Opción religiosa y cambio religioso en la Antigüedad Clásica y Tardía: modelos e interrogantes

This paper is an attempt to think broadly about the transformation of religious identity from classical to late antiquity, and the part played in that transformation by conversion.  Beginning with a simple three-point model of religious change, I reconsider A. D. Nock’s classic distinction between conversion and adhesion.  I argue that what really distinguishes classical from late antiquity was not the appearance of religious choices that offered the possibility of a radical reorientation in a person’s understanding of the cosmos, as Nock implies, but rather the development of social structures that transformed that possibility into a necessity, that effectively disallowed adhesion and made conversion the only possible type of religious choice.Este artículo intenta reflexionar en profundidad sobre las transformaciones de la identidad religiosa desde la Antigüedad Clásica hasta la Antigüedad Tardía, y sobre el papel jugado por la conversión en esa transformación. A partir de un modelo simple de tres puntos de cambio religioso, reconsidero la distinción clásica de A. D. Nock entre conversión y adhesión. Sostengo que lo que en realidad distingue la Antigüedad Clásica de la Antigüedad Tardía no era la apariencia de opciones religiosas que ofrecían la posibilidad de una reorientación radical en la comprensión del cosmos de una persona, como implica Nock, sino más bien el desarrollo de estructuras sociales que transformaron esa posibilidad en una necesidad, que efectivamente no permitieron la adhesión e hicieron de la conversión el único tipo de opción religiosa posible

Frankfurter, David (2018), Christianizing Egypt: Syncretism and Local Worlds in Late Antiquity. Princeton: Princeton University Press

-

The correlation of Kelly Ball penetration readings with standard slump cone readings for concrete made from Missouri aggregates

The ASTM standard slump test as set forth in ASTM Designation: C143-52, has been used for many years in concrete construction tor measuring the consistency of plastic concrete. Slump tests taken in the laboratory are considered reasonably accurate; however, there are numerous disadvantages in performing these tests in the field; the most serious being the time required to make a test on pavement work. The standard slump cone method is also subject to personal differences in sampling, rigidity and smoothness of base, dampening the apparatus, filling the cone, rodding, raising the cone, freedom from jarring and selection of point to which slump is measured. To alleviate the difficulties encountered in the standard slump cone test, the Kelly ball apparatus was developed. This apparatus provides a means of measuring the consistency by penetration of a standard ball into fresh concrete. The purpose of this study is two fold. The first is to correlate the Kelly ball penetration readings with the standard slump cone for different mixes of concrete, using local Missouri aggregate, and develop curves, plotting Kelly ball penetration readings versus slump, for each mix. The second purpose of this study is to develop the proper technique tor the operation of the Kelly Ball Penetrator. The principle possible source of error in the ball test is the rate of releasing the ball and this can be quickly detected if an assistant observer also makes the test. Grieb and Marr made the following comments on the Kelly ball test as a replacement for the slump test to measure the consistency and uniformity of concrete in the field: 1. The concrete may be tested in place, therefore, the selection or preparation of a sample is eliminated. 2. Three or more Kelly ball tests can be made at a selected location in less time and with less effort than is required for one slump test. Due to the speed with which the test can be made, the operator can work where the concrete is being discharged from the mixer without delaying paving or finishing operations. 3. Making the consistency test easier and faster, should encourage more frequent testing and should be helpful in the control of the uniformity of the concrete. 4. The apparatus can be maintained in usable conditions between tests by merely wiping with an oily rag. 5. The slump test is not practical tor use in testing concrete with a maximum size of coarse aggregate over two inches. The Kelly ball penetration test may be used on concrete containing larger aggregate if a sufficient volume is available to provide adequate depth. The ball test can be performed so quickly and so easily that perhaps its potentialities have not always been appreciated. It is visualized that after a concrete mix has been adjusted in trial batches from the initial design to meet job requirements, a standard penetration could be recorded. Throughout the remainder of the job, tor that given mix, the penetration would remain the same (with a tolerance usually set at ± 1/4 inch penetration). This would be particularly helpful in enabling the inspector to reject improper batches as they come from the mixer and before they have been used. A satisfactory correlation between the slump test and the Kelly ball penetration test, using local Missouri aggregate, will provide a much simpler field method tor determining the consistency of plastic concrete in the field --Introduction, pages 1-3

Opción religiosa y cambio religioso en la Antigüedad Clásica y Tardía : modelos e interrogantes

Este artículo intenta reflexionar en profundidad sobre las transformaciones de la identidad religiosa desde la Antigüedad Clásica hasta la Antigüedad Tardía, y sobre el papel jugado por la conversión en esa transformación. A partir de un modelo simple de tres puntos de cambio religioso, reconsidero la distinción clásica de A. D. Nock entre conversión y adhesión. Sostengo que lo que en realidad distingue la Antigüedad Clásica de la Antigüedad Tardía no era la apariencia de opciones religiosas que ofrecían la posibilidad de una reorientación radical en la comprensión del cosmos de una persona, como implica Nock, sino más bien el desarrollo de estructuras sociales que transformaron esa posibilidad en una necesidad, que efectivamente no permitieron la adhesión e hicieron de la conversión el único tipo de opción religiosa posible.This paper is an attempt to think broadly about the transformation of religious identity from classical to late antiquity, and the part played in that transformation by conversion. Beginning with a simple three-point model of religious change, I reconsider A. D. Nock’s classic distinction between conversion and adhesion. I argue that what really distinguishes classical from late antiquity was not the appearance of religious choices that offered the possibility of a radical reorientation in a person’s understanding of the cosmos, as Nock implies, but rather the development of social structures that transformed that possibility into a necessity, that effectively disallowed adhesion and made conversion the only possible type of religious choice

Société et identité dans l’Empire romain : le rôle des sacrifices d’animaux

Dans ces conférences, j’ai étudié la pratique du sacrifice animal dans le cadre de la transformation de la religion dans le monde gréco-romain durant la période impériale. Les deux premières conférences se sont intéressées aux fonctions sociales et culturelles de cette pratique. La troisième conférence a esquissé le développement d’une théorie du rituel du sacrifice, et, dans la dernière, j’ai soutenu que la transformation du rôle social et culturel du sacrifice animal nous donne un aperçu du passage d’une tradition ouverte d’orthopraxie à un système plus totalisant d’orthodoxie

A Human Protein Interaction Network Shows Conservation of Aging Processes between Human and Invertebrate Species

We have mapped a protein interaction network of human homologs of proteins that modify longevity in invertebrate species. This network is derived from a proteome-scale human protein interaction Core Network generated through unbiased high-throughput yeast two-hybrid searches. The longevity network is composed of 175 human homologs of proteins known to confer increased longevity through loss of function in yeast, nematode, or fly, and 2,163 additional human proteins that interact with these homologs. Overall, the network consists of 3,271 binary interactions among 2,338 unique proteins. A comparison of the average node degree of the human longevity homologs with random sets of proteins in the Core Network indicates that human homologs of longevity proteins are highly connected hubs with a mean node degree of 18.8 partners. Shortest path length analysis shows that proteins in this network are significantly more connected than would be expected by chance. To examine the relationship of this network to human aging phenotypes, we compared the genes encoding longevity network proteins to genes known to be changed transcriptionally during aging in human muscle. In the case of both the longevity protein homologs and their interactors, we observed enrichments for differentially expressed genes in the network. To determine whether homologs of human longevity interacting proteins can modulate life span in invertebrates, homologs of 18 human FRAP1 interacting proteins showing significant changes in human aging muscle were tested for effects on nematode life span using RNAi. Of 18 genes tested, 33% extended life span when knocked-down in Caenorhabditis elegans. These observations indicate that a broad class of longevity genes identified in invertebrate models of aging have relevance to human aging. They also indicate that the longevity protein interaction network presented here is enriched for novel conserved longevity proteins

Protocol for developing a core outcome set for male infertility research:an international consensus development study

Abstract STUDY QUESTION We aim to develop, disseminate and implement a minimum data set, known as a core outcome set, for future male infertility research. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Research into male infertility can be challenging to design, conduct and report. Evidence from randomized trials can be difficult to interpret and of limited ability to inform clinical practice for numerous reasons. These may include complex issues, such as variation in outcome measures and outcome reporting bias, as well as failure to consider the perspectives of men and their partners with lived experience of fertility problems. Previously, the Core Outcome Measure for Infertility Trials (COMMIT) initiative, an international consortium of researchers, healthcare professionals and people with fertility problems, has developed a core outcome set for general infertility research. Now, a bespoke core outcome set for male infertility is required to address the unique challenges pertinent to male infertility research. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, allied healthcare professionals, scientists, researchers and people with fertility problems, will be invited to participate. Formal consensus science methods will be used, including the modified Delphi method, modified Nominal Group Technique and the National Institutes of Health’s consensus development conference. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS An international steering group, including the relevant stakeholders outlined above, has been established to guide the development of this core outcome set. Possible core outcomes will be identified by undertaking a systematic review of randomized controlled trials evaluating potential treatments for male factor infertility. These outcomes will be entered into a modified Delphi method. Repeated reflection and re-scoring should promote convergence towards consensus outcomes, which will be prioritized during a consensus development meeting to identify a final core outcome set. We will establish standardized definitions and recommend high-quality measurement instruments for individual core outcomes. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work has been supported by the Urology Foundation small project award, 2021. C.L.R.B. is the recipient of a BMGF grant and received consultancy fees from Exscentia and Exceed sperm testing, paid to the University of Dundee and speaking fees or honoraria paid personally by Ferring, Copper Surgical and RBMO. S.B. received royalties from Cambridge University Press, Speaker honoraria for Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Singapore, Merk SMART Masterclass and Merk FERRING Forum, paid to the University of Aberdeen. Payment for leadership roles within NHS Grampian, previously paid to self, now paid to University of Aberdeen. An Honorarium is received as Editor in Chief of Human Reproduction Open. M.L.E. is an advisor to the companies Hannah and Ro. B.W.M. received an investigator grant from the NHMRC, No: GNT1176437 is a paid consultant for ObsEva and has received research funding from Ferring and Merck. R.R.H. received royalties from Elsevier for a book, consultancy fees from Glyciome, and presentation fees from GryNumber Health and Aytu Bioscience. Aytu Bioscience also funded MiOXYS systems and sensors. Attendance at Fertility 2020 and Roadshow South Africa by Ralf Henkel was funded by LogixX Pharma Ltd. R.R.H. is also Editor in Chief of Andrologia and has been an employee of LogixX Pharma Ltd. since 2020. M.S.K. is an associate editor with Human Reproduction Open. K.Mc.E. received an honoraria for lectures from Bayer and Pharmasure in 2019 and payment for an ESHRE grant review in 2019. His attendance at ESHRE 2019 and AUA 2019 was sponsored by Pharmasure and Bayer, respectively. The remaining authors declare no competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET) initiative registration No: 1586. Available at www.comet-initiative.org/Studies/Details/1586. TRIAL REGISTRATION DATE N/A. DATE OF FIRST PATIENT’S ENROLMENT N/A

Quantifying Water-Mediated Protein–Ligand Interactions in a Glutamate Receptor: A DFT Study

It is becoming increasingly clear that careful treatment of water molecules in ligand–protein interactions is required in many cases if the correct binding pose is to be identified in molecular docking. Water can form complex bridging networks and can play a critical role in dictating the binding mode of ligands. A particularly striking example of this can be found in the ionotropic glutamate receptors. Despite possessing similar chemical moieties, crystal structures of glutamate and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid (AMPA) in complex with the ligand-binding core of the GluA2 ionotropic glutamate receptor revealed, contrary to all expectation, two distinct modes of binding. The difference appears to be related to the position of water molecules within the binding pocket. However, it is unclear exactly what governs the preference for water molecules to occupy a particular site in any one binding mode. In this work we use density functional theory (DFT) calculations to investigate the interaction energies and polarization effects of the various components of the binding pocket. Our results show (i) the energetics of a key water molecule are more favorable for the site found in the glutamate-bound mode compared to the alternative site observed in the AMPA-bound mode, (ii) polarization effects are important for glutamate but less so for AMPA, (iii) ligand–system interaction energies alone can predict the correct binding mode for glutamate, but for AMPA alternative modes of binding have similar interaction energies, and (iv) the internal energy is a significant factor for AMPA but not for glutamate. We discuss the results within the broader context of rational drug-design

Standards in semen examination:publishing reproducible and reliable data based on high-quality methodology

Biomedical science is rapidly developing in terms of more transparency, openness and reproducibility of scientific publications. This is even more important for all studies that are based on results from basic semen examination. Recently two concordant documents have been published: the 6th edition of the WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen, and the International Standard ISO 23162:2021. With these tools, we propose that authors should be instructed to follow these laboratory methods in order to publish studies in peer-reviewed journals, preferable by using a checklist as suggested in an Appendix to this article.Peer reviewe

Initial sequencing and analysis of the human genome

The human genome holds an extraordinary trove of information about human development, physiology, medicine and evolution. Here we report the results of an international collaboration to produce and make freely available a draft sequence of the human genome. We also present an initial analysis of the data, describing some of the insights that can be gleaned from the sequence.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/62798/1/409860a0.pd