Cauldrons of Bronze Age nomads reveals 2700 year old yak milk and the deep antiquity of food preparation techniques.

Cauldrons, vessels that are simultaneously common and enigmatic, offer insights into past cultural and social traditions. While assumed to possess a special function, what these cauldrons contained is still largely mysterious. These vessels, such as those made from bronze or copper alloys, function as reservoirs for ancient organics through the antibacterial qualities provided by the metal surfaces. Here we show, through protein analysis, that cauldrons from the Final Bronze Age (ca. 2700 BP) were primarily used to collect blood from ruminants, primarily caprines, likely for the production of sausages in a manner similar to contemporary practices in Mongolia's rural countryside. Our findings present a different function from the recent findings of cooked meat in copper-alloy vessels from the northern Caucasus 2000 years earlier, exposing the diversity in food preparation techniques. Our secondary findings of bovine milk within the cauldron, including peptides specific to Bos mutus, pushes back their regional domestication into the Bronze Age.

Scoping Literature Review of Disease Modeling of the Opioid Crisis.

Opioid misuse continues to cause significant harm. To investigate current research, we conducted a scoping literature review of disease spread models of opioid misuse from January 2000 to December 2022. In total, 85 studies were identified and examined for the opioids modeled, model type, data sources used and model calibration and validation. Most of the studies (58%, 49) only modeled heroin; the next largest categories were prescription opioids and unspecified opioids which accounted for 9% (8) each. Most models were theoretical compartmental models (57) or applied compartmental models (21). Previously published research was the most used data source (38), and a majority of the model validation involved the researchers setting initial conditions to verify theoretical results (30). To represent typical opioid use more accurately, multiple opioids need to be incorporated into the disease spread models, and applying different modeling techniques may allow other insights into opioid misuse spread.

Genetic population structure of the Xiongnu Empire at imperial and local scales.

The Xiongnu established the first nomadic imperial power, controlling the Eastern Eurasian steppe from ca. 200 BCE to 100 CE. Recent archaeogenetic studies identified extreme levels of genetic diversity across the empire, corroborating historical records of the Xiongnu Empire being multiethnic. However, it has remained unknown how this diversity was structured at the local community level or by sociopolitical status. To address this, we investigated aristocratic and local elite cemeteries at the western frontier of the empire. Analyzing genome-wide data from 18 individuals, we show that genetic diversity within these communities was comparable to the empire as a whole, and that high diversity was also observed within extended families. Genetic heterogeneity was highest among the lowest-status individuals, implying diverse origins, while higher-status individuals harbored less genetic diversity, suggesting that elite status and power was concentrated within specific subsets of the broader Xiongnu population.

Permafrost preservation reveals proteomic evidence for yak milk consumption in the 13th century.

Domesticated yaks endure as iconic symbols of high-altitude frozen landscapes, where herding communities depend on their high-fat milk, transport, dung, and natural fibers. While there is established proteomic evidence for ancient consumption of ruminant and horse milk in the mountains and steppes of northern Eurasia, yak dairy products have yet to be detected. Yak domestication and the species' dispersal from Tibet into the mountainous zones to the north are also poorly resolved due to a paucity of zooarchaeological data. To examine the potential of paleoproteomics to shed light on domesticated yak in Mongolia, we analyzed human dental calculus from Mongol era elite individuals recovered from permafrost burials in Khovsgol province, where people continue to herd yak to this day. We report the first evidence for yak dairy consumption, linked to local resource control. In addition, we confirm a large diversity of recovered whey, curd, tissue, and blood proteins, likely reflecting the excellent preservation conditions found at permafrost sites.

Effects of Autolyzed Yeast Supplementation in a High-Starch Diet on Rumen Health, Apparent Digestibility, and Production Variables of Lactating Holstein Cows.

Fifteen multiparous rumen-cannulated Holstein cows were assigned to one of five treatments in a replicated 5 × 5 Latin square design. The treatments were low-starch (LS) (22.8 ± 1% of dry matter; DM) without autolyzed yeast (AY; LS0, control), high-starch (HS) (31.2 ± 4% of DM) without AY (HS0), and HS with either 15 g (HS15), 30 g (HS30), or 45 g (HS45) of AY supplementation. Cows in HS0 had increased (p < 0.03) dry matter intake (DMI; 24.9 kg/d) and energy-corrected milk (ECM; 34.4 kg/d) compared to cows in LS0 (19.9 and 31.3 kg/d, respectively). There was a tendency for a quadratic treatment effect for feed efficiency (ECM/DMI, p = 0.07) and crude protein (CP) apparent digestibility (AD) (p = 0.09). Cows in HS45 tended (p = 0.09) to have increased DMI (25.6 kg/d) compared to cows in HS0 (24.9 kg/d). Cows in HS0 had greater (p < 0.04) milk protein nitrogen (N; 166 g/d) and microbial N production (161 g/d) than those in LS0 (140 and 138 g/d, respectively). In conclusion, the addition of AY tended to improve DMI, feed efficiency, and CP AD when cows were fed the HS diet.

The spread of herds and horses into the Altai: How livestock and dairying drove social complexity in Mongolia.

The initial movement of herders and livestock into the eastern steppe is of great interest, as this region has long been home to pastoralist groups. Due to a paucity of faunal remains, however, it has been difficult to discern the timing of the adoption of domesticated ruminants and horses into the region, though recent research on ancient dairying has started to shed new light on this history. Here we present proteomic evidence for shifts in dairy consumption in the Altai Mountains, drawing on evidence from sites dating from the Early Bronze to the Late Iron Age. We compare these finds with evidence for the rise of social complexity in western Mongolia, as reflected in material remains signaling population growth, the establishment of structured cemeteries, and the erection of large monuments. Our results suggest that the subsistence basis for the development of complex societies began at the dawn of the Bronze Age, with the adoption of ruminant livestock. Investments in pastoralism intensified over time, enabling a food production system that sustained growing populations. While pronounced social changes and monumental constructions occurred in tandem with the first evidence for horse dairying, ~1350 cal BCE, these shifts were fueled by a long-term economic dependence on ruminant livestock. Therefore, the spread into the Mongolian Altai of herds, and then horses, resulted in immediate dietary changes, with subsequent social and demographic transformations occurring later.

Sexual Orientation and Synthetic Cannabinoid Use: Examining the Role of Bullying Victimization.

Bullying is a common experience among youths with many adverse consequences. Research indicates that those who identify as lesbian, gay, and bisexual experience bullying at greater levels than heterosexuals. Studies also indicate that sexual minorities are more likely to use alcohol and other drugs, including synthetic cannabinoids (SCs). This paper examines whether the relationship between sexual minority status and SC use is mediated by differential exposure to bullying victimization. Data from the 2015 and 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Study were used. Participants include 30,389 adolescents. Supplemental analyses were conducted with state and district data as those collection efforts incorporated additional bullying measures. Ianobucci's zmediation was used to assess the relationships between sexual orientation, bullying victimization, and SC use. Results confirm the higher prevalence of bullying and SC use among LGBQ students. Multiple forms of bullying victimization (e.g., in-person, online, because of weight/appearance) mediate the relationship between sexual orientation and SC use. The greater prevalence of SC use within the LGBQ population is partially attributed to coping as a result bullying victimization.

Does early drug use-related police contact predict premature mortality and morbidity: A population register-based study.

INTRODUCTION: The aim was to analyse whether age at first drug offense predicts premature mortality and morbidity due to substance use and violence among adolescents and young adults. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal register-linkage study based on a total population sample from Finland including individuals born between 1987 and 1992 and aged 15-25 years during follow-up in 2002-2017 (n = 386 435). Age-specific rates of deaths and health-care admissions (morbidity) during a 5-year follow-up were calculated from the first drug offense. Cox regression models were used to estimate differences in mortality and morbidity at ages 21-25. RESULTS: Of all 15- to 20-year-olds, 1.4% (n = 5540) have had a police contact. The 5-year mortality rates (per 1000 person-years) among those with first drug offense at ages 15-16 was 2.92 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.56-6.18], and 5.26 (CI 4.00-7.07) and 5.05 (CI 4.06-6.38) at ages 17-18, and 19-20, respectively. The rates of morbidity varied between 61.20 (CI 52.43-71.76) and 87.51 (CI 82.11-93.33). Both mortality and morbidity rates were over 10 times higher than among the general population. In models adjusted for family background, first police contact at an early age (15-16) did not increase the risk of mortality at ages 21-25 compared with first police contact at ages 17-18 (hazard ratio 1.55, CI 0.77-3.09) or 19-20 (hazard ratio 1.52, CI 0.78-2.98). The results were similar for morbidity. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents with drug-related police contacts have high risk of mortality and morbidity due to substance use and violence regardless of age of first contact.

Examining Sanction Type and Drug Offender Recidivism: A Register-Based Study in Finland.

Nordic countries incarcerate offenders at much lower rates in comparison with incarceration rates in the United States, and reincarcerate fewer people per capita. Noncustodial alternatives to sanctions, including fines and community service, are used extensively in Finland to reduce negative effects of institutionalization and subsequent disadvantage caused by incarceration. The nature of drug-involved offenders within the Finnish system is reviewed in light of current research about the effectiveness of incarceration and deterrence-based approaches for drug offenders. Employing a 2014 sample from register data (consisting of official government records) of drug offenders in Finland with a 3-year recidivism period, this study utilizes a genetic matching procedure to compare offenders who received fines, conditional sentences (probation), or incarceration. While recognizing that numerous confounding variables affect incarceration, we compare a matched sample of drug offenders and the sanctions they have received from the Finland judicial system to determine whether offenders who initially receive a fine or a conditional sentence reenter the correctional system at different rates than those who are incarcerated. After matching, results found no significant differences between offenders receiving incarceration sentences or those who received noncustodial sentences (fine, or conditional sentence) for general and drug-related recidivism. These results are presented within the context of the Finnish corrections system in order to inform the criminal justice community about culture, incarceration, and process differences that could positively affect working with drug offenders in other localities.

An Examination of Substance Use Disorder Type, Legal Status of Drug, and Treatment Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: From the anti-tobacco and anti-marijuana campaigns of the twentieth century to the current controversies surrounding vaporizer use and the opioid epidemic, substances and substance use have been at the forefront of cultural, public health, and legal debates for decades. This work explores treatment outcomes among those with substance use disorders (SUD) by 1) comparing legal, semi-legal, and illegal drug types and their impact on treatment outcomes and 2) evaluating the extent that there exist discrepancies between those who need and those who receive treatment. Methods: Binary logistic regression models were employed with data from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) to examine the relationship between type of SUD and treatment outcomes. Results: Results indicate that those with SUD to illegal drugs were generally more likely to report a need and receive treatment than those with SUD to a legal drug (alcohol use disorder). Those with SUD to some types of illegal drugs did not report more need, but in some cases reported more treatment. Additionally, analyses indicated that across treatment outcomes, those with marijuana use disorder (semi-legal drug) were less likely to report needing or receiving treatment than those with alcohol use disorder. Conclusions: This research examined the role of drugs' legal status and type of SUD in need for treatment and treatment received. The discrepancy between needing and receiving treatment suggests those with some types of SUDs may be pushed into treatment at higher rates based on the stigma surrounding the substance they use.

Social media and access to drugs online: a nationwide study in the United States and Spain among adolescents and young adults / Redes sociales y acceso online a las drogas: un estudio nacional en EE UU y España entre adolescentes y adultos jóvenes

Drugs are sold on both dark web services and on social media, but research investigating these drug purchases online is still emerging. The aim of this study is to analyze risk factors associated with buying drugs online. Utilizing theories of criminology and addiction research, it was hypothesized that social bonds, low levels of self-control, and poor mental health are associated with buying drugs online. Additionally, it was predicted that purchases of drugs online would mediate the relationship between low self-control and regular drug use. Participants of this nationwide study were 15 to 25 years old living in the United States (N = 1,212) and Spain (N = 1,212). Measures of impulsivity, a sense of mastery, social belonging, psychological distress, excessive behaviors (drinking, gambling and internet use) were utilized to predict purchasing drugs online. Two percent of the U.S. and Spanish respondents reported buying drugs online with 77% of them utilizing social media services to buy drugs. Results from multinomial logistic regression, penalized maximum-likelihood logistic regression, and binary mediation regression models indicated that buying drugs online was associated with lower self-control, higher psychological distress, and excessive gambling behavior and excessive Internet use. Having online friends was not a risk factor, but having strong social bonds with offline friends served as a protective factor. Additionally, buying drugs online mediated the relationship between low self-control and regular use of drugs. Results indicate that more focus should be placed on mainstream social media services as sources of drug acquisition as online drug buyers have multiple self-control and mental health problems

Las drogas se venden en páginas web oscuras y en las redes sociales, aunque la investigación de estas adquisiciones online está aún en sus comienzos. Este estudio tiene como objetivo examinar los factores de riesgo vinculados a la compra de drogas online. De acuerdo con las teorías de la criminología y la investigación sobre adicciones, se planteó la hipótesis de que los vínculos sociales, el bajo nivel de autocontrol y los problemas de salud mental están relacionados con la compra online de drogas. Además, se postuló que la adquisición online de drogas estaría mediada por la relación entre el bajo autocontrol y el consumo frecuente de drogas. Participaron en el estudio un total de 2,424 jóvenes residentes en Estados Unidos (N = 1,212) y en España (N = 1,212), que fueron evaluados en impulsividad, sensación de dominio, pertenencia social, malestar psicológico, comportamientos abusivos (bebida, juego y utilización de internet) , con el objetivo de predecir la compra online de drogas. El 2% de los participantes de EE UU y España dijeron que compraban drogas online, de los cuales el 77% utilizaba servicios de redes sociales para tal fin. Los resultados de una regresión logística multinomial, regresión logística de máxima verosimilitud penalizada y modelos de regresión de mediación binaria mostraron que la adquisición online de drogas se relaciona con un menor autocontrol y un mayor malestar emocional y abuso del juego, y del uso de internet. El hecho de tener amigos por internet no constituía un factor de riesgo y tener vínculos sociales estrechos con amigos fuera de internet constituía un factor protector. A su vez, la compra online de drogas es un factor que media la relación entre bajo autocontrol y uso habitual de drogas. Los resultados sugieren que debería prestarse mayor atención a las redes sociales como medio habitual de adquisición de drogas, dado que los compradores online de drogas tienen múltiples problemas de salud mental y autocontrol

High-Resolution Ion-Mobility-Enabled Peptide Mapping for High-Throughput Critical Quality Attribute Monitoring.

Characterization and monitoring of post-translational modifications (PTMs) by peptide mapping is a ubiquitous assay in biopharmaceutical characterization. Often, this assay is coupled to reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (LC) separations that require long gradients to identify all components of the protein digest and resolve critical modifications for relative quantitation. Incorporating ion mobility (IM) as an orthogonal separation that relies on peptide structure can supplement the LC separation by providing an additional differentiation filter to resolve isobaric peptides, potentially reducing ambiguity in identification through mobility-aligned fragmentation and helping to reduce the run time of peptide mapping assays. A next-generation high-resolution ion mobility (HRIM) technique, based on structures for lossless ion manipulations (SLIM) technology with a 13 m ion path, provides peak capacities and higher resolving power that rivals traditional chromatographic separations and, owing to its ability to resolve isobaric peptides that coelute in faster chromatographic methods, allows for up to 3× shorter run times than conventional peptide mapping methods. In this study, the NIST monoclonal antibody IgG1κ (NIST RM 8671, NISTmAb) was characterized by LC-HRIM-MS and LC-HRIM-MS with collision-induced dissociation (HRIM-CID-MS) using a 20 min analytical method. This approach delivered a sequence coverage of 96.5%. LC-HRIM-CID-MS experiments provided additional confidence in sequence determination. HRIM-MS resolved critical oxidations, deamidations, and isomerizations that coelute with their native counterparts in the chromatographic dimension. Finally, quantitative measurements of % modification were made using only the m/z-extracted HRIM arrival time distributions, showing good agreement with the reference liquid-phase separation. This study shows, for the first time, the analytical capability of HRIM using SLIM technology for enhancing peptide mapping workflows relevant to biopharmaceutical characterization.

Online Peers and Offline Highs: An Examination of Online Peer Groups, Social Media Homophily, and Substance Use.

Research indicates that youths are particularly susceptible to peer influence and that identifying with substance using peer groups predicts substance use. Today, youth spend more time interacting with distal peer groups via the Internet and have increased access to online drug cultures. Theoretically, this should have important implications for substance use. This study employs a nationally representative sample of U.S. youth (n = 1212), ages 15-25 years old, to examine whether online peer group identification and social media homophily predict substance use. Results indicate that online belonging and social media homophily are associated with some forms of substance use. While these factors were not significantly associated with regular marijuana or alcohol use among those who had initiated use, they predicted regular stimulant and opioid use among substance users. This suggests that online peer groups may promote progression into more problematic forms of substance use. Additional analyses of adolescent and young adult subgroups revealed important similarities and differences among the groups. The findings imply several directions for future research, and suggest that prevention policies and programs should continue to consider the role of online peers, and the Internet generally, in substance use initiation, escalation, and prevention.

Exploring the Relationships between Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Youth Synthetic Cannabinoid Use.

Purpose: Existing studies have identified sexual minorities as being at enhanced risk for reporting synthetic cannabinoid (SC) use. It is unclear whether this association is the result of those that identify as a minority due to sexual orientation being more likely to use SCs, due to those that identify as transgender using SCs more, or both. Deconstructing this relationship will allow for targeted clinical advice and public health campaigns. Methods: Data from the 2015 and 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Study are utilized. In total, 31,279 youth were asked about their gender identity, sexual orientation, and SC use history. Bivariate analyses and logistic regression models were completed to explore relevant associations. Results: Identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or questioning was linked to SC use and continuing SC use. Similarly, identifying as transgender was linked to SC use and continuing use. Regression analyses showed no significant interactive effect; identifying as both LGBQ and transgender does not have a compounding effect on use likelihood. Conclusions: Both sexual orientation and gender identity contribute to the relationship between sexual minority status and SC use noted in extant literature. This relationship is hypothesized to be tied to increased exposure to discrimination, victimization, and social isolation. Thus, efforts to directly counsel LGBTQ patients about the dangers associated with SC use are warranted as well as social policy reforms to better protect and support members of the LGBTQ community.

Situational and Individual Risk Factors for Cybercrime Victimization in a Cross-national Context.

Routine Activity Theory (RAT) and the general theory of crime have been widely employed to understand cybercrime victimization. However, there is a need to integrate these theoretical frameworks to better understand victimization from a cross-national perspective. A web-based survey was conducted among participants aged 15 to 25 years from the U.S., Finland, Spain, and South Korea. Factors related to RAT were associated with increased victimization in all four countries although results varied between the countries. Low self-control was associated with victimization in the U.S., Finland, and Spain but not in South Korea. Using decomposition analysis, we discovered that the association between low self-control and victimization occurred both directly and indirectly through measures of RAT. Our study demonstrates the need to integrate theories to better understand the dynamics of victimization. Despite the usefulness of RAT, other theories should be taken into consideration when investigating cybercrime victimization.

A Dynamic 6,000-Year Genetic History of Eurasia's Eastern Steppe.

The Eastern Eurasian Steppe was home to historic empires of nomadic pastoralists, including the Xiongnu and the Mongols. However, little is known about the region's population history. Here, we reveal its dynamic genetic history by analyzing new genome-wide data for 214 ancient individuals spanning 6,000 years. We identify a pastoralist expansion into Mongolia ca. 3000 BCE, and by the Late Bronze Age, Mongolian populations were biogeographically structured into three distinct groups, all practicing dairy pastoralism regardless of ancestry. The Xiongnu emerged from the mixing of these populations and those from surrounding regions. By comparison, the Mongols exhibit much higher eastern Eurasian ancestry, resembling present-day Mongolic-speaking populations. Our results illuminate the complex interplay between genetic, sociopolitical, and cultural changes on the Eastern Steppe.

Police Stress, Mental Health, and Resiliency during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic created social upheaval and altered norms for all members of society, but its effects on first responders have been particularly profound. Law enforcement officers have been expected to coordinate local shutdowns, encourage social distancing, and enforce stay-at-home mandates all while completing the responsibilities for which they are already understaffed and underfunded. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on officer stress, mental health, resiliency, and misconduct is explored drawing insight from reactions to the HIV epidemic over two decades earlier and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. COVID-19 policing is hypothesized to serve as a significant stressor for officers and compound the general and organizational stress associated with the occupation. Avenues for providing officer support are discussed and recommendations for research into the phenomenon presented.

Economic Diversification Supported the Growth of Mongolia's Nomadic Empires.

Populations in Mongolia from the late second millennium B.C.E. through the Mongol Empire are traditionally assumed, by archaeologists and historians, to have maintained a highly specialized horse-facilitated form of mobile pastoralism. Until recently, a dearth of direct evidence for prehistoric human diet and subsistence economies in Mongolia has rendered systematic testing of this view impossible. Here, we present stable carbon and nitrogen isotope measurements of human bone collagen, and stable carbon isotope analysis of human enamel bioapatite, from 137 well-dated ancient Mongolian individuals spanning the period c. 4400 B.C.E. to 1300 C.E. Our results demonstrate an increase in consumption of C4 plants beginning at c. 800 B.C.E., almost certainly indicative of millet consumption, an interpretation supported by archaeological evidence. The escalating scale of millet consumption on the eastern Eurasian steppe over time, and an expansion of isotopic niche widths, indicate that historic Mongolian empires were supported by a diversification of economic strategies rather than uniform, specialized pastoralism.

Author Correction: Early Pastoral Economies and Herding Transitions in Eastern Eurasia.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.