Late AD Research Articles

THE ROLE OF SOVIET JEWS IN BUILDING THE ISRAELI NUCLEAR ARSENAL (THE DIMONA REACTOR AS A MODEL) NINEVEH EDUCATION DIRECTORATE

The Israeli nuclear file is considered one of the biggest secrets of nuclear life in the world, if (Israel) refuses, since its establishment,to be included in the periodic inspections conducted by the Atomic Energy Agency on nuclear facilities in the world, just as its government refuses to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty signed by the Arab countries. Which makes the Israeli nuclear file (out of coverage). (Israel) possesses a basic nuclear reactor، as it was the first step it took regarding the establishment of a nuclear force in late (1948)AD and early (1949)AD. The most important and most dangerous effective step taken by (Israel) on the road to producing nuclear weapons for nuclear energy in(Israel)was its establishment of(the Dimona reactor.). This reactor was built according to French designs drawn up by the French atomic Energy Commission as part of the French-Israeli efforts to coordinate in the field of atomic cooperation. The Dimona reactor is located on the desert road between Beersheba and Sodom، in the Negev Center for Nuclear Research. It consists of ten buildings. It contains a nuclear reactor and a reprocessing plant. Plutonium This place was chosen because of its proximity to the raw materials (uranium) found in the Negev desert. The costs of building the reactor were estimated at about (130) million dollars, and its capacity was (150) megawatts, and it was able to produce (8) kilos of plutonium annually. The reactor operates with enriched uranium. (90%), which is a reactor that produces plutonium، which is the main element for the production of the fissile atomic bomb, since the Jews of Russian origins had a great and most prominent influence in the establishment of the Israeli nuclear program, as they pushed the Israeli nuclear file into existence. And they put (Israel) at the forefront of the nuclear countries

Compensatory remodeling of a septo-hippocampal GABAergic network in the triple transgenic Alzheimer’s mouse model

BackgroundAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by a progressive loss of memory that cannot be efficiently managed by currently available AD therapeutics. So far, most treatments for AD that have the potential to improve memory target neural circuits to protect their integrity. However, the vulnerable neural circuits and their dynamic remodeling during AD progression remain largely undefined.MethodsCircuit-based approaches, including anterograde and retrograde tracing, slice electrophysiology, and fiber photometry, were used to investigate the dynamic structural and functional remodeling of a GABAergic circuit projected from the medial septum (MS) to the dentate gyrus (DG) in 3xTg-AD mice during AD progression.ResultsWe identified a long-distance GABAergic circuit that couples highly connected MS and DG GABAergic neurons during spatial memory encoding. Furthermore, we found hyperactivity of DG interneurons during early AD, which persisted into late AD stages. Interestingly, MS GABAergic projections developed a series of adaptive strategies to combat DG interneuron hyperactivity. During early-stage AD, MS-DG GABAergic projections exhibit increased inhibitory synaptic strength onto DG interneurons to inhibit their activities. During late-stage AD, MS-DG GABAergic projections form higher anatomical connectivity with DG interneurons and exhibit aberrant outgrowth to increase the inhibition onto DG interneurons.ConclusionWe report the structural and functional remodeling of the MS-DG GABAergic circuit during disease progression in 3xTg-AD mice. Dynamic MS-DG GABAergic circuit remodeling represents a compensatory mechanism to combat DG interneuron hyperactivity induced by reduced GABA transmission.

Mesopotaamia jumalanna Nanāia mõjudest Kesk- ja Lõuna-Aasias

In this paper we have traced some basic attributes belonging to the Mesopotamian goddess Nanāia, from their origin in the period of Ur III (2112–2004 BC) in ancient Mesopotamia up to the period of the Kuṣāṇas and Kūšānšāhs (from the 1st century AD to the late 4th century AD) in Central and South Asia, and up to the period of their successors – the Kidarites and Hephthalites. We have shown that there was a smooth transformation of these attributes of Nanāia to the standard Indian iconographic motif of Durgā.

Into the Tsar's residence: geophysical survey of the early medieval Bulgarian capital of Veliki Preslav

During the late first millennium AD, the Bulgarian Empire emerged in the eastern Balkans on the doorstep of the Byzantine Empire. In a bid to reconcile with—and impress—its powerful neighbour, Tsar Simeon I selected the fortified site of Veliki Preslav as a new capital city. Through the ninth and tenth centuries AD, the city was developed into one of the largest cities of the early Middle Ages in Europe. A fortified Inner City of palaces, churches and state buildings was accompanied by a large defended Outer City. The authors present the results of a recent geophysical survey, revealing patterning in the spatial and socio-economic organisation of the urban landscape between the ninth and fourteenth centuries AD.

Chemical evidence for milk, meat, and marine resource processing in Later Stone Age pots from Namaqualand, South Africa

The subsistence practices of Later Stone Age (LSA) foragers and herders living in Namaqualand South Africa are often difficult to differentiate based on their archaeological signatures but characterizing their dietary choices is vital to understand the economic importance of domesticates. However, ethnohistoric accounts have provided information on the cooking/boiling of marine mammal fat, mutton, plants, and milk by early herders and foragers across the Western Cape. To further investigate these reports, we use lipid residue analysis to characterize 106 potsherds from four open-air LSA sites, spanning in time from the early first millennium to the late second millennium AD. Two sites (SK2005/057A, SK2006/026) are located on the Atlantic coast whereas sites Jakkalsberg K and Jakkalsberg M are located further inland on the southern bank of the Orange River. Notably, at the coastal sites, the presence of marine biomarkers suggests the intensive and/or specialized processing of marine products in many vessels. The dominance of ruminant carcass products at inland sites and probable sheep remains confirms the importance of stockkeeping. Furthermore, and in good agreement with ethnohistoric accounts for its use, our results provide the first direct chemical evidence for the use of dairy products in LSA western South Africa.

A chronology for unenclosed settlements in early medieval Ireland: settlement patterns in the late first millennium AD

A chronology for unenclosed settlements in early medieval Ireland: settlement patterns in the late first millennium AD

TWO LATE CLASSIC ROYAL BURIALS FROM BUENAVISTA DEL CAYO, BELIZE

We describe two Late Classic royal tombs excavated by the Mopan Valley Archaeological Project at Buenavista del Cayo. Feature 385-6, excavated in 2018, was located in Structure 3c and dates to around AD 600. The large masonry tomb contained an individual laid to rest on an elevated wooden bier, accompanied by 19 ceramic vessels, obsidian and stingray spine bloodletters, a mirrored headdress, and a jade bead. Among the more remarkable findings in the tomb were hundreds of desiccated popcorn kernels and two pyrite mirrors, one with Teotihuacan-style painting. Feature 385-30 is another masonry tomb, excavated in 2019 in Structure 3b. Dating to the late 7th century AD, this tomb contained an adult individual wrapped in textiles, accompanied by two jade artifacts and 27 ceramic vessels, some of which were elaborately painted. Of particular note, two parallel rows of chert lithics were found immediately under the body: a row of five very fine, large bifacial axes, and a row of nine eccentrics. Three additional eccentrics were found near the head. These tombs indicate that the line of kings that was established at Buenavista by at least ca. AD 450 reigned for at least two centuries.

A chronology for unenclosed settlements in early medieval Ireland: Settlement patterns in the late first millennium AD

Abstract: The remains of various early medieval enclosed settlements—earthen and stone-built ringforts, non-circular enclosures, and lake-side crannógs—dominate the Irish landscape. Other settlements from this period lacked an enclosing element and our understanding of these is poor, especially their chronology. This paper provides an overview of the archaeological evidence for unenclosed settlements and other non-enclosure settlement types and analyses associated radiocarbon (14C) data to provide a preliminary chronology for this collective of sites. Temporal trends indicate that settlement peaked between the eighth to mid-ninth centuries before an ostensible reduction in activity at the end of the first millennium AD. This paper then reflects on the latter pattern, acknowledging that this may represent past settlement change or be partly influenced by excavation and research biases. Future avenues of research in the study of unenclosed settlements are also suggested.

MIRUSIŲJŲ DEGINIMO PAPROČIO PLITIMAS RYTŲ LIETUVOJE: NAUJAS CHRONOLOGINIS MODELIS, PAREMTAS RADIOKARBONINIO DATAVIMO DUOMENIMIS

The article discusses the model of the spread of cremation in the East Lithuanian barrow culture based on the data of radiocarbon dating. It proposes a review of the model established in literature that a wave of cremation spread from the south of the region to the north between the late 4th century AD and of the early 6th century AD. The stage of the earliest cremations can be dated to 248–335 cal AD, and the stage of the latest inhumations to 420–556 cal AD. This suggests that both inhumation and cremation were practised in Eastern Lithuania for about two centuries from the Late Roman period to the Late Migration period. The hypothesis that the practice of cremation spread from south to north is being corrected rather than refuted. While this process was quite sudden, it was due to the spread of a new tradition alongside the old rather than a wave of change regarding burial rites. Cremation spread early (c. 250–400 cal AD) in the northern part of the region and was an established practice alongside inhumation. The practice of cremation probably became prevalent earlier in Southeastern Lithuania. These processes are synchronous with the emergence of the horizon of the burials of chieftains and warriors in Eastern Lithuania, but the determination of an earlier date for this horizon provides grounds for new discussions about its historical, cultural, and social background. Keywords: radiocarbon dating, East Lithuanian barrows, burial customs, inhumation, cremation.

All that glitters is not gold: Multi-instrumental identification of Viking Age orpiment (As2S3) from Surtshellir cave, Iceland

Fragments of orpiment (As2S3) from a Viking Age structure inside Iceland’s Surtshellir cave represent the farthest-known occurrence of this rare mineral from sources known to have been exploited during the Early Middle Ages. Actual fragments of orpiment (from Latin auripigmentum, golden pigment) are only documented in late first millennium AD northern Europe from Dunadd, the seat of the Dalriadic kings in western Scotland (7th-8th century AD), Tonymore Crannóg, an elite Irish site (8th-9th century AD), and now Surtshellir (AD 920–1020). Ground to create a pigment, orpiment was used to add brilliant yellows to illuminated manuscripts produced from the 7th-10th centuries AD in elite monastic and ecclesiastic centers of Ireland, the Carolingian Empire, and Anglo-Saxon England. Its only prior documented uses in Viking Age Scandinavia, however, are from the furnishings of King Gorm’s grave at Jelling (Denmark), ca. AD 950–960, and possibly the Gokstad ship, ca. AD 900–905. The twelve fragments of orpiment from Surtshellir, verified through pXRF (hand-held X-Ray Fluorescence) and SEM/EDS (Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy), link this site to 10th century AD interaction and trade networks that stretched from the North Atlantic to Anatolia and provide supportive evidence for re-interpreting the cave as an important, elite-controlled ritual site from Iceland’s Viking Age.

A novel, efficient and seamless Phase 2A‐2B design to test varoglutamstat in early AD: the VIVA‐MIND study

AbstractBackgroundImproved Phase 2 study designs may increase success rates in late stage AD trials. Varoglutamstat (PQ912) is an oral small molecule glutaminyl cyclase inhibitor designed to address several key disease mechanisms. A Phase 2A study (NCT02389413) of 120 early AD patients treated for 12 weeks provided preliminary evidence of safety and tolerability, and effects on working memory, CSF biomarkers, and synaptic function (EEG theta‐power).ObjectiveTo design a well‐powered, safe, and efficient study of varoglutamstat in early AD incorporating adaptive dose selection in Phase 2A, a futility analysis testing pharmacological, biological and cognitive criteria, and a seamless transition to a larger Phase 2B study investigating longer‐term efficacy and safety.MethodsAn efficient and safe selection rule across 3 descending doses (600mg, 300mg, 150 mg BID) was established using a continuously monitored Pocock safety boundary targeting a set of treatment emergent AE’s of interest. Well‐powered stage‐gate criteria at a planned interim futility analysis included thresholds for target occupancy in plasma, and would detect negative effects on a cognitive composite or absence of benefit on EEG theta‐power. The Phase 2B study was powered to detect an effect size of 0.7 points on the Clinical Dementia Rating – Sum of Boxes score at 18 months, an established approvable endpoint.ResultsThe on‐going Phase 2A adaptive dose‐finding trial (NCT03919162) is randomizing 180 subjects with MCI or mild probable AD, initially to 24+ weeks of 600mg varoglutamstat dose or placebo, BID. If the safety boundary is hit, the dose will be discontinued and all subjects titrated down, with similar sequential testing of lower doses as needed. The interim futility analysis will occur when the first 180 randomized subjects have been on study for at least 24 weeks. If this stage‐gate is passed, Phase 2B will enroll 234 additional patients to achieve 414 total patients treated for 72 weeks at full dose of varoglutamstat or placebo.ConclusionThis novel study design enables adaptive dose selection, an early interim futility analysis, and longer‐term determination of cognitive and functional efficacy, and should support robust proof‐of‐concept for varoglutamstat using a total sample of 414 subjects treated for 72 weeks.

Claudiopolis Ganymedes Mozaiği

Claudiopolis (Bolu), Antik Dönem’de Bithynia Bölgesi sınırları içerisinde yer alan önemli bir kentti. 2011 yılında kent merkezinde yapılan kurtarma kazısı çalışması esnasında Ganymedes mozaiği açığa çıkarılmıştır. Ganymedes mozaiği kentteki bir Roma villasının zemininde yer almış olan bir taban mozaiğidir ve dikdörtgen bir biçimde düzenlenmiştir. Mozaik tabanı 3,60 m. x 6,70 m ölçülerindedir. Ölümlülerin en güzeli sayılan Ganymedes, Dardanos soyundan ve Troya kral ailesindendir. Zeus, İda dağının yamaçlarında sürülerini otlatırken gördüğü genç Ganymedes’e aşık olmuştur. Kartalını göndererek ya da bizzat kendisi kartal kılığına girerek Ganymedes’i Olympos’a kaçırmış ve onu tanrılar sofrasına şarap sunucusu yapmıştır. Hellenistik Dönem sanatında ve edebiyatında favori bir konu olan Ganymedes’in kaçırılması olayı daha sonra Romalı mozaik sanatçıları için de popülerliğini devam ettirmiştir. Mozaik sanatçılarının repertuvarlarında Ganymedes’in efsanesine ilişkin olarak en çok tercih edilen tasvir Zeus’un kartal kılığına girerek Ganymedes’i Olympos’a kaçırması sahnesidir. Claudiopolis mozaiğinde ise bu popüler sahnenin bir sonraki aşamasında Ganymedes Olympos’da şarap sunucusu olarak devam eden hayatında kartal’a içki sunarken tasvir edilmiştir. Bu sahnenin tasvirinin oldukça az bulunmuş olması da yine Claudiopolis Ganymedes mozaiği’nin önemini arttıran diğer bir unsurdur. Dikdörtgen biçiminde düzenlenmiş olan sahnenin sol tarafına kartal, sağ tarafına ise Ganymedes yerleştirilmiştir. Bu figürlü panonun etrafında bir sıra basit örgü bandı, bir sıra düz bant ve iki sıra kesişen dairelerden oluşan bordür düzenlemesi yer almaktadır. Figürlü sahnede doğal ortamın göstergesi olan kaya, ağaç ve bitki motifleri kullanılmamıştır. Claudiopolis mozaiği, sahip olduğu stilistik ve ikonografik özellikler itibariyle MS 3. yüzyılın sonu - 4. yüzyılın başlarına tarihlendirilebilir.

A new chronology for the Māori settlement of Aotearoa (NZ) and the potential role of climate change in demographic developments

Understanding the role of climate change, resource availability, and population growth in human mobility remains critically important in anthropology. Researching linkages between climate and demographic changes during the short settlement history of Aotearoa (New Zealand) requires temporal precision equivalent to the period of a single generation. However, current modeling approaches frequently use small terrestrial radiocarbon datasets, a practice that obscures past Māori population patterns and their connection to changing climate. Our systematic analysis of terrestrial and marine 14C ages has enabled robust assessments of the largest dataset yet collated from island contexts. This analysis has been made possible by the recent development of a temporal marine correction for southern Pacific waters, and our findings show the shortcomings of previous models. We demonstrate that human settlement in the mid to late 13th century AD is unambiguous. We highlight initial (AD 1250 to 1275) settlement in the North Island. The South Island was reached a decade later (AD 1280 to 1295), where the hunting of giant flightless moa commenced (AD 1300 to 1415), and the population grew rapidly. Population growth leveled off around AD 1340 and declined between AD 1380 and 1420, synchronous with the onset of the Little Ice Age and moa loss as an essential food source. The population continued to grow in the more economically stable north, where conditions for horticulture were optimal. The enhanced precision of this research afforded by the robust analysis of marine dates opens up unique opportunities to investigate interconnectivity in Polynesia and inform the patterns seen in other island contexts.

경주 탑동 목관묘 출토 청동기로 본 대외관계와 피장자의 성격

The wooden coffin tombs at Tap-dong are the first tombs of outstanding elites to have ever found in downtown Gyeongju, the capital of Silla. This is also where Oreung(五陵) - the tomb of Park Hyeokgeose, who is the founding monarch of Silla - is located. The Tap-dong burial sites consist of 3 wooden coffin tombs dated in different periods, numbered 1 - 3, respectively.
 There are hints from the digs at the Tap-dong site that: 1. the kind of wooden coffin tomb appeared around 57 BCE, exactly at the same time when Silla started off as a small city-state by the name of Saro-guk.
 2. the bronze and iron artifacts and other ornaments from this site suggest that the ruling class of Saro-guk was the association of native Jin people and displaced people whose expansionist attitudes served militarily and socio-economically as intermediators between China and northern peoples and Silla, and even further Japan.
 3. all of these findings could be archaeological evidence that the earlier historical records of the origin of Silla in Samguk Sagi proves plausible.
 The three tombs at the Tap-dong site were built in three differentiated periods and occupied by three differentiated owners in terms of social status, but they all represented early phases of the emergence of a centralized monarchy at the heart of the capital of Silla, not in the neighboring place. The tombs were numbered 1 - 3 as they were found, and yet Tomb No. 3 is the oldest of the three, followed by Tomb No. 2. and Tomb No. 1 backwards chronologically.
 Tomb No. 3 produced no distinguished prestige goods of bronze except some earthenware, by the chronological dating of which this tomb is presumed to have been built around 57 BCE. It marks the beginning of the construction of wooden coffin tombs in this area.
 Tomb No. 2 can be thought of a prelude to a new political entity of Gyeongju beginning its journey to the Unified Kingdom. It is the first of a series of tombs where the Chinese bronze mirrors were deposited by those who ruled downtown Gyeongju in the late 1st century AD, about the same time as Tomb No. 38 at Joyang-dong, Gyeongju. Tomb No. 38 at Joyang-dong, however, produced 4 Chinese bronze mirrors and a fragment of a reprocessed Chinese bronze mirror, which means that the deceased as a stronger manager who boasted his financial power capable of possessing valued items, such as Chinese bronze mirrors, was competing against the Tap-dong tomb owner nearby, about 8 km or only a 2-hour walk apart in Gyeongju at the time.
 The finds from Tomb No. 1 at Tap-dong can be interpreted that at least two groups of separate interests had a rational division of function along the supply chain of iron artifacts in present-day Gyeongju around the mid 1st century AD: One was in charge of producing ironwork and the other was responsible for trading them, organizing guild-like professional associations; The first group consisted of people who were able to bury their leader with a good number of highly valued iron artworks in his grave. On the other hand, the second group consisted of people who boasted their prestige and authority by placing multiple decorative bronze items, such as swords, buckles, buttons, and bracelets, in their leader’s burial. Sarari people as locals would have settled down here in Gyeongju from the beginning of the Bronze age and been familiar with dealing with iron. Alternately, Tap-dong people could be the displaced refugees who had fled from the Northern part of Korea after the fall of Wiman Joseon. That’s why they could have been flashily dressed like one of them and engaged in foreign trade with Northern nomadic people.

Pathological Nuclear Hallmarks in Dentate Granule Cells of Alzheimer's Patients: A Biphasic Regulation of Neurogenesis.

The dentate gyrus (DG) of the human hippocampus is a complex and dynamic structure harboring mature and immature granular neurons in diverse proliferative states. While most mammals show persistent neurogenesis through adulthood, human neurogenesis is still under debate. We found nuclear alterations in granular cells in autopsied human brains, detected by immunohistochemistry. These alterations differ from those reported in pyramidal neurons of the hippocampal circuit. Aging and early AD chromatin were clearly differentiated by the increased epigenetic markers H3K9me3 (heterochromatin suppressive mark) and H3K4me3 (transcriptional euchromatin mark). At early AD stages, lamin B2 was redistributed to the nucleoplasm, indicating cell-cycle reactivation, probably induced by hippocampal nuclear pathology. At intermediate and late AD stages, higher lamin B2 immunopositivity in the perinucleus suggests fewer immature neurons, less neurogenesis, and fewer adaptation resources to environmental factors. In addition, senile samples showed increased nuclear Tau interacting with aged chromatin, likely favoring DNA repair and maintaining genomic stability. However, at late AD stages, the progressive disappearance of phosphorylated Tau forms in the nucleus, increased chromatin disorganization, and increased nuclear autophagy support a model of biphasic neurogenesis in AD. Therefore, designing therapies to alleviate the neuronal nuclear pathology might be the only pathway to a true rejuvenation of brain circuits.

Creditor fructus percepit, Sul pegno con patto anticretico

Summary Creditor fructus percepit, On pledge with a pactum antichreticum. – May the pledgee take the benefits of the res? Pledge did not allow it, there would have been theft (furtum usus). In fact, the thing given as pledge was excluded from any economic use. However, Roman law attests an agreement called ἀντίχρησις, which allowed the creditor to have the fruits of the res, under some conditions. Among the jurists only Marcianus uses this Greek term (in D.13,7,33 and D.20,1,11,1). In this paper, I wish to demonstrate that the antichresis has become part of Roman legal thought. The legal sources attest a late appearance of the antichresis (very late 2nd and early 3rd century AD), but some Severian constitutions suggest that it may already have been known in practice. The Greek word indicated its foreign origin, but Roman jurists called it simply pignus.

KEY CHALLENGES FACED BY ISLAMIC FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN SRI LANKA IN OFFERING SHARIAH COMPLIANT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Islamic banking and finance industry is a speedily and widely-ranging growing sector globally since its structured business initiation in the late 20th century AD. It is actual fact that Islamic and non Islamic nations are seriously concerning their curiosity to implement this potential banking and finance system in their countries and states presently as a result of negative impacts of burdensome interest system on their economics. At the same time, Islamic banking industry started its functions few decades ago among the influence of well established conventional banking and finance sector in Sri Lanka and it is developing gradually among the Muslims and other community people. However, it is notable that in Sri Lanka where Muslims are living minority level, the Islamic banking and financial institutions have to confront a number of challenges in their daily functions and the development as well. Consequently, the main objective of this study is to clarify the major Challenges faced by Islamic financial institutions in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the study is designed as qualitative method and personal direct interview with semi structured questionnaire is used in data collection. The questionnaire for interview is dealt with selected important matters relating to the particular study. Furthermore, the secondary data required is also collected and utilized from related literatures and sources. Descriptive statistic analytical techniques are used in data analyzing to carry out the study effectively. In this context, the findings reveal that there are many negative impacts faced by Islamic banking and financial institutions in Sri Lanka in the operations of offering Shariah compliant products and services by means of the major challenges. Consequently, it is much important to find proper solutions to overcome these challenges and in the development of the sector. KEY WORDS: Islamic Financial Institutions, Challenges, Shariah compliant, Sri Lanka, Finance Products and Financial Services

A\u03b2/tau oligomer interplay at human synapses supports shifting therapeutic targets for Alzheimer\u2019s disease

BackgroundAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by progressive cognitive decline due to accumulating synaptic insults by toxic oligomers of amyloid beta (AβO) and tau (TauO). There is growing consensus that preventing these oligomers from interacting with synapses might be an effective approach to treat AD. However, recent clinical trial failures suggest low effectiveness of targeting Aβ in late-stage AD. Researchers have redirected their attention toward TauO as the levels of this species increase later in disease pathogenesis. Here we show that AβO and TauO differentially target synapses and affect each other's binding dynamics.MethodsBinding of labeled, pre-formed Aβ and tau oligomers onto synaptosomes isolated from the hippocampus and frontal cortex of mouse and postmortem cognitively intact elderly human brains was evaluated using flow-cytometry and western blot analyses. Binding of labeled, pre-formed Aβ and tau oligomers onto mouse primary neurons was assessed using immunofluorescence assay. The synaptic dysfunction was measured by fluorescence analysis of single-synapse long-term potentiation (FASS-LTP) assay.ResultsWe demonstrated that higher TauO concentrations effectively outcompete AβO and become the prevailing synaptic-associated species. Conversely, high concentrations of AβO facilitate synaptic TauO recruitment. Immunofluorescence analyses of mouse primary cortical neurons confirmed differential synaptic binding dynamics of AβO and TauO. Moreover, in vivo experiments using old 3xTgAD mice ICV injected with either AβO or TauO fully supported these findings. Consistent with these observations, FASS-LTP analyses demonstrated that TauO-induced suppression of chemical LTP was exacerbated by AβO. Finally, predigestion with proteinase K abolished the ability of TauO to compete off AβO without affecting the ability of high AβO levels to increase synaptic TauO recruitment. Thus, unlike AβO, TauO effects on synaptosomes are hampered by the absence of protein substrate in the membrane.ConclusionsThese results introduce the concept that TauO become the main synaptotoxic species at late AD, thus supporting the hypothesis that TauO may be the most effective therapeutic target for clinically manifest AD.

Maternal Lineages of Gepids from Transylvania.

According to the written historical sources, the Gepids were a Germanic tribe that settled in the Carpathian Basin during the Migration Period. They were allies of the Huns, and an independent Gepid Kingdom arose after the collapse of the Hun Empire. In this period, the Carpathian Basin was characterized by so-called row-grave cemeteries. Due to the scarcity of historical and archaeological data, we have a poor knowledge of the origin and composition of these barbarian populations, and this is still a subject of debate. To better understand the genetic legacy of migration period societies, we obtained 46 full mitogenome sequences from three Gepid cemeteries located in Transylvania, Romania. The studied samples represent the Classical Gepidic period and illustrate the genetic make-up of this group from the late 5th and early 6th centuries AD, which is characterized by cultural markers associated with the Gepid culture in Transylvania. The genetic structure of the Gepid people is explored for the first time, providing new insights into the genetic makeup of this archaic group. The retrieved genetic data showed mainly the presence of Northwestern European mitochondrial ancient lineages in the Gepid group and all population genetic analyses reiterated the same genetic structure, showing that early ancient mitogenomes from Europe were the major contributors to the Gepid maternal genetic pool.

The Utilisation of Native Woodland in Norse Greenland

ABSTRACT Wood was a key raw material for past societies and no less so in the Arctic region where woodland is sparse. When Norse settlers came to Greenland in the late tenth century AD, the pristine environment had not been affected by other humans for centuries. It has been assumed that the Norse had a negative effect on the environment, with drastic woodland clearance resulting in a more or less treeless landscape, contributing to the eventual demise of the Norse Greenlandic society. Recent palynological studies indicate that the environmental impact was in fact more complex. Wood taxonomic analyses on artefacts and samples from five Norse Greenlandic sites (1000–1400 AD) show that 36% of the combined assemblages (total of 8552 pieces) derive from native woodland. Mostly, it was used to make small-sized objects, but it was also an important source of nutrients, fuel, fodder and insulation. The proportion of native woodland was significantly higher on medium-sized farms than at the one high-status farm studied, indicating that socioeconomic factors impacted wood acquisition. Although local woodlands could not sustain all the timber needs of the Norse Greenlanders, it made up a substantial component of their wood procurement strategies.