Nuclear astrophysics with radioactive ions at FAIR

The nucleosynthesis of elements beyond iron is dominated by neutron captures in the s and r processes. However, 32 stable, proton-rich isotopes cannot be formed during those processes, because they are shielded from the s-process flow and r-process, β-decay chains. These nuclei are attributed to the p and rp process. For all those processes, current research in nuclear astrophysics addresses the need for more precise reaction data involving radioactive isotopes. Depending on the particular reaction, direct or inverse kinematics, forward or time-reversed direction are investigated to determine or at least to constrain the desired reaction cross sections. The Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR) will offer unique, unprecedented opportunities to investigate many of the important reactions. The high yield of radioactive isotopes, even far away from the valley of stability, allows the investigation of isotopes involved in processes as exotic as the r or rp processes

The sharing of lithic technological knowledge

This book was funded by the EU 7th Framework Programme (7FP), TropicMicroArch 623293 Project (http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/187754_en.html). The book will be Open Access, thanks to FP7 post-grant Open Access (https://www.openaire.eu/postgrantoapilot)

Cultural Transmission on the Taskscape: Exploring the Effects of Taskscape Visibility on Cultural Diversity

Culturally transmitted behavior can be structured in its performance both geographically and temporally, in terms of where and when implements are made and used on the landscape (what Ingold calls "the taskscape"). Yet cultural transmission theory has not yet explored the consequences of behaviors transmitted differently due to their enactment at different taskscape locations, what Tostevin calls "taskscape visibility." Here, we use computer simulations to explore how taskscape visibility and forager mobility affect the diversity of two selectively neutral culturally transmitted traits within a single population of social learners. The trait that can be transmitted from residential bases only (lower taskscape visibility) shows greater diversity than the trait that can be transmitted from residential bases and logistical camps (higher taskscape visibility). In addition, increased logistical mobility has a positive effect on the diversity of the trait with the lower taskscape visibility while it generally shows little to no effect on the diversity of the trait with higher taskscape visibility. Without an appreciation for the ways in which taskscape visibility and mobility can structure cultural transmission in space and through time, the difference in the observed equilibrium diversity levels of the two traits might be incorrectly interpreted as resulting from qualitatively different forms of biased cultural transmission. The results of our simulation experiment suggest that researchers may need to take the taskscape visibility into account when inferring cultural transmission from archaeological data

Results of regressing mean number of teachers per group on <i>r</i>_<i>e</i> for <i>d</i> = 0.75.

<p>Results of regressing mean number of teachers per group on <i>r</i>_<i>e</i> for <i>d</i> = 0.75.</p

Results of regressing <i>t</i>_<i>F</i> on <i>r</i>_<i>e</i> for <i>d</i> = 0.75.

<p>Results of regressing <i>t</i>_<i>F</i> on <i>r</i>_<i>e</i> for <i>d</i> = 0.75.</p

Results of regressing <i>t</i>_<i>F</i> on <i>r</i>_<i>e</i> for <i>d</i> = 1.

<p>Results of regressing <i>t</i>_<i>F</i> on <i>r</i>_<i>e</i> for <i>d</i> = 1.</p

Results of regressing mean CV of times taught by each of the other 24 groups on <i>r</i>_<i>e</i> for <i>d</i> = 0.75.

<p>Results of regressing mean CV of times taught by each of the other 24 groups on <i>r</i>_<i>e</i> for <i>d</i> = 0.75.</p

Parameter values used in the experimental design.

<p>Parameter values used in the experimental design.</p

A simple model of central-place foraging and cultural transmission of two traits that differ in taskscape visibility.

<p>Each foraging group conducts logistical forays within distance <i>r</i>_<i>e</i> of its residential base (a) until the foraging area is depleted of resources. Cultural transmission occurs between groups that find themselves within distance <i>r</i>_<i>i</i> of one another during the normal course of foraging. These encounters can occur between two residential bases (b), between two logistical camps (c), or between a residential base and a logistical camp (d). Whether the teacher is observed at its residential base or logistical camp determines which trait(s) the learner is able to acquire via oblique cultural transmission.</p