title: Using palaeoenvironmental DNA to reconstruct past environments: progress and prospects

authors: Rawlence, Nicolas J.

abstract: Palaeoenvironmental DNA (PalEnDNA) is defined as ancient DNA (aDNA) originating from disseminated genetic material within palaeoenvironmental samples. Sources of PalEnDNA include marine and lake sediments, peat, loess, till, ice, permafrost, palaeosols, coprolites, preserved gut contents, dental calculus, tephras, and soils as well as deposits in caves/rockshelters and at archaeological sites. PalEnDNA analysis provides a relatively new tool for Quaternary and archaeological sciences and its applications have included palaeoenvironmental and palaeodietary reconstructions, testing hypotheses regarding megafaunal extinctions, human–environment interactions, taxonomic studies and studies of DNA damage. Because PalEnDNA samples comprise markedly different materials, and represent wide-ranging depositional and taphonomic contexts, various issues must be addressed to achieve robust, reproducible findings. Such issues include climatic and temporal limitations, the biological origin and state (free versus bound) of PalEnDNA, stratigraphic reliability, sterile sampling, ability to distinguish modern from aDNA signals, DNA damage and PCR amplification, DNA extraction methods, and taxonomic resolution. In this review, we provide a non-specialist introduction to the use of PalEnDNA for Quaternary and archaeological researchers, assess attributes and limitations of this palaeoenvironmental tool, and discuss future prospects of using PalEnDNA to reconstruct past environments.

text: Using palaeoenvironmental DNA to reconstruct past environments: progress and prospects Palaeoenvironmental DNA (PalEnDNA) is defined as ancient DNA (aDNA) originating from disseminated genetic material within palaeoenvironmental samples. Sources of PalEnDNA include marine and lake sediments, peat, loess, till, ice, permafrost, palaeosols, coprolites, preserved gut contents, dental calculus, tephras, and soils as well as deposits in caves/rockshelters and at archaeological sites. PalEnDNA analysis provides a relatively new tool for Quaternary and archaeological sciences and its applications have included palaeoenvironmental and palaeodietary reconstructions, testing hypotheses regarding megafaunal extinctions, human–environment interactions, taxonomic studies and studies of DNA damage. Because PalEnDNA samples comprise markedly different materials, and represent wide-ranging depositional and taphonomic contexts, various issues must be addressed to achieve robust, reproducible findings. Such issues include climatic and temporal limitations, the biological origin and state (free versus bound) of PalEnDNA, stratigraphic reliability, sterile sampling, ability to distinguish modern from aDNA signals, DNA damage and PCR amplification, DNA extraction methods, and taxonomic resolution. In this review, we provide a non-specialist introduction to the use of PalEnDNA for Quaternary and archaeological researchers, assess attributes and limitations of this palaeoenvironmental tool, and discuss future prospects of using PalEnDNA to reconstruct past environments.

year: 2014

title: A logic for specifying and reasoning about cooperative environments

authors: Reeves, Steve

subjects: computer science

abstract: In this paper we describe the current progress of an attempt to develop a logic which will allow us to specify required properties of systems which typically consist of a single interactive program being used, probably simultaneously, by several agents, usually people. The logic is a development of ideas from modal logic and their more recent developments to describe computation. Since modal logic (and its extensions) are still relatively new to most people we give introductions to these logics in this paper, assuming only a familiarity with classical first-order logic and some proof theory. We also give an account of some of the sorts of situations that we want to specify. Finally, we consider what work will be needed in the future, building on what we present here, in order to achieve our goal of providing a language in which to specify and reason about systems intended to support co-operative working.

text: A logic for specifying and reasoning about cooperative environments In this paper we describe the current progress of an attempt to develop a logic which will allow us to specify required properties of systems which typically consist of a single interactive program being used, probably simultaneously, by several agents, usually people. The logic is a development of ideas from modal logic and their more recent developments to describe computation. Since modal logic (and its extensions) are still relatively new to most people we give introductions to these logics in this paper, assuming only a familiarity with classical first-order logic and some proof theory. We also give an account of some of the sorts of situations that we want to specify. Finally, we consider what work will be needed in the future, building on what we present here, in order to achieve our goal of providing a language in which to specify and reason about systems intended to support co-operative working.

year: 1995-08

title: The processes involved in formulating a marae-based Māori language regeneration plan for Whakamārama marae: Outline, analysis and evaluation

authors: Lewis, Roger

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: We provide here a criterion referenced evaluation of the processes involved in the creation of a Māori language regeneration strategy for Whakamārama marae. Working voluntarily and often under difficult circumstances, core group members demonstrated that they possessed the essential characteristics of commitment, motivation and determination. In addition, they demonstrated the willingness and ability to use existing skills and knowledge effectively and to develop further skills and knowledge as the project proceeded. Perhaps most important, they developed a caring and effective working culture. However, the weaknesses of the project included a lack of preparation and planning prior to the commencement of the project which led to delays in producing outcomes and some loss of momentum. This also led, indirectly, to the views of two or three members of the core group being overrepresented in the language planning goals. We believe that the information and analysis provided here are likely to be of interest to any language community involved in micro-level language regeneration activities of a similar type.

text: The processes involved in formulating a marae-based Māori language regeneration plan for Whakamārama marae: Outline, analysis and evaluation We provide here a criterion referenced evaluation of the processes involved in the creation of a Māori language regeneration strategy for Whakamārama marae. Working voluntarily and often under difficult circumstances, core group members demonstrated that they possessed the essential characteristics of commitment, motivation and determination. In addition, they demonstrated the willingness and ability to use existing skills and knowledge effectively and to develop further skills and knowledge as the project proceeded. Perhaps most important, they developed a caring and effective working culture. However, the weaknesses of the project included a lack of preparation and planning prior to the commencement of the project which led to delays in producing outcomes and some loss of momentum. This also led, indirectly, to the views of two or three members of the core group being overrepresented in the language planning goals. We believe that the information and analysis provided here are likely to be of interest to any language community involved in micro-level language regeneration activities of a similar type.

year: 2008