bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inwardness as Mystical Ascent
Authors: Flood Gavin
Published: January 2014

The High Middle Ages sees the rise of scholasticism and reflection on the nature of self and experience. The scholastic account of the person is well illustrated through mystical theology that presents a view of God within the self who could be found through introspection by following the inner practices of contemplation, asceticism, and religious reading. The Delphic motto ‘Know yourself’ became a recurring theme in the twelfth century. This chapter examines the truth within in the work of Bonaventure and Richard of St Victor. It shows how these theologians offered a cosmological psychology of the person and how inwardness is the way to know God
Inwardness and Visual Contemplation in Hinduism
Authors: Flood Gavin
Published: January 2014

The truth within has been a constant theme in the history of Hindu traditions from an early period, a truth conflated with the idea of the self (ātmā), and the quest to realize or find the self became the highest value in Brahmanical tradition. A concern with the self was a philosophical preoccupation and ascetic traditions developed that focused on the self in the belief that realizing the self would free the ascetic from the bonds of suffering and reincarnation. The hidden, inner self, the antarātman, is an eternal truth. To realize this hidden, secret self is the highest goal of life. The chapter examines this in tantric literature of the gods Śiva and Viṣṇu, focusing on the practice of inner vision. The chapter contextualises this in the broader Indic society of the medieval period.
A Theory of Religious Inwardness
Authors: Flood Gavin
Published: January 2014

This chapter presents the thesis of religious inwardness in a comparative context. Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity contain the idea that there is a truth within the human person that can be understood or realised through the cultivation of spiritual practices. This notion of inner truth entails an account of the human person as characterised by subjectivity or inwardness and that the cultivation or realisation of such inwardness has salvific value; it is a transcendence of restriction. The truth within entails a notion of inwardness in which there is participation in a cosmos greater than the individual. In the traditions we have examined this participatory model of inwardness can be distinguished from individualism as a characteristic feature of modern understandings of the person. This chapter examines this claim, discussing participation, individualism, deixis, phenomenology, and the challenge of modernity.
The Historical Self and Comparative Religion
Authors: Flood Gavin
Published: January 2014

This chapter argues for the legitimacy and importance of comparative religion and for subjectivity as a universal value that legitimates the enterprise. There are at least two levels of complexity here: firstly, the historical place of the science of religion within the broader human sciences and the relation of comparative religion to theology; secondly, the way macro-history relates to subjectivity. Both problems are connected in that any account of subjectivity across cultures and times, as here, entails the legitimacy and importance of comparison. The chapter discusses the criticisms of comparative religion from post-colonialism and cultural studies and offers a defence in terms of hermeneutical phenomenology. It concludes with an account of act theory where we see how inwardness is related to the world through acts that comes from judgement and intention.
Introduction
Authors: Nanay Bence
Published: January 2014

This chapter introduces the general approach followed in the rest of the book—the starting point for explaining the human mind is the simple mental processes that we share with animals: the perceptual guidance of actions. This mental process is described with the help of the concept of “pragmatic representations”—perceptual representations that represent those features of objects that are relevant for the performance of an action. This approach is distinguished from the two most influential contemporary ways of thinking about the human mind: computationalism/propositionalism (according to which beliefs, desires or other propositional attitudes mediate between sensory input and motor output), and anti-representationalism/enactivism (according to which nothing mediates between sensory input and motor output—they form one intertwined dynamic process). According to the picture explored in this book, there are some special kind of representation, “pragmatic representations”, that (sometimes directly) mediate between sensory input and motor output.
Perception
Authors: Nanay Bence
Published: January 2014

If pragmatic representations are perceptual states, then a number of important debates in the philosophy of perception need to be re-evaluated. This chapter argues that the perceptually attributed properties (that is, the properties we perceive objects as having) include “action-properties”—properties relevant for the performance of one’s action. Further, the focus on pragmatic representations also provides new insights for the debate about “sensory individuals”—the objects we perceive. It is also argued that we do need to talk about perceptual representations in order to describe some features of perception, and that pragmatic representations are not to be considered as the representation of the dorsal visual subsystem.
Society’s Grand Challenges: What Role for Services?
Authors: Neely Andy
Published: January 2014

Society faces significant grand challenges—demographic, economic, and environmental. This chapter explores the role that services might play in helping address these grand challenges. The chapter begins by reviewing traditional reasons why manufacturing firms are making a shift to services, identifying five options that firms appears to be pursuing. Next the chapter then turns to the future, looking at the illustrative challenges that society faces—most notably demographic, economic, and environmental—and explores the implications of these challenges for the phenomenon of servitization. Finally, the chapter combines the five servitization options with the previously discussed societal challenges, offering some thoughts on what the future might hold.
Criminal Career Research, Mathematical Models, and Testing Quantitative Predictions from Theories
Authors: MacLeod John F. , Grove Peter G. , Farrington David P.
Published: January 2014

Criminal career research conducted over the past 40 years is reviewed with a focus on theories and mathematical models leading to quantitative predictions. Starting in the 1970s The evolution of criminal career theories is described in some detail with key career features like: onset, prevalence, frequency, duration and termination; identified. The various offender categorisations that have been proposed, like: chronics, innocents, desisters, persisters, frequents and occasionals; and the models using these concepts are also described together with their results. Criminal career research in the two decades spanning the millennium is also reviewed, including offending trajectory modelling. The importance of longitudinal studies is stressed while some of the objections to the paradigm are addressed. The main aims of the book and the methodological approach to the analysis and modelling are described.
An Analysis of the Offenders Index
Authors: MacLeod John F. , Grove Peter G. , Farrington David P.
Published: January 2014

The data source used in the analysis is described and the details of the construction of the cohort samples outlined. Recidivism, the proportion of offenders reconvicted, is analysed using graphs of numbers of offenders convicted at each appearance number. The use of a logarithmic y-axis clearly identifies constant recidivism for distinct “risk” categories of offender. The risk model is shown to fit the more familiar reconviction probability by previous conviction number graph. A survival time analysis to next conviction identifies two “rate” categories of offender with constant λ exponential survival time distributions. The derivative of the rate model is shown to fit the inter-conviction time distribution. The risk and rate categories are reconciled yielding: high-risk/high-rate, high-risk/low-rate, low-risk/low-rate categories. The influence of follow-up period and gender on the parameter estimates for the risk/rate model is explored and the values are shown to be essentially constant over time. Variations in criminality are discussed.
Is Age the Primary Influence on Offending?
Authors: MacLeod John F. , Grove Peter G. , Farrington David P.
Published: January 2014

Age based theories of crime are examined and tested against the cohort data from the Offenders Index and it is shown that there is no support for such theories. The theory proposed in this book assumes no causal relationship between age and criminal behaviour. Age based theories assume either that: the probability and rate of offending is determined by age inline with the age crime curve; or that onset, duration and termination are in various ways determined by age. It is shown that mean reconviction times do not change over the criminal career disproving the first kind on theory and that, after controlling for offence seriousness, the proportion reconvicted did not reduce after custody compared with non custodial disposals as predicted by age dependent desistance or fixed career length theories.
Applications for Managing the Criminal Justice System
Authors: MacLeod John F. , Grove Peter G. , Farrington David P.
Published: January 2014

This chapter explains how the theory and models in this volume have been used to make predictions and forecasts of significant importance in managing the Criminal Justice System. In the first example, it is shown that using the theory, demographics and sentencing policy (custody rates): the prison population over a period of 30 years is predicted to within 3%; and that without the “Prison Works” mantra of the early 1990s, the prison population would have continued to decline. The second example presents the results of a similar model of court workloads. The third shows how forecasts, made in the year 2000, of the size of the DNA database panned out over the subsequent 4 years.
Criminal Policy Implications
Authors: MacLeod John F. , Grove Peter G. , Farrington David P.
Published: January 2014

The offender characteristics highlighted by the analysis and modelling of the previous chapters are reiterated and the areas where policy might influence crime identified and reviewed. One particular policy initiative which was influenced by this research, the Persistent and other Priority Offender (PPO) programme, is outlined. The theory proposed in this book is used to explain the results of a policy evaluation of that programme, including some results which the evaluators found perplexing. The policy implications of the theory are discussed and the conditions under which particular policies would be effective as a crime reduction strategy are identified. In particular of the 20% reduction in BCS crime between 1994 and 2000 only 1.5% is explained by increased use of incarceration and 12% by demographic changes. Some frequently asked questions concerning the theory are answered.
Summary and Conclusions
Authors: MacLeod John F. , Grove Peter G. , Farrington David P.
Published: January 2014

The analysis and theories developed in this volume are summarised, highlighting the success of the theory in providing explanations for many of the accepted features of criminal careers, epitomised by the age/crime curve. The main findings are discussed including: the accurate forecasts of the prison population; estimates of the number of persistent offenders; size and growth of the DNA database; and the essential role of the theory in the evaluation of policy initiatives. The questions raised by the theory are discussed and areas where further research is needed are identified, in particular: the psychological differences between offenders and non-offenders; the effectiveness of early intervention programmes; desistance from crime; and the effectiveness of cautions and associated interventions. The relationship of the theory to the wider criminal careers debate and the findings and theories of other researchers are examined and discussed.
Constructing the Sacred in Space and Place
Authors: Day Katie , Conboy Edd
Published: January 2014

This chapter examines how sacred space is socially constructed in an urban context in different types of buildings from historic churches to former commercial buildings adapted for religious purposes. “Sacralization” is a social process in which a physical space becomes sacred (inviolable) and a vehicle for spiritual transcendence. This process occurs both within a faith community and in correspondence with context. Two congregations from very different traditions on one intersection are described as they have created sacred space in a former ironworks store and funeral home.
Seeking the Welfare of the City: Assessing the Impact of Urban Congregations
Authors: Day Katie , Conboy Edd
Published: January 2014

Urban congregations are often regarded as a benign presence, at best, or a drain on resources or sign of blight by policy makers and developers. This chapter analyses the attempts to measure their impact, but argues and documents the agency of communities of faith in the urban ecology. From mosques to mega churches to humble storefronts, the congregations on Germantown Avenue are contributing to the quality of life in the city through the production of human services and economic development through both formal programs and through informal social processes. Congregations provide for basic human needs (food, shelter, clothing) as well as preventative health care and education. Local economies are impacted through direct investment, patronage of businesses, teaching and supporting entrepreneurship and increasing property values. The so-called “prosperity gospel” is not a dominant paradigm in African American congregations, which nevertheless provide moral and social support for the economic participation of their members.
Pound for Pound: The Social Impact of Small Churches
Authors: Day Katie , Conboy Edd
Published: January 2014

Following up on the previous chapter, this chapter looks at the social contributions of small, independent African American congregations (often called storefront churches) in two impoverished neighborhoods in the city. Through the presentation of rich ethnographic research, the chapter argues that “pound for pound” the impact of these smaller congregations is great, relative to larger and better resourced faith communities. They respond to the basic human needs they encounter every day, as well as providing education and performance opportunities in the arts. Further, a strong work ethic is reinforced for members, as they receive encouragement in navigating the recession economy. The impact of these congregations extends beyond the individual as they also have agency in local transformation, as reflected in the dramatic change seen in one of the neighborhoods.
Pentecostal Latinas: Engendering Selves in Storefront Congregations
Authors: Day Katie , Conboy Edd
Published: January 2014

This chapter reflects extensive ethnographic research in two Latino storefront churches, which are proximate to each other on Germantown Avenue, yet differ in theological and cultural ways. It focuses on the experience of Puerto Rican women and the ways they negotiate gender and cultural identity within the arena of their churches. Within this context of their faith communities, these women confront the oppressive gender roles of Latin culture (machista), reinforced by religious structures and piety; yet they also draw on the same community in helping them negotiate an often-alienating new culture. The tension of assimilation and resistance in both contexts can be a lonely, confusing and exhausting. Their compelling narratives of struggle also contain their sources of hope and strength.
Muslims on the Block: Navigating the Urban Ecology
Authors: Day Katie , Conboy Edd
Published: January 2014

This chapter explores the Muslim presence on Germantown Avenue, and how they have found their place in the urban ecology. It particularly focuses on two very different Sunni mosques. Reflecting national trends presented, both have grown in numbers, visibility and engagement with their contexts. Ethnographic research reflects how each has transcended cultural boundaries with other religious and social groups through agency grounded in religious values of community building of both bonding and bridging social capital. Both have been significantly involved in local economic development and community improvement. One of the mosques, Al Aqsa Islamic Center, underwent a dramatic physical transformation through interfaith collaboration and, as a result, is now a center for interfaith dialogue. There are also four other syncretist groups described which bring together elements of Black nationalism with Abrahamic faith traditions and reflect the same tensions of identity building, resistance and assimilation.
Locality and Agreement in French Hyper-Complex Inversion
Authors: Kayne Richard S. , Pollock Jean-Yves
Published: January 2014

French HCI (hyper-complex inversion) constitutes a new probe into questions of locality related to clitic climbing and shows that (some) French actually allows clitic climbing out of non-causative infinitive phrases in cases not studied previously. HCI also constitutes a new probe into questions of number agreement involving the licensing of two distinct subjects in what looks like a simple sentence. The correct analysis appears to necessarily involve, in at least some cases, two distinct agreement morphemes, in a way that sharply distinguishes singular from plural.
Subject Positions, Subject Extraction, EPP, and the Subject Criterion
Authors: Shlonsky Ur
Published: January 2014

The idea that the EPP reduces to the criterial freezing of the clausal subject is shown to have empirical consequences beyond those discussed in Rizzi & Shlonsky (2006, 2007). In particular, it bears upon the Highest Subject Restriction on resumptive pronouns in Hebrew relative clauses, the Anti-Agreement Effect in Berber and on the conditions for Quantifier Raising and Lowering. The status of the clausal subject as an “aboutness” topic is also examined in the context of a discussion of a particular brand of negative sentences in Hebrew. It is further argued that the relevant probing feature on the Subj head is [person] and that this leads to an implementation of the idea that [person] and [number] are not only distinct features but also distinct probes, associated with different heads: [Number] is a feature of T and [person] a feature of SUBJ.
French Reflexivese
Authors: Sportiche Dominique
Published: January 2014

As the theoretical landscape has changed since Luigi Rizzi’s Condition on Chains was proposed, a new account must be provided to capture its empirical effects (mainly that it is both deep and surface subject oriented). French reflexive se is examined with this objective in mind, in a context attempting to maximize theoretical parsimony, in particular postulating no intrinsic difference between it and other instances of French se (middle, anticausative). Building on a demonstration (contra Sportiche, 1990; see Sportiche, 2011), that French reflexive constructions are not unaccusative, a treatment is proposed invoking the presence of a Reflexive Voice in the verbal functional domain and placement of reflexive se as A-movement.
The Left Periphery and Agrammatism
Authors: Nyvad Anne Mette , Christensen Ken Ramshøj , Vikner Sten
Published: January 2014

Data from a study on the comprehension of short and long extractions by four Danish agrammatic patients reveal an interesting asymmetry between subject and object extraction that cannot be explained with canonicity or with trace deletion. It is argued that three crucial linguistic distinctions are required: namely, A-movement (impaired) vs. A-bar-movement (not impaired); main clause CP vs. embedded clause CP (impaired); and subject vs. object. In simple clauses, object extraction is most impaired, whereas in embedded clauses the pattern is reversed. Together these distinctions provide an account of the inverse asymmetries resembling the *that-trace pattern.
The Afterlife (Part I)
Authors: Scheffler Samuel
Published: January 2014

We normally assume that other people will live on after we ourselves have died. Even if we do not believe in a personal afterlife, we assume that there will be a “collective afterlife” in which humanity survives long after we are gone. This assumption plays a neglected and surprisingly important role in our lives. Drawing on P. D. James’s novel The Children of Men, this chapter defends “the afterlife conjecture,” which holds that if we were faced with the prospect of humanity’s imminent extinction, we would lose confidence in the value of many of our most cherished activities. By contrast, the prospect of our own deaths does little to undermine that confidence. In certain respects, then, the future existence of people who are as yet unborn matters more to us than our own continued existence. This conclusion complicates widespread assumptions about human egoism.
The Afterlife (Part II)
Authors: Scheffler Samuel
Published: January 2014

This chapter continues the discussion of the afterlife conjecture and its implications. The conjecture is said to cast light on the limits of individualism and on the relation between value and temporality. This chapter also investigates the relation between the personal afterlife and the collective afterlife. This investigation reinforces the conclusion that the prospect of humanity’s imminent extinction poses a threat to the ability of those now living to lead good and fulfilling lives. This has implications for the way we think about the threats to humanity’s survival posed by climate change, nuclear proliferation, and other, similar problems. It means that we have compelling reasons to take the interests of future generations seriously, not merely because they are dependent on us and vulnerable to being harmed by what we do, but also, and less obviously, because we are dependent on them if we are to lead successful lives.
Fear, Death, and Confidence
Authors: Scheffler Samuel
Published: January 2014

This chapter considers what attitudes it is reasonable to have toward the prospect of one’s own death. Against Epicurus and Lucretius, it affirms the reasonableness of fearing death. At the same time, it discusses and expresses sympathy for Bernard Williams’s view that death gives the meaning to life. Although it develops a position that differs from Williams’s in important respects, it argues that our deaths are necessary if we are to retain confidence in the value of our activities. Despite the reasonableness of fearing death, our confidence in our values depends far more on our confidence in the survival of other people after our deaths than it does on our confidence in our own survival. In fact, personal immortality would itself undermine such confidence. What is necessary to sustain our confidence in our values is that we should die and others should live.
The Significance of Doomsday
Authors: Wolf Susan
Published: January 2014

This commentary raises doubts about three of Scheffler’s claims. First, it questions whether reacting to the prospect of doomsday with apathy and despair shows that people are less egoistic than we tend to believe. Second, it questions whether people would tend to react so despairingly in the first place, rather than band together and try to help each other find meaning in the little bit of life that remains to them. Finally, it questions whether the difference between the prospect of humanity’s imminent extinction and the knowledge of humanity’s eventual extinction is or should be as significant as Scheffler takes it to be. Meaningfulness in life may depend on the existence of a community of valuers, but not necessarily on a community with a future.
Preserving the Valued or Preserving Valuing?
Authors: Shiffrin Seana Valentine
Published: January 2014

Samuel Scheffler's superb and original book provides important insights into individualism, human values, and how the meaning of our lives depends, surprisingly, on future generations. This comment pursues two further points. First, it asks whether our deep emotional investment in the future rests on the continuation of particular things, projects and activities or whether it rests predominantly on the continuation of the activity of valuing itself, even if future generations replace what we value with something else.  Second, the comment argues that a reasonable asymmetry holds of our attitudes toward our prior collective non-existence on the one hand and our possible future non-existence on the other.  This asymmetry parallels the Lucretian asymmetry between our attitudes about our individual past non-existence and our individual post-mortem non-existence.
Validation of the Rome III Criteria and Alarm Symptoms for Recurrent Abdominal Pain in Children
Authors: Gijsbers Carolien F.M. , Benninga Marc A. , Schweizer Joachim J. , Kneepkens C.M. Frank , Vergouwe Yvonne , Büller Hans A.
Published: January 2014

Objectives:

Rome criteria were formulated to define functional gastrointestinal disorders (Rome III criteria, 2006) excluding organic diagnoses when alarm symptoms were absent. The aims of the study were to validate the Rome III criteria as to their capacity to differentiate between organic and functional abdominal pain and to assess the role of alarm symptoms in this differentiation.

Methods:

During 2 years all of the patients (ages 4–16 years) presenting with recurrent abdominal pain (Apley criteria) and referred to secondary care were included. Clinical diagnoses were based on protocolized evaluation and intervention with 6‐month follow‐up. Alarm symptoms were registered. Rome III criteria for functional pain syndromes were assigned independently. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed.

Results:

In 200 patients (87 boys, mean age 8.8 years), organic (17%), functional (40%), combined organic and functional (9%), spontaneous recovery (27%), and other (8%) clinical diagnoses were established. Alarm symptoms were found in 57.5% (organic causes 56%, functional causes 61%). The evaluation for Rome symptom clusters revealed symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in 27%, functional dyspepsia in 15%, functional abdominal pain in 28%, functional abdominal pain syndrome in 14.5%, and no pain syndrome in 15.5%. Rome diagnoses, based on symptoms and absence of alarm symptoms, predicted functional clinical diagnosis with sensitivity 0.35 (95% confidence interval 0.27–0.43), specificity 0.60 (0.46–0.73), positive predictive value 0.71 (0.61–0.82), and negative predictive value of 0.24 (0.17–0.32).

Conclusions:

The Rome III criteria for abdominal pain are not specific enough to rule out organic causes. Alarm symptoms do not differentiate between organic and functional abdominal pain.
A microRNA profile inFmr1knockout mice reveals microRNA expression alterations with possible roles in fragile X syndrome
Authors: Liu Ting , Wan Rui-Ping , Tang Ling-Jia , Liu Shu-Jing , Li Hai-Jun , Zhao Qi-Hua , Liao Wei-Ping , Sun Xiao-Fang , Yi Yong-Hong , Long Yue-Sheng
Published: January 2014

Fragile X syndrome (FXS), a common form of inherited mental retardation, is caused by a loss of expression of the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). FMRP is involved in brain functions by interacting with mRNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs) that selectively control gene expression at translational level. However, little is known about the role of FMRP in regulating miRNA expression. Here, we found a development-dependant dynamic expression ofFmr1mRNA (encoding FMRP) in mouse hippocampus with a small peak at postnatal day 7 (P7). MiRNA microarray analysis showed that the levels of 38 miRNAs showed a significant increase with about 15∼250 folds and the levels of 26 miRNAs showed a significant decrease with only about 2∼4 folds in the hippocampus of P7Fmr1KO mice. Q-PCR assay showed that 9 of the most increased miRNAs (>100 folds in microarrays) were increased about 40∼70 folds and their pre-miRNAs were increased about 5∼10 folds, but no significant difference in their pri-miRNA levels was observed, suggesting a role of FMRP in regulating miRNA processing from pri-miRNA to pre-miRNA. We further demonstrated that a set of protein-coding mRNAs, potentially targeted by the 9 miRNAs were down-regulated in the hippocampus ofFmr1KO mice. Finally, luciferase assays demonstrated that miR-34b, miR-340, miR-148a could down-regulate the reporter gene expression by interacting with theMet3′ UTR. Taken together these findings suggest that the miRNA expression alterations resulted from the absence of FMRP might contribute to molecular pathology of FXS.
Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of Aspergillus terreus endo-β-1,4-glucanase from glycoside hydrolase family 12
Authors: Segato Fernando , Berto Gabriela L. , Ares de Araújo Evandro , Muniz João Renato , Polikarpov Igor
Published: January 2014

Endoglucanases are important enzymes that are involved in the modification and degradation of cellulose. Filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus terreus are effective biomass degraders in nature owing to their capacity to produce an enzymatic arsenal of glycoside hydrolases, including endoglucanase from glycoside hydrolase family 12 (GH12). The A. terreus GH12 endoglucanase was cloned and overexpressed in A. nidulans, purified and crystallized. A single crystal was obtained from a solution consisting of 2 M ammonium sulfate, 5%(v/v) 2-propanol. X-ray diffraction data were collected to a resolution of 1.85 Å using synchrotron radiation and a preliminary molecular-replacement solution was obtained in the trigonal space group P3221. The unit-cell parameters were a = b = 103.24, c = 48.96 Å.
Approaches to automated protein crystal harvesting
Authors: Deller Marc C. , Rupp Bernhard
Published: January 2014

The harvesting of protein crystals is almost always a necessary step in the determination of a protein structure using X-ray crystallographic techniques. However, protein crystals are usually fragile and susceptible to damage during the harvesting process. For this reason, protein crystal harvesting is the single step that remains entirely dependent on skilled human intervention. Automation has been implemented in the majority of other stages of the structure-determination pipeline, including cloning, expression, purification, crystallization and data collection. The gap in automation between crystallization and data collection results in a bottleneck in throughput and presents unfortunate opportunities for crystal damage. Several automated protein crystal harvesting systems have been developed, including systems utilizing microcapillaries, microtools, microgrippers, acoustic droplet ejection and optical traps. However, these systems have yet to be commonly deployed in the majority of crystallography laboratories owing to a variety of technical and cost-related issues. Automation of protein crystal harvesting remains essential for harnessing the full benefits of fourth-generation synchrotrons, free-electron lasers and microfocus beamlines. Furthermore, automation of protein crystal harvesting offers several benefits when compared with traditional manual approaches, including the ability to harvest microcrystals, improved flash-cooling procedures and increased throughput.
Jung's views on causes and treatments of schizophrenia in light of current trends in cognitive neuroscience and psychotherapy research I. Aetiology and phenomenology
Authors: Silverstein Steven M.
Published: January 2014

Jung's writings on schizophrenia are almost completely ignored or forgotten today. The purpose of this paper, along with a follow‐up article, is to review the primary themes found in Jung's writings on schizophrenia, and to assess the validity of his theories about the disorder in light of our current knowledge base in the fields of psychopathology, cognitive neuroscience and psychotherapy research. In this article, five themes related to the aetiology and phenomenology of schizophrenia from Jung's writings are discussed:1)abaissement du niveau mental; 2) the complex; 3) mandala imagery; 4) constellation of archetypes and 5) psychological versus toxic aetiology. Reviews of the above areas suggest three conclusions. First, in many ways, Jung's ideas on schizophrenia anticipated much current thinking and data about the disorder. Second, with the recent (re)convergence of psychological and biological approaches to understanding and treating schizophrenia, the pioneering ideas of Jung regarding the importance of both factors and their interaction remain a useful and rich, but still underutilized resource. Finally, a more concerted effort to understand and evaluate the validity of Jung's concepts in terms of evidence from neuroscience could lead both to important advances in analytical psychology and to developments in therapeutic approaches that would extend beyond the treatment of schizophrenia.
Incident Command and Information Flows in a Large‐Scale Emergency Operation
Authors: Rimstad Rune , Njå Ove , Rake Eivind L. , Braut Geir Sverre
Published: January 2014

In this article social and information network theory is used to study information flows through the incident command post in a large‐scale emergency operation. The case presented is the 2011 terrorist attacks in Norway. The data were collected from evaluation reports, media and interviews with the incident, fire, medical and ambulance commanders. The article presents the incident command system in Norway and how this was used as a base for improvisation during the operation on initiative from rescue workers on scene. The main internal information flows in each separate rescue service were connected and coordinated at the incident command point through strong ties between the commanders. Important and novel information also reached the commanders through weak and informal ties to more peripheral actors.
What Is Learning? A Review of the Safety Literature to Define Learning from Incidents, Accidents and Disasters
Authors: Drupsteen Linda , Guldenmund Frank W.
Published: January 2014

Learning from incidents, accidents and disasters contributes to improvement of safety and the prevention of unwanted events. In this review, literature on learning from safety incidents within organizations is studied and compared with the organizational learning theory of Argyris and Schön. Sub‐processes, such as learning lessons, sharing, storing and applying lessons, are described, and factors that influence these processes are listed, such as trust, the severity of the consequences of an incident and the people involved in learning. In comparison with the theory of Argyris and Schön, aspects about the information to learn from, i.e., the incident and analysis, are much more specified in the safety literature. However, the organizational learning theory gives more details about the earlier mentioned sub‐processes.
Cardioactive properties of Solanaceae plant extracts and pure glycoalkaloids on Zophobas atratus
Authors: Ventrella Emanuela , Marciniak Paweł , Adamski Zbigniew , Rosiński Grzegorz , Chowański Szymon , Falabella Patrizia , Scrano Laura , Bufo Sabino A.
Published: January 2014

Glycoalkaloids, the biologically active secondary metabolites produced by Solanaceae plants, are natural defenses against animals, insects and fungi. In this paper, the effects of glycoalkaloids present in extracts of Solanaceae plants (potato, tomato and black nightshade) or pure commercial glycoalkaloids on the coleopteran Zophobas atratus F. were evaluated by in vitro and in vivo bioassays using heart experimental models. Each tested extract induced a dose‐dependent cardioinhibitory effect. The perfusion of Zophobas atratus semi‐isolated heart using the highest potato and tomato extract concentration (1 mmol/L) caused irreversible cardiac arrests, while extract from black nightshade produced fast but reversible arrests. Pure commercial glycoalkaloids caused similar but less evident effects compared with extracts. Our results showed that the bioactivity of tested compounds depended on their structure and suggested the existence of synergistic interactions when combinations of the main glycoalkaloids of potato and black nightshade were used for trials. Surprisingly, injection of tomato and potato extracts in 1‐day‐old pupae of Zophobas atratus induced reversible positive chronotropic effects and decreased the duration of the both phases (anterograde and retrograde) of the heart contractile activity. Furthermore, these extracts affected the amplitude of the heart contractions.
Evaluation of the Jelly Processing Potential of Raspberries Adapted in Brazil
Authors: de Souza Vanessa Rios , Pereira Patrícia Aparecida Pimenta , Pinheiro Ana Carla Marques , Nunes Cleiton Antônio , Pio Rafael , Queiroz Fabiana
Published: January 2014

Generally raspberry products as jams, jellies, and preserves are made with red raspberry, however, yellow raspberry and especially black raspberry are also fruits adapted in Brazil, presenting even better productivity and quality. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the processing potential of other varieties of raspberry, but the red, in the preparation of jellies through mixture design and response surface methodology (RSM). These techniques were used to optimize the following 3 variables: yellow (Golden Bliss cultivar, Rubus idaeus), black (Rubus niveus), and red raspberries (Batum cultivar, Rubus idaeus) to formulate a mixed raspberry fruit jelly through sensory evaluations. It was found that jelly formulated with a mix of colored raspberries grown in subtropical regions is a viable and alternative way to use yellow and black raspberries. The mixed raspberry jelly must have 0% to 30% yellow raspberries, 25% to 50% black raspberries, and 30% to 75% red raspberries. Within this region, the optimum formulation has ideal characteristics that are often not observed in formulations with 100% black or yellow raspberries.

Practical Application

The black and yellow raspberries are little explored in fresh consumption and in the development of products such as jams and jellies. From these work, using mixture design and response surface methodology, has been verified that the production of a mixed raspberry jelly seems feasible and is an interesting alternative to use the yellow and black raspberries. The results serve as a guide to the production of jams and jellies from these types of raspberries.
A case of granulomatosis with polyangiitis and pyoderma gangrenosum successfully treated with infliximab and rituximab
Authors: Donmez Salim , Pamuk Omer N. , Gedik Mustafa , Ak Recep , Bulut Gulay
Published: January 2014

Here, we present a young male patient who was admitted with alveolar hemorrhage, arthritis and cutaneous lesions, who later developed bilateral orbital involvement and pyoderma gangrenosum (PG). He also had pathergy test positivity. The patient was refractory to conventional immunosuppressive therapy. Therefore, multiple devastating PG lesions and disease activity in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) were controlled with infliximab. Later, rituximab was used with success to prevent recurrence of symptoms. The relationship of PG with various autoimmune diseases is known; however, PG in GPA has been only rarely reported. Biologic agents might prove to be effective in GPA and PG patients who are refractory to standard immunosuppressive therapy.
Failure of Helicobacter pylori eradication and age are independent risk factors for recurrent neoplasia after endoscopic resection of early gastric cancer in 283 patients
Authors: Kwon Y. H. , Heo J. , Lee H. S. , Cho C. M. , Jeon S. W.
Published: January 2014

Background

Whether the incidence of metachronous gastric dysplasia and cancer could be decreased by eradication of Helicobacter pylori after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for early gastric cancer (EGC).

Aim

To compare the incidence of metachronous gastric lesion in the eradicated group and the persistent group. Second end point is to evaluate the risk factors for metachronous gastric lesions after ESD for EGC.

Methods

In a single centre, between May 2007 and May 2010, the patients who had evidence of H. pylori infection at the time of ESD for EGC were included, and the follow‐up data were analysed retrospectively.

Results

We enrolled 283 patients who have shown H. pylori infection at the time of ESD for EGC. Successful eradication was achieved for 214 patients (75.6%) (Eradicated group), and 69 patients (24.4%) showed persistent H. pylori infection (Persistent group). Metachronous gastric lesions developed in 13 (18.8%) in the persistent group and 18 (8.4%) in the eradicated group (P = 0.016). In the ≥60‐year‐old group, the cumulative incidence of metachronous gastric cancer showed a significant increase (P = 0.012). Cumulative hazard ratio of subsequent gastric metachronous lesions differed between the eradication group and the persistent infection group (OR = 2.322, 95% CI = 1.136–4.744, P = 0.021), and ≥60 age at the time of endoscopic resection (OR = 2.803, 95% CI = 1.207–6.509, P = 0.016).

Conclusions

Both persistent H. pylori infection and old age (≥60) are independent risk factors for the increased incidence of metachronous gastric cancer.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: the haemodynamic effects of carvedilol compared with propranolol for portal hypertension in cirrhosis
Authors: Sinagra E. , Perricone G. , D'Amico M. , Tinè F. , D'Amico G.
Published: January 2014

Background

Propranolol is recommended for prophylaxis of variceal bleeding in cirrhosis. Carvedilol is a nonselective beta‐blocker with a mild anti‐alfa‐1‐adrenergic activity. Several studies have compared carvedilol and propranolol, yielding inconsistent results.

Aim

To perform a systematic review and meta‐analysis of the randomised clinical trials comparing carvedilol with propranolol for hepatic vein pressure gradient reduction.

Methods

Studies were searched on the MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane library databases up to November 2013. The weighted mean difference in percent hepatic vein pressure gradient reduction and the relative risk of failure to achieve a hemodynamic response (reduction ≥20% of baseline or to ≤12 mmHg) with each drug were used as measures of treatment efficacy.

Results

Five studies (175 patients) were included. Indication to treatment was primary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding in 76% of patients. There were overall three acute (60–90 min after drug administration) and three long‐term (after 7–90 days of therapy) comparisons. The summary mean weighted difference in % of reduction in hepatic vein pressure gradient was: acute −7.70 (CI −12.40, −3.00), long‐term −6.81 (CI −11.35, −2.26), overall −7.24 (CI −10.50, −3.97), favouring carvedilol. The summary relative risk of failure to achieve a hemodynamic response with carvedilol was 0.66 (CI 0.44, 1.00). Adverse events were nonsignificantly more frequent and serious with carvedilol. However, quality of trials was mostly unsatisfactory.

Conclusions

Carvedilol reduces portal hypertension significantly more than propranolol. However, available data do not allow a satisfactory comparison of adverse events. These results suggest a potential for a cautious clinical use.
Eosinophilic oesophagitis and proton pump inhibitor‐responsive oesophageal eosinophilia have similar clinical, endoscopic and histological findings
Authors: Moawad F. J. , Schoepfer A. M. , Safroneeva E. , Ally M. R. , Chen Y.‐J. , Maydonovitch C. L. , Wong R. K. H.
Published: January 2014

Background

Some patients with a phenotypic appearance of eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) respond histologically to PPI, and are described as having PPI‐responsive oesophageal eosinophilia (PPI‐REE). It is unclear if PPI‐REE is a GERD‐related phenomenon, a subtype of EoE, or a completely unique entity.

Aim

To compare demographic, clinical and histological features of EoE and PPI‐REE.

Methods

Two databases were reviewed from the Walter Reed and Swiss EoE databases. Patients were stratified into two groups, EoE and PPI‐REE, based on recent EoE consensus guidelines. Response to PPI was defined as achieving less than 15 eos/hpf and a 50% decrease from baseline following at least a 6‐week course of treatment.

Results

One hundred and three patients were identified (63 EoE and 40 PPI‐REE; mean age 40.2 years, 75% male and 89% Caucasian). The two cohorts had similar dysphagia (97% vs. 100%, P = 0.520), food impaction (43% vs. 35%, P = 0.536), and heartburn (33% vs. 32%, P = 1.000) and a similar duration of symptoms (6.0 years vs. 5.8 years, P = 0.850). Endoscopic features were also similar between EoE and PPI‐REE; rings (68% vs. 68%, P = 1.000), furrows (70% vs. 70%, P = 1.000), plaques (19% vs. 10%, P = 0.272), strictures (49% vs. 30%, P = 0.066). EoE and PPI‐REE were similar in the number of proximal (39 eos/hpf vs. 38 eos/hpf, P = 0.919) and distal eosinophils (50 vs. 43 eos/hpf, P = 0.285).

Conclusions

EoE and PPI‐responsive oesophageal eosinophilia are similar in clinical, histological and endoscopic features and therefore are indistinguishable without a PPI trial. Further studies are needed to determine why a subset of patients with oesophageal eosinophilia respond to PPI.
Genetically adjusted prostate‐specific antigen values may prevent delayed biopsies in African‐American men
Authors: Donin Nicholas M. , Loeb Stacy , Cooper Phillip R. , Roehl Kimberly A. , Baumann Nikola A. , Catalona William J. , Helfand Brian T.
Published: January 2014

Objective

To evaluate whether genetic correction using the genetic variants prostate‐specific antigen (PSA)‐single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) could reduce potentially unnecessary and/or delayed biopsies in African‐American men.

Subjects and Methods

We compared the genotypes of four PSA‐SNPs between 964 Caucasian and 363 African‐American men without known prostate cancer (PCa). We adjusted the PSA values based on an individual's PSA‐SNP carrier status, and calculated the percentage of men that would meet commonly used PSA thresholds for biopsy (≥2.5 or ≥4.0 ng/mL) before and after genetic correction. Potentially unnecessary and delayed biopsies were defined as those men who were below and above the biopsy threshold after genetic correction, respectively.

Results

Overall, 349 (96.1%) and 354 (97.5%) African‐American men had measured PSA levels <2.5 and <4.0 ng/mL. Genetic correction in African‐American men did not avoid any potentially unnecessary biopsies, but resulted in a significant (P < 0.001) reduction in potentially delayed biopsies by 2.5% and 3.9%, based on the biopsy threshold level.

Conclusions

There are significant differences in the influence of the PSA‐SNPs between African‐American and Caucasian men without known PCa, as genetic correction resulted in an increased proportion of African‐American men crossing the threshold for biopsy. These results raise the question of whether genetic differences in PSA might contribute to delayed PCa diagnosis in African‐American men.