Specialized Sites Research Articles

The Early Natufian Site of Hof Shahaf, Israel: Subsistence, Environment, and Settlement Dynamics

The terminal Pleistocene Natufian Culture of the Levant is one of the best-documented cases of preagricultural sedentism in prehistory, thanks to the proliferation of durable architecture, burial grounds, and intensified socioeconomic practices. Hof Shahaf, located on the shore of Lake Kinneret in Israel, is a recently excavated Natufian site whose interpretation presents a conundrum. On the one hand, the site produced evidence of architecture, burial, and diverse subsistence practices, just like the rich and permanently occupied hamlets of this culture. On the other hand, it clearly diverged in the meager accumulation of artifacts (lithics and fauna) and an apparent absence of aquatic resource exploitation. Here, we aim to understand the nature of habitation at Hof Shahaf: whether it was a sedentary hamlet, an ephemeral residential camp, or a task-specific logistic locality. The latter two site types are not well documented in the Early Natufian of the Mediterranean climate zone. We provide a zooarchaeological and taphonomic account of the site, supplemented with lithic data, to investigate the paleoenvironment, subsistence, and site-occupation intensity, all against the backdrop of a specific setting (one of the lowest recorded lake stands). Our results indicate that the site primarily falls within a middle ground between classic sedentary hamlets and more specialized sites. It may have functioned as an ephemeral residential camp for foragers traveling to the Kinneret Basin for specific or seasonal tasks. Nevertheless, the site still held some significance, evidenced by the investment in building a large structure and burying the dead.

Catering establishments in the everyday life of urban residents

The article is devoted to the analysis of consumer preferences and behavioral practices of urban residents in the catering market. The conceptual framework of the study was the theory of "third places" – spaces outside home and work that create conditions for full communication of visitors. The empirical basis of the study was the results of an online survey conducted among the residents of Ekaterinburg in 2024 (n=610). The study tested the hypothesis about the significance of the socio-communicative function of catering establishments in the perception of citizens. The results of the study showed the important role of catering establishments in the everyday life of urban residents: the behavioral practices of urban residents indicate the regularity of visits to catering establishments regardless of the day of the week, the preference for evening visiting time, more frequent use of actual visits compared to the use of ready meal delivery services. Consumer preferences of citizens in the catering market are characterized by a clearly expressed communicative dominance, confirming the importance of the social function of catering establishments. The most significant motive for visiting catering establishments is communicating with friends and relatives. The most popular venues are those that provide the best atmospheric and spatial opportunities for "live" communication. Among the factors for choosing catering establishments, the leading ones are the "internal" factors of the establishment – food quality, hygiene and safety, service, menu and variety of dishes, and the atmosphere created. External factors – reviews on the Internet, ratings of establishments on specialized sites, recommendations of food bloggers – do not have a decisive influence on the choice of consumers. The results of the study can be used to improve the quality of service in the catering industry and to develop an effective promotion strategy of enterprises in this sphere.

Salt in Late Iron Age Italy. A multidisciplinary approach to the exploration of Italy’s coastal exploitation sites: Piscina Torta (Ostia, Rome) case study

During the Copper Age and onwards, unique archaeological sites emerged throughout Europe. These sites exhibit distinct features such as the absence of typical household pottery, the presence of kilns, and extensive layers composed solely of fragments of reddish-brown jars. Scholars generally interpret these sites as specialized locations for salt production through the technique of boiling saltwater, known as briquetage. In Italy, many of these sites are found along the Tyrrhenian coast and span from the Middle Bronze Age to the Roman era, with a particular concentration during the early Iron Age. However, the archaeological evidence in Italy differs from that of other European sites, suggesting that these Italian sites were not solely dedicated to salt production but also involved other economic activities. To delve deeper into the understanding of these sites and their socio-economic context, the University of Groningen initiated the Salt & Power: Early States, Rome and Resource Control project in 2021. The project aims to comprehensively analyze these sites and shed light on the production of salt within their broader societal and economic framework.In this contribution, we present preliminary findings derived from intensive surveys, coring campaigns, and geophysical investigations conducted at one such site, Piscina Torta. This site is believed to be connected to the city of Rome and dates back to the 7th and 6th centuries BCE. Furthermore, we propose a multidisciplinary workflow for studying specialized sites, incorporating various research methodologies and disciplines.

Virtual university education: opportunities to respond to current changes and challenges

Virtual education at the university has become a reference to undertake actions with great contributions to current higher education. In relation to this, the general objective of this study was to analyze virtual university education as an opportunity to respond to current changes. To this end, a review of a series of research works related to the subject was carried out. From the methodological point of view, content analysis was used, through a documentary-bibliographic review of studies published in recent years; however, information from previous years, considered of value for this research, was also taken into account. For the compilation of information sources, the Internet database of reliable specialized academic sites was used. The most relevant results show that virtual education in higher education is a valuable tool that offers multiple possibilities for the development of the teaching-learning process in an environment consonant with today's educational demands. It is concluded that the incorporation of the virtual university education approach as a process of learning facilitation in national universities, contributes to the necessary transformation that the current reality imposes in terms of what corresponds to the university academic formation of a quality, competent graduate, who responds to the demands of the highly changing and demanding environment.

A method to study human synaptic protein-protein interactions by using flow cytometry coupled to proximity ligation assay (Syn-FlowPLA)

BackgroundSynapses are highly specialized sites characterized by intricate networks of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) important to maintain healthy synapses. Therefore, mapping these networks could address unsolved questions about human cognition, synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory in physiological and pathological conditions. The limitation of analyzing synaptic interactions in living humans has led to the development of methods to isolate synaptic terminals (synaptosomes) from cryopreserved human brains. New methodHere, we established a method to detect synaptic PPIs by applying flow cytometric proximity ligation assay (FlowPLA) to synaptosomes isolated from frozen human frontal cortex (FC) and hippocampus (HP) (Syn-FlowPLA). ResultsApplying this method in synaptosomes, we were able to detect the known post-synaptic interactions between distinct subtypes of N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptors (NMDARs) and their anchoring postsynaptic density 95 protein (PSD95). Moreover, we detected the known pre-synaptic interactions between the SNARE complex proteins synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP25), synaptobrevin (VAMP2), and syntaxin 1a (STX1A). As a negative control, we analyzed the interaction between mitochondrial superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) and PSD95, which are not expected to be physically associated. Comparison with existing methodsPPIs have been studied in vitro primarily by co-immunoprecipitation, affinity chromatography, protein-fragment complementation assays (PCAs), and flow cytometry. All these are valid approaches; however, they require more steps or combination with other techniques. PLA technology identifies PPIs with high specificity and sensitivity. ConclusionsThe Syn-FlowPLA described here allows rapid analyses of PPIs, specifically within the synaptic compartment isolated from frozen autopsy specimens, achieving greater target sensitivity. Syn-FlowPLA, as presented here, is therefore a useful method to study human synaptic PPI in physiological and pathological conditions.

Early Endothelial Signaling Transduction in Developing Lung Edema.

The lung promptly responds to edemagenic conditions through functional adaptations that contrast the increase in microvascular filtration. This review presents evidence for early signaling transduction by endothelial lung cells in two experimental animal models of edema, hypoxia exposure, and fluid overload (hydraulic edema). The potential role of specialized sites of the plasma membranes considered mobile signaling platforms, referred to as membrane rafts, that include caveolae and lipid rafts, is presented. The hypothesis is put forward that early changes in the lipid composition of the bilayer of the plasma membrane might trigger the signal transduction process when facing changes in the pericellular microenvironment caused by edema. Evidence is provided that for an increase in the extravascular lung water volume not exceeding 10%, changes in the composition of the plasma membrane of endothelial cells are evoked in response to mechanical stimuli from the interstitial compartment as well as chemical stimuli relating with changes in the concentration of the disassembled portions of structural macromolecules. In hypoxia, thinning of endothelial cells, a decrease in caveolae and AQP-1, and an increase in lipid rafts are observed. The interpretation of this response is that it favors oxygen diffusion and hinder trans-cellular water fluxes. In hydraulic edema, which generates greater capillary water leakages, an increase in cell volume and opposite changes in membrane rafts were observed; further, the remarkable increase in caveolae suggests a potential abluminal-luminal vesicular-dependent fluid reabsorption.

Boosting location of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine regulates the germinal center reaction

Abstract Germinal centers (GCs) are the specialized sites for B cells to differentiate into long-lived plasma cells or memory B cells during vaccinations. COVID-19 mRNA vaccines require boosting to mount high levels of neutralizing antibody responses. mRNA vaccines induce persistent GCs in the draining lymph nodes (dLNs), which might change the microenvironment for subsequent immunizations. It is unclear whether the site of booster immunization (ipsilateral versus contralateral) will affect the GC responses in the dLNs. To test this, we compared GC responses induced by ipsilateral and contralateral booster vaccination three weeks post the primary immunization in mice. Although these two boosting strategies induce similar numbers of GC B cells in the dLNs, we discovered that ipsilateral boosting elicits more SARS-CoV-2 RBD-specific GC B cells than contralateral boosting. However, very few RBD-specific GC B cells were differentiating into plasma cells as probed by BCL6 lowIRF4 highPC precursors within the GC B cell population. Serum antibody levels were comparable between these boosting strategies, suggesting the memory recall response was not different. These studies suggest boosting location of COVID19 mRNA vaccines might affect RBD-specific GC B cell responses. Future studies are needed to investigate whether boosting location may impact the persistence of neutralizing antibody response induced by COVID19 mRNA vaccines.

Roles of Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphorylation in Non-vesicular Cholesterol Trafficking.

Cholesterol (Chol) is an essential component of all eukaryotic cell membranes that affects the function of numerous peripheral as well as integral membrane proteins. Chol is synthesized in the ER, but it is selectively enriched within the plasma membrane (PM) and other endomembranes, which requires Chol to cross the aqueous phase of the cytoplasm. In addition to the classical vesicular trafficking pathways that are known to facilitate the bulk transport of membrane intermediates, Chol is also transported via non-vesicular lipid transfer proteins that work primarily within specialized membrane contact sites. Some of these transport pathways work against established concentration gradients and hence require energy. Recent studies highlight the unique role of phosphoinositides (PPIns), and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P) in particular, for the control of non-vesicular Chol transport. In this chapter, we will review the emerging connection between Chol, PPIns, and lipid transfer proteins that include the important family of oxysterol-binding protein related proteins, or ORPs.

A Single-Institution Cohort Study With Nevi of Special Site: Recurrence, Progression to Melanoma, and Patterns of Management.

Nevi of specialized sites (NOSS) occur on the scalp, ears, flexural, acral, and genital areas and display atypical clinical and histologic features. We assessed NOSS recurrence and progression to melanoma, management patterns, and associations between histologic features and treatment recommendations. We queried all histologic diagnoses of NOSS (n = 275) from 2012 to 2017 from a large U.S. academic medical center with reference dermatopathology laboratory and matched these to clinical records. A blinded panel of dermatopathologists re-evaluated lesions, catalogued histologic findings, and gave management recommendation. Associations with dermatopathologist decision and concordance between new and original recommendations were assessed. Of 117 cases with follow-up, 2 locally recurred (1.46%) and none eventuated in melanoma. Clinical features were not associated with original treatment recommendations. After histopathologic review, large melanocytes [odds ratio ratio (ORR) = 8.00, 95% CI, 1.35-47.4] and junctional mitotic figures (ORR = 65.0, 6.5-650) predicted excision recommendation. Likewise, accumulation of many (>9) high-risk features was associated with excision recommendation. Panel review changed treatment recommendation in 27% of cases. Fair concordance existed between original and panel recommendations (κ = 0.29, 0.15-0.44). The low rate of recurrence and lack of melanoma occurrence suggest that despite an atypical clinical and histopathologic appearance, these nevi have limited potential for malignant transformation. Histopathologic findings seem to be principal drivers behind the recommendation for excision in this analysis. Variability existed in treatment recommendations; the panel's consensus recommendation tended to downgrade treatment. This highlights the importance of further outcomes-based studies to identify true high-risk features and refine management guidelines.

Интернет как средство поиска работы и персонала

In order to determine the real level of interaction between applicants and employers using Internet resources within the framework of the electronic labor market, an analysis of the allocated communication channels in the labor market was carried out. It turned out that today most large companies and job seekers in the labor market resort to the use of Internet resources. Meanwhile, the study of modern realities proves that this tool is not fully disclosed in practice.
 The results of the study revealed the following: companies use the capabilities of their own sites in different ways; the use of modern specialized work sites is built into the strategy of filling vacancies not by all organizations, while the functionality of the sites themselves is limited; despite the high attendance of applicants for social networks, the mechanism of using the latter as a channel of interaction in the labor market is at the formation stage.

Demonstration exam as a form of state final certification for programs of secondary vocational education

The demonstration exam has become a new type of certifi cation procedures that are included in the state fi nal certifi cation of secondary vocational education programs with the introduction of a new format of educational standards in the Russian Federation. Conducting certifi cation using the mechanism of a demonstration exam involves a variety of types of certifi cation, including: taking into account the experience of WorldSkills, in accordance with the requirements of professional standards, taking into account the requirements of corporate standards of employers.In 2021, the Tikhoretsky Technical School of Railway Transport, a branch of the Rostov State University of Railways, gained experience in conducting state fi nal certifi cation in the specialty 38.02.01 Economics and Accounting (by industry) in the form of a demonstration exam according to WorldSkills standards in the competence R41 "Accounting". TTZHT is a branch of the RSUPS, one of the fi rst technical schools included in the structure of the FGBOU IN the RSUPS, which conducted the GIA in the form of a demonstration exam.In the process of preparing for the demo exam, in accordance with the requirements of the set of evaluation documentation, an examination platform (CPDE) was prepared and accredited, an electronic certifi cate of the CPDE was obtained, representatives of enterprises were trained for experts. The expert group included certifi ed experts, specialists of the Federal Treasury Department for the Krasnodar Territory and the Department of State Statistics in the city of Tikhoretsk.After the successful completion of the demonstration exam procedure, all participants received a Passport of Competencies.Based on the experience of conducting GIA in the form of a demonstration exam, taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of the new form of GIA, the college continues to equip specialized sites for conducting a demonstration exam on the WorldSkills model in other specialties.The implementation of new requirements of educational standards, the development of the expert community, the interaction of educational organizations brings changes to the system of secondary vocational education and sets the pace of its development.

Eurointegration aspects of public housing policy in forming public health strategies in Ukraine

In article the domestic legislative and regulatory documents, materials of bodies of public authority, non-governmental organizations, materials of specialized sites are considered. The article used both basic interdisciplinary and systematic approaches, methods of analysis and synthesis, modeling. The purpose of article is to develop complexes of tools to stimulate citizens’ participation in formation and realization of the public housing policy and public health policy according to different levels of their housing self-sufficiency. The study proved that the categorical apparatus is being improved in the field of science “Public Administration” in the context of defining the concept of “residential self-sufficiency of the population”. This is the ability of citizens, depending on their material wealth, social situation, cultural and aesthetic preference, local traditions to satisfy their basic needs for the use or possession of secure housing and land on a temporary or permanent basis. The importance of connection of public housing policy with the public health system based on the selfsufficiency of the local community has also been proven. The complexes of tools for stimulating the participation of the population in the formation and implementation of the state housing policy for groups of the population are defined, depending on the level of their housing self-sufficiency. Establishing a link between social policies for vulnerable groups of the population, the state of health of citizens and the level of their housing self-sufficiency will allow developing transversal approaches to housing construction and public health policy in general. Establishing the relationship between the state of health of citizens and the level of their living self-sufficiency will allow developing approaches to public housing policy and public health policy.

Development of competencies according to WorldSkills Russia standards and opening of championship lines

The appearance of the new federal educational standards for secondary vocational education has given rise to two tools: the WorldSkills competitive movement and the independent assessment of qualifications. Today, the state final certification should be conducted in the form of a defense of the final qualification work, in the form of a thesis (diploma project) and a demonstration exam, which requires specialized sites (equipped with modern technological equipment) that allow you to perform tasks that are provided for in the passport of competencies according to the WorldSkills model. This entails financial costs for educational organizations: either for the participation and use of a specialized site on the basis of a third-party organization, or for the creation of new competencies and the development of the material and technical base of their educational institution.The article describes the experience of the teachers of the Tikhoretsk Technical School of Railway Transport in developing competencies according to WorldSkills standards, as well as the problems and ways of developing championship lines in railway specialties. The creation of new competencies, the development of an expert community, the interaction of educational organizations and the holding of competitions according to WorldSkills standards brings changes to the system of secondary vocational education and sets the pace in the development of championship lines.

Aposematism facilitates the diversification of parental care strategies in poison frogs

Many organisms have evolved adaptations to increase the odds of survival of their offspring. Parental care has evolved several times in animals including ectotherms. In amphibians, ~ 10% of species exhibit parental care. Among these, poison frogs (Dendrobatidae) are well-known for their extensive care, which includes egg guarding, larval transport, and specialized tadpole provisioning with trophic eggs. At least one third of dendrobatids displaying aposematism by exhibiting warning coloration that informs potential predators about the presence of defensive skin toxins. Aposematism has a central role in poison frog diversification, including diet specialization, and visual and acoustic communication; and it is thought to have impacted their reproductive biology as well. We tested the latter association using multivariate phylogenetic methods at the family level. Our results show complex relationships between aposematism and certain aspects of the reproductive biology in dendrobatids. In particular, aposematic species tend to use more specialized tadpole-deposition sites, such as phytotelmata, and ferry fewer tadpoles than non-aposematic species. We propose that aposematism may have facilitated the diversification of microhabitat use in dendrobatids in the context of reproduction. Furthermore, the use of resource-limited tadpole-deposition environments may have evolved in tandem with an optimal reproductive strategy characterized by few offspring, biparental care, and female provisioning of food in the form of unfertilized eggs. We also found that in phytotelm-breeders, the rate of transition from cryptic to aposematic phenotype is 17 to 19 times higher than vice versa. Therefore, we infer that the aposematism in dendrobatids might serve as an umbrella trait for the evolution and maintenance of their complex offspring-caring activities.

Optimistic and Pessimistic Scenarios for Development of Feeder Network of the Arctic Transport System Based on Achievement of Target Indicators

The relevance of the article is determined by the increasing role of the Arctic transport system in the economy of the Russian Federation: involvement of territories of the Arctic zone of the country in economic activities, an increase in their social and economic potential. The development of the northern territories is directly related to existing and future capabilities of the Arctic transport system, for successful functioning of which it is necessary to provide it with feeder transport network.The objective of the work is to determine the scenarios according to which development of these feeder roads can be carried out. When writing the article, the methods of systemic, comparative, and statistical analysis were particularly used.The paper clarifies the definition of the Arctic transport system. It is noted that scenarios for development of feeder routes to it should be linked to its general development, as well as to the development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. The European and Ural Arctic subregion is highlighted, where development of feeder routes is most important in connection with the growth of economic activity on Yamal Peninsula. With reference to the works of domestic and foreign authors, strategic planning documents of the Russian Federation, it is assumed that according to the degree of achievement of target indicators of traffic volumes along the Northern Sea Route, optimistic and pessimistic scenarios for formation of feeder network can be activated. The final implementation of one of those scenarios is determined by political, natural, and other risks.When developing scenarios for formation of transport feeder network to the Arctic transport system, the emergence of new modes of transport should be considered. New modes of transport can provide linking of remote objects to the trunk transport networks or eliminate the gaps emerging in them.The use of new modes of transport in the Russian Arctic should be carried out only after testing at specialized test sites, where their safety for transportation of passengers and goods, as well as for the environment, will be determined.The work was carried out within the framework of the comprehensive program of fundamental scientific research of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences for 2018–2020 and is associated with the need to increase the capacity of the main ports of the European and Ural Arctic and the volume of traffic along the Northern Sea Route.

The multi-domain protein Piccolo is a versatile scaffolding protein with pleiotropic functions in the brain

The human brain is a complex network of billions of neurons accompanied by astrocytes and microglia among others [1]. Neurons communicate via specialized sites of cell-cell contacts called synapses, where information is transmitted via the presynaptic release of neurotransmitter from synaptic vesicles (SVs) [2].

Myosin V Regulates Spatial Localization of Different Forms of Neurotransmitter Release in Central Synapses.

Synaptic active zone (AZ) contains multiple specialized release sites for vesicle fusion. The utilization of release sites is regulated to determine spatiotemporal organization of the two main forms of synchronous release, uni-vesicular (UVR) and multi-vesicular (MVR). We previously found that the vesicle-associated molecular motor myosin V regulates temporal utilization of release sites by controlling vesicle anchoring at release sites in an activity-dependent manner. Here we show that acute inhibition of myosin V shifts preferential location of vesicle docking away from AZ center toward periphery, and results in a corresponding spatial shift in utilization of release sites during UVR. Similarly, inhibition of myosin V also reduces preferential utilization of central release sites during MVR, leading to more spatially distributed and temporally uniform MVR that occurs farther away from the AZ center. Using a modeling approach, we provide a conceptual framework that unites spatial and temporal functions of myosin V in vesicle release by controlling the gradient of release site release probability across the AZ, which in turn determines the spatiotemporal organization of both UVR and MVR. Thus myosin V regulates both temporal and spatial utilization of release sites during two main forms of synchronous release.

Estudos ecogeográficos de Eplingiella fruticosa (Salzm. Ex Benth. Harley& J.F.B. Pastore): Uma espécie medicinal do semiárido do Brasil

A Lamiaceae é uma família de plantas com importantes aptidão medicinal, entre elas, a Eplingiella fruticosa (Salzm. Ex Benth. Harley& J.F.B. Pastore). Como a exploração desse vegetal dá-se de forma extrativista, existe um potencial risco de erosão genética, o que torna essencial estudos que incrementem estratégias de conservação, domesticação e melhoramento. O objetivo foi realizar estudos ecogeográficos com vistas a identificar interações do ambiente que possam ser preditivas do crescimento e desenvolvimento da espécie. Foram levantados dados edáficos, climáticos, relevo, geomorfológicos, fitogeográficos e biomas, nos sítios de ocorrência natural, nas mesorregiões do centro-norte, nordeste, metropolitana de Salvador na Bahia e mesorregiões leste e agreste no estado de Sergipe. As informações foram coletadas em visitas in situ e coletados em sites especializados como IBGE, INPE, INMET e EMBRAPA. Os dados foram submetidos a análise estatística (PCA). Concluiu-se que o ambiente de crescimento da espécie, tipifica-se como de solos arenosos, baixa fertilidade, elevado concentração e teor de alumínio (Al+3), nos domínios do bioma caatinga, mata atlântica e agreste dos estados Ba e SE, em uma larga faixa de adaptação às variantes de temperatura, chuva e altitude.

Constructing Sexual Fields: Chinese Gay Men’s Dating Practices Among Pluralized Dating Apps

In this study, we draw on sexual field theory to examine the structural nature of metropolitan Chinese gay men’s mobile dating practices in a polymedia environment where one can access an array of dating apps. We define structures of desire in the sexual field as not only the transpersonal valuations of desirability but also the dominance of particular desires that coordinate actors’ expectations and practices. Based on interviews with 52 urban Chinese gay men, we discuss the differing structures of desire hosted by four dating apps: Aloha, Blued, Grindr, and Tinder. Our analysis indicates that factors such as design features of dating apps, marketing strategies of app companies, and internet regulations have shaped the structures of desire by unevenly distributing the platform access to users across social classes and territorial divisions and (dis)enabling particular communicative practices in collective sexual life to different extents. The distance-sorted display of nearby users contributes to the predominance of immediate hook-ups on Blued and Grindr, while the matching mechanism of Aloha and Tinder functions as a “speed bump” and nourishes users’ expectations for lasting connections. As Blued is the most popular gay dating app on the heavily guarded Chinese internet market, the diversity of its users drives away many metropolitan middle-class gay men who only desire their own kind. In comparison, Aloha, Grindr, and Tinder, with smaller user bases, are more specialized sexual sites where the dominant currency of sexual capital reflects the middle-class standard for “quality.”

Risks associated with cosmetic ingredients

The media and social networks often echo fears about the potential toxicity of cosmetics and the dangers they pose to the environment. Dermatologists may be asked about these topics, but despite regulatory labelling constraints and the proliferation of specialized sites and applications, they do not always have access to reliable information. It is for this reason that we are providing the present overview of current knowledge on the subject.