The Age and Context of the KC4 Maxilla, Kent's Cavern, UK

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Proctor ◽  
Katerina Douka ◽  
Janet W. Proctor ◽  
Tom Higham
Keyword(s):  
Modern Human ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Bayesian Modelling ◽  
Upper Palaeolithic ◽  
North West ◽  
Human Fossil ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Cast Doubt ◽  
Early Upper

Kent's Cavern is one of Britain's most important Palaeolithic sites. The Torquay Natural History Society excavations in the Vestibule (1926–1928 and 1932–1938) yielded Middle and Early Upper Palaeolithic deposits as well as a fragment of human jaw (KC4). Higham et al. (2011) recently identified it as the oldest modern human fossil known from North West Europe, with a date estimated, using Bayesian modelling, at 44,200–41,500 cal bp (at 95.4% probability). However, White and Pettitt (2012) and Zilhão (2013) have claimed that the poor quality of the excavations and lack of stratigraphic integrity cast doubt on the archaeological and dating evidence from the site. Here, we present a thorough re-analysis of the excavations and show that they were in fact conducted to a reasonable standard. We also carefully examine the stratigraphic and sedimentological sequence and present twelve new AMS determinations from key contexts to test the previous model and chronology. We find that, while Trench C has good stratigraphic integrity, there is some evidence of post-depositional disruption of certain parts; some post-depositional movement is also shown by a limited number of artefact refits. There are two outlying AMS determinations dating to c. 32,000 bp. We therefore cannot exclude completely the possibility that the maxilla's age could be younger than the published probability distribution function (PDF). Our analysis lends support to the assessment by Higham et al. (2011) of the site and KC4 and shows that it offers considerable potential for future study.

An Early Upper Palaeolithic decorated bone tubular rod from Pod Hradem Cave, Czech Republic

Antiquity ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 88 (339) ◽  
pp. 30-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duncan Wright ◽  
Ladislav Nejman ◽  
Francesco d'Errico ◽  
Miroslav Králík ◽  
Rachel Wood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Modern Human ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Tubular Bone ◽  
Bayesian Modelling ◽  
Upper Palaeolithic ◽  
Laboratory Examination ◽  
Human Identity ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Early Upper

Personal ornaments are a notable feature of the Early Upper Palaeolithic in Europe and an important expression of modern human identity. The tubular bone rod from Pod Hradem Cave in the Czech Republic is the first example of its kind from Central Europe. Laboratory examination reveals the techniques used in its manufacture and underlines the skill of its maker. AMS dates and Bayesian modelling suggest a cultural association with the Early Aurignacian period. It illustrates the cultural links across large areas of Europe at this time, although it is unique in its specific combination of size, raw material and decorative features.

An experience of performing spirometry by trained general practitioners

2020 ◽  
pp. 34-36
Author(s):  
M. A. Pokhaznikova ◽  
E. A. Andreeva ◽  
O. Yu. Kuznetsova
Keyword(s):  
General Practitioners ◽  
Quality Criteria ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Male Gender ◽  
Study Research ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Quality Of Research ◽  
Forced Expiratory Maneuver ◽  
Maximal Effort

The article discusses the experience of teaching and conducting spirometry of general practitioners as part of the RESPECT study (RESearch on the PrEvalence and the diagnosis of COPD and its Tobacco-related aetiology). A total of 33 trained in spirometry general practitioners performed a study of 3119 patients. Quality criteria met 84.1% of spirometric studies. The analysis of the most common mistakes made by doctors during the forced expiratory maneuver is included. The most frequent errors were expiration exhalation of less than 6s (54%), non-maximal effort throughout the test and lack of reproducibility (11.3%). Independent predictors of poor spirogram quality were male gender, obstruction (FEV1 /FVC<0.7), and the center where the study was performed. The number of good-quality spirograms ranged from 96.1% (95% CI 83.2–110.4) to 59.8% (95% CI 49.6–71.4) depending on the center. Subsequently, an analysis of the reasons behind the poor quality of research in individual centers was conducted and the identified shortcomings were eliminated. The poor quality of the spirograms was associated either with the errors of the doctors who undertook the study or with the technical malfunctions of the spirometer.

Supply Chain Integration: Establish the Appropriate Challenges in Improving Integrated SC in an Innovative Approach of IBS

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ani Saifuza Abd Shukor ◽  
Muhammad Fadhil Muhammad ◽  
Shamsida Saidan Khaderi ◽  
Faridah Muhammad Halil
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
System Integration ◽  
Publishing House ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Supply Chain Integration ◽  
Project Environment ◽  
The Poor ◽  
International Publishing

The shift to an integrated IBS construction approach requires enhanced supply chain integration to improve the productivity as well as the poor quality of human behavioual aspect in IBS project. This paper is to identify the challenges at each tier between players to facilitate supply chain integration among the IBS players. Findings adopted from semi-structured interview revealed the critical attitude issues of human factors, lack of interaction and sharing knowledge between interdisciplinary people. The findings of this study is useful to improve integration of supply chain and enhance innovation and sharing interaction between players in the IBS Malaysian construction project environment.© 2016. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.Keywords: Construction Environment; Industrialised Building System; Integration and Supply Chain 

scholarly journals Eastern Europe’s “Transitional Industry”?: Deconstructing the Early Streletskian

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Dinnis ◽  
A. Bessudnov ◽  
N. Reynolds ◽  
T. Devièse ◽  
A. Dudin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Modern Human ◽  
East European Plain ◽  
Upper Palaeolithic ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
East European ◽  
Archaeological Material ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Layer V ◽  
Precise Relationship ◽  
Early Upper

AbstractThe Streletskian is central to understanding the onset of the Upper Palaeolithic on the East European Plain. Early Streletskian assemblages are frequently seen as marking the Neanderthal-anatomically modern human (AMH) anthropological transition, as well as the Middle-to-Upper Palaeolithic archaeological transition. The age of key Streletskian assemblages, however, remains unclear, and there are outstanding questions over how they relate to Middle and Early Upper Palaeolithic facies. The three oldest Streletskian layers—Kostenki 1 Layer V, Kostenki 6 and Kostenki 12 Layer III—were excavated by A. N. Rogachev in the mid-20th century. Here, we re-examine these layers in light of problems noted during Rogachev’s campaigns and later excavations. Layer V in the northern part of Kostenki 1 is the most likely assemblage to be unmixed. A new radiocarbon date of 35,100 ± 500 BP (OxA- X-2717-21) for this assemblage agrees with Rogachev’s stratigraphic interpretation and contradicts later claims of a younger age. More ancient radiocarbon dates for Kostenki 1 Layer V are from areas lacking diagnostic Streletskian points. The Kostenki 6 assemblage’s stratigraphic context is extremely poor, but new radiocarbon dates are consistent with Rogachev’s view that the archaeological material was deposited prior to the CI tephra (i.e. >34.3 ka BP). Multiple lines of evidence indicate that Kostenki 12 Layer III contains material of different ages. Despite some uncertainty over the precise relationship between the dated sample and diagnostic lithic material, Kostenki 1 Layer V (North) therefore currently provides the best age estimate for an early Streletskian context. This age is younger than fully Upper Palaeolithic assemblages elsewhere at Kostenki. Other “Streletskian” assemblages and Streletskian points from younger contexts at Kostenki are briefly reviewed, with possible explanations for their chronostratigraphic distribution considered. We caution that the cultural taxon Streletskian should not be applied to assemblages based simply on the presence of bifacially worked artefacts.

Usability of India’s government statistics1

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Vikas Kumar
Keyword(s):  
National Sample ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Sample Surveys ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Jammu And Kashmir ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Government Statistics

The quality of metadata is a crucial determinant of usability/interpretability of data. This paper draws attention to the poor quality of India’s government statistics and the paucity of metadata necessary to understand the problems. The paper suggests that there has been a decline in India both in terms of the availability and quality of metadata for key government sources of information including maps, decennial population censuses and National Sample Surveys amidst growing sophistication in the understanding of metadata. The poor quality of metadata impairs cross-sectional as well as inter-temporal comparisons and policymaking apart from concealing biases and lapses of government statisticians. The paper draws on the experience of three states – erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur and Nagaland – where government statistics have been affected by serious errors that are not well-understood due to the lack of adequate metadata.

Numerical Analysis of Masonry under Compression via Micro-Model

2011 ◽  
Vol 243-249 ◽  
pp. 1360-1365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Rong Lü ◽  
Meng Wang ◽  
Xi Jun Liu
Keyword(s):  
Joint Strength ◽  
Ultimate Load ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Micro Model ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Mortar Joint ◽  
The Poor ◽  
The Finite Element Analysis ◽  
Brick And Mortar

The micro-model, which the brick and the mortar model are separated, is used to analyze masonry. Meanwhile, the mortar is divided into three layers along the thickness direction to obtain the internal mechanical behavior of mortar, and the vertical mortar joint strength is taken as 50% strength of the horizontal mortar joint for considering the poor quality of vertical mortar joint. The compressive ultimate load and failure mode of masonry taken from the finite element analysis result, especially the vertical cracks throughout all bricks and mortar and change of brick and mortar strain, are in agreement with the experimental results. It shows that the micro-model and method adopted in paper are able to effectively apply in nonlinear structural analysis for masonry.

A ‘Galilean’ science of language

2014 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 671-704 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRISTINA BEHME
Keyword(s):  
Language Evolution ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Child Psychology ◽  
Scientific Work ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Recent Scholarship ◽  
Basic Understanding ◽  
Sixth Decade

The Science of Language, published in the sixth decade of Noam Chomsky's linguistic career, defends views that are visibly out of touch with recent research in formal linguistics, developmental child psychology, computational modeling of language acquisition, and language evolution. I argue that the poor quality of this volume is representative of the serious shortcomings of Chomsky's recent scholarship, especially of his criticism of and contribution to debates about language evolution. Chomsky creates the impression that he is quoting titbits of a massive body of scientific work he has conducted or is intimately familiar with. Yet his speculations reveal a lack of even basic understanding of biology, and an unwillingness to engage seriously with the relevant literature. At the same time, he ridicules the work of virtually all other theorists, without spelling out the views he disagrees with. A critical analysis of the ‘Galilean method’ demonstrates that Chomsky uses appeal to authority to insulate his own proposals against falsification by empirical counter-evidence. This form of discourse bears no serious relation to the way science proceeds.

scholarly journals Quality Assessment of Some Essential Children’s Medicines Sold in Licensed Outlets in Ashanti Region, Ghana

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace Frimpong ◽  
Kwabena Ofori-Kwakye ◽  
Noble Kuntworbe ◽  
Kwame Ohene Buabeng ◽  
Yaa Asantewaa Osei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Evaluation ◽  
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Ashanti Region ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Medicine Outlets ◽  
Children’S Medicines

The quality of 68 samples of 15 different essential children’s medicines sold in licensed medicine outlets in the Ashanti Region, Ghana, was evaluated. Thirty-two (47.1%) of the medicines were imported, mainly from India (65.6%) and the United Kingdom (28.1%), while 36 (52.9%) were locally manufactured. The quality of the medicines was assessed using content of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), pH, and microbial limit tests, and the results were compared with pharmacopoeial standards. Twenty-six (38.2%) of the samples studied passed the official content of API test while 42 (61.8%) failed. Forty-nine (72.1%) of the samples were compliant with official specifications for pH while 19 (27.9%) were noncompliant. Sixty-six (97.1%) samples passed the microbial load and content test while 2 (2.9%) failed. Eighteen (26.5%) samples passed all the three quality evaluation tests, while one (1.5%) sample (CFX1) failed all the tests. All the amoxicillin suspensions tested passed the three evaluation tests. All the ciprofloxacin, cotrimoxazole, flucloxacillin, artemether-lumefantrine, multivitamin, and folic acid samples failed the content of API test and are substandard. The overall API failure rate for imported products (59.4%) was comparable to locally manufactured (63.9%) samples. The results highlight the poor quality of the children’s medicines studied and underscore the need for regular pharmacovigilance and surveillance systems to fight this menace.

scholarly journals The Madrasa in Indonesia (Authority, Knowledge and Discourse Surrounding its Development)

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 231
Author(s):  
Syamsul Kurniawan ◽  
Muhammad Miftah
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
West Kalimantan ◽  
National Education ◽  
The Public ◽  
Sociological Approach ◽  
The Poor ◽  
National Education System

<p class="06IsiAbstrak"> </p><p class="06IsiAbstrak">The focus of this paper is the madrasa in Indonesia and its development which is examined from the perspective of Michel Foucault regarding their authority, knowledge and discourse.<strong> </strong>The madrasa’s performance, which is still relatively low and unable to compete with public schools or pesantrens (Islamic Boarding Schools), will be examined from this perspective. This paper departs from the study of literature with a historical-sociological approach. The sources of the data come from the literature related to the history and development of madrasas. From Foucoult's perspective, the performance of the madrasa--which in its development shows a decline trend and is of relatively low quality and less competitive compared with general schools or pesantrens-- is closely related to power, knowledge and discourse factors. My argument is supported by the evidence that there is no an established “blueprint” for the supervision and development of madrasas in Indonesia, in contrast to schools or pesantrens. Likewise, the problem of interplay of madrasa policies in the integration of the national education system has put the madrasa in the midst of domination of schools and pesantrens, especially in the midst of society since the appreciation and level of community participation in the madrasa are not very encouraging. In addition, there is an opinion among the public which perceives the madrasa as the second educational institution after schools or pesantrens. This opinion is, of course, supported by empirical data, such as research from Nur Hamzah (2017) and Sukino (2017) which examined the madrasas in West Kalimantan Province, and revealed the poor quality of some madrasas in this area, which in my opinion is the "top of the iceberg" of the madrasa, especially in the outermost, interior and underdeveloped areas of Indonesia.</p>

THE FLUORESCENT ANTITOXIN TEST FOR THE IMMEDIATE DIAGNOSIS OF DIPHTHERIA

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1961 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 214-218
Author(s):  
Jo Anne Whitaker ◽  
John D. Nelson ◽  
Chester W. Fink
Keyword(s):  
Differential Diagnosis ◽  
Laboratory Test ◽  
Clinical Judgment ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Fluorescent Staining ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Diphtheria Antitoxin ◽  
Early Case ◽  
The One

The recent increase in the incidence of diphtheria in our area stimulated the search for a reliable laboratory test for the immediate differential diagnosis of diphtheritic and non-diphtheritic membranous tonsillitis. Fluorescein-conjugated diphtheria antitoxin proved to be highly specific for staining toxigenic C. diphtheriae. Eight of nine patients with proved diphtheria had fluorescent organisms on a smear of exudate. The failure in the one case is attributed to the poor quality of the specimen obtained. An early case of diphtheria was detected by examination of family contacts of one of the patients in this series. The conjugated antitoxin does not result in fluorescent staining of nontoxigenic diphtheria bacilli on of other bacteria commonly found in the nasopharyngeal tract. Fluorescent staining of cultures suggests that only a small proportion of the potentially toxigenic diphtheria organisms are actually producing toxin at a given moment. The fluorescent antitoxin test can be performed within 1 hour. A positive result of the test is an absolute indication for antitoxin therapy. With a negative result the physician must still rely on his clinical judgment and cultural and virulence tests.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document