2021
Classic inductive skepticism–the epistemological claim that we have no good reason to believe that the unobserved resembles the observed–is plausibly everyone's lot, whether or not they embrace Hume's metaphysical claim that distinct existents are "entirely loose and separate". But contemporary advocates of a Humean metaphysic accept a metaphysical claim stronger than Hume's own. I argue that their view plausibly gives rise to a radical inductive skepticism–according to which we are downright irrational in believing as we do about the unobserved–that we don't otherwise have reason to accept. The Metaphysical Neo-Humean is in an epistemological quagmire all her own. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Yoav Ben Dor, Marra, Francesco , Armon, Moshe , Enzel, Yehouda , Brauer, Achim , Schwab, Markus Julius , ו Morin, Efrat . 2021.
“Hydroclimatic Variability Of Opposing Late Pleistocene Climates In The Levant Revealed By Deep Dead Sea Sediments”. Climate Of The Past, 17, Pp. 2653–2677. doi:10.5194/cp-17-2653-2021.
תקציר Annual and decadal-scale hydroclimatic variability describes key characteristics that are embedded into climate in situ and is of prime importance in subtropical regions. The study of hydroclimatic variability is therefore crucial to understand its manifestation and implications for climate derivatives such as hydrological phenomena and water availability. However, the study of this variability from modern records is limited due to their relatively short span, whereas model simulations relying on modern dynamics could misrepresent some of its aspects. Here we study annual to decadal hydroclimatic variability in the Levant using two sedimentary sections covering ∼700 years each, from the depocenter of the Dead Sea, which has been continuously recording environmental conditions since the Pleistocene. We focus on two series of annually deposited laminated intervals (i.e., varves) that represent two episodes of opposing mean climates, deposited during MIS2 lake-level rise and fall at ∼27 and 18 ka, respectively. These two series comprise alternations of authigenic aragonite that precipitated during summer and flood-borne detrital laminae deposited by winter floods. Within this record, aragonite laminae form a proxy of annual inflow and the extent of epilimnion dilution, whereas detrital laminae are comprised of sub-laminae deposited by individual flooding events. The two series depict distinct characteristics with increased mean and variance of annual inflow and flood frequency during "wetter", with respect to the relatively "dryer", conditions, reflected by opposite lake-level changes. In addition, decades of intense flood frequency (clusters) are identified, reflecting the in situ impact of shifting centennial-scale climate regimes, which are particularly pronounced during wetter conditions. The combined application of multiple time series analyses suggests that the studied episodes are characterized by weak and non-significant cyclical components of sub-decadal frequencies. The interpretation of these observations using modern synoptic-scale hydroclimatology suggests that Pleistocene climate changes resulted in shifts in the dominance of the key synoptic systems that govern rainfall, annual inflow and flood frequency in the eastern Mediterranean Sea over centennial timescales.
Hydrated silica (SiO2·nH2O) aggregates in the root endodermis of grasses. Application of soluble silicates (Si) to roots is associated with variations in the balance of reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased tolerance to a broad range of stresses affecting ROS levels, and early lignin deposition. In sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), silica aggregation is patterned in an active silicification zone (ASZ) by a special type of aromatic material with a signature typical to lignin. Since lignin polymerization is mediated by ROS, we studied the formation of root lignin and silica under varied conditions of ROS by modulating hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration in the growth medium. Sorghum seedlings were grown hydroponically and supplemented with Si, H2O2, and KI, a salt that catalyzes H2O2 decomposition. Lignin and silica deposits in the endodermis were studied by histology, scanning electron and Raman microscopies. Cell wall composition was quantified by thermal gravimetric analysis. The endodermal H2O2 concentration correlated to the extent of the aromatic polymer deposition along the root, but did not affect its patterning in spots. Our results show that the ASZ spots were necessary for root silica aggregation, and suggest that silicification is intensified under oxidative stress as a result of increased ASZ lignin-like deposition.
Yair Rinat, Marra, Francesco , Armon, Moshe , Metzger, Asher , Levi, Yoav , Khain, Pavel , Vadislavsky, Elyakom , Rosensaft, Marcelo , ו Morin, Efrat . 2021.
“Hydrometeorological Analysis And Forecasting Of A 3 D Flash-Flood-Triggering Desert Rainstorm”. Natural Hazards And Earth System Sciences, 21, Pp. 917–939. doi:10.5194/nhess-21-917-2021.
Publisher's Version תקציר Flash floods are among the most devastating and lethal natural hazards. In 2018, three flash-flood episodes resulted in 46 casualties in the deserts of Israel and Jordan alone. This paper presents the hydrometeorological analysis and forecasting of a substantial storm (25-27 April 2018) that hit an arid desert basin (Zin,
Yair Rinat, Marra, Francesco , Armon, Moshe , Metzger, Asher , Yoav Levi, , Khain, Pavel , Vadislavsky, Elyakom , Rosensaft, Marcelo , ו Morin, Efrat . 2021.
“Hydrometeorological Analysis And Forecasting Of A 3-D Flash-Flood-Triggering Desert Rainstorm”. Natural Hazards And Earth System Sciences, 21, 3, Pp. 917–939. doi:10.5194/nhess-21-917-2021.
Publisher's Version Gelkop Y., Di Mei, F. , Frishman, S. , Garcia, Y. , L., Falsi , Perepelitsa, G. , Conti, C. , DelRe, E. , ו Agranat, A.J.. 2021.
“Hyperbolic Optics And Superlensing In Room-Temperature Ktn From Self-Induced K-Space Topological Transitions”. Nature Communications, 12.
Lorna Morris, Einat Nisim-Eliraz, , Schouten, Iftach , François Bergey, , Nigel Dyer, , Hiroshi Momiji, , Nir, Eilam , Marsiano, Noga , Raheleh Sheibani Tezerji, , Yagel, Simcha , Rosenstiel, Philip , Rand, David , dos Santos, Vitor A.P. Martins , Shpigel, Nahum Y. , ו , . 2021.
“Hyperinflammation Evokes Different Antiviral Tmprss2 And Adam17 Expression Responses In Human Gut Xenograft Versus Host Mouse Gut Although Overall Genomic Responses Are Similar”. Biorxiv, Pp. 2021.05.09.443289. .
Publisher's Version תקציר The global spread of the newly emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to the pandemic outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an inflammatory disease that is primarily affecting the respiratory system. However, gastrointestinal symptoms in COVID-19 patients suggests that the gut may present another viral target organ. Disease development and severity is dependent on viral interaction with two cell surface human proteins, ACE2 and TMPRSS2, and on antiviral response which may lead to systemic hyperinflammatory syndrome and multiorgan dysfunction. Understanding the host response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the pathology of the disease will be greatly enhanced by the development of appropriate animal models. Laboratory mice have been the mainstay of therapeutic and vaccine development, however, the virus does not grow in wild type mice and only induced mild disease in transgenic animals expressing human ACE2. As there are known differences between immune response in laboratory mice and humans we evaluated the response of human gut developed as xenografts and host mouse gut following systemic LPS injections as a hyperinflammation model system. The orthologous gene expression levels in the mouse and human gut were highly correlated (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient: 0.28–0.76) and gene set enrichment analysis of significantly upregulated human and mouse genes revealed that a number of inflammatory and immune response pathways are commonly regulated in the two species. However, species differences were also observed, most importantly, in the inflamed human gut but not in the mouse gut, there was clear upregulation of mRNAs coding for TMPRSS2, ADAM17 and for RIG-I-like receptors, which are involved in the recognition of viruses and in antiviral innate immune response. Moreover, using species-specific immunofluorescence microscopy, we demonstrated the expression and localization of human ACE2 and TMPRSS2 proteins, which are essential elements of the molecular machinery that enables SARS-CoV-2 to infect and replicate in human gut cells. Our findings demonstrate that the intestinal immune response to inflammation in humans and mice are generally very similar. However, certain human-specific diseases, such as COVID-19, can only be successfully studied in an experimental model of human tissue, such as the gut xenograft.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.
Galit Almoznino, Zini, Avraham , Kedem, Ron , Protter, Noam E. , Zur, Dorit , ו Abramovitz, Itzhak . 2021.
“Hypertension And Its Associations With Dental Status: Data From The Dental, Oral, Medical Epidemiological (Dome) Nationwide Records-Based Study”. Journal Of Clinical Medicine, 10, 2, Pp. 176. doi:10.3390/jcm10020176.
Publisher's Version Galit Almoznino, Zini, Avraham , Kedem, Ron , Protter, Noam E, Zur, Dorit , ו Abramovitz, Itzhak . 2021.
“Hypertension And Its Associations With Dental Status: Data From The Dental, Oral, Medical Epidemiological (Dome) Nationwide Records-Based Study”. J Clin Med, 10, 2. doi:10.3390/jcm10020176.
תקציר Conflicting results have been published regarding the associations between dental status and hypertension. This study aims to explore whether or not hypertension is associated with dental status among young to middle-aged adults. To that end, data from the Dental, Oral, Medical Epidemiological (DOME) study were analyzed. The DOME is a cross-sectional records-based study that combines comprehensive socio-demographic, medical, and dental databases of a nationally representative sample of military personnel. Included were 132,529 subjects aged 18-50 years who attended the military dental clinics for one year. The prevalence of hypertension in the study population was 2.5% (3363/132,529). Following multivariate analysis, the associations between hypertension and dental parameters were lost and hypertension retained a positive association with obesity (Odds ratio (OR) = 4.2 (3.7-4.9)), diabetes mellitus (OR = 4.0 (2.9-5.7)), birth country of Western Europe vs. Israeli birth country (OR = 1.9 (1.6-2.2)), male sex (OR = 1.9 (1.6-2.2)), cardiovascular disease (OR = 1.9 (1.6-2.3)), presence of fatty liver (OR = 1.8 (1.5-2.3)), the birth country Asia vs. Israeli birth country (OR = 1.6 (1.1-2.3)), smoking (OR = 1.2 (1.05-1.4)), and older age (OR = 1.05 (1.04-1.06)). Further analysis among an age-, smoking- and sex matched sub-population ( = 13,452) also revealed that the dental parameters lost their statistically significant association with hypertension following multivariate analysis, and hypertension retained a positive association with diabetes (OR = 4.08 (2.6-6.1)), obesity (OR = 2.7 (2.4-3.2)), birth country of Western Europe vs. Israel (OR = 1.9 (1.6-2.3)), cardiovascular disease (OR = 1.8 (1.5-2.2)), fatty liver (OR = 1.7 (1.3-2.3)), high school education vs. academic (OR = 1.5 (1.3-1.8)), and low socio-economic status (SES) vs. high (OR = 1.4 (1.03-1.8)). We analyzed the associations between C-reactive protein (CRP) and dental parameters and combined the statistically significant variables to create a dental inflammation score (DIS). This crated a final model with the appropriate weights written as follows: DIS = (periodontal disease × 14) + (the number of teeth that required crowns × 11) + (missing teeth × 75). The mean DIS was 10.106 ± 25.184, and it exhibited a weak positive association with hypertension in the univariate analysis (OR = 1.011 (1.010-1.012)). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of the DIS against hypertension produced a failed area under the curve (AUC) result (0.57 (0.56-0.58)). Moreover, the DIS also lost its statistical significance association with hypertension following multivariate analysis. We conclude that hypertension had no statistically significant nor clinically significant association with dental status. The study established a profile of the "patient vulnerable to hypertension", which retained well-known risk factors for hypertension such as older age, male sex, smoking, diabetes, obesity, and fatty liver but not dental parameters.
Galit Almoznino, Zini, Avraham , Kedem, Ron , Protter, Noam E, Zur, Dorit , ו Abramovitz, Itzhak . 2021.
“Hypertension And Its Associations With Dental Status: Data From The Dental, Oral, Medical Epidemiological (Dome) Nationwide Records-Based Study”. Journal Of Clinical Medicine, 10, Pp. 1 – 27. doi:10.3390/jcm10020176.
Publisher's Version Carmil Azran, Hanhan-Shamshoum, Nirvana , Irshied, Tujan , Ben-Shushan, Tomer , Dicker, Dror , Dahan, Arik , ו Matok, Ilan . 2021.
“Hypothyroidism And Levothyroxine Therapy Following Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, Network Meta-Analysis, And Meta-Regression”. Surgery For Obesity And Related Diseases, 17, 6, Pp. 1206–1217. doi:10.1016/J.SOARD.2021.02.028.
תקציר Background: Many health benefits of bariatric surgery are known and well-studied, but there is scarce data on the benefits of bariatric surgery on the thyroid function. Objective: We aimed to make a meta-analysis regarding the impact of bariatric surgery on thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, levothyroxine dose, and the status of subclinical hypothyroidism. Setting: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched up to December 2020 for relevant clinical studies. Random-effects model was used to pool results. Network meta-analysis was performed, incorporating direct and indirect comparisons among different types of bariatric surgery. Meta-regression analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of moderator variables on TSH levels and required levothyroxine dose after surgery. We followed the PRISMA guidelines for data selection and extraction. PROSPERO registry number: CRD42018105739. Results: A total of 28 studies involving 1284 patients were included. There was a statistically significant decrease in TSH levels after bariatric surgery (mean difference = −1.66 mU/L, 95%CI [−2.29, −1.03], P <.0001). In meta-regression analysis, we found that the following moderator variables: length of follow-up, mean age, baseline TSH, and preoperative thyroid function, could explain 1%, 43%, 68%, and 88% of the between-study variance, respectively. Furthermore, subclinical hypothyroidism was completely resolved in 87% of patients following bariatric surgery. In addition, there was a statistically significant decrease of levothyroxine dose in frank hypothyroid patients following bariatric surgery (mean difference = −13.20 mcg/d, 95%CI [−19.69, −6.71]). In network meta-analysis, we found that discontinuing or decreasing levothyroxine dose was significant following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, 1 anastomosis gastric bypass, and sleeve gastrectomy, (OR = 31.02, 95%CI [10.34, 93.08]), (OR = 41.73, 95%CI [2.04, 854.69]), (OR = 104.03, 95%CI [35.79, 302.38]), respectively. Conclusions: Based on our meta-analysis, bariatric surgery is associated with the resolution of subclinical hypothyroidism, a decrease in TSH levels, and a decrease in levothyroxine dose.
C Azran, Hanhan-Shamshoum, N, Irshied, T, Ben-Shushan, T, Dicker, D, Dahan, A, ו Matok, I. 2021.
“Hypothyroidism And Levothyroxine Therapy Following Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, Network Meta-Analysis, And Meta-Regression”. Surg Obes Relat Dis, 17, 6, Pp. 1206–1217.
תקציר Many health benefits of bariatric surgery are known and well-studied, but there is scarce data on the benefits of bariatric surgery on the thyroid function.\\ We aimed to make a meta-analysis regarding the impact of bariatric surgery on thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, levothyroxine dose, and the status of subclinical hypothyroidism.\\ Systematic review and meta-analysis.\\ PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched up to December 2020 for relevant clinical studies. Random-effects model was used to pool results. Network meta-analysis was performed, incorporating direct and indirect comparisons among different types of bariatric surgery. Meta-regression analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of moderator variables on TSH levels and required levothyroxine dose after surgery. We followed the PRISMA guidelines for data selection and extraction. PROSPERO registry number: CRD42018105739.\\ .0001). In meta-regression analysis, we found that the following moderator variables: length of follow-up, mean age, baseline TSH, and preoperative thyroid function, could explain 1%, 43%, 68%, and 88% of the between-study variance, respectively. Furthermore, subclinical hypothyroidism was completely resolved in 87% of patients following bariatric surgery. In addition, there was a statistically significant decrease of levothyroxine dose in frank hypothyroid patients following bariatric surgery (mean difference = -13.20 mcg/d, 95%CI [-19.69, -6.71]). In network meta-analysis, we found that discontinuing or decreasing levothyroxine dose was significant following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, 1 anastomosis gastric bypass, and sleeve gastrectomy, (OR = 31.02, 95%CI [10.34, 93.08]), (OR = 41.73, 95%CI [2.04, 854.69]), (OR = 104.03, 95%CI [35.79, 302.38]), respectively.\\ Based on our meta-analysis, bariatric surgery is associated with the resolution of subclinical hypothyroidism, a decrease in TSH levels, and a decrease in levothyroxine dose.
Declining soil-saturated hydraulic conductivity (K-s) as a result of saline and sodic irrigation water is a major cause of soil degradation. While it is understood that the mechanisms that lead to degradation can cause irreversible changes in K-s, existing models do not account for hysteresis between the degradation and rehabilitation processes. We develop the first model for the effect of saline and sodic water on K-s that explicitly includes hysteresis. As such, the idea that a soil's history of degradation and rehabilitation determines its future K-s lies at the center of this model. By means of a ``weight'' function, the model accounts for soil-specific differences, such as clay content. The weight function also determines the form of the hysteresis curves, which are not restricted to a single shape, as in some existing models for irreversible soil processes. The concept of the weight function is used to develop a reversibility index, which allows for the quantitative comparison of different soils and their susceptibility to irreversible degradation. We discuss the experimental setup required to find a soil's weight function and show how the weight function determines the degree to which K-s is reversible for a given soil. We demonstrate the feasibility of this procedure by presenting experimental results show-casing the presence of hysteresis in soil K-s and using these results to calculate a weight function. Past experiments and models on the decline of K-s due to salinity and sodicity focus on degradation alone, ignoring any characterization of the degree to which declines in K-s are reversible. Our model and experimental results emphasize the need to measure ``reversal curves'', which are obtained from rehabilitation measurements following mild declines in K-s. The developed model has the potential to significantly improve our ability to assess the risk of soil degradation by allowing for the consideration of how the accumulation of small degradation events can cause significant land degradation.
