Educational Policy and Open Resources in Brazil: a Discursive Analysis

Discourse analysis is the French theoretical and methodological foundation of our research, in which we analyze the discursive operation of Open Educational Resources focusing on its potential destabilization effects in accessing cultural goods, educational assets and authoring processes. We understand that Open Educational Resources may become an educational policy, based on the principles of collaboration and openness, giving new meaning to the senses of authorship and learning materials. The current challenge is to intensify actions for a public debate on the relevance of open access. (Funded by São Paulo Research Foundation – FAPESP)

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved