2023
N Mairon, Abramson, L , Knafo-Noam, A , Perry, A, ו Nahum, M. 2023.
“The Relationship Between Empathy And Executive Functions Among Young Adolescents”. Developmental Psychology, 59, 11, Pp. 2021-2036. .
Publisher's Version תקציר Empathy and executive functions (EFs) are multimodal constructs that enable individuals to cope with their environment. Both abilities develop throughout childhood and are known to contribute to social behavior and academic performance in young adolescents. Notably, mentalizing and EF activate shared frontotemporal brain areas, which in previous studies of adults led researchers to suggest that at least some aspects of empathy depend on intact EF mechanisms. Despite the substantial development that empathy and EF undergo during adolescence, no study to date has systematically examined the associations between components of empathy and EF in this age group. Here, we explore these associations using data from an online battery of tasks, collected as part of a longitudinal twin study (N = 593; Mage 11.09 ± 0.2; 53.46% female, Israeli adolescents from Jewish decent). Using a confirmatory factor analysis, we quantified the associations between the main components of empathy (mentalizing and interpersonal concern) and of EF (working memory [WM], inhibition and shifting [IaS]). We found that WM was related to both mentalizing and interpersonal concern, whereas IaS were related to mentalizing but not to interpersonal concern. We also discuss the genetic and environmental contributions to individual differences in each factor. Our findings show both similarities and differences from previous findings in adults, suggesting that the ongoing brain maturation processes and environmental age-dependent experiences in adolescence may affect the developing relation between cognitive and emotional development. These results have implications for better understanding and treating clinical populations demonstrating executive or emotional deficits, specifically during adolescence.
Background: Exposure to ethnic- and race-related stress (e.g., racism, racial discrimination, and micro-aggression) can impair parenting and parent-child relations. Objective: This study examines the exposure of Palestinian parents in Israel to two levels of racism, interpersonal racism (IPR) and perceived collective racism (PCR), and the relationship of each to perpetrating child abuse. Further, the study examines the moderating role of coping strategies on these relationships. Participants and setting: The study was conducted among a systematic semi-random sample of 770 Palestinian parents in Israel (500 mothers and 270 fathers) aged 21–66 (M = 38.
A Padoa, Levy, Y, Tomashev, R , Fligelman, T , Talmon, A, ו Ginzburg, K. 2023.
“The Relationship Between Sexual Assault In Childhood And Adulthood, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder And Lower Urinary Tract Function In Women: A Cross-Sectional Study”. בתוך International Urogynecology Journal, 34:Pp. S34–S34. SPRINGER LONDON LTD 236 GRAYS INN RD, 6TH FLOOR, LONDON WC1X 8HL, ENGLAND.
The difference between Jewish ladinamientos (Ladino versions) and the medieval romanceamientos translated from the Hebrew Bible is a widely debated subject among Spanish studies scholars. The different function assigned to them in Jewish and Christian communities constitutes a partial but legitimate explanation if the factors that precede the emergence of these texts in Romance are taken into account, such as, for example, the interpretation technique of the Masoretic Text among the Jews and the regulations prescribed by the sages for the use of translations. This work aims to describe the oral interpretation technique of the Hebrew Bible among Spanish Jews and its consequences for the medieval Romanceamientos and Ladinamientos and Sephardic translations printed after 1492. The various versions in Romance and Ladino of verse 4, 21 of the book of Judges are used to illustrate the question.
La diferencia entre los ladinamientos judíos y los romanceamientos medievales traducidos de la Biblia hebrea es un tema ampliamente discutido entre los hispanistas. La función tan distinta que ambos tuvieron en las comunidades judía y cristiana constituye una explicación parcial pero legítima, si se toman en consideración los factores que preceden al surgimiento de estos textos en romance, tales como la técnica de interpretación del Texto Masorético entre los judíos y la normativa prescrita por los sabios. El objetivo de este trabajo es describir la técnica de interpretación oral de la Biblia hebrea entre los judíos españoles y sus consecuencias para los romanceamientos medievales y los ladinamientos y traducciones sefardíes impresas después de 1492. Las variadas versiones en romance y ladino del versículo 4, 21 del libro de Jueces servirán para ilustrar el asunto.
La diferencia entre los ladinamientos judíos y los romanceamientos medievales traducidos de la Biblia hebrea es un tema ampliamente discutido entre los hispanistas. La función tan distinta que ambos tuvieron en las comunidades judía y cristiana constituye una explicación parcial pero legítima, si se toman en consideración los factores que preceden al surgimiento de estos textos en romance, tales como la técnica de interpretación del Texto Masorético entre los judíos y la normativa prescrita por los sabios. El objetivo de este trabajo es describir la técnica de interpretación oral de la Biblia hebrea entre los judíos españoles y sus consecuencias para los romanceamientos medievales y los ladinamientos y traducciones sefardíes impresas después de 1492. Las variadas versiones en romance y ladino del versículo 4, 21 del libro de Jueces servirán para ilustrar el asunto.
L. Taragin-Zeller, Berenblum, T. , Brasil, E. , Rozenblum, Y. , ו Baram-Tsabari, A.. 2023.
“Religious Diversity And Public Health: Lessons From Covid-19”. Plos One, 18, 8, Pp. e0290107. .
Publisher's Version Quantum sensing is an ever-evolving research field describing the use of a quantum phenomenon to perform measurement of a physical quantity. Amongst different types of quantum sensors, atomic vapor-based quantum effects are extensively used to measure quantities such as time, velocity, acceleration, and electric and magnetic fields. Here, we propose and demonstrate remote quantum sensing using a chip-scale atomic vapor cell. Specifically, we remotely interrogate mm-scale micromachined vapor cells, and measure the ambient Earth's magnetic field at a standoff distance of ~10 meters and a sensitivity of ~1 pT/Hz^0.5 . Simultaneously we are able measure the distance between micro-cell and the interrogating system by means of time-of-flight measurements, thus correlating between position and magnetic field. Consequently, we provide a novel toolset to measure and map arbitrary, remote, and hard to access magnetic field in unshielded environments with high sensitivity and spatial resolution, paving the way to a variety of novel applications in diverse fields such as medicine, communication, defense, space-exploration, and quantum technologies.
Idan Carmon, Kalmus, Shira , Zobrab, Anna , Alterman, Michael , Emram, Raphaelle , Gussarsky, May , Kandel, Leonid , Reich, Eli , Casap, Nardi , ו Dvir-Ginzberg, Mona . 2023.
“Repairing A Critical Cranial Defect Using Wisp1-Pretreated Chondrocyte Scaffolds”. Journal Of Tissue Engineering, 14, Pp. 20417314231159740. doi:10.1177/20417314231159740.
Publisher's Version תקציר In cranial flat bone fractures, spontaneous bone repair will occur only when the fracture ends are in close contact. However, in cases wherein bone discontinuity is extensive, surgical interventions are often required. To this end, autologous bone is harvested and surgically integrated into the site of fracture. Here we propose to use cartilage, as an alternative autologous source, to promote cranial fracture repair. The advantage of this approach is the potential reduction in donor site morbidity, likely due to the avascular and aneural nature of cartilage. As a first step we attempted to induce cartilage mineralization in vitro, using micromass primary chondrocyte cultures, incubated with BMP2 and/or WISP1, which were examined histologically following a 3-week culture period. Next, chondrocyte seeded collagen scaffolds were evaluated in vitro for expression profiles and ALP activity. Finally, chondrocyte-seeded collagen scaffolds were implanted in a Lewis rats 8 mm critical calvaria defect model, which was imaged via live CT for 12 weeks until sacrifice. End points were analyzed for microCT, histology, and serum levels of bone related markers. Micromass cultures exhibited an osseous inducing trend following WISP1 administration, which was maintained in chondrocyte seeded scaffolds. Accordingly, in vivo analysis was carried out to assess the impact of WISP1-pretreated chondrocytes (WCS) versus untreated chondrocytes (UCS) in calvaria defect model and compared to untreated control comprised of a defect-associated blood clot (BC) or empty collagen scaffold (CS) implant. Live CT and microCT exhibited higher mineralization volumes in critical defect implanted with UCS, with some structural improvements in WCS. Histological analysis exhibited higher anabolic bone formation in WCS and trabecular bone was detected in WCS and UCS groups. Chondrocytes implanted into critical cranial defect expedite the formation of native-like osseous tissue, especially after WISP1 priming in culture. Ultimately, these data support the use of autologous chondrocytes to repair critical maxillofacial defects.
What reputational dividends in the media, if any, do federal agencies reap from collaboration with a highly reputable agency, such as the FDA? Utilizing a dataset covering 30 U.S. federal agencies over a period of 34 years (1980–2013), we estimate the short and long-term reputational effects of interagency collaboration. Collaboration is measured by the number of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) in effect between each agency and the FDA, while agency reputation in the media is assessed using an automated measure of media-coverage valence (positive/negative tone) for each agency-year. To account for potential reverse and reciprocal causality, we utilize cross-lagged fixed-effects models. We find evidence of moderate rises in reputation in the media due to increased collaboration with the FDA. These effects persist significantly for two years following the end of the collaboration, before declining to null after four years. Employing similar analyses, we furthermore estimate reverse causality – of reputation in the media on the level of consequent collaboration – finding no evidence of such effects.
Replication Files
What reputational dividends in the media, if any, do federal agencies reap from collaboration with a highly reputable agency, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)? Utilizing a dataset covering 30 U.S. federal agencies over a period of 34 years (1980–2013), we estimate the short and long-term reputational effects of interagency collaboration. Collaboration is measured by the number of memorandums of understanding in effect between each agency and the FDA, while agency reputation in the media is assessed using an automated measure of media-coverage valence (positive/negative tone) for each agency-year. To account for potential reverse and reciprocal causality, we utilize cross-lagged fixed-effects models. We find evidence of moderate rises in reputation in the media due to increased collaboration with the FDA. These effects persist significantly for 2 years following the end of the collaboration, before declining to null after 4 years. Employing similar analyses, we furthermore estimate reverse causality—of reputation in the media on the level of consequent collaboration—finding no evidence of such effects.
Nadime Francis, Gheerbrant, Amélie , Guagliardo, Paolo , Libkin, Leonid , Marsault, Victor , Martens, Wim , Murlak, Filip , Peterfreund, Liat , Rogova, Alexandra , ו Vrgoc, Domagoj . 2023.
“A Researcher's Digest Of Gql (Invited Talk)”. בתוך 26Th International Conference On Database Theory, Icdt 2023, March 28-31, 2023, Ioannina, Greece, 255:Pp. 1:1–1:22. Schloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik. doi:10.4230/LIPICS.ICDT.2023.1.
Publisher's Version Ofir Avizemel, Frishman, Sigal , Pinto, Yishay , Michael, Yaron , Turjeman, Sondra , Tenenbaum-Gavish, Kinneret , Yariv, Or , Peled, Yoav , Poran, Eran , Pardo, Joseph , Chen, Rony , Hod, Moshe , Schwartz, Betty , Hadar, Eran , Koren, Omry , ו Agay-Shay, Keren . 2023.
“Residential Greenness, Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (Gdm) And Microbiome Diversity During Pregnancy”, 251, Pp. 114191. .
Publisher's Version תקציר BackgroundGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with reduced gut microbiota richness that was also reported to differ significantly between those living in rural compared to urban environments. Therefore, our aim was to examine the associations between greenness and maternal blood glucose levels and GDM, with microbiome diversity as a possible mediator in these associations. Methods Pregnant women were recruited between January 2016 and October 2017. Residential greenness was evaluated as mean Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) within 100, 300 and 500 m buffers surrounding each maternal residential address. Maternal glucose levels were measured at 24–28 weeks of gestation and GDM was diagnosed. We estimated the associations between greenness and glucose levels and GDM using generalized linear models, adjusting for socioeconomic status and season at last menstrual period. Using causal mediation analysis, the mediation effects of four different indices of microbiome alpha diversity in first trimester stool and saliva samples were assessed. Results Of 269 pregnant women, 27 participants (10.04%) were diagnosed with GDM. Although not statistically significant, adjusted exposure to medium tertile levels of mean NDVI at 300 m buffer had lower odds of GDM (OR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.16, 1.26, p = 0.13) and decreased change in mean glucose levels (β = −6.28, 95% CI: 14.91, 2.24, p = 0.15) compared to the lowest tertile levels of mean NDVI. Mixed results were observed at 100 and 500 m buffers, and when comparing highest tertile levels to lowest. No mediation effect of first trimester microbiome on the association between residential greenness and GDM was observed, and a small, possibly incidental, mediation effect on glucose levels was observed. Conclusion Our study suggests possible associations between residential greenness and glucose intolerance and risk of GDM, though without sufficient evidence. Microbiome in the first trimester, while involved in GDM etiology, is not a mediator in these associations. Future studies in larger populations should further examine these associations.
Guy Pardo, Greenberg, Tomer , Fortinsky, Aryeh , Katz, Nadav , ו Racah, Erez Zohar. 2023.
“Resource-Efficient Quantum Simulation Of Lattice Gauge Theories In Arbitrary Dimensions: Solving For Gauss's Law And Fermion Elimination”. Physical Review Research, 5, Pp. 023077. doi:10.1103/PhysRevResearch.5.023077.
Ectopic discharge ("ectopia") in damaged afferent axons is a major contributor to chronic neuropathic pain. Clinical opinion discourages surgical resection of nerves proximal to the original injury site for fear of resurgence of ectopia and exacerbated pain. We tested this concept in a well-established animal neuroma model. Teased-fiber recordings were made of ectopic spontaneous discharge originating in the experimental nerve-end neuroma and associated dorsal root ganglia in rats that underwent either a single transection (with ligation) of the sciatic nerve or 2 consecutive transections separated by 7, 14, 21, or 30 days. Ectopia emerged in afferent A and C fibers after a single cut with kinetics anticipated from previous studies. When resection was performed during the early period of intense A-fiber activity, a brief period of resurgence was observed. However, resection of neuromas of more than 14 days was followed by low levels of activity with no indication of resurgence. This remained the case in trials out to 60 days after the first cut. Similarly, we saw no indication of resurgent ectopia originating in axotomized dorsal root ganglion neuronal somata and no behavioral reflection of resurgence. In summary, we failed to validate the concern that proximal resection of a problematic nerve would lead to intense resurgent ectopic discharge and pain. As the well-entrenched concept of resurgence is based more on case reports and anecdotes than on solid evidence, it may be justified to relax the stricture against resecting neuromas as a therapeutic strategy, at least within the framework of controlled clinical trials.
