A little big history of Tiananmen:An example of a new type of long-term history

This study makes a case for little big histories and argues that they constitute a new type of long-term history that can enrich our understanding of both their subject’s past and big history.Little big histories connect a specific subject to aspects of all major stages of big history. They do so using a distinct structure, which divides a subject's past into layers that describe how the subject became the way it is on a material, biological and cultural level and which allows for an exploration of how these layers of history affected each other. As this study demonstrates, by combining cultural, biological, geological and even astronomical perspectives on a subject’s past, little big histories can help unify our understanding of that past. Because such perspectives often have not been connected before, little big histories can also generate new research questions and answers that can make our understanding of the history of their subject more complete. To show how little big histories achieve this, this study uses Tiananmen as an example subject. It explores how the gate’s astronomical, geological, biological and cultural histories can jointly explain why the gate was built out of certain elements, molecules and materials and not others, why certain animals evolved the ability to build structures like Tiananmen whereas many others did not and why the gate was built in a way that emphasized cultural concepts such as harmony instead of others. This study examines what new knowledge such an exploration can generate. It also assesses how such knowledge can be used to test influential big history theories

A little big history of Tiananmen:An example of a new type of long-term history

This study makes a case for little big histories and argues that they constitute a new type of long-term history that can enrich our understanding of both their subject’s past and big history.Little big histories connect a specific subject to aspects of all major stages of big history. They do so using a distinct structure, which divides a subject's past into layers that describe how the subject became the way it is on a material, biological and cultural level and which allows for an exploration of how these layers of history affected each other. As this study demonstrates, by combining cultural, biological, geological and even astronomical perspectives on a subject’s past, little big histories can help unify our understanding of that past. Because such perspectives often have not been connected before, little big histories can also generate new research questions and answers that can make our understanding of the history of their subject more complete. To show how little big histories achieve this, this study uses Tiananmen as an example subject. It explores how the gate’s astronomical, geological, biological and cultural histories can jointly explain why the gate was built out of certain elements, molecules and materials and not others, why certain animals evolved the ability to build structures like Tiananmen whereas many others did not and why the gate was built in a way that emphasized cultural concepts such as harmony instead of others. This study examines what new knowledge such an exploration can generate. It also assesses how such knowledge can be used to test influential big history theories

Understanding the dynamics of Toll-like Receptor 5 response to flagellin and its regulation by estradiol

© 2017 The Author(s). Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are major players of the innate immune system. Once activated, they trigger a signalling cascade that leads to NF-ΰ B translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Single cell analysis shows that NF-ΰ B signalling dynamics are a critical determinant of transcriptional regulation. Moreover, the outcome of innate immune response is also affected by the cross-talk between TLRs and estrogen signalling. Here, we characterized the dynamics of TLR5 signalling, responsible for the recognition of flagellated bacteria, and those changes induced by estradiol in its signalling at the single cell level. TLR5 activation in MCF7 cells induced a single and sustained NF-k B translocation into the nucleus that resulted in high NF-k B transcription activity. The overall magnitude of NF-k B transcription activity was not influenced by the duration of the stimulus. No significant changes are observed in the dynamics of NF-k B translocation to the nucleus when MCF7 cells are incubated with estradiol. However, estradiol significantly decreased NF-k B transcriptional activity while increasing TLR5-mediated AP-1 transcription. The effect of estradiol on transcriptional activity was dependent on the estrogen receptor activated. This fine tuning seems to occur mainly in the nucleus at the transcription level rather than affecting the translocation of the NF-k B transcription factor

Non-iatrogenic nephro-pleural fistula in a child

Background: A fistula between kidney and pleura is a rare entity, particularly in children. Fistulation is mostly iatrogenic, following percutaneous nephrolithotomy and has a reported incidence of <1%. In the absence of recent renal surgery the diagnosis may be hampered by a lack of suspicion. However, in Case of pyelonephritis with ipsilateral pulmonary symptoms fistulation between kidney and pleura should be considered.We present a pediatric case of a nephro-pleural fistula due to chronic pyelonephritis, as well as a review of the literature. We highlight that the etiology of the fistula may impact the effectivity of the treatment. Conclusions: Surgery-related fistulas mostly heal spontaneously with optimal drainage of urine combined with antibiotic treatment. In contrast, pyelonephritis-related fistulas (most common xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis) frequently require additional debridement by (partial) nephrectomy

Are mesenchymal stromal cells immune cells?

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are considered to be promising agents for the treatment of immunological disease. Although originally identified as precursor cells for mesenchymal lineages, in vitro studies have demonstrated that MSCs possess diverse immune regulatory capacities. Pre-clinical models have shown beneficial effects of MSCs in multiple immunological diseases and a number of phase 1/2 clinical trials carried out so far have reported signs of immune modulation after MSC infusion. These data indicate that MSCs play a central role in the immune response. This raises the academic question whether MSCs are immune cells or whether they are tissue precursor cells with immunoregulatory capacity. Correct understanding of the immunological properties and origin of MSCs will aid in the appropriate and safe use of the cells for clinical therapy. In this review the whole spectrum of immunological properties of MSCs is discussed with the aim of determining the position of MSCs in the immune system