Search Results (8)

This article reexamines the gold necklace excavated from the Sui-dynasty tomb of Li Jingxun (李静训, 600–608 CE), shifting attention from stylistic attribution to ritual function and funerary context. While previous studies have emphasized Persian, Byzantine, or Indian influences, this study situates the necklace more plausibly within the Iranian–steppe cultural sphere and the Turkic–Sogdian exchange networks active along the Silk Roads in the late sixth and early seventh centuries. Through analysis of its segmented structure, polyhedral gold beads, pearl rondelle, nicolo intaglio clasp, and gemstone arrangement, the article identifies close technical and visual parallels in Central Asia and the wider Iranian world. The necklace is interpreted as an apotropaic object likely worn in life and placed in the tomb to extend its protective and guiding functions after death. Attention to bodily use, clasp orientation, and associated grave goods—especially a stemmed cup with Eurasian ritual associations—clarifies how the necklace operated within a Buddhist burial setting timed to Lichun 立春 (Beginning of Spring). Situating the object within the Li family’s Xianbei 鲜卑 background and documented connections with Sogdian communities, this study demonstrates how foreign ornaments were actively understood and integrated into Sui aristocratic funerary practice, rather than adopted as passive luxuries. Full article

Phytolith analysis was applied for the first time in Latvian archaeology to investigate plant use at the Abora I settlement, one of the key Late Neolithic sites in the Lubāns Wetland, eastern Latvia. Phytoliths were extracted from sediments, pottery sherds, grinding stones, and human teeth in order to assess evidence for cereal-type grasses and plant processing. A diverse range of phytolith morphotypes was identified, including rondel and bilobate forms commonly associated with grasses of the Triticeae. These morphotypes were most frequently recorded in association with grinding stones and food-related pottery. While previous isotopic and archaeological studies at Abora I indicate a subsistence strategy largely based on fishing, hunting, and gathering, the phytolith evidence points to localised small-scale processing of cereal-type grasses. Taken together, these results indicate that plant exploitation formed part of a mixed, multi-resource economy during the Late Neolithic at Abora I, although differentiation between wild and domesticated grasses remains limited due to taxonomic constraints of phytolith analysis. Full article

This paper represents the results of ten years of monitoring using satellite imagery and aerial reconnaissance, followed by in-depth analysis utilizing LiDAR data and geomagnetic prospection techniques of the first two Neolithic rondels detected in Croatia—Markušica Brošov salaš and Gorjani Topole. Through the exclusive use of satellite and aerial image analysis, we were able to accurately determine the general size, shape, and number of ditches present at the sites under investigation. The wealth of information obtained from these images was sufficient for us to confidently interpret these formations as Neolithic rondels—meeting all the criteria commonly used. The addition of LiDAR data and geomagnetic prospection further enhanced our understanding by revealing a range of additional features and peculiarities across both sites, including within all identified ditch systems. These advanced methods allowed us to uncover details that would otherwise remain invisible through surface observation alone. Our research demonstrates the remarkable power of publicly available satellite imagery as a primary tool for archeological site detection and preliminary interpretation. The results from Markušica and Gorjani emphasize the scientific necessity of combining complementary remote sensing and geophysical techniques to overcome individual methodological limitations, providing robust documentation and interpretation of prehistoric enclosures in highly transformed landscapes. This research contributes novel insights into Neolithic social landscapes, monumentality, and land use strategies in Croatia while offering a methodological model for archeological prospection applicable across Central and Southeastern Europe. Full article

Background: Respiratory support required by preterm infants involves contact between their immature skin and ventilation devices, which can lead to skin breakdown. Methods: A prospective observational study including newborns with a nasal injury related to respiratory support, born at gestational age < 33 weeks, from May 2020 to January 2022, in the neonatal intensive care unit of Strasbourg. Injuries were recorded using a validated scale at inclusion and 3, 7 and 28 days. Sequelae were evaluated at discharge and 4, 9 and 12 months post-menstrual age. Results: In total, 64/276 newborns (23%) had a nasal injury. Most of the injuries were stage 2 (34/64, 53%) and stage 1 (25/64, 39%). The interface most frequently associated with injury was continuous positive airway pressure (53/64, 83%). Favorable evolution was associated with the injury site (p < 0.01) and the type of respiratory support needed when collecting at the 28th day (p = 0.04). At discharge, 34/58 infants (59%) had sequelae. The presence of a scar was associated with the maximum injury severity (p < 0.001) and total duration of respiratory support (p = 0.02). At 12 months, 31/47 infants (66%) had esthetic sequelae. Conclusions: Nasal injuries related to respiratory support in preterm infants were frequent, and more than half of the injuries resulted in medium-term sequelae. Full article

Phytoliths play a crucial role in plant growth and development. This paper analyzes the characterization of the culm sheath phytoliths of Bambusa vulgaris f.vittata across different geographic environments. The extraction of phytoliths was performed using microwave digestion, and the morphology of the phytolith was observed microscopically. The culm sheaths of Bambusa vulgaris f.vittata from GXNN, XSBN, GZGD, FJFZ, and FAFU Bambusa vulgaris f.vittata were selected for the study. The results indicated that the phytolith content and concentration were ranked as FJFZ > XSBN > GXNN > FAFU > GZHN, and the phytolith content and concentration were geographically significantly different. Saddle, Rondel, Silica stoma, and Scrobiculate (>70%) were observed in culm sheaths developed in different geographic environments, and phytolith morphology assemblages are largely homogeneous by genetic conservatism, but the proportion of each morphology varies across geographic environments. The main distribution of phytolith particle size ranges from 0 to 100 μm, with the highest peak in the 10–20 μm interval, followed by a decrease, and an elevation of up to 100–200 μm, followed by a significant reduction. The small size of the phytolith morphology was influenced by climatic factors. Specifically, the length, width, and area of XSBN increased with higher precipitation levels. Similarly, both the length and width of GDGZ also increased with increased precipitation. For FJFZ, the length increased with riding temperatures, while its width increased with higher precipitation. Additionally, the width of GXNN expanded with increasing temperatures. The present study supplemented the phytoliths analysis of the culm sheaths of Bambusa vulgaris f.vittata, which provided reference value for further research on the ability of Bambusa vulgaris f.vittata in carbon sequestration and other aspects, and contributed essential data for the robust development of the bamboo industry. Moreover, bamboo plants represent a significant natural solution to climate change, offering ecological, economic, and social benefits. This further encourages the protection of natural bamboo forests, the expansion of artificial cultivation, and the vigorous promotion of the bamboo industry and bamboo products. By maximizing their critical roles in forest carbon sequestration and climate regulation, bamboo plants provide a viable solution for global climate governance. Full article

This study focused on the phytolith characteristics of leaves and culm sheaths from nine bamboo species across three genera (Bambusa Schreb., Gigantochloa Nees, and Dendrocalamus Kurz ex Munro) in the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden. By analyzing phytolith content, concentration, particle size distribution, morphometric parameters of elongated saddle-type phytoliths, and phytolith–assemblage composition, we aimed to elucidate the distribution patterns and morphological features of phytoliths in clumping bamboos, thereby providing morphological evidence for genus-level classification within the Bambusoideae. The results demonstrated the following. (1) Leaves exhibited significantly higher phytolith content and concentration than did culm sheaths across all genera, with Dendrocalamus being the sole exception, showing no significant intrageneric differences. (2) Distinct particle size distribution patterns were observed—leaves consistently peaked at 10–20 μm, whereas culm sheaths displayed triple peaks at 10–20 μm, 20–30 μm, and 900–1000 μm. (3) Morphometric analysis revealed that culm sheaths contained larger elongated saddle-type phytoliths (length, width, and area) compared to leaves across all genera. (4) Among the 37 identified phytolith morphotypes, culm sheaths exhibited greater diversity, with 35 types (dominated by rondel and elongate), while leaves contained 31 types primarily characterized by saddle and stomatal phytoliths, with elongated saddles being the most abundant. Collectively, our findings demonstrate significant morphological disparities between foliar and culm sheath phytoliths in sympodial bamboos (Bambusa), with culm sheath phytoliths exhibiting greater taxonomic potential for generic-level classification within the subfamily Bambusoideae. Full article

Phytoliths are widely used in plant taxonomy, paleoecology, soil silicon cycling, and agricultural archaeology. Bamboo has a strong capacity for silicon absorption, and there are some phytoliths in various organs. In this paper, the leaf organs (leaf blade, leaf sheath, culm sheath, and culm blade) of three kinds of bamboos [B. vulgaris (Bambusa vulgaris), B. tulda (Bambusa tulda), and B. dolichoclada (Bambusa dolichoclada)] were studied; the content, concentration, particle size distribution, and morphological characteristics of phytoliths in leaf organs were analyzed to explore the differences of phytoliths in different functional leaf organs of bamboo. The results showed that the content and concentration of phytoliths were the highest in the leaf sheath and the lowest in the culm sheath, and the content and concentration of phytoliths in the leaf blade and culm blade were between them. For different bamboo species, the order of phytolith content was B. dolichoclada > B. tulda > B. vulgaris, while the phytolith concentration was the opposite. The highest values of phytolith particle size peak distribution in the leaf sheaths were the opposite to those in leaf blades, culm sheaths, and culm blades. The particle sizes of phytoliths of the three bamboo species showed a similar trend. Only a few larger phytolith particle sizes were distributed in leaf blades and culm blades when they were larger than 400 μm. A total of 25 types of phytoliths were identified, and the leaf sheaths were mainly elongate and rondel phytoliths. The leaf blades are mainly saddle and rondel phytoliths with a unique phytolith morphology. Culm sheaths are dominated by rondel, scrobiculate, and acute phytoliths. Culm blades are similar to leaf blades but have a characteristic phytolith morphology. In addition, saddle phytoliths were the most abundant in the leaf blade and the least in the culm sheath, while rondel phytoliths were the most abundant in the culm blade and the least in the leaf sheath. The parameters of long-saddle phytoliths are different in different bamboo species and leaf organs. According to the long saddle phytolith parameters of different bamboo species, different bamboo species can be quantitatively distinguished to a certain extent. Therefore, this study not only helps to understand the differences in phytoliths in different bamboo species and leaf organs, but also provides a theoretical basis for bamboo species classification. Full article

Bamboo is an efficient silicon accumulator with diverse phytolith morphotypes and composition. The bamboo culm sheath, traditionally considered as a modified leaf, plays a key role in bamboo taxonomy and provides significant mechanical and physiological support for shoot development, but its silicon deposition and phytolith morphological variation remain underexplored. We investigated silicon variation and phytolith morphology in D. brandisii culm sheaths at different growth stages. The results showed that silicon deposition in D. brandisii culm sheaths at different growth stages was comparable to foliage leaves but significantly greater than branches as in previous research. Phytolith concentration in the culm sheath blades of D. brandisii was higher, associated with their greater silicon content than the sheath bodies. Silicon precipitated and phytoliths were produced as the culm sheath matured. Silicon and phytolith contents were significantly greater in upper culm sheath bodies. D. brandisii culm sheaths were characterized by a high proportion of rondel phytoliths, whereas bilobate and bulliform flabellate phytoliths were not observed. Circular and saddle phytoliths accounted for a very low proportion. Stomata phytoliths were abundant in culm sheaths at the shooting stage and increased with sheath maturation, which supported the transpiration, respiration and photosynthesis in culm sheaths of the shoots. Elongate and acute phytoliths were extremely abundant in D. brandisii culm sheaths and increased with sheath maturation, which enhanced the mechanical and protective role of the culm. The phytolith morphotypes in D. brandisii culm sheaths did not demonstrate a specific trend with sheath position. Saddle phytoliths showed insignificant variation in D. brandisii culm sheaths. Full article