Past bioarchaeological analyses of human remains from the Early Christian Period site of Kulubnarti, Nubia (550-800 CE), have revealed differences in patterns of stress between two contemporaneous cemeteries (mainland [21-R-2] and island [21-S-46]) that are thought to represent separate socioeconomic groups. However, to this point, differences in activity between cemetery groups and sexes at Kulubnarti have been poorly understood. In this study, we compare patterns of two nonmetric traits (Poirier's facets and plaque) that occur on the proximal femur and have been linked to activity and femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) to better understand activity patterns at Kulubnarti. The remains of 134 adult individuals (252 femora) from two cemeteries at Kulubnarti were analyzed for the presence of Poirier's facet, plaque, and FAI. Frequencies of Poirier's facet and plaque were significantly different between cemeteries and sexes, and Poirier's facet was found only in males. Morphology consistent with FAI was significantly more common in males, and patterns of FAI morphology were different between cemeteries. Patterns in the frequencies of Poirier's facet, plaque, and FAI may indicate a difference in activity between sexes and cemeteries (socioeconomic groups), possibly related to the intensity of agricultural activity. Poirier's facet and plaque may arise via similar processes to FAI in modern athletes or may be different forms of FAI. New work should be undertaken to clarify the etiologies of Poirier's facets and plaque and to better understand their relationship to FAI. KEYWORDS activity reconstruction, bioarchaeology, cam deformity, femoral plaque, femoroacetabular impingement, Poirier's facet
Phenological shifts represent one of the most robust bioindicators of climate change. While considerable multidecadal records of plant and animal phenology exist for the northern hemisphere, few noteworthy records are available for the southern hemisphere. We present one of the first phenological records of fish migration for the southern hemisphere, and one of the only phenological records for the southwest Indian Ocean. The so-called ‘sardine run’ – an annual winter migration of sardines, northeast of their summer spawning grounds on the Agulhas Bank off the coast of Durban, South Africa – has been well documented in local newspapers given the importance placed on fishing and fishing-tourism in the region. An analysis of the first arrival dates of sardines reveals a 1.3 day per decade delay over the period 1946–2012. Although this phenological shift reveals a poor association with sea surface temperatures (SST), it coincides with a poleward shift in the position of the 21 °C mean annual SST isotherm – the threshold temperature for sardine populations. The timing of sardine arrivals near Durban corresponds closely with the number of mid-latitude cyclones passing over the Durban coastline during the months of April and May. The strength of the run is strongly associated with ENSO conditions. The complex suite of factors associated with this phenological shift poses challenges in accurately modelling the future trajectory for this migratory event.
Phenotypic heterogeneity is a common feature of monogenic neurodevelopmental disorders that can arise from differential severity of missense variants underlying disease, but how distinct alleles impact molecular mechanisms to drive variable disease presentation is not well understood. Here, we investigate missense mutations in the DNA methyltransferase DNMT3A associated with variable overgrowth, intellectual disability, and autism, to uncover molecular correlates of phenotypic heterogeneity in neurodevelopmental disease. We generate a DNMT3A P900L/+ mouse model mimicking a disease mutation with mild-to-moderate severity and compare phenotypic and epigenomic effects with a severe R878H mutation. We show that the P900L mutation leads to disease-relevant overgrowth, obesity, and social deficits shared across DNMT3A disorder models, while the R878H mutation causes more extensive epigenomic disruption leading to differential dysregulation of enhancers elements. We identify distinct gene sets disrupted in each mutant which may contribute to mild or severe disease, and detect shared transcriptomic disruption that likely drives common phenotypes across affected individuals. Finally, we demonstrate that core gene dysregulation detected in DNMT3A mutant mice overlaps effects in other developmental disorder models, highlighting the importance of DNMT3A-deposited methylation in neurodevelopment. Together, these findings define central drivers of DNMT3A disorders and illustrate how variable disruption of transcriptional mechanisms can drive the spectrum of phenotypes in neurodevelopmental disease.
Isimila is a Middle Pleistocene archaeological site located in southern Tanzania. The site is known for large surface assemblages of later Acheulean lithics such as hand axes, cleavers, scrapers, and cores. While hominin remains have yet to be discovered at the site, Isimila offers a unique window into Middle Pleistocene Homo behavior. Although Isimila has been studied extensively, the last published map of the site and surrounding area was made available in the 1970s. Here, we present an updated high-resolution map of Isimila. Data for the map were collected during aerial survey with an uncrewed/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). With this map, we identify new archaeological localities, erosional patterns, newly exposed geological features, and changes in site topography. The map reveals patterns of stone tool and raw material distribution that may support previous hypotheses of raw material transport into the area by hominins. This open-access map establishes a baseline for tracking changes to site topography in the future and serves as a unique tool to enable collaboration between researchers, museum personnel, and local populations to better conserve Isimila.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.