Abstract As a well-established practice, alcohol distillation represented a major technical development in the late Middle Ages. This analysis aims to interpret the alchemical instructions attributed to a certain Johannes Ungariae probably in the early fourteenth century, whose recipe circulated as far as Rome in the early modern period, attracting the interest of both a sixteenth- and an eighteenth-century collector. The manuscript with the incipit ‘Sic extrahendum quintam essentiam vini’ (Fol. 217, Sloan MS 3661.) has survived under the name of ‘John of Hungary’ as an alchemical recipe written in Latin, probably in 1322, as Ernő Simonyi has noted. In a comprehensive and coherent description of the underlying technology, Johannes Ungariae details the process of extracting the ‘quinta essentia’ of wine, a method conceived to operate at the boundary between spirit and matter. John Elyott's copy preserved in the Sloane Collection stands as a rare example of the tradition of alchymia operativa, the applied, hands-on alchemy, first brought to light by Simonyi in political exile in London in 1859. Studying the manuscript is the initial stage of a broader project that aims to contribute to our understanding of the networks of knowledge transmission.

The operation of the human brain relies on functional networks enabled by inter-areal oscillatory synchronization between neuronal populations. Although disruptions in this functional connectivity are associated with brain disorders, evidence on its healthy age-dependent variation and behavioral relevance remains limited. Utilizing magnetoencephalography (MEG) recordings from 576 adults aged 18-87 years, we investigated the evolution of resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) across the healthy adult lifespan. We observed age-related, frequency-specific changes in widespread cortical networks. Alpha-band (8-13 Hz) rs-FC decreased, while delta (1-4 Hz), theta (4-8 Hz), and gamma-band (40-90 Hz) rs-FC increased with age. Beta-band (13-30 Hz) rs-FC followed a non-linear trajectory, peaking in middle age. The global delta, theta, alpha, and beta-band patterns differed from concurrent changes in oscillatory power, underscoring their dissociable contributions. Notably, reduced beta-band rs-FC was associated with increased sensorimotor attenuation, indicating that changes in rs-FC are behaviorally relevant for sensorimotor function. These findings advance our understanding of healthy brain aging and highlight a link between resting-state brain activity and sensorimotor integration.

Obesity-induced cognitive impairment: Underlying mechanisms and therapeutic prospects.

The Orientalists were interested in studying the Arab and Islamic civilization as the greatest civilizations in the Middle Ages without dispute, to form their studies a war in which all kinds of charges and suspicions, the Orientalists from west to east have been fennel edited differently and their solution and intellectual tendencies to fight the Holy Quran in order to achieve two main objectives: to reduce the value of the Holy Quran, to weaken its status among Muslims and prevent the leakage of the principles of the Holy Quran and its ideas to their skin, to lose the Torah and the Gospels credibility and legitimacy and legitimacy. Many of the religious motives that centered around the Holy Quran because of the danger it posed to the facts contrary to what was stated in the Torah and the Gospels because the Holy Quran gave healing solutions to all the issues that Judaism and Christianity were unable to express just opinion on, and thus characterized the studies and orientalist writings about the Holy Qur'an by exaggerating the uncertainty and many assumptions, and relying on the weak opinions and abnormal of readings and similar verses, they believe history and do not believe the Holy Quran, they consider it a science or a subject on which different rules of the scientific method are conducted. From the study, research and analysis of the mere emotions, but considered him a accused standing before his judges and perhaps their ignorance of the secrets of the Arabic language was a reason for their non-subjectness, and thus varied the motives of the movement of Orientalism, as we find the motives of the movement of Orientalism, as we find the motives of the colonial, political, economic and scientific, and this arrangement is intended because the scientific motive is the last motive, which reflected the diversity of the means of the movement of Orientalism all their means based on scientific efforts that were mocked by orientalists for the studies of Arab literature and Islamic heritage to cover their failure

Depressive disorder in middle-aged and elderly adults: Evidence from global burden of disease and genetic analysis.

Bacteria and archaea are under-characterized in palaeoecological studies, despite their ubiquity, high diversity, and tight integration with the abiotic, biotic, and human-influenced environments. The complexity of their assemblages and difficulties in separating living- from paleo-prokaryotes render research challenging. Here we present an ancient metagenomic time-series of prokaryotes from a sediment core of Lake Constance, spanning the last 13 500years of natural and anthropogenic impact. We mapped DNA to reference genomes and characterised the DNA damage of taxa as collectively increasing with time. By constructing co-abundance networks, we recognize major assemblage groups, containing both dead and living microbes, that show specific dynamics: Short-term and often low-abundance assemblages are linked to the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, floods, and human activities. Noticeably, certain lineages harbouring microbes common in human-impacted environments expanded during the Middle Ages and Modern time. Some abundant taxa associated with various freshwater and soil environments persisted through millennia. By extricating different sources and trajectories of change, we demonstrate the power of prokaryotic sedimentary DNA in revealing nature- and human-caused long-term eco-evolutionary consequences.

Cancer can exacerbate social vulnerabilities, undermining follow-up care, screening, and survivorship. Yet, nationally representative data on multiple social risks among survivors are limited. This study estimated the prevalence of social risks among cancer survivors relative to adults without a cancer history. We analyzed 2022-2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data (n=472,531; weighted n=265.6 million). Seven social risks were assessed: food insecurity (two items), housing insecurity, utility insecurity, employment insecurity, transportation insecurity, and cost-related barrier to care. We estimated prevalence and absolute differences (ADs) by cancer history, stratified by age group. Among young adults (18-39), analyses were further stratified by Medicaid expansion status, race and ethnicity, and sex. Overall, 8.7% of adults reported a history of cancer. Survivors had higher prevalence of social risks in young adulthood, attenuated differences in middle age (40-64), and absent or reversed differences in older adulthood (65+). Among young adult survivors, ADs were larger in non-Medicaid expansion states for SNAP participation, housing and utility insecurity, and cost-related barrier to care. ADs were generally larger among non-Hispanic White adults, although racially and ethnically minoritized groups experienced higher prevalence across all social risks. ADs were also larger among males than females. Young adult cancer survivors bear the highest burden of social risks, with notable differences by Medicaid expansion status, and demographic factors such as race and ethnicity, and sex.

Abstract This study investigates long-term socio-economic transformations in prehistoric Kuyavia, Poland, through stable isotope analysis of human, animal and plant remains, combined with radiocarbon dating. A total of 84 human individuals, spanning from the Middle Neolithic to the Middle Bronze Age (around 4100–1230 cal BC), were analysed to reconstruct ancient diet and subsistence strategies, and their implications to reveal possible social stratification. Isotopic values from cattle provide insights into changing herding strategies and adaptations to diverse environments, while analyses of charred cereals contextualize plant-based dietary contributions and crop management practices, including varying levels of manuring. The results indicate marked dietary and economic variability: Middle and Late Neolithic farming groups relied primarily on cereals and cattle, while early Corded Ware communities appear to have occupied marginal ecological niches with distinctive herding strategies. From the Middle Bronze Age, isotopic evidence demonstrates the first substantial incorporation of millet into the human diet, representing the earliest widespread use of a C4 crop in the region. Variability in nitrogen isotope values suggests differential access to animal protein and possible social inequalities, particularly during the Early Bronze Age. Together, these findings highlight both continuity and transformation in prehistoric economies over more than two millennia, offering a refined archaeological perspective on cultural evolution in East-Central Europe and demonstrating the potential of stable isotope analysis and radiocarbon dating to reveal aspects of past lifeways not visible in material culture alone.

Focusing on the Agriculture sector of Punjab, it is quite evident that the use of pesticides in vegetable cultivation is done on an alarming and haphazard rate posing significant risk to human health and the environment. This is a clear outcome of lack of adequate knowledge about the proper and safe use of these chemicals amongst vegetable growers. This gap in knowledge results in unsafe handling, overuse, and misuse of pesticides, having adverse effects on crop quality, safety of farmers, and ecological balance. Due to lack of adequate studies regarding this gap in knowledge it is essential to assess the current level of knowledge among vegetable growers regarding safe pesticide use to identify educational needs and promote safer agricultural practices. This study was conducted during the year 2024-25 aimed to study the vegetable grower’s knowledge level regarding safe use of pesticides. Purposive cum random sampling technique was used and sample of 120 vegetable growers was taken from 4 blocks i.e. Dhuri, Moonak, Bhawanigarh and Sunam from Sangrur district of Punjab. For data collection a well-structured interview scheduled used. Ten independent variables were categorized and studied in relation to one dependent variable i.e. level of knowledge regarding safe use of pesticides. The study revealed that majority of the vegetable growers had education upto high school with middle age (35-55 years) had family size of 4-8 members, possessing land holding of 1-2 hectares and also had 2-6 hectares under vegetable cultivation. Majority of the vegetable growers were dependent on agriculture for their livelihood with farming experience of 9-16 years, annual income 4-13 lakhs and below 2 lakhs income from vegetable cultivation. Majority of the vegetable growers never attended any training regarding safe use of pesticides. The majority of vegetable growers had medium level of source of information and innovativeness. Majority of the vegetable growers had (49.17%) medium level of knowledge regarding safe use of pesticides.

Climate change has among its effects the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters, such as landslides, floods, erosion and fires, with clear implications on both natural and anthropic hazards and risks. These natural phenomenapose a growing threat to archaeological heritage through increased rates of soil erosion, flooding, and landslides. This study presents a multidisciplinary approach to assess the erosion risk affecting medieval rural settlements in the Basilicata Region of Southern Italy. This area is characterised by high-impact natural phenomena that have influenced settlement patterns in the past. The focus is on rural settlements that arose during the Middle Ages, some of which were abandoned as early as the late Middle Ages. This study has the dual objective of analysing the natural causes that may have led to the abandonment of many sites in ancient times and producing a predictive multi-risk map of the possible loss of cultural heritage sites. By integrating archaeological data, remote sensing, historical sources, and geospatial modelling, a multi-risk map was developed to identify areas at the highest risk. The results demonstrate the urgent need for proactive conservation strategies in the face of ongoing climatic change.

Current anthropometric cut-off points for defining overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity are based on predominantly Caucasian populations, raising questions about their applicability in ethnically and geographically diverse populations such as the Peruvian population. The lack of population-specific references limits the appropriate assessment of anthropometric distributions and cardiometabolic risk in Peruvian adults. To develop body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) percentile curves specific for the Peruvian adult population, stratified by age and sex. Analytical cross-sectional study based on data from the Demographic and Family Health Survey (DHS) 2015 to 2023. From an initial sample of 385,247 adults aged 20-97 years, 164,513 participants with complete anthropometric measurements and plausible values were included in the final analysis. Percentiles (P5, P10, P25, P50, P75, P85, P90, P95, P97) were calculated using the LMS (Lambda-Mu-Sigma) method for BMI, WC, and WHtR by five-year age groups and sex. The final sample included 164,513 participants (48.52% women, 51.48% men) with a mean (±standard deviation, SD) age of 44.38 ± 16.72 years. Mean BMI was 27.77 ± 4.80 kg/m². The prevalence of overweight was 42.16% and obesity 28.09% according to BMI criteria. Abdominal obesity varied dramatically according to the criterion used: 44.75% (ATP III) versus 68.31% (IDF) for WC, highlighting the problem of universal cut-off points. Sex-specific percentiles showed distinctive age patterns with increases until middle age followed by gradual decline. Altitude differences were clinically significant: 2.5-3.0 kg/m² for BMI, 4-6 cm for WC, and 0.04-0.06 units for WHtR between sea level versus high altitude (≥3000 m). Age- and sex-specific anthropometric percentiles reveal distinctive age patterns that differ substantially from international cut-off points. Classical criteria for abdominal obesity (ATP III, IDF) and WHtR (≥0.5) systematically overestimate prevalence in the Peruvian population, with discrepancies reaching differences of up to 23.5 percentage points between criteria. Altitude differences are clinically significant, suggesting specific physiological adaptations in Andean populations.

The aim of the study is to determine the relationships between immunogenetic parameters in patients after endoprosthetics of large joints with primary osteoarthritis and to identify prognostic criteria for the development of periprosthetic infection. Materials and methods . The study included 182 unrelated patients of middle (45–59) and elderly (60–74) age with primary osteoarthritis of large joints stage III who underwent total joint arthroplasty. Group 1 (n = 92) – patients with uncomplicated course. Group 2 (n = 90) – patients with development of periprosthetic infection. Control group – 92 practically healthy individuals. Research methods: clinical; laboratory (immunological – determination of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17A, TNFα, IFNγ; genetic – polymorphism of the gene IL-2 (T330G), IL-4 (C589T), IL-6 (C174G), IL-17A (G197A), TNFα (G308A)); instrumental (radiography). Statistical processing of the research results was carried out using the IBM SPSS Statistics Version 25.0 software package (IBM, USA). Results . The normalized importance was 54,2% for the IL-2 gene SNP (T330G), 100% for the IL-4 gene SNP (C589T), 24,5% for the IL-6 gene SNP (C174G), 13,7% for the IL-17A gene SNP (G197A), and 59,6% for the TNFα gene SNP (G308A). The prediction accuracy of the prognostic model was 97,3%, sensitivity 96,7%, specificity 97,8%, p < 0.001. Conclusion . The interactions of immunogenetic indicators revealed the prognostic value of determining the SNP of genes of immunoregulatory molecules in predicting periprosthetic infection in patients after endoprosthetics of large joints in primary osteoarthritis, without a significant decrease in the significance of the prognosis, both in the complex (IL-4 (C589T) x TNFα (G308A) x IL-17A (G197A) x IL-2 (T330G) x IL-6 (C174G), and in their more simplified interactions – IL-4 (C589T) x TNFα (G308A) and IL-4 (C589T) x TNFα (G308A) x IL-2 (T330G).

ABSTRACT This study investigates the lives, relationships, and religious activities of the fourteenth-century Icelander Benedikt Kolbeinsson and his immediate family members, especially his mother, aunt, brother, and children. It shows how we can better understand each member of the family in light of the actions of the others, especially pious donations and other interactions with churches and monasteries. Benedikt’s will, written in 1363, is interpreted in the context not only of his family’s close relations with the Church but also their violence, sinful behaviour, and penance. This family can be more thoroughly explored than most because of an unusual quantity of evidence in documents, annals, and the episcopal biography Lárentíus saga. They are in some ways unique – for multiple reasons, including their close involvement with the foundation and early growth of the convent of Reynistaðr – but they still provide a useful case study for better understanding the wider relationship between the laity, bishops, and Benedictine monasteries as Iceland entered the late Middle Ages.

ABSTRACT This paper explores the part played by social class and age in the retailing and consumption of men’s clothes in English provincial towns in the decades leading up to the First World War, making use of the business records of two contrasted small-scale retailers. The firms had more in common than might be supposed in terms of the social backgrounds of their customers and class boundaries were far from rigid when it came to the kinds of shops that men patronised. The findings reveal a nuanced picture of consumption. Many middle-class men purchased more of a mixture of formal and relaxed styles than might be expected from a class-specific trend towards relaxed and versatile clothing and men from the lower middle and working-classes often invested a lot in their attire compared with upper middle-class professionals. Finely tailored clothes seem to have had declining utility and lower priority for middle-class men after early middle age, and to have been far less affordable for working-class men as their earning capacity declined. At the opposite end of the age spectrum, purchasing by some young men suggests that economic dependence, as well as class, could be a factor in excessive consumption.

Aimed at integrating knowledge of the Mesozoic succession of eastern Sardinia, two sections of Cenomanian and Santonian ages are presented, and their lithostratigraphical, palaeontological, and biostratigraphical features are described in detail. The former section (Lanaittu, Oliena territory), is composed of upper Cenomanian pelagic limestones unconformably lying on Hauterivian shelf limestones through a fossiliferous conglomeratic hardground of middle Cenomanian age; the latter section (Orosei area), consists of Santonian chalk with basal encrinite that unconformably lies on a conglomeratic hardground of late Albian age, in turn erosively resting on a folded substratum of Lower Cretaceous limestones. The mid-Cretaceous and Santonian unconformities present in both sections and in other Cretaceous successions of Sardinia are significant for reconstructing the palaeotectonic history of the island within the geological evolution of the Tethyan domain. The mid-Cretaceous event is interpreted to be related to the SE-directed subduction of the W Ligurian Ocean, which was triggered by the sinistral motion of Iberia with respect to Europe. The Santonian event is attributed to the change to more orthogonal convergence, accompanied by the onset of forebulge development in Sardinia.

ABSTRACT Altar foundation, also called chantry foundation, was practised by elite benefactors within the Nidaros province, but has yet to receive much scholarly attention. The practice is documented in this church province from the late thirteenth century onward and remained significant until the Reformation in the early sixteenth century. This article explores the practice as it appears in the surviving source material and considers its role as a means for elites to influence ecclesiastical networks and local communities, and finds that the often-claimed jus praesentandi allowed members of the nobility to appoint altar priests from within their own kin groups. Furthermore, the patrons’ ability to define the altar priests’ duties granted them agency to shape both the liturgy and everyday life within carefully chosen churches, chapels, and cathedrals.

A study in VigiBase of clozapine fatal outcomes in 7874 middle-aged versus 4380 young adults.

Facial soft tissue thickness (FSTT) includes the layers from the bone to the skin surface and is influenced by various factors. Ultrasound (US) serves as one modality for FSTT measurement. This study aimed to explore fundamental data regarding FSTT and examined the association of FSTT and sex, age, body mass index (BMI), and facial side. B-mode US was used to measure FSTT at 11 midline and 32 bilateral landmarks in 100 unembalmed cadavers within 120h postmortem. The association of FSTT with sex, age, BMI, and facial side, were analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistics, with statistical significance set at a p-value of less than 0.05. The parotid-masseteric region was the thickest with the most variation, while the nose was the thinnest. BMI played a significant role, with significant differences in FSTT across all landmarks between underweight and normal BMI groups. Females generally exhibited thicker FSTT, particularly significant difference in the mid-infraorbital, endocanthion, gonion, and mid-mandibular border areas. However, males had greater thickness in nasal and perioral regions, especially significant at the prosthion and supracanine landmarks. Aging had a minimal impact on FSTT in individuals over 50, with only the mid-philtrum and labrale inferius showing age-related significant differences. Facial asymmetry was observed, with significant variations in the lateral perioral and buccal regions between the left and right sides. Sex, age, BMI, and facial side each influence FSTT, though their effects vary in magnitude across different facial regions. This data enhances foundational facial anatomy, guides aesthetic procedures in underweight and normal-weight individuals, and supports forensic facial reconstruction.

ABSTRACT Southern African Middle Stone Age research has largely focused on the region’s coastal caves and rock-shelters, while its semi-arid interior remains under-investigated due to the assumption of limited stratified deposits. Nevertheless, as recent studies prove, this region also possesses potential for contributing to Palaeolithic archaeology. This study presents surveys and excavations in southern Botswana that documented Pleistocene quartzite lithic artefacts near quartzite outcrops and pans (palaeolakes). Excavations at Maralaleng Pan and Itireleng yielded stone artefacts on and below the surface, providing new information about Pleistocene habitation in this region. This paper presents the abundance, condition and spatial distribution of lithic artefacts within an open-air context, connecting them to potential occupational windows within this landscape. Generally, damaged and weathered artefacts are scattered at quartzite outcrops close to pans. Flakes are the most abundant artefact type in every unit, while cores are less common and mostly present at the raw material outcrops. A likely scenario is that the artefacts were manufactured at the raw material outcrops. Various spots of lithic concentrations are influenced by natural processes and are also indicators of occupational windows in a changing landscape. This study aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of human development in the southern Kalahari during the Pleistocene.

Current research on risk factors of dementia predominantly focuses on genetics and lifestyle, yet maternal influences are understudied; we aimed to examine how maternal age at childbirth affects offspring's cognitive function in middle and older age. Data were derived from 3549 offspring in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS; 2011-2018). Maternal age was categorized into four groups (<22, 22-28, 29-35, and >35 years). Linear mixed‑effects models were used to estimate baseline differences and longitudinal rates of change, with covariates adjusted in a hierarchical sequence (demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, and health‑related). The negative association between advanced maternal age (>35years) and offspring baseline cognitive score attenuated with sequential covariate adjustment but remained significant: it was -0.290 SD (95% CI: -0.486, -0.093) in Model1 and -0.223SD (95% CI: -0.422, -0.024) in the final Model4. No significant difference in the rate of cognitive decline was observed across maternal age groups. This finding suggests that advanced maternal age is associated with poorer cognitive performance at baseline in middle and older age. Future studies should replicate these findings in diverse global populations and settings with longer follow-up periods to clarify the complex relationship between maternal age at childbirth and offspring's cognitive aging. Patients or the public were not involved in the design, conduct, reporting, or dissemination plans of our research.