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The Phoenicians emerged in the Northern Levant around 1800 BCE and by the 9th century BCE had spread their culture across the Mediterranean Basin, establishing trading posts, and settlements in various European Mediterranean and North African locations. Despite their widespread influence, what is known of the Phoenicians comes from what was written about them by the Greeks and Egyptians. In this study, we investigate the extent of Phoenician integration with the Sardinian communities they settled. We present 14 new ancient mitogenome sequences from pre-Phoenician (~1800 BCE) and Phoenician (~700–400 BCE) samples from Lebanon (n = 4) and Sardinia (n = 10) and compare these with 87 new complete mitogenomes from modern Lebanese and 21 recently published pre-Phoenician ancient mitogenomes from Sardinia to investigate the population dynamics of the Phoenician (Punic) site of Monte Sirai, in southern Sardinia. Our results indicate evidence of continuity of some lineages from pre-Phoenician populations suggesting integration of indigenous Sardinians in the Monte Sirai Phoenician community. We also find evidence of the arrival of new, unique mitochondrial lineages, indicating the movement of women from sites in the Near East or North Africa to Sardinia, but also possibly from non-Mediterranean populations and the likely movement of women from Europe to Phoenician sites in Lebanon. Combined, this evidence suggests female mobility and genetic diversity in Phoenician communities, reflecting the inclusive and multicultural nature of Phoenician society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives:To study and review the short- and long-term effects of intranasal steroids on obstructive adenoids.Methods:In this prospective cohort study, 19 children previously treated with mometasone furoate for 3 months were contacted at 3, 6 and 12 months after cessation of treatment. Main outcome measures included: change in severity of nasal obstruction, allergic rhinitis and obstructive symptoms. A systematic review of literature was also performed.Results:By one year, 25 per cent of patients required adenoidectomy; the remaining children had no significant change in clinical score (p = 0.464), obstruction severity (p = 0.191) or allergic symptoms (p = 0.284). Fourteen pertinent studies were identified; all but one study showed improvement in the patients’ symptoms and/or degree of obstruction. Two studies with follow up reaching 25 months showed positive effects.Conclusion:The short-term positive effect of some intranasal steroids on obstructive adenoids seems to persist in a significant number of patients after the cessation of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Meniere's syndrome or disease (MS/D) is typically characterised by episodic vertigo, aural fullness, tinnitus and fluctuating hearing loss. There are multiple options available for treatment with variation in consensus on the best intervention. Objective: To evaluate the evidence on the efficacy of intratympanic therapies [steroids, gentamicin, antivirals and other therapies] on the frequency and severity of vertigo and other symptoms of MS/D. Search strategy: A literature search was performed on AMED, EMBASE, HMIC, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, BNI, CINAHL, HEALTH BUSINESS ELITE, CENTRAL and Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat disorders group trials register using various MeSH. The search was restricted to English and human subjects, and the last date of search was December 2014. Selection criteria: Randomised controlled trials of intratympanic therapies [steroids, gentamicin antivirals and latanoprost] versus a placebo or another treatment. Results: We analysed 8 RCT's comparing intratympanic steroids, gentamicin, ganciclovir (antiviral) and latanoprost versus another form of intratympanic treatment or placebo. Conclusions: On the basis of 6 RCT's (n = 242), there is evidence to support the effectiveness of intratympanic steroids and gentamicin to control symptoms of vertigo in MS/D albeit with a risk of hearing loss with gentamicin. However, there was no consensus found on doses or treatment protocols. There was no evidence to support the use of other forms of intratympanic therapy (antivirals and latanoprost) in MS/D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on unusual low temperature (175 °C) heteroepitaxial growth of germanium thin films using a standard radio-frequency plasma process. Spectroscopic ellipsometry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveal a perfect crystalline quality of epitaxial germanium layers on (100) c-Ge wafers. In addition direct germanium crystal growth is achieved on (100) c-Si, despite 4.2% lattice mismatch. Defects rising from Ge/Si interface are mostly located within the first tens of nanometers, and threading dislocation density (TDD) values as low as 106 cm-2 are obtained. Misfit stress is released fast: residual strain of -0.4% is calculated from Moiré pattern analysis. Moreover we demonstrate a striking feature of low temperature plasma epitaxy, namely the fact that crystalline quality improveswith thicknesswithout epitaxy breakdown, as shown by TEM and depth profiling of surface TDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives:(1) To assess the prevalence of arytenoid asymmetry during adduction, and (2) to correlate arytenoid asymmetry with vocal symptoms.Materials and method:The medical records and video recordings of 116 patients who presented to the voice clinic were reviewed for the presence of arytenoid asymmetry, as regards sharpening of the aryepiglottic fold angle and altered positioning of the cuneiform and corniculate cartilages.Results:There were 61 males and 55 females, with a mean age of 39 years and a standard deviation of 15 years. Almost one-third had a history of reflux, 25 per cent had a history of smoking and 9.6 per cent had a history of allergy. Hoarseness was the most common symptom, occurring in 42.2 per cent of patients, followed by vocal fatigue (25 per cent) and inability to project the voice. The most common type of asymmetry was corniculate asymmetry, present in 27.6 per cent of the cases and accounting for 74.39 per cent of cases. This was followed by cuneiform cartilage asymmetry, present in 15.5 per cent of cases. There was no correlation between arytenoid asymmetry and vocal symptoms, except for vocal fatigue (p = 0.038).Conclusion:The prevalence of arytenoid asymmetry during adduction is common. The presence of vocal symptoms such as hoarseness, breathiness, inability to project the voice and straining does not generally seem to correlate with the prevalence of arytenoid asymmetry. However, subjects with vocal fatigue are more likely to have cuneiform asymmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Tropical dry forests may be among the world's most threatened ecosystems, but few studies have objectively quantified their status and threats. This study analysed Venezuelan dry forests at multiple scales, assessing status, present threats and the policy context shaping their future. Historical and current dry forest cover at both national and local scales were contrasted, and a set of quantitative risk assessment criteria applied. While dry forests were vulnerable nationally, in northern-central locations they were endangered. Clearing for cattle ranching and for intensive and subsistence agriculture were the principal factors driving dry forest loss at the national scale, while at a local level, urbanization and fire seemed to be the primary threats. The analysis emphasized the separation of risk assessment from the very different task of establishing conservation priorities; high risk areas may not necessarily be the highest priority for investment, and policy makers may become explicitly aware of the spatial scale at which their policies are implemented, as well as how these policies may affect or be affected by the status of ecosystems beyond their area of influence. The main challenge to future dry forest conservation is a paucity of explicit policies for management and use. However, scientifically-based management can support positive dry forest policies in many ways, including identifying locations and protocols for ecological restoration, maintaining seed banks, quantifying baseline conditions, and monitoring genetic diversity and other indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work is to study the hitherto unclear aerodynamic parameters of the pseudo-glottis following total laryngectomy. These parameters include airflow rate, sub-pseudo-glottic pressure (SubPsG), efficiency and resistance, as well as sound pressure level (SPL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighteen male patients who have undergone total laryngectomy, with an age range from 54 to 72 years, were investigated in this study. All tested patients were fluent esophageal 'voice' speakers utilizing tracheo-esophageal prosthesis. The airflow rate, SubPsG and SPL were measured. RESULTS: The results showed that the mean value of the airflow rate was 53 ml/s, the SubPsG pressure was 13 cm H(2)O, while the SPL was 66 dB. The normative data obtained from the true glottis in healthy age-matched subjects are 89 ml/s, 7.9 cm H(2)O and 70 dB, respectively. Other aerodynamic indices were calculated and compared to the data obtained from the true glottis. CONCLUSION: Such a comparison of the pseudo-glottic aerodynamic data to the data of the true glottis gives an insight into the mechanism of action of the pseudo-glottis. The data obtained suggests possible clinical applications in pseudo-voice training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the reproductive biology of Melocactus curvispinus Pfeiffer (Cereeae, Cactoideae) in xeric areas of northern Venezuela. Floral traits correspond to a classic hummingbird-pollination syndrome; however, pollination is shared between hummingbirds, Leucippus fallax (Bourcier 1843), and anthophorid bees, Ceratina sp. Reproduction occurs during most of the year. Anthesis and nectar secretion occur between noon and sunset. Average daily nectar production per flower was 163.1 μl, nectar sugar concentration between 29.1 and 30.2% (w/w). Hummingbirds promoted inter-plant pollen movement and were relatively more reliable floral visitors than anthophorid bees, but these insects had a higher frequency of floral visits (28.75/day) than hummingbirds (4.96/day). M. curvispinus is self-compatible and autogamous. By combining extended reproductive activity, frequent animal-mediated pollination, and selfing capabilities, this cactus possesses a mating strategy that guarantees reproduction under variable environmental conditions. We argue that based on its reproductive biology, M. curvispinus should be considered an example of evolutionary transition towards selfing within tribe Cereeae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Down syndrome (DS) is the most prevalent chromosomal disorder appearing in 1 in 800 use births. The incidence rate is higher in mothers of aging above 35-years-old and increases with further advances in maternal age. It is named after John Langdon Down, the British doctor who fully described the syndrome in 1866. Aim of the work: The aim of this study was to analyze the speech of children with Down's syndrome, in order to detect types and significance of speech disorders affecting speech intelligibility: to assist in putting the best strategy for therapy. Patients and Method: Study design: A cross sectional study. Participants: The study was conducted through 2 unfamiliar adult raters on 30 children with Down's syndrome regardless of sex. They were recruited among cases attending the Phoniatric Outpatient Clinic, Ain Shams University who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the study. Conclusion and Recommendations: Based on the obtained results, Children with Down's syndrome have specific health needs that must be identified to help their particular problems in communication. They present with deficits in receptive and expressive language. Also, speech is particularly impaired in high percentage of those children. Children with Down syndrome could not clearly deliver their speech as their peers. The findings confirmed that all the children with DS showed at least one speech disorder affecting their speech intelligibility. Recommendations: Of course, the above observations can only be considered preliminary and many more data and researches are needed by clinicians as people with Down's syndrome can now live to be much older than they could in the past and most wish to reach their maximum potential. Therefore, the clinicians should apply their skills in the differential diagnosis of speech disorders to children with DS and search for measures for the other types of speech disorders can't be assessed in our work (like motor speech disorders which were present in a high percentage in our study group), allowing better interventions to target the cause of the disorder in each individual and improve their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single Co/Al[sub 2]O[sub 3]/NiFe and double Co/Al[sub 2]O[sub 3]/Co/Al[sub 2]O[sub 3]/NiFe planar tunnel junctions were grown by sputtering and subsequently patterned in a four-step process using optical lithography. The Al[sub 2]O[sub 3] barriers are formed by radio frequency plasma oxidation of 1.5 nm aluminum layers. The double junctions exhibit three clear resistance levels depending on the relative configuration of the magnetizations. Both single and double junctions exhibit maximum magnetoresistance (MR) ratios above 10% at room temperature and 20% at 30 K and a decrease of MR with increasing bias voltage. With regard to its low bias value, the MR is reduced by a factor of 2 at 0.26 V for the single junctions and at values above 0.8 V for the double junctions. The decay of the MR of double junctions with bias voltage is significantly slower than expected from two independent junctions in series. © 1998 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co/Al[sub 2]O[sub 3]/Ni[sub 80]Fe[sub 20] tunnel junctions were grown by sputtering at room temperature on glass and Si substrates, the barrier being formed by rf sputter etching of aluminum in a Ar/O[sub 2] plasma. The resistance is controlled for a given junction area by adjusting the oxide barrier thickness. Magnetoresistance ratios of 16% at 4.2 K and 6% at room temperature are obtained with good reproducibility over three orders of magnitude of resistance. Effects related to substrate shunting and oxidation of the bottom Co electrode are discussed. © 1998 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roller compaction is a crucial unit operation in pharmaceutical manufacturing, with its ribbon porosity widely recognised as a critical quality attribute. Terahertz spectroscopy has emerged as a fast and non-destructive technique to measure porosity in pharmaceutical products. From a sensing perspective, the irregular shape and uneven surface of fragmented ribbon pieces can affect the accuracy and precision of the measurements, particularly for techniques that probe only a small sampling volume. It is known that the porosity is not uniform within the ribbon structure, with variations expected across the width of the ribbon and in the microstructure corresponding to its surface texture. However, typical pharmaceutical analysis methods, such as envelope density, only report an average bulk porosity, are slow to operate and limited in accuracy. To address this challenge, we developed and trained convolutional neural network models using THz spectra as input to classify four types of topography typically encountered in ribbons: ridge, valley, flat plane and edge points. The classifiers achieved 91% validation accuracy in both identifying outliers and differentiating between ribbons of smooth and knurled surfaces. For the more challenging task of distinguishing between the ridges and valleys of knurled surfaces, an 81% testing accuracy was achieved. Once each measurement is paired with its topography, resolving the density distribution within the sample is possible. This data can be combined to arrive at an average bulk porosity value compatible with conventional pharmaceutical analysis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: JAZ member of the editorial board of the journal. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Melilotus sulcatus (Fabaceae) is an annual weed species prevalent in the Mediterranean Basin and Asia, characterized by a hard seed coat, indicating physical seed dormancy and long seed-bank longevity. This weed exhibits high phenotypic plasticity, thriving across various climatic regions in Israel. This study investigates seed germination of M. sulcatus populations under different temperatures. Moreover, we have studied the phenology, and reproductive biology of M. sulcatus populations in a common garden experiment. Seeds of M. sulcatus were collected from onion fields at Kibbutz Grofit located in the hyper-arid Southern Arava region, with ~ 30 mm average annual rainfall, and from Kibbutz Yifat, in the Jezreel Valley, where annual rainfall is 450-650 mm. Progeny generations were grown in pollen-proof cages at Newe Ya'ar Research Center also located at the Jezreel Valley., Results: Differences in seed area and average weight were observed among populations and generations, with field populations producing heavier seeds compared to progeny populations. The optimal temperature (T 0 ) for seed germination varied among populations, with the highest T 0 recorded for the Grofit field population (23.40℃) collected at the warm site and the lowest for the Yifat field population (17.67℃) collected at the cold site, while the two progeny populations showed similar T 0 values. Phenology and reproductive biology were tested using seeds of the two field populations. Despite the vigorous growth of the Grofit population, there were no significant differences in average final weight (4.59 g for Grofit and 4.23 g for Yifat) and height (51.8 cm for Grofit and 50.3 cm for Yifat) between populations. Grofit progeny plants exhibited a statistically significantly higher number of seeds per pod, combined with larger seed area and average weight., Conclusions: Overall, our findings underscore the adaptive strategies employed by M. sulcatus populations in response to their environment. Vigorous plant growth, a higher number of seeds per pod, and larger seed area and average weight were observed in individuals from the Grofit population compared to the Yifat population. The greater fitness of Grofit population, originated from hyper-arid conditions, highlights the significant impact of environmental factors on species adaptation., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Seeds of M. sulcatus were sampled on private agricultural land with the explicit permission of the landowner. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Flexible electronics are integral in numerous domains such as wearables, healthcare, physiological monitoring, human-machine interface, and environmental sensing, owing to their inherent flexibility, stretchability, lightweight construction, and low profile. These systems seamlessly conform to curvilinear surfaces, including skin, organs, plants, robots, and marine species, facilitating optimal contact. This capability enables flexible electronic systems to enhance or even supplant the utilization of cumbersome instrumentation across a broad range of monitoring and actuation tasks. Consequently, significant progress has been realized in the development of flexible electronic systems. This study begins by examining the key components of standalone flexible electronic systems-sensors, front-end circuitry, data management, power management and actuators. The next section explores different integration strategies for flexible electronic systems as well as their recent advancements. Flexible hybrid electronics, which is currently the most widely used strategy, is first reviewed to assess their characteristics and applications. Subsequently, transformational electronics, which achieves compact and high-density system integration by leveraging heterogeneous integration of bare-die components, is highlighted as the next era of flexible electronic systems. Finally, the study concludes by suggesting future research directions and outlining critical considerations and challenges for developing and miniaturizing fully integrated standalone flexible electronic systems., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Materials published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)