scholarly journals Technological rejection in regions of early gold innovation revealed by geospatial analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathaniel L. Erb-Satullo
Keyword(s):  
Social Factors ◽  
Technological Progress ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Geospatial Analysis ◽  
The Caucasus ◽  
Resource Limitations ◽  
Precipitous Decline ◽  
Prior Models ◽  
Global Evidence

AbstractIn research on early invention and innovation, technological “firsts” receive enormous attention, but technological “lasts”—instances of abandonment and rejection—are arguably more informative about human technological behavior. Yet, cases of technological discontinuance are largely ignored in studies of early innovation, as the lack of robust datasets makes identification and analysis difficult. A large-scale geospatial analysis of more than 4500 gold objects from the Caucasus, an early center of gold innovation, shows a precipitous decline at 1500 BC in precisely the places with the earliest global evidence of gold mining (c. 3000 BC). Testing various causal models reveals that social factors, rather than resource limitations or demographic disruption, were the primary causes of this rejection. These results indicate that prior models of technological rejection and loss have underestimated the range of conditions in which they can occur, and provide empirical support for theories of innovation that reject notions about the linearity of technological progress.

scholarly journals Ethnic Discrimination in the Dutch Labor Market: Differences Between Ethnic Minority Groups and the Role of Personal Information About Job Applicants—Evidence from a Field Experiment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lex Thijssen ◽  
Marcel Coenders ◽  
Bram Lancee
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
Field Experiment ◽  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Personal Information ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Ethnic Discrimination ◽  
Ethnic Minority Groups ◽  
Large Scale Field

AbstractIn this study, we present the results of a large-scale field experiment on ethnic discrimination in the Dutch labor market. We sent fictitious job applications (N = 4211) to vacancies for jobs in ten different occupations in the Netherlands. By examining 35 different ethnic minority groups, we detect considerable differences in discrimination rates, predominantly between Western and non-Western minorities. Furthermore, we find little systematic variation in discrimination patterns with regard to gender, regions, and occupations, pointing to the existence of an ethnic hierarchy that is widely shared among employers. Finally, we do not find empirical support for the hypothesis that adding personal information in job applications reduces discrimination.

scholarly journals Marsh rabbit mortalities tie pythons to the precipitous decline of mammals in the Everglades

2015 ◽  
Vol 282 (1805) ◽  
pp. 20150120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. McCleery ◽  
Adia Sovie ◽  
Robert N. Reed ◽  
Mark W. Cunningham ◽  
Margaret E. Hunter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Ongoing Debate ◽  
Faunal Communities ◽  
Python Molurus ◽  
Scale Experiment ◽  
Precipitous Decline ◽  
Python Molurus Bivittatus ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Ecological Functioning

To address the ongoing debate over the impact of invasive species on native terrestrial wildlife, we conducted a large-scale experiment to test the hypothesis that invasive Burmese pythons ( Python molurus bivittatus ) were a cause of the precipitous decline of mammals in Everglades National Park (ENP). Evidence linking pythons to mammal declines has been indirect and there are reasons to question whether pythons, or any predator, could have caused the precipitous declines seen across a range of mammalian functional groups. Experimentally manipulating marsh rabbits, we found that pythons accounted for 77% of rabbit mortalities within 11 months of their translocation to ENP and that python predation appeared to preclude the persistence of rabbit populations in ENP. On control sites, outside of the park, no rabbits were killed by pythons and 71% of attributable marsh rabbit mortalities were classified as mammal predations. Burmese pythons pose a serious threat to the faunal communities and ecological functioning of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, which will probably spread as python populations expand their range.

Assessment of the technical condition of underground structures of the largest hydroelectric power station in the North Caucasus, the Chirkeyskaya HPP

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 410-420
Author(s):  
Vladimir N. KAVKAZKY ◽  
◽  
Yana V. MEL’NIK ◽  
Alexey P. LEIKIN ◽  
Andrey V. BENIN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Practical Importance ◽  
Hydroelectric Power Plant ◽  
Technical Condition ◽  
Hydroelectric Power Station ◽  
Hydroelectric Power ◽  
Underground Structures ◽  
North Caucasus ◽  
The Caucasus ◽  
The North

Objective: Chirkeyskaya HPP is by far the most powerful hydroelectric power plant in the North Caucasus with the highest arched dam in Russia and the second highest dam in the country after the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP. This explains why it is called the pearl of the Caucasus. Methods: For the operation and maintenance of this unique structure, a large-scale complex of underground structures for various purposes was built, the technical condition of which must be constantly monitored. To carry out work on the survey of underground structures, the management of the design and survey institute of JSC “Lengidroproekt” decided to attract specialists from the Department of Tunnels and Subways and the Test Center “Strength” of Emperor Alexander I Petersburg State Transport University. The work was successfully carried out at the end of 2015. Results: The safety of underground structures was objectively assessed. Recommendations for the repair and further comprehensive reconstruction of the Chirkeyskaya HPP have been developed. Practical importance: Carry out work on the survey of underground structures of Chirkeyskaya HPP is allowes elaborate of complex measures on safety from Chirkeyskaya HPP.

scholarly journals Glyphosate residue concentrations in honey attributed through geospatial analysis to proximity of large-scale agriculture and transfer off-site by bees

PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. e0198876 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl J. Berg ◽  
H. Peter King ◽  
Glenda Delenstarr ◽  
Ritikaa Kumar ◽  
Fernando Rubio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Geospatial Analysis

The People

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuri Pines
Keyword(s):  
Political Culture ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
The Political ◽  
Imperial History ◽  
Political Role ◽  
The People ◽  
Chinese Political Culture

This chapter explores the reasons for the recurrence of large-scale popular uprisings throughout imperial history. It considers how the idea of rebellion correlates with fundamental principles of Chinese political culture, such as monarchism and intellectual elitism. Moreover, the chapter looks at why the rebellions serve to support rather than disrupt the empire's longevity. These issues are then related to the broader issue of the political role of the “people,” here referring primarily, although not exclusively, to the lower strata, in the Chinese imperial enterprise. In answering these questions, this chapter focuses on ideological and social factors that both legitimated rebellions and also enabled their accommodation within the imperial enterprise.

scholarly journals Ancient DNA shows domestic horses were introduced in the southern Caucasus and Anatolia during the Bronze Age

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (38) ◽  
pp. eabb0030
Author(s):  
Silvia Guimaraes ◽  
Benjamin S. Arbuckle ◽  
Joris Peters ◽  
Sarah E. Adcock ◽  
Hijlke Buitenhuis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Iron Age ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Early Neolithic ◽  
The Caucasus ◽  
Domestic Horses ◽  
Third Millennium Bce ◽  
History Of ◽  
Southern Caucasus ◽  
The Bronze Age

Despite the important roles that horses have played in human history, particularly in the spread of languages and cultures, and correspondingly intensive research on this topic, the origin of domestic horses remains elusive. Several domestication centers have been hypothesized, but most of these have been invalidated through recent paleogenetic studies. Anatolia is a region with an extended history of horse exploitation that has been considered a candidate for the origins of domestic horses but has never been subject to detailed investigation. Our paleogenetic study of pre- and protohistoric horses in Anatolia and the Caucasus, based on a diachronic sample from the early Neolithic to the Iron Age (~8000 to ~1000 BCE) that encompasses the presumed transition from wild to domestic horses (4000 to 3000 BCE), shows the rapid and large-scale introduction of domestic horses at the end of the third millennium BCE. Thus, our results argue strongly against autochthonous independent domestication of horses in Anatolia.

scholarly journals Testing biodiversity theory using species richness of reef-building corals across a depth gradient

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 20190493 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Edward Roberts ◽  
Sally A. Keith ◽  
Carsten Rahbek ◽  
Tom C. L. Bridge ◽  
M. Julian Caley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Coral Species ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Null Model ◽  
Local Scale ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Energy Availability

Natural environmental gradients encompass systematic variation in abiotic factors that can be exploited to test competing explanations of biodiversity patterns. The species–energy (SE) hypothesis attempts to explain species richness gradients as a function of energy availability. However, limited empirical support for SE is often attributed to idiosyncratic, local-scale processes distorting the underlying SE relationship. Meanwhile, studies are also often confounded by factors such as sampling biases, dispersal boundaries and unclear definitions of energy availability. Here, we used spatially structured observations of 8460 colonies of photo-symbiotic reef-building corals and a null-model to test whether energy can explain observed coral species richness over depth. Species richness was left-skewed, hump-shaped and unrelated to energy availability. While local-scale processes were evident, their influence on species richness was insufficient to reconcile observations with model predictions. Therefore, energy availability, either in isolation or in combination with local deterministic processes, was unable to explain coral species richness across depth. Our results demonstrate that local-scale processes do not necessarily explain deviations in species richness from theoretical models, and that the use of idiosyncratic small-scale factors to explain large-scale ecological patterns requires the utmost caution.

Sociophonetic analysis of phonemic trill variation in two sub-varieties of Peninsular Spanish

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Henriksen
Keyword(s):  
Social Factors ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Preliminary Characterization ◽  
Critical Information ◽  
Quantitative Results ◽  
Back Vowel ◽  
Peninsular Spanish

In this paper we provide a preliminary characterization of the phonemic trill (i.e., /r/) as produced by twenty-four speakers of northern and central Peninsular Spanish. The acoustic analysis revealed a considerable number of non-canonical variants containing one or zero apical occlusions. The quantitative results showed robust effects of the following three factors on trill articulation: Speaker dialect, gender, and preceding vowel. Regarding social factors, central Peninsular speakers and male speakers showed the greatest propensity to produce fewer occlusions per phonemic trill. Regarding linguistic factors, non-canonical variants were especially common in contexts of preceding /u/; we interpret this result on articulatory grounds given the antagonistic gestures required for the trill and the high back vowel. All in all, these findings offer empirical support that geographically-oriented studies within a sociophonetic framework offer critical information on the diachrony of trill consonants.

Exploring market orientation among Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 617-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Long Zhang ◽  
Ali Kara ◽  
John E. Spillan ◽  
Alma Mintu-Wimsatt
Keyword(s):  
Market Orientation ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Orientation Measurement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Geographic Concentration ◽  
Marketing Orientation ◽  
Business Function

Purpose The role of marketing as a business function is rapidly changing in China. Consequently, their views on marketing orientation – whether it is accepted, rejected, modified or reframed – have been seriously impacted. This paper aims to report on the results of a survey among Chinese small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) managers and their perceptions of the market-orientation philosophy. In particular, emphasis was placed on three dimensions of market orientation: intelligence generation, intelligence dissemination and responsiveness. The effect of market orientation on business performance was also examined. Design/methodology/approach The authors collected data from 214 managers from SMEs. These businesses were located in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. The commonly used market orientation (MARKOR) measure was used to test the hypotheses. Findings Consistent with the extant literature, the findings provided empirical support for the three dimensions of market orientation among Chinese SME. The authors also found that a positive relationship existed between Chinese SME market orientation and firm performance. Research limitations/implications This study provides major insights into the market orientation measurement and practices of SME in China. From a measurement perspective, the empirical support for MARKOR across a non-Western context is noteworthy. From a practitioner perspective, the implications relating to understanding Chinese SME and how these companies can best market their products and services to their respective markets are critical. Some of the limitations of our study relates to the sample size, convenience sampling and geographic concentration of the respondents. Originality/value This study addresses the gaps in the literature by exploring market orientation in non-large scale businesses as well as the adaptation of the concept in a non-Western cultural setting. The findings extend the conceptualization and application of market orientation to Chinese SME.

scholarly journals New data on Callovian (Middle Jurassic) belemnites and palynomorphs from the Northern Caucasus, southwest Russia

Geologos ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oksana S. Dzyuba ◽  
Anna A. Goryacheva ◽  
Dmitry A. Ruban ◽  
Victoria V. Gnezdilova ◽  
Pavel P. Zayats
Keyword(s):  
Middle Jurassic ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Northern Caucasus ◽  
The Caucasus ◽  
Stratotype Section ◽  
Pollen And Spores ◽  
Degree Of Condensation ◽  
Northern Tethyan Margin ◽  
The Town

Abstract Palaeontological data on the Caucasus are highly important for large-scale stratigraphical and palaeobiogeographical assessment of the northern Tethyan margin, but this information is often scarce and not available in English. Field studies in the Northern Caucasus have now permitted to amass some new data. Two belemnite species are described from the stratotype section of the Kamennomostskaja Formation (Callovian, Middle Jurassic) near the town of Kamennomostskij in Adygeja (Northern Caucasus). These are Belemnopsis subhastata (von Zieten, 1831) and Rhopaloteuthis ominosa Gustomesov, 1968. The latter is a rare species, and the present find allows new insights into its taxonomy. A palyno-logical analysis of the belemnite-bearing sample was carried out, and a diverse assemblage of dinocysts, acritarchs and prasinophytes, plus pollen and spores recognised. The most abundant palynomorphs are Micrhystridium and Classopollis. Data on belemnites coupled with those on palynomorphs indicate the early Callovian age of the sample level. This interpretation differs slightly from previous conclusions based on ammonites and dinocysts. If this age is correct, the degree of condensation of Callovian deposits in the section studied was lesser than previously assumed.

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