Best practice methodology for 14C calibration of marine and mixed terrestrial/marine samples

There is a lack of detailed guidance in the published literature on how to calibrate 14C measurements made on marine or mixed marine/terrestrial (primarily human remains) samples. We describe what we consider to be the best approach towards achieving the most accurate calibrated age ranges, using the most appropriate ΔR and percentage marine diet estimates, and associated, realistic error terms on these values. However, this approach will increase the calibrated age range(s) by fully accounting for the variability in both the model and the material. While the discussion is based on examples from the UK and Iceland, the same fundamental arguments can be applied in any geographic location largely devoid of C4 plants as the high δ13C values from such plants can make identification of marine intake difficult to determine

Which book? A comparative review of 25 introductory epidemiology textbooks.

We are witnessing an epidemic of epidemiology. One outcome is a greater demand for books to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student body. A widening range of professionals and researchers are discovering the power and fascination of the subject, and their heterogeneity of specialist knowledge and interest poses special challenge. Revisions of classics and many new texts mean difficult choices for teachers and students. The rise of epidemiology will spur new writings so we can anticipate even more. This review is primarily to help students and teachers to find the first textbook for the keen postgraduate or undergraduate. Practitioners may welcome this as a way of tracking down the book which covers epidemiology in the style they prefer. Aspiring text book writers might see gaps for future work. I have concentrated on books published since 1980 and in choosing which books to review I was guided by these questions: Might students chose this book as their first textbook? Might teachers recommend this book for general, introductory reading? Is the book attractive to students and teachers on the basis of reputation? Is it already in use as a general text? If yes, my tendency was to review it. Specialist, advanced, and reference works were excluded, especially if the author(s) did not consider the book as introductory. Some books consisting of exercises and meant for self study have been included if they tried to cover the theory and principles too. I hope to have included the main contenders for the first textbook role in English-based courses in epidemiology in the USA and Europe. (Inevitably, some will have been omitted intentionally or unintentionally.

Manifesto for new directions in developmental science

Although developmental science has always been evolving, these times of fast-paced and profound social and scientific changes easily lead to disorienting fragmentation rather than coherent scientific advances. What directions should developmental science pursue to meaningfully address real-world problems that impact human development throughout the lifespan? What conceptual or policy shifts are needed to steer the field in these directions? The present manifesto is proposed by a group of scholars from various disciplines and perspectives within developmental science to spark conversations and action plans in response to these questions. After highlighting four critical content domains that merit concentrated and often urgent research efforts, two issues regarding \u201chow\u201d we do developmental science and \u201cwhat for\u201d are outlined. This manifesto concludes with five proposals, calling for integrative, inclusive, transdisciplinary, transparent, and actionable developmental science. Specific recommendations, prospects, pitfalls, and challenges to reach this goal are discussed

TRIUMF-ISAC Gamma-Ray Escape-Suppressed Spectrometer (TIGRESS): a versatile tool for radioactive beam physics

International audienceTIGRESS is a new generation gamma-ray spectrometer designed for use with radioactive beams from ISAC. This paper gives an overwiew of the project and presents results from the first radioactive beam experiment with TIGRESS, the Coulomb excitation of 20,21Na