Urban transformation in the Central Medjerda Valley (north-west Tunisia) in late antiquity and the middle ages: a regional approach

ecent scholarship on North African cities has done much to dispel earlier assumptions about late antique collapse and demonstrate significant continuity into the Byzantine and medieval periods. Yet urban changes did not affect North Africa evenly. Far less is known about the differing regional trajectories that shaped urban transformation and the extent to which pre-Roman and Roman micro-regions continued to share meaningful characteristics in subsequent periods. This article provides a preliminary exploration of regional change from the fourth to the eleventh century focused on a zone in the Central Medjerda Valley (Tunisia) containing the well-known sites of Bulla Regia and Chimtou. We place these towns in their wider historical and geographical setting and interrogate urban change by looking at investment in public buildings and spaces, religious buildings and housing, and ceramic networks. The process of comparison identifies new commonalities (and differences) between the sites of this stretch of the Medjerda River and provides a framework for understanding the many transformations of North African cities over the long late antiquity

Suicidal Ideation Among Children and Young Adults in a 24/7 Messenger-Based Psychological Chat Counseling Service

Suicidality in children and young adults is a pervasive problem: approximately 40% of respondents in epidemiological surveys in German schools reported suicidal ideation, while up to 9% reported a suicide attempt in the past. While there is compelling evidence for the effectiveness of telephone-based hotline services, an increasing preference of adolescents for messenger-based counseling services can be observed. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the utilization behavior and user satisfaction of users contacting a German messenger-based chat counseling service (“krisenchat”) regarding suicidal ideation. Methods The present cross-sectional study analyzed retrospective anonymous data on sociodemographic variables, utilization behavior, and user satisfaction of krisenchat users who used the service between May 2020 and July 2021. Chi-square-tests were used to identify associations of sociodemographic characteristics and utilization behavior with suicidal ideation. Mann-Whitney-U-tests were used to compare the user satisfaction and the recommendation-to-others-rate between suicidal and non-suicidal krisenchat-users. Results In total, chat data of N = 11,031 users were collected. Of the n = 6,962 users included in the final analysis, n = 1,444 (20.7%) contacted krisenchat because of suicidal ideation. The average user experiencing suicidal ideation was 17 years old, female and currently not receiving other treatment. Further, suicidal ideation was significantly and positively associated with age and non-suicidal self-injury. Regarding utilization patterns, there were significant positive associations between suicidal ideation and counseling session count, mean amount of messages sent, and mean amount of words used per message by the user. User satisfaction was high, with 64.7% (n = 413) of users that answered the feedback survey and experiencing suicidal ideation rating the help they received as at least “good” and a recommendation rate of 89.6% (n = 571). Most importantly, no differences were found between users reporting suicidal ideation and those that do not regarding satisfaction and the probability of recommending the service. Conclusion Results imply satisfaction with the counseling service among users with suicidal ideation. Nevertheless, there is a need for further research into messenger-based counseling services regarding the prevention of suicidal behavior in children, youths, and young adults. Longitudinal studies are especially needed to assess the effectiveness of messenger-based interventions.Peer Reviewe

A Comparative Analysis of Case Studies from the Old World

The present contribution deals with the concepts of marginal habitats in selected regions of the ancient world, ranging from modern Spain to the Jordanian desert and from Turkey to the Ethiopian highlands. Central to this research is the hypothesis that the occupation of areas beyond the ‘normal’ settlement patterns corresponds to colonization processes which reflect specific social strategies and may have stimulated the development of new technological skills. A review of ‘marginality’ research in various disciplines indicates that there is no comprehensive definition of the concept, which can be approached from a multitude of perspectives and with manifold objectives. A survey of the eight case studies and two more in-depth discussions of the sites of Musawwarat (Sudan) and Ayamonte (Spain) highlight the potentials as well as the limits of the archaeological investigation into past marginalities. Patterns of spatial marginalization are the easiest to detect. The studies also show that we must not limit our analysis to the adverse factors connected to different kinds of marginalities. Instead, our analyses suggest that spatially marginal areas were deliberately chosen for settlement – an integration with core-periphery approaches may help us to understand these scenarios, which have received little attention in ‘marginality’ research in archaeology or elsewhere so far

Doing quantitative research in the learning sciences and CSCL:current developments and applications

While quantitative methods are continuously developed in various fields of origin,such as psychology, the specific applications in the core field of learning sciences and CSCL are less well advanced. In this workshop, we explore and discuss current methodological topics in three relevant fields of empirical research: (1) obtaining data, (2) analyzing data, and (3) sharing data, replicating and integrating findings. Outcomes of the discussions are planned to be published in short guidelines facilitating the application of latest developments in quantitative methods in the learning sciences and CSCL research.<br/

Doing quantitative research in the learning sciences and CSCL:current developments and applications

While quantitative methods are continuously developed in various fields of origin,such as psychology, the specific applications in the core field of learning sciences and CSCL are less well advanced. In this workshop, we explore and discuss current methodological topics in three relevant fields of empirical research: (1) obtaining data, (2) analyzing data, and (3) sharing data, replicating and integrating findings. Outcomes of the discussions are planned to be published in short guidelines facilitating the application of latest developments in quantitative methods in the learning sciences and CSCL research.<br/

eine tierexperimentelle Studie

Introduction: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective tool to therapeutically modulate pathological neural activity and has recently been promoted as potential treatment for major depressive disorders (MDD). The concept of MDD as a dysfunction of neuronal networks rather than of distinct brain areas has led to the clinical investigation of a number of DBS targets, including the subgenual cingulate (Cg25), nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and medial forebrain bundle (MFB). Despite initial promising results, approx. 40% of all patients treated with DBS continue to suffer from treatment-resistant depression (TRD). This indicates that there is not the one ideal stimulation target for all patients. Rather, the individual symptom profile should be considered for target selection. The aim of the present thesis was to investigate symptom-specific DBS effects of different stimulation targets, at different stimulation parameter in animal models of different expression levels of the disease. Methods: Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) and congenitally learned helpless (cLH) rats as well as their respective controls received chronic-intermittent or chronic-continuous DBS to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC, rodent analog to the Cg25 area), NAcc, MFB, or subthalamic nucleus (STN) and were subjected to a battery of behavioral tests investigating depression- and reward-associated behavior. Additional neurobiological investigations focused on neurochemistry and neural population activity as measured via local field potential recording. Results: i) FSL rats had increased serotonin (5-HT) contents in several cortical and subcortical regions and alpha, beta as well as low gamma oscillatory activity was decreased in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and NAcc, ii) vmPFCDBS was more effective than NAcc-DBS, iii) STN-DBS induced depressiogenic effects, iv) chronic-continuous DBS did not improve effects observed with chronic- intermittent DBS, instead chronic-intermittent DBS outperformed chronic- continuous DBS, v) DBS effects depended on the disease stage modeled, vi) antidepressant vmPFC-DBS effects came with reduced 5-HT contents and increased 5-HT turnover rates, and vii) effective MFB-, but not vmPFC-DBS operated via the mesolimbic brain reward system. Conclusions: In FSL rats, antidepressant DBS effects were symptom-, parameter- and target-specific and likely mediated via the 5-HT system and normalized gamma activity. Differently effective DBS targets interacted with different circuits, supporting the notion that individual symptom profiles should be considered when selecting a stimulation target.Einleitung: Die Tiefe Hirnstimulation (THS) ist eine wirksame Methode um pathologische neurale Aktivität therapeutisch zu verändern. Neuerdings wurde sie auch als Behandlungsmöglichkeit für Majore Depression (MD) vorangebracht. Da MD als eine Dysfunktion neuronaler Netzwerke statt bestimmter Hirnareale verstanden wird, wurde die THS diverser Zielregionen klinisch untersucht, u.a. die des subgenualen Cingulums (Cg25), Nucleus Accumbens (NAcc) sowie des Medialen Vorderhirnbündels (MFB). Trotz vielversprechender Erstergebnisse leiden etwa 40% der Patienten mit THS-Behandlung weiterhin unter therapieresistenter Depression (TRD), was darauf hindeutet, dass es nicht das eine optimale Stimulationstarget für alle TRD-Patienten gibt. Eher sollte das individuelle Symptomprofil bei der Bestimmung des Stimulationsareals berücksichtigt werden. Ziel dieser Dissertation war es, symptom-spezifische THS-Effekte unterschiedlicher Areale unter unterschiedlichen Parametern in Tiermodellen unterschiedlicher Schweregrade der Krankheit zu testen. Methoden: Ratten der Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) und kongenital hilflose (cLH) Ratten sowie deren Kontrollen erhielten chronisch-intermittierende oder chronisch- kontinuierliche THS des ventromedialen prefrontalen Cortex (vmPFC; Äquivalent des humanen Cg25), NAcc, MFB oder Nucleus Subthalamicus (STN) und wurden einer Reihe Verhaltenstests unterzogen um depressions- und belohnungsrelevantes Verhalten zu untersuchen. Ergänzende neurobiologische Charakterisierung basierte auf neurochemischen Untersuchungen sowie der Messung neuraler Aktivität mittels Feldpotentialableitungen. Ergebnisse: i) FSL Ratten hatten einen erhöhten Serotonin(5-HT)- Gehalt in kortikalen und subkortikalen Regionen und reduzierte Alpha-, Beta- sowie niedrige Gammaaktivität im medialen Präfrontalen Cortex (mPFC) und NAcc, ii) vmPFC-THS war wirksamer als NAcc-THS, iii) STN-THS wirkte depressiogen, iv) chronisch-kontinuierliche THS verstärkte nicht die Wirkung chronisch-intermittierender THS, stattdessen übertraf chronisch-intermittierende THS die chronisch-kontinuierliche v) THS- Effekte hingen von dem dargestellten Krankheitsstadium ab, vi) antidepressiv wirksame vmPFC-THS ging einher mit reduziertem Gehalt an 5-HT und erhöhtem 5 -HT-Umsatz und vii) wirksame MFB-THS aber nicht vmPFC-THS interagierte mit dem mesolimbischen Belohnungssystem. Schlussfolgerungen: In FSL Ratten waren antidepressive THS-Effekte symptom-, parameterund targetspezifisch und vermutlich über das 5-HT System und normalisierter Gammaaktivität vermittelt. Unterschiedlich wirksame THS-targets agierten mit unterschiedlichen Schaltkreisen, was die Idee einer auf dem Symptomprofil basierten Targetwahl stützt

Expression of adipokines and adipocytokines by epidural adipose tissue in cauda equina syndrome in dogs

Abstract Background Compression of epidural adipose tissue (EAT) within the scope of cauda equina syndrome (CES) could lead to an enhanced expression of inflammatory mediators, possibly contributing to pain amplification in dogs. Objectives To analyze expression of inflammatory adipo(‐cyto)kines within the EAT of dogs with CES. Animals Client‐owned dogs: 15 dogs with CES and 9 dogs euthanized for unrelated medical reasons (controls). Methods Prospective, experimental study. Epidural adipose tissue and subcutaneous adipose tissue were collected during dorsal laminectomy and used for real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Tissue explants were cultured for measurements of inflammation‐induced release of cytokines. Results Results show a CES‐associated upregulation of the cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα: mean ± SD: 18.88 ± 11.87, 95% CI: 10.90‐26.86 vs 9.66 ± 5.22, 95% CI: 5.29‐14.02, *: P = .04) and interleukin‐ (IL‐) 10 (20.1 ± 9.15, 95% CI: 14.82‐25.39 vs 11.52 ± 6.82, 95% CI: 5.82‐17.22, *: P = .03), whereas the expression of the adipokine leptin was attenuated in EAT of dogs with CES (3.07 ± 2.29, 95% CI: 1.80‐3.34 vs 9.83 ± 8.42, 95% CI: 3.36‐16.30, **: P = .007). Inflammatory stimulation of EAT explant cultures resulted in an enhanced release of IL‐6 (LPS: 5491.55 ± 4438, 95% CI: 833.7‐10 149; HMGB1: 1001.78 ± 522.2, 95% CI: 518.8‐1485; PBS: 310.9 ± 98.57, 95% CI: 228.5‐393.3, ***: P < .001). Conclusion and Clinical Importance Expression profile of inflammatory adipo(‐cyto)kines by EAT is influenced from compressive forces acting in dogs with CES and might contribute to amplification of pain

The Impact of a Messenger-Based Psychosocial Chat Counseling Service on Further Help-Seeking Among Children and Young Adults: Longitudinal Study

BackgroundMental crises have high prevalences in adolescence. Early interventions appear to be highly important to diminish the risk of the deterioration, recurrence, or chronification of symptoms. In recent years, various providers have started offering live chat support in psychological crises. The messenger-based psychological counseling service krisenchat aims to support young people in crises and, if necessary, provide a recommendation for a referral to the health care system or to seek further help from a trusted adult person. ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the impact of using the counseling service of krisenchat on the further help-seeking behavior of young people, and to identify associated factors of further help-seeking. MethodsThis longitudinal study analyzed anonymous data from 247 individuals who used krisenchat between October 2021 and March 2022, and received a recommendation for further help-seeking. An online survey directly after the chat assessed the perceived helpfulness of the chat and well-being after the chat. After 4 weeks, further help-seeking, facilitators and barriers to help-seeking, and self-efficacy were assessed in an online follow-up survey. ResultsThe most frequently recommended services or persons to seek further help from included a psychotherapist or social psychiatric service (75/225, 33.3%), a school psychologist or school social worker (52/225, 23.1%), and the user’s parents (45/225, 20.0%). Of the 247 users, 120 (48.6%) indicated that they contacted the recommended service or person, and of these, 87 (72.5%) stated that they already had an appointment (or talk) with the respective service or person or that an appointment (or talk) was scheduled. The most frequently reported facilitators for further help-seeking were mental health literacy (54/120, 45.0%), improvement of self-efficacy (55/120, 45.8%), and symptom recognition (40/120, 33.3%). In users not displaying further help-seeking behavior, the most frequent barriers included stigmatization (60/127, 47.2%), lack of mental health literacy (59/127, 46.5%), need for self-reliance and autonomy (53/127, 41.7%), and negative family beliefs regarding help services (53/127, 41.7%). Subgroup comparisons indicated significantly higher levels of self-efficacy in users displaying further help-seeking behavior than in those not displaying further help-seeking behavior. Both subgroups did not differ in gender, age, recommended service or person, chat topics, perceived helpfulness, and well-being. ConclusionsThe findings of this study indicate that children and young adults receiving counseling on krisenchat benefit in terms of seeking further help. Further help-seeking seems to be associated with higher levels of self-efficacy. Trial RegistrationDeutsches Register Klinischer Studien DRKS00026671; https://tinyurl.com/4fm5xe6