Prehistoric Giant Swamp Taro (Cyrtosperma chamissonis) from Henderson Island, Southeast Polynesia

Subfossilleaf fragments of giant swamp taro (Cyrtosperma chamissonis) were recovered from archaeological contexts dating as early as A.D. 1451 (mean date) on Henderson Island (24 0 22' S, 1280 19' W), Pitcairn group-a raised limestone (makatea) island isolated at the extreme margin of southeastern Polynesia and the Indo-West Pacific biotic province. Comparison of subfossil specimens and modern reference material from a range of known cultigens under scanning electron microscopy confirms the identification. A period of active interarchipelago voyaging between A.D. 1000 and A.D. 1500 is known from recent summaries of the geochemical analysis of exotic finegrained basalt artifacts from archaeological sites throughout Polynesia. If not an initial colonization, it is during this time that Cyrtosperma should have been introduced prehistorically to most, if not all, of the inhabitable islands of the region, especially those island groups lying to the west of Henderson. Investigation of subfossil plant remains adds another dimension to understanding plant distributions, prehistoric crop use, and subsistence practices in the Indo-Pacific region

Identification and evaluation of factors affecting use of knowledge-based systems in a manufacturing environment

A large amount of work has been carried out in the field of developing knowledge-based systems from initial analysis of the domain task, through formalisation and computerisation of knowledge to a completed knowledge-based system. However, issues relating to the use of such systems appear not to have been so clearly identified. It is essential to pay detailed attention to all of the human as well as technological issues which affect the practical use of such systems. The factors that influence the use of a knowledge-based system need to be identified to ensure that any systems developed will in fact be used by the intended end-users. In this thesis we propose a model for effective utilisation of knowledge-based systems. We will discuss how this model has been validated, then used as a basis for the identification of factors that affect system use. We will describe how we select and evaluate factors which we believe have a significant impact on the use of a system. We will present a set of initial findings based on experimental work we have performed as to the most significant factors. A set of conclusions are drawn on the approach we have adopted, the results we have obtained and the success of this work. We have identified a four phase model of system use, namely, acquisition, handover, operation and maintenance based on current literature. The model depicts the relationship between roles, functions and entities. By validation of the model, we have identified an initial set of 55 parameters that impact the effective use of a system. We have selected a subset of these parameters (those which we believe have significant impact and those which have less impact on the utilisation of knowledge-based systems) which we are able to control in order to evaluate a set of 17 hypotheses. The important parameters were: Role of system, Familiarity with system. Functionality, Robustness of system, Breadth of knowledge. Depth of knowledge, Method of displaying information (HCI), and Method of selecting options (HCI). The less important parameters were: Familiarity with domain tasks. User role. Fit with user requirement. Provision of system help. Provision of explanation. Response time. Security features. Error reporting, and Maintenance procedure. The experiments we performed allowed a systematic examination of the degree to which each parameter we selected impacts system use. From the data we obtained we identified a number of key parameters and the impact they have on effective use of a system. Specifically, from our experimental work we have identified the following factors as having the greatest degree of impact on system use: Role of system. Breadth of knowledge. Depth of knowledge. Provision of explanation. Provision of system help. Method of displaying information (HCI), Method of selecting options (HCI), Functionality, and Maintenance procedures. We also identified areas where additional work is required to further investigate the factors that impact on the effective use of knowledge-based systems

The morphological and anatomical interpretation and identification of charred vegetative parenchymatous plant remains

This research project has attempted to develop a methodology for the identification of charred remains of useful non-woody vegetative parts of plants by the use of morphological and anatomical characters. A large number of taxa have been observed covering a wide morphological, anatomical, ethnographic and taxonomic range. The chosen taxa cover a geographic area from Western Europe, through the Mediterranean to the Near East. Anatomy of fresh material viewed under the light microscope has been used to interpret the anatomy of experimentally charred tissues viewed under the Scanning Electron Microscope. Classical morphological and anatomical characters have been used as well as artifactual characters caused by charring. Literature covering root and tuber domestication and the exploitation of roots and tubers as wild resources are reviewed. The origins of root crops in Europe and the Near East is discussed and compared with the origin of root and tuber crops in the tropics. The application of morphological terms such as rhizome, rootstock and corm as well as the use of anatomical and morphological characters of the tissues under observation for classification and identification are discussed. The results first describe the characters of charred non-woody vegetative tissue, so that in the separate descriptions of the charcoal each taxon that follows the morphology and anatomy may be interpreted. Those characters that are diagnosed are indicated. Archaeological charcoal that has been analysed is also described. The results are discussed with a view to methods of identification of parenchymatous tissues and a manual dichotomous key is presented. Applications of the research are examined. Finally a list of concluding points is put forward

A Palaeoenvironmental Investigation of Two Prehistoric Burnt Mound Sites in Northern Ireland

Funded by Road services Northern Ireland, Jacobs and Headland ArchaeologyPeer reviewedPostprin

An Evaluation of Machine Learning and Big Data Analytics Performance in Cloud Computing and Computer Vision

Although cloud computing is receiving a lot of attention, security remains a significant barrier to its general adoption. Cloud service users frequently worry about data loss, security risks, and availability issues. Because of the accessibility and openness of the huge volume of data amassed by sensors and the web throughout recent years, computer applications have seen a remarkable change from straightforward data processing to machine learning. Two widely used technologies, Big Data and Cloud computing, are the focus of worry in the IT industry. Enormous data sets are put away, handled, and broke down under the possibility of "Big Data." Then again, cloud computing centres around giving the framework to make such systems conceivable in a period and cash saving way. The objective of the review is to survey the Big Data Analytics and Machine learning ideal models for use in cloud computing and computer vision. The programmed data examination of enormous data sets and the production of models for the wide connections between data are the centre highlights of machine learning (ML). The usefulness of machine learning-based strategies for identifying threats in a cloud computing environment is surveyed and compared in this research

Skeletal muscle responses to unloading in humans

This study examined the effects of unloading on skeletal muscle structure. Method: Eight subjects walked on crutches for six weeks with a 110 cm elevated sole on the right shoe. This removed weight bearing by the left lower limb. Magnetic resonance imaging of both lower limbs and biopsies of the left m. vastus laterallis (VL) were used to study muscle structure. Results: Unloading decreased (P less than 0.05) muscle cross-sectional areas (CSA) of the knee extensors 16 percent. The knee flexors showed about 1/2 of this response (-7 percent, P less than 0.05). The three vasti muscles each showed decreases (P less than 0.05) of about 15 percent. M. rectus femoris did not change. Mean fiber CSA in VL decreased (P less than 0.05) 14 percent with type 2 and type 1 fibers showing reductions of 15 and 11 percent respectively. The ankle extensors showed a 20 percent decrease (P less than 0.05) in CSA. The reduction for the 'fast' m. gastrocnemius was 27 percent compared to the 18 percent decrease for the 'slow' soleus. Summary: The results suggest that decreases in muscle CSA are determined by the relative change in impact loading history because atrophy was (1) greater in extensor than flexor muscles, (2) at least as great in fast as compared to slow muscles or fibers, and (3) not dependent on single or multi-joint function. They also suggest that the atrophic responses to unloading reported for lower mammals are quantitatively but not qualitatively similar to those of humans

The effect of different training modes on skeletal muscle microvascular density and endothelial enzymes controlling NO availability

It is becoming increasingly apparent that a high vasodilator response of the skeletal muscle microvasculature to insulin and exercise is of critical importance for adequate muscle perfusion and long-term microvascular and muscle metabolic health. Previous research has shown that a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, and ageing lead to impairments in the vasodilator response, while a physically active lifestyle keeps both microvascular density and vasodilator response high. To investigate the molecular mechanisms behind these impairments and the benefits of exercise training interventions, our laboratory has recently developed quantitative immunofluorescence microscopy methods to measure protein content of eNOS and NAD(P)Hoxidase specifically in the endothelial layer of capillaries and arterioles of human skeletal muscle. As eNOS produces NO and NAD(P)Hoxidase superoxide anions (quenching NO) we propose that the eNOS/NAD(P)Hoxidase protein ratio is a marker of vasodilator capacity. The novel methods show that endurance training (ET) and high intensity interval training (HIT) generally regarded as a time efficient alternative to ET, increase eNOS protein content and the eNOS/NADP(H) oxidase protein ratio in previously sedentary lean and obese young men. Resistance exercise training had smaller but qualitatively similar effects. Western blot data of other laboratories suggest that endurance exercise training leads to similar changes in sedentary elderly men. Future research will be required to investigate the relative importance of other sources and tissues in the balance between NO and O2- production seen by the vascular smooth muscle layer of terminal arterioles

Muscle preservation in long duration space missions: The eccentric factor

In our quest to understand, and eventually prevent, the loss of muscle strength and mass that occurs during prolonged periods in microgravity, we have organized our research approach by systems and useful terrestrial analogs. Our hypothesis was that: The eccentric movement, or lengthening component, of dynamic, resistive exercise, is required for the production of the greatest gains in strength and muscle hypertrophy in the most metabolically efficient, and time effective manner. The exercises selected were leg presses, leg (knee) extensions, and hamstring curls. In this 30 week study, 38 male subjects, between the ages of 25 and 50, were divided into four groups. One group performed 5 sets of 8-12 repetitions per set of conventional concentric/eccentric (CON/ECC) exercises. Another group performed only the concentric (CON) movement on the same schedule. The third group performed twice the number of sets in the concentric only mode (CON/CON), and the last group served as controls. We interpret these data as convincing evidence that the eccentric component of heavy resistance training is required along with the concentric for the most effective increase in strength and muscle fiber size in the least time. We also conclude that such heavy exercise of any such muscle group need not consume inordinately long periods of time, and is quite satisfactorily effective when performed on 72 hour centers

Instalación y configuración de servicios para NethServer

En la elaboración de este trabajo se va a evidenciar el paso a paso de cada una de las configuraciones hechas para proceder a realizar las temáticas solicitadas en la guía de actividades por los estudiantes que conforman dicho grupo. Anexando a lo anterior cabe resaltar que esta distribución de NETHSERVER es basada en Centos y RHEL, el cual se va a realizar la configuración de cada uno de los servicios solicitados que son muy importantes en el uso de la infraestructura IT.In the elaboration of this work we will show the step by step of each of the configurations made to proceed to perform the topics requested in the activity guide by the students who make up this group. In addition to the above, it should be noted that this NETHSERVER distribution is based on Centos and RHEL, which will perform the configuration of each of the requested services that are very important in the use of IT infrastructure