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Background Palliative care is crucial for all intensive care unit (ICU) clinicians. However, its effective implementation is often challenged by insufficient training, high staff turnover, and limited resources, negatively affecting the quality of care. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy regarding palliative care among ICU nurses in hospitals in the West Bank. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 260 ICU nurses in governmental hospitals across the West Bank. Data were gathered between January and July 2024 through self-administered questionnaires, including the Palliative Care Quiz for Nurses (PCQN), the Frommelt Attitudes Towards Care of the Dying (FATCOD) scale, and the Palliative Care Self-Efficacy Scale (PCSES). Results The findings revealed insufficient levels of palliative care knowledge (M = 6.6 ± 2.6 out of 20), positive/favorable attitudes (M = 94.1 ± 2.9 out of 150), and low self-efficacy in palliative care (M = 23.0 ± 8.1 out of 48) among nurses. Significant predictors of self-efficacy included ICU experience and marital status, with single nurses and more experience showing higher self-efficacy ( p  < 0.01). Conclusion This study highlights the pressing need for targeted interventions to address the gaps in palliative care knowledge and attitudes among ICU nurses. Implementing such initiatives could substantially improve the delivery of palliative care in resource-constrained settings, emphasizing the importance of action to promote better patient outcomes.

Al Jabal Al Akhdar anticlinorium, NE Libya, has the most extensive and diversified karstic features . Collapse dolines are among the most prominent karst phenomena with many of them developed during the Holocene. This research uses field observations and numerical modelling to understand the geometry and formation mechanisms of these dolines. Detailed measurements of 66 collapse dolines including locations, elevations and dimensions (diameters and depths) are documented herein. The dolines have diameters ranging from several meters to tens of meters, while their depths vary from few meters to over a hundred meters. Some giant dolines can be classified as “Tiankengs”. The dolines have average diameter of 55 m and height/depth of 60 m. There is a strong linear correlation between dolines areas and volumes with a determination coefficient ( R 2 ) of 0.88. When 65 collapse dolines in China are added to the dataset for comparison, the correlation becomes R 2  = 0.83. This geometric similarity may suggest an analogous mechanism of their development. This research reveals that these dolines developed from the enlargement of fractures and bedding planes, forming various sizes of cavities in the sub-surface through chemical weathering. The subsequent collapse of the roof of these enlarged voids was most likely influenced by local stress fields around them, leading to extensive extension and shear fractures. Numerical models suggest that the local stress field favoured rupture and fracture propagation, once tensile and shear stresses exceed the tensile and shear strengths of the host rocks, thus causing the breakdown and the formation of collapsed dolines.

The African Hyaenodontida, mainly known from the Late Eocene and Early Oligocene Fayum depression in Egypt, show a very poor diversity in oldest Paleogene localities. Here we report new hyaenodontidans found in the late Middle Eocene deposits of Dur At-Talah (Central Libya), known to have recorded the earliest radiation of African anthropoids. The new hyaenodontidan remains are represented by dental and postcranial specimens comprising the historical material discovered by R.J.G. Savage in the last century and that of the recent Franco-Libyan campaigns. This material includes two apterodontines, in particular a subcomplete skeleton of Apterodon langebadreae nov. sp., bringing new postcranial elements to the fossil record of the genus Apterodon. Anatomical analysis of the postcranial remains of Dur At-Talah suggests a semi-aquatic lifestyle for Apterodon, a completely unusual locomotion pattern among hyaenodontidans. We also perform the first cladistic analysis of hyaenodontidans including apterodontines: Apterodon and Quasiapterodon appear close relatives to \"hyainailourines\", in particular to the African Oligo-Miocene Metasinopa species. Apterodon langebadreae nov. sp. could be the most primitive species of the genus, confirming an African origin of the Apterodontinae and a further dispersion event to Europe before the early Oligocene. These data enhance our knowledge of early hyaenodontidan diversification into Africa and underline how crucial is the understanding of their evolutionary history for the improvement of Paleogene paleobiogeographic scenarii.

This study confirms the existence of the blind cave shrimp Typhlocaris lethaea Parisi, 1920, in Lethe Cave, Benghazi, Libya, nearly a century after its initial discovery, and documents its new distribution in the Al-Coeffiah caves. Field surveys conducted in 2023 and 2024 revealed its presence in the El-Khadim and Al-Jebah caves, extending its known range by 9 km. Specimens were found in subterranean lakes characterized by complete darkness, with water parameters including an average temperature of 22 °C, pH of 7.67, and salinity of 4.72 ppt. Two specimens were used for further analysis. These findings suggest that the species is more widespread than previously thought and highlight the potential hydrological connections within the karstic system. Additionally, the discovery of a depigmented isopod in El-Khadim cave suggests further hidden biodiversity. Given its IUCN data-deficient status, our findings emphasize the need for conservation efforts to protect these fragile ecosystems from human impacts, ensuring the preservation of Libya’s unique subterranean biodiversity.

Early diversity in African anthropoids The origin of the anthropoids — higher primates including monkeys, apes and humans — is shrouded in mystery. Fossils from the Eocene of Africa have suggested that they originated in that continent, but this has been challenged by discoveries in Asia. The game is changed by the discovery of several species of anthropoid primate from the Eocene of Libya, each belonging to a distinct group. This suggests that the anthropoids diverged early — possibly in Asia, migrating to Africa along with other kinds of mammal. The origin of the anthropoids (higher primates, including monkeys, apes and humans) is mysterious. Fossils from the Eocene epoch in Africa have suggested that the anthropoids originated there, but this has been challenged by findings in Asia. Here, the discovery is reported of the oldest known diverse assemblage of African anthropoids, from the Eocene of Libya. The diversity of species found suggests either a long interval of anthropoid evolution in Africa, or the nearly synchronous colonization of Africa by several anthropoid clades. Reconstructing the early evolutionary history of anthropoid primates is hindered by a lack of consensus on both the timing and biogeography of anthropoid origins 1 , 2 , 3 . Some prefer an ancient (Cretaceous) origin for anthropoids in Africa or some other Gondwanan landmass 4 , whereas others advocate a more recent (early Cenozoic) origin for anthropoids in Asia 1 , 2 , 5 , with subsequent dispersal of one or more early anthropoid taxa to Africa. The oldest undoubted African anthropoid primates described so far are three species of the parapithecid Biretia from the late middle Eocene Bir El Ater locality of Algeria 6 and the late Eocene BQ-2 site in the Fayum region of northern Egypt 7 . Here we report the discovery of the oldest known diverse assemblage of African anthropoids from the late middle Eocene Dur At-Talah escarpment in central Libya. The primate assemblage from Dur At-Talah includes diminutive species pertaining to three higher-level anthropoid clades (Afrotarsiidae, Parapithecidae and Oligopithecidae) as well as a small species of the early strepsirhine primate Karanisia . The high taxonomic diversity of anthropoids at Dur At-Talah indicates either a much longer interval of anthropoid evolution in Africa than is currently documented in the fossil record or the nearly synchronous colonization of Africa by multiple anthropoid clades at some time during the middle Eocene epoch.

The African Hyaenodontida, mainly known from the Late Eocene and Early Oligocene Fayum depression in Egypt, show a very poor diversity in oldest Paleogene localities. Here we report new hyaenodontidans found in the late Middle Eocene deposits of Dur At-Talah (Central Libya), known to have recorded the earliest radiation of African anthropoids. The new hyaenodontidan remains are represented by dental and postcranial specimens comprising the historical material discovered by R.J.G. Savage in the last century and that of the recent Franco-Libyan campaigns. This material includes two apterodontines, in particular a subcomplete skeleton of Apterodon langebadreae nov. sp., bringing new postcranial elements to the fossil record of the genus Apterodon. Anatomical analysis of the postcranial remains of Dur At-Talah suggests a semi-aquatic lifestyle for Apterodon, a completely unusual locomotion pattern among hyaenodontidans. We also perform the first cladistic analysis of hyaenodontidans including apterodontines: Apterodon and Quasiapterodon appear close relatives to \"hyainailourines\", in particular to the African Oligo-Miocene Metasinopa species. Apterodon langebadreae nov. sp. could be the most primitive species of the genus, confirming an African origin of the Apterodontinae and a further dispersion event to Europe before the early Oligocene. These data enhance our knowledge of early hyaenodontidan diversification into Africa and underline how crucial is the understanding of their evolutionary history for the improvement of Paleogene paleobiogeographic scenarii.

This article is based on a critical vision that attempts to highlight the importance of the social actor in the Palestinian context as a whole. It includes basic ideas about the author’s understanding and expectations of all the aspects associated with the role and profession of the social actor as a transforming mechanism of issues in the Palestinian context. It broaches fields of work, specialization, and concentration in viewing individual cases as manifesting a nationwide social phenomenon. If we accept that Palestinian society is vulnerable to psychological setbacks, its recovery, according to Fanon (1972) lies in the resistance against the colonizer.

This article is based on a critical vision that attempts to highlight the importance of the social actor in the Palestinian context as a whole. It includes basic ideas about the author’s understanding and expectations of all the aspects associated with the role and profession of the social actor as a transforming mechanism of issues in the Palestinian context. It broaches fields of work, specialization, and concentration in viewing individual cases as manifesting a nationwide social phenomenon. If we accept that Palestinian society is vulnerable to psychological setbacks, its recovery, according to Fanon (1972) lies in the resistance against the colonizer.

Al-Coeffiah karst terrain is located in Benghazi plain which is a part of Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar anticlinorium, northeast Libya. The exposed stratigraphic sequence of the area is largely represented by the Middle Miocene limestone rocks of Benghazi Formation. The area is affected by abundant karstic features such as caves and giant dolines with many subsurface voids and canal networks which extends for several kilometers. This research is based on field observations combined with analysis of high-resolution satellite imagery of Al-Coeffiah karst terrain. The main aim is to assess potential geohazards provided by the karst features, including (i) rock failure, (ii) groundwater pollution, and (iii) geochemical processes. The potential geohazards have been found to lies in the large caves at shallow depths such as Al-Jebah, Habibi, Merisi, and Boukarmah doline-caves. In addition, there is a greater geohazard in fractured karst terrains which are created by dolines in soft sediments. Chemical and bacteriological analyses indicate that the groundwater pollution in Al-Coeffiah area and its surrounding regions is considered as one of the most serious problems largely due to the seepage of sewage water through karst phenomena particularly during the last 10 years.

The African Hyaenodontida, mainly known from the Late Eocene and Early Oligocene Fayum depression in Egypt, show a very poor diversity in oldest Paleogene localities. Here we report new hyaenodontidans found in the late Middle Eocene deposits of Dur At-Talah (Central Libya), known to have recorded the earliest radiation of African anthropoids. The new hyaenodontidan remains are represented by dental and postcranial specimens comprising the historical material discovered by R.J.G. Savage in the last century and that of the recent Franco-Libyan campaigns. This material includes two apterodontines, in particular a subcomplete skeleton of Apterodon langebadreae nov. sp., bringing new postcranial elements to the fossil record of the genus Apterodon. Anatomical analysis of the postcranial remains of Dur At-Talah suggests a semi-aquatic lifestyle for Apterodon, a completely unusual locomotion pattern among hyaenodontidans. We also perform the first cladistic analysis of hyaenodontidans including apterodontines: Apterodon and Quasiapterodon appear close relatives to \"hyainailourines\", in particular to the African Oligo-Miocene Metasinopa species. Apterodon langebadreae nov. sp. could be the most primitive species of the genus, confirming an African origin of the Apterodontinae and a further dispersion event to Europe before the early Oligocene. These data enhance our knowledge of early hyaenodontidan diversification into Africa and underline how crucial is the understanding of their evolutionary history for the improvement of Paleogene paleobiogeographic scenarii.