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This article will describe and discuss the results of the 2020–2021 seasons of the excavations at Khirbet ‘Aujah el-Foqa, a site in the southern Jordan Valley, north of Jericho. During these seasons, a section of the northern side of the site was excavated, including one complete structure. This structure, as well as the units around it, also contained a hasty abandonment or destruction layer from the Iron Age IIB similar to the one excavated in the southern part of the site. The article will illustrate reconstructed pottery from Area A, along with other finds. A large complex containing rooms and open areas appears to have been located in this area, although its function is still unclear. Finally, the reconstruction of the architecture will be discussed, along with the possible significance and function of the site.

Influenza virus infections are a major cause of respiratory disease in humans. Neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) are the primary antiviral medication used to treat ongoing influenza infections. However, NAIs are not always effective for controlling virus shedding and lung inflammation. Other concerns are the emergence of NAI-resistant virus strains and the risk of side effects, which are occasionally severe. Consequently, additional anti-influenza therapies to replace or combine with NAIs are desirable. Here, we compared the efficacy of the NAI oseltamivir with the invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell superagonist, α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), which induces innate immune responses that inhibit influenza virus replication in mouse models. We show that oseltamivir reduced lung lesions and lowered virus titers in the upper respiratory tract of pigs infected with A/California/04/2009 (CA04) pandemic H1N1pdm09. It also reduced virus transmission to influenza-naïve contact pigs. In contrast, α-GalCer had no impact on virus replication, lung disease, or virus transmission, even when used in combination with oseltamivir. This is significant as iNKT-cell therapy has been studied as an approach for treating humans with influenza.

In collaboration with the American College of Veterinary Pathologists

This mixed methods study sought to extend what is known about preservice teachers’ [PSTs’] enactment of the core practice of reading and responding to students’ writing by examining their reading o...

A snake-like body plan and burrowing lifestyle characterize numerous vertebrate groups as a result of convergent evolution. One such group is the amphisbaenians, a clade of limbless, fossorial lizards that exhibit head-first burrowing behavior. Correlated with this behavior, amphisbaenian skulls are more rigid and coossified than those of nonburrowing lizards. However, due to their lifestyle, there are many gaps in our understanding of amphisbaenian anatomy, including how their cranial osteology varies among individuals of the same species and what that reveals about constraints on the skull morphology of head-first burrowing taxa. We investigated intraspecific variation in the cranial osteology of amphisbaenians using seven individuals of the trogonophid Diplometopon zarudnyi. Variation in both skull and individual skull element morphology was examined qualitatively and quantitatively through three-dimensional (3D) models created from microcomputed tomography data. Qualitative examination revealed differences in the number and position of foramina, the interdigitation between the frontals and parietal, and the extent of coossification among the occipital complex, fused basioccipital and parabasisphenoid ("parabasisphenoid-basioccipital complex"), and elements X. We performed 3D landmark-based geometric morphometrics for the quantitative assessment, revealing shape differences in the skull, premaxilla, maxilla, frontal, and parietal. The observed intraspecific variation may be the result of different stages of ontogenetic development or biomechanical optimization for head-first burrowing. For example, variation in the coossification of the occipital region suggests a potential ontogenetic coossification sequence. Examination of these areas of variation across other head-first burrowing taxa will help determine if the variation is clade-specific or part of a broader macroevolutionary pattern of head-first burrowing.

Background Breastmilk (BM) is a complex fluid that contributes to shaping the immune system of the offspring. BM composition depends on stage of lactation, maternal health status and diet, environment, and genetics. Limited data exists on the composition of the BM from women with IBD and its potential impact on the newborn’s microbiome composition. Methods The MECONIUM (Exploring MEChanisms Of disease traNsmission In Utero through the Microbiome) study is a prospective cohort study including pregnant women with IBD, pregnant healthy control (HC), and their offspring. BM samples were collected 2 weeks post-delivery. Stool samples from the offspring were collected throughout the first 3 years of life and used to assess faecal calprotectin (fCal) and gut microbiota composition (16S). Targeted proteomics of the BM samples was performed with the Olink inflammation panel (92 protein biomarkers). Correlations between specific proteins in the BM, fCal and 16S were assessed using non-parametric tests. Multiple testing correction was performed with false discovery rate (FDR). MaAsLin2 R package was used for multivariate testing. Results 236 BM samples were analysed: 174 from HC, 37 Crohn’s disease (CD), 25 ulcerative colitis (UC). Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), a cytokine with an important role in the maturation of T cells, was significantly lower in BM of women with IBD vs HC (FDR p=0.0017). The levels of TSLP in the BM of the mothers correlated negatively with infant fCal at year1 (rho=-0.20, p=0.01), and with the relative abundance of Cronobacter (MaAsLin2 FDR 0.1) of the offspring at month 1. Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 20 (CCL20), which acts in chemotaxis of dendritic cells and T-cells and B-cells, was also significantly lower in women with CD vs HC (FDR 0.013) and in women with CD vs UC (p=0.014). Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), a collagenase involved in the breakdown of extracellular matrix, was also lower in BM of women with CD (p=0.009) and a negative correlation was observed between the levels of MMP1 and fCal at 3 months and 1 year (rho=-0.20 and -0.18, p=0.01 and 0.02, respectively). Osteoprotegerin (OPG), higher in BM of women with UC (p=0.018), was positively correlated with Streptococcus (MaAsLin2 FDR p=0.2) and negatively correlated with Bacteroides and Parabacteroides (MaAsLin2 FDR p=0.03 and 0.1) in the offspring at month 1. Conclusion The proteomic profile of BM of women with IBD is distinct from that of women without IBD. BM composition may influence offspring’s’ gut microbiome signatures and fCal level at different timepoints. These findings suggest that BM composition may impact the offspring’s intestinal immune system maturation and microbiome development, and warrant further research.

The interplay between convective, rotational and magnetic forces defines the dynamics within the electrically conducting regions of planets and stars. Yet their triadic effects are separated from one another in most studies, arguably due to the richness of each subset. In a single laboratory experiment, we apply a fixed heat flux, two different magnetic field strengths and one rotation rate, allowing us to chart a continuous path through Rayleigh–Bénard convection (RBC), two regimes of magnetoconvection, rotating convection and two regimes of rotating magnetoconvection, before finishing back at RBC. Dynamically rapid transitions are determined to exist between jump rope vortex states, thermoelectrically driven magnetoprecessional modes, mixed wall- and oscillatory-mode rotating convection and a novel magnetostrophic wall mode. Thus, our laboratory ‘pub crawl’ provides a coherent intercomparison of the broadly varying responses arising as a function of the magnetorotational forces imposed on a liquid-metal convection system.

Background Radiation for patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) is associated with painful mucositis that impacts the delivery of treatment and contributes to high symptom burden. Methods This was a prospective, randomized pilot trial. Eligible patients received primary or adjuvant chemoradiation. Patients were randomized to usual care vs usual care plus gabapentin titrated to drug tolerance during radiation. Patients completed a symptom survey at baseline and weekly during therapy. Results Seventy-nine patients were enrolled in the study (38 control, 41 treatment). At interim analysis, gabapentin use resulted in a decrease in pain (P = .004), with the biggest decreases being in the latter weeks of therapy. By week 7, the median pain score in the treatment group was below the 0.25 quantile of the control group. Conclusion Prophylactic use of gabapentin during chemoradiation for HNC patients resulted in a decrease in pain, neurosensory symptoms, and general systemic symptoms.

AIM To compare surgical time, bevel angle and site volumetric profiles of osteotomy and resection accomplished by targeted endodontic microsurgery (TEMS) and traditional endodontic microsurgery (EMS) in a surgical simulation model. METHODOLOGY An 80x80-mm cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) file was imported into Mimics software where artificial periapical lesions were created encompassing twelve root apices. Maxillary and mandibular models were 3D-printed. TEMS surgical guides were designed and 3D-printed for each surgical site. Three board-certified endodontists used the original CBCT to plan and perform EMS on models of six maxillary and six mandibular teeth. Next, the same endodontists performed TEMS on duplicate 3D-printed models for the same teeth. All surgeries were timed. Postoperative CBCT images of experimental models were made and imported into Amira software for measurement of bevel angle and site volumetric profiles. Paired t-tests compared the mean differences between EMS and TEMS groups. A Bonferroni correction determined data to be significant at P

Objectives To evaluate the dose effects of Recombinant human Club cell 10-kDa protein (rhCC10) on lung function in a well-characterized ovine model of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) induced by smoke inhalation injury (SII); specifically, the potential of rhCC10 protein to control the inflammatory response and protect pulmonary tissue and function following SII. Design Randomized, controlled, prospective, and large animal translational studies. Setting University large animal intensive care unit. Subjects Thirty-six adult female sheep were surgically prepared and allocated into five groups (Sham (no SII), n = 6; 1 mg/kg/d CC10, n = 8; 3 mg/kg/d CC10, n = 7; 10 mg/kg/d CC10, n = 8; Control SII, n = 7). Interventions All groups except the sham group were subjected to SII with cooled cotton smoke. Then, the animals were placed on a ventilator, treated with 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg/d of intravenous rhCC10 or vehicle, divided evenly into two administrations per day every 12 h, fluid resuscitated, and monitored for 48 h in a conscious state. Measurements and main results The group treated with 10 mg/kg/d rhCC10 attenuated changes in the following variables: PaO2/FiO2 ratio, oxygenation index, and peak inspiratory pressure; neutrophil content in the airway and myeloperoxidase levels; obstruction of the large and small airways; systemic leakage of fluid and proteins, and pulmonary edema. Conclusions In this study, high-dose rhCC10 significantly attenuated ARDS progression and lung dysfunction and significantly reduced systemic extravasation of fluid and proteins, normalizing fluid balance. Based on these results, rhCC10 may be considered a novel therapeutic option for the treatment of SII-induced ARDS.

Early research on the impact of COVID-19 on academic scientists suggests that disruptions to research, teaching, and daily work life are not experienced equally. However, this work has overwhelmingly focused on experiences of women and parents, with limited attention to the disproportionate impact on academic work by race, disability status, sexual identity, first-generation status, and academic career stage. Using a stratified random survey sample of early-career academics in four science disciplines (N = 3,277), we investigated socio-demographic and career stage differences in the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic along seven work outcomes: changes in four work areas (research progress, workload, concern about career advancement, support from mentors) and work disruptions due to three COVID-19 related life challenges (physical health, mental health, and caretaking). Our analyses examined patterns across career stages as well as separately for doctoral students and for postdocs/assistant professors. Overall, our results indicate that scientists from marginalized (i.e., devalued) and minoritized (i.e., underrepresented) groups across early career stages reported more negative work outcomes as a result of COVID-19. However, there were notable patterns of differences depending on the socio-demographic identities examined. Those with a physical or mental disability were negatively impacted on all seven work outcomes. Women, primary caregivers, underrepresented racial minorities, sexual minorities, and first-generation scholars reported more negative experiences across several outcomes such as increased disruptions due to physical health symptoms and additional caretaking compared to more privileged counterparts. Doctoral students reported more work disruptions from life challenges than other early-career scholars, especially those related to health problems, while assistant professors reported more negative changes in areas such as decreased research progress and increased workload. These findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately harmed work outcomes for minoritized and marginalized early-career scholars. Institutional interventions are required to address these inequalities in an effort to retain diverse cohorts in academic science.

In a review of 159 archived bovine autopsy cases submitted to the Georgia Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory System from 2001 to 2017, we evaluated histologic lesions and other laboratory test results in cases diagnosed with central nervous system (CNS) disease to determine the most common disorders and the rate of definitive morphologic and etiologic diagnosis within the population. The most common breed was Aberdeen Angus or Angus (31%), and female animals comprised 60% of the overall submissions. Gross anatomic changes were described in 33% of cases that had histologic lesions. Suppurative meningoencephalitis was the most common diagnosis (28% of cases overall) and was frequently associated with bacterial sepsis. Lymphocytic meningoencephalitis without an identified etiology was diagnosed in 17% of cases. Polioencephalomalacia was the most commonly identified noninfectious diagnosis (17%). Hydrocephalus was the most common CNS comorbidity and potential congenital defect. Identification of specific agents was sporadic, and infectious disease testing was largely dependent on fluorescent antibody testing, almost all of which were negative. Our findings indicate the common differential diagnoses for cattle with neurologic signs in the southeastern United States, as well the need for a well-defined, methodical diagnostic approach, including autopsy, histology, and appropriate additional laboratory testing.