Craniomandibular trauma and tooth loss in northern dogs and wolves : implications for the archaeological study of dog husbandry and domestication

Funding: Funding for this project was provided by an ERC Advanced Grant (#295458) to Dr. David Anderson, University of Aberdeen (http://erc.europa.eu). Financial support to Mikhail V. Sablin was provided by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Grant 13-04-00203; http://www.rfbr.ru/rffi/ru). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscripPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Nonreceding hare lines: genetic continuity since the Late Pleistocene in European mountain hares (Lepus timidus)

Throughout time, climate changes have caused substantial rearrangements of habitats which have alternately promoted and disfavoured different types of taxa. At first glance, the mountain hare (Lepus timidus) shows the typical hallmarks of a cold-adapted species that has retreated to refugia since the onset of the current Holocene interglacial. In contrary to expectations, however, the species has a high contemporary genetic diversity with no clear differentiation between geographically isolated populations. In order to clarify the phylogeographic history of European mountain hares, we here analysed ancient DNA from the glacial populations that inhabited the previous midlatitude European tundra region. Our results reveal that the Ice Age hares had similar levels of genetic variation and lack of geographic structure as observed today, and the ancient samples were intermingled with modern individuals throughout the reconstructed evolutionary tree. This suggest a temporal genetic continuity in Europe, where the mountain hares were able to keep pace with the rapid changes at the last glacial/interglacial transition, and successfully track their shifting habitat to northern and alpine regions. Further, the temporal demographic analyses showed that the species’ population size in Europe appear to have been tightly linked with palaeoclimatic fluctuations, with increases and declines occurring during periods of global cooling and warming, respectively. Taken together, our results suggest that neither habitat shifts nor demographic fluctuations have had any substantial impact on the genetic diversity of European mountain hares. This remarkable resilience, which contrasts to a majority of previously investigated cold-adapted species, is likely due to its generalist nature which makes it less vulnerable to environmental changes

Mirror symmetry breaking through an internal degree of freedom leading to directional motion

We analyze here the minimal conditions for directional motion (net flow in phase space) of a molecular motor placed on a mirror-symmetric environment and driven by a center-symmetric and time-periodic force field. The complete characterization of the deterministic limit of the dissipative dynamics of several realizations of this minimal model, reveals a complex structure in the phase diagram in parameter space, with intertwined regions of pinning (closed orbits) and directional motion. This demonstrates that the mirror-symmetry breaking which is needed for directional motion to occur, can operate through an internal degree of freedom coupled to the translational one.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

The Origin of Minus-end Directionality and Mechanochemistry of Ncd Motors

Adaptation of molecular structure to the ligand chemistry and interaction with the cytoskeletal filament are key to understanding the mechanochemistry of molecular motors. Despite the striking structural similarity with kinesin-1, which moves towards plus-end, Ncd motors exhibit minus-end directionality on microtubules (MTs). Here, by employing a structure-based model of protein folding, we show that a simple repositioning of the neck-helix makes the dynamics of Ncd non-processive and minus-end directed as opposed to kinesin-1. Our computational model shows that Ncd in solution can have both symmetric and asymmetric conformations with disparate ADP binding affinity, also revealing that there is a strong correlation between distortion of motor head and decrease in ADP binding affinity in the asymmetric state. The nucleotide (NT) free-ADP (?-ADP) state bound to MTs favors the symmetric conformation whose coiled-coil stalk points to the plus-end. Upon ATP binding, an enhanced flexibility near the head-neck junction region, which we have identified as the important structural element for directional motility, leads to reorienting the coiled-coil stalk towards the minus-end by stabilizing the asymmetric conformation. The minus-end directionality of the Ncd motor is a remarkable example that demonstrates how motor proteins in the kinesin superfamily diversify their functions by simply rearranging the structural elements peripheral to the catalytic motor head domain

New data for the Early Upper Paleolithic of Kostenki (Russia)

Several questions remain regarding the timing and nature of the Neanderthal-anatomically modern human (AMH) transition in Europe. The situation in Eastern Europe is generally less clear due to the relatively few sites and a dearth of reliable radiocarbon dates. Claims have been made for both notably early AMH and notably late Neanderthal presence, as well as for early AMH (Aurignacian) dispersal into the region from Central/Western Europe. The Kostenki-Borshchevo complex (European Russia) of Early Upper Paleolithic (EUP) sites offers high-quality data to address these questions. Here we revise the chronology and cultural status of the key sites of Kostenki 17 and Kostenki 14. The Kostenki 17/II lithic assemblage shares important features with Proto-Aurignacian material, strengthening an association with AMHs. New radiocarbon dates for Kostenki 17/II of ∼41–40 ka cal BP agree with new dates for the recently excavated Kostenki 14/IVw, which shows some similarities to Kostenki 17/II. Dates of ≥41 ka cal BP from other Kostenki sites cannot be linked to diagnostic archaeological material, and therefore cannot be argued to date AMH occupation. Kostenki 14's Layer in Volcanic Ash assemblage, on the other hand, compares to Early Aurignacian material. New radiocarbon dates targeting diagnostic lithics date to 39–37 ka cal BP. Overall, Kostenki's early EUP is in good agreement with the archaeological record further west. Our results are therefore consistent with models predicting interregional penecontemporaneity of diagnostic EUP assemblages. Most importantly, our work highlights ongoing challenges for reliably radiocarbon dating the period. Dates for Kostenki 14 agreed with the samples' chronostratigraphic positions, but standard pre-treatment methods consistently produced incorrect ages for Kostenki 17/II. Extraction of hydroxyproline from bone collagen using preparative high-performance liquid chromatography, however, yielded results consistent with the samples' chronostratigraphic position and with the layer's archaeological contents. This suggests that for some sites compound-specific techniques are required to build reliable radiocarbon chronologies

CBCT and MRT – diagnostical duet in stomatological arthrology

Однією із найпоширеніших причин звернення пацієнтів до лікаря-стоматолога є патологія скронево- нижньощелепного суглобу (СНЩС). Окремий інтерес викликають дисфункції СНЩС, які мають поліетіологічний характер та найрізноманітніші клінічні прояви. Запорукою успіху у лікуванні цього контингенту пацієнтів є комплексна діагностична тактика лікаря. У роботі пропонується удосконалений та систематизований алгоритм обстеження пацієнта, що дозволить комплексно оцінити стан СНЩС та оточуючих тканин

Diagnostics of testicular torsion using the TWIST scale (Testicular Workup for Ischemia and Suspected Torsion)

Introduction. Testicular torsion (TT) is the most common pediatric emergency urological pathology. To reduce the duration of the diagnostic stage, systems for assessing the risks of testicular torsion based on anamnesis and clinical symptoms were proposed. In 2013, Barbosa et al. proposed the TWIST system (testicular examination for ischemia and suspected torsion), which became the most well-known and widespread. This system makes it possible to identify groups of patients who do not require scrotal ultrasound, which reduces the number of stages in the diagnosis of TT.Objective. To evaluate the experience of using and diagnostic significance of the TWIST scale based on available data in scientific publications.Materials & methods. Review and analysis of literature data on the use of the TWIST scale.Results. We conducted an analysis of 13 publications, in which the results of using TWIST with statistical analysis were published. In all articles, the final diagnosis was established according to Doppler scrotal ultrasound or intraoperatively. Analysis of publications shows that even in large foreign medical centers there is a problem of emergency scrotal ultrasound, which increases the time of testicular ischemia with ТТ. To use the TWIST scale, only history and physical examination data are needed. Any specialist can use the scale in his practise. The low probability of TT in the low-risk group makes it possible not to perform routine scrotal revision, and, consequently, material and human resources are saved.Conclusion. Literature analysis has shown that the use of the original TWIST scale proposed by J.A. Barbosa, in case of suspected testicular torsion, has sufficient diagnostic accuracy, high sensitivity and specificity of TT detection, which significantly reduces the need for ultrasound, reduces the diagnostic time before surgery, that increases testicular survival

Diagnosis of the anatomic preconditions of intermittent testicular torsion

Introduction. In a series of studies, patients with intermittent testicular torsion (ITT) have a 29% to 50% chance of gonad loss. The «bell clapper» type testicular fixation abnormality is a predisposing factor for TT. In cases of ITT, episodes of hemiscrotal pain attack are not a sufficient reason to scrotal revision, which makes it important to develop imaging techniques to document the presence of anatomical preconditions for ITT.Objective. To find a methodology beneficial in solving the problem of documenting the anatomical preconditions for ITT.Materials & methods. To diagnose anatomical preconditions of ITT, we have developed a method of ultrasound. Ultrasound can be used to prove the presence of a “bell clapper» deformity by visualizing the spermatic cord proximal to the testis surrounded by fluid. Fix the testis with a slight traction in a caudal direction while moving the fluid inside the sheaths upward. Place the transducer over the spermatic cord in a horizontal position. The fluid is displaced abnormally high along the spermatic cord within the peritoneal vaginal sheath and surrounds the spermatic cord on all sides, allowing good visualization of the spermatic cord above the testis within the testicular sheaths. If we continue with the bell analogy, the resulting ultrasound picture can be called «bell clapper rod» symptom. A patient with an ultrasound-derived «bell clapper rod» symptom can be diagnosed with a testicular fixation anomaly that creates anatomic conditions for intermittent testicular torsion. The ultrasound arguments obtained allow us to confidently form indications for testicular fixation.Results. Eight patients were examined according to the described method, all of them showed the symptom of ‘bell clapper rod’, and testicular fixation was recommended. The average age of the patients was 12.4 years. The average time after scrotal pain resolution was 8 hours (from 1 to 18 hours). All eight patients had intraoperative verification of abnormal testicular fixation of the ‘bell clapper rod’.Conclusion. A patient with the acute hemiscrotal pain and then its spontaneous disappearance with the ultrasound-derived «bell clapper rod» symptom can be diagnosed with a testicular fixation anomaly that creates anatomic conditions for ITT. Preoperative diagnosis based on ultrasound combined with clinical data transforms the ITT from a diagnosis of exclusion to a diagnosis based on proven anatomical preconditions for testicular torsion. The ultrasound arguments obtained allow us to confidently form indications for testicular fixation