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International audience; A hydrological view to the Ounianga lake region (NE Chad) evolution during the recent Holocene period is proposed. It relies upon multidisciplinary inputs combining hydrological characterization and modeling, results from climate modeling and from the recent sedimentary core analysis by Kroepelin et al. 2008 from lake Yoa. The latter shows that 4 major phases in drying have been observed in this Saharan region over the Holocene, including, (1) disappearance of tropical and altitude pollen species by 4300 cal yr BP, (2) evolution of the lake from a freshwater habitat to the present day hyper-saline oasis (around 3900 cal yr BP), (3) establishment of today's terrestrial desert ecosystem as the result of continuous vegetation succession (5600 to 2700 cal yr BP), (4) evolution in regional wind regime with onsets of major dust mobilization at roughly 4300 cal yr BP and establishment of modern, near continuous northeasterly winds by 2700 cal yr BP. The overall project strategy consists in studying the drying of the region and identifying the controlling parameters from a drastic climate change evolution, from humid (traces of tropical pollen types) to present day hyper arid environment. The interplay between climate change, vegetation, hydrological inputs from distant mountains and a regional aquifer makes this zone a complex and interesting system to study the impact of past climate changes. In a first step of the hydrological study, analysis of the topography of the zone (ArcGis with SRTM data and radar images) shows that the water catchment area of lake Yoa is large (67000 km², including the Erdi plateaux and part of the Tibesti mountain range, ie 18600 km²). A connection with the Tibesti mountains accounts for the altitude pollen source present in the core before 4300 cal yr BP. Globally, the lake is situated at a very favorable position that probably benefited from relatively large and perennial water inputs associated with distant recharge from the Tibesti massif and groundwater from the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer. In a second step, a groundwater model (Cast3M code) is developed for the SW part of the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer to quantify the slow discharge to the lake from a humid period (African Humid Period, 5000 BP roughly) until now. It is forced by precipitation and evaporation issued from climate simulations. Resulting piezometric head fields are compared with present piezometric levels. Lake levels are simulated as resulting from groundwater inputs and routing of surface water for the precipitation time history considered. The reconstruction is confronted to the evolution of salinity issued from the analysis by Kroepelin et al. 2008. Addressed herein are the issues of the level of confidence / uncertainty associated with the reconstruction of the drying phase, the identification of thresholds in the hydrological system influencing the change in the vegetation, the impact of future climate change on this system, lessons learned from the study of the paleo system.

The cancer burden in the Middle East is high and growing. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer for both men and women in the UAE. Although early diagnosis of malignancy reduces morbidity and increases the survival rates, non-attendance of gastroenterology (GI) endoscopic procedures is a significant global problem, which can lead to delay in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Several factors have been found to contribute to non-attendance behavior, including socioeconomic, cultural, and organizational related barriers. The purpose of this study was to identify factors contributing to non-attendance behavior among outpatients scheduled for GI endoscopic procedures in a tertiary hospital in the United Arab Emirates. We conclude with recommendations that can help in reducing the rate of patient no-shows for GI endoscopic procedures in the region.In a tertiary medical center in the Middle East, we surveyed patients who did not attend their scheduled GI endoscopic procedures over a period of one year. The questionnaire sought to identify possible reasons for patient's non-attendance. Descriptive measures including means, standard deviation, frequencies, and percentages were used to analyze the demographic characteristics of the study participants. The chi-square test was performed to analyze gender differences.Of 314 outpatients who met study inclusion criteria, 168 agreed to participate (53.5% response rate). The majority of participants were women (n=96, 60.4 %), aged 18 to 73, with a mean of 42 years. The largest age group was between 35 and 44 (n=46, 28.9 %). Approximately equal numbers of non-attendance appointments were scheduled for combined colonoscopy and upper endoscopy (36.3 %), colonoscopy alone (31.3 %), or upper endoscopy alone (31.3 %). The most common causes for cancellation or non-attendance included concerns about the appointment (35.5%), inconvenient timing of the appointment (27.9%) and changes in medical status (26.4%). Gender differences were noted for non-attendance behaviors, with women significantly more likely than men to report feelings of embarrassment (Chi-square 6.261, df=1, p=.012).Our study has identified several barriers to patient attendance of endoscopic procedures, as well as opportunities to reduce the rate of patient no-shows, including patient education, scheduling options, and protocols to minimize discomfort and misconceptions around GI endoscopic procedures, particularly accommodating for same gender endoscopists, with the ultimate goal of increasing early cancer screening and prevention.

SummaryThe transcription factor Shavenbaby (Svb), the only member of the OvoL family inDrosophila, controls intestinal stem cell differentiation. Post-translational modification of Svb produces two protein isoforms, Svb-ACT and Svb-REP, which promote intestinal stem cell renewal or differentiation, respectively. Using engineered cell lines, we express either isoform to define their mode of action, and develop an unbiased method to identify Svb target genes in intestinal cells. Within a given cell type, Svb-ACT and Svb-REP antagonistically regulate the expression of a set of target genes, binding specific enhancers whose accessibility is constrained by. During intestinal differentiation, the set of target genes progressively changes, together with chromatin accessibility. Moreover, Svb-REP binding stabilizes three-dimensional enhancer-promoter loops, while influencing the local chromatin landscape to repress target genes. We propose that SvbACT-to-REP switch promotes enterocyte differentiation of intestinal stem cells through direct gene regulation and chromatin remodeling.

In this paper, we discuss novel and existing archaeological data from the San Bartolomé de Rebordáns site (Tui, Spain) that suggest the importance of Tude as a place of power in the Late Antique Sueve Gallaecia (411–585 CE) and later, in the Iberian Visigoth kingdom (585–711 CE). Here, we apply a combination of complementary techniques: archaeological survey, absolute radiocarbon dating, osteological and stable isotope analyses of the human remains, and the revision of the available contextual information. We recovered the remains of seven individuals with poor preservation and accelerated degradation from the Late Antique necropolis. These individuals were identified here as possible members of the social elite due to their archaeological context, becoming the first-time human remains relative to this social status within this chronology have been detected in NW Iberian Peninsula. The isotopic data obtained is broadly compared with contemporaneous sites along the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands for a complete interpretation. Additionally, we generate a simple routed and concentration-dependent Bayesian model to predict the source of dietary carbon in consumers, from which we calculate the marine radiocarbon reservoir effect. Despite the low number of individuals analysed, we argue that our results are of great archaeological significance as this represents the first biomolecular approach to the Late Antique (5th–8th centuries CE) social elite individuals from the northwestern and probably the whole Iberian Peninsula.

Santiago de Compostela is, together with Rome and Jerusalem, one of the three main pilgrimage and religious centres for Catholicism. The belief that the remains of St James the Great, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, is buried there has stimulated, since their reported discovery in the 9th century AD, a significant flow of people from across the European continent and beyond. Little is known about the practical experiences of people living within the city during its rise to prominence, however. Here, for the first time, we combine multi-isotope analysis (delta C-13, delta N-15, delta O-18(ap), delta C-13(ap) and Sr-87/Sr-86) and radiocarbon dating (C-14) of human remains discovered at the crypt of the Cathedral of Santiago to directly study changes in diet and mobility during the first three centuries of Santiago's emergence as an urban centre (9th-12th centuries AD). Together with assessment of the existing archaeological data, our radiocarbon chronology broadly confirms historical tradition regarding the first occupation of the site. Isotopic analyses reveal that the foundation of the religious site attracted migrants from the wider region of the northwest corner of the Iberian Peninsula, and possibly from further afield. Stable isotope analysis of collagen, together with information on tomb typology and location, indicates that the inhabitants of the city experienced increasing socioeconomic diversity as it became wealthier as the hub of a wide network of pilgrimage. Our research represents the potential of multidisciplinary analyses to reveal insights into the origins and impacts of the emergence of early pilgrimage centres on the diets and status of communities within Christian mediaeval Europe and beyond. This project has been supported by a grant from the ‘la Caixa’ Banking Foundation (ID 100010434; Code: LCF/BQ/ES16/11570006). Patxi Pérez-Ramallo and Patrick Roberts would also like to thank the Max Planck Society for funding for this project. Patxi Pérez-Ramallo, Hannah Koon and Julia Beaumont would like to thank the University of Bradford for funding a support the first osteological and stable isotope analysis conducted in 2015. Two of the isotopic analyses and 14C dates have been carried out with funding from the Xunta de Galicia to the CulXeo Group (ED431B 2018/47) and to the research network ‘Cultural Heritage, archaeological and technical services’ (R2016/023). Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.

To examine colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors' symptom characteristics (occurrence, frequency, and severity) during acute cancer survivorship.A cross-sectional study of 117 CRC survivors was conducted at a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in South Florida.Symptom characteristics were assessed by the Therapy-Related Symptom Checklist. Participants completed a 25-item demographic questionnaire. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests assessed between-group differences based on sex, age, education, and months since diagnosis. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to identify preliminary symptom clusters.117 CRC survivors completed the study (age range = 21-88 years, 56% male, and 79% stage IV). Common symptoms included peripheral neuropathy, fatigue/feeling sluggish, and skin changes. Significance was found between months since diagnosis and number of symptoms (p = 0.03), suggesting that symptoms accumulate with time. Chemotherapy (85%) was the most common treatment type, and exploratory factor analysis identified two chemotherapy-related symptom clusters.Nurses are poised to identify, prevent, and promote self-management skills to reduce symptoms.

a) Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore perceptions of violent and nonviolent behavior used among politically diverse protest groups (conservative and liberal groups). Specifically, this study will assess how exposure to text about a violent or nonviolent politically conservative or liberal protest group affects political solidarity with a protest group, attitudes toward a protest group, attitudes toward violence, likelihood of engaging in activism in the future, and political alignment with conservative and liberal ideologies in relation to perceptions about protesting violence and political values of protest groups. b) Research Question: Does exposure to violent or nonviolent protest groups with conservative or liberal political beliefs have an effect on one’s attitudes toward a protest group and political solidarity with said group? Does exposure to violent or nonviolent protest groups with conservative or liberal political beliefs have an effect on one’s attitudes toward violence, their likelihood of future activism, and their conservative or liberal political values? c) Brief Abstract: Protesting, whether violent or nonviolent in nature, is an act rooted in publicizing grievances in an attempt to ameliorate a perceived injustice. Research on the perceptions of protesting has aimed to explain attitudes toward protest groups, but much is still left to be explored about the effects of exposure to various types of protesting, especially in relation to perceptions of one’s own attitudes toward violence, activist engagement, and political values. This study aims to investigate the effect of protest groups’ political belief and their use of violence or nonviolence on readers’ perceptions of said group and explore their attitudes toward violence, engagement in activism, and political alignment with dichotomous political values (i.e., conservatism and liberalism). d) Rationale: Past literature in the field has focused on understanding perceptions of violent and nonviolent protest groups and how they affect people’s attitudes and ideologies about a specified protest group. The goal of this study is to further explore the aforementioned topic while also addressing a gap in the literature regarding how perceptions of violent and nonviolent protest groups affect people’s attitudes and beliefs about their own relationship with violence, their capacity for activist engagement, and their political values.

This cross-sectional study examined colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors’ symptom and symptom cluster characteristics (occurrence, frequency, and severity), positive psychology (benefit-finding and post-traumatic growth), and quality of life (QoL), and determined whether positive psychology moderates symptoms and QoL relationship during acute cancer survivorship, time from diagnosis to treatment completion. A total of 117 CRC survivors completed demographics, symptoms, QoL, and positive psychology questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, multiple linear regression, and moderation analyses were performed. Participants reported high QoL (94%, M = 5.15) and moderate-high positive psychology (75%, M = 3.21). Nineteen symptoms and five symptom clusters were inversely related to QoL ( p