The current conservation approach is based on preserving their authenticity and context by using compatible lime mortars and grouts to stabilize them in situ, then preventing further deterioration through preventive measures including reburial. Successful in‐situ conservation depends on developing site‐wide conservation plans based on each site's resources to monitor conditions and maintain mosaics on a daily basis.
Conservation of Polychrome Natural and Architectural Surfaces
Authors: Rainer Leslie
Published: December 2018

The conservation of polychrome natural and architectural surfaces encompasses a wide array of materials and techniques used to embellish the natural and built heritage, including pictographs, wall paintings, murals, polychrome bas‐relief elements, stuccowork, and mosaics. Their conservation is complex due to the many different types of supports, substrates, plasters, and paints that can be used in their execution, and given the fact that they are integral elements of larger natural formations or architectural systems. Conservation must be addressed in an integrated methodological approach that considers site management issues, diagnostic investigations, preventive and remedial treatments, documentation, and stakeholder involvement to ensure the long‐term preservation of polychrome natural and architectural surfaces in context.
Conservation of Vitreous Materials
Authors: Koob Stephen P. , van Giffen N. Astrid R.
Published: December 2018

Vitreous materials vary considerably in their composition, history, technology, deterioration, and preservation, but the criteria for their conservation are similar. The general principles of minimal intervention and reversibility are good theories of practice in the treatment of vitreous materials, along with the modern approaches of passive intervention and risk management. The active treatments for vitreous materials primarily involve consolidation or strengthening of friable and damaged surfaces, as well as reassembly using synthetic adhesives. An acrylic adhesive, Paraloid B‐72, is an excellent alternative to the epoxy resins often used, and its stability, ease of use, and reversibility provide for much better long‐term sustainability. Climate‐controlled and climate‐monitored storage conditions are also an important factor for the long‐term preservation of vitreous materials.
Conservation Plans
Authors: Clark Kate
Published: December 2018

A conservation management plan sets out the significance and value of a heritage site and how that will be retained in future development, alteration, and use. Such plans are a key tool in values‐based heritage management, as they bring together technical conservation issues with the wider social aspects of conservation. Archaeology plays a central role in the process, including in understanding the site, in working with communities to articulate wider values, and in recognizing risks and vulnerabilities. Conservation management plans can integrate archaeology into wider urban and landscape strategies and, because they involve people, are vital to sustaining archaeological sites and monuments.
Coprolites
Authors: Riley Tim
Published: December 2018

Coprolites are preserved fecal material, also known as paleofeces. They are generally preserved in protected archaeological contexts via desiccation, though waterlogged and frozen specimens have been recovered. These biologically complex specimens can be examined for evidence of diet and medicinal use of plants and animals, as well as of the sex and genetic makeup of the depositing individual. They can also be directly radiocarbon‐dated, providing a temporal framework for specimens from disturbed contexts.
Coring
Authors: Burney David A.
Published: December 2018

Coring of several types has played a key role in recovering, from sediments and other deposits, information concerning the background environmental changes at archaeological sites, as well as ecological changes associated with human activities. Coring devices have also been used with good success to assess the potential and the extent of large archaeological sites and to discover new sites with minimal disturbance.
Correspondence Analysis
Authors: Alberti Gianmarco
Published: December 2018

Correspondence analysis has become increasingly popular in archaeology, where it is used to visualize contingency tables and to understand their structure. As an exploratory tool, the technique has found wide use for a variety of purposes, which encompass (but are not limited to) activity areas research, the analysis of pottery distribution across a variety of contexts, the study of faunal remains, and chronological seriation. This entry provides a short, jargon‐free description of the technique and of its rationale and context of use. Some aspects crucial to the interpretation of the results, such as the number of dimensions one has to consider relevant for the interpretation, the contribution of the categories to the construction of the dimensions, and the quality of the points' display, are synthetically discussed. The use of correspondence analysis to formally seek for clusters and/or to achieve an optimal ordering of rows and columns (e.g., for the purposes of chronological seriation) is also described. Reference is finally made to a number of free software programs that implement the technique.
Cranial Shaping
Authors: Tiesler Vera
Published: December 2018

The shaping of infant cranial vaults is one of the most widespread and at the same time diversified body modification traditions in the human past. Cranial shape modification was performed mainly by female kin on their newborns, babies, and toddlers, when the cranium is malleable. Cranial shaping has been practiced cross‐culturally by means of massage, constriction, and/or compression. Classified and interpreted as part of the archaeological record, cranial morphology is informative about modification results, techniques, and instruments, and is complemented by information provided by ancient portraiture and depictions of the head. The visible outcome of the practice and its behavioral components have led to broader discussions regarding cultural traditions, social identities, ethnicity, status, and gender.
Creativity
Authors: Cochrane Andrew
Published: December 2018

Creativity is a core component of archaeology, and yet it is not directly considered in the literature. This results in uncontested or unconsidered themes being employed. Here, we unpack the origins of creativity, and explore how other disciplines deal with the concept. Discussions will be supported by examination of particular materials from the archaeological record. Finally, we will look at how new technologies are informing how creative processes happened, in time.
Critical Museology
Authors: Shelton Anthony Alan
Published: December 2018

Unlike most non‐hegemonic museologies, critical museology is based on the articulation of specific and clearly identifiable epistemological positions, methodological interdictions, and experimental exhibition practices. The foundation of the discipline is founded on a synthesis of perspectives including historical constructivism, the agentive role of collectors and collections within specific cultural contexts, the social construction and reconstruction of materials and objects, and the critique of empiricism. The entry describes the focus of critical museology to be on the practices of applied or operational museology and the range of heritage regimes, exhibitionary complexes, and the competing political positions and policies with which it is always entangled. The entry ends by identifying major institutional exponents of critical museology and examining some of the far‐reaching implications of its applications.
Critical Theory
Authors: Leone Mark P.
Published: December 2018

Critical theory is used to formulate archaeological problems and to understand how standard, contemporary archaeological answers can be subject to political and economic forces. Theory should enable archaeologists to understand their place in society more clearly and should allow them to choose better how to work in their own societies. While this entry is written from a position within historical archaeology, critical theory is used productively in any archaeological circumstance.
Cultural Resources Management
Authors: Emerick Keith
Published: December 2018

Cultural resource management, also referred to as “cultural heritage management,” is the suite of legislation and professional practices geared towards managing change in the historic environment. Developing out of historic building preservation and antiquarian movements in the 19th century, the management of heritage places is chiefly and popularly associated with the conservation and presentation of large, ruined monuments, a direction that became firmly established in the first half of the 20th century. However, social and political changes in the 1960s and 1970s encouraged heritage practitioners to rethink what heritage might mean, what it might include, and how it might be used. Although not universally accepted cultural resource management now embraces ideas of identity, memory, and intangibility but remains limited by the strength of ideas concerning the authenticity of fabric and national historical narratives.
Databases in Archaeology
Authors: Gattiglia Gabriele
Published: December 2018

The storage of archaeological data in, and their retrieval from, relational databases are by now essential components of archaeological research. Given the growing accessibility of statistical techniques and the ease with which they can be applied, databases have greatly increased the possibility for the archaeologists to implement complex quantitative analysis when they examine their datasets. Relational databases mirror how archaeological data are structured and permit better analysis, better publication, and better archiving. Thesauri and the management of the chronology, for instance, are aspects that allow better handling of the archaeological documentation. New and exciting tools such as mobile devices have great potential for entering coded data in large datasets and for datafying the archaeological workflow. In fact datafication (i.e., the act of transforming objects and processes by giving them a quantified format) promises to go beyond digitization and to have an even more profound impact on archaeology.
Dating and Optically Stimulated Luminescence
Authors: Arnold Lee J. , Demuro Martina
Published: December 2018

Dating of unheated sediments using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) was first introduced in the mid‐1980s and has since become one of the most widely used numerical techniques for establishing sediment chronologies at Late Pleistocene archaeological sites. OSL dating utilizes light‐sensitive, trapped charge populations in silicate minerals to determine the amount of time that has elapsed since buried sediment grains were last exposed to daylight. OSL therefore provides a direct means of dating sediment deposition events at archaeological sites and an indirect means of dating cultural artifacts or fossils buried within sedimentary deposits. Improvements in single‐aliquot procedures and the development of single‐grain techniques has resulted in major advances in OSL dating precision and reliability at archaeological sites. Recent and ongoing research into extended‐range optical dating methodologies continue to improve the applicability of OSL over timescales spanning large parts of the Middle Pleistocene hominin record.
Dating Ceramics and Luminescence
Authors: Feathers James K.
Published: December 2018

Luminescence provides a direct date for when ceramics were last exposed to sufficient heat, usually when they were made or last used. Methodological developments in luminescence since it was first introduced for dating ceramics in the 1970s have allowed precision of 10% or better. While always an alternative to even more precise methods such as radiocarbon dating, luminescence should be the first choice for several chronological problems in the archaeological study of ceramics.
Dating in Archaeology
Authors: Munyikwa Ken
Published: December 2018

Assigning temporal frameworks in archaeology can be performed using a number of Quaternary dating methods. The chronometers are largely borrowed from the earth sciences and can be grouped into four main categories. These comprise radiometric, incremental, age‐equivalent, and relative dating methods. Applicable radiometric methods include radiocarbon, argon isotope, uranium series, luminescence, electron spin resonance, and fission‐track dating techniques. Dendrochronology and varve chronology make up the category of incremental dating methods, while archaeomagnetism, tephrochronology and molecular clocks constitute age‐equivalent methods. Relative dating methods can entail ordering stratigraphic units using the law of superposition, but other methods include obsidian hydration, amino acid, and fossil bone analysis techniques. The dating method that is chosen for application in a given setting depends on the time range under consideration as well as the types of material that are available for analysis.
Dating Pollen
Authors: Fletcher William J.
Published: December 2018

Pollen grains are highly suitable for radiocarbon dating as they contain a closed pool of carbon derived from the atmosphere via photosynthesis, are highly resilient in a range of sedimentary environments, and can be identified in terms of the source vegetation types. Dating pollen requires the preparation of pollen concentrates in the laboratory, typically including a combination of digestion, washing, density separation, and sieving stages. During the preparation stages, attention should be paid to avoiding contamination in the handling of small samples. Careful inspection of the content of the pollen concentrates is necessary to aid the interpretation of the resulting radiocarbon determinations and to rule out the possibility of reworking and reservoir effects.
Dating Rock and Desert Varnish
Authors: Liu Tanzhuo
Published: December 2018

Dating surface geoarchaeological features such as stone artifacts, petroglyphs, and geoglyphs in arid to semiarid deserts has proved very difficult. Conventional dating methods like radiocarbon cannot be applied to these rock features owing to the lack of datable material. Cosmogenic radionuclide methods may be useful by yielding maximum‐limiting surface exposure ages, but they often consume a large quantity of rock, which is destructive and therefore unsuitable when dating geoarchaeological features. Varnish microlamination (VML) dating is a climate change‐based correlative age determination approach. It differs in principle from other yet controversial varnish‐based methods such as cation ratio and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating of subvarnish organics. It needs only a tiny piece of varnish‐coated rock for VML analysis, which makes the technique most suitable for dating surface geoarchaeological features in drylands.
Degenerative Joint Disease
Authors: Weiss Elizabeth
Published: December 2018

Degenerative joint disease (DJD) is the most common bone disease found in archaeological skeletal collections. The three bony features associated with DJD are porosity, osteophytes, and eburnation; all three are visible to the naked eye. Although DJD etiology is complex and multifactorial, bioarchaeologists have often used DJD to reconstruct past activity patterns. Both the anthropological and medical literature provides evidence that physically strenuous activities, especially when started early in life and engaged in frequently, can result in DJD. Yet, age is the best predictor of DJD and, thus, future researchers may wish to investigate ways in which DJD can be used in adult age estimates.
Dental Decoration
Authors: Tiesler Vera
Published: December 2018

Throughout the past, human cultures have decorated their teeth in areas across the globe. These decorations range from temporary or semipermanent measures (painting, dying, cauterization, applications, and prosthesis) to permanent reductions in size of single teeth or complete dentitions. Accomplished by ablation (tooth extraction), filing, chipping, engraving, drilling, and incrustation among others, permanent dental alterations typically appear on the visible segment of the dental arch for ornamental purposes in past and present societies. Although the anthropological literature has associated dental modification with rites of passage and personal ornamentation, in reality these measures are related to a host of culturally aligned motivations, which range from symbolic identification, markings of identity, personal choice, and therapeutic measures. Studied as part of the material record, dental decorations are best examined from a bioarchaeological perspective with reference to additional sources of nonarchaeological information gleaned from health sciences and cultural studies.
Dental Metrics
Authors: Scherer Andrew K.
Published: December 2018

Bioarchaeologists primarily use measurements of human teeth (dental metrics, odontometrics) to address questions of population history and structure (biological distance). However, dental metrics are also employed for the estimation of sex and to explore fluctuating dental asymmetry as a possible measure of health. Mesiodistal length, buccolingual width, and crown height are the most common dimensions measured by bioarchaeologists.
Deterioration
Authors: Magar Valerie
Published: December 2018

Deterioration of archaeological heritage represents one of the elements of weathering of objects or sites, the other being alteration. This entry focuses on the differences of these terms, and how deterioration and alteration tend to be classified, either by their causes or by the effects visible on the archaeological objects or sites. It briefly describes how alteration is assessed, in front of increasing threats to archaeological heritage worldwide. The significance of archaeological heritage is also discussed, from various cultural perspectives, as this may importantly change the perception of alteration and deterioration.
Deterioration of Waterlogged Materials
Authors: McKillop Heather
Published: December 2018

Although waterlogged materials provide organic and other material not often preserved at archaeological sites, deterioration impairs study, preservation, and curation. Waterlogged materials are common with shipwrecks and at other underwater sites, as well as at submerged terrestrial sites where anaerobic conditions preserve organic materials. Biological and chemical deterioration can occur at waterlogged sites, during excavation and storage for study, and after preservation or final disposition of the artifacts. Deterioration varies according to the material (wood, pottery, metal, and other materials) and with different site conditions, including pH, salinity, temperature, organics, and hydrogen sulfide (H
2
S). Use of 3D imaging can provide an enduring record of deteriorating artifacts for study and exhibits.
Deterioration of Earthen Building Materials
Authors: Ma Xiao
Published: December 2018

Earthen building materials are among the most widely used construction materials in the world. However, owing to the nature of earthen materials, they are susceptible to deterioration. In this entry the components, properties, and preparation techniques of earthen materials are discussed. Their pathologies—in the form of nonstructural and structural damages—and the factors that lead to their deterioration—namely environmental factors, human and animal activity, and external factors—are discussed in detail.
Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction
Authors: Burg Marieka Brouwer
Published: December 2018

Paleoenvironmental reconstruction has long been considered a foundational step in the investigation of human behavior and process within broader ecological and evolutionary relationships. This multidisciplinary procedure typically integrates diverse data types derived from different natural, physical, and atmospheric sources, with the overall goal of approximating the environmental context within which human life occurred and, subsequently, in which material culture remains were produced, used, discarded, and preserved. Despite their advantages, such reconstructions are difficult to plan, build, and administer, as they require the cooperation of researchers from different disciplines, with different research goals and approaches to data collection, analysis, and scale. A robust paleoenvironmental reconstruction should include datasets reflective of the physical landscape, vegetation, fauna, climate, and climate change. These reconstructions contribute valuable information to archaeology about human–landscape relationships for which no modern analog exists.
Paleoethnobotany
Authors: Spengler Robert N.
Published: December 2018

Paleoethnobotany is the scientific investigation of human and plant interactions in the past; this includes both human environmental impact and cultural practices involving plants. In practice, a paleoethnobotanist studies the preserved remains of plants in archaeological sites or in a cultural landscape around the site. These investigations include the study of both macro‐ and microscopic plant remains to understand what role plants played in human diet and other aspects of life in the past, as well as how humans impacted plant communities through time. It requires a multidisciplinary approach, integrating the biological and social sciences and utilizing datasets as diverse as historical texts and ancient DNA.
Paleopathology
Authors: Cardoso Francisca Alves
Published: December 2018

Paleopathology is a major discipline in the study of past human populations. It is interdisciplinary and focuses on the study of abnormal bone and teeth changes to diagnose diseases, infer the health condition of individuals and past populations, and reconstruct patterns of health and behavior. It aims to identify diseases and trace their origin and evolution using a biocultural perspective. Paleopathology uses as primary sources of evidence bones and teeth of human remains. This entry provides an overview of the scope of the discipline, referencing some of its applications, methodologies, and limitations.
Palynology
Authors: Grant Michael J.
Published: December 2018

Palynology is an informal term used to describe the study of a large range of both extinct and extant organic‐walled microfossils, known collectively as palynomorphs. This includes pollen and spores as well as non‐pollen palynomorphs (NPP) and dinoflagellates, and those restricted to pre‐Quaternary deposits that can be useful in provenance studies. Palynomorphs are preserved in a wide range of sedimentary environments, leading to their widescale adoption as a key technique for paleoenvironmental and geoarchaeological studies, permitting detailed insights into human activity across all populated continents along with the study of past climates. This entry provides a broad perspective on the use of palynomorphs in archaeological studies.
Paper Analysis
Authors: Satoru Tsuchikawa , Te Ma , Inagaki Tetsuya
Published: December 2018

Many spectroscopic techniques are used for historical paper analysis such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Raman, nuclear magnetic resonance, X‐ray, laser‐based, inductively coupled mass, atomic absorption, and X‐ray photoelectron. Other methodologies such as high‐performance liquid chromatography have also been applied to the study of ancient paper.
Perception and Experience
Authors: Brophy Kenneth , Watson Andrew
Published: December 2018

Perception and experience have become important elements of the study of past landscapes, monuments, and material culture within archaeology since the early 1990s. The main theoretical driver behind this has been the philosophical concept of phenomenology, which gives primacy to engaged, embodied, and sensory encounters with archaeological materials, sites, and landscapes. Such approaches are much contested and various methodological developments have been necessary in terms of how one records experiences of places, and things, and subsequently uses these experiences to generate valid archaeological interpretations.
Petrography and Ceramics
Authors: Reedy Chandra L.
Published: December 2018

Ceramic thin‐section petrography has been used for answering archaeological research questions since at least the early 1940s. It is still an important technique, with continuing advances and many innovative and successful applications. Identification and characterization of nonplastic inclusions, whether naturally occurring with clay or deliberately added by potters, can answer questions about geological sources of raw materials, trade and exchange networks, and technological choices made by ceramic workshops. Examination of thin sections under a polarizing transmitted light microscope can also reveal information about clay selection and the paste preparation and processing choices, object fabrication methods, firing conditions, and decorative techniques such as surface burnishing or the application of slip, paint, glaze, and enamel layers. The unique capabilities of ceramic petrography are often extended by combining this technique with other, complementary analytical methods, so that the maximum amount of information possible can be extracted from a study of archaeological ceramic materials.
Photogrammetry and Stereophotogrammetry
Authors: Magnani Matthew , Douglass Matthew
Published: December 2018

Photogrammetry emerged in the 1800s as a means to take measurements on still photographs. By the 2000s, the originally expensive and specialized procedure gave way to an inexpensive and accessible technique, requiring only a digital camera, computer, and low‐cost or free software to generate detailed three‐dimensional models created from a series of overlapping photographs. A variety of analyses—from traditional linear to complex geomorphic morphometric measurements—are facilitated by the resulting models, which range in size from subcentimeter artifacts made on turntables to larger buildings and landscapes photographed from unmanned aerial vehicles. These developments have had implications not only for archaeological applications, but for cultural heritage more broadly, enabling data‐sharing and communication with diverse publics.
Photoluminescence of Egyptian Blue
Authors: Chiari Giacomo
Published: December 2018

Visible induced luminescence (VIL) is a powerful imaging technique applicable mostly to Egyptian Blue (EB hereafter). It is based on the ability of EB to absorb visible light and luminesce in the near‐infrared region. Han Blue Han Purple and some cadmium‐based pigments also luminesce, although with much lower intensity. The basic tools needed for the imaging are a digital camera with the IR filter removed, and a source of visible light without an IR component. The environmental IR noise needs to be reduced to a minimum. Many different variations of this basic setting have been proposed, from LEDs to flash with IR cutting filters. The presence of EB traces, even small, on works of art is a strong indication of their authenticity, since it is believed that the EB manufacturing technique was lost with the fall of the Roman Empire, although exceptions have been found. Using VIL, some information can be gathered on the EB history.