title: The Pacific Archaeology Radiocarbon Database

authors: Bickler, Simon

subjects: archaeological chronologies

abstract: This paper describes the Pacific Archaeology Radiocarbon Database (PARD), which includes radiocarbon data from archaeological sites excavated in an area commonly described as Near and Remote Oceania. The collated 14C database is available using ArcGIS Online, an online geospatial system with searchable fields and locational navigation. The online PARD currently has over 17,000 radiocarbon measurements from archaeological sites from over 300 islands in the Pacific. The database contains many inconsistencies reflecting the long history of radiocarbon dating in the Pacific and issues relating to date calculation, precision, contamination removal, in-built age, and contextual uncertainty. While ‘chronometric hygiene’ protocols have demonstrated the reasons for treating such radiocarbon ages with caution, the presence of these data can still provide important information. The location of early excavations, distribution of site types at certain broad time periods, and other such information are useful in providing frameworks for future research. The PARD is a valuable starting point for researchers and communities in the Pacific. It has the potential to assist researchers in coordinating site location data for excavations and promises to aid a more extensive investigation of key research themes. The accessibility of the data online allows stakeholders, particularly indigenous groups across the Pacific, to improve their access to and understanding of the value of archaeological research.

Cet article décrit la base de données radiocarbone archéologique du Pacifique (PARD), qui comprend des données radiocarbone provenant de sites archéologiques fouillés en Océanie proche et lointaine. La base de données 14C compilée est accessible via ArcGIS Online. La PARD en ligne contient actuellement plus de 17,000 mesures radiocarbone provenant de sites archéologiques de centaines d'îles du Pacifique La localisation de fouilles la répartition par types de site, grande période et autres fournissent un cadre utile pour de futures recherches. Les données de localisation de sites clés pourraient permettre de réalisation d’études plus approfondies.

text: The Pacific Archaeology Radiocarbon Database This paper describes the Pacific Archaeology Radiocarbon Database (PARD), which includes radiocarbon data from archaeological sites excavated in an area commonly described as Near and Remote Oceania. The collated 14C database is available using ArcGIS Online, an online geospatial system with searchable fields and locational navigation. The online PARD currently has over 17,000 radiocarbon measurements from archaeological sites from over 300 islands in the Pacific. The database contains many inconsistencies reflecting the long history of radiocarbon dating in the Pacific and issues relating to date calculation, precision, contamination removal, in-built age, and contextual uncertainty. While ‘chronometric hygiene’ protocols have demonstrated the reasons for treating such radiocarbon ages with caution, the presence of these data can still provide important information. The location of early excavations, distribution of site types at certain broad time periods, and other such information are useful in providing frameworks for future research. The PARD is a valuable starting point for researchers and communities in the Pacific. It has the potential to assist researchers in coordinating site location data for excavations and promises to aid a more extensive investigation of key research themes. The accessibility of the data online allows stakeholders, particularly indigenous groups across the Pacific, to improve their access to and understanding of the value of archaeological research.

Cet article décrit la base de données radiocarbone archéologique du Pacifique (PARD), qui comprend des données radiocarbone provenant de sites archéologiques fouillés en Océanie proche et lointaine. La base de données 14C compilée est accessible via ArcGIS Online. La PARD en ligne contient actuellement plus de 17,000 mesures radiocarbone provenant de sites archéologiques de centaines d'îles du Pacifique La localisation de fouilles la répartition par types de site, grande période et autres fournissent un cadre utile pour de futures recherches. Les données de localisation de sites clés pourraient permettre de réalisation d’études plus approfondies.

year: 2025-07-29

title: Biosensing by Learning: Cancer Detection as Iterative optimization.

authors: Chen, Yifan

subjects: Algorithms

abstract: We propose a novel cancer detection procedure (CDP) based on an iterative optimization method. The global minimum of a tumor-induced biological cost function indicates the tumor location, the domain of the cost function is the tissue region at high risk of malignancy, and the time-variant guess input is a swarm of externally controllable and trackable nanorobots for tumor sensing. We consider the spatial distrib-ution of fibrin as the cost function; the fibrin is formed during the coagulation cascade activated by tumor-targeted signalling modules (nanoparticles) and recruits clot-targeted receiving modules (nanorobots) towards the site of disease. Subsequently, the CDP can be interpreted from the iterative optimization perspective: the guess input (i.e., a swarm of nanorobots) is continuously updated according to the gradient of the cost function in order to find the optimum (i.e., cancer) by moving through the domain (i.e., tissue under screening). Along this line of thought, we consider the gradient descent (GD) iterative method, and propose the GD-inspired CDP, which takes into account the realistic in vivo propagation scenario of nanorobots. Finally, we present numerical examples to demonstrate the features of the GD-inspired CDP.

text: Biosensing by Learning: Cancer Detection as Iterative optimization. We propose a novel cancer detection procedure (CDP) based on an iterative optimization method. The global minimum of a tumor-induced biological cost function indicates the tumor location, the domain of the cost function is the tissue region at high risk of malignancy, and the time-variant guess input is a swarm of externally controllable and trackable nanorobots for tumor sensing. We consider the spatial distrib-ution of fibrin as the cost function; the fibrin is formed during the coagulation cascade activated by tumor-targeted signalling modules (nanoparticles) and recruits clot-targeted receiving modules (nanorobots) towards the site of disease. Subsequently, the CDP can be interpreted from the iterative optimization perspective: the guess input (i.e., a swarm of nanorobots) is continuously updated according to the gradient of the cost function in order to find the optimum (i.e., cancer) by moving through the domain (i.e., tissue under screening). Along this line of thought, we consider the gradient descent (GD) iterative method, and propose the GD-inspired CDP, which takes into account the realistic in vivo propagation scenario of nanorobots. Finally, we present numerical examples to demonstrate the features of the GD-inspired CDP.

year: 2018

title: Te Nahi o Te Taniwha: Teeth of the Taniwha

authors: Rout, Matthew

abstract: This report outlines the scope of the project He oranga whānau: mahi ngātahi Whānau livelihoods within the context of work and Māori economies of wellbeing, which has been funded by Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga—the New Zealand Māori Centre of Research Excellence. Its purpose is to set the direction and design for the research project. To say the creation of such economies will be a complex task is an understatement. Three factors make this task a ‘wicked problem’.

text: Te Nahi o Te Taniwha: Teeth of the Taniwha This report outlines the scope of the project He oranga whānau: mahi ngātahi Whānau livelihoods within the context of work and Māori economies of wellbeing, which has been funded by Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga—the New Zealand Māori Centre of Research Excellence. Its purpose is to set the direction and design for the research project. To say the creation of such economies will be a complex task is an understatement. Three factors make this task a ‘wicked problem’.

year: 2022