Desert Road Research Articles

Research on the Configuration of Multi-Component Solid Waste Cementitious Materials and the Strength Characteristics of Consolidated Aeolian Sand

Developing green, low-carbon building materials has become a viable option for managing bulk industrial solid waste. This paper presents a kind of all solid waste cementitious material (SWCM), which is made entirely from six common industrial wastes, including carbide slag and silica fume, that demonstrate strong mechanical properties and effectively stabilize aeolian sand (AS). Initially, we investigated the mechanical strength of waste-based cementitious materials in various mix ratios, focusing on their ability to stabilize river sand (RS) and aeolian sand. The results show that it is necessary to use alkaline solid waste carbide slag to provide a suitable reaction environment to achieve the desired strength. In contrast, the low reactivity of coal gangue powder did not contribute effectively to the strength of the cementitious material. Further orthogonal experiments determined the impact of different waste dosages on the strength of stabilized AS. It was found that increasing the amounts of carbide slag, silica fume, and blast furnace slag powder improved strength, while increasing fly ash first increased and then decreased strength. In contrast, higher additions of desulfurization gypsum and coal gangue powder led to a continuous decrease in strength. The optimized mix is carbide slag—desulfurization gypsum—fly ash—silica fume—blast furnace slag powder in a ratio of 4:2:2:3:3. The experimental results using SWCM to stabilize AS indicated a proportional relationship between strength and SWCM content. When the content is ≥20%, it meets the strength requirements for road subbases. The primary hydration products of stabilized AS are C-(A)-S-H, AFt, and CaCO3. Increasing the SWCM content enhances the reaction degree of the materials, thereby improving mechanical strength. This study highlights the mechanical properties of cementitious materials made entirely from waste for stabilizing AS. It provides a reference for the large-scale utilization of industrial solid waste and practical applications in desert road construction.

The Downturn of Egypt’s Eastern Desert in the Middle Roman Imperial Period

Roman activity in Egypt’s Eastern Desert fluctuated significantly, ranging from intense exploitation of its resources and desert routes that facilitated Indo-Mediterranean trade, to the Roman Empire’s near total abandonment of the region. In those areas crucial to the Roman state – stone quarries, Red Sea ports, desert road stations and mining settlements – a nadir in occupation occurs near the mid-third century CE. But archaeological evidence indicates that significant reductions in activity occurred between the late second and early third centuries CE – i.e., in the Antonine and Severan Periods. The downturn was probably a result of distant geopolitical engagements, outbreaks of disease and/or shifting patterns of trade, which led to the Empire’s neglect of and gradual withdrawal from the area. This article reviews the archaeology of the Eastern Desert and considers the reason(s) this once-important region fell into decline. [Formula: see text]

Ecofriendly treatments to improve pomegranate trees production and tolerance to climate change

BackgroundPomegranate is capable of growing in different agro-climatic conditions ranging from tropical to sub-tropical. Where vegetative growth, nutritional and physiological status of pomegranate plants oscillate at high temperatures waves in the summer season. While we can overcome the cracking and sunburn of fruits, which are the main problems confronting pomegranate cultivars due to their significant impact on the quality of fruits.MethodsThe present research was conducted over the course of two consecutive seasons in 2021 and 2022. The study focused on ten-year-old trees that were cultivated in sandy soil inside a private orchard situated 70 km away from Cairo on the Cairo-Alexandria desert road in Egypt (30o13′31.4″N30o39′09″E). The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of foliar spraying of Wonderful pomegranate trees with some nutrients (B, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ca and Cu), amino acids and irradiated licorice on vegetative growth, fruit physical, quality and chemical and leaf chemical parameters. A randomized full-block design with three duplicates was employed in the study. Using the recently computed least significant difference values at the 5% level, averages were compared.ResultsThe results indicated that foliar spraying with nutrients, amino acids and licorice extract (irradiated or not) alone or in combination significantly increased the vegetative growth and leaf total chlorophyll content compared to the control. Also, they significantly increased fruit length, diameter, weight, and number/tree and thus yield. As compared to the control, all treatments significantly reduced the number of sunburned and cracked fruits leading to decrease the percentage of un-marketable fruits. The juice content of anthocyanin, total sugars and total soluble solids increased significantly in response to all treatments compared to the control while the acidity% greatly reduced. When these treatments were used instead of the control, the content of N, P, K, Fe, Zn, and Mn in the leaves was also positively increased.ConclusionsIn conclusion, foliar spraying of “Wonderful” pomegranate trees with a mixture of nutrients (B, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ca, Cu) and amino acids or irradiated licorice extract can be considered as a suitable management of the problem of sunburned or cracked fruits while improving the physical and chemical fruit quality with increased productivity.

Optimal sand transport roadbed geometry structure of Taklamakan Desert highway

In order to obtain the optimal geometric structure for sand transport in desert roads, this study fully utilizes the natural sand transport capacity of the desert roads, aiming to reduce occurrences of road damage due to sand burial. The research integrates Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with optimization analysis theory. Various typical geometric structures of desert highway roadbed were modeled using the Design Exploration module in CFD. Optimization analysis methods were employed to model and compute the sediment transport optimization design on both the roadbed and road surface. Then, the initial sample points are obtained by using the Design of Experiments (DOE), and the response surface is established by using the Kriging model to obtain the change trend of the input parameters and the objective function. Finally, the cross-section parameters of the sediment transport subgrade corresponding to different inflow conditions are obtained. The results show that the sediment transport performance of embankment, cutting and semi-filled uphill subgrade is negatively correlated with the height of subgrade. The relationship between slope gradient and sediment transport performance of subgrade depends on the height of subgrade and the type of subgrade section. For embankment and cutting, when the subgrade height is less than 0.5 m, the sediment transport performance of the subgrade is positively correlated with the subgrade slope; however, when the subgrade height exceeds 0.5 m, the sediment transport performance is negatively correlated with the subgrade slope. For the semi-filled uphill flow subgrade, the sediment transport performance of the subgrade is negatively correlated with the subgrade slope. Comprehensive analysis shows that semi-filled and excavated downhill subgrade has the best sand transport performance, embankment subgrade has the second highest sand transport capacity, then cutting subgrades, while semi-filled and excavated uphill subgrade has the worst sand transport performance. The research conclusions provide valuable scientific guidance for the design of sand control embankment structures tailored to local conditions for desert highways. This is of significant importance for enhancing the sediment transport capacity of desert highways and prolonging their service life.

Effect of rock phosphate and bacteria solubilizing nutrients soil application on yield and fruit quality of olive trees cv. “Picual” under the arid zones

This study was carried out throughout two seasons and Located in a private olive grove on Cairo-Ismailia Desert Road in Egypt. The aim of this experiment was to use different amounts of rock phosphate (1, 2 or 3 kg/tree) with different time of additions (2 or 3 times) for phosphorous and sulfur release bacteria to form 6 treatments beside the control (untreated trees) on the mineral contents of the leaves, the vegetative growth, the yield, and the quality of the fruit of Picual olive trees planted in sandy soil and watered with drip irrigation for two seasons. The outcomes demonstrated that application of 2 or 3 kg rock phosphate per tree for two or three times of phosphorus and sulfur release bacteria gave the highest yield and improves fruit quality. Generally, the treatment of 2 kg rock phosphate for three times of P and S release bacteria is recommended due to its clear effect among all treatments on the abovementioned parameters.

Prehistoric Cult Sites along the Desert Roads

The Negev desert, the southern half of Israel, is an arid-to-hyper-arid region. Despite that, some 13,000 ancient sites have been recorded here to date, and many were excavated. One characteristic of the Negev (as well as of other deserts) is the abundance of prehistoric and early historic cult sites, dated ca. 8000–2000 BCE. Another is the many ancient roads. The roads, the main types of cult sites and the connection between them are described and discussed in the following sections.

Analysis of the Application of Windbreak and Sand Fixation Technology in Desert Roads

In order to solve the problems in the construction of desert roads and improve the quality of desert roads in China this paper discusses the current windbreak and sand fixation technologies in desert areas in China and puts forward relevant suggestions and corresponding solutions for each problem. This paper is written with hopes of contributing to the development of windbreak and sand fixation technologies in China as well as the development of the economy society and environment in China's deserts.

Assessment of sand accumulation hazard on desert highway based on variable weight-cloud model theory

The accumulation of sand on desert roads poses a significant threat to the smooth transportation and driving safety of these roads. To address this issue, a combined approach using the variable weight theory and cloud model theory is proposed for conducting a safety risk assessment of sand accumulation on desert roads. An evaluation index system for sand accumulation hazards is obtained through the analysis of regional geomorphological conditions, wind dynamic conditions, and engineering design factors. The evaluation index system’s constant weights are determined using the Five-Point Scale Method and Analytic Hierarchy Process. Moreover, the Variable Weight Theory is used to optimize these weights based on the actual state of the project, thereby enhancing the accuracy of risk assessment. Finally, based on the cloud model theory, a safety risk assessment model is constructed for sand accumulation hazards on desert highways. The sand accumulation hazard level of the highway is determined through this model, and the comprehensive evaluation results are visualized and presented intuitively using the MATLAB software. The experimental section of the new Wuhai-Maqin expressway sand prevention test is taken as an example for practical verification. The results show that the sand accumulation disaster level of the experimental section is grade Ⅲ, which is basically consistent with the actual engineering situation, verifying the reliability and applicability of the model. Therefore, this model could serve as an essential reference for risk assessments of sand accumulation hazards, location optimization selection, and the establishment of effective sand prevention engineering measures for desert highways.

Evaluation of CAMEL over the Taklimakan Desert Using Field Observations

Infrared (IR) land surface emissivity (LSE) plays an important role in numerical weather prediction (NWP) models through the satellite radiance assimilation. However, due to the large uncertainties in LSE over the desert, many land-surface sensitive channels of satellite IR sensors are not assimilated. This calls for further assessments of the quality of satellite-retrieved LSE in these desert regions. A set of LSE observations were made from field experiments conducted on 16–18 October 2013 along a south/north desert road in the Taklimakan Desert (TD), China. The observed LSEs (EOBS) are thus used in this study as the reference values to evaluate the quality of Combined ASTER MODIS Emissivity over Land (CAMEL) data. Analysis of these data shows four main results. First, the CAMEL datasets appear to sufficiently capture the spatial variations in LSE from the oasis to the hinterland of the TD (this is especially the case in the quartz reststrahlen band). From site 1 at the southern edge of the Taklimakan Desert to site 10 at the northern edge, the measured LSE and the corresponding CAMEL observation in the quartz reststrahlen band first decrease and reach their minimum around sites 4–6 in the hinterland of the Taklimakan Desert. Then, the LSE increases gradually and finally reaches its maximum at site 10, which has a clay ground surface, showing that the LSE is higher at the edges of the desert and lower in the center. Second, the CAMEL values at 11.3 μm have a zonal distribution characterized by a northeast–southwest strike, though such an artifact might have been introduced by ASTER LSE data during the merging process that created the CAMEL dataset. Third, the unrealistic variation of the original EOBS can be filtered out with useful signals, as identified by the first six principal components of the PCA conducted on the laboratory-measured hyperspectral emissivity spectra (ELAB). Fourth, the CAMEL results correlate well with the measured LSE at the 10 observation sites, with the observed LSE being slightly smaller than the CAMEL values in general.

Review of The Archaeological Survey of the Desert Road between Berenike and the Nile Valley: Expeditions by the University of Michigan and the University of Delaware to the Eastern Desert of Egypt, 1987–2015


 
 
 The Archaeological Survey of the Desert Road between Berenike and the Nile Valley: Expeditions by the University of Michigan and the University of Delaware to the Eastern Desert of Egypt, 1987–2015. Edited by Steven E. Sidebotham and Jennifer E. Gates-Foster. American Schools of Oriental Research, Archaeological Reports, vol. 26. Boston: American SchooLs of Oriental Research, 2019. Pp. xxiii + 480, illus. $84.95. [Distributed by ISD, Bristol, CT]
 
 

THE ROLE OF SOVIET JEWS IN BUILDING THE ISRAELI NUCLEAR ARSENAL (THE DIMONA REACTOR AS A MODEL) NINEVEH EDUCATION DIRECTORATE

The Israeli nuclear file is considered one of the biggest secrets of nuclear life in the world, if (Israel) refuses, since its establishment,to be included in the periodic inspections conducted by the Atomic Energy Agency on nuclear facilities in the world, just as its government refuses to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty signed by the Arab countries. Which makes the Israeli nuclear file (out of coverage). (Israel) possesses a basic nuclear reactor، as it was the first step it took regarding the establishment of a nuclear force in late (1948)AD and early (1949)AD. The most important and most dangerous effective step taken by (Israel) on the road to producing nuclear weapons for nuclear energy in(Israel)was its establishment of(the Dimona reactor.). This reactor was built according to French designs drawn up by the French atomic Energy Commission as part of the French-Israeli efforts to coordinate in the field of atomic cooperation. The Dimona reactor is located on the desert road between Beersheba and Sodom، in the Negev Center for Nuclear Research. It consists of ten buildings. It contains a nuclear reactor and a reprocessing plant. Plutonium This place was chosen because of its proximity to the raw materials (uranium) found in the Negev desert. The costs of building the reactor were estimated at about (130) million dollars, and its capacity was (150) megawatts, and it was able to produce (8) kilos of plutonium annually. The reactor operates with enriched uranium. (90%), which is a reactor that produces plutonium، which is the main element for the production of the fissile atomic bomb, since the Jews of Russian origins had a great and most prominent influence in the establishment of the Israeli nuclear program, as they pushed the Israeli nuclear file into existence. And they put (Israel) at the forefront of the nuclear countries

Application of Geoelectric Technique in Groundwater Protection of Quaternary Aquifer in Wadi El Natrun, Egypt

Qualitative and quantitative interpretations of the accessible geoelectrical resistivity data were conducted in the area located to the west of Nile Delta on both sides of the Cairo-Alexandria desert road, between latitudes 30.190816° and 30.745892° N and longitudes 29.797607° and 30.702070° E, in the northern Western Desert of Egypt. The study area is covered by thick sedimentary exposures ranging from the Miocene to the Quaternary period. Geological factors such as lithology and geological structures significantly influence the groundwater in the study area. The Quaternary, Pliocene, and Miocene eras make up the majority of strata in the study region that require water.
 The study conducted twenty-three vertical electrical resistivity soundings using the Schlumberger array to define the shallow subsurface geological inferences and investigate the possibilities of finding underground water accumulations and its contamination with clay lenses. The examination of the obtained electric resistivity values revealed the segmentation of the examined section into five geoelectrical units with lateral variations in thicknesses, lithologies, and features. The five geoelectrical units had different compositions, with the first surface unit consisting of silt clay and relatively high resistivity sands and gravels that have been altered laterally. After the surface unit, resistivity ranges from relatively modest to high. Intercalation of sand and clay occurs in the second unit, followed by lenses of relatively medium-resistance coarse sand and clay in the third and fourth units, possibly forming an aquifer, and finally relatively low-resistance sand and clay in the fifth unit.
 Due to the haphazard drilling of hundreds of water wells, significant hydrogeological and environmental issues, such as soil salinization, water head decline, and groundwater salinity deterioration, have occurred. These issues have attracted significant expenditures in the field of land reclamation, both on small and large-scale projects. The study area is divided into five main geoelectrical layers observed along this cross area, as follows:
 The first surface geoelectrical layer (layer A) is characterized by relatively high resistivity ranging from 8.21 to 595.3 Ohm.m. The thickness of this layer varies from 2.1 to 8.86 m. This layer represents the dry surface cover of the area and consists of gravel, sand, and silt clay.
 The second geoelectrical layer (layer B) represents the dry layer lying above the water-bearing formation. It generally consists of sand and clay intercalation. The resistivity of this layer varies from 3.49 to 91.18 Ohm.m, and the thickness of this layer ranges from 17.13 to 38.3 m.
 The third geoelectrical layer (layer C1) is the water-bearing formation that generally consists of coarse sand and clay. The resistivity of this layer varies from 4.41 to 37.5 Ohm.m, and the thickness ranges from 10.38 to 54 m.
 The fourth geoelectric layer (layer C2) represents the lower part of the water-bearing formation. It consists of clayey sand and clay. The resistivity of this layer varies from 1.83 to 30.1 Ohm.m, and the thickness ranges from 17.78 to 31.35 m.
 The last geoelectric layer (layer D) represents the lower layer of investigation, consisting mainly of clay. The resistivity of this layer is generally low, varying within a narrow range of 26.7-39.8 Ohm.m.
 Finally the current study highlights the necessity of conducting in-depth geomorphological assessment studies before developing new reclamation projects, in addition to soil and water assessment.

Redesigning Buildings With Sustainable Architecture Principles In Smart Village Egypt

Since ancient prehistoric generations, renewable resources have been utilizedin buildings to work with building needs like light, ventilation, and thermalcomfort. The need for shade in summer and sunshine in winter is required forthe architecture of the past. Bioclimatic architecture is the concept of designingor redesigning buildings depending on the country’s climate, for the purpose ofimproving thermal comfort using local environmental resources and benefits ofthe local climate.Converting academic buildings into sustainable buildings has been vital inthe research and policy focus for years, with the focus on the united nationssustainable development goals (SDGs) of Education for SustainableDevelopment. Building design and practices play an important role inconverting universities into places of sustainable learning, behavior, and space.Previous research has mentioned the concept of sustainable buildingstremendously. The parts of the paper use a case study approach that focuses onRedesign Existing university in Smart village Giza, Arab Academy for ScienceTechnology & Maritime Transport (AASTMT) which is located in smart villageCairo-Alexandria desert road, one of the most famous information technology

Detection and Molecular Characterization of Some Virulence Genes of Escherichia Coli Isolated from Milk in Dairy Cow Farms

Coliform pathogens, primarily E. coli, were discovered throughout the farm, causing environmental mastitis and can be shed from the udder into the milk; they are concerned about severe gastrointestinal disruption and potential enteropathogenic and/or toxic strains, posing a risk to public health. The objectives of this study were to identify the incidence and harmful serotypes of pathogenic Escherichiacoliand some of their virulent genes, which were isolated from the collected milk of some dairy farms in the Delta region and Cairo-Alexandria desert road farms, in Egypt during one year using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique after bacteriological and serological identification as well as determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolated strains. 150 milk samples in total were gathered (100 milk samples from bulk milk tanks and the other 50 samples from clinically mastitic dairy cows). According to our finding, the mean values of somatic cell count (SCC), standard plate count (SPC), and coliform count (CC) in the hundred bulk tank milk samples were 3.67 1.08×104/ml, 7.08×104± 6.25×104 cfu/ml and 3.04×102±1.43×102/ml, respectively. The bacteriological investigation exhibited that, the Escherichiacoli incidences from bulk tank milk (BTM) and mastitic milk samples (MMS) were 12% and 18%, respectively. The detected E.coli serotypes including, O26, O44, O55:K99, O111, O119 and O157:H7 from MMS, while O1, O55, O78, O86, O124 and O158:H10 from BTM. Molecular virulence characterization of E.coli strains showed that, Shiga toxins 2 (stx2) gene is present in O157:H7, while the stx1 gene present in O26. The Intimin gene (eaeA) is involved in four strains, O44, O111, O119, and O157:H7. Positive amplification of a biofilm gene (adrA) appeared in all E.coli strains. The outcome of the antimicrobial susceptibility revealed high resistance to amoxicillin (85.71%), streptomycin (80.95%), ampicillin (71.43%), and flucloxacillin (61.90%). Meanwhile, the highest susceptibility was to ciprofloxacin (95.24%) followed by enrofloxacin (90.48%), neomycin (80.95%), and gentamycin (76.19%). Effective hygienic measurements are required to avoid toxigenic and pathogenic E.coli and more future studies should be performed to increase awareness in dairy farms.

Evaluation of skid resistance of asphalt pavement covered with aeolian sand in desert areas

Particulate contaminants adhering to a desert road can significantly affect the contact characteristics of tires and pavements. The effects of sand quantity, temperature and wearing on the skid resistance were analyzed through the laboratory tests. Image analysis and generalized regression neural networks (GRNN) were used to obtain the macrostructure, followed by reconstructing a three-dimensional model and predicting the texture depth of asphalt pavements. Finally, decay prediction models of skid resistance were established. The results show that the 3D model reconstructed by digital images can clearly show the sand distribution on the road. Furthermore, the GRNN model was found to be reliable, with an average relative error of only 3.4%. Aeolian sand amount, temperature and wearing cycles all affect the skid resistance, while the sand has the greatest influence. The skid resistance model can predict the friction capacity well and it provides a reference for determining the maintenance time for asphalt pavements in desert areas.

Reconstruction of the Holocene Paleogeography of Bani Salama, Wadi El‑Natrun, Egypt

Wadi El-Natrun depression lies about 100 km north-west of Cairo, just south of the ‘desert road’ between Cairo and Alexandria. The depression has a longitudinal morphology extending from the southeast to the northwest with average dimensions of about 60 km × 15 km. Bani Salama site lies in the eastern part of the depression, to the east of Fasda Lake, which is located at -27 m below sea level. Based on a geomorphological survey and local archaeology, we found that the site has been occupied by human societies since at least around 4000 years before the present. The site contains ruins of a temple and a castle dating back to the 12th Dynasty of the Pharaonic period (1985-1773 BC). The site also contains workshops of raw glass production dating back to Egypt’s Roman period (31 BC – AD 395). The aim of this study is to investigate the Holocene marsh deposits of Bani Salama, which are located between the Pliocene plateau and Fasda Lake. A sediment core (NAT-11) was taken from the site in June 2015. This core is investigated to understand the Holocene palaeo-geography, palaeoclimates and human impacts.

PERFORMANCE AND TRANSCRIPTOMIC ANALYSIS OF SORGHUM BICOLOR RESPONDING TO DROUGHT STRESS

Drought is a severe causal factor of reduced crop yields than other abiotic stresses. Therefore, four sorghum genotypes underwent evaluation for their drought tolerance under three irrigation levels (100%, 70%, and 40% from evapotranspiration) under three sowing dates at the Higher Institute for Agricultural Cooperation Farm, Regwa region, Alexandria Desert Road, Egypt, to study the mean performance of grain yield plant-1 and transcriptomic analysis. The performance results reported that Shandaweel-6 and Hybrid-306 revealed the highest drought-tolerant hybrids, while Dorado and Giza-113 cultivars showed the lowest. The transcriptomic profiling of sorghum under normal and drought stress used the RNA-Seq method. Two differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) in leaves respond to drought. In the DREB2 case, the greatest average fold change showed 10.7 and 9.3 for the tolerant hybrids, Hybrid-306 and Shandaweel-6, respectively. Both genotypes performed significantly higher than the average fold change calculated for the sensitive genotypes Dorado and Giza-113 cultivars. This study contributes to a better understanding of the molecular basis of drought tolerance of sorghum and promotes sorghum improvement.

From the Editor

From the Editor Alberto Varon (bio) The politics of gender are on full open display as I write these words. Or perhaps more specifically, it is the politicization of gender that has exploded, again, onto the national discourse. Just this week, a Supreme Court document that purportedly lays the case for overturning decades of reproductive rights legal precedent was leaked. Although the outcome of this disclosure remains to be seen, and more importantly, we are yet to see the eventual Court ruling, which will have widespread consequence, the leaked document has triggered a mass public response from both ends of the political debate. Numerous state legislatures have already moved to further restrict access to legal abortion, while scholars and journalists have called into question the legal arguments informing Justice Alito's draft majority opinion. On both sides, debates in the medical profession and practice are now rendered legal evidence. It seems increasingly likely that women's control over their own lives and bodies will be restricted, which will disproportionately impact the underresourced and women of color, particularly in states with traditionally conservative governments. It is a stunning politicization of the institution that historically has maintained an image of objectivity, yet the event has made clear the importance of culture in all facets of democratic political life. This attack on women's rights is not in isolation, but a counterpoint to other assaults on gender freedom across the US and the Americas. Rather than forming part of a broader movement or indicating a general direction of social consensus, what is occurring in the US runs counter to recent gains on reproductive rights in places like Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina, for example. These events are part of larger movements toward gender equality that intersect with issues of immigration, economics, organized crime, and violence extending across the hemisphere. It remains unclear how the eventual Supreme Court ruling might influence these gains. We have witnessed a decades-long femicide along the US-Mexico border impacting women's mobility and liberty. In Mexico alone, thousands of people disappear each year, and prosecution or justice is infrequent. These horrific events require new forms of thinking, new frameworks for gender and sexuality. These concerns shape the cultural backdrop against which we release this issue of Chiricú Journal. Indeed, gender is at the forefront of this issue, particularly in the critical essays that cohere around diverse ideas of gendered and sexual representation. The essays revisit well-known artistic representation or chart new ground for [End Page 1] understanding the complex dynamic between human and nonhuman. Whether on the stage or in the environmental fiction of the ecoGothic, they actively defy existing categories of femininity and subjectivity and ask us to imagine new forms of female agency and subjectivity. The legacy of patriarchy, colonization, and racial systems continue to shape our public discourse. Despite the assaults and the differences in our positions, these longstanding social forces stress the importance of community and organization as a defense against violence or the impingement of rights. While much has changed over the last half century, the discussion on gender and political rights is equally pressing today. Our cover image, extracted from Hernández Sánchez and Bejarano's "Feminist Border Manifesto," reminds us of the countless ways in which our transborder communities are inseparably linked to one another. The unworn costume of an ocelot lies along the edge of a desert road, strewn though not discarded in temporary respite from its use as part of ongoing social organization. In the background, sage, yucca, and pink sand both are of and recede into the landscape behind the road, the hard line of the pavement rapidly dissolving into the natural world. The costume—meant to be worn, donned, lived in—represents an important connection between these spaces. We are of both worlds, part of the environment that shapes our movements and social lives. These creative and critical pieces help us better conceptualize how gender structures social life and how we, like the unoccupied costume inviting its animation, might inhabit new modes of social being affecting change. [End Page 2] Alberto Varon Indiana University Alberto Varon Alberto Varon is Associate Professor of English and Latino...

From the Nile to the Red Sea: On roads, quarries, and mines - S. E. Sidebotham, and J. E. Gates-Foster, eds., with J.-L. Rivard, figures ed. 2019. The Archaeological Survey of the Desert Roads between Berenike and the Nile Valley: Expeditions by the University of Michigan and the University of Delaware to the Eastern Desert of Egypt, 1987–2015. American Schools

From the Nile to the Red Sea: On roads, quarries, and mines - S. E. Sidebotham, and J. E. Gates-Foster, eds., with J.-L. Rivard, figures ed. 2019. The Archaeological Survey of the Desert Roads between Berenike and the Nile Valley: Expeditions by the University of Michigan and the University of Delaware to the Eastern Desert of Egypt, 1987–2015. American Schools of Oriental Research Archeological Reports 26. Boston: American Schools of Oriental Research. - Volume 35 Issue 1

Caravanserai middens on desert roads: a new perspective on the Nabataean–Roman trade network across the Negev

Long-distance trade routes criss-crossed ancient Africa and Eurasia. Archaeological research has focused on the commodities in transit and the excavation of major centres located along these routes, with less attention paid to smaller caravanserai and evidence such as rubbish middens. The ‘Incense Route’ linked the Arabian Peninsula and Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, with activity peaking during the Nabataean and Roman periods. The authors present the results of test-pit excavations of middens at three small Nabataean–Roman desert caravanserai along the ‘Incense Route’. The assemblages recovered include material culture attesting to wide, inter-regional connections, combined with archaeobotanical and zooarchaeological data illuminating the subsistence basis of the caravan trade.