Remote Sensing and GIS Applications in the Study of the Geographical Distribution of Ancient Settlements in the Kafr el-Sheikh Governorate in Northern-Central Delta, Egypt

This paper exploresthe potential of geographical methods, combined withtoponymical and historical research in explaining the regional distribution of historicalsettlements in the northern-central part of the Nile deltain Egypt. The geographicalanalysis was based on satellite remote sensing, studies of ancient maps, limited fieldcontrol and overlay techniques applied in a GIS.The study area corresponds to the present governorate (province) of Kafr el-Sheikh. The aim of the project was to get an overview of the position of ancientsettlements and to analyse how toponymy and linguistic studies could contribute to atentative dating of such places. This paper focus on how landscape information wasrevealed and combined with research in humanities.The study focus is on a relatively late period in Egyptian history. The area wasprobably sparsely populated until it shifted from wetland pasture to more intense landuseas a result of Roman drainage projects. The northernmost part of the area wasextensively settled only during Late Ptolemaic-Roman times and again abandoned in theearly Islamic period. The northern part of the study area is dominated by abandonedsettlements (tells) from the period, whilst most of the still existing villages from thesame period lie in the south,i.e. on higher ground that have been less prone to largescaleenvironmental change.Various types of satellite data wereused in the study, i.e. Aster, Landsat ETM,Spot XP and IKONOS. Ancient maps surveyed by the French expedition to Egypt 1798-1801, topographical maps from the 20th century and modern photogrammetry basedtopographical maps were used in the same GIS to analyse landscape change during thelast centuries.Only 78 tells (ruin mounds) in the study area are registered by the EgyptianSupreme Council of Antiquities (SCA). They, however, represent only a small portionof the ancient settlements, which could be traced and identified. As a result of theintegrated study approach almost 300 ancient settlements could be identified in thestudy area.Key words: Toponymical, Linguistic, Ptolemaic-Roman, Photogrammetry, Settlements

Bog vegetation re-mapped after 63 and 103 years: expansion of Rhynchospora alba (Studies on Skagershultsmossen 2)

The vegetation in an area of the ombrotrophic bog Skagershultsmossen, South-Central Sweden, was mapped in 2010. The same area was previously surveyed in 1907 and 1970. Only small changes were found in 1970, in contrast to the situation in 2010, when a large shift in the vegetation was observed. The previously dominating vegetation type, lawns dominated by Eriophorum vaginatum, had more or less disappeared and was replaced by carpet vegetation dominated by Rhynchospora alba, Sphagnum tenellum and S. balticum. Also, the carpets dominated by Scheuchzeria palustris had decreased to a large extent. There are several possible climatic explanations behind the changes, and we suggest that increased frost action linked to the reduction in snow cover may be important. The shift in the vegetation has most certainly led to a decrease in peat productivity and, hence, a reduction in carbon sequestration by the bog is assumed. Skagershultsmossen is an important reference site for future studies of long-term vegetation changes

Bog vegetation re-mapped after 63 and 103 years: expansion of Rhynchospora alba (Studies on Skagershultsmossen 2)

The vegetation in an area of the ombrotrophic bog Skagershultsmossen, South-Central Sweden, was mapped in 2010. The same area was previously surveyed in 1907 and 1970. Only small changes were found in 1970, in contrast to the situation in 2010, when a large shift in the vegetation was observed. The previously dominating vegetation type, lawns dominated by Eriophorum vaginatum, had more or less disappeared and was replaced by carpet vegetation dominated by Rhynchospora alba, Sphagnum tenellum and S. balticum. Also, the carpets dominated by Scheuchzeria palustris had decreased to a large extent. There are several possible climatic explanations behind the changes, and we suggest that increased frost action linked to the reduction in snow cover may be important. The shift in the vegetation has most certainly led to a decrease in peat productivity and, hence, a reduction in carbon sequestration by the bog is assumed. Skagershultsmossen is an important reference site for future studies of long-term vegetation changes

Widespread episodic thiamine deficiency in Northern Hemisphere wildlife

Many wildlife populations are declining at rates higher than can be explained by known threats to biodiversity. Recently, thiamine (vitamin B-1) deficiency has emerged as a possible contributing cause. Here, thiamine status was systematically investigated in three animal classes: bivalves, ray-finned fishes, and birds. Thiamine diphosphate is required as a cofactor in at least five life-sustaining enzymes that are required for basic cellular metabolism. Analysis of different phosphorylated forms of thiamine, as well as of activities and amount of holoenzyme and apoenzyme forms of thiaminedependent enzymes, revealed episodically occurring thiamine deficiency in all three animal classes. These biochemical effects were also linked to secondary effects on growth, condition, liver size, blood chemistry and composition, histopathology, swimming behaviour and endurance, parasite infestation, and reproduction. It is unlikely that the thiamine deficiency is caused by impaired phosphorylation within the cells. Rather, the results point towards insufficient amounts of thiamine in the food. By investigating a large geographic area, by extending the focus from lethal to sublethal thiamine deficiency, and by linking biochemical alterations to secondary effects, we demonstrate that the problem of thiamine deficiency is considerably more widespread and severe than previously reported

Pediatric food allergy-related household costs are influenced by age, but not disease severity

Objective: The economic burden of food allergy on households is poorly understood. We evaluated the household costs associated with specialist-diagnosed pediatric food allergy, with focus on age and disease severity. Study design: A cross-sectional study of 70 Swedish case-control pairs (59% boys) was conducted using Food Allergy Economic questionnaire. Household costs were analyzed between age- and gender-matched cases (children aged 0-17 years, with specialist-diagnosed food allergy) and controls (non-food allergic households). Results: Parents were predominantly university-educated and employed full-time. Most cases had parent-reported previous anaphylaxis. Mean total annual household costs were comparable between cases and controls. However, compared to controls, cases had significantly higher direct medical-, and non-medical related costs; higher indirect medical-related costs, and higher intangible costs (all p amp;lt; 0.05). In a sensitivity analyses of only cases aged 0-12 years, direct household costs, including lost earnings due to childs hospitalization, were significantly higher than controls. Results from only children with severe disease paralleled those of all cases vs. controls. Conclusions: Although pediatric food allergy is not associated with higher total annual household costs, these households have significantly higher direct medical-related, indirect and intangible costs vs. non-food allergic households. Higher household costs were identified amongst younger children, but not disease severity.Funding Agencies|Swedish Asthma and Allergy Foundation [F2015-0004, F2015-0042]</p

Health-related quality of life worsens by school age amongst children with food allergy

Abstract Background Food allergy is negatively associated with health-related quality of life (HRQL). Although differences exist between parents and children, less is known about age-specific differences amongst children. As such, we aimed to identify if age, as well as other factors, are associated with food allergy-specific HRQL in an objectively defined population of children. Methods Overall, 63 children (boys: n = 36; 57.1%) with specialist-diagnosed food allergy to 1 + foods were included. Parents/guardians completed the Swedish version of a disease-specific questionnaire designed to assess overall- and domain-specific HRQL. Descriptive statistics and linear regression were used. Results The most common food allergy was hen’s egg (n = 40/63; 63.5%). Most children had more than one food allergy (n = 48; 76.2%). Nearly all had experienced mild symptoms (e.g. skin; n = 56/63; 94.9%), and more than half had severe symptoms (e.g. respiratory; 39/63; 66.1%). Compared to young children (0–5 years), older children (6–12 years) had worse HRQL (e.g. overall HRQL: B = 0.60; 95% CI 0.05–1.16; p < 0.04.). Similarly, multiple food allergies, and severe symptoms were significantly associated with worse HRQL (all p < 0.05) even in models adjusted for concomitant allergic disease. No associations were found for gender or socioeconomic status. Conclusion Older children and those with severe food allergy have worse HRQL