Examination of plant microfossils (phytoliths and starch granules) preserved in dental calculus allows for the direct identification of some components of prehistoric diets. In this article, the authors present the results of microfossil analysis of dental calculus from wild and domestic animals at the Late Neolithic site of Kangjia in the Central Plains, an area critical in the emergence of early Chinese states. Consumption of cooked plant foods by domestic pigs and dogs, and of domestic crops by wild animals, at this site hints, the authors argue, at an interdependent relationship between animal management, agricultural production and ritual practices that contributed to the political transformations of Late Neolithic China.

A “sink or swim” approach has been considered the only way to learn how to conduct empirical research; this should not be the case. Empirical research can be challenging for methodological, practical and ethical reasons; thus there should be detailed and systematic reporting on the methodology adopted. The absence of studies documenting the experiences of researching law implies that important lessons gained by one cohort are not readily accessible in a systematic way for the next. This article presents the methodology of research that was conducted in a conflict area in Nigeria during the pandemic; it aims to provide detailed reporting on the research and highlight the challenges. It offers lessons to future researchers undertaking socio-legal research in a conflict zone, during a pandemic or both. It contributes to the body of knowledge that presents not just what is being done in legal research but how, in order to develop “robust and cumulative scholarly traditions”.

The intensity of changes in the population dynamics of the Early Neolithic (ca. 6250–5300 cal BC) communities in the Central Balkans was addressed by estimating the growth rate values. The Bayesian approach (Crema and Shoda 2021) of estimating intrinsic growth rates by fitting different models of population growth was applied to radiocarbon dates from the Early Neolithic sites in Serbia. We explored two possible episodes of population growth based on the results of the population dynamics reconstruction using the summed calibrated radiocarbon probability distributions (SPD) method. The results have shown that, within the first episode of growth, the intrinsic growth rate mean values are higher than the estimated continental average (between 1% and 2%). The results indicate a sudden and fast rise in population size, possibly due to the influx of the new population settling in the region at the beginning of the Neolithic. Lower values for the second episode could indicate more gradual population growth due to the mechanisms associated with the Neolithic Demographic Transition and the rise in fertility.

The high-energy/high-intensity laser facility PHELIX of the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung in Darmstadt, Germany, has been in operation since 2008. Here, we review the current system performance, which is the result of continuous development and further improvement. Through its versatile frontend architecture, PHELIX can be operated in both long- and short-pulse modes, corresponding to ns-pulses with up to 1 kJ pulse energy and sub-ps, 200 J pulses, respectively. In the short-pulse mode, the excellent temporal contrast and the control over the wavefront make PHELIX an ideal driver for secondary sources of high-energy ions, neutrons, electrons and X-rays. The long-pulse mode is mainly used for plasma heating, which can then be probed by the heavy-ion beam of the linear accelerator of GSI. In addition, PHELIX can now be used to generate X-rays for studying exotic states of matter created by heavy-ion heating using the ion beam of the heavy-ion synchrotron of GSI.

Nonlinear machine learning for turbulent flows can exhibit robust performance even outside the range of training data. This is achieved when machine-learning models can accommodate scale-invariant characteristics of turbulent flow structures. This study presents a data-driven approach to reveal scale-invariant vortical structures across Reynolds numbers that provide insights for supporting nonlinear machine-learning-based studies of turbulent flows. To uncover conditions for which nonlinear models are likely to perform well, we use a Buckingham-Pi-based sparse nonlinear scaling to find the influence of the Pi groups on the turbulent flow data. We consider nonlinear scalings of the invariants of the velocity gradient tensor for an example of three-dimensional decaying isotropic turbulence. The present scaling not only enables the identification of vortical structures that are interpolatory and extrapolatory for the given flow field data but also captures non-equilibrium effects of the energy cascade. As a demonstration, the present findings are applied to machine-learning-based super-resolution analysis of three-dimensional isotropic turbulence. We show that machine-learning models reconstruct vortical structures well in the interpolatory space with reduced performance in the extrapolatory space revealed by the nonlinearly scaled invariants. The present approach enables us to depart from labelling turbulent flow data with a single parameter of Reynolds number and comprehensively examine the flow field to support training and testing of nonlinear machine-learning techniques.

Daqingshanite in the Kamthai REE deposit (India) occurs as two paragenetic types: primary granular coarse grained crystals coexisting with primary carbocernaite, baryte and bastnäsite; and as aligned micro-ovoid globules within clasts of Sr-bearing calcite. Carbocernaite forming trellis-type lamellae in some of these calcite clasts do not represent exsolution and are considered as replacement textures as they formed subsequent to daqingshanite. The origins of the textural relations of the microglobules of daqingshanite to their host Sr-calcite cannot be unambiguously determined, although an exsolution origin is not considered feasible. The textures are similar to those of ‘chalcopyrite disease’ and as such could be interpreted as replacement features formed in a low temperature carbothermal environment which should facilitate replacement. Given that daqingshanite is an early crystallising phase it is also possible that cotectic crystallisation with Sr-calcite occurred, followed by subsolidus re-equilibration with recrystallisation along specific crystallographic planes in the calcite. The Kamthai REE deposit is best described as a low temperature carbothermalite microbreccia consisting of a wide variety of clasts resulting from the autobrecciation of rocks formed during, and after, the magmatic to carbothermal transition of an undetermined parental calcite carbonatite-forming magma. Many clasts have been replaced by late stage La-enriched carbothermal fluids mixed with exogenous water during the final low-temperature stage of evolution of the deposit.

The classification of internet gaming disorder (IGD) as a mental condition for further study in 2013 marked the emerging recognition of potential mental health issues associated with internet and gaming addiction. The COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid growth of gaming technology have combined to increase internet gaming, resulting in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, poor sleep quality and psychological distress. Identifying the complex interplay between internet problem use, sleep disorders and psychological distress is crucial. However, it remains unclear how physical activity and self-compassion could improve sleep quality when individuals experience IGD symptoms. The current study, therefore, examined the relationships between IGD, sleep quality, self-compassion, physical activity and psychological distress using a path analysis approach. The study, targeting young adults (N = 283), found that physical activity played a significant role in connecting the variables and supporting the overall fit of the model. The results suggest that interventions targeting individuals with IGD should focus on promoting physical activity participation and developing self-compassion. Future research should continue to investigate the effectiveness of clinical interventions that incorporate self-compassion and physical activity counseling for individuals with IGD.