Search Results (190)

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is increasingly recognized as a multifactorial disorder driven by a combination of disruptions in proteostasis and organelle communication. The 2020 Lancet commission reported that approximately 10 million people worldwide were affected by AD in the mid-20th century. AD is the most prevalent cause of dementia. By early 2030, the global cost of dementia is projected to rise by USD 2 trillion per year, with up to 85% of that cost attributed to daily patient care. Several factors have been implicated in the progression of neurodegeneration, including increased oxidative stress, the accumulation of misfolded proteins, the formation of amyloid plaques and aggregates, the unfolded protein response (UPR), and mitochondrial–endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium homeostasis. However, the exact triggers that initiate these pathological processes remain unclear, in part because clinical symptoms often emerge gradually and subtly, complicating early diagnosis. Among the early hallmarks of neurodegeneration, elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the buildup of misfolded proteins are believed to play pivotal roles in disrupting proteostasis, leading to cognitive deficits and neuronal cell death. The accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles is a characteristic feature of AD. These features contribute to chronic neuroinflammation, which is marked by the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines that exacerbate oxidative stress. Given these interconnected mechanisms, targeting stress-related signaling pathways, such as oxidative stress (ROS) generated in the mitochondria and ER, ER stress, UPR, and cytosolic chaperones, represents a promising strategy for therapeutic intervention. This review focuses on the relationship between stress chaperone responses and organelle function, particularly the interaction between mitochondria and the ER, in the development of new therapies for AD and related neurodegenerative disorders. Full article

This study analyzes 209 dog skeletons from two sites in Wolin (9th–mid-13th century AD) using 100 standard metric variables covering cranial, mandibular, and postcranial elements. Estimated withers height, body mass, age at death, and sex were derived using established methods. The results indicate the presence of at least two to three morphotypes: small spitz-like dogs (40–50 cm, 4–6 kg), medium brachycephalic forms (50–60 cm, 10–15 kg), and larger mesocephalic individuals (up to 65 cm, 20–40 kg). Dogs lived 3–10 years, with both sexes represented. Signs of cranial trauma and dental wear suggest utilitarian roles such as guarding. The size range and morphological diversity point to intentional breeding and trade-based importation. Small dogs likely served as companions or city guards, while medium and large types were used for herding, hunting, or transport. These findings highlight Wolin’s role as a dynamic cultural and trade center, where human–dog relationships were shaped by anthropogenic selection and regional exchange. Full article

A wave of energy efficiency-focused activity has spread across Europe in recent years, with ambitious goals for improving the energy performance of existing buildings through various directives. Among these existing buildings, there are older structures with heritage-protected facades. Some of the protected facades consist of timber plank frame walls, which were common in Norway in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Internal insulation is an option for increasing the energy efficiency of such walls while preserving their protected facades. However, this approach alters the moisture performance of the wall and introduces a potential risk for mould growth, which must be assessed. To better understand the performance of these walls, the $s_d$ values of traditional types of building paper have been tested, as timber plank frame walls comprise vertical planks covered in building paper. In addition, the risk of mould growth in timber plank frame walls has been evaluated using the one-dimensional simulation tool WUFI^® Pro by modelling the wall with internal retrofitting and varying input parameters. The types of building paper used have a wide range of vapour resistance values (diffusion-equivalent air layer thicknesses, $s_d$ values), which range from 0.008 m to 5.293 m. Adding 50 mm of interior insulation generally resulted in a low risk of mould growth, except in cases involving the use of a moisture-adaptive vapour barrier (MAVB). The MAVB did not result in an acceptable mould growth risk in any of the tested scenarios. Full article

Among the craft recipes for artisans collected in the 4th-century Egyptian documents the Leyden and Stockholm papyri, there is one calling for adding animal milk to orchil for wool dyeing. To understand the rationale for this practice, wool yarns were dyed with and without goat milk added to orchil dyebaths, each made using lichens from three different sources. The results showed orchil containing milk dyed yarns a noticeably deeper red hue. The colorants extracted from the dyed yarns were analyzed by liquid chromatography-diode-array-detector-mass spectrometry to assess the relative amounts of nine identifiable orceins. The data showed that the yarns dyed with milk gave extracts exhibiting several fold more α-aminoorcein and α-hydroxyorcein, with only small differences in the other seven. Scanning electron microscopic analysis of a representative pair of dyed yarns showed that milk promoted surface changes in the fiber that may indicate increased cutaneous damage. Hypotheses for the milk’s effects on orchil dyeing were proposed that included the formation of milk–protein complexes with the two enriched orceins that possibly enhanced wool binding and/or better wool uptake of free and/or complexed orceins due to biodegradation of the wool’s surface cuticle caused by microbial growth promoted by the addition of milk. Full article

Global climate change, driven predominantly by carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, poses one of the most critical challenges to sustainability in the 21st century. As Türkiye continues to pursue economic expansion and agricultural development, the resulting rise in energy consumption has led to a substantial increase in CO₂ emissions. Given Türkiye’s position as the world’s 17th largest economy and its ranking as the 15th highest CO₂ emitter, understanding the country’s exposure to climate risks is essential for informing policy efforts aimed at sustainable development. This study investigates the dynamic interplay between CO₂ emissions and their primary determinants in Türkiye, offering empirical insights into the pathways through which these factors influence environmental sustainability. Utilizing a 34-year time series and the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model, the findings reveal that both economic growth and energy consumption contribute significantly to rising CO₂ emissions, thereby exacerbating environmental degradation. Conversely, an increase in agricultural value added is associated with a reduction in CO₂ emissions, highlighting its potential role in improving environmental quality. The results underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive legal and institutional framework that supports technological innovation and accelerates the transition toward a low-carbon economy in Türkiye. Full article

Geoarchaeological work and excavations of the Helike Project over the last 30 years in the Helike coastal plain, Gulf of Corinth, have yielded abundant evidence on ancient settlements, as well as the surrounding landscape and environmental changes that resulted from geological phenomena and catastrophic events. The research methods applied by the Helike Project followed a multidisciplinary approach, including combined archaeological excavations and palaeoseismological trenching, geophysical prospection, archaeometric, environmental, and soil micromorphology analyses, and computer-based landscape modelling. A wealth of settlement remains that were unearthed across the plain, ranging in date from the Early Helladic period (3rd millennium BC) to the Late Antiquity (5th century AD), indicates that the ancient inhabitants of the area chose to always resettle in the area by adjusting their ways of living to the geomorphology and natural hazards, prevailing each time. Our results show that disasters in the area increased between the Geometric and Roman times due to severe earthquakes that occurred approximately every 300 years. In particular, archaeological and geological finds recovered from the Late Classical–Hellenistic Helike settlement, which was revived in the western part of the plain shortly after the disastrous 373 BC earthquake, have enriched our knowledge regarding the historical seismicity of the region and past human–environment relationships. Full article

The site of Nabi Yaqin preserves an ancient tradition of Abraham’s prayer over Sodom. The landscape that stretches from the ridge of Nabi Yaqin facing east to the Dead Sea and the Jordan River serves as the backdrop for the formation of this tradition. In this paper, we will show that the tradition regarding Abraham’s prayer apparently began during the Byzantine period as indicated by the writings of Egeria and St. Jerome. Although the exact location they identify cannot be determined from the sources, it seems that the region of Bani Na’im and Nabi Yaqin should be regarded as one space connected to the story of the destruction of Sodom. During the Middle Ages under Muslim rule Nabi Yaqin area became associated with Abraham’s prayer and a hollow in the ground at that location was marked as the place of his prayer. At a later stage, towards the end of the 17th century, two footprints were added to that socket. During the 18th and 19th centuries, an additional pair of footprints was added, which marked Lot’s prayer outside the compound. In Bani Na’im the neighboring village the burial place of the prophet Lot was identified. In fact, both sites are extensions of the story of the destruction of Sodom, with the former associated with its beginning and the latter with its end. We proposed that the process leading to these identifications was influenced by a site overlooking Lot’s Sea and Lot’s Cave, and the site itself became the burial place of Lot and the prayer site of Abraham. Full article

A series of 11 Byzantine gold coins were investigated, including two examples of an extremely rare type called histamenon “stellatus”, from around the reign of the Byzantine emperor Constantine IX Monomachos (AD 1042–1055). The methods applied were X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), specific density measurement (SD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The debasement (decreasing gold content) of the Byzantine nomisma gold coinage during the 11th century was demonstrated. A method combining XRF and SD measurement combined with a graphical presentation/analysis called a ternary plot was also demonstrated. The measured gold content of the 11 coins was corrected for the possible “outwashing” effect and a potential cleaning of ancient gold. A model for the estimation of the gold content of Byzantine histamenon nomisma gold coins from the period AD 1020–1118, based on the specific density (SD), was derived. It was demonstrated that two analyzed histamenon “stellati” coins likely were minted around AD 1054–1055, possibly during the same period as the occurrence of the supernova SN1054, known as the Crab-nebula. It is further discussed if the gold content and size of the stars shown on those coins can be correlated to the visibility of the supernova from June AD 1054 to January AD 1055. Full article

During Sulla’s siege of Pompeii in 89 BC projectiles were launched using Roman artillery, leaving visible craters on the fortified walls. The city was later buried by the eruption in 79 AD, preserving both its architectural layout and the damaged wall surfaces, and was excavated in the early 20th century. This study focuses on simulating projectile impacts on Grey Tuff to estimate impact velocities and penetration depths, offering insights into the destructive capability of Roman weapons. Material models are developed, followed by finite element analysis. Mesh convergence, velocity calibration, and angular impact studies are performed for both ballista and dart to better understand impact mechanics and crater formation. Full article

Serpentinite is a common lithology in Greece with significant geotectonic and petrogenetic implications, yet its archaeometric study remains limited. This also applies to the Ras serpentinite outcrop on Tinos Island—an enigmatic ancient quarry with no prior documentation of its exploitation. This study aims to provide a holistic provenance analysis and full material characterization to establish a unique fingerprint for future comparative research. A multidisciplinary methodology was applied, including petrography, XRD, FTIR, BET, LA-ICP-MS, electron microprobe analyses, and lichenometry—the latter used to estimate the quarry’s period of activity. The Ras serpentinite consists of a dark-green, brecciated lizardite matrix cut by a pale-green chrysotile network, and notably hosts the first recorded occurrence of minnesotaite in Greece. Relict antigorite within the matrix indicates high-pressure, high-temperature metamorphism preceding a greenschist facies overprint. Geochemical data classify the Ras occurrence as a subduction-related serpentinite derived from a depleted ultrabasic protolith. The aforementioned traits distinguish it from other Greek examples. Lichenometric analysis suggests the quarry was active in the 13th century A.D., with evidence of deliberate extraction techniques. These findings offer valuable insights into archaeometric studies and the provenance of serpentinites in the Aegean. Full article

This study examines the Roman burgus and medieval lowland castle ‘Zullestein’ near Biblis (Bergstraße district/Hessen/Germany) and its surrounding fluvio-scape. The aim of the study is to reassess the appearance of the fortifications and the surrounding area at the confluence of the River Weschnitz and the River Rhine based on the excavation results from the 1970s and current geoarchaeological research on site. Our approach encompasses electrical resistivity tomography, direct push sensing, sediment coring and the use of a high-resolution digital elevation model in combination with historical depictions of the Zullestein site from the 17th century AD. The findings of this integrative approach indicate that the Roman fort was likely located at a secondary channel of the River Rhine. With the renewed occupation of the Zullestein site by Lorsch Abbey during Carolingian times and the expansion into a lowland castle in the 11th century, the site was now located at the Weschnitz mouth into the Rhine, likely as part of anthropogenic interventions related to the Weschnitz fluvioscape. Traces of the final phase of the castle at the time of the Thirty Years’ War can still be seen in the terrain today and their attribution to individual elements of the historical account can be confirmed by the geoarchaeological results. The combination of methods presented in this study is a suitable option if excavations are not possible. Full article

Bell towers, due to their slender geometry and structural configuration, are among the buildings most susceptible to deterioration from weathering and seismic events. These aspects influence the structural assessment of these historic towers, which is essential for their conservation and maintenance. The “Carmine Maggiore” bell tower in Naples (Italy) has been an important and prominent landmark of the city for centuries. It is square in plan and 72 m high. Over time, it suffered extensive damage and was severely damaged by the earthquake of 1456. Reconstruction began in the first decade of the 17th century and the original design was modified, adding two stories and changing the shape of the plan to octagonal. In the centuries that followed, the structure was damaged again and further interventions were carried out, adding tie-rods and replacing damaged elements. Today, the bell tower has very elaborate façades with mouldings and decorations, so that the supporting structure appears to be covered with plaster, stucco, and stone elements. This paper describes the results of FEM analyses of the bell tower, obtained from models with different levels of complexity to evaluate the influence of stone cladding elements on the seismic behaviour. In particular, the difference in the IS safety indices, calculated as the ratio of capacity to demand, exceeds 15%, due to the mechanical consistency of the cladding elements, which contribute significantly to both stiffness and strength. Full article

Archaeological sites may be damaged by natural phenomena related to climatic phenomena, such as wind, rain, and solar radiation. These phenomena are particularly intense in tropical areas subjected to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation. In these areas, the evaluation of the climatic vulnerability of archaeological sites represents a priority. El Mirador de Lambayeque Archaeological Complex (8th to 11th century CE) is located on the northern coast of Peru, an area exposed to intense rain and wind due to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation and solar radiation. A 16 cm resolution digital surface model (DSM) of the site was obtained from photogrammetric data. Selected morphometric parameters were extracted from this DSM with the aim of identifying the areas exposed to water flow or stagnation during rain, wind, and solar radiation. These parameters were elaborated with object-based image analyses and fuzzy logic methods to determine the climatic vulnerability of the archaeological site to these different phenomena. An estimate of the total vulnerability is also presented, along with an evaluation of the areas exposed to erosion and deposition due to long-term diffusive processes. The analytical approach applied to El Mirador de Lambayeque Archaeological Complex may be extended to other archaeological sites. Full article

Paquimé is a remarkable pre-Hispanic settlement that flourished between the 13th and 15th centuries in northwest Chihuahua, Mexico. This site is recognized for its distinctive fusion of Mesoamerican and Southwestern American cultural traits. Although much of the explanatory models about this settlement’s development and regional role have focused on trade, pottery from the Salado tradition, particularly Polychrome Gila and Polychrome Tonto, has generally been presumed to have originated in the American Southwest. To confirm the interaction between both cultures and contribute to the clarification of the absolute chronology of Paquimé, the geochemical characterization and rock-magnetic characterization of sherds of local and presumably foreign manufacture were carried out, including sherds with manufacture that seems to be the result of the abovementioned relationship. SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ contribute more than 75% to the observed variation. The Casas Grandes pottery shares the geochemical signatures of both local and foreign types. High-coercivity magnetic grains dominate in the foreign-type pottery samples. In contrast, relatively low-coercivity ferrimagnetic grains are the main features of local-type sherds. Essentially similar absolute intensity values were obtained for both potsherd wares. The most probable age intervals obtained for all ceramic samples studied range from 990 AD to 1310 AD, in agreement with previous surveys and local archaeological frameworks. Full article

The introduction of alien species may pose an enormous threat to indigenous flora and fauna. Among introduced animals, probably the most destructive to the natural environment are mammals. This is true at least in regard to the Afrotropical Region (sub-Saharan Africa). This review attempts to summarize our knowledge on alien mammals in this region and their impact on indigenous vertebrate fauna. This review includes 56 mammal species, belonging to 20 families, introduced to sub-Saharan Africa over the last 2000 years. Most are representatives of the following orders: Artiodactyla, Carnivora, and Primates. Most species introduced to sub-Saharan Africa originated from the Oriental (n = 20) and Palearctic (n = 19) regions. Two species, Mus musculus and Rattus rattus, were introduced before 1400 (probably as early as 800 AD), while three others were introduced between 1401 and 1700. The first half of the 17th century saw the highest number (n = 10) of introduced species. Between 1651 and 1850, only two species were introduced; in the following 175 years (1851–2025), as many as 24 species were introduced. Ten of the introduced mammal species, namely Sus scrofa, Capra hircus, Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus, Mus musculus, Felis catus, Canis familiaris, Viverricula indica, Urva auropunctata, and Maccaca fuscicularis, have become invasive species. A total of 39 mammal species were relocated (mainly for hunting purposes) within sub-Saharan Africa. Most of them were representatives of the family Bovidae (76.9%). Relocations are not considered introductions. Based on published records of the impacts of alien mammals on the vertebrate fauna of sub-Saharan Africa, the following mechanisms may be distinguished: predation, competition, hybridization, transmission of diseases and parasites, and habitat destruction (grazing, herbivory, browsing). Most vertebrate species (79.4%) were affected through direct predation, predation and habitat destruction (7.1%), or predation and competition (1.4%). Alien mammals have caused habitat destruction for only 10 species (7.1%). Other effects (competition and genetic pollution) were marginal (3.5%). At least 144 vertebrate species, representing 52 families, have been affected by alien mammals in sub-Saharan Africa: 3 amphibians, 23 reptiles, 89 birds, and 29 mammals. As a result of mammal introductions, 65 species in sub-Saharan Africa have become globally extinct, 45 are considered threatened (listed in the RDB), and 31 other species are in decline, although not included in the RDB. Most extinct birds were affected by introduced rats, mice, feral cats, and dogs. In continental Africa, only seven vertebrate species have been negatively affected by alien mammals. All other affected vertebrates occur on islands. An especially high rate of extinction has been recorded in the Mascarene Islands. In comparison with alien birds in sub-Saharan Africa, the number of introduced mammal species is much lower, but their negative impact on vertebrate fauna is significantly greater. Full article