The Origins and Spread of Domestic Horses from the Western Eurasian Steppes

Domestication of horses fundamentally transformed long-range mobility and warfare1. However, modern domesticated breeds do not descend from the earliest domestic horse lineage associated with archaeological evidence of bridling, milking and corralling2–4 at Botai, Central Asia around 3500 bc3. Other longstanding candidate regions for horse domestication, such as Iberia5 and Anatolia6, have also recently been challenged. Thus, the genetic, geographic and temporal origins of modern domestic horses have remained unknown. Here we pinpoint the Western Eurasian steppes, especially the lower Volga-Don region, as the homeland of modern domestic horses. Furthermore, we map the population changes accompanying domestication from 273 ancient horse genomes. This reveals that modern domestic horses ultimately replaced almost all other local populations as they expanded rapidly across Eurasia from about 2000 bc, synchronously with equestrian material culture, including Sintashta spoke-wheeled chariots. We find that equestrianism involved strong selection for critical locomotor and behavioural adaptations at the GSDMC and ZFPM1 genes. Our results reject the commonly held association7 between horseback riding and the massive expansion of Yamnaya steppe pastoralists into Europe around 3000 bc8,9 driving the spread of Indo-European languages10. This contrasts with the scenario in Asia where Indo-Iranian languages, chariots and horses spread together, following the early second millennium bc Sintashta culture11,12. © 2021, The Author(s).We thank all members of the AGES group at CAGT. We are grateful for the Museum of the Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology (UB RAS, Ekaterinburg) for providing specimens. The work by G. Boeskorov is done on state assignment of DPMGI SB RAS. This project was supported by the University Paul Sabatier IDEX Chaire d’Excellence (OURASI); Villum Funden miGENEPI research programme; the CNRS ‘Programme de Recherche Conjoint’ (PRC); the CNRS International Research Project (IRP AMADEUS); the France Génomique Appel à Grand Projet (ANR-10-INBS-09-08, BUCEPHALE project); IB10131 and IB18060, both funded by Junta de Extremadura (Spain) and European Regional Development Fund; Czech Academy of Sciences (RVO:67985912); the Zoological Institute ZIN RAS (АААА-А19-119032590102-7); and King Saud University Researchers Supporting Project (NSRSP–2020/2). The research was carried out with the financial support of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (19-59-15001 and 20-04-00213), the Russian Science Foundation (16-18-10265, 20-78-10151, and 21-18-00457), the Government of the Russian Federation (FENU-2020-0021), the Estonian Research Council (PRG29), the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research (PRG1209), the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (Project NF 104792), the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (Momentum Mobility Research Project of the Institute of Archaeology, Research Centre for the Humanities); and the Polish National Science Centre (2013/11/B/HS3/03822). This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie (grant agreement 797449). This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreements 681605, 716732 and 834616)

The origins and spread of domestic horses from the Western Eurasian steppes

Analysis of 273 ancient horse genomes reveals that modern domestic horses originated in the Western Eurasian steppes, especially the lower Volga-Don region.Domestication of horses fundamentally transformed long-range mobility and warfare(1). However, modern domesticated breeds do not descend from the earliest domestic horse lineage associated with archaeological evidence of bridling, milking and corralling(2-4) at Botai, Central Asia around 3500 bc(3). Other longstanding candidate regions for horse domestication, such as Iberia(5) and Anatolia(6), have also recently been challenged. Thus, the genetic, geographic and temporal origins of modern domestic horses have remained unknown. Here we pinpoint the Western Eurasian steppes, especially the lower Volga-Don region, as the homeland of modern domestic horses. Furthermore, we map the population changes accompanying domestication from 273 ancient horse genomes. This reveals that modern domestic horses ultimately replaced almost all other local populations as they expanded rapidly across Eurasia from about 2000 bc, synchronously with equestrian material culture, including Sintashta spoke-wheeled chariots. We find that equestrianism involved strong selection for critical locomotor and behavioural adaptations at the GSDMC and ZFPM1 genes. Our results reject the commonly held association(7) between horseback riding and the massive expansion of Yamnaya steppe pastoralists into Europe around 3000 bc(8,9) driving the spread of Indo-European languages(10). This contrasts with the scenario in Asia where Indo-Iranian languages, chariots and horses spread together, following the early second millennium bc Sintashta culture(11,12).Descriptive and Comparative Linguistic

The origins and spread of domestic horses from the Western Eurasian steppes

Domestication of horses fundamentally transformed long-range mobility and warfare. However, modern domesticated breeds do not descend from the earliest domestic horse lineage associated with archaeological evidence of bridling, milking and corralling at Botai, Central Asia around 3500 bc. Other longstanding candidate regions for horse domestication, such as Iberia and Anatolia, have also recently been challenged. Thus, the genetic, geographic and temporal origins of modern domestic horses have remained unknown. Here we pinpoint the Western Eurasian steppes, especially the lower Volga-Don region, as the homeland of modern domestic horses. Furthermore, we map the population changes accompanying domestication from 273 ancient horse genomes. This reveals that modern domestic horses ultimately replaced almost all other local populations as they expanded rapidly across Eurasia from about 2000 bc, synchronously with equestrian material culture, including Sintashta spoke-wheeled chariots. We find that equestrianism involved strong selection for critical locomotor and behavioural adaptations at the GSDMC and ZFPM1 genes. Our results reject the commonly held association between horseback riding and the massive expansion of Yamnaya steppe pastoralists into Europe around 3000 bc driving the spread of Indo-European languages. This contrasts with the scenario in Asia where Indo-Iranian languages, chariots and horses spread together, following the early second millennium bc Sintashta culture

Bioenergetics of a slalom kayak (K1) competition

The aim of this study was: i) to compute an energy balance of a slalom kayak competition by measuring the percentage contributions of the aerobic and anaerobic energy sources to total metabolic power (E-tot); and ii) to compare these data with those obtained, on the same subjects, over a flat-water course covered at maximal speed in a comparable time. Experiments were performed on eight middle- to high-class slalom kayakers (24.8 +/- 8.1 years of age, 1.75 +/- 0.04 m of stature, and 69.8 +/- 4.7 kg of body mass) who completed the slalom race in 85.8 +/- 5.3 s and covered the flat water course in 88.1 +/- 7.7 s. E-tot was calculated from measures of oxygen consumption and of blood lactate concentration: it was about 30% larger during the flat water all-out test (1.72 +/- 0.18 kW) than during the slalom race (1.35 +/- 0.12 kW). However, in both cases, about 50% of E-tot derives from aerobic and about 50% from anaerobic energy sources. These data suggest that, besides training for skill acquisition and for improving anaerobic power, some high intensity, cardiovascular conditioning should be inserted in the training programs of the athletes specialised in this sport

Tethered Cord Sindrome nel mielomeningocele: follow up per un timing diagnostico-terapeutico

Objective. Aim oJ the study is to evaluate what symptoms suggest Tethered Cord Syndrome (TCS) in children affected by myelomeningocele (MMC) and what are the diagnostic strategies for a correct surgical timing. Methods. The study consists in a retrospective evaluation of 22 MMC patients' clinical history after surgical spinal detethering, performed between 1991 and 2008. Every patient was monitored according to a clinical-diagnostic protocol used in the Department oJ Pediatrics of the University of Padua. Results. Signs and symptoms suggesting TCS presented Jrequently in this population were: motor (77%), spinal curves variations such as scoliosis (63,6%), Chiari Malformation symptoms (45%), sphinteric (40,9%), urodynamical study changes (50%, in an hali of them without clinical symptoms), sensitive (40,9%). Globally, after surgical detetherig, we observe a worsening in 2 children (9%), while 16 patients improve (73%). Only 4 children (18%) tend to be clinically stable. Conclusions. As in MMC patients life expectancy grows, TCS diagnosis becomes more importantJor the difficulty to detect the subtle and slow neurological and/or sphinterical worsening also in these so compromised patients. We confirm the fundamental rale oJ a multidisciplinary follow up for the prevention and the precocious diagnosis of TCS

Working with adolescents with mental disorders: the efficacy of a multiprofessional intervention.

The aim of this work was to compare multipro- fessional and uniprofessional interventions ap- plied to adolescent patients affected by psychi- atric disorders. The initial hypothesis is that a multiprofessional intervention is more efficacy than a single one. A hundred individuals, 66 males and 34 females, aged between 12 and 19 years affected by emotional and behavioural problems, were selected and divided into 5 groups under the therapeutic treatment. Sub- jects, after diagnosis (ICD 10) and therapeutic suggestion, were clinically followed for 12 mo- nths. The Global Assessment Functioning Scale (GAF) was used to evaluate therapeutic efficacy of interventions. The outcome is associated with the type of intervention: who got clinically better are those patients who underwent multi- professional integrated therapy rather then a single intervention

FINDINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING A RESIDENTIAL OR SEMI-RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR ADOLESCENTS WITH PSICHIATRIC DISORDERS

Aim. The particularity of the adolescent with medium- severe psychopathology and the extreme lack of placements different from hospitals (e.g. residential and semi-residential) often hamper the early intervention of the therapeutic treatment. From our experience from the daily Semi-residential Service for Adolescents at the Childhood and Adolescence Neuropsychiatry Unit of the Public Health Services (Azienda ULSS 16) in Padua, Italy, a retrospective analysis was carried out to identify which factors could be the best indicators for a residential or a semi-residential placement. Sample and methodology. The sample consists of 102 adolescents referred to the daily Semi-residential Service for Adolescents (77 males and 25 females, aged between 12 and 18 years). It was later on divided into two groups: one group stayed in the Semi-residential Service and the second group went into a residential child care institution. All the patients were assessed using the Youth Self report (YSR 11-18) and the Global Assessment Functioning Scale (GAF) when admitted to the Service, and 6 months further on. For each patient the following data were collected: personal and familiar details, schooling, diagnosis, therapeutic objectives, collaboration of the adolescent and his/her family to the treatment and type of intervention. All the data were analysed and compared to find out which could indicate the best early placement for the patient (Semi-residential or residential). Results and conclusions. From this study, it emerges that the residential child care institution is more indicated for the adolescents with: age below 14 years old, monoparental family, externalizing problems (delinquent and aggressive behaviour, conduct or personality disorders), a poor therapeutical compliance (in particular during the first 6 months in the Semi-residential Service) and a lack of parental collaboratio

Approches archéologique et historique de l’évolution d’un quartier périurbain à Saint-Pierre de la Martinique : le site de l’Allée Pécoul (rue Montnoël)

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