How the Uruk Potters Used the Wheel. New Data on Modalities and Conditions of Emergence of the Potter’s Wheel in the Uruk World

The phase and the ceramic materials that, in Southern Mesopotamia, go under the label of “Uruk” (after the toponym of the site in southern Iraq) have traditionally been considered the origin for the development of the potter’s wheel in the Near East, according to a perspective that associated the emergence of the potter’s wheel, the “mass” production of the so-called bevelled-rim bowls and first urbanization. According to recent excavations and ceramic studies it is now clear that this was a narrative based on a priori convictions. However, even if under very different socio-technical conditions, it is true that the potter’s wheel made an early appearance in Southern Mesopotamia within the Uruk cultural sphere, and then developed in a widespread and discontinuous way in the Uruk network. Based on recent ongoing fieldwork data from Syria (Tell Feres) and Iraqi Kurdistan (Logardan and Girdi Qala), ceramic analyses have taken into account new criteria to identify the use of the potter’s wheel. This paper outlines the chronological and socio-technical scenario behind the adoption of the potter’s wheel in the Uruk world, picturing the peculiarities of this cultural environment, as well as the parallels with the emergence conditions of the potter’s wheel in northern Mesopotamia and other areas of the Near East.

Recurrent bacterial vaginosis: possible ways of correction

Research objective: to increase the effectiveness of bacterial vaginosis (BV) treatment in women of reproductive age.Materials and methods. The study involved 64 women of reproductive age with BV. After a course of local antibiotic therapy participants were divided into 2 groups: patients of group I were not prescribed local remedies to restore the vaginal microflora, patients of group II were prescribed vaginal prebiotic suppositories Folial № 10. No additional drugs were used in subgroups IA and IIA, while oral probiotic Maxibalance was prescribed in subgroups IB and IIB. The effectiveness of BV treatment was evaluated at the first, third and sixth months of the observation period according to the results of clinical examination and vaginal pH evaluation by litmus strips.Results. The course of BV in subgroup IA was characterized by prevailing number of relapses and their early appearance. 1 case of BV recurrence was found among patients of subgroup IA at the 1st month of follow-up, 6 and 8 BV episodes were found at 3 and 6 months of follow-up respectively. Sequential treatment with antibiotics and oral probiotics (subgroup IIB) was associated with the onset of 3 BV relapses on 4–5 months from baseline. Local prebiotic (subgroup IIA) after the vaginal sanation was associated with BV reoccurrence in only one patient at the end of the study. No relapses of BV were detected in subgroup IIB during the study.Conclusions. Permanent imbalance of vaginal normocenosis creates optimal conditions for chronic and recurrent diseases of dysbiosis nature, especially BV. Despite the sensitivity of the anaerobic flora to the recommended antibacterial medications, their use as monotherapy in BV treatment is often insufficient. The results of the study demonstrate a significant anti-relapse efficiency of consecutive treatment by antibacterial drugs and a complex of probiotic + prebiotic. This effect is probably based on the restoration of vaginal immunity and metabolism by stable colonization of the vaginal mucosa with live lactobacilli of eubiotic origin.

Early Appearance of Epicardial Adipose Tissue through Human Development

Background: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a visceral fat depot with unique anatomic, biomolecular and genetic features. Due to its proximity to the coronary arteries and myocardium, dysfunctional EAT may contribute to the development and progression of cardiovascular and metabolic-related adiposity-based chronic diseases. The aim of this work was to describe, by morphological techniques, the early origin of EAT. Methods: EAT adipogenesis was studied in 41 embryos from 32 gestational days (GD) to 8 gestational weeks (GW) and in 23 fetuses until full term (from 9 to 36 GW). Results: This process comprises five stages. Stage 1 appears as mesenchyme at 33–35 GD. Stage 2 is characterized by angiogenesis at 42–45 GD. Stage 3 covers up to 34 GW with the appearance of small fibers in the extracellular matrix. Stage 4 is visible around the coronary arteries, as multilocular adipocytes in primitive fat lobules, and Stage 5 is present with unilocular adipocytes in the definitive fat lobules. EAT precursor tissue appears as early as the end of the first gestational month in the atrioventricular grooves. Unilocular adipocytes appear at the eighth gestational month. Conclusions: Due to its early origin, plasticity and clinical implications, factors such as maternal health and nutrition might influence EAT early development in consequence.

Equatorial ionization anomaly response to lunar phase and stratospheric sudden warming

This study examines the ionosphere response to gravitational forces of the lunar phase and dynamical disturbances of the stratospheric sudden warmings (SSWs). The total electron content (TEC) of global ionosphere maps is employed to examine responses of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) crests to lunar phases and twelve SSW events during 2000–2013. The most prominent feature in the ionosphere is the EIA, characterized by two enhanced TEC crests at low latitudes straddling the magnetic equator, which can be used to observe ionospheric plasma dynamics and structures. Results show that the EIA crest appearance time on new/full moons (first/third quarters) leads (lags) that of the overall 14-year average, which causes a pattern of TEC morning enhancements (suppressions) and afternoon suppressions (enhancements). A statistical analysis shows that SSWs can also significantly cause the early appearance of EIA crests, regardless of the lunar phase. Thus, both lunar phase and SSWs can significantly modulate the appearance time of EIA crest and ionospheric plasma dynamics and structures.

The Art Form of Wedha’s Pop Art Portrait (WPAP)

Wedha's Pop Art Portrait (WPAP) has become one of the most popular visual arts in Indonesia since Wedha Abdul Rasyid decided on this style in 2010. A decade later, WPAP became part of visual arts in Indonesia, used by many millennial designers, sheltered by the chapter community in regions; Jakarta chapter, Jogjakarta chapter, Surabaya chapter, etc. Visual arts-based on faces is a strong characteristic of WPAP. Only a few have achieved the WPAP form in accordance with the art form that Wedha first brought up. Economic motives became the biggest influence on the change in orientation from WPAP art to commodity. Therefore, the art form in WPAP tends to follow market trends. This paper tries to define the existing art in WPAP, with the formulation of the problem: what is the art form in WPAP in Indonesia? The formal approach to art is an important part of knowing art in WPAP. Through descriptive-analytic, an explanation of the art form in WPAP according to the Wedha’s experience is presented in this paper. The analysis is using an analysis of interactions between members of the WPAP community in several chapters which already have a "chapter" community. The art form in WPAP has almost the same characteristics as Wedha's work in the early appearance of WPAP. Wedha had a past that grapples with artwork; making illustrations, making magazine covers, making comics, and so on. The makers of WPAP in the WPAP community also have an art form in WPAP that is the same in pattern, because it is based on WPAP that was initiated by Wedha at the beginning of its appearance. The art form in WPAP has characteristics in color and line drawing. Bentuk Seni dari Wedha’s Pop Art Portrait (WPAP) Abstrak Wedha's Pop Art Portrait (WPAP) menjadi salah satu seni visual yang banyak digemari sejak Wedha Abdul Rasyid memutuskan gaya ini pada tahun 2010. Satu dekade berikutnya, WPAP menjadi bagian dari seni visual di Indonesia, digunakan oleh banyak desainer milenial, dinaungi oleh komunitas chapter yang ada di wilayah-wilayah; chapter Jakarta, chapter Jogjakarta, chapter Surabaya, dll. Seni visual berbasis pada wajah, menjadi ciri khas yang kuat pada WPAP. Hanya sedikit yang mencapai bentuk WPAP yang sesuai dengan bentuk seni yang Wedha munculkan pertama kali. Motif ekonomi menjadi pengaruh terbesar pada perubahan orientasi dari seni WPAP menjadi komoditi. Sehingga bentuk seni dalam WPAP cenderung untuk mengikuti tren pasar. Tulisan ini mencoba untuk mendefinisikan seni yang ada dalam WPAP, dengan rumusan masalah: Bagaimana bentuk seni dalam WPAP menurut komunitasnya di Indonesia? Pendekatan formal seni menjadi bagian penting untuk mengetahui seni dalam WPAP. Melalui diskriptif-analitik, penjelasan tentang bentuk seni dalam WPAP menurut komunitasnya disajikan dalam tulisan ini. Analisis yang digunakan adalah analisis interaksi antar anggota komunitas WPAP di beberapa chapter yang telah memiliki komunitas “chapter”. Bentuk seni dalam WPAP memiliki ciri khas yang hampir sama dengan karya Wedha pada awal-awal kemunculan WPAP pertama kali. Wedha memiliki masa lalu yang bergulat dengan pekerjaan seni; membuat ilustrasi, membuat cover majalah, membuat komik, dan lain sebagainya. Pembuat WPAP di komunitas WPAP juga memiliki bentuk seni dalam WPAP yang sama secara pola, karena memang berbasis pada WPAP yang dicetuskan oleh Wedha pada awal kemunculannya. Bentuk seni dalam WPAP memiliki ciri khas dalam warna, tarikan garis, pemilihan pallet, konstruksi wajah.

Genetic code degeneracy is established by the decoding center of the ribosome

The degeneracy of the genetic code confers a wide array of properties to coding sequences. Yet, its origin is still unclear. A structural analysis has shown that the stability of the Watson-Crick base pair at the second position of the anticodon-codon interaction is a critical parameter controlling the extent of non-specific pairings accepted at the third position by the ribosome, a flexibility at the root of degeneracy. Based on recent cryo-EM analyses, the present work shows that residue A1493 of the decoding center provides a significant contribution to the stability of this base pair, revealing that the ribosome is directly involved in the establishment of degeneracy. Building on existing evolutionary models, we show the evidence that the early appearance of A1493 and A1492 established the basis of degeneracy when an elementary kinetic scheme of translation was prevailing. Logical considerations on the expansion of this kinetic scheme indicate that the acquisition of the peptidyl transferase center was the next major evolutionary step, while the induced-fit mechanism, that enables a sharp selection of the tRNAs, necessarily arose later when G530 was acquired by the decoding center.

The T cell response to SARS-CoV-2: kinetic and quantitative aspects and the case for their protective role

SARS-CoV-2, the etiological agent of COVID-19, triggers an adaptive immunity in the infected host that results in the production of virus-specific antibodies and T cells. While kinetic and quantitative aspects of antibodies have been analyzed in large patient cohorts, similar information about SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells are scarce. We summarize in this review the available knowledge of quantitative and temporal features of the SARS-CoV-2 T cell response. Currently, most of the data derived only from the analysis of the circulatory compartment. Despite this limitation, early appearance, multi-specificity and functionality of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells are associated with accelerated viral clearance and with protection from severe COVID-19.

Emergence of Microlithic Production in Mongolia: Research Terminology and Chronstratigraphic Position of Lithic Industries in Eastern and Southern Asia

Territory of Mongolia is situated in the center of Asia, a crossroad of the potential migration routes, that connect different Eurasian macroregions. Here an example of earliest appearance and longterm existence of small blade and microblade production has been found. Beyond that, the industries, that appeared within limited area of the Middle Selenga Basin in the late MIS3 — early MIS2, contained the earliest for Northern and Central Asia geometric and non-geometric microliths. They have been found in the sediments of Kharganyn Gol 5 and Tolbor-4, — 16 and –21. They end up in LGM — post- LGM which cause depopulation in the region and following changes in the human groups, occupying this territory. An understanding of the character, causes and specifics of such early appearance of the microblade and bladelet production, and especially geometric microliths, impose the arrangement and definition of the terminology, associated with microlithic assemblages in Asia. This is due to the fact that in the archaeological definitions of both processes and the desired forms of artifacts associated with the production and use of microliths, there are significant discrepancies that complicate the understanding of the described phenomena. The article provides an overview of the research terminology of microlithization processes, and also determines the position of the microlithic complexes of Mongolia in the Upper Paleolithic system of the eastern part of Asia. Keywords: Mongolia, East Asia, Upper Paleolithic, lithic industries, microlithic technology

Changes of the hepatic subcapsular blood flow in a case of high-grade retroperitoneal liposarcoma: what to expect?

Changes of the hepatic subcapsular blood flow with the early appearance of hypervascularity near the falciform ligament are rare radiologic findings. They present most frequently in cases of superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction and are related to the recruitment of the cavo-mammary-phrenic–hepatic–capsule–portal and the cavo-superficial–umbilical–portal pathways. We present the case of a 52-year-old female patient with an highly aggressive retroperitoneal liposarcoma with SVC obstruction caused by external compression due to a mediastinal metastatic mass. The patient exhibited no symptoms of SVC obstruction due to the collateral cavo-portal pathways.