320 research outputs found
Developmental simulation of the adult cranial morphology of australopithecus sediba.
The type specimen of Australopithecus sediba (MH1) is a late juvenile, prompting some commentators to suggest that had it lived to adulthood its morphology would have changed sufficiently so as to render hypotheses regarding its phylogenetic relations suspect. Considering the potentially critical position of this species with regard to the origins of the genus Homo, a deeper understanding of this change is especially vital. As an empirical response to this critique, a developmental simulation of the MH1 cranium was carried out using geometric morphometric techniques to extrapolate adult morphology using extant male and female chimpanzees, gorillas and humans by modelling remaining development. Multivariate comparisons of the simulated adult A. sediba crania with other early hominin taxa indicate that subsequent cranial development primarily reflects development of secondary sexual characteristics and would not likely be substantial enough to alter suggested morphological affinities of A. sediba. This study also illustrates the importance of separating developmental vectors by sex when estimating ontogenetic change. Results of the ontogenetic projections concur with those from mandible morphology, and jointly affirm the taxonomic validity of A. sediba.Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and National Geographic Society.NCS201
Identification of fossilized eggshells from the Taung hominin locality, Taung, Northwest Province, South Africa
While an avian component within faunal remains from the Dart Deposits, Taung, South Africa, has been discussed for nearly a century, the taxa present have not been identified to species. Here we conduct a systematic analysis of fossilized eggshell fragments in order to document the presence of specific avian taxa at Taung during the Plio-Pleistocene. A comparative analysis of surface morphology and surface curvatures of fragmentary eggshells eliminated all but three extant avian taxa as potential sources for the fossilized fragments: a large eagle, an eagle owl (Bubo sp.) or a guinea fowl (subfamily Numidinae). The likelihood for each of these three taxa as a source is discussed by evaluating surface curvature matches between the fossilized fragments and extant eggshells. The two most complete fossil eggshells recovered from Taung have distinct carbon isotope signatures indicating that they belong to two different, granivorous and carnivorous, guilds. While these identifications contribute to the debate over whether or not there was an avian agent of collection for the Taung fossils, including perhaps the Taung Child, by establishing direct evidence for a raptor component in the Taung faunal assemblage, they cannot address specific predator-prey behaviour
3D techniques and fossil identification: An elephant shrew hemi-mandible from the Malapa site.
Conventional methods for extracting fossilised bones from calcified clastic sediments, using air drills or chemical preparations, can damage specimens to the point of rendering them unidentifiable. As an alternative, we tested an in silico approach that extended preparation and identification possibilities beyond those realisable using physical methods, ultimately proving to be crucial in identifying a fragile fossil. Image data from a matrix-encased hemi-mandible of a micromammal that was collected from the Plio-Pleistocene site of Malapa, Cradle of Humankind, South Africa, were acquired using microtomography. From the resultant images, a 3D rendering of the fossil was digitally segmented. Diagnostic morphologies were evaluated on the rendering for comparison with extant comparative specimens, positively identifying the specimen as an elephant shrew (Elephantulus sp.). This specimen is the first positively identified micromammal in the Malapa faunal assemblage. Cutting-edge in silico preparation technology provides a novel tool for identifying fossils without endangering bone integrity, as is commonly risked with physical preparation.NCS2016
Extreme 54Cr-rich nano-oxides in the CI chondrite Orgueil -Implication for a late supernova injection into the Solar System
Systematic variations in 54Cr/52Cr ratios between meteorite classes (Qin et
al., 2010a; Trinquier et al., 2007) point to large scale spatial and/or
temporal isotopic heterogeneity in the solar protoplanetary disk. Two
explanations for these variations have been proposed, with important
implications for the formation of the Solar System: heterogeneous seeding of
the disk with dust from a supernova, or energetic-particle irradiation of dust
in the disk. The key to differentiating between them is identification of the
carrier(s) of the 54Cr anomalies. Here we report the results of our recent
NanoSIMS imaging search for the 54Cr-rich carrier in the acid-resistant residue
of the CI chondrite Orgueil. A total of 10 regions with extreme 54Cr-excesses
({\delta}54Cr values up to 1500 %) were found. Comparison between SEM, Auger
and NanoSIMS analyses showed that these 54Cr-rich regions are associated with
one or more sub-micron (typically less than 200 nm) Cr oxide grains, most
likely spinels. Because the size of the NanoSIMS primary O- ion beam is larger
than the typical grain size on the sample mount, the measured anomalies are
lower limits, and we estimate that the actual 54Cr enrichments in three grains
are at least 11 times Solar and in one of these may be as high as 50 times
Solar. Such compositions strongly favor a Type II supernova origin. The
variability in bulk 54Cr/52Cr between meteorite classes argues for a
heterogeneous distribution of the 54Cr carrier in the solar protoplanetary disk
following a late supernova injection event. Such a scenario is also supported
by the O-isotopic distribution and variable abundances in different planetary
materials of other presolar oxide and silicate grains from supernovae
Hybrid stars with the color dielectric and the MIT bag models
We study the hadron-quark phase transition in the interior of neutron stars
(NS). For the hadronic sector, we use a microscopic equation of state (EOS)
involving nucleons and hyperons derived within the Brueckner-Bethe-Goldstone
many-body theory, with realistic two-body and three-body forces. For the
description of quark matter, we employ both the MIT bag model with a density
dependent bag constant, and the color dielectric model. We calculate the
structure of NS interiors with the EOS comprising both phases, and we find that
the NS maximum masses are never larger than 1.7 solar masses, no matter the
model chosen for describing the pure quark phase.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Low-mass pre--main-sequence stars in the Magellanic Clouds
[Abridged] The stellar Initial Mass Function (IMF) suggests that sub-solar
stars form in very large numbers. Most attractive places for catching low-mass
star formation in the act are young stellar clusters and associations, still
(half-)embedded in star-forming regions. The low-mass stars in such regions are
still in their pre--main-sequence (PMS) evolutionary phase. The peculiar nature
of these objects and the contamination of their samples by the evolved
populations of the Galactic disk impose demanding observational techniques for
the detection of complete numbers of PMS stars in the Milky Way. The Magellanic
Clouds, the companion galaxies to our own, demonstrate an exceptional star
formation activity. The low extinction and stellar field contamination in
star-forming regions of these galaxies imply a more efficient detection of
low-mass PMS stars than in the Milky Way, but their distance from us make the
application of special detection techniques unfeasible. Nonetheless, imaging
with the Hubble Space Telescope yield the discovery of solar and sub-solar PMS
stars in the Magellanic Clouds from photometry alone. Unprecedented numbers of
such objects are identified as the low-mass stellar content of their
star-forming regions, changing completely our picture of young stellar systems
outside the Milky Way, and extending the extragalactic stellar IMF below the
persisting threshold of a few solar masses. This review presents the recent
developments in the investigation of PMS stars in the Magellanic Clouds, with
special focus on the limitations by single-epoch photometry that can only be
circumvented by the detailed study of the observable behavior of these stars in
the color-magnitude diagram. The achieved characterization of the low-mass PMS
stars in the Magellanic Clouds allowed thus a more comprehensive understanding
of the star formation process in our neighboring galaxies.Comment: Review paper, 26 pages (in LaTeX style for Springer journals), 4
figures. Accepted for publication in Space Science Review
Dragon-kings: mechanisms, statistical methods and empirical evidence
This introductory article presents the special Discussion and Debate volume
"From black swans to dragon-kings, is there life beyond power laws?" published
in Eur. Phys. J. Special Topics in May 2012. We summarize and put in
perspective the contributions into three main themes: (i) mechanisms for
dragon-kings, (ii) detection of dragon-kings and statistical tests and (iii)
empirical evidence in a large variety of natural and social systems. Overall,
we are pleased to witness significant advances both in the introduction and
clarification of underlying mechanisms and in the development of novel
efficient tests that demonstrate clear evidence for the presence of
dragon-kings in many systems. However, this positive view should be balanced by
the fact that this remains a very delicate and difficult field, if only due to
the scarcity of data as well as the extraordinary important implications with
respect to hazard assessment, risk control and predictability.Comment: 20 page
Spallation reactions. A successful interplay between modeling and applications
The spallation reactions are a type of nuclear reaction which occur in space
by interaction of the cosmic rays with interstellar bodies. The first
spallation reactions induced with an accelerator took place in 1947 at the
Berkeley cyclotron (University of California) with 200 MeV deuterons and 400
MeV alpha beams. They highlighted the multiple emission of neutrons and charged
particles and the production of a large number of residual nuclei far different
from the target nuclei. The same year R. Serber describes the reaction in two
steps: a first and fast one with high-energy particle emission leading to an
excited remnant nucleus, and a second one, much slower, the de-excitation of
the remnant. In 2010 IAEA organized a worskhop to present the results of the
most widely used spallation codes within a benchmark of spallation models. If
one of the goals was to understand the deficiencies, if any, in each code, one
remarkable outcome points out the overall high-quality level of some models and
so the great improvements achieved since Serber. Particle transport codes can
then rely on such spallation models to treat the reactions between a light
particle and an atomic nucleus with energies spanning from few tens of MeV up
to some GeV. An overview of the spallation reactions modeling is presented in
order to point out the incomparable contribution of models based on basic
physics to numerous applications where such reactions occur. Validations or
benchmarks, which are necessary steps in the improvement process, are also
addressed, as well as the potential future domains of development. Spallation
reactions modeling is a representative case of continuous studies aiming at
understanding a reaction mechanism and which end up in a powerful tool.Comment: 59 pages, 54 figures, Revie
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Electron cooling of 8-GeV antiprotons at Fermilab's Recycler: Results and operational implications
Electron cooling of 8 GeV antiprotons at Fermilab's Recycler storage ring is now routinely used in the collider operation. It requires a 0.1-0.5 A, 4.3 MeV dc electron beam and is designed to increase the longitudinal phase-space density of the circulating antiproton beam. This paper briefly describes the characteristics of the electron beam that were achieved to successfully cool antiprotons. Then, results from various cooling force measurements along with comparison to a nonmagnetized model are presented. Finally, operational aspects of the implementation of electron cooling at the Recycler are discussed, such as adjustments to the cooling rate and the influence of the electron beam on the antiproton beam lifetime
Procedural and declarative knowledge: an evolutionary perspective
It appears that there are resemblances in the organization of
memory and the visual system, although the functions of these faculties
differ considerably. In this article, the principles behind this organization
are discussed. One important principle regards the distinction between
declarative and procedural knowledge, between knowing that and knowing
how. Declarative knowledge is considered here not as an alternative kind of
knowledge, as is usually the case in theories of memory, but as part of
procedural knowledge. In our view this leads to another approach with
respect to the distinction. Declarative knowledge has occupied more
attention in (cognitive) psychological research than can be justified on the
basis of the importance of procedural knowledge for behavior. We also
discuss the question whether there are other brain faculties that reflect the
same organizational characteristics. We conclude with some speculations
about the consequent role of consciousness in such a tentative model
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