The genetic history of the Southern Arc: a bridge between West Asia and Europe

By sequencing 727 ancient individuals from the Southern Arc (Anatolia and its neighbors in Southeastern Europe and West Asia) over 10,000 years, we contextualize its Chalcolithic period and Bronze Age (about 5000 to 1000 BCE), when extensive gene flow entangled it with the Eurasian steppe. Two streams of migration transmitted Caucasus and Anatolian/Levantine ancestry northward, and the Yamnaya pastoralists, formed on the steppe, then spread southward into the Balkans and across the Caucasus into Armenia, where they left numerous patrilineal descendants. Anatolia was transformed by intra–West Asian gene flow, with negligible impact of the later Yamnaya migrations. This contrasts with all other regions where Indo-European languages were spoken, suggesting that the homeland of the Indo-Anatolian language family was in West Asia, with only secondary dispersals of non-Anatolian Indo-Europeans from the steppe

Social Shopping

The goal of the eBay Social Shopping project was to implement a Social Shopping environment based around the eBay Auction Marketplace. We developed a product demonstrating a community based social networking environment for internal use by the eBay Research Labs

The Health Of Database Research Conferences

Increasing numbers of database researchers have raised their concerns regarding the "health" of major database conferences. Various problems such as bias in the paper review process and the performance of executive positions are being analyzed. Our team assessed the current state of 3 conferences: SIGMOD, PODS and VLDB through the filter of several "health" parameters by conducting surveys of database researchers. In addition to this, we gathered database information and produced interesting and useful statistics for the database research community.

Analyzing Sustainable 3D Printing Processes: Mechanical, Thermal, and Crystallographic Insights

In this study, the objective was to optimize energy consumption in the fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing process via a detailed analysis of printing parameters. By utilizing thermal analysis techniques, this research aimed to identify lower printing temperatures that could lead to reduced energy usage. Experimental analysis was conducted using a three-level L9 Taguchi orthogonal array, which involved a systematic combination of different extruder temperatures and cooling fan capacities. Furthermore, the research incorporated differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods to analyze the thermal properties and crystallinity of the 3D-printed specimens. The results indicated that temperature was a key factor affecting crystallinity, with samples printed at 190 °C and 60% fan capacity showing the highest mean values. By conducting a multi-objective desirability analysis, the optimal conditions for maximizing ultimate tensile strength (UTS), tensile modulus, and elongation at break while minimizing energy consumption for PLA 3D-printed samples were determined to be a temperature of 180 °C and a fan speed of 80%

INNOVATIONS 2019 EN CHIRURGIE ORTHOPÉDIQUE ET TRAUMATOLOGIE

L’année 2019 nous amène à évoquer trois thématiques : l’apport de l’imagerie 3D dans la planification des arthroplasties de l’épaule, la reconstruction articulaire du coude par greffe ostéoarticulaire taillée en miroir et enfin la chirurgie de la scoliose par modulation de croissance, sans fusion vertébrale. La pathologie de l’épaule est une des plus fréquentes du système locomoteur, touchant environ la moitié de la population. L’arthrose gléno-humérale, quelle que soit son étiologie, peut justifier le recours à un remplacement prothétique. Le devenir de ces implants n’atteint cependant pas le taux de survie des implants prothétiques de la hanche et du genou. La sévérité des pertes osseuses, particulièrement au niveau de la glène de l’omoplate, et la difficulté d’orienter avec précision les implants rend compte pour une bonne part d’échecs fréquents et trop précoces. La planification de la chirurgie à l’aide d’un logiciel de planification à partir de reconstructions 3D scanner permet d’anticiper ces problèmes et d’établir une stratégie chirurgicale adaptée. Le devenir des arthroplasties du coude dans le temps reste limité, particulièrement chez le sujet jeune et actif. L’utilisation d’une reconstruction ostéochondrale permet de postposer le recours à l’arthroplastie de plusieurs années. Cette chirurgie difficile par la nécessité d’une congruence articulaire parfaite est actuellement rendue possible par l’usage d’une planification en miroir à partir de l’articulation saine et la sélection de l’allogreffe la plus appropriée sur base de l’imagerie scanner. La chirurgie est rendue possible par la mise à disposition du chirurgien de guides de coupe pour l’articulation lésée et l’allogreffe, assurant la correction avec exactitude, conformément à la planification préopératoire. La scoliose atteint principalement une population jeune et tend à s’aggraver avec la croissance. Jusqu’à présent, la chirurgie visait à rétablir l’équilibre sagital du rachis en bloquant les segments osseux afin de prévenir toute nouvelle déformation. Cette stratégie concentrait les contraintes sur les segments du rachis laissés libres de l’instrumentation et de la fusion osseuse avec potentiellement des pathologies discoradiculaires secondaires dans ces niveaux. Le concept d’utiliser la croissance résiduelle du rachis pour corriger la déformation a été récemment introduit. Plutôt que de bloquer définitivement la colonne, le matériel est positionné pour freiner la croissance du côté de la courbure et laissé le côté concave poursuivre celle-ci et corriger la déformation. Il s’agit de la modulation de croissance. Dans cette configuration, la colonne n’est plus bloquée et conserve sa souplesse.The year 2019 has provided us three major themes: the contribution of 3D imaging in the planning of shoulder replacements, joint reconstruction of the elbow by mirrored osteoarticular graft, and finally scoliosis surgery by modulation of growth, without vertebral fusion. Shoulder disease is one of the most common conditions involving the musculoskeletal system, affecting about half of the patients with musculoskeletal complaints. Gleno-humeral osteoarthritis, whatever its etiology, may justify prosthetic replacement. However, the fate of these implants does not attain the survival rates of prosthetic hip and knee implants. The severity of bone loss, particularly within the scapula, and the difficulty of precisely orientating implants both account for a large part of common and too early failures. Planning surgery using planning software from 3D reconstruction scans can anticipate these problems and enable us to establish an appropriate surgical strategy. The fate of elbow replacements remains limited over time, especially in the young and active subject. Using osteochondral reconstruction allows us to postpone arthroplasty for several years. The need for perfect joint congruence is currently made possible via mirror planning from the healthy joint and selection of the most appropriate allograft based on scanner imaging. Surgery is made possible by the surgeon's provision of cutting guides for the injured joint and allograft, ensuring accurate correction, in accordance with preoperative planning. Scoliosis mainly affects a young population, tending to worsen with growth. Until now, surgery has been aimed at restoring the spine’s sagittal balance by fusion of the bony segments to prevent further deformation. This strategy has implemented constraints on the spine segments left free of instrumentation and bone fusion with potentially secondary discoradicular pathologies at these levels. The concept of using residual spine growth to correct deformation has recently been introduced. Rather than permanently fusing the column, the material is positioned to slow the growth on the curvature’s convex side and let the concave side continue to grow and correct the deformation. This is growth modulation. In this configuration, the column is no longer blocked and retains its flexibility

Innovations 2022 en chirurgie orthopédique et traumatologie

La limitation des moyens financiers en soins de Santé nous appelle à justifier de nos choix en apportant la preuve d’une amélioration réelle pour le patient, traduite par sa capacité à réintégrer rapidement le circuit économique et le retour à une vie sociale active, ou encore en développant des techniques moins invasives qui permettent de réduire la période d’incapacité ou les complications auxquelles le patient est exposé. Le service de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Traumatologie a choisi de mettre en évidence différentes approches dans ce cadre : le bénéfice d’une évaluation fonctionnelle en chirurgie de la main quant à l’objectivation du bénéfice de différentes modalités thérapeutiques, les perspectives, encore précoces, de traitement par phages dans les infections d’implants orthopédiques par des bactéries multirésistantes, sans devoir recourir à des chirurgies lourdes, et deux approches biologiques et bio-technologiques pour obtenir la guérison des défauts de consolidation des fractures, sans exposer le patient aux complications d’un prélèvement osseux autologue

Chirurgie orthopédique et traumatologie: que retenir en 2021?

L’année 2021 nous permet d’éclairer l’impact des techniques mini-invasives en chirurgie d’arthroplastie de hanche, la poursuite des progrès dans l’arthroplastie du genou, la place de stratégies non conventionnelles dans le contrôle des infections d’implants et l’intérêt d’une nouvelle installation pour la réalisation des techniques d’arthroscopie de l’épaule. L’optimisation des techniques chirurgicales en arthroplastie de hanche permet d’identifier les patients pour lesquels un contrôle sanguin postopératoire s’avère nécessaire mais aussi, dès lors d’optimiser les patients avant l’intervention afin de réduire le risque d’anémie postopératoire et la nécessité d’une transfusion. Le bénéfice de l’arthroplastie du genou n’a jusqu’à présent pas égalé celui de la hanche. Néanmoins, le développement des stratégies de resurfaçage respectant l’anatomie individuelle du patient soutenu par la technologie moderne et particulièrement la robotisation et le recours aux implants sur mesures laisse augurer de progrès significatifs. L’infection constitue une complication redoutable de la chirurgie d’arthroplastie. Aux stratégies classiques viennent s’ajouter de nouvelles approches thérapeutiques comme la chirurgie deux temps en un et une meilleure définition de la place de l’antibiothérapie suppressive au long cours. Enfin, Il semble qu’une position optimale pour les patients qui bénéficient d’arthroscopies de l’épaule soit celle en décubitus dorsal, évitant les inconvénients des positions semi-assise et en décubitus latéral, la première étant associée à un risque anesthésique accru et la deuxième à des difficultés chirurgicales en cas de conversion vers une voie ouverte et un risque de lésion du plexus brachial.[2021 innovations in orthopedic surgery and traumatology] The year 2021 enabled us to shed light on the impact of minimally invasive techniques in hip arthroplasty surgery, continued progress in knee arthroplasty, place of unconventional strategies in the control of implant infections, and interest of a new surgical positioning for performing shoulder arthroscopy techniques. The optimization of surgical techniques in hip arthroplasty renders it now possible to identify those patients for whom a postoperative blood control proves necessary but also, therefore, for optimizing the patients before the intervention in order to reduce the risk of postoperative anemia and transfusion requirement. The benefit of knee replacement surgery has so far not matched that of hip replacement. Nevertheless, the development of resurfacing strategies respecting the individual anatomy of the patient, supported by modern technology and particularly robotization and using custom-made implants, augurs well for significant progress. Infection is a serious complication of arthroplasty surgery. To the classic strategies were added new therapeutic approaches, such as two-stage surgery in one stage and a better definition of the place of long-term suppressive antibiotic therapy. Finally, an optimal position for patients benefitting from shoulder arthroscopy is that in the supine position, avoiding the disadvantages of semi-sitting and lateral decubitus positions, with the first associated with increased anesthetic risks and the second with surgical difficulties in the event of conversion to an open approach, with a risk of injury to the brachial plexus

A genetic probe into the ancient and medieval history of Southern Europe and West Asia

Literary and archaeological sources have preserved a rich history of Southern Europe and West Asia since the Bronze Age that can be complemented by genetics. Mycenaean period elites in Greece did not differ from the general population and included both people with some steppe ancestry and others, like the Griffin Warrior, without it. Similarly, people in the central area of the Urartian Kingdom around Lake Van lacked the steppe ancestry characteristic of the kingdom’s northern provinces. Anatolia exhibited extraordinary continuity down to the Roman and Byzantine periods, with its people serving as the demographic core of much of the Roman Empire, including the city of Rome itself. During medieval times, migrations associated with Slavic and Turkic speakers profoundly affected the region

Ancient DNA from Mesopotamia suggests distinct Pre-Pottery and Pottery Neolithic migrations into Anatolia

We present the first ancient DNA data from the Pre-Pottery Neolithic of Mesopotamia (Southeastern Turkey and Northern Iraq), Cyprus, and the Northwestern Zagros, along with the first data from Neolithic Armenia. We show that these and neighboring populations were formed through admixture of pre-Neolithic sources related to Anatolian, Caucasus, and Levantine hunter-gatherers, forming a Neolithic continuum of ancestry mirroring the geography of West Asia. By analyzing Pre-Pottery and Pottery Neolithic populations of Anatolia, we show that the former were derived from admixture between Mesopotamian-related and local Epipaleolithic-related sources, but the latter experienced additional Levantine-related gene flow, thus documenting at least two pulses of migration from the Fertile Crescent heartland to the early farmers of Anatolia

A genetic probe into the ancient and medieval history of Southern Europe and West Asia

Literary and archaeological sources have preserved a rich history of Southern Europe and West Asia since the Bronze Age that can be complemented by genetics. Mycenaean period elites in Greece did not differ from the general population and included both people with some steppe ancestry and others, like the Griffin Warrior, without it. Similarly, people in the central area of the Urartian Kingdom around Lake Van lacked the steppe ancestry characteristic of the kingdom's northern provinces. Anatolia exhibited extraordinary continuity down to the Roman and Byzantine periods, with its people serving as the demographic core of much of the Roman Empire, including the city of Rome itself. During medieval times, migrations associated with Slavic and Turkic speakers profoundly affected the region