Article
Genetics & Heredity
J. A. M. Erven, C. Cakirlar, D. G. Bradley, D. C. M. Raemaekers, O. Madsen
Summary: This study evaluated the imputation of ancient Sus scrofa genomes and found that the accuracy of imputation is affected by factors such as genetic architecture and divergence in the reference panel. Despite achieving high genotype concordance, the imputed genotypes did not fully capture the diversity present in the original genomes, leading to biases in downstream analyses.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Margareta Simina Stanc, Monica Luca, Adrian Balasescu, Luminita Bejenaru
Summary: This study analyzes a large number of samples from different archaeological sites in Romania to investigate the spread of domestic pigs into Europe and the possibility of local domestication. The results show a shift in the genetic signature of domestic pigs in Romania from a Near-Eastern signature in the Neolithic period to a European one in the Early Bronze Age-Middle Ages period.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Ivan Norscia, Edoardo Collarini, Giada Cordoni
Summary: The study found that anxiety behavior in pigs is mainly expressed through displacement activities in natural environments, and this behavior can be mitigated by social interactions. Pigs exhibit higher levels of anxiety behavior for a longer duration, and this behavior is primarily expressed by bystanders rather than opponents.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Muriel Gros-Balthazard, Jonathan M. Flowers, Khaled M. Hazzouri, Sylvie Ferrand, Frederique Aberlenc, Sarah Sallon, Michael D. Purugganan
Summary: Researchers recovered seven date palm seeds from archaeological sites in the Southern Levant, dating from the fourth century BCE to the second century CE, which were germinated to yield viable plants. Whole-genome sequencing of these ancient samples showed genetic relationships between the ancient Judean date palms and modern West Asian and North African date palm varieties. These findings provide insights into crop evolution and the introgression of genetic features from the Cretan palm Phoenix theophrasti into modern North African date palm populations.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thomas Cucchi, Auriale Domont, Hugo Harbers, Charlotte Leduc, Aurelie Guidez, Anne Bridault, Hitomi Hongo, Max Price, Joris Peters, Francois Briois, Jean Guilaine, Jean-Denis Vigne
Summary: Research suggests that early settlers in Cyprus introduced wild boars from a specific sub-species originating in the Northern Levant, leading to the formation of a unique insular sub-species. This indicates that Cyprus may have been integrated into the core region of animal domestication.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Yuting Zhang, Jingwen Song, Min Zhang, Zhongyuan Deng
Summary: RNA polyadenylation is a crucial step in eukaryotic gene expression, depending on a highly conserved AAUAAA hexamer motif known as the polyadenylation signal (PAS). This study identified polyadenylation signals in Sus scrofa, which are similar to those found in other mammalian species. The findings of this study provide valuable information for the annotation of the Sus scrofa genome and understanding post-transcriptional regulation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ivan Norscia, Elisabetta Coco, Carlo Robino, Elena Chierto, Giada Cordoni
Summary: The study found that yawning contagion exists in domestic pigs, and pigs are more likely to yawn when perceiving others' yawns. Yawn contagion is influenced by individual kinship, gender, age, and proximity.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Magdalena Niedzialkowska, Ewa Tarnowska, Joanna Ligmanowska, Bogumila Jedrzejewska, Tomasz Podgorski, Anna Radziszewska, Iwona Ratajczyk, Szilvia Kusza, Aleksei N. Bunevich, Gabriel Danila, Maryna Shkvyria, Tomasz Grzybowski, Marcin Wozniak
Summary: The study of genetic diversity and structure of wild boar populations in Central and Eastern Europe revealed five distinct phylogenetic clades with different contributions from various regions.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Paloma Diaz-Maroto, Alba Rey-Iglesia, Isabel Cartajena, Lautaro Nunez, Michael Westbury, Valeria Varas, Mauricio Moraga, Paula F. Campos, Pablo Orozco-terWengel, Juan Carlos Marin, Anders J. Hansen
Summary: The study reveals the genetic diversity of ancient South American camelids through mitochondrial genomes and osteometric analysis, showing the prevalence of interbreeding practices during the domestication process, and proposing a domestication hypothesis that includes an ancient guanaco population that no longer exists.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Piotr Kaczynski, Bozena Lozowicka, Maciej Perkowski, Izabela Hrynko, Wojciech Zon
Summary: The study investigated the concentrations of neonicotinoids in wild boars from hunting areas in north-eastern Poland and assessed the risk to consumers. The findings showed a high presence of neonicotinoids in samples, but the chronic and acute risk to consumers was very low.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Takashi Okada, Stephen McIlfatrick, Justin C. St. John
Summary: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deficiency is associated with poor oocyte quality and fertilisation failure. Supplementing mtDNA deficient oocytes with extra copies of mtDNA improves fertilisation rates and embryo development. The molecular mechanisms underlying oocyte developmental incompetence and the effects of mtDNA supplementation on embryo development are still unclear. This study investigates the association between the developmental competence of Sus scrofa oocytes, assessed with Brilliant Cresyl Blue, and transcriptome profiles. The effects of mtDNA supplementation on the developmental transition from oocyte to blastocyst are also analyzed.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Yeni Wahyuni Hartati, Irkham Irkham, Iis Sumiati, Santhy Wyantuti, Shabarni Gaffar, Salma Nur Zakiyyah, Muhammad Ihda H. L. Zein, Mehmet Ozsoz
Summary: Fast, sensitive, and easy-to-use label-free electrochemical DNA biosensor method was developed for the detection of pork in processed meat samples. The method utilized gold electrodeposited screen-printed carbon electrodes and differential pulse voltammetry for probe-target DNA hybridization detection. The detection limit was 0.135 μg/mL, and the method showed selectivity against 5% pork DNA in a mixture of meat samples. This electrochemical biosensor method has the potential to be developed into a portable point-of-care detection method for pork or food adulterations.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michaela Masilkova, Milos Jezek, Vaclav Silovsky, Monika Faltusova, Jan Rohla, Tomas Kusta, Hynek Burda
Summary: The study reveals that wild boars exhibit prosocial behavior and are capable of helping others, potentially influenced by factors such as empathy, learning, and social facilitation.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Candace C. Croney, Sarah T. Boysen
Summary: The study found that Panepinto micro pigs and Yorkshire pigs are able to acquire a joystick-operated video-game task, despite having some level of dexterity and visual constraints. Pigs needed to understand the task conceptually and demonstrate skilled motor performance during the training process.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiana Gonzalez-Gomez, Noelia Cambeiro-Perez, Maria Figueiredo-Gonzalez, Elena Martinez-Carballo
Summary: The study assessed the exposure and bioaccumulation of organic pollutants in wild boars using liver and hair samples, finding distribution patterns of different pollutants in the samples. Significant correlations between concentrations of various organic pollutants and socio-demographic characteristics were observed. The data showed complementary information provided by both biological samples.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Iosif Lazaridis, Songul Alpaslan-Roodenberg, Ayse Acar, Aysen Acikko, Anagnostis Agelarakis, Levon Aghikyan, Ugur Akyuz, Desislava Andreeva, Gojko Andrijasevic, Dragana Antonovic, Ian Armit, Alper Atmaca, Pavel Avetisyan, Ahmet Ihsan Aytek, Krum Bacvarov, Ruben Badalyan, Stefan Bakardzhiev, Jacqueline Balen, Lorenc Bejko, Rebecca Bernardos, Andreas Bertsatos, Hanifi Biber, Ahmet Bilir, Mario Bodruzic, Michelle Bonogofsky, Clive Bonsall, Dusan Boric, Nikola Borovinic, Guillermo Bravo Morante, Katharina Buttinger, Kim Callan, Francesca Candilio, Mario Caric, Olivia Cheronet, Stefan Chohadzhiev, Maria-Eleni Chovalopoulou, Stella Chryssoulaki, Ion Ciobanu, Natalija Condic, Mihai Constantinescu, Emanuela Cristiani, Brendan J. Culleton, Elizabeth Curtis, Jack Davis, Tatiana Demcenco, Valentin Dergachev, Zafer Derin, Sylvia Deskaj, Seda Devejyan, Vojislav Djordjevic, Kellie Sara Duffett Carlson, Laurie R. Eccles, Nedko Elenski, Atilla Engin, Nihat Erdogan, Sabiha Erir-Pazarci, Daniel M. Fernandes, Matthew Ferry, Suzanne Freilich, Alin Frinculeasa, Michael L. Galaty, Beatriz Gamarra, Boris Gasparyan, Bisserka Gaydarska, Elif Genc, Timur Gultekin, Serkan Gunduz, Tamas Hajdu, Volker Heyd, Suren Hobosyan, Nelli Hovhannisyan, Iliya Iliev, Lora Iliev, Stanislav Iliev, Ilkay Ivgin, Ivor Jankovic, Lence Jovanova, Panagiotis Karkanas, Berna Kavaz-Kindigili, Esra Hilal Kaya, Denise Keating, Douglas J. Kennett, Seda Deniz Kesici, Anahit Khudaverdyan, Krisztian Kiss, Sinan Kilic, Paul Klostermann, Sinem Kostak Boca Negra Valdes, Sasa Kovacevic, Marta Krenz-Niedbala, Maja Krznaric Skrivanko, Rovena Kurti, Pasko Kuzman, Ann Marie Lawson, Catalin Lazar, Krassimir Leshtakov, Thomas E. Levy, Ioannis Liritzis, Kirsi O. Lorentz, Sylwia Lukasik, Matthew Mah, Swapan Mallick, Kirsten Mandl, Kristine Martirosyan-Olshansky, Roger Matthews, Wendy Matthews, Kathleen McSweeney, Varduhi Melikyan, Adam Micco, Megan Michel, Lidija Milasinovic, Alissa Mittnik, Janet M. Monge, Georgi Nekhrizov, Rebecca Nicholls, Alexey G. Nikitin, Vassil Nikolov, Mario Novak, Inigo Olalde, Jonas Oppenheimer, Anna Osterholtz, Celal Ozdemir, Kadir Toykan Ozdogan, Nurettin Ozturk, Nikos Papadimitriou, Niki Papakonstantinou, Anastasia Papathanasiou, Lujana Paraman, Evgeny G. Paskary, Nick Patterson, Ilian Petrakiev, Levon Petrosyan, Vanya Petrova, Anna Philippa-Touchais, Ashot Piliposyan, Nada Pocuca Kuzman, Hrvoje Potrebica, Bianca Preda-Balanica, Zrinka Premuzic, T. Douglas Price, Lijun Qiu, Sinisa Radovic, Kamal Raeuf Aziz, Petra Rajic Sikanjic, Kamal Rasheed Raheem, Sergei Razumov, Amy Richardson, Jacob Roodenberg, Rudenc Ruka, Victoria Russeva, Mustafa Sahin, Aysegul Sarbak, Emre Savas, Constanze Schattke, Lynne Schepartz, Tayfun Selcuk, Ayla Sevim-Erol, Michel Shamoon-Pour, Henry M. Shephard, Athanasios Sideris, Angela Simalcsik, Hakob Simonyan, Vitalij Sinika, Kendra Sirak, Ghenadie Sirbu, Mario Slaus, Andrei Soficaru, Bilal Sogut, Arkadiusz Sotysiak, Cilem Sonmez-Sozer, Maria Stathi, Martin Steskal, Kristin Stewardson, Sharon Stocker, Fadime Suata-Alpaslan, Alexander Suvorov, Anna Szecsenyi-Nagy, Tamas Szeniczey, Nikolai Telnov, Strahil Temov, Nadezhda Todorova, Ulsi Tota, Gilles Touchais, Sevi Triantaphyllou, Atila Turker, Marina Ugarkovic, Todor Valchev, Fanica Veljanovska, Zlatko Videvski, Cristian Virag, Anna Wagner, Sam Walsh, Piotr Wodarczak, J. Noah Workman, Aram Yardumian, Evgenii Yarovoy, Alper Yener Yavuz, Hakan Yilmaz, Fatma Zalzala, Anna Zettl, Zhao Zhang, Rafet Cavusoglu, Nadin Rohland, Ron Pinhasi, David Reich
Summary: Literary and archaeological sources, as well as genetic studies, provide valuable insights into the history of Southern Europe and West Asia. The elites of Mycenaean Greece were not genetically distinct from the general population, and there were individuals with steppe ancestry as well as those without, like the Griffin Warrior. Similarly, the central area of the Urartian Kingdom lacked the steppe ancestry found in the northern provinces. Anatolia displayed remarkable continuity throughout history, with its people playing a central role in the Roman Empire. Medieval migrations associated with Slavic and Turkic speakers had a significant impact on the region.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Cristina Covataru, Cornelis Stal, Mihai Florea, Ionela Opris, Corina Simion, Ileana Radulescu, Romeo Calin, Theodor Ignat, Cristina Ghita, Catalin Lazar
Summary: The analysis of historical maps and satellite imagery allows us to observe and understand the changes that archaeological sites have undergone over the past centuries. This is crucial in raising awareness, preventing damages, and preserving tangible evidence of our distant past.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Archaeology
Bogdan Manea, Vasile Opris, Theodor Ignat, Catalin Lazar
Summary: This paper presents new recording strategies used by archaeologists to study pottery combustion structures, discussing the importance of capturing comprehensive data including construct, material, quantitative, labor, temporal, and thermal information. The benefits of integrating archaeological and experimental data are also highlighted.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE-REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
Margot Louail, Laurent Caner, Dimitri Neaux, Katia Ortiz, Yann Locatelli, Thomas Cucchi
Summary: Dental microwear is a useful tool for studying the diet and dental evolution of mammals. However, the impact of exogenous mineral particles on dental wear is still a challenge. This study conducted a controlled-food experiment on wild boars to investigate the effects of soil ingestion on dental microwear. The results showed that soil ingestion resulted in less rough, simpler, and more anisotropic wear surfaces.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL METHOD AND THEORY
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Abel Moclan, Angel C. Dominguez-Garcia, Emmanuelle Stoetzel, Thomas Cucchi, Paloma Sevilla, Cesar Laplana
Summary: Taxonomic identification of fossils based on morphology is a key step in palaeontological studies. Machine Learning techniques have been shown to be powerful statistical approaches for analyzing quantitative morphometric data. In this study, Machine Learning algorithms were applied to two-dimensional geometric morphometric data of Mus spp. molars, demonstrating their effectiveness in taxonomic identification.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Archaeology
Manon Le Neun, Elise Dufour, Nicolas Goepfert, Dimitri Neaux, Jane C. Wheeler, Hugo Yacobaccio, Guillermo Luis Mengoni Gonalons, Dolores Elkin, Alejandra Gasco, Thomas Cucchi
Summary: South American Camelids (SAC) played a significant role in the pre-Hispanic Andean societies and are still important for rural Andean communities. However, the lack of reliable taxonomic identification of SAC archaeological remains hampers our understanding of their specific role and function over time. This study explores the taxonomic potential of a multivariate morphometrics method using a machine learning approach, but the distinction between domestic forms and their wild relatives remains tentative. Further improvements are needed to enhance the classification accuracy.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE-REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
T. Cucchi, H. Harbers, D. Neaux, M. Balasse, L. Garbe, D. Fiorillo, H. Bocherens, D. Drucker, C. Zanolli, R. Cornette, R. M. Arbogast, S. Brehard, A. Bridault, L. Gourichon, J. Guilaine, C. Manen, T. Perrin, R. Schafberg, A. Tresset, J. D. Vigne, A. Herrel
Summary: Evolutionary biologists seek the help of archaeologists to understand the morphological evolution of animals in response to human activities. The impact of domestication and dispersal on animal morphology has been understudied.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Mihaela Golea, Ana Garcia-Vazquez, Cristina Mircea, Marin Carciumaru, Gabriela Sava, Johannes Mueller, Wiebke Kirleis, Catalin Lazar
Summary: This paper reviews the earliest record of rye in Romania and determines that it actually belongs to the medieval period, not the prehistoric period as previously assumed. The research provides new and original data on rye cultures from the medieval period in southeastern Europe.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Gabriel M. Popescu, Cristina Covataru, Ionela Opris, Adrian Balasescu, Laurent Carozza, Valentin Radu, Constantin Haita, Tiberiu Sava, C. Michael Barton, Catalin Lazar
Summary: Past human population dynamics are important for understanding socio-ecological change over time. This study investigates population dynamics in the Lower Danube and Eastern Balkans area during the 5th millennium BC using radiocarbon dating. The analysis reveals both similarities and differences in population trends across the region, providing insights into the cultural characteristics of societies during that period.
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
M. Secu, E. Matei, C. Secu, C. Bartha, T. Buruiana, A. M. Rostas, A. D. Popescu, A. Boroneant, R. Bajenaru
Summary: A complex physico-chemical investigation was conducted on white inlaid substances used in prehistoric clay artifacts from southern Romania ceramics. The white pigments were found to contain particles ranging from hundreds of nm to microns in size, with calcite and hydroxyapatite as the dominant components. Calcite was present in pigment vessels from the Early Chalcolithic period, while hydroxyapatite was dominant during the Middle/Late Bronze Age. FTIR spectra suggested that the hydroxyapatite originated from cremated animal bones, and the crystallinity degree values matched the expected firing temperatures of ancient furnaces. EPR analysis was inconclusive in identifying the source of the cremated animal bones, but thermoluminescence revealed various sources of calcite.
SOLID STATE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Archaeology
Juliette Milon, Charlene Bouchaud, Christopher Viot, Michel Lemoine, Thomas Cucchi
Summary: The study examined the taxonomic signal of cotton seeds at the interspecific level and the impact of carbonization on this signal. Linear measurements and geometric morphometrics (GM) were used to compare modern dried cotton seeds and experimentally charred seeds. The results show that the outline form of the seeds provides more accurate taxonomic discrimination than linear measurements, and high-temperature carbonization does not significantly deform the shape of the seeds.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE-REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Manon Le Neun, Elise Dufour, Antoine Zazzo, Olivier Tombret, Francois Thil, Jane C. Wheeler, Thomas Cucchi, Nicolas Goepfert
Summary: This study revises the chronological framework of the Telarmachay rockshelter, a key site in the Andean highlands, by conducting a new AMS dating program. The results provide a greater than 5000 year sequence of occupation and highlight the importance of the Junin area in the Andean highland occupation sequence. It emphasizes the need for new radiocarbon dates to reassess previous data and directly date artifacts.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Archaeology
Jean-Denis Vigne, Thomas Cucchi, Maria Rousou, Salvador Bailon, Isabelle Carrere, Benoit Devillers, Carolyne Douche, Lionel Gourichon, Angelos Hadjikoumis, Pantelitsa Mylona, Katerina Papayianni, Andrea Pares, Margareta Tengberg, Antoine Zazzo, Jean Guilaine, Francois Briois
Summary: In the last 30 years, the interdisciplinary approach and analytical tools used in the Amathous region in Cyprus have generated a substantial amount of archaeological, geoarchaeological, and bioarchaeological data. These data have greatly contributed to understanding the interactions between early Neolithic human societies and the environment and natural resources of an isolated island during a period of significant changes. The paper reviews hydrological changes, plant and vertebrate faunal evolution, domestication of animals, and cultivation and breeding practices, providing insights into the incipient human niche construction in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE-REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Humanities, Multidisciplinary
Daniel Stoicescu, Octavian G. Duliu, Vasile Opris, Bogdan Manea, Izabela Maris, Valentina Voinea, Pavel Mirea, Valentin Parnic, Madalina Dimache, Catalin Lazar
Summary: This study analyzed Neolithic and Chalcolithic pottery sherds from Southern Romania using X-ray Computed Tomography, finding that ceramic production primarily relied on moderately and poorly sorted clays. Additionally, specific orientation patterns were observed in the voids and inclusions of the pottery, indicating the preservation of conservative traditions in the pottery-forming processes.
Article
Archaeology
Monica Margarit, Adina Boroneant, Adrian Balasescu, Clive Bonsall
Summary: The Mesolithic settlements on the left bank of the Danube in the Iron Gates have yielded various artefacts made of osseous materials. Our research focused on identifying the manufacturing processes and use marks of these artefacts. We found both unitary patterns and site-specific characteristics, suggesting wood processing and hunting were the main activities performed with osseous artefacts in this area, rather than plant cultivation.