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Publications

Showing 19601 – 19620 of 30345 publications

A revised correlation of Silurian rocks in the British Isles

Anticosti — 2017 — WHE2988C8B388

A revised correlation of Silurian rocks in the British Isles establishes a detailed stratigraphical framework for Llandovery, Wenlock, Ludlow, and Přidolí successions across Wales, England, Scotland, and Ireland. The study provides correlation charts that integrate selected outcrops and concealed sequences, offering a robust regional standard. It extends this framework internationally by comparing British Silurian records with those from Anticosti Island (Canada), New York, Oslo, Gotland, Estonia, Thuringia, Bohemia, Podolia, and Kazakhstan. The research bridges gaps in enigmatic records, such as Cornwall's, while emphasizing the significance of Eastern and Southern England's concealed strata. This comprehensive approach enhances global understanding of Silurian stratigraphy.

A security and management framework for the holy sites of the Old City of Jerusalem

Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls — 2017 — WHEE6BE93DDCE

A clear, flexible definition of holy sites is essential for the success of any security and management framework in the Old City of Jerusalem. This study identifies key issues that must be addressed to prevent religious disputes from escalating into political violence, drawing on historical examples of such conflicts. It proposes that the Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy Land could play a pivotal role in mediating these disputes and ensuring effective management of holy sites. The framework aims to balance security needs with the preservation of cultural and religious significance, offering a practical approach to managing one of the most contested yet sacred urban landscapes.

A Song of the Paddle: haptic aesthetics of canoe travel in the English Lake District

The English Lake District — 2017 — WHE79051C2DC2

Paddling a canoe on the English Lake District offers a unique sensory experience that blends haptic, acoustic, and ethical dimensions. This study reveals that such leisure travel is deeply rooted in tactile engagement (haptic aesthetics) while also being shaped by the soundscape of the natural environment—a concept drawn from 'soundscape ecology.' The research demonstrates how paddling transcends mere physical movement, embodying a practical or everyday aesthetics that connects individuals to their surroundings in an ethically meaningful way. By analyzing this phenomenon phenomenologically and epistemologically, the study provides insight into the sensory and theoretical layers of recreational activities in natural landscapes.

A Spectacle of Maps: Cartographic Hopes and Anxieties in the Pamirs

Tajik National Park (Mountains of the Pamirs) — 2017 — WHE437D134CF7

Maps in the Pamirs region of Tajikistan are not merely representations but active agents shaping realities on the ground, according to new research. Over 150 years, cartographic anxieties—from imperial rivalries during the Great Game to Soviet and Chinese border concerns, post-Cold War territorial disputes, mining interests, and conservation efforts—have driven map-making projects that foster specific visions of the future. These maps serve as a lens to understand evolving external engagements in the region, challenging traditional views of cartography as passive documentation. The study employs a historical and spatial analysis, drawing on the work of Rob Kitchin and Martin Dodge (2007), to argue for the 'ontogenetic' role of maps in constructing territorial realities.

A study on the Development of Potential Evaluation Index for Tourism Resources : Focusing on Suwon Area, Gyeonggi Province

Hwaseong Fortress — 2017 — WHE73478AF18A

A study on Hwaseong Fortress, Suwon, identifies spatial and tourism resource factors as the most significant influences on its potential as a tourist destination. These factors, accounting for 45.32% and 34.27% of the evaluation respectively, reflect the area's accessibility and resource value, overshadowing political and human factors. The research suggests an evaluation index based on these attributes, providing insights into how tourism resources can be leveraged to revitalize local economies, particularly in metropolitan areas with government support policies like those seen in Suwon.

A survey on the digital enhancement of the archaeological sites on Google and a multimedia pilot project in the Agrigento Valley of the Temples in Sicily (Italy)

Archaeological Area of Agrigento — 2017 — WHE14F1465E37

A pioneering digital enhancement project at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Agrigento Valley of the Temples, has successfully mapped the Temple of Juno Lacinia, making it the first Greek temple globally accessible via a 360° online tour on Google platforms. This initiative introduces interactive features such as clickable points of interest, accompanied by descriptive sheets detailing architectural and decorative elements, capitals, columns, 3D reconstructions, videos, and aerial virtual tours captured using drones. The project, currently in its pilot phase, aims to expand this immersive experience to the entire valley, offering multilingual (Italian and English) and audio-guided content. This approach not only preserves and showcases the site's cultural heritage but also sets a precedent for digital preservation and accessibility of archaeological sites worldwide.

A sustainable repair process for heritage buildings in historic Jeddah

Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah — 2017 — WHE199741A07B

A sustainable repair process, known as ta’leeq, offers effective solutions for preserving the sedimentary stone load-bearing walls of historic Jeddah’s heritage buildings. These structures, characterized by their distinctive architecture and exposed to extreme weathering conditions of high temperature and humidity, often suffer from structural issues like cracking. The study highlights how this traditional method addresses such problems while maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the buildings. By leveraging local techniques rooted in the region's architectural heritage, ta’leeq provides a durable and culturally appropriate approach to conservation. This research contributes valuable insights into sustainable heritage preservation, particularly for UNESCO World Heritage Sites facing similar environmental challenges.

A Symbiotic Relation of Cooperative Social Housing and Dispersed Tourism in Havana Vieja: Development Model and Architectural Prototypes

Old Havana and its Fortification System — 2017 — WHE3D7FE083F6

A symbiotic model integrating cooperative social housing and dispersed tourism emerges as a viable solution to address Havana Vieja's dual crises: severe housing shortages, with up to 30% of the population awaiting housing provision, and rapid urban deterioration. This approach leverages Cuba's growing tourism sector by allowing individuals to transition from state employment to self-employment, enabling them to rent rooms to tourists. The model, developed through research-by-design involving local actors and data mining, proposes architectural prototypes that empower communities while regenerating the city center. It aims to balance urban, economic, and social challenges, offering a resilient path for Havana's future.

A Systematic Assessment of Early African Hominids

Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa — 2017 — WHE75004AD6AD

A systematic reassessment of early African hominids challenges traditional phylogenetic frameworks, revealing that South African gracile australopithecines differ significantly from East African forms like those found at Hadar and Laetolil. This study highlights the difficulties in associating cranial and postcranial material across sites, complicating comparisons between regions. While East African hominids exhibit traits linking them to a poorly understood Miocene ancestor, South African gracile australopithecines lack key primitive characteristics, suggesting distinct evolutionary trajectories. The research underscores the need for a nuanced approach to interpreting fossil hominid relationships, particularly in light of emerging evidence for multiple evolving lineages in early Pleistocene eastern Africa.

A Time of Change: Questioning the “Collapse" of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Sacred City of Anuradhapura — 2017 — WHEA23E2E5EBB

Reassessment of Anuradhapura's terminal period challenges the dominant narrative of its collapse, revealing that the eleventh-century Chola invasion was not the sole cause. Archaeological evidence suggests a more complex scenario, with alternative factors such as epidemic malaria and shifts in imperial economic models playing significant roles. This study moves beyond textual sources to provide a nuanced understanding of Anuradhapura's abandonment, offering a more balanced and less politically charged interpretation.

A Vital Proposal for Reestablishing Post-War Rural Housing in Syria

Ancient City of Aleppo — 2017 — WHE3D5B6699D2

A proposed modular housing solution leverages Syria's vernacular architecture and traditional construction methods to address post-war rural housing needs. This approach offers a culturally appropriate, economically viable, and socially beneficial alternative for displaced Syrians, providing stable, quick-to-build homes that surpass tents in quality while maintaining cultural values. The study draws on historical reconstruction experiences from Aleppo and Homs, adapting proven local techniques to modern requirements. It also considers the therapeutic benefits of rural rebuilding efforts, aiming to support returning inhabitants and urban refugees until larger cities are reconstructed.

A xiameni Gulangyu Közös Koncesszió története a 19–20. századi kínai–külföldi nyelvi és kulturális interakció tükrében

Kulangsu, a Historic International Settlement — 2017 — WHE97394CBC63

Gulangyu, a UNESCO-listed historic international settlement in Xiamen, China, stands as the sole jointly administered foreign concession in modern Chinese history beyond Shanghai. This study reveals its pivotal role in Sino-foreign linguistic and cultural interactions from 1840 to 1945, highlighting its significance in the South China Sea region's broader exchange processes. The research demonstrates how foreign missionaries' efforts to translate Christian texts into Minnan (Hokkien) and develop the peh-oe-ji romanization system during the mid-19th century bridged linguistic divides initiated through Southeast Asian colonies. Additionally, it traces the island's transformation in the early 20th century under the influence of returning overseas Chinese, who significantly invested in its cultural and educational development until Japan's occupation.

A15 Rapid radiation of treponema pallidum pertenue in wild non-human primates

Niokolo-Koba National Park — 2017 — WHE257C120C57

Research reveals that Treponema pallidum pertenue, the bacterium responsible for yaws in humans, has rapidly diversified and established infections in wild non-human primates, including sooty mangabeys and green monkeys. Phylogenomic analysis of full genomes from symptomatic individuals shows these strains are closely related to T. p. pertenue but not reciprocally monophyletic with human strains, indicating a complex zoonotic reservoir. The study used hybridization capture to sequence bacterial DNA from samples collected in Taï National Park (Côte d’Ivoire), Bijilo Forest Park (Gambia), and Niokolo-Koba National Park (Senegal). This finding suggests the existence of a vast zoonotic reservoir that may hinder global eradication efforts.

About this title ‐ Geological Evolution of Central Asian Basins and the Western Tien Shan Range

Western Tien-Shan — 2017 — WHE2DBDF9641F

The geological evolution of the Western Tien Shan and adjacent Central Asian basins is characterized by complex tectonic activity spanning from the Precambrian to the Cenozoic. This study reveals that the region's current landscape—marked by an elongated mountain range flanked by extensive sedimentary basins—emerged through a series of continental collisions, terrane accretions, and fault reactivations, particularly during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras. The research highlights the significant impact of these tectonic events on basin development, as well as the influence of climatic changes on sedimentation patterns. Multidisciplinary approaches, including field observations, geological mapping, and sedimentary analysis, were employed to reconstruct this long-term evolution. The findings underscore the dynamic interplay between tectonics and climate in shaping the region's geological history.

Absence, Presence, Indexicality: The Mise en Scène of ‘the Heart of Neolithic Orkney’

Heart of Neolithic Orkney — 2017 — WHE1D735A4492

The Ring of Brodgar stone circle and associated Neolithic sites evoke a dynamic, hauntological experience for visitors, characterized by a tension between perceived presence and absence. This study reveals that the site's mise en scène, akin to surrealist frottage or a photograph, indexically represents an unknowable past while simultaneously soliciting imaginative engagement with heterochronia—simultaneous yet incompatible manifestations of time and space—and metatheatre, hinting at cryptic ritual performances. The research draws on surrealist theory, Robert Smithson's concepts, and semiotic analysis to argue that visitors' responses are shaped by this dialectical tension, where the imaginary blurs with the real, as described by Breton. The approach combines archaeological interpretation with performance studies to explore how these sites provoke a sense of presence despite their enigmatic nature.

Abu Mina, Ägypten: Das Pilgerzentrum

Abu Mena — 2017 — WHE521DEC8EE5

Abu Mina, a significant late antique pilgrimage center in Egypt's Libyan Desert, emerged around the martyrdom site of St. Menas during the early 4th century under Roman Emperor Diocletian. This site, distinct from a monastery, comprises large churches, bath buildings, and rest houses for pilgrims, encircled by private villas, forming an ecclesiastical complex. Excavations, which had been paused for years, resumed in April 2013 after permission was granted, allowing researchers to study this unique historical and architectural ensemble.

Abundance of the reef-building Petaloconchus varians (Gastropoda: Vermetidae) on intertidal rocky shores at Ilha Grande Bay, southeastern Brazil

Paraty and Ilha Grande – Culture and Biodiversity — 2017 — WHEA4D48B6B51

A recent study reveals that reefs formed by the vermetid gastropod Petaloconchus varians are becoming dominant features of intertidal rocky shores in Ilha Grande Bay, southeastern Brazil. Previously thought to have declined in the region mid-20th century, P. varians now constructs extensive reefs with densities ranging from 620 to 2,559 individuals per 100 cm² and weights up to 1,500 g per 100 cm². These reefs form wide belts (38 cm to 2 m) along the middle intertidal zone across sites with varying wave exposure and slopes (10° to 46°). The study suggests a potential resurgence of P. varians, contributing critical insights into local ecological dynamics within this UNESCO-listed site.

Abusir

Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur — 2017 — WHE2099E11596

A dedicated team of Czech archaeologists has uncovered a wealth of ancient remains at Abusir, a significant yet overshadowed site within the Memphite necropolis. This extensive operation, spanning fifty years, has revealed previously neglected artifacts and structures dating from the Old Kingdom to the Late Period. The findings highlight Abusir's importance as a realm associated with Osiris, the God of the dead, offering new insights into its role in ancient Egyptian history. The research approach combines thorough documentation with systematic excavation, providing a comprehensive understanding of this lesser-known but historically rich area.

Accelerating Computer-Based Recognition of Fynbos Leaves Using a Graphics Processing Unit

Cape Floral Region Protected Areas — 2017 — WHEDA3984AD2B

A significant advancement in plant species identification for the Cape Floristic Kingdom (CFK) has been achieved through GPU-accelerated technology. The Fynbos Leaf Optical Recognition Application (FLORA) now offers faster processing speeds without compromising accuracy, with the GPU-accelerated version saving up to 51.85 milliseconds on average for high-resolution images. This development addresses the challenges faced by volunteers and casual workers in managing this biodiverse region, which is threatened by wildfires and invasive species. The study compared three versions of FLORA—MATLAB prototype, C++ non-accelerated, and C++ GPU-accelerated—and demonstrated a notable speed-up of 8.7 times for the C++ version over the MATLAB prototype. This innovation paves the way for more efficient large-scale plant identification tasks, such as rebuilding feature descriptors in leaf databases.

Acceptance Process of Ecotourism in Amami Oshima

Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island — 2017 — WHE1F31781C27

Ecotourism in Amami Oshima, part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage candidate site Amami-Ryukyu, was initially driven by top-down administrative policies aimed at supporting local economic development and promoting biodiversity-based tourism. However, the acceptance process revealed a disconnect between official policy and grassroots practices: while local guides had been offering nature-focused tours since the 1990s, they did not actively identify their work as 'ecotourism,' viewing it simply as an extension of existing outdoor experiences. This study highlights how administrative recognition of ecotourism in Amami Oshima was more about policy alignment with national heritage goals than a genuine shift in local tourism practices.