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This paper explores the nature and dynamics of adaptation and resilience in the face of a diverse and varied environmental and ecological context using the case study of South Asia's Indus Civilization (ca. 3000-1300 BC). Most early complex societies developed in regions where the climatic parameters faced by ancient subsistence farmers were varied but rain falls primarily in one season. In contrast, the Indus Civilization developed in a specific environmental context that spanned a very distinct environmental threshold, where winter and summer rainfall systems overlap. There is now evidence to show that this region was directly subject to climate change during the period when the Indus Civilization was at its height (ca. 2500-1900 BC). The Indus Civilization, therefore, provides a unique opportunity to understand how an ancient society coped with diverse and varied ecologies and change in the fundamental environmental parameters. This paper integrates research carried out as part of the Land, Water and Settlement project in northwest India between 2007 and 2014. Although coming from only one of the regions occupied by Indus populations, these data necessitate the reconsideration of several prevailing views about the Indus Civilization as a whole and invigorate discussion about human-environment interactions and their relationship to processes of cultural transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The colonial ascidian Distaplia cylindrica occurs in soft substrata in Antarctica. Colonies grow to 7 m height and present considerable materials and energy for predators and surface area for fouling organisms. Nonetheless, in situ observations provided no evidence of predation nor biofouling. Mean energy content was high (14.8 kJ/g dry wt) and mostly attributable to protein (12.7 kJ/g d wt). The sympatric omnivorous sea star Odontaster validus rejected pieces of colonies in feeding assays while readily ingesting alginate food pellets. Deterrence was attributable to defensive chemistry as colonies are nutritionally attractive, lack physical protection, and O. validus display significant feeding deterrent responses to alginate food pellets containing tissue-level concentrations of organic extracts. In addition, high acidity measured on colony surfaces (pH = 1.5) and homogenized whole colony tissues (pH = 2.5) indicate surface-sequestration of inorganic acids. Agar food pellets prepared at tissue levels of acidity caused feeding deterrence in sea stars. Thus, both inorganic acids and secondary metabolites contribute to chemical defenses. Distaplia cylindrica also possesses potent antifoulant secondary metabolites. Tissue-level concentrations of hydrophilic and lipophilic extracts caused high levels of mortality in a sympatric pennate diatom. Chemical defenses may contribute to the abundance of D. cylindrica and thus play a role in energy transfer and community structure in the Antarctic marine benthos. We acknowledge the support of the Office of Polar Programs of the National Science Foundation.

The article discusses the dynamics of production and distribution of late prehistoric hand-made ceramics at the North West Frontier Province (NFWP) in Pakistan and Afghanistan. It discusses its simulation by the two distinctive cultural phases in the region, which were discovered by the Bannu Archeological Project. These two phases were Sheri Khan Tarakai and Tochi-Gomal in Bannu Basin and the Gomal Plain. Examples of the ceramics from the two phases are also presented.

The colonial ascidianDistaplia cylindricaoccurs both as scattered individual colonies or in “gardens” of colonies in fine-grained soft substrata below 20 m depths off Anvers Island along the Antarctic Peninsula. Individual colonies, shaped as tall rod-like cylinders and anchored in the sediments by a bulbous base, may measure up to 7 m in height.D.cylindricarepresent a considerable source of materials and energy for prospective predators, as well as potential surface area for fouling organisms. Nonetheless, qualitative in situ observations provided no evidence of predation by sympatric predators such as abundant sea stars, nor obvious biofouling of colony surfaces. Mean energy content of whole-colony tissue ofD.cylindricawas relatively high for an ascidian (14.7 kJ g-1 dry wt), with most of this energy attributable to protein (12.7 kJ g-1 dry wt). The sympatric omnivorous sea starOdontaster validusconsistently rejected pieces ofD.cylindricacolonies in laboratory feeding assays, while readily ingesting similarly sized alginate food pellets. Feeding deterrence was determined to be attributable to defensive chemistry, as colonies ofD.cylindricaare nutritionally attractive and lack physical protection (conspicuous skeletal elements or a tough outer tunic), andO.validusdisplay significant feeding-deterrent responses to alginate food pellets containing tissue-level concentrations of organic extracts. In addition, high acidity measured on outer colony surfaces (pH 1.5) as well as homogenized whole-colony tissues (pH 2.5) are indicative of surface sequestration of inorganic acids. Agar food pellets prepared at tissue levels of acidity resulted in significant feeding deterrence in sea stars. Thus, both inorganic acids and secondary metabolites contribute to chemical feeding defenses.D.cylindricaalso possesses potent antifoulant secondary metabolites. Tissue-level concentrations of hydrophilic and lipophilic extracts caused significant mortality in a sympatric pennate diatom. Chemical feeding deterrents and antifoulants are likely to contribute to the abundance ofD.cylindricaand, in turn, play a role in regulating energy transfer and community structure in benthic marine environments surrounding Antarctica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first 50 websites identified on searching the Internet for 'weight loss diets' were assessed systematically and their content compared with published clinical guidelines for management of obesity. The relevance and quality of the sites varied enormously. Only 3 confined themselves to sound dietary advice. Most promoted dietary supplements or other 'slimming aids', often of uncertain composition and based on dubious physiological principles. Potential hazards--for example, those of very low calorie diets--were rarely highlighted and certain regimens on offer were potentially dangerous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]