Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Excavations at Ajdabiyah: Second Interim Report

In 1971 the Libyan Department of Antiquities invited the Society to conduct a trial excavation at Ajdabiyah to find out whether further investigation might throw light on the medieval Islamic settlement. Documentary evidence showed that Ajdabiyah was already a caravan town in the ninth century A.D., that it flourished under the Fatimids and that it was destroyed by the Banu Sulaim and the Banu Hilal in 1051. Earlier excavations had revealed two major Islamic monuments; a ruined qasr and a mosque (Abdussaid 1964a). It was known, too, that in the first century A.D. a Roman detachment was stationed at Ajdabiyah, which is identified with Corniclanum, a name on the Peutinger Map. The short season of 1971 established that remains of the medieval town survived on the south-east side of Ajdabiyah, in the area of the modern cemetery (fig. 1). A scatter of Roman material and a group of burials, apparently of Roman date, suggested that future excavation might reveal something of the history of Corniclanum, as well as of the Fatimid settlement (Blake, Hutt and Whitehouse 1971). In 1972 we returned to Ajdabiyah. We resumed excavation at the mosque and planned in detail the remains of the qasr (Whitehouse 1972). Both buildings have considerable importance. The qasr had been stripped in 1952 (Abdussaid 1964a). We planned the building at a scale of 1: 40, drew elevations of the principal rooms and made a full photographic record; the structure now awaits final publication. At the mosque we found evidence for two periods of construction, both evidently Fatimid, the earlier of which was probably commissioned by Abu'l Qasim, the son of Obeid Allah. An inscription from the mosque (unfortunately not in situ) bears the date (3)10/922-3 or (3)20/932, possibly the date of construction (Lowick 1972, 5 and pl. VIIa). Among the masonry re-used in the mosque were no fewer than seven fragments of Roman inscriptions, including SEG ix, 773–95.
«Hybrid times, hybrid people»: culture and agriculture in South India

L'agriculture pratiquee dans le district semi-desertique de Bijapur (etat du Karnataka, Inde) est basee sur des preceptes qui, partant des specificites ecologiques locales, ont neanmoins une origine culturelle. Ces preceptes, qui decoulent d'une ethique associant les humains, la terre, et les semences, sont marginalises dans le contexte actuel, caracterise par l'avance de l'agriculture moderne et les renversements socio-culturels qui lui sont lies. Les agriculteurs locaux evaluent ces changements a l'aide de commentaires culturels qui indiquent la preponderance de l'agriculture moderne et une certaine continuite ethique liant toujours les humains, la terre, et les semences.
Feasibility, usability, acceptability and Efficacy of a novel leg strengthening device (S-Press) for strengthening leg muscles and improving physical impairment during hospital admission

Background Deconditioning due to in-patients’ stays is predictive of delayed discharges and readmissions; preserving muscle mass and strength in order for patients to remain independent should be of utmost priority. Progressive resistance training offers the most cost-effective way of doing this; however, it is not routinely done. Objective To examine the feasibility, usability and acceptability of a novel in-bed strength training device (S-Press) by patients and staff members within an in-patient rehabilitation ward in the NHS. Methods Using a mixed methods approach, 6 patients who performed resistance training on the S-Press device and, alongside 3 healthcare professionals, were interviewed. Data were thematically analysed to examine individuals’ perspectives and perceptions on the feasibility, useability and acceptability of the S-Press. In addition, measures of sit to stand and muscle ultrasound were conducted before use and before discharge. For indications of safety, heart rate and blood pressure measures were taken during each session.
Excess Mortality in the United States, 2020–21: County-level Estimates for Population Groups and Associations with Social Vulnerability

To assess the excess mortality burden of Covid-19 in the United States, we estimated sex, age and race stratified all-cause excess deaths in each county of the US during 2020 and 2021. Using spatial Bayesian models trained on all recorded deaths between 2003-2019, we estimated 463,187 (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 426,139 - 497,526) excess deaths during 2020, and 544,105 (95% UI: 492,202 - 592,959) excess deaths during 2021 nationally, with considerable geographical heterogeneity. Excess mortality rate (EMR) nearly doubled for each 10-year increase in age and was consistently higher among men than women. EMR in the Black population was 1.5 times that of the White population nationally and as high as 3.8 times in some states. Among the 25-54 year population excess mortality was highest in the American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) population among the four racial groups studied, and in a few states was as high as 6 times that of the White population. Strong association of EMR with county-level social vulnerability was estimated, including positive associations with prevalence of disability (standardized effect: 40.6 excess deaths per 100,000), older population (37.6), poverty (23.6), and unemployment (18.5), whereas population density (-50), higher education (-38.6), and income (-35.4) were protective. Together, these estimates provide a more reliable and comprehensive understanding of the mortality burden of the pandemic in the US thus far. They suggest that Covid-19 amplified social and racial disparities. Short-term measures to protect more vulnerable groups in future Covid-19 waves and systemic corrective steps to address long-term societal inequities are necessary.
North Atlantic Storm-Track Sensitivity to Projected Sea Surface Temperature: Local versus Remote Influences

AbstractThis study investigates the sensitivity of the North Atlantic storm track to future changes in local and global sea surface temperature (SST) and highlights the role of SST changes remote to the North Atlantic. Results are based on three related coupled climate models: the Community Climate System Model, version 4 (CCSM4), the Community Earth System Model, version 1 (Community Atmosphere Model, version 5) [CESM1(CAM5)], and the Norwegian Earth System Model, version 1 (intermediate resolution) (NorESM1-M). Analysis reveals noticeable intermodel differences in projected storm-track changes from the coupled simulations [i.e., the difference in 200-hPa eddy activity between the representative concentration pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5) and historical scenarios]. In the CCSM4 coupled simulations, the North Atlantic storm track undergoes a poleward shift and eastward extension. In CESM1(CAM5), the storm-track change is dominated by an intensification and eastward extension. In NorESM1-M, the storm-track change i.
Clinical and Imaging Clues of Arteriopathy-Related Pediatric Arterial Ischemic Stroke: A Single Center Experience

Background and Purpose: Arteriopathy is a common etiology for childhood arterial ischemic stroke (AIS). In this study, we aimed to address clinical, demographic, and neuroimaging characteristics and the reversibility of vasculopathy in patients with childhood stroke due to arteriopathy by classifying them according to Childhood AIS Standardized Classification and Diagnostic Evaluation (CASCADE) criteria. Methods: We included 15 patients with AIS due to arteriopathy presented between 2013 and 2018. All patients were diagnosed and followed up using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies. All acute AIS patients were classified by acute CASCADE criteria (1–4). Moreover, each group was categorized according to the chronic CASCADE criteria, including progressive, stable, reversible, and indeterminate courses. Results: In the study population, CASCADE 2 patients were the most common group, and basal ganglia involvement was the most common involvement in CASCADE 2 patients. Of CASCADE 2 patients, 71.4% received steroids, which was compatible with a favorable outcome. In the study, trauma was present in 33.3% of patients, 60% of which was related to CASCADE 4. In the control visit on month 24, there were neuromotor sequelae of 60%, including hemiparesis, facial paralysis, and decreased fine motor skills; furthermore, the recurrence rate was 20%. Conclusion: We strongly emphasize that arteriopathy should be kept in mind in school-age children presenting with hemiparesis and headache. Moyamoya disease must be considered in the differential diagnosis with anterior circulation involvement, while focal cerebral arteriopathy (FCA) in patients with basal ganglia involvement was detected on MRI and dissection in the patients with a history of head-neck injury. We think that steroids have positive influences on neurologic prognosis in patients with FCA.
Influence of physical activity on the prognosis of COPD patients: the HADO.2 score – health, activity, dyspnoea and obstruction

Objective The aim of this study was to create a prognostic instrument for COPD with a multidimensional perspective that includes physical activity (PA). The score also included health status, dyspnoea and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (HADO.2 score). Methods A prospective, observational, non-intervention study was carried out. Patients were recruited from the six outpatient clinics of the respiratory service of a single university hospital. The component variables of the HADO.2 score and BODE index were studied, and PA was measured using an accelerometer. The outcomes for the HADO.2 score were mortality and hospitalisations during follow-up and an exploration of the correlation with health-related quality of life at the moment of inclusion in the study. Results 401 patients were included in the study and followed up for three years. The HADO.2 score showed good predictive capacity for mortality: C-index 0.79 (0.72–0.85). The C-index for hospitalisations was 0.72 (0.66–0.77) and the predictive ability for quality of life, as measured by R2, was 0.63 and 0.53 respectively for the Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire and COPD Assessment Test. Conclusions There was no statistically significant difference between the mortality predictive capacity of the HADO.2 score and the BODE index. Adding PA to the original BODE index significantly improved the predictive capacity of the index. The HADO.2 score, which includes PA as a key variable, showed good predictive capacity for mortality and hospitalisations. There were no differences in the predictive capacity of the HADO.2 score and the BODE index.
Trajectory maps: molecular dynamics visualization and analysis

Abstract Molecular dynamics simulations generate trajectories that depict system's evolution in time and are analyzed visually and quantitatively. Commonly conducted analyses include RMSD, Rgyr, RMSF, and more. However, those methods are all limited by their strictly statistical nature. Here we present trajectory maps, a novel method to analyze and visualize protein simulation courses intuitively and conclusively. By plotting protein's backbone movements during the simulation as a heatmap, trajectory maps provide new tools to directly visualize protein behavior over time, compare multiple simulations, and complement established methods. A user-friendly Python application developed for this purpose is presented, alongside detailed documentation for easy usage and implementation. The method's validation is demonstrated on three case studies. Considering its benefits, trajectory maps are expected to adopt broad application in obtaining and communicating meaningful results of protein molecular dynamics simulations in many associated fields such as biochemistry, structural biology, pharmaceutical research etc.
Genome-wide association analysis identifies a candidate gene controlling seed size and yield in Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge

Abstract Yellow horn (Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge) is a woody oilseed tree species whose seed oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and rare neuronic acids, and can be used as a high-grade edible oil or as a feedstock for biodiesel production. However, the genetic mechanisms related to seed yield in yellow horn are not well elucidated. This study identified 2 164 863 SNP loci based on 222 genome-wide resequencing data of yellow horn germplasm. We conducted genome-wide association study (GWAS) analysis on three core traits (hundred-grain weight, single-fruit seed mass, and single-fruit seed number) that influence seed yield for the years 2022 and 2020, and identified 399 significant SNP loci. Among these loci, the Chr10_24013014 and Chr10_24012613 loci caught our attention due to their consistent associations across multiple analyses. Through Sanger sequencing, we validated the genotypes of these two loci across 16 germplasms, confirming their consistency with the GWAS analysis results. Downstream of these two significant loci, we identified a candidate gene encoding an AP2 transcription factor protein, which we named XsAP2. RT–qPCR analysis revealed high expression of the XsAP2 gene in seeds, and a significant negative correlation between its expression levels and seed hundred-grain weight, as well as single-fruit seed mass, suggesting its potential role in the normal seed development process. Transgenic Arabidopsis lines with the overexpressed XsAP2 gene exhibited varying degrees of reduction in seed size, number of seeds per silique, and number of siliques per plant compared with wild-type Arabidopsis. Combining these results, we hypothesize that the XsAP2 gene may have a negative regulatory effect on seed yield of yellow horn. These results provide a reference for the molecular breeding of high-yielding yellow horn.
Reconstructing the eruptive history of a monogenetic volcano through a combination of fieldwork and geophysical surveys: the example of Puig d’Àdri (Garrotxa Volcanic Field)

Puig d’Àdri is a complex volcano in the Garrotxa Volcanic Field (0.7–0.01 Ma), the youngest part of the Catalan Volcanic Zone (NE Iberian Peninsula). The construction of this volcano involved the superimposition of three volcanic edifices with five lithostratigraphic units, in which several Strombolian and phreatomagmatic episodes alternated. Geological and geophysical surveys performed using electrical resistivity tomography and self-potential have contributed to revealing the internal structure of the volcano and the succession of deposits. The ring–cone morphology of the phreatomagmatic part of the structure shows how a number of variables including the way in which magma and water interacted greatly influenced the eruptive dynamics and the mechanisms of formation. A further major issue reflected in the final structure of the edifice is the process of vent migration, which was controlled by the characteristics of the substrate and its interaction with the magma as it rose. Supplementary material: Granulometric and component histograms of the samples not shown in Figure 4 are available at http://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare. c.3262498
Compounding and Suffixation in World Englishes

This paper investigates compounding and suffixation across twelve varieties of English. First, I will show that second language varieties varieties in Asia and Africa use the same frequency patterns as first language varieties. Especially Asian Englishes display a wide range of different types, in many cases even wider than the native varieties. African varieties often feature a reduced set of types, although those types yield high token numbers. On a qualitative level, the ample collection of new coinages found in the International Corpus of English attests to the new varieties’ lexical creativity. In addition, the vocabulary of Asian and African Englishes is continually expanded through hybridization. Finally, I will demonstrate that the lexical trends outlined here are indicative of independent developments.
Implementation of school-based continuing professional teacher development programmes in high schools in the Fort Beaufort Education District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa : towards a teacher development model

ii DECLARATION . iv DECLARATION ON PLAGIARISM . v DECLARATION ON RESEARCH ETHICS CLEARANCE . vi DEDICATION . vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . viii ACRONYMS . xvii CHAPTER ONE . 1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY . 1 1.
Senolytic treatment alleviates doxorubicin‐induced chemobrain

Abstract Doxorubicin (Dox), a widely used treatment for cancer, can result in chemotherapy‐induced cognitive impairments (chemobrain). Chemobrain is associated with inflammation and oxidative stress similar to aging. As such, Dox treatment has also been used as a model of aging. However, it is unclear if Dox induces brain changes similar to that observed during aging since Dox does not readily enter the brain. Rather, the mechanism for chemobrain likely involves the induction of peripheral cellular senescence and the release of senescence‐associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors and these SASP factors can enter the brain to disrupt cognition. We examined the effect of Dox on peripheral and brain markers of aging and cognition. In addition, we employed the senolytic, ABT‐263, which also has limited access to the brain. The results indicate that plasma SASP factors enter the brain, activating microglia, increasing oxidative stress, and altering gene transcription. In turn, the synaptic function required for memory was reduced in response to altered redox signaling. ABT‐263 prevented or limited most of the Dox‐induced effects. The results emphasize a link between cognitive decline and the release of SASP factors from peripheral senescent cells and indicate some differences as well as similarities between advanced age and Dox treatment.
Assessing the Quality, Privacy, and Security of Breast Cancer Apps for Arabic Speakers: Systematic Search and Review of Smartphone Apps

Background Breast cancer is a widespread disease, and its incidence is rapidly increasing in the Middle East and North Africa region. With the increasing availability of smartphone apps for various health purposes, breast cancer apps have emerged as tools for raising awareness, providing support, and empowering women affected by this disease. These apps offer many features, including information on breast cancer risk factors, self-examination guides, appointment reminders, and community support groups or hotlines. Using apps raises the risk of privacy and security issues, and we hope that examining these features of the apps will contribute to the understanding of how technology can be used to improve these apps and provide insights for future development and improvement of breast cancer apps. Objective This study aims to critically review the quality, privacy, and security of breast cancer apps available to Arabic speakers. Methods Similar to several recent studies, we used a systematic search for apps available in Google Play and Apple App stores using both the web interface and the built-in native stores installed on smartphones. The search was conducted in mid-December 2022 in Arabic using the following keywords: سرطان الثدي – فحص سرطان الثدي – علاج سرطان الثدي – مرض سرطان الثدي – أعراض سرطان الثدي – فحص الثدي (breast cancer, breast cancer treatment, breast cancer disease, breast cancer symptoms, breast cancer screening, and breast test). These preidentified search terms are based on earlier work concerning the top searched breast cancer topics by Arabic speakers through Google’s search engine. We excluded apps that did not have an Arabic interface, were developed for non-Arabic speakers, were paid, needed a subscription, or were directed toward health care workers. The Mobile App Rating Scale was used to evaluate the quality of the apps concerning their engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and information. A risk score was calculated for the apps to determine their security risk factors. Results Only 9 apps were included, with most (6/9, 67%) being supported by advertisements and categorized as informational. Overall, the apps had low numbers of downloads (>10 to >1000). The majority of the included apps (8/9, 89%) requested dangerous access permissions, including access to storage, media files, and the camera. The average security score of the included apps was 3.22, while only 2 apps provided information about data security and privacy. The included apps achieved an overall average quality score of 3.27, with individual dimension scores of 4.75 for functionality, 3.04 for information, 3.00 for aesthetics, and 2.32 for engagement. Conclusions The limited availability of breast cancer apps available to Arabic speakers should be a call to action and prompt health care organizations and developers to join forces and collaboratively develop information-rich, usable, functional, engaging, and secure apps.
Fundamental Causes of Propagating and Nonpropagating MJOs in MJOTF/GASS Models

AbstractThis study investigates the fundamental causes of differences in the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) eastward propagation among models that participated in a recent model intercomparison project. These models are categorized into good and poor groups characterized by prominent eastward propagation and nonpropagation, respectively. Column-integrated moist static energy (MSE) budgets are diagnosed for the good and the poor models. It is found that a zonal asymmetry in the MSE tendency, characteristic of eastward MJO propagation, occurs in the good group, whereas such an asymmetry does not exist in the poor group. The difference arises mainly from anomalous vertical and horizontal MSE advection. The former is attributed to the zonal asymmetry of upper-midtropospheric vertical velocity anomalies acting on background MSE vertical gradient; the latter is mainly attributed to the asymmetric zonal distribution of low-tropospheric meridional wind anomalies advecting background MSE and moisture fields. Base.
EphrinB2 knockdown in cervical spinal cord preserves diaphragm innervation in a mutant SOD1 mouse model of ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor neuron loss. Importantly, non-neuronal cell types such as astrocytes also play significant roles in disease pathogenesis. However, mechanisms of astrocyte contribution to ALS remain incompletely understood. Astrocyte involvement suggests that transcellular signaling may play a role in disease. We examined contribution of transmembrane signaling molecule ephrinB2 to ALS pathogenesis, in particular its role in driving motor neuron damage by spinal cord astrocytes. In symptomatic SOD1G93A mice (a well-established ALS model), ephrinB2 expression was dramatically increased in ventral horn astrocytes. Reducing ephrinB2 in the cervical spinal cord ventral horn via viral-mediated shRNA delivery reduced motor neuron loss and preserved respiratory function by maintaining phrenic motor neuron innervation of diaphragm. EphrinB2 expression was also elevated in human ALS spinal cord. These findings implicate ephrinB2 upregulation as both a transcellular signaling mechanism in mutant SOD1-associated ALS and a promising therapeutic target.