Locality of temperature in spin chains

In traditional thermodynamics, temperature is a local quantity: a subsystem of a large thermal system is in a thermal state at the same temperature as the original system. For strongly interacting systems, however, the locality of temperature breaks down. We study the possibility of associating an effective thermal state to subsystems of infinite chains of interacting spin particles of arbitrary finite dimension. We study the effect of correlations and criticality in the definition of this effective thermal state and discuss the possible implications for the classical simulation of thermal quantum systems.Comment: 18+9 pages, 12 figure

Using X-ray Microtomography to Discriminate Between Dogs’ and Wolves’ Lower Carnassial Tooth

Dogs and wolves exhibit similar dental features since they belong to the same species. Here we explore a new method to discriminate between wild and domestic forms, based on the analysis of the internal structure of the teeth. We analysed the lower first molar of 21 dogs and 17 wolves. X-ray microtomographic analyses were performed and tooth tissue proportions were assessed by the proportion of the dentine volume. As a result, dog molars show a lower percentage of dentine than those of wolves. This analysis offers promising applications in the study of dog domestication origins

Bears and Humans, a Neanderthal tale. Reconstructing uncommon behaviors from zooarchaeological evidence in Southern Europe

Cave bear (Ursus spelaeus), brown bear (Ursus arctos), and Neanderthals were potential competitors for environmental resources (shelters and food) in Europe. In order to reinforce this view and contribute to the ongoing debate on late Neanderthal behavior, we present evidence from zooarchaeological and taphonomic analyses of bear bone remains discovered at Rio Secco Cave and Fumane Cave in northeast Italy, an extended geographic area north of the Adriatic Sea. The remains from both caves come from layers dated to 49-42 ky cal. BP, and suggest close interactions between humans and bears, with data not only limited to the association of Mousterian lithic artifacts with numerous bear remains, but also the detection of clearly preserved traces of human modification such as cut and percussion marks, which enable a reconstruction of the main steps of fur recovery and the butchering process. Examples of Neanderthal bear exploitation are extremely sporadic in Europe, and Grotta Rio Secco and Grotta Fumane can be considered rare cases of remain accumulations generated by the human predation of bears of varied age classes during or near the end of hibernation. All of this evidence suggests that bears had a strategic role in the nomadic economy of Neanderthal hunting groups

Rhinocerotidae (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) from the middle Pleistocene levels of Grotta Romanelli (Lecce, southern Italy)

The rhinoceros remains collected during the past century in the lower levels XII (= K) and XI (= I) of the famous Pleistocene locality of Grotta Romanelli (Lecce, southern Italy) are described and compared in detail for the first time. Some remains are referred to Stephanorhinus sp. and others are assigned here to the late early-middle Pleistocene European species Stephanorhinus hundsheimensis based on several morphological characters. Based on its olivine-bearing texture, the volcanoclastic ash sampled from some rhinoceros bones can be referred to the first phase of the Monte Vulture activity (around 630 ka). The results of the stable isotope analyses suggest that the climate in the lowest levels of Grotta Romanelli could have been more arid than it was at the time of the upper level IX, which is generally referred to the late Pleistocene. In addition, both recent day δ18Opptvalues and MAT are very similar to values calculated for levels X and XII, suggesting that the climate at those times may have been close to the Present one, whereas climate in level IX may have been somewhat cooler. The presence of Stephanorhinus hundsheimensis suggests a middle Pleistocene age for the lower levels of Grotta Romanelli, in agreement with the results obtained from the volcanoclastic material

Una sepoltura di cane di VIII sec. a.C. da Piazza Castello a Padova

ItDurante i lavori per la ristrutturazione della Casa del Clero a Padova, è stato condotto uno scavo archeologico che ha consentito di indagare un settore di abitato in uso senza soluzione di continuità dagli inizi dell'VIII sec. a.C. fino all'epoca romana, con tracce di preesistenze riferibili all'età del Bronzo recente-finale. All'interno di una buca (US 1350) relativa alla fondazione di una struttura abitativa della seconda metà dell'VIII sec. a.C., localizzata nell'area denominata "C", è stato rinvenuto lo scheletro di un cane (US 1390) adulto di medie - grandi dimensioni. Lo scheletro è incompleto, gli elementi recuperati in parziale connessione anatomica si riferiscono a frammenti di cranio, di mandibola e parte della colonna vertebrale, mancante delle vertebre sacrali e caudali. L'unico elemento appendicolare presente è un'ulna prossimale. Non sono state riscontrate tracce di uccisione e di macellazione. Nell'antichità il cane ha avuto sempre un ruolo importante, sia legato a riti di purificazione delle donne che hanno abortito, sia nel culto dei morti come guida o come compagno dei morti prematuri, o come offerta in sacrifici. La sepoltura di cane di Piazza Castello a Padova rientra in un'altra tipologia di deposizioni rituali con preciso valore simbolico, con l'animale destinato alla guardia e alla protezione della casa.EnArchaeological excavations were carried out in 2004 during the restoration of the Clergy House in Padua, Piazza Castello 18, allowing us to investigate an area of the ancient town that was continuously occupied from the early eighth century BC to the Roman period and that retained traces of pre-existing relating to the Recent and Final Bronze Ages. Inside a foundation hole (SU 1350) relating to a house dated to the second half of the 8th century BC and located in the area "C", a skeleton (SU 1390) belonging to a medium – large adult dog was found. The skeleton is incomplete, as only fragments of the skull, the mandibles and part of vertebrae – sacral and caudal vertebrae are still missing – were recovered partially articulated. Among the post-cranial bones, only the proximal end of ulna was present. No traces of killing or butchery marks have been noted. The dog had an important role in ancient times, in various types of sacrifice and in rites of purification of women who had abortions, or in burials as a companion for a premature dead. The dog burial from Piazza Castello in Padua is part of another type of ritual depositions that had a particular symbolic role linked to his use as guard animal

A REAPPRAISAL OF LOWER TO MIDDLE PALAEOLITHIC BONE RETOUCHERS FROM SOUTHEASTERN FRANCE (MIS 11 TO 3)

International audienceIn southeastern France, many Final Acheulean/Early Middle Palaeolithic and Middle Palaeolithic assemblages have yielded bone retouchers. The oldest are dated to the Middle Pleistocene: from MIS 11 at Terra Amata; MIS 9 at Orgnac 3; and MIS 6-7 at Payre F, Sainte-Anne I and Le Lazaret. However, this early evidence of bone tool use only concerns a few dozen pieces among thousands of faunal and lithic remains. These re-touchers indicate behavioural changes from MIS 11-9 onwards in southeastern France, associated with a mosaic of technological and subsistence changes that became more common during the Middle Palaeolithic. The frequency of these bone artefacts increases during MIS 7, becoming much more numerous after MIS 5, sometimes totaling more than a hundred items at one site, such as Saint-Marcel Cave. Bone retoucher frequency is still highly variable throughout the Middle Palaeolithic and seems to be determined by the type of occupation and activities rather than the associated lithic technologies. This broad, regional comparative analysis contributes to a better understanding of the technical behaviour developed by Neanderthals, as well as their Middle Pleistocene ancestors, and their ability to recover and use bones

Hommes et volcans au Pleistocene moyen dans le bassin de Venosa (Basilicata, Italia)

pdf disponible en tant que "tiré à part" électronique pour un usage scientifique privéOur knowledge concerning the most ancient phases of the Southern Italy Early Paleolithic has been greatly increased in the last years through the systematic excavations and studies of the early Middle Pleistocene sites of Notarchirico and Loreto (Venosa, Basilicata, Italy). One of the main conclusions obtained by the lithostratigraphical and tephrostratigraphical identifications has been that the sedimentary events identified in the site of Notarchirico took part in a relatively short period, largely and continuously influenced by the volcanic activity of Monte Vulture, between 740 and 600 ky. The most important palaeoethnological consequence which can be deduced by this conclusion is that the variability observed in the composition and structure of the lithic assemblages from different levels cannot be explained by a phyletic approach but do rather reflect some kind of rapid adaptive answers to moderate climatic fluctuations combined with the locally more significant consequences of the volcanic activity.L'étude des sites du Paléolithique ancien du bassin de Venosa (Notarchirico, Loreto) dans leur cadre litho-téphrostratigraphique montre que la sédimentation dans les sites est intervenue durant une période relativement courte, sous l'influence permanente de l'activité volcanique. La conclusion palethnographique immédiate est que la variabilité des outillages lithiques observée entre les différents niveaux archéologiques peut sans doute être en partie interprêtée comme une expression adaptative aux stress locaux induits par le volcanisme

Deliverable 2.3-Research needs in terms of statistical methodologies and new data

The MAKSWELL project was set up to help strengthening the use of evidence and information on well-being and sustainability for policy-making in the EU, as also the political attention to well-being and sustainability indicators has been increasing in recent years. Traditionally sample surveys are the data source used for measurement frameworks for well-being and sustainability. Over the last decades more and more new, alternative data sources become available. Examples are administrative data like tax registers, or other large data sets - so called big data - that are generated as a by-product of processes not directly related to statistical production purposes. In Deliverables 2.1, 2.2 as well as 3.1, 4.1 and 4.3 it is discussed in detail how these new data sources can be used in the production of official statistics and measurement frameworks for well-being and sustainability indicators. This Deliverable extends on the experiences obtained in these preceding deliverables by pointing out the needs for new data sources and methods in this context

The earliest evidence for mechanically delivered projectile weapons in Europe

Microscopic analysis of backed lithic pieces from the Uluzzian technocomplex (45\u201340 thousand yr ago) at Grotta del Cavallo (southern Italy) reveals their use as mechanically delivered projectile weapons, attributed to anatomically modern humans. Use-wear and residue analyses indicate that the lithics were hunting armatures hafted with complex adhesives, while experimental and ethnographic comparisons support their use as projectiles. The use of projectiles conferred a hunting strategy with a higher impact energy and a potential subsistence advantage over other populations and specie

Reassessing the faunal assemblages of the late pleistocene stratified karst filling from avetrana (Apulia, Southern Italy): The BED 8, palaeoenvironment and biochronology

The late Quaternary vertebrate deposit of the stratified karst filling from Avetrana (Apulia, Italy) was the subject of an intensive excavation campaign in 2003, followed by numerous subsequent investigations and collections of fossil remains. In this work, the biochronological implications and the palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the area in the Late Pleistocene are updat-ed and improved based on the more recent observations (2012-2013). In particular, the faunal assemblage found in the uppermost stratum (bed 8) of the fossiliferous deposit is analysed where the proportion of wolf remains increases sharply against the underly-ing layers. A synthesis and a recapitulation of the vertebrate assemblages recovered in the entire stratified karst filling are also given.New observations on the preservation of the bone remains and population analyses of representative mammal species (Canis lupus, Bos primigenius, Cervus elaphus, Dama dama and Sus scrofa) show that bed 8 displays features indicating its origination in sedimentary, climatic and environmental conditions quite different from those of underlying beds. Up to bed 7, the stratified karst filling and its faunal assemblages were generated by a succession of catastrophic mass mortality events in a very short time alter-nated with moments of quiet deposition, during the early Late Pleistocene (MIS 5e). Instead, bed 8 deposited over a longer timespan, probably to be placed between the beginning of last glacial period and early MIS 3, when a puddle of water or a pond was likely at the top of the residual cavity filling.Lithic artefacts recovered in bed 8 and in bed 6 only testifies the attendance of Neanderthal humans in the surrounding of Avetra-na