On the upper reaches of the Tigris and Euphrates, archaeologists encounter evidence that challenges conventional understandings of early state formation as a transition from ‘small-scale, egalitarian’ to ‘large-scale, stratified’ societies. One such location is the Early Bronze Age cemetery of Başur Höyük, which presents evidence of grand funerary rituals—including ‘retainer burials’ and spectacular deposits of metallic wealth—in an otherwise small-scale, egalitarian setting. A further, puzzling feature of this cemetery is the preponderance of teenagers in the richest tombs. Here we describe the combined results of archaeological and anthropological analysis at Başur Höyük, including ancient DNA, and consider the challenges they pose to traditional accounts of early state formation.

Low vitamin D associated with high parathyroid hormone (PTH) is commonly reported in the context of HIV infection. We determined the association between total 25-hydroxyvitamin-D [25(OH)D] and PTH in adolescents living with HIV, in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Adolescents (11-19 years) perinatally-infected with HIV and established on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for ≥6 months were recruited into a cross-sectional study. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded, anthropometry measured, and fasted serum concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin-D (1,25(OH)2D), total 25(OH)D and intact PTH measured. The association between total 25(OH)D and PTH was examined using natural cubic spline regression modelling. 842 participants (female: 53.2%) with median age 15.5 (IQR:13.2-17.9) years were enrolled. Median ART duration was 9.8 [IQR:6.3-12.3] years and 165/841 (19.6%) had an HIV viral load >60copies/ml. Stunting (HAZ score<-2) and underweight (WAZ score<-2) were observed in 29.9% and 30.0% respectively. Three quarters (n=639) reported daily calcium intakes <150mg/day. The mean (SD) concentrations of total 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D were 66.1(16.5) nmol/L and 210.6(70.4) pmol/L respectively, and median PTH level was 4.3 (IQR:3.3-5.5) pmol/L. There was an inverse non-linear relationship between total 25(OH)D and PTH, 25(OH)D levelling-off at 74.6nmol/L (95%CI: 74.5-75.2). Results were consistent in those taking tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (81.7%) and in those who were virally unsuppressed. In this population with extremely low habitual calcium intakes, the lack of association between 25(OH)D and PTH when 25(OH)D exceeded 75nmol/L, potentially suggests levels of 25(OH)D >75nmol/l may need to be achieved to improve bone health; investigation is needed in future research studies.

Covert contraceptive use is a strategy to avoid unintended pregnancy. However, evidence regarding the multilevel factors linking past experiences of unintended pregnancy with covert contraceptive use is limited. The objective of this study was to identify the compositional and contextual factors associated with covert contraceptive use among women with a prior unintended pregnancy. Framed by the socio-ecological model, a cross-sectional study was conducted using data from Round 5 of the Performance Monitoring and Accountability 2020 project in Nigeria. Non-pregnant women aged 15–49 years who reported a previous mistimed or unwanted pregnancy were included (N = 1631). Multilevel logistic regression models with random intercepts were specified to investigate the relationship between covert contraceptive use and compositional and contextual factors. Approximately 4.54% (95% CI = 3.28–6.25) of women reported covert contraceptive use. At the individual level, having less than secondary education (aOR = 5.88, 95% CI = 1.20–28.72) and being single (aOR = 11.29, 95% CI = 2.93–43.56) were associated with higher odds of covert contraceptive use. There was no significant association between covert contraceptive use and the type of unintended pregnancy (mistimed: aOR = 3.13, 95% CI = 0.88–11.13). At the community level, living in a community with average poverty levels (aOR = 6.18, 95% CI = 1.18–32.55) and high exposure to family planning mass media (aOR = 6.84, 95% CI = 1.62–29.11) were associated with higher odds of covert contraceptive use. Measures of variation showed significant variation in covert contraceptive use across communities. Further research is warranted to better understand the underlying mechanisms in these observed associations and variations in covert contraceptive use among women following the experience of an unintended pregnancy. Additionally, there is a need to design family planning strategies that integrate community-level structures.

Field studies were conducted on certified organic land in Lafayette and Vincennes, IN, in 2023 to determine the impact of different between-row weed control methods on weed suppression and sweetpotato yield. Between-row treatments consisted of organic buckwheat (108 kg ha−1) broadcast seeded immediately after sweetpotato transplanting followed by silage tarping from 3 wk after transplanting (WATr) through harvest, organic buckwheat (108 kg ha−1) broadcast seeded 3 WATr and terminated 7 WATr, and cultivation as a grower standard. Weed density at 6 WATr was 0, 184, and 162 plants m−2 for the silage tarping, living mulch buckwheat, and cultivation treatments, respectively. Total yield was 11,048 kg ha−1 for the living mulch buckwheat, 19,792 kg ha−1 for the cultivation, and 17,814 kg ha−1 for the tarping treatments. Tarping effectively suppressed weeds and produced sweetpotato yields comparable to cultivation, indicating the potential for use by organic growers. When buckwheat was grown between rows 3 to 7 WATr, sweetpotato yield was lower than it was with tarping and cultivation. These results suggest that researchers should be evaluating tarps for small-acreage farmers as a weed management strategy.

Partial remission after major depressive disorder (MDD) is common and a robust predictor of relapse. However, it remains unclear to which extent preventive psychological interventions reduce depressive symptomatology and relapse risk after partial remission. We aimed to identify variables predicting relapse and to determine whether, and for whom, psychological interventions are effective in preventing relapse, reducing (residual) depressive symptoms, and increasing quality of life among individuals in partial remission. This preregistered (CRD42023463468) systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis (IPD-MA) pooled data from 16 randomized controlled trials (n = 705 partial remitters) comparing psychological interventions to control conditions, using 1- and 2-stage IPD-MA. Among partial remitters, baseline clinician-rated depressive symptoms (p = .005) and prior episodes (p = .012) predicted relapse. Psychological interventions were associated with reduced relapse risk over 12 months (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.43–0.84), and significantly lowered posttreatment depressive symptoms (Hedges’ g = 0.29, 95% CI 0.04–0.54), with sustained effects at 60 weeks (Hedges’ g = 0.33, 95% CI 0.06–0.59), compared to nonpsychological interventions. However, interventions did not significantly improve quality of life at 60 weeks (Hedges’ g = 0.26, 95% CI -0.06 to 0.58). No moderators of relapse prevention efficacy were found. Men, older individuals, and those with higher baseline symptom severity experienced greater reductions in symptomatology at 60 weeks. Psychological interventions for individuals with partially remitted depression reduce relapse risk and residual symptomatology, with efficacy generalizing across patient characteristics and treatment types. This suggests that psychological interventions are a recommended treatment option for this patient population.

Geophytes are hardy, resilient plants that are tolerant of cold temperatures and drought and are well documented as a reliable food source for hunter-gatherers worldwide. Human settlement patterns and foraging behaviors have long been associated with the use of nutrient-dense geophytes rich in carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Indigenous communities in the northern Great Basin developed cultural practices centered around gathering, preparing, and consuming important geophytic plants. These practices became deeply embedded in their cultural identity, forming rituals, stories, and traditions that persist today. Although there is strong ethnographic precedent for the significance of geophytes, finding evidence of their use in the archaeological record remains a challenge. This study analyzed archaeological starch residue extracted from bedrock metates in the uplands of Warner Valley, Oregon. Systematic studies of starch granules collected from extant plant communities growing near archaeological sites were applied to the identification of archaeological granules. Starch granules from geophytes, specifically Lomatium spp. (biscuitroot), were identified on metate surfaces at all sites, thus providing direct evidence for the collection and processing of geophyte vegetables. Evidence of geophyte plant processing on bedrock metates contributes to archaeological theories about subsistence strategies, food-processing technologies, social organization, and cultural practices in past human societies.

We investigate whether firm-level political connections affect the allocation of exemptions from tariffs imposed on $US 550 billion of Chinese goods imported to the United States annually beginning in 2018. Evidence points to politicians not only rewarding supporters but also punishing opponents: Past campaign contributions to the party controlling (in opposition to) the executive branch increase (decrease) approval likelihood. Our findings point to quid pro quo arrangements between politicians and firms, as opposed to the “information” channel linking political access to regulatory outcomes.

In laboratory testing, a novel hydrogen peroxide gas plasma endoscope sterilizer consistently reduced vegetative organisms, but not bacterial spores, to undetectable levels in the presence of high organism load (≥6.5 log10) and organic material and salts. These findings highlight the importance of meticulous cleaning of endoscopes prior to sterilization.

Analysts often seek to compare representations in high-dimensional space, e.g., embedding vectors of the same word across groups. We show that the distance measures calculated in such cases can exhibit considerable statistical bias, that stems from uncertainty in the estimation of the elements of those vectors. This problem applies to Euclidean distance, cosine similarity, and other similar measures. After illustrating the severity of this problem for text-as-data applications, we provide and validate a bias correction for the squared Euclidean distance. This same correction also substantially reduces bias in ordinary Euclidean distance and cosine similarity estimates, but corrections for these measures are not quite unbiased and are (non-intuitively) bimodal when distances are close to zero. The estimators require obtaining the variance of the latent positions. We (will) implement the estimator in free software, and we offer recommendations for related work.

Dilated cardiomyopathy is an expected manifestation and common cause of death in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. We present an unusually rapid progression of cardiomyopathy in a boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Expanded genetic testing revealed a contiguous Xp21 deletion involving dystrophin and XK genes, responsible for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and McLeod neuroacanthocytosis syndrome, respectively, resulting in a more severe cardiac phenotype.

Within the model of isotonic space, a principle is presented which generalizes the unfolding technique to the multidimensional case. The availability of exhaustive configurational solutions given complete data is pointed out. Finally three criteria are suggested for the choice of a particular solution from among the set of all solutions, which are applicable in the case either of complete or incomplete data.

Nonparametric tests are discussed in relation to parametric tests. A distinction is made between two types of nonparametric tests. One type leads to an exact significance level, the other to an approximate significance level. The failure to distinguish between these two types has led to confusion and error. Examples are cited.