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4 - Slightly Hazy
from Part I - Transparency in Health and Health Care: Thematic Issues
By Oliver J. Kim
Edited by Holly Fernandez Lynch, I. Glenn Cohen, Carmel Shachar, Barbara J. Evans
Book: Transparency in Health and Health Care in the United States
Print publication: 06 June 2019, pp 58-68
Dimensions of internal migration and their relationship to blood pressure in South Africa
Chantel F. Pheiffer, Stephen T. McGarvey, Carren Ginsburg, Mark Collinson, F. Xavier Gómez-Olivé, Stephen Tollman, Michael J. White
Journal: Journal of Biosocial Science , First View
Hypertension prevalence is on the rise in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like South Africa, and migration and its concomitant urbanization are often considered to be associated with this rise. However, relatively little is known about the relationship between blood pressure (BP) and internal migration – a highly prevalent population process in LMICs. This study employed data for a group of 194 adult men and women from an original pilot dataset drawn from the Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance System in north-east South Africa conducted in 2012. Migrants in the sample were identified, tracked and interviewed. The relationship between BP and migration distance and the number of months an individual spent away from his/her home village was estimated using robust OLS regression, controlling for a series of socioeconomic, health and behavioural characteristics. It was found that migrants who moved a longer distance and for longer durations had significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures compared with shorter-term migrants and those who remained nearby or in their home village. These associations remained robust and statistically significant when adjusting for measures of socioeconomic conditions, as well as body mass index and the number of meals consumed per day. Migration, both in terms of distance and time away, explained significant variation in the blood pressure of migrants in this typical South African context. The findings suggest the need for further studies of the nutritional and psycho-social factors associated with geographic mobility that may be important to understand rising hypertension levels in LMICs.
Glycaemic regulation, appetite and ex vivo oxidative stress in young adults following consumption of high-carbohydrate cereal bars fortified with polyphenol-rich berries
Tracey J. Smith, James Philip Karl, Marques A. Wilson, Claire C. Whitney, Ann Barrett, Nicole Favreau Farhadi, Chung-Yen Oliver Chen, Scott J. Montain
Journal: British Journal of Nutrition / Volume 121 / Issue 9 / 14 May 2019
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 May 2019, pp. 1026-1038
Print publication: 14 May 2019
Consumption of certain berries appears to slow postprandial glucose absorption, attributable to polyphenols, which may benefit exercise and cognition, reduce appetite and/or oxidative stress. This randomised, crossover, placebo-controlled study determined whether polyphenol-rich fruits added to carbohydrate-based foods produce a dose-dependent moderation of postprandial glycaemic, glucoregulatory hormone, appetite and ex vivo oxidative stress responses. Twenty participants (eighteen males/two females; 24 (sd 5) years; BMI: 27 (sd 3) kg/m2) consumed one of five cereal bars (approximately 88 % carbohydrate) containing no fruit ingredients (reference), freeze-dried black raspberries (10 or 20 % total weight; LOW-Rasp and HIGH-Rasp, respectively) and cranberry extract (0·5 or 1 % total weight; LOW-Cran and HIGH-Cran), on trials separated by ≥5 d. Postprandial peak/nadir from baseline (Δmax) and incremental postprandial AUC over 60 and 180 min for glucose and other biochemistries were measured to examine the dose-dependent effects. Glucose AUC0–180 min trended towards being higher (43 %) after HIGH-Rasp v. LOW-Rasp (P=0·06), with no glucose differences between the raspberry and reference bars. Relative to reference, HIGH-Rasp resulted in a 17 % lower Δmax insulin, 3 % lower C-peptide (AUC0–60 min and 3 % lower glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (AUC0–180 min) P<0·05. No treatment effects were observed for the cranberry bars regarding glucose and glucoregulatory hormones, nor were there any treatment effects for either berry type regarding ex vivo oxidation, appetite-mediating hormones or appetite. Fortification with freeze-dried black raspberries (approximately 25 g, containing 1·2 g of polyphenols) seems to slightly improve the glucoregulatory hormone and glycaemic responses to a high-carbohydrate food item in young adults but did not affect appetite or oxidative stress responses at doses or with methods studied herein.
Analysis of Deep Level and Oxide Interface Defects Using 100V HF Schottky Diodes and MOS CV for Silicon and 4H SiC HV MOSFETs, Advanced Power Electronics, and RF ASIC
J Pan, S. Afroz, N. Crain, W. Henning, J. Oliver, T. Knight
Journal: MRS Advances , First View
In this paper we report high voltage MOS and Schottky Diode CV techniques for silicon and SiC power devices. 4H Silicon carbide is a wide bandgap semiconductor suitable for high voltage power electronics and RF applications due to high avalanche breakdown critical electric field, and thermal conductivity. The performance of various power devices, which may include MOSFET and Static Induction Transistor (SIT), can be affected by the deep level traps in the substrate and the oxide interfacial defects. We have characterized deep level trap (High Voltage Schottky Diode HF CV) and oxide interface trap densities (High Voltage HF MOS CV), measured the device channel doping profile for both 4H SiC and silicon, gate metal workfunction, and simulated the effects on DC/AC performance.
A conditional space–time POD formalism for intermittent and rare events: example of acoustic bursts in turbulent jets
Oliver T. Schmidt, Peter J. Schmid
Journal: Journal of Fluid Mechanics / Volume 867 / 25 May 2019
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 April 2019, R2
We present a conditional space–time proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) formulation that is tailored to the eduction of the average, rare or intermittent events from an ensemble of realizations of a fluid process. By construction, the resulting spatio-temporal modes are coherent in space and over a predefined finite time horizon, and optimally capture the variance, or energy of the ensemble. For the example of intermittent acoustic radiation from a turbulent jet, we introduce a conditional expectation operator that focuses on the loudest events, as measured by a pressure probe in the far field and contained in the tail of the pressure signal's probability distribution. Applied to high-fidelity simulation data, the method identifies a statistically significant 'prototype', or average acoustic burst event that is tracked over time. Most notably, the burst event can be traced back to its precursor, which opens up the possibility of prediction of an imminent burst. We furthermore investigate the mechanism underlying the prototypical burst event using linear stability theory and find that its structure and evolution are accurately predicted by optimal transient growth theory. The jet-noise problem demonstrates that the conditional space–time POD formulation applies even for systems with probability distributions that are not heavy-tailed, i.e. for systems in which events overlap and occur in rapid succession.
Projectile Point Reworking: An Experimental Study of Arrowpoint Use Life
Chris Loendorf, Thatcher Rogers, Theodore J. Oliver, Brian R. Huttick, Allen Denoyer, M. Kyle Woodson
Journal: American Antiquity / Volume 84 / Issue 2 / April 2019
This article summarizes the results of controlled experiments in which flaked-stone points that varied in impact strength by a factor of almost three were shot at media that were increasingly inelastic and therefore likely to break the points. Broken tips were reworked if possible, and used again under the same conditions. Our results show that all damage to low impact-strength materials, especially obsidian, was generally catastrophic, and, consequently, these points could only rarely be reworked. The fact that low-strength stones were commonly used to make small arrowpoints suggests that reworking was not a primary concern for their designers. Furthermore, in those instances when broken tips could be reworked, their performance declined. In addition, reworking broken points also resulted in shapes that are uncommon in many arrowpoint assemblages. Our results suggest that the original design attributes of arrowpoints may have been less affected by reworking, and, consequently, may more accurately suggest temporal and behavioral associations.
Eleanor Harrison-Buck & Julia A. Hendon (ed.). 2018. Relational identities and other-than-human agency in archaeology. Boulder: University of Colorado Press; 978-1-60732-746-2 $73.
Oliver J. T. Harris
Journal: Antiquity / Volume 93 / Issue 368 / April 2019
Extending models of "How Foraging Works": Uncertainty, controllability, and survivability
Oliver J. Hulme, Duda Kvitsiani
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences / Volume 42 / 2019
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 March 2019, e43
We argue that How Foraging Works sketches a good foundational model, but it needs expanding to incorporate hierarchical and multiscale conceptions of uncertainty and to incorporate inference of environmental controllability. Most pressingly, its algorithmic implementation needs to be better justified in terms of its functional forms and, ultimately, to be more heavily constrained by survival optimality.
Maser radiation from collisionless shocks: application to astrophysical jets
HPL Laboratory Astrophysics
D. C. Speirs, K. Ronald, A. D. R. Phelps, M. E. Koepke, R. A. Cairns, A. Rigby, F. Cruz, R. M. G. M. Trines, R. Bamford, B. J. Kellett, B. Albertazzi, J. E. Cross, F. Fraschetti, P. Graham, P. M. Kozlowski, Y. Kuramitsu, F. Miniati, T. Morita, M. Oliver, B. Reville, Y. Sakawa, S. Sarkar, C. Spindloe, M. Koenig, L. O. Silva, D. Q. Lamb, P. Tzeferacos, S. Lebedev, G. Gregori, R. Bingham
This paper describes a model of electron energization and cyclotron-maser emission applicable to astrophysical magnetized collisionless shocks. It is motivated by the work of Begelman, Ergun and Rees [Astrophys. J. 625, 51 (2005)] who argued that the cyclotron-maser instability occurs in localized magnetized collisionless shocks such as those expected in blazar jets. We report on recent research carried out to investigate electron acceleration at collisionless shocks and maser radiation associated with the accelerated electrons. We describe how electrons accelerated by lower-hybrid waves at collisionless shocks generate cyclotron-maser radiation when the accelerated electrons move into regions of stronger magnetic fields. The electrons are accelerated along the magnetic field and magnetically compressed leading to the formation of an electron velocity distribution having a horseshoe shape due to conservation of the electron magnetic moment. Under certain conditions the horseshoe electron velocity distribution function is unstable to the cyclotron-maser instability [Bingham and Cairns, Phys. Plasmas 7, 3089 (2000); Melrose, Rev. Mod. Plasma Phys. 1, 5 (2017)].
Seven-year itch: the UK Government's difficult relationship with the food and drink industry since Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A Call to Action on Obesity in England (2011)
Stuart W Flint, Emily J Oliver
Journal: Public Health Nutrition / Volume 22 / Issue 7 / May 2019
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 March 2019, pp. 1326-1329
Unhealthy food and drink consumption is associated with a range of physical and mental health concerns. In response, public health policies have been developed targeting a reduction in obesity in particular. In the present commentary we argue that government–industry partnerships have reduced the effectiveness of resultant policies and explore why.
Perspectives of authors.
Populations in the UK; UK Government.
Industry involvement has presented three interrelated challenges for the UK Government: (i) balancing collaboration while maintaining appropriate distance from industry stakeholders; (ii) resultant production of 'watertight' and effective legislation or intervention; and (iii) actual or perceived limited sanctioning or bargaining power.
Industry involvement in public health policy making has led to weak action. Support with policy implementation (rather than development) and genuine 'buy-in' from industry could accelerate the pace of public health improvement.
Technology development for ultraintense all-OPCPA systems
HPL_EP HEDP and High Power Laser 2018
J. Bromage, S.-W. Bahk, I. A. Begishev, C. Dorrer, M. J. Guardalben, B. N. Hoffman, J. B. Oliver, R. G. Roides, E. M. Schiesser, M. J. Shoup III, M. Spilatro, B. Webb, D. Weiner, J. D. Zuegel
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 08 February 2019, e4
Optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) [Dubietis et al., Opt. Commun. 88, 437 (1992)] implemented by multikilojoule Nd:glass pump lasers is a promising approach to produce ultraintense pulses ( ${>}10^{23}~\text{W}/\text{cm}^{2}$ ). Technologies are being developed to upgrade the OMEGA EP Laser System with the goal to pump an optical parametric amplifier line (EP OPAL) with two of the OMEGA EP beamlines. The resulting ultraintense pulses (1.5 kJ, 20 fs, $10^{24}~\text{W}/\text{cm}^{2}$ ) would be used jointly with picosecond and nanosecond pulses produced by the other two beamlines. A midscale OPAL pumped by the Multi-Terawatt (MTW) laser is being constructed to produce 7.5-J, 15-fs pulses and demonstrate scalable technologies suitable for the upgrade. MTW OPAL will share a target area with the MTW laser (50 J, 1 to 100 ps), enabling several joint-shot configurations. We report on the status of the MTW OPAL system, and the technology development required for this class of all-OPCPA laser system for ultraintense pulses.
The Permafrost Young Researchers Network (PYRN) is getting older: The past, present, and future of our evolving community
George Tanski, Helena Bergstedt, Alexandre Bevington, Philip Bonnaventure, Frédéric Bouchard, Caroline Coch, Simon Dumais, Alevtina Evgrafova, Oliver W. Frauenfeld, Jennifer Frederick, Michael Fritz, Denis Frolov, Silvie Harder, Ingo Hartmeyer, Joanne Heslop, Elin Högström, Margareta Johansson, Gleb Kraev, Elena Kuznetsova, Josefine Lenz, Alexey Lupachev, Florence Magnin, Jannik Martens, Alexey Maslakov, Anne Morgenstern, Alexandre Nieuwendam, Marc Oliva, Boris Radosavljevic, Justine Ramage, Andrea Schneider, Julia Stanilovskaya, Jens Strauss, Erin Trochim, Daniel J. Vecellio, Samuel Weber, Hugues Lantuit
Journal: Polar Record , First View
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 February 2019, pp. 1-4
A lasting legacy of the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007–2008 was the promotion of the Permafrost Young Researchers Network (PYRN), initially an IPY outreach and education activity by the International Permafrost Association (IPA). With the momentum of IPY, PYRN developed into a thriving network that still connects young permafrost scientists, engineers, and researchers from other disciplines. This research note summarises (1) PYRN's development since 2005 and the IPY's role, (2) the first 2015 PYRN census and survey results, and (3) PYRN's future plans to improve international and interdisciplinary exchange between young researchers. The review concludes that PYRN is an established network within the polar research community that has continually developed since 2005. PYRN's successful activities were largely fostered by IPY. With >200 of the 1200 registered members active and engaged, PYRN is capitalising on the availability of social media tools and rising to meet environmental challenges while maintaining its role as a successful network honouring the legacy of IPY.
A single day of mixed-macronutrient overfeeding does not elicit compensatory appetite or energy intake responses but exaggerates postprandial lipaemia during the next day in healthy young men
Kevin Deighton, Andy J. King, Jamie Matu, Oliver M. Shannon, Oliver Whiteman, Alice Long, Matthew D. Huby, Miroslav Sekula, Adrian Holliday
Journal: British Journal of Nutrition / Volume 121 / Issue 8 / 28 April 2019
Print publication: 28 April 2019
Discrete episodes of overconsumption may induce a positive energy balance and impair metabolic control. However, the effects of an ecologically relevant, single day of balanced macronutrient overfeeding are unknown. Twelve healthy men (of age 22 (sd 2) years, BMI 26·1 (sd 4·2) kg/m2) completed two 28 h, single-blind experimental trials. In a counterbalanced repeated measures design, participants either consumed their calculated daily energy requirements (energy balance trial (EB): 10 755 (sd 593) kJ) or were overfed by 50 % (overfeed trial (OF): 16 132 (sd 889) kJ) under laboratory supervision. Participants returned to the laboratory the next day, after an overnight fast, to complete a mixed-meal tolerance test (MTT). Appetite was not different between trials during day 1 (P>0·211) or during the MTT in the fasted or postprandial state (P>0·507). Accordingly, plasma acylated ghrelin, total glucagon-like peptide-1 and total peptide YY concentrations did not differ between trials during the MTT (all P>0·335). Ad libitum energy intake, assessed upon completion of the MTT, did not differ between trials (EB 6081 (sd 2260) kJ; OF 6182 (sd 1960) kJ; P=0·781). Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were not different between trials (P>0·715). Fasted NEFA concentrations were lower in OF compared with EB (P=0·005), and TAG concentrations increased to a greater extent on OF than on EB during the MTT (P=0·009). The absence of compensatory changes in appetite-related variables after 1 d of mixed macronutrient overfeeding highlights the limited physiological response to defend against excess energy intake. This supports the concept that repeated discrete episodes of overconsumption may promote weight gain, while elevations in postprandial lipaemia may increase CVD risk.
Translating a rodent measure of negative bias into humans: the impact of induced anxiety and unmedicated mood and anxiety disorders
Jessica Aylward, Claire Hales, Emma Robinson, Oliver J. Robinson
Journal: Psychological Medicine , First View
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 January 2019, pp. 1-10
Mood and anxiety disorders are ubiquitous but current treatment options are ineffective for many sufferers. Moreover, a number of promising pre-clinical interventions have failed to translate into clinical efficacy in humans. Improved treatments are unlikely without better animal–human translational pipelines. Here, we translate a rodent measure of negative affective bias into humans, exploring its relationship with (1) pathological mood and anxiety symptoms and (2) transient induced anxiety.
Adult participants (age = 29 ± 11) who met criteria for mood or anxiety disorder symptomatology according to a face-to-face neuropsychiatric interview were included in the symptomatic group. Study 1 included N = 77 (47 = asymptomatic [female = 21]; 30 = symptomatic [female = 25]), study 2 included N = 47 asymptomatic participants (25 = female). Outcome measures were choice ratios, reaction times and parameters recovered from a computational model of reaction time – the drift diffusion model (DDM) – from a two-alternative-forced-choice task in which ambiguous and unambiguous auditory stimuli were paired with high and low rewards.
Both groups showed over 93% accuracy on unambiguous tones indicating intact discrimination, but symptomatic individuals demonstrated increased negative affective bias on ambiguous tones [proportion high reward = 0.42 (s.d. = 0.14)] relative to asymptomatic individuals [0.53 (s.d. = 0.17)] as well as a significantly reduced DDM drift rate. No significant effects were observed for the within-subjects anxiety-induction.
Humans with pathological anxiety symptoms directly mimic rodents undergoing anxiogenic manipulation. The lack of sensitivity to transient anxiety suggests the paradigm might be more sensitive to clinically relevant symptoms. Our results establish a direct translational pipeline (and candidate therapeutics screen) from negative affective bias in rodents to pathological mood and anxiety symptoms in humans.
Probing the high-redshift universe with SPICA: Toward the epoch of reionisation and beyond
Exploring Astronomical Evolution with SPICA
E. Egami, S. Gallerani, R. Schneider, A. Pallottini, L. Vallini, E. Sobacchi, A. Ferrara, S. Bianchi, M. Bocchio, S. Marassi, L. Armus, L. Spinoglio, A. W. Blain, M. Bradford, D. L. Clements, H. Dannerbauer, J. A. Fernández-Ontiveros, E. González-Alfonso, M. J. Griffin, C. Gruppioni, H. Kaneda, K. Kohno, S. C. Madden, H. Matsuhara, F. Najarro, T. Nakagawa, S. Oliver, K. Omukai, T. Onaka, C. Pearson, I. Perez-Fournon, P. G. Pérez-González, D. Schaerer, D. Scott, S. Serjeant, J. D. Smith, F. F. S. van der Tak, T. Wada, H. Yajima
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 December 2018, e048
With the recent discovery of a dozen dusty star-forming galaxies and around 30 quasars at z > 5 that are hyper-luminous in the infrared (μ LIR > 1013 L⊙, where μ is a lensing magnification factor), the possibility has opened up for SPICA, the proposed ESA M5 mid-/far-infrared mission, to extend its spectroscopic studies toward the epoch of reionisation and beyond. In this paper, we examine the feasibility and scientific potential of such observations with SPICA's far-infrared spectrometer SAFARI, which will probe a spectral range (35–230 μm) that will be unexplored by ALMA and JWST. Our simulations show that SAFARI is capable of delivering good-quality spectra for hyper-luminous infrared galaxies at z = 5 − 10, allowing us to sample spectral features in the rest-frame mid-infrared and to investigate a host of key scientific issues, such as the relative importance of star formation versus AGN, the hardness of the radiation field, the level of chemical enrichment, and the properties of the molecular gas. From a broader perspective, SAFARI offers the potential to open up a new frontier in the study of the early Universe, providing access to uniquely powerful spectral features for probing first-generation objects, such as the key cooling lines of low-metallicity or metal-free forming galaxies (fine-structure and H2 lines) and emission features of solid compounds freshly synthesised by Population III supernovae. Ultimately, SAFARI's ability to explore the high-redshift Universe will be determined by the availability of sufficiently bright targets (whether intrinsically luminous or gravitationally lensed). With its launch expected around 2030, SPICA is ideally positioned to take full advantage of upcoming wide-field surveys such as LSST, SKA, Euclid, and WFIRST, which are likely to provide extraordinary targets for SAFARI.
From three-dimensional to quasi-two-dimensional: transient growth in magnetohydrodynamic duct flows
Oliver G. W. Cassells, Tony Vo, Alban Pothérat, Gregory J. Sheard
Journal: Journal of Fluid Mechanics / Volume 861 / 25 February 2019
Print publication: 25 February 2019
This study seeks to elucidate the linear transient growth mechanisms in a uniform duct with square cross-section applicable to flows of electrically conducting fluids under the influence of an external magnetic field. A particular focus is given to the question of whether at high magnetic fields purely two-dimensional mechanisms exist, and whether these can be described by a computationally inexpensive quasi-two-dimensional model. Two Reynolds numbers of $5000$ and $15\,000$ and an extensive range of Hartmann numbers $0\leqslant \mathit{Ha}\leqslant 800$ were investigated. Three broad regimes are identified in which optimal mode topology and non-modal growth mechanisms are distinct. These regimes, corresponding to low, moderate and high magnetic field strengths, are found to be governed by the independent parameters; Hartmann number, Reynolds number based on the Hartmann layer thickness $R_{H}$ and Reynolds number built upon the Shercliff layer thickness $R_{S}$ , respectively. Transition between regimes respectively occurs at $\mathit{Ha}\approx 2$ and no lower than $R_{H}\approx 33.\dot{3}$ . Notably for the high Hartmann number regime, quasi-two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic models are shown to be excellent predictors of not only transient growth magnitudes, but also the fundamental growth mechanisms of linear disturbances. This paves the way for a precise analysis of transition to quasi-two-dimensional turbulence at much higher Hartmann numbers than is currently achievable.
Association between childhood trauma exposure and pro-inflammatory cytokines in schizophrenia and bipolar-I disorder
Yann Quidé, Chiara C. Bortolasci, Briana Spolding, Srisaiyini Kidnapillai, Oliver J. Watkeys, Sarah Cohen-Woods, Michael Berk, Vaughan J. Carr, Ken Walder, Melissa J. Green
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 December 2018, pp. 1-9
Elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines are consistently reported in schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar-I disorder (BD), as well as among individuals who have been exposed to childhood trauma. However, higher levels of inflammatory markers in these disorders are yet to be investigated with respect to levels of exposure to different types of childhood trauma.
Participants were 68 cases with a diagnosis of schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder (SZ), 69 cases with a diagnosis of psychotic BD and 72 healthy controls (HC). Serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were quantified, and childhood trauma exposure was assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire.
The SZ group had significantly higher levels of IL-6, TNF-α and CRP when compared with the HC group (all p < 0.05, d = 0.41–0.63), as well as higher levels of TNF-α when compared with the BD group (p = 0.014, d = 0.50); there were no differences between the BD and HC groups for any markers. Exposure to sexual abuse was positively associated (standardised β = 0.326, t = 2.459, p = 0.018) with levels of CRP in the SZ group, but there were no significant associations between any form of trauma exposure and cytokine levels in the HC or BD groups.
These results contribute to the evidence for a chronic state of inflammation in SZ but not BD cases. Differential associations between trauma exposure and levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines across the diagnostic categories suggest that trauma may impact biological (stress and immune) systems differently in these patient groups.
Response to 'Clinical relevance and validity of obesity risk prediction tools' by Redsell et al.
Oliver J Canfell, Robyn Littlewood, Olivia RL Wright, Jacqueline L Walker
Journal: Public Health Nutrition / Volume 21 / Issue 17 / December 2018
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 October 2018, pp. 3149-3150
Geochronology and physical context of Oldowan site formation at Kanjera South, Kenya
P. W. DITCHFIELD, E. WHITFIELD, T. VINCENT, T. PLUMMER, D. BRAUN, A. DEINO, F. HERTEL, J. S. OLIVER, J. LOUYS, L. C. BISHOP
Journal: Geological Magazine / Volume 156 / Issue 7 / July 2019
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 September 2018, pp. 1190-1200
Oldowan sites in primary geological context are rare in the archaeological record. Here we describe the depositional environment of Oldowan occurrences at Kanjera South, Kenya, based on field descriptions and granulometric analysis. Excavations have recovered a large Oldowan artefact sample as well as the oldest substantial sample of archaeological fauna. The deposits at Kanjera South consist of 30 m of fluvial, colluvial and lacustrine sediments. Magneto- and biostratigraphy indicate the Kanjera South Member of the Kanjera Formation was deposited during 2.3–1.92 Ma, with 2.0 Ma being a likely age for the archaeological occurrences. Oldowan artefacts and associated fauna were deposited in the colluvial and alluvial silts and sands of beds KS1–3, in the margins of a lake basin. Field descriptions and granulometric analysis of the sediment fine fraction indicate that sediments from within the main archaeological horizon were emplaced as a combination of tractional and hyperconcentrated flows with limited evidence of debris-flow deposition. This style of deposition is unlikely to significantly erode or disturb the underlying surface, and therefore promotes preservation of surface archaeological accumulations. Hominins were repeatedly attracted to the site locale, and rapid sedimentation, minimal bone weathering and an absence of bone or artefact rounding further indicate that fossils and artefacts were quickly buried.
Overcoming undesirable resilience in the global food system
Tom H. Oliver, Emily Boyd, Kelvin Balcombe, Tim G. Benton, James M. Bullock, Deanna Donovan, Giuseppe Feola, Matthew Heard, Georgina M. Mace, Simon R. Mortimer, Richard J. Nunes, Richard F. Pywell, Dominik Zaum
Journal: Global Sustainability / Volume 1 / 2018
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 August 2018, e9
Our current global food system – from food production to consumption, including manufacture, packaging, transport, retail and associated businesses – is responsible for extensive negative social and environmental impacts which threaten the long-term well-being of society. This has led to increasing calls from science–policy organizations for major reform and transformation of the global food system. However, our knowledge regarding food system transformations is fragmented and this is hindering the development of co-ordinated solutions. Here, we collate recent research across several academic disciplines and sectors in order to better understand the mechanisms that 'lock-in' food systems in unsustainable states.