Radiocarbon Dates from Halfiah Gibli (Abadiyeh), a Predynastic Settlement in Upper Egypt

In 1989 and 1991, wood charcoal samples were excavated at a Predynastic settlement in Upper Egypt, Halfiah Gibli (HG). A second site, Semaineh (SH), was also investigated, but as the ceramics there were mostly from the Old Kingdom, excavations were concentrated at HG. Wood charcoal was obtained in undisturbed contexts, in association with Nagada culture potsherds and lithics, ranging in date from about 3700 BC to 3200/3100 BC. These new radiocarbon dates provide more data for the relative phases of the Nagada culture, formulated mainly from ceramic seriation.The Radiocarbon archives are made available by Radiocarbon and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform February 202

Harbor of the Pharaohs to the Land of Punt II. Archaeological Investigations at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis, Egypt, 2006-2021

Report of the archaeological investigations at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis (Egypt) in years 2006-2011

The Proto-Aksumite Period: An Overview

Abstract: The period between the decline of the Da'amat state in the 4th/3rd centuries BC and the rise of Aksum in the 1st century AD is not well known. The archaeological investigations conducted at Bieta Giyorgis, near Aksum, allow one to reveal an intermediary stage (Proto-Aksumite), that operates a break with the anterior phase and anounces the cultural accomplishments of the Aksumite period.'Résumé: La période comprise entre le déclin de l'État pré-aksumite du Da 'amat (IVe - IIIe siècle av. JC) et l'essor du royaume d'Aksum (Ier siècle après JC) est mal connue. Les fouilles archéologiques menées à Bieta Giyorgis, près d'Aksum, permettent de mettre en évidence un stade intermédiaire (proto-aksumite), qui opère une rupture avec la phase antérieure et annonce les réalisations culturelles de la période aksumite.Fattovich Rodolfo, Bard Kathryn A. The Proto-Aksumite Period: An Overview. In: Annales d'Ethiopie. Volume 17, année 2001. pp. 3-24

Elevated Alpha-Synuclein Impairs Innate Immune Cell Function and Provides a Potential Peripheral Biomarker for Parkinson's Disease

<div><p>Alpha-synuclein protein is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis Parkinson's disease. Increased expression of α-synuclein due to genetic multiplication or point mutations leads to early onset disease. While α-synuclein is known to modulate membrane vesicle dynamics, it is not clear if this activity is involved in the pathogenic process or if measurable physiological effects of α-synuclein over-expression or mutation exist <i>in vivo</i>. Macrophages and microglia isolated from BAC α-synuclein transgenic mice, which overexpress α-synuclein under regulation of its own promoter, express α-synuclein and exhibit impaired cytokine release and phagocytosis. These processes were affected <i>in vivo</i> as well, both in peritoneal macrophages and microglia in the CNS. Extending these findings to humans, we found similar results with monocytes and fibroblasts isolated from idiopathic or familial Parkinson's disease patients compared to age-matched controls. In summary, this paper provides 1) a new animal model to measure α-synuclein dysfunction; 2) a cellular system to measure synchronized mobilization of α-synuclein and its functional interactions; 3) observations regarding a potential role for innate immune cell function in the development and progression of Parkinson's disease and other human synucleinopathies; 4) putative peripheral biomarkers to study and track these processes in human subjects. While altered neuronal function is a primary issue in PD, the widespread consequence of abnormal α-synuclein expression in other cell types, including immune cells, could play an important role in the neurodegenerative progression of PD and other synucleinopathies. Moreover, increased α-synuclein and altered phagocytosis may provide a useful biomarker for human PD.</p></div