Macroscopic Traits Research Articles

Neuroma morphology: A macroscopic classification system.

Neuromas come in different shapes and sizes; yet the correlation between neuroma morphology and symptomatology is unknown. Therefore, we aim to investigate macroscopic traits of excised human neuromas and assess the validity of a morphological classification system and its potential clinical implications. End-neuroma specimens were collected from prospectively enrolled patients undergoing symptomatic neuroma surgery. Protocolized images of the specimens were obtained intraoperatively. Pain data (Numeric rating scale, 0-10) were prospectively collected during preoperative interview, patient demographic and comorbidity factors were collected from chart review. A morphological classification is proposed, and the inter-rater reliability (IRR) was assessed. Distribution of neuroma morphology with patient factors, was described. Forty-five terminal neuroma specimens from 27 patients were included. Residual limb patients comprised 93% of the population, of which 2 were upper (8.0%) and 23 (92.0%) were lower extremity residual limb patients. The proposed morphological classification, consisting of three groups (bulbous, fusiform, atypical), demonstrated a strong IRR (Cohen's kappa = 0.8). Atypical neuromas demonstrated higher preoperative pain, compared with bulbous and fusiform. Atypical morphology was more prevalent in patients with diabetes and peripheral vascular disease. A validated morphological classification of neuroma is introduced. These findings may assist surgeons and researchers with better understanding of symptomatic neuroma development and their clinical implications. The potential relationship of neuroma morphology with the vascular and metabolic microenvironment requires further investigation.

Biodegradation capabilities of filamentous fungi in high-concentration heavy crude oil environments.

In this comprehensive study, we delved into the capabilities of five fungal strains: Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium glabrum, and Penicillium rubens (the latter isolated from heavy crude oil [HCO]) in metabolizing HCO as a carbon source. Employing a meticulously designed experimental approach, conducted at room temperature (25°C), we systematically explored various culture media and incubation periods. The results unveiled the exceptional resilience of all these fungi to HCO, with A. flavus standing out as the top performer. Notably, A. flavus exhibited robust growth, achieving a remarkable 59.1% expansion across the medium's surface, accompanied by distinctive macroscopic traits, including a cottony appearance and vibrant coloration. In an effort to further scrutinize its biotransformation prowess, we conducted experiments in a liquid medium, quantifying CO2 production through gas chromatography, which reached its zenith at day30, signifying substantial bioconversion with a 38% increase in CO2 production. Additionally, we monitored changes in surface tension using the Du Noüy ring method, revealing a reduction in aqueous phase tension from 72.3 to 47mN/m. This compelling evidence confirms that A. flavus adeptly metabolizes HCO to fuel its growth, while concurrently generating valuable biosurfactants. These findings underscore the immense biotechnological potential of A. flavus in addressing challenges related to HCO, thereby offering promising prospects for bioremediation and crude oil bioupgrading endeavors.

Isolation and Macroscopic Characterization of Molase and Alginate Bacteria from Mangrove Sediments in Shrimp Ponds

Bacteria are microscopic organisms capable of thriving in various environments that support their growth, including mangrove sediment. Bacterial characteristics in mangrove sediment were examined using two different media: molasses and alginate. This process included preparing solid media, diluting sediment samples, isolating bacteria, and characterizing isolates. On molasses media (both Molasses Media I and Molasses Media II), bacteria generally displayed entire, undulate, and lobate margins, with diverse shapes (round, irregular, punctiform, rhizoid), colors (opaque, clear), and elevations (convex, flat, umbonate). On alginate media (Alginat Media I and Alginat Media II), after repetition, bacteria typically had entire and lobate margins, varied shapes (round, irregular, punctiform, rhizoid), colors (opaque, clear), and elevations (convex, flat, umbonate). Bacterial isolation utilized the spread plate technique on solid agar media, revealing higher colony growth on molasses media due to richer nutrients compared to alginate. Colony counts were determined via serial dilution, and bacteria displayed diverse macroscopic traits, evaluated using a comparison table considering colony margin, color, elevation, texture, and shape.

Heat Treatment of Flint at the Late Neanderthal Site Sesselfelsgrotte (Germany)

We examined lithic artifacts from the late Neanderthal site Sesselfelsgrotte (Bavaria, Germany) in order to evaluate the possibility of fire use and intentional flint heat treatment performed by late Neanderthals. We analyzed 1113 flint pieces from the G-layer complex (~60 to 45 kya; Micoquian) and 946 from the lower-layer complex (~115 to 70 kya; Mousterian). Based on macroscopic traits associated with the exposure of flint to heat and fire, we assigned artifacts to one of three groups: burnt, unburnt, and possibly intentionally heated. Our results show that while both complexes demonstrate the clear presence of fire, fire is more common in the younger G-layer complex. Moreover, possibly intentionally heated pieces are significantly more frequent in the G-layer complex, especially among the tools and specifically among side scrapers, suggesting a link between heat treatment and the production of these tools, most probably due to their functional and cultural significance. We therefore suggest that the flint in the G-layer complex of Sesselfelsgrotte underwent intentional heat treatment. The proportions of burnt flint artifacts in both complexes suggest an intensification in fire use at the site over time, while the appearance of possibly intentionally heated artifacts in the G-layer complex suggests the development of this advanced pyrotechnology by Neanderthals sometime between these two timeframes. Our results are supported by sedimentological and faunal data. We view these results as further indication of the advanced cognitive and technological capabilities of Neanderthals, which did not fall short of those of early modern humans.

Palynological and macroscopic characters evidence infer the evolutionary history and insight into pollination adaptation in Impatiens (Balsaminaceae)

AbstractThe genus Impatiens comprises more than 1000 species and displays enormous morphological diversity. As a taxon that is notoriously difficult to classify morphologically, the taxonomic significance of pollen morphology has been discussed in previous studies. However, there was only limited study on the evolution of palynological and macroscopic character in this genus before. In this paper, we observed pollen of 143 species of Impatiens, including all representatives of infrageneric groups and discussed their taxonomic value. Meanwhile, based on the reconstructed phylogenetic framework, we selected five pollen traits, and nine macroscopic traits including both vegetative and reproductive organs for evolutionary analysis. The character reconstruction showed that the morphology and number of aperture, granules in lumina, seed number of per capsule, number of sepals, lateral united petals connate, spur length, and phyllotaxy could be identified as unambiguous, while other characters were ambiguous in the last common ancestor of Impatiens. The results of comprehensively macroscopic characters and palynological evidence suggest that these traits experienced a complicated evolution, exhibit high levels of instability and variability and occur character multiple reversals in the evolutionary processes of Impatiens due to different selection pressures. In addition, we found that there is an evident mosaic evolution in this genus. Pollen and macroscopic character are conserved with a slower evolutionary rate in the I. subgen. Clavicarpa, however, these characters showed higher diversity with a rapid rate of evolution in the I. subgen. Impatiens. Furthermore, the relationship between floral morphology and pollinators was discussed.

Numerical analyses of seed morphology and its taxonomic significance in the genus Oxytropis DC. (Fabaceae) from northwestern China.

The lack of diagnostic taxonomic characteristics in some species complexes leave the species delimitation of Oxytropis DC. unresolved. Seed morphological features have proved to be useful diagnostic and taxonomic characteristics in Fabaceae. However, there are few systematic studies on the seed characteristics of Oxytropis. Here, we used scanning electron and stereoscopic microscopy to investigate the seed characteristics of 35 samples obtained from 21 Oxytropis species from northwest China. Our examination showed two main types of hilum positions, terminal and central, and five different types of seed shapes: prolonged semielliptic, reniform, prolonged reniform, quadratic, and cardiform. Seven different sculpturing patterns were identified: scaled, regulated, lophate with stellated testa cells, simple reticulate, rough, compound reticulate, and lophate with rounded testa cells. The seeds ranged from 1.27 to 2.57 mm in length and from 1.18 to 2.02 mm in width, and the length-to-width ratio ranged from 0.89 to 1.55 mm. The seed shape was constant within species and was useful for species delimitation within the genus Oxytropis when combined with other macroscopic traits. In contrast, the sculpturing patterns were highly variable at the species level and could not be used for species identification. Results of the cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the seed traits of Oxytropis species are useful for taxa identification at the species level, but have low taxonomic value at the section level.

Investigation of the efficacy of different semen extenders and in vitro storage period on Windsnyer boar sperm quality equilibrated at 18°C.

The study aimed to determine the efficacy of different semen extenders and in vitro storage periods on the Windsnyer boar sperm quality equilibrated at 18°C. Ejaculates (n= 18) from three Windsnyer boars of known fertility were evaluated for macroscopic traits, pooled, and then allocated for extension in Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS) and Kobidil+ extender. Diluted semen was stored at 18°C and evaluated at 0, 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48h post collection for sperm microscopic traits. Semen diluted with BTS extender maintained the highest live normal sperm percentage at 4 (63.0 ± 10), 8 (49.6 ± 8.7), 12 (38.0 ± 12.6), 24 (22.6 ± 10.7) and 48 (12.0 ± 10.7) hours, when stored at 18°C (p< .05). The BTS extender maintained the sperm total motility greater than 40% up to 24 h at 18°C as compared to the other semen Kobidil+ extender treatments (p< .05). Average <5% of sperm abnormalities were recorded over 48 h of in vitro boars semen storage irrespective of the semen extenders. Windsnyer boars sperm quality was maintained over 48h when the semen was diluted with BTS and stored at 18°C.

Comparison between macroscopic identification and DNA barcoding identification of Amomi Fructus

This study aims to explore the consistency between macroscopic identification and DNA barcoding identification of Amomi Fructus. With the DNA barcoding identification results, we evaluated the reliability of identifying Amomi Fructus quality by combining macroscopic traits with main volatile chemical components. Thirteen batches of Amomi Fructus samples were collected for identification. Firstly, the morphological and sensory characteristics of each sample were observed and recorded according to the standard in Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition). The 100-fruit weight, longitudinal diameter, transverse diameter, and longitudinal diameter-to-transverse diameter ratio were measured, which correspond to large, solid, and full kernel representing good quality in the sensory evaluation. The odor value detected by electronic nose and major volatile components(borneol, camphor, limonene, and borneol acetate) correspond to the sensory evaluation of strong odor representing good quality. Secondly, DNA barcoding was employed to identify the 13 batches of samples. Finally, clustering analysis was performed for the main volatile components and macroscopic traits, and the identification results were compared with those of DNA barcoding. Except two batches of samples(No.6 and No.10), the macroscopic identification showed the results consistent with those of DNA barcoding, with an identification rate of 84.62%. The clustering results of the content of four volatile chemical components and macroscopic traits were also consistent with the DNA barcoding identification results. DNA barcoding can verify the results of macroscopic identification and provide a scientific basis for the inheritance and development of macroscopic identification. Moreover, the combination of macroscopic traits and chemical components demonstrates higher accuracy in the quality evaluation of Chinese medicinal materials.

Micromorphological leaf epidermal traits as potential taxonomic markers for infrageneric classification of Oxytropis (Fabaceae).

The characteristics of the leaf epidermis have proven to be useful criteria to support taxonomic studies within Fabaceae. However, there are few systematic studies on the taxonomic significance of leaf epidermis of Oxytropis DC. Here, we used light and scanning electron microscopy to investigate leaf epidermal characteristics of 18 species of genus Oxytropis from the Northeastern Margin of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Our examination showed two main types of leaf epidermal cells: polygonal and irregular, and four different patterns of anticlinal walls: straight-arched, sinuolate, undulate, and sinuate. All species studied possess anomocytic stomata. Two trichome shapes were identified: strip-like trichomes, that were present only in O.ciliata, and cylindrical trichomes, present in all other species. Epidermal cell shape and anticlinal wall pattern were constant within species and are useful for species delimitation within genus Oxytropis, when combined with other macroscopic traits. The shape of trichomes can be useful for distinguishing O.ciliata from the other investigated species. Stomatal type was the same within the genus and may be used to elaborate the phylogenetic relationships between genera in combination with data on stomata from other genera. Cluster analysis results were largely consistent with the classification of species and sections based on macro morphological data, indicating that foliar epidermis characteristics of Oxytropis can be used as markers for taxonomic identification at the infrageneric classification level. Lastly, our results support the delineation of the section Leucopodia as an independent section but do not support the merging of section Gobicola into section Baicalia.

In-situ high-resolution 3D imaging combined with proteomics and metabolomics reveals enlargement of subcellular architecture and enhancement of photosynthesis pathways in nuclear-irradiated Chlorella pyrenoidosa

• In-situ 3D architectures of C. pyrenoidosa was visualized by FIB-SEM and cryo-ET. • Fine architectures and volume increase of subcellular organelles were observed. • Proteomics and metabolomics reveal universal overexpression of Rubisco in the mutant. • Variation in thylakoid width suggest an upregulation in chloroplast construction. Chlorella pyrenoidosa is a microalga that holds enormous potential as a source of renewable energy. Nuclear radiation is commonly used to modify natural microalgal phenotypes to enhance specified functions. However, the mechanisms underlying such modifications are poorly understood. Here, we use a multidisciplinary approach to analyze wild-type Chlorella pyrenoidosa and a nuclear-irradiated mutant known for its higher growth rate and photosynthetic efficiency. A combination of focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), cryo-FIB milling, and cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) achieve visualization of the microalgae and their organelles in unprecedented detail. Compared to the wild-type cell, the nuclear-irradiated mutant and its subcellular organelles, including the chloroplast, significantly increase in volume by 1.2-fold. Moreover, proteomics and metabolomics data indicate rubisco overexpression by 1.07-fold in the mutant, consistent with enhancement of carbon fixation in photosynthesis and the observed enlargement of subcellular morphology. Furthermore, cryo-ET reveals enlarged membrane width in the thylakoid of the mutant, suggesting an upregulation role for chlorophyll synthesis and chloroplast construction. Collectively, our studies reveal the detailed architectures of C. pyrenoidosa wild-type and a mutant with higher growth rate and photosynthetic efficiency, providing a basis for understanding how subcellular organelles function collaboratively to support macroscopic traits.

Macroscopic variation in Arabidopsis mutants despite stomatal uniformity across soil nutrient environments.

Stomata are essential pores flanked by guard cells that control gas exchange in plants. We can utilize stomatal size and density measurements as a proxy for a plant's capacity for gas exchange. While stomatal responses to stressful environments are well studied; data are lacking in the responses across mutant genotypes of the same species in these trait and treatment interactions or genetic variation in phenotypic plasticity. We evaluated the effects of soil nutrient variation on macroscopic and stomatal traits of Arabidopsis thaliana T-DNA insertion mutants for which prior performance in a single benign growing condition were available. Nutrient-induced stress significantly impacted traits including plant biomass, height, fruit number, and leaf number which we denote as macroscopic traits. We found evidence that genotype by environment effects exist for macroscopic traits, yet total stomatal area variation, or "microscopic variation" across environments was modest. Divergence from the wildtype line varied by mutant background and these responses were variable among traits. These findings suggest that Arabidopsis employs a strategy of physiological compensation, sacrificing morphological traits to maintain stomatal production.

Do Bryophyte Elemental Concentrations Explain Their Morphological Traits?

Differences in the elemental composition of plants, mainly C, N, and P, have been shown to be related to differences in their nutritional status, and their morphological and functional traits. The relationship between morphological traits and micronutrients and trace elements, however, has been much less studied. Additionally, in bryophytes, research devoted to investigating these relationships is still very scarce. Here, we analysed 80 samples from 29 aquatic and semi-aquatic (hygrophytic) moss species living in Mediterranean springs to investigate the relationship between moss nutrient concentrations and their micro- and macroscopic morphological traits and growth forms. We found that, across species, the elemental concentration of mosses was more tightly linked to macroscopic traits than to microscopic traits. Growth forms could also be successfully explained by the concentration of elements in mosses. Apart from macronutrients and their stoichiometric ratios (C:N, C:P, and N:P), micronutrients and trace elements were also important variables predicting moss morphological traits and growth forms. Additionally, our results showed that microscopic traits were well related to macroscopic traits. Overall, our results clearly indicate that the elemental composition of mosses can be used to infer their morphological traits, and that elements other than macronutrients should be taken into account to achieve a good representation of their morphological and, potentially, functional traits when comparing the elemental composition across species.

Technological analysis of Capacha pottery from the Colima Valley (western Mexico) by ED-XRF and thin-section petrography

Capacha is one of the two earliest ceramic complexes known for western Mexico. It dates to a period when sociopolitical complexity was starting to develop in Mesoamerica. An understanding of Capacha pottery technology and production are therefore valuable windows into a critical moment of Mesoamerican cultural development. In this paper we analyze the composition of Capacha pottery samples from two sites in the Colima Valley (Colima, Mexico) by means of energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (n = 100) and thin-section petrography by optical microscopy (n = 42), along with 15 geological clay samples. We look for Capacha pottery compositional diversity, availability and compositional variability in clay deposits in and outside the Colima Valley, and compositional matches between archaeological ceramics and clay deposits. The results indicate that the large majority of pottery analyzed is compositionally homogeneous, in contrast with the wide variation found in macroscopic traits. The results further indicate that Capacha pottery was manufactured in the Colima Valley with largely unprocessed clay(s) obtained locally, with the clay sources closest to the sites sampled providing the best compositional matches. A wide variation in pottery macroscopic characteristics, together with a strong compositional homogeneity of clay deposits over large parts of the Colima Valley, strongly warns against explaining the compositional homogeneity found in the pottery as purely the result of cultural conditioning and standardized cultural practices, with environmental constraints perhaps playing the biggest role in this outcome. This study presents the largest archaeometry-based study of Capacha pottery and the raw materials used in its production.

Comparison of academic book impact from a disciplinary perspective: an analysis of citations and altmetric indicators

Academic books are an important carrier of knowledge for scientific communication. This study aims to gain an improved understanding of academic books by jointly analyzing the altmetric and citation indicators. We explore the impact of academic books among six fields. The data set includes 666,527 records of the Book Citation Index from Web of Science in 2013–2017. Results reveal as follows. (1) The coverage of digital object identifiers and altmetric values on books was relatively low. (2) The impact of books shows evident disciplinary differences in the citation and altmetric indicators. Clinical, Pre-Clinical and Health books had the highest altmetric impact but the lowest citation impact. However, Physical Sciences books showed the opposite traits. Although books are the preferred publication format of the fields of Arts and Humanities; and Social Sciences, the performance of the book impact based on the citation and altmetric indicators was not apparent among six fields. Overall, Social Sciences have relatively better performance than Arts and Humanities. (3) The citation frequency of early publications is significantly higher than that of recent publications, whereas the altmetric attention score presented a growth trend and the cumulative effect is not evident. The clear but weak correlations between altmetric indicators and citations of books were also found. (4) The hierarchical cluster analysis of fields based on the citation and altmetric indicators revealed that the fields of Clinical, Pre-Clinical and Health; and Life Sciences showed high internal homogeneity. However, the fields of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities are heterogeneous. This study is a constructive attempt to show the macroscopic traits of academic books. Altmetric indexes were involved in multidisciplinary comparison analysis to enhance the understanding of books.

Dietary inclusion of full-fat Hermetia illucens prepupae meal in practical diets for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): Lipid metabolism and fillet quality investigations

Insects are able to bio-convert organic by-products into a sustainable biomass for aquafeed formulation. Specifically, among several insect species, Hermetia illucens (H) is particularly interesting for its nutritious traits but, unfortunately, the lipidic fraction is poorly represented by polyunsaturated fatty acids n-3 and poses some limits in its application in aquafeed formulation.The present study undertook an interdisciplinary approach to explore the effects of three experimental diets containing increasing levels of full-fat H meal (H0 diet based on fishmeal and purified protein-rich vegetable ingredients; H25 and H50 diets containing 25% or 50% of full-fat H meal replacing fishmeal, respectively), on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fed over a 98 days experimental period. The expression of genes related to lipid metabolism by RT-qPCR, liver histology, as well as the qualitative traits of fillets and fatty acid (FA) composition were investigated. Interestingly, fads2 gene expression in pyloric caeca increased in fish fed diets containing the highest full-fat H meal inclusion (H50 > H0; p < .05). Liver histological examinations showed normal morphological aspect even though hepatic FA profiles seemed to resemble those of the diets. However, liver docosahexaenoic acid did not significantly differ between the dietary groups and showed a mean value of 11.07 g FA methyl esters/100 g total FA methyl esters. Despite the FA profile of the three diets differed depending on the H meal inclusion level, biometrics, fillet physical traits, total lipids and the overall FA profile were not jeopardised, not even eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids.The overall results showed that the dietary full-fat H meal inclusion under study did not impair fish fillet quality, guaranteeing its nutritional value. Some effects on lipid metabolism were observed, as suggested by liver, pyloric caeca and mid intestine gene expression and liver FA profile. Future studies on the biological mechanisms behind the macroscopic traits of fish fed unprocessed insects are warmly encouraged.

Machine Learning Enables High-Throughput Phenotyping for Analyses of the Genetic Architecture of Bulliform Cell Patterning in Maize.

Bulliform cells comprise specialized cell types that develop on the adaxial (upper) surface of grass leaves, and are patterned to form linear rows along the proximodistal axis of the adult leaf blade. Bulliform cell patterning affects leaf angle and is presumed to function during leaf rolling, thereby reducing water loss during temperature extremes and drought. In this study, epidermal leaf impressions were collected from a genetically and anatomically diverse population of maize inbred lines. Subsequently, convolutional neural networks were employed to measure microscopic, bulliform cell-patterning phenotypes in high-throughput. A genome-wide association study, combined with RNAseq analyses of the bulliform cell ontogenic zone, identified candidate regulatory genes affecting bulliform cell column number and cell width. This study is the first to combine machine learning approaches, transcriptomics, and genomics to study bulliform cell patterning, and the first to utilize natural variation to investigate the genetic architecture of this microscopic trait. In addition, this study provides insight toward the improvement of macroscopic traits such as drought resistance and plant architecture in an agronomically important crop plant.

Perimortem fracture pattern in ribs by blunt force trauma.

Literature on timing of rib trauma is scarce but remains challenging during forensic cases. This study analysed the macroscopic fracture patterns of perimortem rib fractures and compared them to experimentally reproduced rib fractures on fresh and dry ribs. Six distinctive macroscopic traits were found in ribs that might provide information about the timing of trauma, fracture mechanism and/or trauma circumstances. These traits are peels, folds, differential fracture edges, incomplete fractures, plastic deformation and longitudinal lines. Peels, folds and plastic deformation might provide information about trauma timing. Folds and different fracture edges might provide information about the fracture mechanism. Statistical analyses showed that longitudinal lines, folds and incomplete fractures might provide information about the trauma circumstances and that age might have an influence on the occurrence of complete fractures, longitudinal lines and peels (p ≤ 0.05). The new insights presented in this study might be valuable for forensic anthropologists in rib trauma analysis.

Ecological interactions and coexistence are predicted by gene expression similarity in freshwater green algae

Summary Phenotypic variation controls the species interactions which determine whether or not species coexist. Long‐standing hypotheses in ecology and evolution posit that phenotypic differentiation enables coexistence by increasing the size of niche differentiation. This hypothesis has only been tested using macroscopic traits to date, but niche differentiation, particularly of microscopic organisms, also occurs at the molecular and metabolic level. We examined how phenotypic variation that arises at the level of gene expression over evolutionary time affects phytoplankton species interactions and coexistence. We predicted that similarity in gene expression among species would decline with phylogenetic distance, and that reduced similarity in gene expression would weaken competition, increase facilitation and promote coexistence. To test this, we grew eight species of freshwater green algae in monocultures and bicultures for 46 days in a laboratory microcosm experiment. We quantified the strength of species interactions by: (i) fitting Lotka–Volterra models to time‐series densities and estimating interaction coefficients, and (ii) calculating relative densities that compare species’ steady‐state densities in biculture to those in monoculture. We used Illumina high throughput sequencing to quantify the expression of 1253 families of homologous genes, including a set of 17 candidate genes that we hypothesized a priori to be involved in competition or facilitation. Synthesis. We found that closely related species had greater similarity in gene expression than did distantly related species, but as gene expression became more similar, species experienced weaker competition or greater facilitation, and were more likely to coexist. We identified gene functional categories that were uniquely differentially regulated in association with particular species interaction types. Contrary to common thinking in ecology and evolution, similarity in gene expression, and not differentiation, was associated with weaker competition, facilitation and coexistence.

The compositional analysis of hunter-gatherer pottery from the Kuril Islands

Archaeological analysis of pottery remains from Northeast Asia has traditionally emphasized macroscopic traits such as decoration and vessel form. While these features are important in characterizing the cultural affiliation of pottery, compositional analysis can provide new lines of evidence that highlight social processes such as migration and exchange. Using a ceramic assemblage recovered from the Kuril Islands of Northeast Asia, this research investigates the regional exchange of pottery associated with the Epi-Jomon and Okhotsk cultural traditions. Results of this study indicate cultural differences highly influence the geographic distribution of compositional groups and patterns of regional exchange.

Marbles, granites and basalt used in the cruciform basilica of Abila (Decapolis, Jordan): archaeometric characterization and provenance

The provenance of granite, basalt, and marble used in building the cruciform basilica of Abila of the Decapolis, northwestern Jordan, is investigated using chemical and petrographic techniques. The basilica is dated to the late fifth or early sixth century AD. The stones were characterized using macroscopic traits in combination with optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and stable oxygen and carbon isotope spectrometry. These data were compared to the published databases for marbles, granites, and basalts used in antiquity. The comparison showed that the basalts are most probably local. The islands of Marmara (Proconessos-1), Turkey, are the primary source of the white marbles, while Paros island (Paros-2), Greece, is a minor source. The source of the green Cipollino marbles is Styra in the island of Euboea (Greece). The pink and gray granites are likely microasiatic from the Cigri and Kozak Dâgs, respectively, northwest Turkey.