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Little is known about the early history of the chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), including the timing and circumstances of its introduction into new cultural environments. To evaluate its spatio-temporal spread across Eurasia and north-west Africa, the authors radiocarbon dated 23 chicken bones from presumed early contexts. Three-quarters returned dates later than those suggested by stratigraphy, indicating the importance of direct dating. The results indicate that chickens did not arrive in Europe until the first millennium BC. Moreover, a consistent time-lag between the introduction of chickens and their consumption by humans suggests that these animals were initially regarded as exotica and only several centuries later recognised as a source of 'food'. Keywords: Europe, north-west Africa, chickens, AMS dating, dispersal, domestication, Introduction The chicken (Galiusgallus domesticus) is the most widely distributed domestic animal on the planet (Nicol 2015). Transported around the world by people, the species is now established across a [...]

In this study low-input RNA-sequencing was used to annotate the molecular identity of endothelial cells isolated and immunopurified with CD144 microbeads. Using this technique, comparative gene expression profiling from healthy subjects and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus identified both known and novel pathways linked with EC dysfunction. Modeling of diabetes by treating cultured ECs with high glucose identified shared changes in gene expression in diabetic cells. Overall, the data demonstrate how purified ECs from patients can be used to generate new hypotheses about mechanisms of human vascular disease.

Marine plastic pollution is a global environmental concern. With reference to approaches in contemporary archaeology, object biographies and psychology, this article presents the application of a novel participatory ('World Cafe') methodology that aims both to understand how marine plastic pollution occurs and to demonstrate the value of the approach for encouraging behaviour change. As proof of concept, the authors present the preliminary results of fieldwork involving local people in the Galapagos archipelago to demonstrate the benefits of an archaeological approach in developing new frameworks to help mitigate this critical environmental threat. Keywords: Galapagos, contemporary archaeology, marine pollution, object biography, World Cafe, Introduction The ubiquity and popularity of plastic is undeniable (e.g. Madden et al. 2012). Alongside its obvious benefits, however, plastic has evident costs to the environment and society when it [...]

The purpose of the study is to explore whether a multidimensional profiling approach can be useful in predicting a table tennis player's actual and future (one year later) performance. Data on anthropometrics, age from peak height velocity, motor-skills, psychological skills and training histories were gathered among Scottish elite youth male table tennis players (n = 14). Significant correlations emerged between: (a) actual performance rating and age from peak height velocity (r = 0.71), sprint test (r = -0.69), number of years of practice (r = 0.84), positive refocusing (r = -0.58), and self-regulation in learning -- self-monitoring (r = -0.60), and evaluation (r = 0.57); (b) performance rating one year later and positive refocusing (r = -0.58), self-monitoring (r = -0.50), and number of years of practice (r = 0.80). Results also showed significant correlations between progression scores (2017 rating score minus 2016 rating score) and age from peak height velocity (r = -0.77), sprint test (r = 0.63), number of years of practice (r = -0.52), self-monitoring (r = 0.69), and evaluation (r = -0.58). These results provided preliminary evidence for the usefulness of a multidimensional profiling approach for predicting performance and progression in youth table tennis players.

Over the last 10,000 y, humans have manipulated fallow deer populations with varying outcomes. Persian fallow deer (Dama mesopotamica) are now endangered. European fallow deer (Dama dama) are globally widespread and are simultaneously considered wild, domestic, endangered, invasive and are even the national animal of Barbuda and Antigua. Despite their close association with people, there is no consensus regarding their natural ranges or the timing and circumstances of their human-mediated translocations and extirpations. Our mitochondrial analyses of modern and archaeological specimens revealed two distinct clades of European fallow deer present in Anatolia and the Balkans. Zooarchaeological evidence suggests these regions were their sole glacial refugia. By combining biomolecular analyses with archaeological and textual evidence, we chart the declining distribution of Persian fallow deer and demonstrate that humans repeatedly translocated European fallow deer, sourced from the most geographically distant populations. Deer taken to Neolithic Chios and Rhodes derived not from nearby Anatolia, but from the Balkans. Though fallow deer were translocated throughout the Mediterranean as part of their association with the Greco-Roman goddesses Artemis and Diana, deer taken to Roman Mallorca were not locally available Dama dama, but Dama mesopotamica. Romans also initially introduced fallow deer to Northern Europe but the species became extinct and was reintroduced in the medieval period, this time from Anatolia. European colonial powers then transported deer populations across the globe. The biocultural histories of fallow deer challenge preconceptions about the divisions between wild and domestic species and provide information that should underpin modern management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Men of African descent are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer (PCa), and many have metastatic disease at presentation. In South Africa (SA), androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the first-line treatment for stage IV PCa. Objective: To identify predictors of overall survival (OS) in Black South African men with stage IV PCa treated with ADT. Design, Setting, and Participants: Men diagnosed with prostate cancer (3/22/2016–10/30/2020) at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto, Johannesburg, were recruited for the Men of African Descent with Cancer of the Prostate study. We included men with newly diagnosed stage IV PCa treated with ADT who had a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level drawn prior to initiation of ADT and had ≥1 PSA drawn ≥12weeks after ADT start. Outcomes Measures and Statistical Analysis: We used Kaplan–Meier statistics to estimate OS and Cox regression models to identify predictors of OS. Results and Limitations: Of the 1097 men diagnosed with prostate cancer, we included 153 men with stage IV PCa who received ADT and met PSA requirements. The median age was 68.0 years (interquartile range 64–73 years). Median OS from time of ADT initiation was 3.39 years (95% confidence interval (CI): 3.14%–noncalculable), while biochemical progression-free survival was 2.36 years (95% CI: 2.03%–3.73%). Biochemical progression (HR 3.52, 95% CI: 1.85%–6.70%), PSA nadir level >4ng/mL (HR 3.77, 95% CI: 1.86%–7.62%), alkaline phosphatase level at diagnosis >150 IU/dL (HR 3.09, 95% CI: 1.64%– 5.83%), and hemoglobin at diagnosis <13.5 g/dL (HR 2.90, 95% CI: 1.28%–6.56%) were associated with worse OS. Conclusions: In this study, we identified factors associated with poor OS among Black South African men with stage IV PCa treated with ADT. These factors may be useful in identifying patients for upfront treatment escalation, including the use of docetaxel chemotherapy or escalation of therapy at the time of biochemical progression. Patient Summary: In this study, we found that high alkaline phosphatase level, anemia at diagnosis, and high PSA nadir after initiation of androgen deprivation therapy are associated with worse overall survival among Black South African men treated with androgen deprivation therapy for metastatic prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]