bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Non-Aristotelian Virtue of Truth from the Second-Person Perspective
Authors: Pinsent Andrew
Published: March 2017

The claim has been made that when Aquinas speaks about the virtue of truth and its opposing vices in the Summa theologiae (ST) 2-2.109-113, he regards himself as speaking of the same virtue of truth as found in the Nicomachean Ethics 4.7. In this paper, I dispute this claim, showing how Aquinas’s account cannot be Aristotelian and, in particular, that the possibility of forfeiting the virtue of truth by one serious lie cannot be explained by habituation. I argue instead that Aquinas’s account can be better understood by reference to the kind of embodied experience most commonly encountered in joint attention or second-person relatedness, an approach that may offer new ways to address broader moral questions regarding truth.
Kant on Religious Feelings - An Extrapolation
Authors: Recki Birgit
Published: March 2017

The religious feeling considered in this paper is the feeling of awe that can be construed in the extrapolation of the feeling of respect for the law. The latter itself can be better understood in analogy to the feeling of the sublime. Hence the thesis of my interpretation and extrapolation is: a characterization of the religious feeling in Kant’s critiques of reason and their analyses of feelings is possible. It has to be understood in analogy to the feeling of respect for the law and thus to the feeling of the sublime. The religious feeling would, as certain formulations suggest, refer to awe of the inconceivable size of God. The religious feeling of awe would also be a feeling caused by reason – an instance of a judgement-based feeling. The respective judgement is a reflexive judgement, an achievement of the reflecting faculty of judgement. The religious feeling would resemble Schleiermacher’s ‘plain feeling of dependence’, but given the analogy with the dialectics of the sublime, it would also include the complementary component of self-elevation.
The Common-Core/Diversity Dilemma: Revisions of Humean thought, New Empirical Research, and the Limits of Rational Religious Belief
Authors: Thornhill-Miller Branden , Millican Peter
Published: March 2017

This paper is the product of an interdisciplinary, interreligious dialogue aiming to outline some of the possibilities and rational limits of supernatural religious belief, in the light of a critique of David Hume’s familiar sceptical arguments – including a rejection of his famous Maxim on miracles – combined with a range of striking recent empirical research. The Humean nexus leads us to the formulation of a new ‘Common-Core/Diversity Dilemma’ (CCDD), which suggests that the contradictions between different religious belief systems, in conjunction with new understandings of the cognitive forces that shape their common features, persuasively challenge the rationality of most kinds of supernatural belief. In support of this conclusion, we survey empirical research concerning intercessory prayer, religious experience, near-death experience, and various cognitive biases (e.g. agency detection, theory of mind, egocentric and confirmation bias). But we then go on to consider evidence that supernaturalism – even when rationally unwarranted – has significant beneficial individual and social effects, despite others (such as tribalism) that are far less desirable. This prompts the formulation of a ‘Normal/Objective Dilemma’ (NOD), identifying important trade-offs to be found in the choice between our humanly evolved ‘normal’ outlook on the world, and one that is more rational and ‘objective’. Can we retain the pragmatic benefits of supernatural belief while avoiding irrationality and intergroup conflict? It may well seem that rationality is incompatible with any wilful sacrifice of objectivity (and we appreciate the force of this austere view). But in a situation of uncertainty, an attractive compromise may be available by moving from the competing factions and mutual contradictions of ‘first-order’ supernaturalism to a more abstract and tolerant ‘second-order’ view, which itself can be given some distinctive (albeit controversial) intellectual support through the increasingly popular Fine Tuning Argument. We end by proposing a ‘Maxim of the Moon’ to express the undogmatic spirit of this second-order religiosity, providing a cautionary metaphor to counter the pervasive bias endemic to the human condition, and offering a more cooperation- and humility-enhancing understanding of religious diversity in a tense and precarious globalised age.
The Problem of God's Existence: In Defence of Skepticism
Authors: Ziemiński Ireneusz
Published: March 2017

There are four main positions in the argument about whether God exists: atheism (God does not exist), theism (God exists), agnosticism (it is impossible to know whether God exists or not), and scepticism (at the moment we do not know whether God exists or not). From an epistemological standpoint, scepticism is the most rational; even if a decisive argument which would settle the debate has not been discovered yet, one cannot exclude the possibility of finding it eventually. Agnosticism is too radical (and even incoherent), but theism and atheism exceed the available data. However, from a practical standpoint, choosing theism or atheism seems to be more rational than scepticism (not to mention agnosticism); one of them is bound to be right, because there are only two possibilities, one of which has to be true: either God exists or not.
Argument from Chance
Authors: Łukasiewicz Dariusz
Published: March 2017

In the article, first I present the atheistic argument from pointless evil and the argument from chance. The essence of the argument from chance consists in the incompatibility of the existence of purposeless events and the existence of a God who planned the universe to the last detail. Second, I would like to show that there is a relation between the evidential argument from evil and the argument from chance. An analysis of the theistic argument from small probabilities is a helpful starting point for the presentation of how the two arguments are related.
Mysticism and Mind: Using Cognitive Science to Explore Religious Experience
Authors: Hornbeck Ryan G. , Sears Robert E.
Published: March 2017

This article derives from a paper presented at the Philosophy of Religion and Mysticism Conference hosted by the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow, May 22-24, 2014. That paper introduced theories and methods drawn from the ‘cognitive science of religion’ (CSR) and suggested future avenues of research connecting CSR and scholarship on mysticism. Towards these same ends, the present article proceeds in three parts. Part I outlines the origins, aims, and basic tenets of CSR research. Part II discusses one specific causal perspective that informs a wide range of CSR research, Sperber’s ‘epidemiological’ approach to cultural expression, and connects this perspective to the example of creator deities. Part III discusses some possible future directions for CSR research concerning mysticism and mystical experience. Finally, a coda addresses two common misunderstandings concerning the ‘reductionist’ nature of CSR research.
Studies in Mysticism and Mystical Experience in the Soviet and Post-Soviet Russia
Authors: Malevich Tatiana
Published: March 2017

The paper highlights the key perspectives on mysticism typical for Soviet and Post-Soviet religious studies. Recognizing the vagueness of the ‘mystical’, Soviet scholars interpreted it as a belief in ‘communication’ with ‘supernatural powers’. Furthermore, ‘mysticism’ was thought of as a multicomponent entity composed of (1) mystical experiences, (2) mystical beliefs, and (3) ‘mysticism’ as a ‘false ideology’. Such an understanding resulted from their epistemological settings, i.e. the reflection theory of dialectical materialism. In this light, mystical experiences and beliefs were distorted ‘reflections’ of objective reality in the human mind caused by factors both of an individual and a social nature. This understanding still defines the academic interpretations of the ‘mystical’ in Russia today.
Opera Trinitatis Ad Extra and Collective Agency
Authors: Vidu Adonis
Published: March 2017

This paper assesses the viability of the model of ‘collective action’ for the understanding of the doctrine of the inseparability of trinitarian operations, broadly conceived within a Social-Trinitarian framework. I argue that a ‘loose’ understanding of this inseparability as ‘unity of intention’ is insufficiently monotheistic and that it can be ‘tightened’ by an understanding of the ontology of triune operations analogically modelled after collective actions of a ‘constitutive’ kind. I also show that attention to the ‘description relativity of action ascriptions’ can potentially move us beyond the impasse of the doctrine of appropriation. Finally, I respond to potential objections.
Cooperative Grace, Cooperative Agency
Authors: Timpe Kevin
Published: March 2017

In an earlier paper, I argued for an account of the metaphysics of grace which was libertarian in nature but also non-Pelagian. My goal in the present paper is to broaden my focus on how the human and divine wills relate in graced activities. While there is widespread agreement in Christian theology that the two do interact in an important way, what’s less clear is how the wills of two agents can be united in one of them performing a particular action via a kind of joint or unitive willing. Insofar as the goal in these unitive willings is to have the human will and the divine will operating together in the human bringing about a particular action, I refer to this kind of volition as ‘cooperative agency’. I explore two different models – an identificationist model and an incarnation model – regarding how the human agent is aligned with God in cooperative agency. I then argue that there are significant reasons for preferring the incarnational model over the identificationist model.
Chance and Necessity in Zhu Xi's Conceptions of Heaven and Tradition
Authors: Adler Joseph
Published: March 2017

Discussion of the relationship between chance and necessity in the West goes back at least to Democritus in the fifth century  BCE , and was highlighted again in the twentieth century by Jacques Monod in Chance and Necessity. Monod contrasted “teleonomic” (directional but not directed) biological evolution with “teleologic” (purpose-driven) Biblical theology. This article uses that distinction in examining Zhu Xi’s concepts of Heaven (in particular the “mandate” or “givenness” of Heaven) and tradition (focusing on the normative Confucian tradition, the “succession of the Way” or daotong). The result sheds light on the unique combination of rationality and transcendence in Neo-Confucian thought.
On Second-Order Religion, Agatheism and Naturalism. A Reply to Branden Thornhill-Miller, Peter Millican and Janusz Salamon
Authors: Oppy Graham
Published: March 2017

These comments, on the paper by Branden Thornhill-Miller and Peter Millican 1 and on the critique of that paper by Janusz Salamon 2 , divide into four sections. In the first two sections, I briefly sketch some of the major themes from the paper by Thornhill-Miller and Millican, and then from the critique by Salamon. In the final two sections, I provide some critical thoughts on Salamon’s objections to Thornhill-Miller and Millican, and then on the leading claims made by Thornhill-Miller and Millican. I find much to commend, but also some things to dispute, in both papers. As is so often the way, I shall focus on areas of disagreement.
Ultrafast Fluorescence Dynamics in Flurbiprofen–Amino Acid Dyads and in the Supramolecular Drug/Protein Complex
Authors: Vayá Ignacio , Jiménez M. Consuelo , Miranda Miguel A. , Chatterjee Aninda , Gustavsson Thomas
Published: March 2017

The interaction dynamics between the drug flurbiprofen (FBP) and human serum albumin (HSA) has been investigated by time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, combining femtosecond fluorescence upconversion and picosecond time-correlated single photon counting. In order to obtain additional
information on the drug/ protein interaction, several covalently linked model dyads, composed of FBP and tryptophan or tyrosine, were also studied. For all systems, the main feature was a remarkable dynamic FBP fluorescence quenching, more prominent in the dyads than in the protein complex.
All systems also displayed a clear stereoselectivity depending on the (S)- or (R)-form of FBP, that was strongly influenced by the conformational arrangement of the investigated chromophores.
Clinical profile of 103 patients with abdominal tuberculosis in Nepal
Authors: Shrestha Umid Kumar , Shrestha Dinesh , Shrestha Ramila , Ghosh Arnab
Published: March 2017

Background and aims: The nonspecific clinical features of abdominal tuberculosis (TB) have made its diagnosis difficult, which can lead to the poor outcome in patients who are not able to receive early treatment. Hence, the aim of our study was to determine the clinical profile of abdominal TB in the patients of Nepal.Methods: This is a prospective observational study in which 103 patients with abdominal TB were analyzed for clinical profiles from May 2010 to April 2015. All diagnosed patients received anti-tubercular treatment (ATT) and were followed up at 1 and 6 months of ATT.Results: Among 103 patients of abdominal TB [males 48 (46.6%), females 55 (53.4%); mean age 33.1 years (±12.9)], 47.6% had histopathological examination (HPE) confirmation, 27.2% had high ascitic adenosine deaminase (ADA) value and another 25.2% had suggestive imaging findings. The common symptoms were abdominal pain (84.5%), weight loss (75.7%), anorexia (63.1%), chronic diarrhea (56.3%) and fever (52.4%). The mean weight was <50 Kg, hemoglobin <11 gm/dl and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate >40 mm/first hour. The sites involved were ileo-cecal (35.9%), peritoneal (27.2%), ileal (15.5%), colonic (15.5%), lymph nodal (3.9%) and gastroduodenal (1.9%). The sensitivity of HPE for diagnosis of abdominal TB was 47.6% (95% confidence interval 37.6% to 57.6%). All patients of abdominal TB had a good clinical response after ATT.Conclusion: The common symptoms of abdominal TB were abdominal pain, weight loss, anorexia, chronic diarrhea and fever. Since the diagnosis of abdominal TB by HPE may not always be positive, other parameters such as ascitic ADA value, imaging findings and associated supportive clinical features have to be considered, and a therapeutic trial of ATT may be indicated so that all patients of abdominal TB can be treated early in the course of disease.
Quality Assurance and Quality Control Processes for a Large-Scale Bicycle and Pedestrian Volume Data Program
Authors: Jackson Kristy N. , O’Brien Sarah Worth , Searcy Sarah E. , Warchol Shannon E.
Published: March 2017

Phase 1 of North Carolina’s Non-Motorized Volume Data Program (NMVDP) was conducted in the North Carolina Department of Transportation Divisions 7 and 9 in the Triad–Piedmont region of North Carolina. Continuous count stations (CCSs) were installed to monitor bicyclist and pedestrian traffic at 12 locations and began collecting data in late 2014. These stations covered a mix of sites across different land uses, travel patterns, and volume groups. Sites performed automated detection of pedestrians on sidewalks, bicycles and pedestrians on shared-use paths, bicycles in bicycle lanes, bicycles on sidewalks, and bicycles in mixed traffic. This paper summarizes the programmatic elements developed and implemented to select, install, and ensure high data quality for the 12 CCSs. These elements include agency coordination, site selection, equipment procurement and setup, equipment validation, equipment maintenance, data handling, quality assurance and quality control checks, and data reporting and analysis. After piloting this program in one region, the research team identified several changes to test when the NMVDP was expanded to a new region of the state to improve the quality of data collected: conduct weekly inspections of the data and perform validation to promptly identify maintenance issues, investigate the development of hourly data checks to implement, use a simpler interquartile range check, and consider developing automation to check data.
Einstellungen zur Akzeptanz räumlicher Distanz in erwerbsbedingt multilokalen Lebensformen
Authors: Rüger Heiko , Schier Michaela , Feldhaus Michael , Ries Tammy
Published: March 2017

Work-related multi-local living arrangements describe those living arrangements in which, due to occupational reasons, at least one partner is absent from the communal residence of the partners or the family for a substantial part of the year. In the context of high requirements concerning spatial flexibility of employees, such living arrangements have become increasingly important. Against this background, this paper examines the acceptance of spatial distance in intimate relationships. Analyses are based on panel data of the “Job Mobilities and Family Lives in Europe” study (2007 and 2010/11), collected in Germany, France, Spain and Switzerland (N=1.189). We used path modelling to conduct a cross-lagged panel analysis. Results show a higher acceptance of spatial distance in intimate relationships in individuals living multi-locally due to work-related spatial mobility requirements. Longitudinal analyses suggest that this correlation is primarily based on adaptation processes. Experiences of multi-local living arrangements lead to attitude changes towards a higher acceptance of spatial distance. However, further selection processes could not be detected, which might partially be explained by a high degree of selectivity at the first point of data collection.

Zusammenfassung

Im Kontext hoher Anforderungen an die räumliche Flexibilität von Erwerbstätigen werden erwerbsbedingt multilokale Lebensformen, in denen mindestens ein Partner aus beruflichen Gründen einen Teil des Jahres nicht an dem gemeinsamen Hauptwohnort des Paares oder der Familie verbringt, zunehmend bedeutsam. Vor diesem Hintergrund untersucht der Beitrag die Rolle der Einstellungen zur akzeptierten räumlichen Distanz in Paarbeziehungen. Grundlage sind Paneldaten der Studie „Job Mobilities and Family Lives in Europe“ (2007 und 2010/11), die in Deutschland, Frankreich, Spanien und der Schweiz erhoben wurden (N=1.189). Berechnet werden Pfadmodelle im Cross-Lagged-Panel-Design. Die Ergebnisse zeigen zunächst eine höhere räumliche Distanzakzeptanz in Paarbeziehungen bei Personen, die berufsbedingt multilokal leben. Die Längsschnittanalysen legen nahe, dass dieser Zusammenhang in erster Linie auf Anpassungsprozessen zu beruhen scheint. So führen Multilokalitätserfahrungen zu Veränderungen der Einstellungen in Richtung einer stärkeren Distanzakzeptanz. Weitere Selektionsprozesse konnten im Zeitverlauf hingegen nicht nachgewiesen werden, wofür unter anderem ein bereits zum ersten Erhebungszeitpunkt hoher Grad an Selektivität verantwortlich sein könnte.
Zum Einfluss der Elternschaft auf die Karriereorientierung von Ärztinnen. Eine Fallrekonstruktion
Authors: Reimann Swantje , Alfermann Dorothee
Published: March 2017

Aim: In order to find conditions that may promote or constrain the career of women doctors, we conducted longitudinal interviews with dualcareer couples over a period of four to six years. Based on content analysis, we identified one couple for detailed analysis. For minimally and maximally contrasting these couples, we complemented our analysis by including additional couples for gaining more structured insights. Results: Despite egalitarian role concepts prior to pregnancy, it is through the transition into a triad that effects of traditionalism emerge for which, in turn, socialization effects from the family of origin are meaningful. Conflicts do arise when both the areas of professional and family life do not lose their relevance after entering parenthood. It requires a high degree of management for getting things organized, especially on the part of the women. Discussion: In addition to important structural and organizational working conditions that serve as important providers of structure, individual needs of women doctors have to be taken into account for enabling women doctors to perform satisfactorily in both areas of life.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel: Anhand einer detaillierten Fallbeschreibung werden karriereförderliche- und hinderliche Bedingungen auf subjektiver und Paarebene rekonstruiert, denen Ärztinnen durch das kritische Lebensereignis Elternschaft ausgesetzt werden können. Um Aussagen struktureller Art treffen zu können, werden diesem Paar weitere Paare in minimalem und maximalem Kontrast dazugestellt, die in einem längsschnittlichen Design über vier bis sechs Jahre mindestens drei Mal interviewt wurden. Ergebnisse: Trotz egalitärer Rollenvorstellungen der Paare vor einer Schwangerschaft kann es zu Traditionalisierungseffekten durch den Übergang in eine Triade kommen, wobei Sozialisationserfahrungen aus der Ursprungsfamilie bedeutsam sind. Konflikte entstehen dann, wenn die Lebensbereiche Beruf und Familie für karriereorientierte Ärztinnen durch eine Elternschaft nicht an Bedeutung verlieren, sondern sie beides gleichzeitig wollen. Die damit verbundenen Anforderungen einlösen zu können, erfordert gerade auf Seiten der Frau ein hohes Maß an Organisation und Arrangement. Diskussion: Neben arbeitsstrukturellen und -organisatorischen Bedingungen und Strukturgebern, müssen individuelle Bedarfe der Ärztinnen in den Blick genommen werden, um beide Lebensbereiche zufriedenstellend ausfüllen zu können.
Zur Bedeutung der Eltern-Kind-Beziehung für die physische Gewaltausübung jugendlicher Mädchen – Ergebnisse einer mixed-methods-Studie
Authors: Heeg Rahel , Paul Michaela , Kassis Wassilis
Published: March 2017

This article addresses the question: What is the explanatory power of the theoretical constructs ‘parenting style’ and ‘parent-child relationship’ for understanding violence among teenage girls? Using a sequential mixed-methods design, we combined data from different sources (interviews and questionnaires) analysed by different methods (grounded theory and correspondence analysis). Within this mixed-methods design, we compared the results of the qualitative analysis of interviews with violence-orientated girls with the results of the correspondence analysis of the cross-sectional survey (n= 243, mean age= 15.2, SD = 1,91). There is a strong relationship between the form of violence applied by the girls and the characteristics of the family dynamics. The utilization of different theoretical constructs (i.e., parenting style and parent-child relationship) reveals these dynamics and enables theoretical reflection on this subject.

Zusammenfassung

Im Mittelpunkt dieses Artikels steht die Frage nach dem Erklärungsgehalt der theoretischen Konstrukte Erziehungsverhalten und Beziehungsdynamik zwischen Eltern und Heranwachsenden für die Gewaltentwicklung weiblicher Jugendlicher. Über ein sequenzielles mixed-methods-Design werden unterschiedliche Datenquellen (Interviews und Fragebogen) und Analysemethoden (grounded theory und Korrespondenzanalyse)verbunden. Im Rahmen des gewählten mixedmethods-Designs werden die Ergebnisse aus der Analyse von Interviews mit gewaltorientierten Mädchen mit den korrespondenzanalytischen Einsichten aus einer Fragebogenstudie verglichen (n=243, Altersdurchschnitt = 15.2, SD = 1,91). Die Ergebnisse aus den Interviews und den Fragebogendaten zeigen eine hohe Heterogenität in der Art des Zusammenlebens von Familien Gewalt ausübender Mädchen. Es besteht ein starker Zusammenhang zwischen dem individuellen Gewalthandeln der untersuchten Mädchen und der spezifischen Dynamik des familiären Zusammenlebens. Der Einsatz unterschiedlicher theoretischer Konstrukte (Erziehungsverhalten und Beziehungsdynamik zwischen Eltern und Heranwachsenden) macht diese Dynamiken sichtbar und theoretisch reflektierbar.
Introduction to the special issue on: Timing and spacing of births: Effects for parents and children
Authors: Engelhardt Henriette
Published: March 2017

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Clinical profile of acute pancreatitis in a teaching hospital
Authors: Ahmed Kamal Uddin , Ahad Md Abdul , Alim Md Abdul , Ekram ARM Saifuddin
Published: March 2017

Background: Acute pancreatitis is a potentially fatal disease. Mortality and morbidity depends on severity of the diseaseObjective: To find out the clinical presentation and to optimize the treatments.Method: This hospital based cross sectional descriptive study was performed to find out the clinical presentations of acute pancreatitis from the available clinical, biochemical, haematological and radiological data.Results: A total of 50 cases were studied. Age range was 13 to 74 yrs, with a peak incidence in the fourth decade. Male to female ratio were 1.78:1. Among the known aetiological factors 18% were due to gallstone disease and 10% due to alcoholism. Most common symptoms were upper abdominal pain (96%) and nausea, vomiting (88%). Among the clinical signs most common were abdominal tenderness (92%) and muscle guard (66%). In this study 82% patients had mild and 18% had severe acute pancreatitis. Overall mortality rate was 6%. Mortality was significantly higher (33.33%) in severe acute pancreatitis (33.3% vs 0%).Conclusion: A higher mortality was associated with concomitant medical or surgical diseases, but not to age or sex. A higher mortality was associated with leucocytosis but not to haemoglobin level. Among the biochemical parameters tested, a high blood glucose and serum creatinine level and a lower serum albumin and calcium level were significantly associated with a higher mortality.Bang Med J (Khulna) 2016; 49 : 7-12
Safety & efficacy of manual vacuum aspiration compared to dilatation & curettage in the management of early pregnancy failure
Authors: Islam Rabiul , Biswas Sankar Prosad , Halder Dolly , Fatima Kaniz
Published: March 2017

Background: Early pregnancy failure is a major health problem across the globe. This is particularly important for the woman of Bangladesh.Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) compared to dilatation and curettage (D&C) in the management of first trimester abortion.Methods: This was a prospective randomised study done in Obstetrics & Gynaecology department of Jessore medical college & Khulna medical college. Over a period of one year from January 2014 to December 2014, a total of four hundred women presented with spontaneous miscarriage with gestational age < 12 weeks patients with no sign of septic abortion and no history of pregancy with fibroid uterus were included in the study.Results: These patients underwent random selection either MVA group (n = 200) or D&C group (n=200). Cases were compared with respect to age, parity, gestational age, risk, blood loss, time taken & complications. The distribution of age, parity & gestational age was similar in both groups. The mean duration of procedure was significantly higher (P<.0001) in D&C group compared to MVA group. The duration of hospital stay was significantly lower (P<.0001) in MVA group compared to D&C group. Similarly the cost of the procedure was significantly lower (P<.0001) in MVA group compared to D&C group.Conclusion: MVA is safe, effective, cheaper, less time consuming and requires shorter hospital stay. It does not require general anaesthesia and complication is also less than dilation and curettage. So it can be easily accessible to the woman of both rural and urban societies belonging to any socioeconomic strata specially where high tech equipments and power supply are not available.Bang Med J (Khulna) 2016; 49 : 18-22
Etiological basis of pleural effusion in a teaching hospital
Authors: Chowdhury Poritosh Kumar , Ahmed Saad , Alam SM Tushar , Ghosh Debasish Kumar , Biswas Sankar Prosad
Published: March 2017

Background: A pleural effusion represents the disruption of the normal mechanisms of formation and drainage of fluid from the pleural space. Pleural effusions are associated with diseases of varied etiologies and often carry a grave prognosis.Objective: To evaluate the common cause of pleural effusion in developing country and also to compare to that of developed countries.Methods: This is a prospective observational study. Fifty four patients, diagnosed with pleural effusion on admission were randomly selected from I April 2016 to 30 September 2016 in Medicine ward of Khulna medical college hospital. Etiologic diagnosis was established by sequential clinical history and findings on physical examination, laboratory tests, chest radiograph, CT Scan of chest and pleural fluid analysis. Patients who remained undiagnosed were subjected to fibre-optic bronchoscopy, thoracoscopic pleural biopsy, and histopathology.Results : Etiologic diagnosis of pleural effusion was established in 50 (92.59%); tuberculosis 25 (46.29%), parapneumonia 10 (18.52%) malignancy 7 (12.96%) nephrotic syndrome 3 (5.55%),cirrhosis of liver disease 2 (3.71%) congestive cardiac failure 2 (3.71%), systemic lupus erythematosus I (1.85%). 4 patients (7.41%) remain undiagnosed. Among subjects, exudative pleural effusion was 43 (79.63%) and transudative 11 (21 57%). Among exudative pleural effusion sputum for AFB positive 15 (34.88%), FNAC 10 (23%), fibreoptic bronchoscopy was positive 2 (4.6%), gene expart test for tuberculosis positive in 5 (11.62%).Conclusions: Most of the pleural effusion cases are diagnosed as tuberculosis, Early and adequate treatment results in complete recovery of the patient.Bang Med J (Khulna) 2016; 49 : 27-30
Abstract From Current Literature 49(1-2)
Authors: Editor The
Published: March 2017

Abstract not availableBang Med J (Khulna) 2016; 49 : 43-46
No to Uncertainty of Medicine by People: A New Gathering Storm
Authors: Yunus Emran Bin
Published: March 2017

Abstract not availableChatt Maa Shi Hosp Med Coll J; Vol.15 (2); Jul 2016; Page 1-2
Clinical Outcome Following Induction of Labour with Misoprostol
Authors: Munira Serajoom , Begum Fatema , Dewan Farhana , Khanam Sadia Mahfiza , Nahar Aftabun , Sultana Jobaida , Hussain Sabina
Published: March 2017

Background: Induction of labour in the third trimester of pregnancy may be considered beneficial in many clinical circumstances.Objective: The aim of this study was to find the effectiveness and safety of a novel dosing regimen of oral misoprostol in a Bangladeshi sample.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Salimullah Medical College & Mitford Hospital, Dhaka from October 2008 to September 2009 based on the guideline of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Fifty nine cases were enrolled according to inclusion criteria by clinical pelvimetry and bishop scoring. Contracted pelvis, evidence of cephalopelvic disproportion, placenta previa, unexplained vaginal bleeding, grand multipara, fetal malpresentation, previous uterine scar and fetal distress cases were excluded. Misoprostol was administered per orally. Maternal outcome was assessed by normal vaginal delivery, caesarean section, maternal distress, perineal tear, cervical tear, uterine hyper-stimulation and fetal outcome was assessed in the form of fetal distress, meconium stained amnions, neonatal admission, perinatal death and no complication. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS v 13. Probability value was set at P<0.05 for statistical significance.Results: Mean age was 25.69(5.04) years and mean age of gestation was 38.23(4.3) weeks and 59% were in regular antenatal checkup. Misoprostol was administered orally, 15% single, 37% double, 34% three and l4% were more than three doses. Following induction, 85% had normal vaginal delivery, 10% caesarean section and 5% had forceps delivery. For induction, 56% were due to preeclampsia, eclampsia & other pregnancy induced hypertension, 10% postdated pregnancy, 9% were unfavorable cervix, 7% IUD, l4% elective cases due to medical disorder, 2% had premature rupture of membrane, other causes were 3%. By bishop score assessment 54% had unfavorable and 46% had favorable cervix. In neonate's outcome, 34% had no complications, 19% meconium stained, 19% neonatal admission, 9% fetal distress and 20% had perinatal death including IUD. In maternal outcome, 69% no complications, 10% perineal tear, 10% caesarean section, 3% maternal distress, 3% cervical tear, 2% uterine hyper-stimulation, 2% episiotomy. There were no significant differences.Conclusions: Stepwise oral misoprostol was well tolerated with no increase in maternal side effects. There was also a trend towards more fetal safety in the oral misoprostol. Perhaps the most significant finding of our study is the lower cesarean section rate in the women who received the oral regimen.J Shaheed Suhrawardy Med Coll, 2014; 6(2):49-52
Accessory Mental Foramen of the Mandible Found With Radiographic Images: A Case Report
Authors: Kabir Md Humalun , Mallick Parimal Chandra , Sarwar AFM , Mohammad Rizvi Hasan
Published: March 2017

The object of this study is to present a case of an accessory mental foramen. Detection of the position of mental foramen is important during surgical procedures in terms of achieving effective mandibular nerve blocks and avoiding injuries to the neurovascular bundles. A 64-year-o1d man visited us for taking treatment. Preoperative panoramic radiography and CT were conducted. A multi-section reconstructed sagittal image showed two mental foramina leading to the mandibular canal on the right side of the mandible, which were considered to be double mental foramina. Although no surgical procedure was planned, the patient was informed about the existence and importance of the anatomical variation with regard to the need for local anesthesia, diagnosis of periapical diseases, and the prevention of nerve damage during surgery in that area of his mandibleJ Shaheed Suhrawardy Med Coll, 2014; 6(2):90-92
Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) and Associated Cardiovascular Disorders in Patients Undergoing Surgical Repair
Authors: Roy Ratna Rani , Barman Nilima , Foysal Abdullah Al , Saha PK , Shamim Khondker Manzare
Published: March 2017

Background: Congenital heart diseases (CHD) are one of the most common developmental errors in humans.Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to see the frequencies of various types of atrial septal defect (ASD) and associated cardiovascular disorders in patients undergoing surgical repair.Methodology: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on patients undergoing surgical repair at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) and National Heart Foundation and Research Institute (NHF&RI) in Dhaka during the period of July, 2010 to June, 2011. Patients presented with ASD at any age of both sexes were selected as study population. Diagnoses were revealed with echocardiography and confirmed preoperatively by registered cardiac surgeons.Results: The morphological types of ASD were Ostium secundum type in 96% cases and sinus venosus type in 4% cases. Atrial septal defects were either small or larger defects associated with pulmonary hypertension in 38(76%) cases, varying degree of tricuspid regurgitation was seen in 33(66%) patients and dilated pulmonary artery was noted in 24(48%) cases. Ventricular septal defect in 4(8%) cases, tricuspid atresia in 2(4%) cases and mitral valve prolapse in 6(12%) cases were also observed.Conclusions: Ostium secundum type of ASD is found to be the commonest type of ASD.J Shaheed Suhrawardy Med Coll, 2015; 7(1):18-21
Undifferentiated carcinoma of the mesentery in a 51 year old male: A Case Report
Authors: Muhammad Din , Alam Jahangir , Islam Sharmin
Published: March 2017

Undifferentiated carcinoma is a usually aggressive, malignant epithelial neoplasm composed of atypical cells which do not display evidence of glandular, squamous, or urothelial cell differentiation.1 Mesenteric tumors are rare and consist of a heterogeneous group of lesions. Among them undifferentiated carcinoma of the mesentery is very very rare entity. Here we present a case of undifferentiated carcinoma of the mesentery in a 51 year old male admitted to the department of surgery, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital (ShSMCH) with rapidly increasing huge abdominal lump, central abdominal pain and weight loss. Ultrasound of the whole abdomen and CT scan of whole abdomen reports were suggestive of retroperitoneal mass. Exploratory laparotomy was done and specimen sent for histopathology. Reports were suggestive of malignant mesothelioma whereas immunohistochemistry report revealed undifferentiated carcinoma of the mesentery. To the best of our knowledge, there was no report of undifferentiated carcinoma of the mesentery in a 51 year old male from Bangladesh or any other countryJ Shaheed Suhrawardy Med Coll, December 2015, Vol.7(2); 79-81
Review Article: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Authors: Karim Mohammad Enamul , Rahim Sayeda , Mahmuduzzaman Mohammad , Ghosh Dilip Kumar , Islam Atiqul , Ahmed Habib , Rowshon AHM
Published: March 2017

Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disorders(GERD) are group of conditions where gastric contents are refluxed into the esophagus and produce troublesome symptoms mainly heartburn and regurgitation. It may present with complications as well. Atypical presentation is also not very uncommon. Proper diagnosis and differentiation from other diseases can ensure appropriate treatment and thus better quality of life. Unlike many other diseases, diagnosis of GERD is relatively straight forward through symptomatology and a few investigations, even though few cases require special and technologically newer modalities of investigative tools for confirmation. Option for treatment are many and mostly medical; surgical and other methods are very rarely needed to pose better life. New molecules are recently being used with variable promising results and need exploration.J Shaheed Suhrawardy Med Coll, June 2016, Vol.8(1); 30-33
Factors Which Influence Owners When Deciding to Use Chemotherapy in Terminally Ill Pets
Authors: Williams Jane , Phillips Catherine , Byrd Hollie
Published: March 2017

Chemotherapy is a commonly integrated treatment option within human and animal oncology regimes. Limited research has investigated pet owners’ treatment decision-making in animals diagnosed with malignant neoplasia. Dog and cat owners were asked to complete an online questionnaire to elucidate factors which are key to the decision making process. Seventy-eight respondents completed the questionnaire in full. Fifty-eight percent of pet owners would not elect to treat pets with chemotherapy due to the negative impact of the associated side effects. Seventytwo percent of respondents over estimated pet survival time post chemotherapy, indicating a general perception that it would lead to remission or a cure. Vomiting was considered an acceptable side effect but inappetence, weight loss and depression were considered unacceptable. Owners did expect animals’ to be less active, sleep more and play less, but common side effects were not rated as acceptable despite the potential benefits of chemotherapy. Based on the results, veterinary teams involved with oncology consultations should establish if clients have prior experience of cancer treatments and their expectations of survival time. Quality of life assessments should also be implemented during initial oncology consultations and conducted regularly during chemotherapy courses to inform client decision making and to safe guard animal welfare.
An Autonomous Coil Alignment System for the Dynamic Wireless Charging of Electric Vehicles to Minimize Lateral Misalignment
Authors: Hwang Karam , Cho Jaeyong , Kim Dongwook , Park Jaehyoung , Kwon Jong , Kwak Sang , Park Hyun , Ahn Seungyoung
Published: March 2017

This paper proposes an autonomous coil alignment system (ACAS) for electric vehicles (EVs) with dynamic wireless charging (DWC) to mitigate the reduction in received power caused by lateral misalignment between the source and load coils. The key component of the ACAS is a novel sensor coil design, which can detect the load coil’s left or right position relative to the source coil by observing the change in voltage phase. This allows the lateral misalignment to be estimated through the wireless power transfer (WPT) system alone, which is a novel tracking method for vehicular applications. Once misalignment is detected, the vehicle’s lateral position is self-adjusted by an autonomous steering function. The feasibility of the overall operation of the ACAS was verified through simulation and experiments. In addition, an analysis based on experimental results was conducted, demonstrating that 26% more energy can be transferred during DWC with the ACAS, just by keeping the vehicle’s load coil aligned with the source coil.
Reluctance Machine for a Hollow Cylinder Flywheel
Authors: Hedlund Magnus , Kamf Tobias , De Santiago Juan , Abrahamsson Johan , Bernhoff Hans
Published: March 2017

A hollow cylinder flywheel rotor with a novel outer rotor switched reluctance machine (SRM) mounted on the interior rim is presented, with measurements, numerical analysis and analytical models. Practical experiences from the construction process are also discussed. The flywheel rotor does not have a shaft and spokes and is predicted to store 181 Wh / kg at ultimate tensile strength (UTS) according to simulations. The novel SRM is an axial flux machine, chosen due to its robustness and tolerance for high strain. The computed maximum tip speed of the motor at UTS is 1050 m / s . A small-scale proof-of-concept electric machine prototype has been constructed, and the machine inductance has been estimated from measurements of voltage and current and compared against results from analytical models and finite element analysis (FEA). The prototype measurements were used to simulate operation during maximal speed for a comparison towards other high-speed electric machines, in terms of tip speed and power. The mechanical design of the flywheel was performed with an analytical formulation assuming planar stress in concentric shells of orthotropic (unidirectionally circumferentially wound) carbon composites. The analytical approach was verified with 3D FEA in terms of stress and strain.
Wind Farm Wake: The 2016 Horns Rev Photo Case
Authors: Hasager Charlotte , Nygaard Nicolai , Volker Patrick , Karagali Ioanna , Andersen Søren , Badger Jake
Published: March 2017

Offshore wind farm wakes were observed and photographed in foggy conditions at Horns Rev 2 on 25 January 2016 at 12:45 UTC. These new images show highly contrasting conditions regarding the wind speed, turbulence intensity, atmospheric stability, weather conditions and wind farm wake development as compared to the Horns Rev 1 photographs from 12 February 2008. The paper examines the atmospheric conditions from satellite images, radiosondes, lidar and wind turbine data and compares the observations to results from atmospheric meso-scale modelling and large eddy simulation. Key findings are that a humid and warm air mass was advected from the southwest over cold sea and the dew-point temperature was such that cold-water advection fog formed in a shallow layer. The flow was stably stratified and the freestream wind speed was 13 m/s at hub height, which means that most turbines produced at or near rated power. The wind direction was southwesterly and long, narrow wakes persisted several rotor diameters downwind of the wind turbines. Eventually mixing of warm air from aloft dispersed the fog in the far wake region of the wind farm.
A Hybrid Genetic Wind Driven Heuristic Optimization Algorithm for Demand Side Management in Smart Grid
Authors: Javaid Nadeem , Javaid Sakeena , Abdul Wadood , Ahmed Imran , Almogren Ahmad , Alamri Atif , Niaz Iftikhar
Published: March 2017

In recent years, demand side management (DSM) techniques have been designed for residential, industrial and commercial sectors. These techniques are very effective in flattening the load profile of customers in grid area networks. In this paper, a heuristic algorithms-based energy management controller is designed for a residential area in a smart grid. In essence, five heuristic algorithms (the genetic algorithm (GA), the binary particle swarm optimization (BPSO) algorithm, the bacterial foraging optimization algorithm (BFOA), the wind-driven optimization (WDO) algorithm and our proposed hybrid genetic wind-driven (GWD) algorithm) are evaluated. These algorithms are used for scheduling residential loads between peak hours (PHs) and off-peak hours (OPHs) in a real-time pricing (RTP) environment while maximizing user comfort (UC) and minimizing both electricity cost and the peak to average ratio (PAR). Moreover, these algorithms are tested in two scenarios: (i) scheduling the load of a single home and (ii) scheduling the load of multiple homes. Simulation results show that our proposed hybrid GWD algorithm performs better than the other heuristic algorithms in terms of the selected performance metrics.
Zinc Prevents the Development of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy in db/db Mice
Authors: Wang Shudong , Wang Bowei , Wang Yuehui , Tong Qian , Liu Quan , Sun Jian , Zheng Yang , Cai Lu
Published: March 2017

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is highly prevalent in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients. Zinc is an important essential trace metal, whose deficiency is associated with various chronic ailments, including vascular diseases. We assessed T2DM B6.BKS(D)-Leprdb/J (db/db) mice fed for six months on a normal diet containing three zinc levels (deficient, adequate, and supplemented), to explore the role of zinc in DCM development and progression. Cardiac function, reflected by ejection fraction, was significantly decreased, along with increased left ventricle mass and heart weight to tibial length ratio, in db/db mice. As a molecular cardiac hypertrophy marker, atrial natriuretic peptide levels were also significantly increased. Cardiac dysfunction and hypertrophy were accompanied by significantly increased fibrotic (elevated collagen accumulation as well as transforming growth factor β and connective tissue growth factor levels) and inflammatory (enhanced expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1β, caspase recruitment domain family member 9, and B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 10, and activated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase) responses in the heart. All these diabetic effects were exacerbated by zinc deficiency, and not affected by zinc supplementation, respectively. Mechanistically, oxidative stress and damage, mirrored by the accumulation of 3-nitrotyrosine and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, was significantly increased along with significantly decreased expression of Nrf2 and its downstream antioxidants (NQO-1 and catalase). This was also exacerbated by zinc deficiency in the db/db mouse heart. These results suggested that zinc deficiency promotes the development and progression of DCM in T2DM db/db mice. The exacerbated effects by zinc deficiency on the heart of db/db mice may be related to further suppression of Nrf2 expression and function.