scholarly journals The technological behaviours of Homo antecessor: core management and reduction intensity at Gran Dolina-TD6.2 (Atapuerca, Spain)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Lombao ◽  
José Ramón Rabuñal ◽  
Juan I Morales ◽  
Andreu Ollé ◽  
Eudald Carbonell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Distribution Functions ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Reconstruction Method ◽  
Material Management ◽  
Probability Distribution Functions ◽  
Homo Antecessor ◽  
Volumetric Reconstruction ◽  
History Of ◽  
Gran Dolina

Approaching the life history of artefacts is fundamental for understanding both the formation processes of archaeological assemblages and their technological variability. In this paper, we explore the variability of technological behaviours exhibited by the hominins from subunit TD6.2 at the Gran Dolina site (Atapuerca, Burgos), by combining both technological and reduction intensity analyses of the cores recovered. We used the Volumetric Reconstruction Method (VRM) to estimate the original volume of the blanks and quantify the reduction intensity of each core individually, after which we characterised the reduction distribution patterns using Weibull probability distribution functions. Our results suggest differential raw material management in terms of reduction intensity, according to the characteristics of each lithology. This could reflect a solid understanding of raw material qualities and a certain degree of planning. From a technological perspective, our results suggest continuity between knapping strategies through reduction, which seems to indicate constant adaptation to raw material constraints as well as particular knapping conditions, rather than to specific compartmentalised mental schemes.

scholarly journals A new approach to measure reduction intensity on cores and tools on cobbles: The Volumetric Reconstruction Method

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Lombao ◽  
José Ramón Rabuñal ◽  
Arturo Cueva-Temprana ◽  
Marina Mosquera ◽  
Juan I Morales
Keyword(s):  
Raw Material ◽  
Reconstruction Method ◽  
Material Management ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Lithic Assemblages ◽  
Volumetric Reconstruction ◽  
Length Width ◽  
Ellipsoid Volume ◽  
The Individual

Knowing to what extent lithic cores have been reduced through knapping is an important step toward understanding the technological variability of lithic assemblages and disentangling the formation processes of archaeological assemblages. In addition, it is a good complement to more developed studies of reduction intensity in retouched tools, and can provide information on raw material management or site occupation dynamics. This paper presents a new methodology for estimating the intensity of reduction in cores and tools on cobbles, the Volumetric Reconstruction Method (VRM). This method is based on a correction of the dimensions (length, width, and thickness) of each core from an assemblage. The mean values of thickness and platform thickness of the assemblage’s flakes are used as corrections for the cores’ original dimensions, after its diacritic analysis. Then, based on these new dimensions, the volume or mass of the original blank are reconstructed using the ellipsoid volume formula. The accuracy of this method was experimentally tested, reproducing a variety of possible archaeological scenarios. The experimental results demonstrate a high inferential potential of the VRM, both in estimating the original volume or mass of the original blanks, and in inferring the individual percentage of reduction for each core. The results of random resampling demonstrate the applicability of VRM to non size-biased archaeological contexts.

Life as a Raw Material: Illusions of Control

Somatechnics ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 250-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oron Catts ◽  
Ionat Zurr
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Cognitive Engineering ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Future Scenarios ◽  
Short History ◽  
Know How ◽  
Political Forces ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Way

The paper discusses and critiques the concept of the single engineering paradigm. This concepts allude to a future in which the control of matter and life, and life as matter, will be achieved by applying engineering principles; through nanotechnology, synthetic biology and, as some suggest, geo-engineering, cognitive engineering and neuro-engineering. We outline some issues in the short history of the field labelled as Synthetic Biology. Furthermore; we examine the way engineers, scientists, designers and artists are positioned and articulating the use of the tools of Synthetic Biology to expose some of the philosophical, ethical and political forces and considerations of today as well as some future scenarios. We suggest that one way to enable the possibilities of alternative frames of thought is to open up the know-how and the access to these technologies to other disciplines, including artistic.

Extended two-dimensional belief function based on divergence measurement

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Jianping Fan ◽  
Jing Wang ◽  
Meiqin Wu
Keyword(s):  
Belief Function ◽  
Distribution Functions ◽  
Divergence Measure ◽  
Uncertain Information ◽  
Belief Functions ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Probability Distribution Functions ◽  
Basic Probability ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Supporting Degree

The two-dimensional belief function (TDBF = (mA, mB)) uses a pair of ordered basic probability distribution functions to describe and process uncertain information. Among them, mB includes support degree, non-support degree and reliability unmeasured degree of mA. So it is more abundant and reasonable than the traditional discount coefficient and expresses the evaluation value of experts. However, only considering that the expert’s assessment is single and one-sided, we also need to consider the influence between the belief function itself. The difference in belief function can measure the difference between two belief functions, based on which the supporting degree, non-supporting degree and unmeasured degree of reliability of the evidence are calculated. Based on the divergence measure of belief function, this paper proposes an extended two-dimensional belief function, which can solve some evidence conflict problems and is more objective and better solve a class of problems that TDBF cannot handle. Finally, numerical examples illustrate its effectiveness and rationality.

scholarly journals Development and Evaluation of a Fluctuating Plume Model for Odor Impact Assessment

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 3310
Author(s):  
Marzio Invernizzi ◽  
Federica Capra ◽  
Roberto Sozzi ◽  
Laura Capelli ◽  
Selena Sironi
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Distribution Functions ◽  
Plume Model ◽  
Probability Distribution Functions ◽  
Weibull Pdf ◽  
Fluctuating Plume ◽  
Concentration Statistics ◽  
Modified Weibull ◽  
Instantaneous Concentration ◽  
Mean Concentration

For environmental odor nuisance, it is extremely important to identify the instantaneous concentration statistics. In this work, a Fluctuating Plume Model for different statistical moments is proposed. It provides data in terms of mean concentrations, variance, and intensity of concentration. The 90th percentile peak-to-mean factor, R90, was tested here by comparing it with the experimental results (Uttenweiler field experiment), considering different Probability Distribution Functions (PDFs): Gamma and the Modified Weibull. Seventy-two percent of the simulated mean concentration values fell within a factor 2 compared to the experimental ones: the model was judged acceptable. Both the modelled results for standard deviation, σC, and concentration intensity, Ic, overestimate the experimental data. This evidence can be due to the non-ideality of the measurement system. The propagation of those errors to the estimation of R90 is complex, but the ranges covered are quite repeatable: the obtained values are 1–3 for the Gamma, 1.5–4 for Modified Weibull PDF, and experimental ones from 1.4 to 3.6.

Assessment of loading history of compartments in the knee using bone SPECT/CT: A study combining alignment and 99mTc-HDP tracer uptake/distribution patterns

2012 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 268-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael T. Hirschmann ◽  
Stephan Schön ◽  
Faik K. Afifi ◽  
Felix Amsler ◽  
Helmut Rasch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Tracer Uptake ◽  
Loading History ◽  
History Of ◽  
Bone Spect

Probability Distribution Functions for the Random Forced Burgers Equation

1997 ◽  
Vol 78 (10) ◽  
pp. 1904-1907 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weinan E ◽  
Konstantin Khanin ◽  
Alexandre Mazel ◽  
Yakov Sinai
Keyword(s):  
Probability Distribution ◽  
Burgers Equation ◽  
Distribution Functions ◽  
Probability Distribution Functions

Dependency in Africa: Stages of African Political Economy

1983 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amechi Okolo
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
International System ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
The West ◽  
Cheap Labour ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Common ◽  
First Contact ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

This paper traces the history of the relationship between Africa and the West since their first contact brought about by the outward thrust of the West, under the impetus of rising capitalism, in search of cheap labour and cheap raw material for its industries and expanding markets for its industrial products, both of which could be better ensured through domination and exploitation. The paper identifies five successive stages that African political economy has passed through under the impact of this relationship, each phase qualitatively different from the other but all having the common characteristic of domination-dependence syndrome, and each phase having been dictated by the dynamics of capitalism in different eras and by the dominant forces in the changing international system. Its finding is that the way to the latest stage, the dependency phase, was paved by the progressive proletarianization of the African peoples and the maintenance of an international peonage system. It ends by indicating the direction in which Africa can make a beginning to break out of dependency and achieve liberation.

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