Compositional classes and diversity in archaeological ceramic studies

Archaeological studies are based, at a large extent, on the study of the materials that form the different unearthed assemblages. Thus, ceramic assemblages are defined by their compositions, i.e. how many pots of different types do we have. Those assemblages, are supposed to shed light on chronological issues, as well as on social issues related to the social context after which they were formed. Therefore, one of the key problems in Archaeology is the formation of the archaeological record, since any study based on the unearthed evidence will be thus necessarily conditioned. Pottery, as many other types of artefacts, rarely appears as complete vases. The activity in the systemic context (in the living societies of the past), and the activity in the archaeological one usually leads to incomplete vessels, represented by an unknown number of isolated shards. Several strategies have been proposed to overcome these problems, and they are collectively known as quantification studies (Orton, 1993). In such studies, reassembly of shards is conducted up to different extents. Besides, different principles are assumed in different quantification methods. Even so, especially in studies not devoted to pottery, some criticism have been made on the concept of taxonomical abundance, which guides quantification studies, highlighting the underpinning role of taphonomical issues (Lyman, 2004). Moreover, individuals and assemblages are in the basis of any archaeometric study, and sampling is the most crucial derived issue (Orton, 2000)

Morphometrics and compositional classes. The stuy of anthropomorphic sculptures from Teotihuacan (México)

Morphometry is defined as the measurement of the external and perceptible characteristics, i.e., in a first approximation, of the shape or morphology of an object. It includes information related to the object’s appearance as well as to its physical and diachronic constitution (Verrecchia, 2003). Morphometric studies attempt to describe this form or shape through mathematical relationships that allow numerical data, and this can be achieved in different ways. In general, tow main types of analysis can be performed whether they are or they are not based on the study of the contourn. In several instances, the actual contourn is not supposed to be really informative. Instead, elementary Euclidean geometrical measurements or the definition of significant points (landmarks or semi-landmarks), referenced in coordinates systems, are used

Chemical characterization of tin-lead glazed ceramics from Aragon (Spain) by neutron activation analysis

Majolica pottery was the most characteristic tableware produced in Spain during the Medieval and Renaissance periods. A study of the three main production centers in the historical region of Aragon during Middle Ages and Renaissance was conducted on a set of 71 samples. The samples were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), and the resulting data were interpreted using an array of multivariate statistical procedures. Our results show a clear discrimination among different production centers allowing a reliable provenance attribution of ceramic sherds from the Aragonese workshops

Autoevaluación y autoaprendizaje mediante cuestionarios Moodle

Hemos introducido en la evaluación de las asignaturas “Fonaments Fisics” (DMN i DNM) “Fonaments Físics de l’ Enginyeria” (ETPSV) la realización de un ejercicio de autoevaluación utilizando los cuestionarios proporcionados por Moodle. Llevamos a cabo una experiencia conjunta con los alumnos de las titulaciones ETPSV y DMN, obteniéndose que la nota media (sobre 10) en el cuestionario fue de 6.00, y de 5.90 en el examen final con una dispersión de 0.63. Puede observarse la validez del cuestionario como correlación entre el resultado obtenido en el cuestionario Moodle y el que, posteriormente obtienen en el examen final.Peer Reviewe

La luz, un sabor inolvidable

La iluminación natural es un parámetro de diseño, el cual permite configurar diferentes ambientes interiores con bajo consumo energético. Actividades con una vista-lateral son muy comunes. Es una de las más antiguas aplicaciones de iluminación por su facilidad, practicismo y apertura accesible. Frecuentemente, esta entrada de luz esta proporcionada por la fachada y está complementada por la vista exterior. A este tipo de vista se le puede denominar vista-lateral.Postprint (published version

Las cerámicas vidriadas decoradas del Convento de San Francisco de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Una aproximación a su estudio arqueométrico.

[cas]Para el presente estudio fueron seleccionadas 41 cerámicas procedentes del fondo de El Museo Canario y correspondientes a materiales de las excavaciones arqueológicas realizadas en eí solar del antiguo convento de San Francisco de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Todos los individuos fueron analizados por fluoresceiicia de rayos X (FRX) y difracción de rayos X (DRX), complementándose el estudio analítico con una selección de cerámicas estudiadas mediante el ariálisis por activación neutro nica (AAN). Los resultados han permitido demostrar que la mayor parte de las cerámicas estudiadas presentan una proveniencia de la ciudad de Sevilla. No obstante, también se han hallado otras ceráinicas que parecen corresponder a otros centros productores, tanto españoles como italianos y portugueses. De esta manera, se demuestra la relativa heterogeneidad de las iínportaciohes cerá- micas del antiguo convento de San Francisco.[eng]In order to asses the provenance of the majolica production from the Iberian Peninsula in the Canary Island as a first step for the trade with America, a set of 41 majolica individuals has been sampled from the archaeological site of El Antiguo Convento de San Francisco (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria). Individuals have been studied by means of X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The results show an important group matching our reference group from Seville, in agreement with the historical record. Chemical data also reveals individuals whose provenance corresponds to other production centres of the Iberian Peninsula. Possible Italian and Dutch productions have also been identified. All these results confirm the relative heterogeneity of the range of imported majolica by the convent of San Francisco

Crystal-Induced Podocytopathy Producing Collapsing Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis in Monoclonal Gammopathy of Renal Significance: A Case Report

Glomeruloesclerosis focal y segmentaria; Queratopatía cristalina; PodocitopatíaGlomeruloesclerosi focal i segmentària; Queratopatia cristal·lina; PodocitopatiaFocal and segmental glomerulosclerosis; Crystalline keratopathy; PodocytopathyMonoclonal gammopathy–associated crystalline podocytopathy causing collapsing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is very rare and has been associated with pamidronate therapy. We present the case of a 53-year-old man with vision loss secondary to corneal crystals deposition, nephrotic-range proteinuria, and reduced glomerular filtration rate without associated comorbid conditions. Two kidney biopsies were initially reported as primary FSGS but the patient did not respond to high-dose corticosteroid immunosuppression therapy. Re-review of biopsies with additional electron microscopy analysis revealed crystalline inclusions in podocytes leading to collapsing FSGS. Subsequent workup revealed an immunoglobulin G κ serum monoclonal protein. Bone marrow biopsy revealed 5% κ-restricted plasma cells with cytoplasmic crystalline inclusions. To our knowledge, this is the first case of monoclonal gammopathy of clinical significance manifesting as crystalline podocytopathy leading to collapsing FSGS and keratopathy leading to vision loss. Crystalline podocytopathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of collapsing glomerulopathy, and careful ultrastructural examination of the kidney biopsy specimen is crucial to establish this diagnosis.The authors declare that they have no relevant financial interests

Ordering kinetics evaluation of FeAl powders

In this study, time resolved X-ray diffraction experiments using synchrotron X-ray radiation have been performed to get insight on the time and temperature dependent atomic ordering of an intermetallic Fe-40A1 (at.%) ball-milled powder. The target of the present study is to gain knowledge on the rapid heating processes occurring during Thermal Spray coating processes. Present results show that in the temperature range 400 degrees C - 550 degrees C, the evolution of the order can be followed and modelled by fitting the powder diffraction patterns collected within the first minutes after fast heating. Reasonable refinements have been obtained by assuming the presence of two domains corresponding to the ordered and disordered lattices. The lattice constant changes from 0.29165 nm in the ball-milled powder at room temperature to 0.29281 nm in the ordered phase after 3000 s at 550 degrees C. The growth of the ordered phase is proposed to be a vacancy-related process with an activation energy of 1.04 eV. Above 550 degrees C, the ordering kinetics appears too fast to be resolved using the few seconds time scale of the present experiments which is in agreement to thermal spray results conditions