A Tree Without Branches? On Coptic Arab historian Mufaḍḍal Ibn Abī l-Faḍā’il and His Conjectural Stammbaum

The Coptic Arab writer Mufaḍḍal Ibn Abī l-Faḍā’il (d. after 759 AH/1358 AD), author of al-Nahj al sadīd (“The Correct Path”), a chronicle of the early Mamluk period, is apparently “ a historian without history”. Indeed, the only known information about his life is the date of completion of his work : the 11th of Shawwāl 759 AH, i.e. the 16th of September 1358 AD, as the author himself declared in the introduction of his book. Apart from this, he did not provide any information on himself and he apparently left no trace on any other writer, either in his generation or in the following ones. Nevertheless, some modern scholars tried to speculate on possible connections between Mufaḍḍal and some personalities mentioned in sources of the time. In particular, Edgard Blochet, in 1919, argued that some Coptic notables mentioned in other manuscripts should be identified as members of Mufaḍḍal’s family. Blochet's hypothesis has been accepted by scholars until now, in spite of its merely conjectural nature, and has been the basis for further speculations. In the present paper, we argue that the whole matter deserves to be carefully reconsidered and we endeavour to demonstrate that none of the hypotheses made on Mufaḍḍal’s family until now can be considered as conclusive

Les réseaux soufis d’Alexandrie au début de l’époque mamlouke : Yāqūt al-Ḥabašī, une étude de cas

Le maître soufi Yāqūt al-Ḥabashī (m. 732/1332), qui serait venu d’Éthiopie à Alexandrie comme esclave, fut un disciple privilégié du cheykh shādhilī al-Mursī (m. 686/1287), et même le successeur de celui-ci à la tête de la Shādhiliyya ou, tout du moins, de sa branche alexandrine. La présente étude, s’inspirant de la perspective épistémologique de « l’interactionnisme structural » et des procédés de représentation graphique de l’analyse de réseau, se veut comme un premier effort de reconstitution des systèmes relationnels de cheikh Yāqūt, dans le cadre d’un projet de longue haleine concernant les réseaux tissés par la Shādhiliyya dans la société alexandrine et égyptienne à l’époque mamlouke

Tarfīq versus Tazyīq On a Rare Sufi Term in Ibn Baṭṭūṭā and Jewish-Muslim Interactions in Medieval Egypt

The present paper focuses on two variant readings (tarfīq vs. tazyīq) of a rare Sufi term employed by Ibn Baṭṭūta (d. 1377) in his famous travelogue (Riḥla) to describe the “head between knees” Sufi practice. Indeed, evidence in support of the reading tazyīq was found by Paul Fenton (1990) in a thirteenth-century Judeo-Arabic text emanating from the Egyptian Jewish Sufi circle of Avraham Maimonides (d. 1237). However, specialists of Ibn Baṭṭūta have not taken full advantage from Fenton’s finding until now. In this framework, the present paper has two main objectives: (1) reconsidering the tarfīq vs. tazyīq dilemma on the historical background of textual studies on the Riḥla and supporting Fenton’s choice in favor of tazyīq; (2) interpreting Ibn Baṭṭūta’s references to this Sufi posture, in the light of Jewish and Islamic mystical literature, and of the socio-religious context of Medieval Egypt, with special focus on the Islamic Sufi group of the Shādhiliyya and their attitudes towards Jews and Judaism

Hallux rigidus treated with adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells: A case report

BACKGROUND First metatarsophalangeal joint arthritis (FMTPA), also known as hallux rigidus, is the most frequent degenerative disease of the foot. Diagnosis is made through both clinical and radiological evaluation. Regenerative medicine showed promising results in the treatment of early osteoarthritis. The aim of the present study was to report the results of a case of FMTPA treated with the injection of autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells. CASE SUMMARY A gentleman of 50 years of age presented with a painful hallux rigidus grade 2 resistant to any previous conservative treatment (including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and hyaluronic acid injections). An injection of autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells into the first metatarsophalangeal joint was performed. No adverse events were reported, and both function and pain scales improved after 9 mo of follow-up. CONCLUSION The FMTP joint injection of mesenchymal stem cells improved symptoms and function in our patient with FMTPA at 9 mo of follow-up

The treatment of sleep disorders in Parkinson's disease: From research to clinical practice

Sleep disorders (SDs) are one of the most frequent non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), usually increasing in frequency over the course of the disease and disability progression. SDs include nocturnal and diurnal manifestations such as insomnia, REM sleep behavior disorder, and excessive daytime sleepiness. The causes of SDs in PD are numerous, including the neurodegeneration process itself, which can disrupt the networks regulating the sleep-wake cycle and deplete a large number of cerebral amines possibly playing a role in the initiation and maintenance of sleep. Despite the significant prevalence of SDs in PD patients, few clinical trials on SDs treatment have been conducted. Our aim is to critically review the principal therapeutic options for the most common SDs in PD. The appropriate diagnosis and treatment of SDs in PD can lead to the consolidation of nocturnal sleep, the enhancement of daytime alertness, and the amelioration of the quality of life of the patients

SuperPath approach is a recommendable option in frail patients with femoral neck fractures: a case–control study

INTRODUCTION: The treatment of intracapsular femoral neck fractures (FNFs) in the elderly is usually based on hip replacement, both total hip arthroplasty (THA) and hemiarthroplasty (HA). Recently, several tissue-sparing approaches for hip arthroplasty had been described with promising results in terms of hospitalization length, blood loss and dislocation rate. The aim of the present study was to compare the blood loss and the transfusion rate in a cohort of patients with FNF treated using an HA through both the SuperPath (SP) and the traditional posterolateral (PL) approaches. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively collected data from patients affected by FNFs between January 2018 and February 2020. All patients with intracapsular FNF treated with a single HA implant (Profemur L, MicroPort Orthopedics Inc., USA) via PL or SP approaches were included. Exclusion criteria were pathological fractures, polytrauma and preoperatively transfused patients. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were included and analysed in the present study. 17 patients were classified in the SP group, and 18 in the PL one. The rate of antithrombotic therapy was higher in the SP group compared with the PL group [10 (58, 82%) vs 4 (22, 2%)]. While the two groups did not differ in terms of preoperative haemoglobin (Hb), 48 h postoperative Hb and Hb reduction, a significative difference was observed in terms of blood transfusion rate (1 SP vs 9 PL, p = 0.0072). CONCLUSIONS: The SuperPath approach in patients with FNF under antithrombotic therapy assures lower transfusion rate, potentially reducing complication rates and improving patients' outcomes

Fragility Fractures of the Acetabulum: Current Concepts for Improving Patients’ Outcomes

The incidence of fragility fractures of the acetabulum (FFA) is constantly increasing. Generally, these fractures are related to a fall on the greater trochanter involving the anterior column. The management of FFA is extremely difficult considering both patients’ comorbidities and poor bone quality. Both non-operative and several operative treatment protocols are available, and the choice among them is still ambiguous. The proposed surgical techniques for FFA [namely open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), percutaneous fixation and total hip arthroplasty (THA)] are associated with a high complication rate. The treatment with the higher early mortality is the ORIF + THA, while the one with the lowest is the non-operative. However, at longer follow-up, this difference dreadfully change is becoming the opposite. Frequently ORIF, percutaneous fixation, and non-operative treatment need a subsequent re-operation through a THA. This latter could be extremely difficult, because of poor bone quality, acetabular mal union/non-union, bone gaps and hardware retention. However, the outcomes of each of the proposed treatment are mostly poor and controverted; therefore, a comprehensive patient evaluation and an accurate fracture description are required to appropriately manage acetabular fracture in the elderly

An Innovative IMTA System: Polychaetes, Sponges and Macroalgae Co-Cultured in a Southern Italian In-Shore Mariculture Plant (Ionian Sea)

In this paper, we report data from the first year of rearing of a set of filter feeder bioremediator organisms: macrobenthic invertebrates (sabellid polychaetes and sponges), coupled with macroalgae, realized in a mariculture fish farm. This innovative integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system was realized at a preindustrial level in the Gulf of Taranto (southern Italy, northern Ionian Sea), within the framework of the EU Remedia Life project. Long lines containing different collector typologies were placed around the fish breeding cages. Vertical collectors were utilized for both polychaetes and sponges, whilst macroalgae were cultivated in horizontal collectors. Data on the growth and mortality of the target species after the first year of rearing and cultivation are given together with their biomass estimation. Polychaete biomass was obtained from natural settlement on ropes previously hung in the system, while sponges and macroalgae were derived from explants and/or inocules inserted in the collectors. The description of the successional pattern occurring on collectors used for settling until reaching a “stable” point is also described, with indications of additional filter feeder macroinvertebrates other than polychaetes and sponges that are easily obtainable and useful in the system as bioremediators as well. The results demonstrate an easy, natural obtaining of large biomass of sabellid polychaetes settling especially from about a 4 to 10 m depth. Sponges and macroalgae need to be periodically cleaned from the fouling covering. The macroalgae cycle was different from that of invertebrates and requires the cultivation of two different species with about a 6-month cycle for each one. The present study represents one of the first attempts at IMTA in the Mediterranean area where invertebrates and macroalgae are co-cultured in an inshore fish farm. Possible utilization of the produced biomass is also suggested

Weather, sex and body condition affect post‑fledging migration behaviour of the greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus

Abstract Background Understanding which intrinsic and extrinsic factors dictate decision-making processes such as leaving the natal area or not (migratory vs resident strategy), departure time, and non-breeding destination are key-issues in movement ecology. This is particularly relevant for a partially migratory meta-population in which only some individuals migrate. Methods We investigated these decision making-processes for 40 juvenile greater flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus fledged in three Mediterranean colonies and equipped with GPS-GSM devices. Results Contrary to the body size and the dominance hypotheses, juveniles in better body condition were more likely to migrate than those in worse conditions, which opted for a residence strategy. Flamingo probability of departure was not associated with an increase in local wind intensity, but rather with the presence of tailwinds with departure limited to night-time mostly when the wind direction aligned with the migratory destination. Moreover, a positive interaction between tailwind speed and migration distance suggested that juveniles opted for stronger winds when initiating long-distance journeys. In contrast to previous studies, the prevailing seasonal winds were only partially aligned with the migratory destination, suggesting that other factors (e.g., adults experience in mix-aged flocks, availability of suitable foraging areas en route, density-dependence processes) may be responsible for the distribution observed at the end of the first migratory movement. We found potential evidence of sex-biased timing of migration with females departing on average 10 days later and flying ca. 10 km/h faster than males. Female flight speed, but not male one, was positively influenced by tailwinds, a pattern most likely explained by sexual differences in mechanical power requirements for flight (males being ca. 20% larger than females). Furthermore, juveniles considerably reduced their flight speeds after 400 km from departure, highlighting a physiological threshold, potentially linked to mortality risks when performing long-distance non-stop movements. Conclusion These results suggest that not only intrinsic factors such as individual conditions and sex, but also extrinsic factors like weather, play critical roles in triggering migratory behaviour in a partially migratory metapopulation