Dumuzi's Dream: Dream Analysis in Ancient Mesopotamia.

Mesopotamian civilization was the first to develop writing and the first from which literary texts remain, dating back to the late 3rd millennium B.C. Some of these texts contain accounts of dreams, especially of royal figures. The earliest of these texts, evidently the earliest recorded dream in history, is the dream of Dumuzi of Uruk. This dream is embedded within the framework of the larger epic of the Descent of Inanna, and not only is the dream text itself included but also its interpretation, by Dumuzi's sister Geshtin-anna. She appears to have played the role of a professional dream interpretress. There are also several cylinder seals that appear to depict the motifs of Dumuzi's dream. This article examines this dream and its interpretation within the Mesopotamian cultural context. It also compares the dream with several other well-known dream texts from Mesopotamia. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dream Interpretation with Heterosexual Dating Couples

We examined the effectiveness of the Hill cognitive–experiential model of dream interpretation for working with male and female partners in heterosexual dating couples. Results showed that female partners who received dream interpretation (N = 20) had greater improvements in relationship well-being, insight, and gains from dream interpretation than female partners in the wait-list control group (N = 20). However, male partners who received dream interpretation (N = 20) did not make significant improvements as compared to male partners who did not receive dream interpretation (N = 20). Hence, couples dream interpretation may be more helpful for women than men. Greater effort may be needed to involve men in couples dream sessions in hopes that they will show more gains in relationship well-being and insight.     

Ancient genomics

The past decade has witnessed a revolution in ancient DNA (aDNA) research. Although the field''s focus was previously limited to mitochondrial DNA and a few nuclear markers, whole genome sequences from the deep past can now be retrieved. This breakthrough is tightly connected to the massive sequence throughput of next generation sequencing platforms and the ability to target short and degraded DNA molecules. Many ancient specimens previously unsuitable for DNA analyses because of extensive degradation can now successfully be used as source materials. Additionally, the analytical power obtained by increasing the number of sequence reads to billions effectively means that contamination issues that have haunted aDNA research for decades, particularly in human studies, can now be efficiently and confidently quantified. At present, whole genomes have been sequenced from ancient anatomically modern humans, archaic hominins, ancient pathogens and megafaunal species. Those have revealed important functional and phenotypic information, as well as unexpected adaptation, migration and admixture patterns. As such, the field of aDNA has entered the new era of genomics and has provided valuable information when testing specific hypotheses related to the past.     

Predictors of Outcome of Dream Interpretation Sessions: Volunteer Client Characteristics, Dream Characteristics, and Type of Interpretation

105 volunteer clients completed single sessions of dream interpretation using the Hill (1996) model, with half randomly assigned to waking life interpretation and the other half to parts of self interpretation in the insight stage of the Hill model. No differences were found between waking life and parts of self interpretations, suggesting that therapists can use either type of dream interpretation. Volunteer clients who had positive attitudes toward dreams and presented pleasant dreams had better session outcome; in addition, volunteer clients who had pleasant dreams gained more insight into their dreams. Results suggest that therapists doing single sessions of dream interpretation need to be cautious about working with dreams when volunteer clients have negative attitudes toward dreams and present unpleasant dreams.     

Detection of DNA in Ancient Bones Using Histochemical Methods

We describe histochemical techniques for detecting DNA within the osteocytic lacunae of ancient bones. The bones examined were fragments of femurs from two human individuals found in the Pompeian C. I. Polybius house and fragments of metacarpals from two horses (Equus sp.) found in the Pompeian “Casti Amanti” house. Both buildings were buried by the 79 A. D. Vesuvius eruption. Fragments of femurs from a modern horse, a modern swine and a modern amphibian also were studied as controls. Some bone sections were stained with two different DNA-specific fluorochromes, 4′ -′ 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and chromomycin A3 (CMA), while others were stained by the Feulgen reaction. All of the techniques gave a positive reaction within the osteocytic lacunae. Histological analysis of the undecalcified, ground and unstained sections agreed well with results of bone sections stained with either the fluorochromes or the Feulgen reaction. Bones showing good histology also were positive by our DNA-specific stain. Histochemical and histological analyses correlated well with the success of DNA extraction and amplification. Using conventional DNA-specific histochemical techniques in conjunction with histological analysis can be useful in the study of DNA extracted from ancient bone remains while reducing both the amount of time and cost.     

Detection of DNA in Ancient Bones Using Histochemical Methods

We describe histochemical techniques for detecting DNA within the osteocytic lacunae of ancient bones. The bones examined were fragments of femurs from two human individuals found in the Pompeian C. I. Polybius house and fragments of metacarpals from two horses (Equus sp.) found in the Pompeian “Casti Amanti” house. Both buildings were buried by the 79 A. D. Vesuvius eruption. Fragments of femurs from a modern horse, a modern swine and a modern amphibian also were studied as controls. Some bone sections were stained with two different DNA-specific fluorochromes, 4' -' 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) and chromomycin A3 (CMA), while others were stained by the Feulgen reaction. All of the techniques gave a positive reaction within the osteocytic lacunae. Histological analysis of the undecalcified, ground and unstained sections agreed well with results of bone sections stained with either the fluorochromes or the Feulgen reaction. Bones showing good histology also were positive by our DNA-specific stain. Histochemical and histological analyses correlated well with the success of DNA extraction and amplification. Using conventional DNA-specific histochemical techniques in conjunction with histological analysis can be useful in the study of DNA extracted from ancient bone remains while reducing both the amount of time and cost.     

Ancient DNA studies

Now that the hype surrounding Jurassic Park has settled down and we have become relatively used to dramatic headlines announcing the recovery of DNA from exotic fossilized remains, scientists working on ancient DNA are beginning to reflect on the long-term prospects and implications of the subject.¹ The science of ancient DNA has grown exponentially since its birth only ten years ago, and despite serious technical difficulties, it promises to become a revolutionary research tool in anthropology and molecular evolution. The use of bone DNA typing in particular has already yielded useful insights into Polynesian prehistory as well as spectacular applications in the forensic identification of skeletal remains.     

Ancient Chinese sex symbols in dreams.

This study aimed to determine how often Chinese people dream ancestral sex symbols and to examine the association between dreaming sexual experiences and the Chinese sex symbols. The modified Typical Dreams Questionnaire with 10 additional items about the Chinese sex symbols was administered to a sample of 107 male and 241 female university students in Hong Kong. Both the prevalence and frequency rates indicated that most ancestral Chinese sex symbols do not constitute prominent dream themes in contemporary Chinese people's dreams. The Chinese genital symbols, caves and towers, were found to be relatively prominent in dreams. However, both symbols were neither positively nor negatively associated with the dream theme sexual experiences and the classical psychoanalytic sex symbols, such as snakes. In contrast, the Chinese symbols of sexual activity, such as birds eating fish, had mild, negative correlations with the dream theme sexual experiences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ancient DNA complements microfossil record in deep-sea subsurface sediments

Deep-sea subsurface sediments are the most important archives of marine biodiversity. Until now, these archives were studied mainly using the microfossil record, disregarding large amounts of DNA accumulated on the deep-sea floor. Accessing ancient DNA (aDNA) molecules preserved down-core would offer unique insights into the history of marine biodiversity, including both fossilized and non-fossilized taxa. Here, we recover aDNA of eukaryotic origin across four cores collected at abyssal depths in the South Atlantic, in up to 32.5 thousand-year-old sediment layers. Our study focuses on Foraminifera and Radiolaria, two major groups of marine microfossils also comprising diverse non-fossilized taxa. We describe their assemblages in down-core sediment layers applying both micropalaeontological and environmental DNA sequencing approaches. Short fragments of the foraminiferal and radiolarian small subunit rRNA gene recovered from sedimentary DNA extracts provide evidence that eukaryotic aDNA is preserved in deep-sea sediments encompassing the last glacial maximum. Most aDNA were assigned to non-fossilized taxa that also dominate in molecular studies of modern environments. Our study reveals the potential of aDNA to better document the evolution of past marine ecosystems and opens new horizons for the development of deep-sea palaeogenomics.     

Greek and Egyptian dreams in two Ptolemaic archives: Individual and cultural layers of meaning.

A cultural comparison is made of dreams in the archives of an Egyptian (Hor) and a Greek (Ptolemaios) in second-century BCE Egypt. The content of the dreams is discussed with reference to actual events in the lives of the dreamers as known from their archives and to ancient Greek and Egyptian dream books. The possible social phenomena which might account for differences and similarities between the dreams are discussed. It is found that the dreams in Hor's archive generally reveal a stronger cultural layer with a deep immersion in a specifically Egyptian environment. In contrast, those in Ptolemaios' archive generally have a stronger individual layer and are more concerned with personal struggles reflecting social and economic factors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

古籍中的蜘蛛名称考

中国历史悠久,对蜘蛛的记述早于世界上的其他国家,而且中国古代书籍中记载的蜘蛛名称很多。初步考证了“蜘蛛”名称的来源以及古代书籍中记载蜘蛛的各种名称。     

Ancient conserved domain protein-1 binds copper and modifies its retention in cells

The ancient conserved domain protein (ACDP) family are a recently identified group of homologous mammalian proteins. Some family members have been suggested to have roles in the metabolism of metals. We investigated the capacity of ACDP-1 to bind metals. Using immobilised metal affinity chromatography and isothermal titration calorimetry we determined that ACDP-1 is a high affinity copper binding protein able to bind copper at nanomolar concentrations. In addition the promoter of ACDP-1 contains metal response elements and the cellular expression of ACDP-1 alters cellular retention of copper. However, cellular expression of ACDP-1 does not alter cellular resistance to the toxicity of copper or other metals. As our findings place the subcellular localisation of ACDP-1 in the cytoplasm it is possible that ACDP-1 represent a novel copper chaperone or storage protein.     

古DNA技术在人类墓葬遗骸研究中的应用及进展

考古工作中得到的生物遗骸由于长期的风化,自然侵蚀等因素的影响,遗骸本身含有的古代生物的DNA的大部分会分解,使得对遗骸中的生物遗传信息研究变得非常困难.可将现代生物工程的PCR技术应用到考古工作中,该技术能够对残存的微量DNA进行大量的生物体外扩增,得到更多的古代生物的遗传信息,提高时遗骸种属鉴定的准确性.通过对出土的人类遗骸中微量DNA的扩增、测试和遗骸间DNA序列的对比,在计算机软件的帮助下与已知的人类DNA序列进行比较,能确定同一墓葬中不同遗骸的亲缘关系和该遗骸群体在整个人类进化体系中的位置.对这一试验过程的一些方法、技术、研究进展和目前仍然面临的一些问题作了介绍.     

中医与古代农学相通的原理

从因时受气、因气发生,水利和经络,医理和农则相通等几个中医宇宙系统观方面论述了中国古代农医相通的原理.     

Tuberculosis in Dr Granville's mummy: a molecular re-examination of the earliest known Egyptian mummy to be scientifically examined and given a medical diagnosis

‘Dr Granville''s mummy’ was described to the Royal Society of London in 1825 and was the first ancient Egyptian mummy to be subjected to a scientific autopsy. The remains are those of a woman, Irtyersenu, aged about 50, from the necropolis of Thebes and dated to about 600 BC. Augustus Bozzi Granville (1783–1872), an eminent physician and obstetrician, described many organs still in situ and attributed the cause of death to a tumour of the ovary. However, subsequent histological investigations indicate that the tumour is a benign cystadenoma. Histology of the lungs demonstrated a potentially fatal pulmonary exudate and earlier studies attempted to associate this with particular disease conditions. Palaeopathology and ancient DNA analyses show that tuberculosis was widespread in ancient Egypt, so a systematic search for tuberculosis was made, using specific DNA and lipid biomarker analyses. Clear evidence for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex DNA was obtained in lung tissue and gall bladder samples, based on nested PCR of the IS6110 locus. Lung and femurs were positive for specific M. tuberculosis complex cell-wall mycolic acids, demonstrated by high-performance liquid chromatography of pyrenebutyric acid–pentafluorobenzyl mycolates. Therefore, tuberculosis is likely to have been the major cause of death of Irtyersenu.     

Ancient plant DNA: review and prospects

Ancient DNA has received much attention since the mid-1980s, when the first sequence of an extinct animal species was recovered from a museum specimen. Since then, the majority of ancient DNA studies have focused predominantly on animal species, while studies in plant palaeogenetics have been rather limited, with the notable exception of cultivated species found in archaeological sites. Here, we outline the recent developments in the analysis of plant ancient DNA. We emphasize the trend from species identification to population-level investigation and highlight the potential and the difficulties in this field, related to DNA preservation and to risks of contamination. Further efforts towards the analysis of ancient DNA from the abundant store of fossil plant remains should provide new research opportunities in palaeoecology and phylogeography. In particular, intraspecific variation should be considered not only in cultivated plants but also in wild taxa if palaeogenetics is to become a fully emancipated field of plant research.