Barozh 12: formation processes of a late Middle Paleolithic open-air site in western Armenia

© 2020 Elsevier Ltd Barozh 12 is a Middle Paleolithic (MP) open-air site located near the Mt Arteni volcanic complex at the margins of the Ararat Depression, an intermontane basin that contains the Araxes River. Sedimentology, micromorphology, geochronology, biomarker evidence, together with an assessment of artifact taphonomy permits the modelling of site formation processes and paleoenvironment at a level of detail not previously achieved in this area. Obsidian MP artifacts were recovered in high densities at Barozh 12 from four stratigraphic units deposited during marine oxygen isotope stage 3 (MIS 3) (60.2 ± 5.7–31.3 ± 3 ka). The MIS 3 sequence commences with low energy alluvial deposits that have been altered by incipient soil formation, while artifact assemblages in these strata were only minimally reworked. After a depositional hiatus, further low energy alluvial sedimentation and weak soil formation occurred, followed by higher energy colluvial (re)deposition and then deflation. Artifacts in these last stratigraphic units were more significantly reworked than those below. Analysis of plant leaf wax (n-alkane) biomarkers shows fluctuating humidity throughout the sequence. Collectively the evidence suggests that hunter-gatherers equipped with MP lithic technology repeatedly occupied this site during variable aridity regimes, demonstrating their successful adaptation to the changing environments of MIS 3

Predicting Successful Aging in a Population-Based Sample of Georgia Centenarians

Used a population-based sample (Georgia Centenarian Study, GCS), to determine proportions of centenarians reaching 100 years as (1) survivors (43%) of chronic diseases first experienced between 0–80 years of age, (2) delayers (36%) with chronic diseases first experienced between 80–98 years of age, or (3) escapers (17%) with chronic diseases only at 98 years of age or older. Diseases fall into two morbidity profiles of 11 chronic diseases; one including cardiovascular disease, cancer, anemia, and osteoporosis, and another including dementia. Centenarians at risk for cancer in their lifetime tended to be escapers (73%), while those at risk for cardiovascular disease tended to be survivors (24%), delayers (39%), or escapers (32%). Approximately half (43%) of the centenarians did not experience dementia. Psychiatric disorders were positively associated with dementia, but prevalence of depression, anxiety, and psychoses did not differ significantly between centenarians and an octogenarian control group. However, centenarians were higher on the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) than octogenarians. Consistent with our model of developmental adaptation in aging, distal life events contribute to predicting survivorship outcome in which health status as survivor, delayer, or escaper appears as adaptation variables late in life

Interdependence between transportation system and power distribution system: a comprehensive review on models and applications

The rapidly increasing penetration of electric vehicles in modern metropolises has been witnessed during the past decade, inspired by financial subsidies as well as public awareness of climate change and environment protection. Integrating charging facilities, especially high-power chargers in fast charging stations, into power distribution systems remarkably alters the traditional load flow pattern, and thus imposes great challenges on the operation of distribution network in which controllable resources are rare. On the other hand, provided with appropriate incentives, the energy storage capability of electric vehicle offers a unique opportunity to facilitate the integration of distributed wind and solar power generation into power distribution system. The above trends call for thorough investigation and research on the interdependence between transportation system and power distribution system. This paper conducts a comprehensive survey on this line of research. The basic models of transportation system and power distribution system are introduced, especially the user equilibrium model, which describes the vehicular flow on each road segment and is not familiar to the readers in power system community. The modelling of interdependence across the two systems is highlighted. Taking into account such interdependence, applications ranging from long-term planning to short-term operation are reviewed with emphasis on comparing the description of traffic-power interdependence. Finally, an outlook of prospective directions and key technologies in future research is summarized.fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

A new class of glycomimetic drugs to prevent free fatty acid-induced endothelial dysfunction

Background: Carbohydrates play a major role in cell signaling in many biological processes. We have developed a set of glycomimetic drugs that mimic the structure of carbohydrates and represent a novel source of therapeutics for endothelial dysfunction, a key initiating factor in cardiovascular complications. Purpose: Our objective was to determine the protective effects of small molecule glycomimetics against free fatty acid­induced endothelial dysfunction, focusing on nitric oxide (NO) and oxidative stress pathways. Methods: Four glycomimetics were synthesized by the stepwise transformation of 2,5­dihydroxybenzoic acid to a range of 2,5­substituted benzoic acid derivatives, incorporating the key sulfate groups to mimic the interactions of heparan sulfate. Endothelial function was assessed using acetylcholine­induced, endotheliumdependent relaxation in mouse thoracic aortic rings using wire myography. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) behavior was evaluated in the presence or absence of the free fatty acid, palmitate, with or without glycomimetics (1µM). DAF­2 and H2DCF­DA assays were used to determine nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, respectively. Lipid peroxidation colorimetric and antioxidant enzyme activity assays were also carried out. RT­PCR and western blotting were utilized to measure Akt, eNOS, Nrf­2, NQO­1 and HO­1 expression. Results: Ex vivo endothelium­dependent relaxation was significantly improved by the glycomimetics under palmitate­induced oxidative stress. In vitro studies showed that the glycomimetics protected HUVECs against the palmitate­induced oxidative stress and enhanced NO production. We demonstrate that the protective effects of pre­incubation with glycomimetics occurred via upregulation of Akt/eNOS signaling, activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway, and suppression of ROS­induced lipid peroxidation. Conclusion: We have developed a novel set of small molecule glycomimetics that protect against free fatty acidinduced endothelial dysfunction and thus, represent a new category of therapeutic drugs to target endothelial damage, the first line of defense against cardiovascular disease

ANGEGHAKOT 1 (ARMENIA ) AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE MOUSTERIAN CULTURAL FACIES OF « YEREVAN POINTS » TYPE IN THE SOUTHERN CAUCASUS

International audienceIn 2003 a prehistoric site was discovered at an altitude of 1 800 m in the district of Angeghakot in the valley of the Vorotan (southeastern Armenia) by an Armenian-French multidisciplinary team. This site provides evidence for the presence of hunter-gatherers in the region during the Middle Palaeolithic. The lithic industry collected on the surface, mainly obsidian, has been identified as belonging to the Mousterian facies typical of the " Zagros-Taurus " , consisting of numerous Mousterian points, " Yerevan points " , microlithic tools, and the presence of the " truncating-facetting " technique. These recent data raise questions about the variability of facies in the Lesser Caucasus and allow us to draw a much larger distribution map of the sites where microlithic industries and resharpened points are present. Angeghakot 1, located on a cultural crossroads between Asia Minor, the Near East and Europe, raises questions related to the existence of a real Caucasian cultural system ; it represents a local economic variant in the exploitation of obsidian, strongly linked to the environmental constraints which existed in these mountain ranges at the end of the Pleistocene. Résumé : Au Caucase, dans la vallée du Vorotan (sud-est de l'Arménie), la découverte en 2003 par une équipe pluridisciplinaire arméno-française d'un gisement situé à 1 800 m d'altitude dans la commune d'Angeghakot, atteste la fréquentation de la région par des groupes de chasseurs-cueilleurs au Paléolithique moyen. L'industrie lithique, élaborée principalement sur l'obsidienne et récoltée en surface, a permis d'identifier le faciès moustérien typique du « Zagros-Taurus » composé de nombreuses pointes moustériennes, de poin-tes d'Erevan, d'outils microlithiques et la présence de la technique de « troncature-facettage ». Ces nouvelles données soulèvent des questions sur la variabilité des faciès du Petit Caucase. Elles permettent l'élaboration d'une carte de distribution plus vaste de ces sites qui se distinguent par leurs industries microlithiques et leurs pointes réaffûtées. Angeghakot 1, situé au carrefour des cultures d'Asie mineure, du Proche-Orient et de l'Europe, contribue également à poser la question de l'existence d'un système culturel caucasien, sous la forme d'une variante économique locale de l'exploitation de l'obsidienne, fortement liée aux contraintes environnementales présentes dans les chaînes de montagnes à la fin du Pléistocène

Early Pleistocene climate cycles in continental deposits of the Lesser Caucasus of Armenia inferred from palynology, magnetostratigraphy, and Ar-40/Ar-39 dating

Plio-Pleistocene diatomitic sequences in the Shamb paleo-lake (South Armenia, Lessee Caucasus) offer a rare opportunity to give new insights on the paleo-climate of Western Asia. We present an integrated palynological, Ar-40/Ar-39 geochronologic and magnetostratigraphic study for the most complete section in the sedimentary deposits of the Shamb paleo-lake. Ar-40/Ar-39 dating of two volcaniclastic layers provided ages of 1.24 +/- 0.03 and 1.16 +/- 0.02 Ma (2 sigma). Magnetostratigraphic data show that the entire Shamb section is of reversed polarity which, combined with Ar-40/Ar-39 dating, suggests that the entire section correlates with part of the Matuyama period (1.785-1.070 Ma). Pollen assemblages and macroremains diversity clearly show an alternation of glacial and interglacial phases. Age calibrations and accumulation rate extrapolation allow a direct correlation of climate changes with the global isotopic curve, and show that the Shamb section probably ranges from approximately 1.300 to 1.080 Ma (marine isotopic stages 40 to 31). The vegetation of the Lesser Caucasus developed in a mosaic pattern in a Pleistocene continental, mostly and climate. comparable to the present-day climate. The observed vegetation changes record a dominant climate response to the obliquity orbital parameter, but the influence of precession could not be established from the Shamb data. Pollen and macroflora both indicate that glacial periods were cold and dry and that interglacials were warm with local humidity. The Early Pleistocene climatic model for Western Asia is thus similar to the climatic model for the Mediterranean area