bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Not just any contour: Intonation marking semantic domain narrowing
Authors: Koch Karsten A.
Published: October 2013

Not just any statements (Natalie won’t drink just ANY wine from France) carry an intonational contour. Previous studies have characterized the contour as fall-rise [D. Robert Ladd, The structure of intonational meaning (1980)], but more intricate acoustic analysis that considers the semantics of the construction has not been performed. Preliminary data shows that for speakers of Canadian English, the contour contains a rise-fall and stress accent on any, followed by a rise on the sentence-final syllable. If the stressed rise-fall on any indicates a topic accent, then the meaning of the construction can be calculated semantically: the presence of the topic accent indicates a disputable topic (in this case, Which wines will Natalie drink?) [following Daniel Buering, Linguistics and Philosophy 20, 175–194 (1997) for German]. This operation narrows the domain of any wine from all wine from France to some smaller amount perhaps Natalie only drinks expensive cabernets. Furthermore, the same intonational contour occurs in other quantificational statements, like ALL gamblers aren’t addicted. Here, the disputable topic is: How many gamblers are addicted? Again, the intonation serves to narrow the domain to a subset of all the gamblers. Thus, documenting this intonational contour identifies a more general semantic process.
Understanding the role of mitochondria in the pathogenesis of chronic pain
Authors: Sui Bing-dong , Xu Tian-qi , Liu Jie-wei , Wei Wei , Zheng Chen-xi , Guo Bao-lin , Wang Ya-yun , Yang Yan-ling
Published: October 2013

Chronic pain is a major public health problem. Mitochondria play important roles in a myriad of cellular processes and mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in multiple neurological disorders. This review aims to provide an insight into advances in understanding of the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of chronic pain. The results show that the five major mitochondrial functions (the mitochondrial energy generating system, reactive oxygen species generation, mitochondrial permeability transition pore, apoptotic pathways and intracellular calcium mobilisation) may play critical roles in neuropathic and inflammatory pain. Therefore, protecting mitochondrial function would be a promising strategy to alleviate or prevent chronic pain states. Related chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain models, as well as the spectral characteristics of current fluorescent probes to detect mitochondria in pain studies, are also discussed.
TOP AND HIGGS PHYSICS AT THE HADRON COLLIDERS
Authors: JABEEN SHABNAM
Published: October 2013

This review summarizes the recent results for top quark and Higgs boson measurements from experiments at Tevatron, a proton–antiproton collider at a center-of-mass energy of [Formula: see text], and the Large Hadron Collider, a proton–proton collider at a center-of-mass energy of [Formula: see text]. These results include the discovery of a Higgs-like boson and measurement of its various properties, and measurements in the top quark sector, e.g. top quark mass, spin, charge asymmetry and production of single top quark.
Leaking space
Authors: Mitchell Neil
Published: October 2013

Eliminating memory hogs.
Agile and SEMAT
Authors: Jacobson Ivar , Spence Ian , Ng Pan-Wei
Published: October 2013

Combining agile and SEMAT yields more advantages than either one alone.
What regulators can do to advance privacy through design
Authors: Mulligan Deirdre K. , Bamberger Kenneth A.
Published: October 2013

Seeking to address the challenges of privacy by design through regulatory process and formal law.
Is software patentable?
Authors: Samuelson Pamela
Published: October 2013

Assessing the shifting perspectives on patentability standards for software.
From sylvester-gallai configurations to rank bounds
Authors: Saxena Nitin , Seshadhri C.
Published: October 2013

We study the problem of identity testing for depth-3 circuits of top fanin
k
and degree
d
. We give a new structure theorem for such identities that improves the known deterministic
d

k

O
(
k
)

-time blackbox identity test over rationals [Kayal and Saraf, 2009] to one that takes
d

O
(
k
2
)

-time. Our structure theorem essentially says that the number of independent variables in a real depth-3 identity is very small. This theorem affirmatively settles the strong rank conjecture posed by Dvir and Shpilka [2006].

We devise various algebraic tools to study depth-3 identities, and use these tools to show that any depth-3 identity contains a much smaller
nucleus identity
that contains most of the “complexity” of the main identity. The special properties of this nucleus allow us to get near optimal rank bounds for depth-3 identities. The most important aspect of this work is relating a field-dependent quantity, the
Sylvester-Gallai rank bound
, to the rank of depth-3 identities. We also prove a high-dimensional Sylvester-Gallai theorem for all fields, and get a general depth-3 identity rank bound (slightly improving previous bounds).
S49G and R389G polymorphisms of the β1-adrenergic receptor influence signaling via the cAMP-PKA and ERK pathways
Authors: Zhang Fan , Steinberg Susan F.
Published: October 2013

Two functionally important β1-adrenergic receptor (β1AR) polymorphisms have been identified. The R389G polymorphism influences coupling to the Gs-cAMP pathway. R389-β1ARs display enhanced activation of cAMP/PKA; they provide short-term inotropic support but also cause a predisposition to cardiomyopathic decompensation. A second S49G polymorphism is implicated in the evolution of heart failure, but the mechanism remains uncertain. This study shows that position 49 and 389 polymorphisms function in a coordinate manner to influence agonist-dependent cAMP/PKA and ERK responses. cAMP/PKA and ERK responses are more robust in HEK293 cells that heterologously overexpress G49-β1ARs, compared with S49-β1ARs. However, this phenotype is most obvious on a G389-β1AR background; the more robust agonist-dependent cAMP/PKA and ERK responses in R389-β1AR cells effectively obscure the effect of the S49G polymorphism. We also show that isoproterenol (Iso) and carvedilol activate ERK via a similar EGFR-independent mechanism in cells expressing various β1AR haplotypes. However, Iso activates ERK via an Src-independent pathway, but carvedilol-dependent ERK activation requires Src. Since the S49G polymorphism has been linked to changes in β1AR trafficking, we examined whether β1AR polymorphisms influence partitioning to lipid raft membranes. Biochemical fractionation studies show that all four β1AR variants are recovered in buoyant flotillin-enriched membranes; the distinct signaling phenotypes of the different β1AR variants could not be attributed to any gross differences in basal compartmentalization to lipid raft membranes. The allele-specific differences in β1AR signaling phenotypes identified in this study could underlie interindividual differences in responsiveness to β-blocker therapy and clinical outcome in heart failure.
Strong Convergence Theorems for Variational Inequalities and Split Equality Problem
Authors: Wu Yu Jing , Chen Ru Dong , Shi Luo Yi
Published: October 2013

LetH1, H2,andH3be real Hilbert spaces, letC⊆H1, Q⊆H2be two nonempty closed convex sets, and letA:H1→H3, B:H2→H3be two bounded linear operators. The split equality problem (SEP) is to findx∈C, y∈Qsuch thatAx=By. LetH=H1×H2; considerf:H→Ha contraction with coefficient0<α<1, a strongly positive linear bounded operatorT:H→Hwith coefficientγ̅>0, andM:H→His aβ-inverse strongly monotone mapping. Let0<γ<γ̅/α,S=C×QandG:H→H3be defined by restricting toH1isAand restricting toH2is-B, that is,Ghas the matrix formG=[A,-B]. It is proved that the sequence{wn}={(xn,yn)}⊆Hgenerated by the iterative methodwn+1=PS[αnγf(wn)+(I-αnT)PS(I-γnG*G)PS(wn-λnMwn)]converges strongly tow̃which solves the SEP and the following variational inequality:〈(T-λf)w̃,w-w̃〉≥0and〈Mw̃,w-w̃〉≥0for allw∈S. Moreover, if we takeM=G*G:H→H, γn=0, thenMis aβ-inverse strongly monotone mapping, and the sequence{wn}generated by the iterative methodwn+1=αnγf(wn)+(I-αnT)PS(wn-λnG*Gwn)converges strongly tow̃which solves the SEP and the following variational inequality:〈(T-λf)w̃,w-w̃〉≥0for allw∈S.
Picosecond Photovoltaic Response in Tilted Lanthanum Doped Manganite Films
Authors: Lu Zhiqing , Ni Hao , Xi Jianfeng , Li Xiaoming , Zhao Kun
Published: October 2013

Anisotropic picosecond photovoltaic responses were observed in lanthanum doped manganiteLaxCa1-xMnO3(x=0.67and 0.4) thin films, which were deposited on miscut LaSrAlO4substrates under ultraviolet pulsed laser irradiation without external bias. The 10%–90% rise time and the full width at half maximum of La0.67Ca0.33MnO3were 470 and 585 ps, respectively, and those of La0.4Ca0.6MnO3were 220 and 515 ps. The photovoltage sensitivities of La0.67Ca0.33MnO3and La0.4Ca0.6MnO3, which are sensitive to the concentrations of lanthanum of the samples, are 0.28 V/mJ and 3.47 V/mJ, respectively. The photosensitivity in the films deposited on MgO is higher than that in those deposited on LaSrAlO4substrates, for it has a big lattice mismatch. These results should open a route for the application of lanthanum doped manganite as an ultrafast photodetector material.
Epidemiology of Gastric Cancer in the Gangetic Areas of West Bengal
Authors: Saha Ashis Kumar , Maitra Somnath , Hazra Subhas Chandra
Published: October 2013

There is marked geographical variation in the distribution and incidence of stomach cancer. We tried here to describe the pattern of relationships of age, sex, religion distribution, symptom profile, histological subtypes and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection with gastric cancer in Gangetic West Bengal. This study was done over a period of five years (2006–2010). The patients residing in the Gangetic areas of West Bengal presenting with upper gastrointestinal symptoms underwent UGI endoscopy. Among gastric cancer patients, demographic characteristics, symptomatology, macroscopic and histologic lesions and H. pylori status were analyzed. At confidence level 95%, “” and “” value were calculated to find significance. Among 23851 patients underwent UGI endoscopy, 14106 were males, 9745 females, 17889 Hindus and 5962 Muslims. Among 462 gastric cancer patients, Male : Female 2.7 : 1, Hindus : Muslim 3 : 1, abdominal pain, indigestion, and weight-loss were commonest presentations. Antrum was the commonest site whereas ulceroproliferative type was commonest type. H. pylori positivity was 80.89% in adenocarcinoma with statistically significant relation with intestinal type. In future, our target will be to modify risk factors; it will need further demographic studies and analysis, so that we can detect it earliest.
Is Delayed Pressure Urticaria Associated with Increased Systemic Release of sCD40L?
Authors: Jasinska T. , Grzanka A. , Machura E. , Kasperska-Zajac A.
Published: October 2013

Background. Elevated levels of soluble CD40 Ligand (sCD40L) were found in serum but not in plasma of patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CU). What is important is that sCD40L has proinflammatory properties, and its elevated plasma level may indicate increased risk of cardiovascular events. These observations should stimulate further evaluation of sCD40L in different forms of urticaria.Aim. In the present study, sCD40L plasma level was investigated in delayed pressure urticaria (DPU).Methods. As platelets are predominant and variable sources of sCD40L, we investigated sCD40L concentration in platelet-poor plasma (PPP), which seems the best way to minimize the potential contribution of these cells to the ligand level.Results. Plasma sCD40L concentration was significantly increased in the DPU group compared to the healthy controls.Conclusions. It seems that DPU is associated with increased systemic release of sCD40L, which is believed to derive predominantly from activated platelets. The present study as well as the earlier contributions suggest that distinct cells activity, including platelets, may be identified in different types of urticaria.
The Neighborhood Where You Live Is a Risk Factor for Stroke
Authors: Balamurugan Appathurai , Delongchamp Robert , Bates Joseph H. , Mehta Jawahar L.
Published: October 2013

Background—

The excess stroke mortality in the southeastern states of the United States (stroke-belt states) is well known; however, the factors associated with this pattern have not been fully elucidated. We measured the contribution of several demographic factors by analyzing stroke mortality data (2005–2009) at the census block group (BG) level in the state of Arkansas.

Methods and Results—

Census BGs were used as proxies for neighborhoods. BGs were stratified using 5 census measures: poverty (percent of population below federal poverty level), population density (population per square mile), education (percent of population aged >25 years who did not graduate from high school), population mobility (percent of population who resided at the same address 1 year ago), and the percent of non-Hispanic blacks (percent of population that is black). Generalized additive models were used to estimate the variation in stroke mortality among BGs and to assess the impact of different demographic variables. From 2005 to 2009, there were 8930 stroke deaths in Arkansas. There was considerable variation in the relative risk even between adjacent BGs within a single county. The geographically weighted regression analyses indicated that 4.5% to 9% of deviance in stroke mortality among BGs could be explained by poverty, education, population density, and population mobility. Race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic blacks) explains <2% of the deviance in stroke mortality among BGs.

Conclusions—

Our study shows that primordial risk factors such as poverty and education drive disparities in stroke mortality among neighborhoods in Arkansas.
Structural constraints of secondary asymmetry in male external genitalia of Noctuidae
Authors: Varga Zoltán , Ronkay László
Published: October 2013

The basic architecture of the external genitalia of Noctuidae (“genital capsula”) is bilaterally symmetric. Secondary asymmetry is well-known in different subfamilies and tribes. We review and interpret the functions and processes which may be responsible for secondary asymmetry (i.e., dissymmetry) of these structures in terms of structural vs. behavioural working hypotheses. We consider the genital structures as correlated elements of a complex structure (“bauplan”) in which some changes in details can be explained by selection due to optimization of the reproductive success. Major pathways of changes are, however, delimited by some structural constraints which appear in parallel in different phyletic lines of trifine Noctuidae. One of these constraints is the subsistence of symmetry in structures with own musculature. On the other hand, some rigid parts without own musculature can evolve more rapidly and divergently in connection with the different allocation of functions. Such asymmetric structures may have some selective advantages due to the more effective stimulation, on one side, and fixation of genital parts during copulation, on the other. Asymmetric structures can effectively enhance the variations of the spatial geometry but without change of the “bauplan” which can be preserved in parallel in different taxonomical groups. It means that the originally symmetric “bauplan” with its homologies can be considered as a phyletic “heritage”, while the functional dissymmetrisation driven by selective optimization is the “habitus” in which numerous homoplasies can occur.
The Vineyard of Verse
Authors: Haskell Yasmin
Published: October 2013

This review of scholarship on Jesuit humanistic literature and theater is Latin-oriented because the Society’s sixteenth-century code of studies, the Ratio Studiorum, in force for nearly two centuries, enjoined the study and imitation in Latin of the best classical authors. Notwithstanding this well-known fact, co-ordinated modern scholarship on the Latin poetry, poetics, and drama of the Old Society is patchy. We begin with questions of sources, reception, and style. Then recent work on epic, didactic, and dramatic poetry is considered, and finally, on a handful of “minor” genres. Some genres and regions are well studied (drama in the German-speaking lands), others less so. There is a general scarcity of bilingual editions and commentaries of many “classic” Jesuit authors which would, in the first instance, bring them to the attention of mainstream modern philologists and literary historians, and, in the longer term, provide a firmer basis for more synoptic and synthetic studies of Jesuit intertextuality and style(s). Along with the interest and value of this poetry as world literature, I suspect that the extent to which the Jesuits’ Latin labors in the vineyard of the classroom formed the hearts and minds of their pupils, including those who went on to become Jesuits, is underestimated.
Recent Works in Jesuit Philosophy
Authors: Schloesser Stephen
Published: October 2013

The works considered in this review essay trace the vicissitudes of Jesuit particularism and reflect broader changes in intellectual and cultural history over the past twenty years. Reevaluations of “scientific revolution,” “Enlightenment(s),” and “modernity” itself have provided the preconditions for the possible reframing of Jesuit “philosophical” practices (including “natural philosophy”). Five of these books treat the work of Francisco Suárez in the late-sixteenth and early-seventeenth centuries, a test-case for the problem of periodizing the “modern.” Three other works provide snapshots over the next 150 years: (1) seventeenth-century German-speaking Jesuit natural philosophers embracing experimental science; (2) a late-seventeenth-century superior general of the Society who embraced rigorism to a degree considered unacceptable by other Jesuits; and (3) in the early-eighteenth century, French Jesuit syntheses accommodating “Enlightenment” thought. Taken as a whole, these works demonstrate that, as binary oppositions between “Jesuits” and “moderns” continue to dissolve, Jesuit practices (sometimes in contrast to theories or principles) increasingly appear as accommodating, syncretizing, and hybridizing.
Surface Energy Balance and Buoyancy Response to Shallow Cumulus Shading
Authors: Lohou Fabienne , Patton Edward G.
Published: October 2013

The interactions surrounding the coupling between surface energy balance and a boundary layer with shallow cumuli are investigated using the National Center for Atmospheric Research’s large-eddy simulation code coupled to the Noah land surface model. The simulated cloudy boundary layer is based on the already well-documented and previously simulated 21 June 1997 case at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Southern Great Plains central facility. The surface energy balance response to cloud shading is highly nonlinear, leading to different partitioning between sensible and latent heat flux compared to the surface not impacted by cloud. The evaporative fraction increases by about 2%–3% in the presence of shallow cumuli at the regional scale but can increase by up to 30% at any individual location. As expected, the cloud’s reduction of solar irradiance largely controls the surface’s response. However, the turbulence and secondary circulations associated with the cloud dynamics increases the surface flux variability. Even though they are less than 1 km in horizontal scale, the cloud-induced surface heterogeneities impact the vertical flux of heat and moisture up to approximately 20% of the height of the subcloud layer zsl, higher than the surface layer’s typical extent. Above 0.2zsl, the cloud root tends to amplify the drying and the cooling of the subcloud layer. Near the entrainment zone, the cloud-induced latent heat flux increase and sensible heat flux decrease compensate each other with respect to total buoyancy and therefore do not significantly modify the subcloud-layer entrainment rate over large time scales.
Pharmacological inhibition of GSK-3 in a guinea pig model of LPS-induced pulmonary inflammation: I. Effects on lung remodeling and pathology
Authors: Baarsma Hoeke A , Bos Sophie , Meurs Herman , Visser Kim H , Smit Marieke , Schols Annemie MWJ , Langen Ramon C , Kerstjens Huib AM , Gosens Reinoud
Published: October 2013

Background

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is a constitutively active kinase that regulates multiple signalling proteins and transcription factors involved in a myriad of cellular processes. The kinase acts as a negative regulator in β-catenin signalling and is critically involved in the smad pathway. Activation of both pathways may contribute to pulmonary features of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods

In the present study, we investigated the effect of the selective GSK-3 inhibitor SB216763 on pulmonary pathology in a guinea pig model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced COPD. Guinea pigs were instilled intranasally with LPS or saline twice weekly for 12 weeks and pre-treated with either intranasally instilled SB216763 or corresponding vehicle 30 min prior to each LPS/saline challenge.

Results

Repeated LPS exposures activated β-catenin signalling, primarily in the airway epithelium and submucosa. LPS also induced pulmonary inflammation and tissue remodelling as indicated by inflammatory cell influx, increased pulmonary fibronectin expression and enhanced small airway collagen content. Inhibition of GSK-3 by SB216763 did not affect LPS-induced inflammatory cell influx, but prevented the small airway remodelling and, unexpectedly, inhibited the activation of β-catenin in vivo. LPS or SB216763 treatment had no effect on the airway smooth muscle content and alveolar airspace size. However, GSK-3 inhibition prevented LPS-induced right ventricle hypertrophy.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that GSK-3 inhibition prevents LPS-induced pulmonary pathology in guinea pigs, and that locally reduced LPS-induced β-catenin activation appears in part to underlie this effect.
Changes of neuregulin-1(NRG-1) expression in a rat model of overactive bladder induced by partial urethral obstruction: is NRG-1 a new biomarker of overactive bladder?
Authors: Jang Hoon , Han Dong Seok , Yuk Seung Mo
Published: October 2013

Background

To determine whether neuregulin-1(NRG-1) is a potential new biomarker of overactive bladder (OAB) induced by partial urethral obstruction in a rat model of OAB and to evaluate the urothelium as a therapeutic target of OAB.

Methods

Female Sprague–Dawley rats were separated into three 20-animal groups: normal, OAB, and 5-hydroxymethyl tolterodine (5-HMT)-treated OAB. In the OAB and OAB + 5-HMT groups, the urethra of each animal was partially obstructed; the OAB + 5-HMT group received intravenous 5-HMT for 3 weeks. At the conclusion of the 5-HMT dosing, the rats in each group underwent cystometrography, and the bladders were histologically evaluated. The expression of brain derived-neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and NRG-1 were evaluated in the urothelium.

Results

Compared with the control group, the OAB group showed a markedly increased bladder weight and a significant decrease in the micturition interval and volume; rats in the OAB + 5-HMT group showed decreased bladder weights and an improved micturition interval and volume. BDNF and NRG-1 were expressed at significantly higher levels in the OAB group, and were significantly reduced in the OAB + 5-HMT group compared with the control group.

Conclusions

The study suggests that NRG-1 is a potential new biomarker of OAB; the urothelium might be a therapeutic target for OAB treatment.
Attitudes toward working in rural areas of Thai medical, dental and pharmacy new graduates in 2012: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Thammatacharee Noppakun , Suphanchaimat Rapeepong , Wisaijohn Thunthita , Limwattananon Supon , Putthasri Weerasak
Published: October 2013

Background

Inequity in health workforce distribution has been a national concern of the Thai health service for decades. The government has launched various policies to increase the distribution of health workforces to rural areas. However, little is known regarding the attitudes of health workers and the factors influencing their decision to work in rural areas. This study aimed to explore the current attitudes of new medical, dental and pharmacy graduates as well as determine the linkage between their characteristics and the preference for working in rural areas.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted, using self-administered questionnaires, with a total of 1,225 medical, dental and pharmacy graduates. They were participants of the meeting arranged by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) on 1–2 April 2012. Descriptive statistics using mean and percentage, and inferential statistics using logistic regression with marginal effects, were applied for data analysis.

Results

There were 754 doctors (44.4%), 203 dentists (42.6%) and 268 pharmacists (83.8%) enrolled in the survey. Graduates from all professions had positive views towards working in rural areas. Approximately 22% of doctors, 31% of dentists and 52% of pharmacists selected ‘close proximity to hometown’ as the most important reason for workplace selection. The multivariable analysis showed a variation in attributes associated with the tendency to work in rural areas across professions. In case of doctors, special track graduates had a 10% higher tendency to prefer rural work than those recruited through the national entrance examination.

Conclusions

The majority of graduates chose to work in community hospitals, and attitudes towards rural work were quite positive. In-depth analysis found that factors influencing their choice varied between professions. Special track recruitment positively influenced the selection of rural workplaces among new doctors attending the MOPH annual meeting for workplace selection. This policy innovation should be applied to dentists and pharmacists as well. However, implementing a single policy without supporting strategies, or failing to consider different characteristics between professions, might not be effective. Future study of attitudes and factors contributing to the selection of, and retention in, rural service of both new graduates and in-service professionals was recommended.
The Impact of Management's Customer Orientation on Job Satisfaction and Competency of Service Employees in the Public Sector: The Mediating Effect of Role Stress
Authors: Osmonbekov Talai , Bernard Elena
Published: October 2013

Customer orientation has been a focus of research for a number of years in marketing literature. Whereas prior research primarily focused on service employees' customer orientation, this paper explores management's customer orientation and its effects on employees' job satisfaction and competency. Role stress is proposed to mediate the effects of management's customer orientation on employees' job perceptions because it is a mechanism by which employees make the management's strategies a reality in service organizations. We test the proposed mediation model using structural equation modeling and a sample of government agency employees. The results support the proposed model. We provide the implications of the model for managers of government organizations and future research in this area.
Prensa local e infraestructuras. La interesada marginación del periodismo medioambiental
Authors: Toledano Buendía Samuel
Published: October 2013

Conscientes de la dificultad para encuadrar muchas informaciones dentro de un área especializada del periodismo, este artículo analiza cómo la polémica construcción de un puerto industrial en Tenerife es abordada por el periódico de mayor difusión de la isla. A la vista de los elementos políticos, económicos, sociales y medioambientales que confluyen en el proyecto, se opta por hacer un análisis crítico del discurso, como método más adecuado para detallar los recursos del medio para trasladar al lector una realidad afín a los sectores políticos y económicos que defienden esta construcción. Se evidencia que la premeditada decisión de marginar la perspectiva medioambiental garantiza el marco idóneo para ocultar todas las manipulaciones orientadas a que la opinión pública apruebe el puerto.
Modernization of Education in the Late Ottoman Empire
Authors: Khuluq Lathiful
Published: October 2013

Artikel ini berbicara tentang fenomena modernisasi dan westernisasi pendidikan di Turki Usmani yang berpuncak pada era tanzimat pada abad ke-19. Uraian tentang kondisi pendidikan agama tradisional yang dikenal dengan istilah medrese menjelang pemberlakuan program modernisasi pendidikan mengawali tulisan ini sekaligus sebagai latar belakang tulisan ini secara keseluruhan. Bagian ini juga membahas beberapa model lembaga pendidikan tradisional. Beberapa faktor pendorong modernisasi pendidikan dibahas di bagian selanjutnya, baik yang terkait dengan kondisi keterpurukan Turki Usmani dalam bidang militer, politik, sosial, maupun pendidikan itu sendiri. Bagian terakhir berbicara tentang proses modernisasi pendidikan di Turki Usmani, yang dimulai dari sektor militer sebagai program pendidikan untuk mendukung kebutuhan pengembangan kemiliteran. Lembaga pendidikan sipil yang dibentuk pertama dalam kerangka modernisasi pendidikan antara lain adalah sekolah kesehatan dan teknik. Dalam bagian ini juga dibahas tentang hal-hal yang menyertai proses modernisasi tersebut, termasuk faktor-faktor penghambatnya.
The Reliability of the Traditional Science of Hadith: A Critical Reconsideration
Authors: Amin Kamaruddin
Published: October 2013

Satu hal yang begitu krusial dalam studi hadis adalah adanya fakta bahwa kodifikasi hadis dilakukan pada waktu yang cukup jauh dari peristiwa-peristiwa yang dinarasikannya. Untuk itu, tulisan ini memfokuskan pada metode-metode yang digunakan untuk menenetukan keotentikan hadis. Dengan demikian, riset ini dapat menjadi pertimbangan untuk menempatkan hadis dalam studi Islam. Riset ini menggunakan pendekatan isnad yang didukung dengan metode komparatif, pendekatan Barat dan Timur. Metode ini diperkuat dengan karya-karya dan literaturliteratur para ahli hadis Barat dan Timur. Tulisan ini akhirnya menegaskan bahwa dasar-dasar kritreria dalam menentukan keotentikan hadis dan evaluasi kritis terhadap bentuk-bentuk dalam mentransmisikan hadis merupakan hal yang fundamental untuk dipertimbangkan. Walaupun demikian, bentuk-bentuk itu tidak mudah diinvestigasi karena mereka dapat digunakan secara bergantian. Begitu juga dengan ulumul hadis yang masih perlu dipertanyakan tentang keselarasannya dengan praktek pentransmisian dan kritik terhadap hadis pada masanya.
Pesantren, Peace Building, and Empowerment: A Study of Community Based Peace Building Initiatives
Authors: Sholeh Badrus
Published: October 2013

Pesantren telah menjadi bagian tradisi keislaman di Indonesia, yang menggabungkan kajian dan budaya Islam Timur Tengah dengan tradisi lokal. Penggabungan tradisi ini menciptakan Islam Indonesia memiliki karakter berbeda dengan Islam di Timur Tengah. Tulisan ini melihat peran pesantren lebih dekat dengan studi kasus pesantren Salafiyah Syafi’iyah Situbondo, Jawa Timur. Pesantren ini telah menjadi salah satu pesantren tertua di Indonesia, dengan peran strategis mengembangkan perdamaian dan mewarnai perjalanan peradaban di sekitarnya. Kiprah tiga pesantren menjadi perhatian utama: memediasi hubungan antar agama pasca kerusuhan Situbondo 1996, mendamaikan hubungan antara petani dan perusahaan perkebunan negara dalam pendayagunaan tanah di Bunengan dan konflik tanah di Merak. Kyai, ustadz dan santri menjadi bagian yang menyatu dengan dinamika lokal.
The Epistemology of Kalam of Abu Mansur al-Maturidi
Authors: Nasir Sahilun A.
Published: October 2013

Wacana tentang teologi al-Maturidi nampak kurang mendapat perhatian dari orang-orang Islam Indonesia. Tidak kalah krusialnya adalah bahwa karya-karyanya langka untuk ditemukan di negeri ini. Fakta ini begitu berbeda dengan teologi Asy‘ari. Padahal kedua tokoh itu merupakan penganut Ahlus-sunnah wal jama‘ah. Untuk keperluan itu, tulisan ini mengekplorasi metode teologi al-Maturidi terkait dengan sifat-sifat Allah, firman Allah, melihat Allah, dosa besar, dan aktifitas manusia. Pendekatan epistemologi, yang didukung dengan metode hermeneutik, digunakan sebagai alat pembedah untuk memperjelas metode teologinya tentang subjek-subjek tersebut. Akhirnya, tulisan ini menyimpulkan bahwa pengaruh Abu Hanifah dan Mu‘tazilah telah mmberikan kekhasan pada metode teologinya terkait dengan kelima subyek itu.
Arab Scholars in Russian Universities (the Nineteenth - Early Twentieth Century)
Authors: Kirillina Svetlana
Published: October 2013

 Dalam artikel ini, penulis mendiskusikan perkembangan studi tentang dunia Arab secara khusus dan studi ketimuran secara umum di kalangan intelektual Rusia hingga awal abad ke-20. Lebih jauh, dibahas juga peran akademik orang-orang Arab-Rusia yang telah membuat dunia Timur semakin dikenal di kalangan orang-orang Rusia. Salah satu tokoh utama yang ikut merintis hubungan bagi universitas-universitas di Rusia dengan dunia Arab adalah Shaykh Muḥammad Ayyād al-Ṭanṭawy, seorang ulama al-Azhar yang kemudian pindah dan menetap di Rusia pada tahun 1840. Karir Ṭanṭawy sebagai profesor studi ketimuran dan kehidupan serta peranannya dalam memperkenalkan Arab-Islam kepada kalangan Rusia lewat berbagai kerja dan tulisannya banyak dibahas dalam artikel ini. Selain Ṭanṭawy, tokoh yang tak kalah pentingnya adalah Georgi Murkos, seorang Arab-Kristen dari Damaskus, yang melanjutkan pendidikannya di Universitas Petersburg, kemudian menjadi professor di universitas yang sama dan menjadi salah satu tokoh Arab-Kristen.
Islamic Knowledge Classification Scheme in Islamic Countries’ Libraries
Authors: Arianto M. Solihin
Published: October 2013

Beberapa sarjana Muslim pada periode Islam awal telah mencurahkan perhatian yang cukup besar dalam pengklasifikasian ilmu pengetahuan dengan tujuan mengorganisasikan pengetahuan yang dapat ditransmisikan dengan cara sistemik kepada generasi berikutnya. Upaya pengklasifikasian pengetahuan ini semestinya memberikan kontribusi yang cukup signifikan dalam lingkungan perpustakaan atau pusat informasi Islam, terutama untuk menempatkan disiplin pengetahuan tertentu atas sebuah dokumen dari seluruh organisasi pengetahuan yang ada. Di sisi lain, skema klasifikasi pengetahuan yang dihasilkan sarjana-sarjana Barat seperti DDC, LCC, dan UDC telah mendominasi lembaga-lembaga informasi di seluruh dunia termasuk negara-negara Islam. Bagaimanapun, akhirnya disadari bahwa skema-skema klasifikasi tersebut tidak memuaskan institusi-institusi informasi Islam karena mempunyai beberapa kelemahan dan perlakuan yang kurang memadai untuk mengorganisasikan dokumen-dokumen dalam bidang studi keislaman. Berkaitan dengan hal tersebut, tulisan ini berusaha mengkaji berbagai upaya yang telah dilakukan perpustakaan-perpustakaan beberapa negara Islam seperti Arab Saudi, Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia, dan Malaysia dalam mengembangkan skema klasifikasi pengetahuan Islam. Di samping itu, berbagai problem dan tantangan ke depan yang dihadapi perpustakaan-perpustakaan tersebut sebagai akibat sistem klasifikasi Islam yang diterapkan secara berbeda antara satu negara dengan lainnya juga dibahas dalam artikel ini.
Current Debates in the Post-Soeharto Indonesian Islam: Examining the Intellectual Base of Liberal and Anti-liberal Islamic Movement
Authors: Muzakki Akh.
Published: October 2013

This article discusses intensively the current debate between those who support and against liberalism within pluralized Indonesian muslims. The two groups are represented by JIL (Jaringan Islam Liberal) and MD (Media Dakwah). The author compares three fundamental aspects of religious interpretations: epistemological assumptions, methodological framework, and subject-matter. Epistemological assumptions deal with philosophical foundations that are employed by JIL and MD as principles to understand Islam. Methodological framework means the way the two groups understand and interpret Islam and its teaching based on their philosophical foundations. In terms of subject-matter, the author discusses six issues, namely (1) ijtihad, (2) approaches to text, (3) the meaning of truth, (4) the minority and the oppressed, (5) freedom of religion, and (6) mundane and spiritual authority. From the three fundamental aspects of religious interpretations that are compared, the author concludes that JIL is a group of muslims who understand Islam by implementing liberalism, while MD represents a group of muslim who promote conservatism, purification, and anti-liberalism within Indonesian Islam.
State Policies on Religious Diversity in Indonesia
Authors: Mujiburrahman M.
Published: October 2013

This article discusses how Indonesian state manages its religious diversity. The state policies on religious diversity cannot be understood without analyzing the history of how the founding fathers decided to choose Indonesia as neither secular nor Islamic country, but somewhere between the two. The author discusses three topics, namely the recognized religions, muslim's fear of christianization, and dialogue and inter-religious harmony. Based on the Decree No.1/1965, Confucianism was one of six religions recognized by the state. However, in the Soeharto era, around 1979, this religion was dropped from the list, and only after his fall Confucianism has been rehabilitated, and even the Chinese New Year has been included as one of the national holidays in Indonesia. In terms of muslim-christian relations, there were tensions since 1960s, particularly dealt with the issue of the high number of Muslims who converted to Christianity. It was in this situation that in 1967 a newly built Methodist Church in Meulaboh, Aceh, was closed by Muslims, arguing that the Church was a concrete example of the aggressiveness of Christian missions because it was built in a Muslim majority area. Since the Meulaboh case, the Muslims consistently insisted the government to accommodate their four demands: (1) restriction on establishing new places of worship; (2) restriction onreligious propagation, and control of foreign aid for religious institutions; (4) Islamic religion classes should be given to Muslim students studying in Christian schools; (5) inter-religious marriage should not be allowed. Apart from these contested issues, the government and religious leaders have been trying to avoid conflict and to establish cooperation and peace among religious groups in the country through inter-religious dialogues, either organized by the government or sponsored by the leaders of religious groups themselves. The author argues that specific socio-political contexts should be taken into consideration to understand state policies making concerning religious diversity. Hence, all debates and compromises achieved afterwards usually do not go beyond the neither secular nor Islamic compromise.
An Example of Neo-Tarekat in Bandung, Indonesia
Authors: Sila Muhammad Adlin
Published: October 2013

At present, several tarekats surfaced in the urban centers of Indonesia and continued to perform as a vehicle of social and cultural cohesion. The emergence of these so-called neo-tarekats (neo-sufi mystical orders) introduced rational reference to the sacred texts and Islamic law and rejected the close association between tarekats and the veneration of saints and holy places as generally known as silsilah in the old version of tarekats. This article depicts a close look at of Tarekat Kadisiyyah, an example of the neo-tarekats, located in central Bandung city of West Java. Most of the followers of this tarekat come from young and educated among urban people in Bandung. mursyid (Ar: murshid) of this tarekat refers to a person named Suprapto Kadis, who experienced the absence of an outward mursyid (lahiriah), but received direct guidance from Allah. There is no chain of transmission of mystical knowledge from a special mursyid to him. This kind of mursyid reminds us the concept of uwaysiyah in classical Islamic literature. Uways is the person who knew the prophet Muhammad but never met him in person. Another concept can be used to analyzes this phenomena is the notions of khidr functioning as an invisible guide for the mursyid. Tarekat Kadisiyyah trained its students that one should become his own self in order to know Allah. In doing this, Tarekat Kadisiyyah concluded that shari‘ah is important as it is the vehicle to gain closeness to Allah.
The Methodology of al-Maturidi’s Qur’anic Exegesis: Study of Ta’wilat Ahl al-Sunnah
Authors: Rofiq Ahmad Choirul
Published: October 2013

According to Islamic theology, al-Maturidi is one of the three prominent Muslim theologians of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah who are called aqtab madhhab Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jama‘ah (the leaders of Sunnite school of thought). In addition to his reputation as a theologian, al-Maturidi actually was competent in various Islamic sciences. In Quranic exegesis, he has Ta’wilat Ahl al-Sunnah or Ta’wilat al-Qur’an. Unfortunately, this fact isn't known well by Islamic researchers. This article is going to elucidate the features of his work that encompass at least seven characteristics. Al-Maturidi prefers to combine the naqli (traditional) and ‘aqli (rational) sources. Consequently, it can be identified as tafsir bi’l-izdiwaj or the exegesis that amalgamates tafsir bi’l-ma’thur (traditional exegesis) with tafsir bi’l-ra’y (rational exegesis). He is not an interpreter who uses excessive grammatical analysis to interpret the Qura'nic verses. He sometimes presents many styles of qira’ah (recitation of the Qur'an) without thorough explanation. He almost never uses Isra’iliyyat (the Judeo-Christian traditions and tales) to interpret the Qura'nic verses. He favors tawassut (nonaligned and independent standpoint) when he deals with different viewpoints among theologians. He tends to follow the Hanafite school of thought in discussing the jurisprudential Qura'nic verses. He applies asbab al-nuzul (the causes of revelation) loosely.
Kitab al-Muzhir of Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti: A Critical Edition and Translation of Section Twenty on Islamic Terms
Authors: Ikhwan Munirul
Published: October 2013

This article is a philological study of al-Muzhir, an encyclopedic work of a prominent Egyptian scholar Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (d. 911/1505) which has significant contribution in the study of Arabic linguistics. The book is particularly al-Suyuti's own compilation of works of earlier philologists. Due to its importance, it is necessary to study the book in a proper way by deciphering its manuscripts. Studying a book from its manuscripts provides us with much indirect information -which has great value for scholarship- to trace back the history of the book before the printing period. Apart from the text itself, manuscripts generally contain the owner's seal, introductory remark, colophon, certificate and commentaries. Through examining these additional elements, we may be able to acquire the information about the distribution and public demand of the book, the scribes and days of copying, and the authorization of its manuscripts. This paper will discuss al-Muzhir by analyzing a number of manuscripts written several decades after the death of the author. It will then focus on the authorization of the manuscripts, a sample of critical edition of the book, and a discussion of section twenty on Islamic terms.
Islam and Minorities: Managing Identity in Malaysia
Authors: Suaedy Ahmad
Published: October 2013

The Malaysian general election in March 2008 raised an interesting and new phenomenon. For the first time since independence in 1957, the ruling alliance known as the National Front (Barisan Nasional, BN) failed to secure two thirds of seats in parliament and lost control of five of Malaysia’s 13 states. This was due to the challenge presented by the new opposition alliance known as the Alternative Front (Barisan Alternatif, BA) or the People’s Alliance (Pakatan Rakyat, PK) which won more than 36% of seats in parliament and gained control of the five states. In the 2004 election, BN secured the largest ever percentage of seats in parliament with 91%. What is interesting is that it seems that this significant increase in support for the opposition is  due to their offer to change the way minorities and ethnicity is managed. They  propose a move from “Bumiputera Supremacy”, or affirmative action for the approximately 65% of “Bumiputera” Malaysians (the rest being largely of Chinese or Indian ethnicity), to “The People’s Supremacy”, which involves eradicating affirmative action based on ethnicity, basing it instead on need, for  instance need due to poverty. This would potentially increase the likelihood  of justice and equality for all ethnic or racial groups. This paper connects the phenomenon of change, as seen in the about turn in the results between the  2004 and 2008 elections, to the more global trend in which minorities are standing up to demand their rights in this era of globalization, and to the challenge multiculturalism presents to parts of the Muslim world such as Malaysia. Malaysia, a Muslim majority nation that has formally declared Islam the official state religion with Yang di-Pertuan Agong (the King) as  Head of the State and symbol of Islam, is one example, though not necessarily  representative, of how Islam and Muslims manage minorities and identity or  multiculturalism within the process of globalization.
Re-thinking Other Claimants to Prophethood: the Case of Umayya ibn Abi Salt
Authors: Makin Al
Published: October 2013

This article questions the domination of the prophethood of Muhammad in the narrative of the seventh century of the Arabian Peninsula presented by both Muslim and Western scholars. There were many other claimants to prophethood, who are ignored in Muslim and Western sources. In this vein, this article deals with Umayya ibn Abi Salt, a poet who claimed prophethood. Umayya’s short biography, collections of his poems (diwan) and , and examples of his poems are discussed.
Transnationalising Jamaah Islamiyyah
Authors: Zuhri Syaifudin
Published: October 2013

This article attempts to historically analyse the emergence of transnational jihadist movements in Indonesia, focusing on Jamaah Islamiyyah (JI), which is allegedly responsible for a number of terror attacks in South East Asia.  The article discusses the historical background of the emergence of Jamaah  Islamiyyah and its current development. It is argued that the Afghan battle-field was an important event and locus for Indonesian jihadits groups to exercise their military capabilities, establish secure bases and subsequently pave the emergence of the transnational jihadist. Through informal networks and joint operations, Jamaah Islamiyyah has become the hub for jihadist movements  in Southeast Asia. It was the political opportunity of the reformation which gave way to the public appearance of Jamaah Islamiyyah as the MMI demonstrated, but it also brought the consequence of a split among JI activists.  The split reappears when the MMI was becoming involved in politics, and the resignation of Ba’asyir from the top position of the MMI in 2008 exemplifies  the turning point to the ideological foundation of JI as the Pedoman Umum Perjuangan Jamaah Islamiyyah (PUPJI) prescribed.
Persatuan Pemuda Muslim Se-Eropa: Its Qualified Founders, Progression and Nature
Authors: Sujadi S.
Published: October 2013

This article concentrates on the history of Persatuan Pemuda Muslim se-Eropa (PPME, Young Muslims Association in Europe), depicting its founders’qualifications, historical founding, and nature, which has been against practical politics, and restructure and expansion. This association remains the largest Indonesian Islam-oriented Muslim association in Europe. However, there has been little research done on this association, despite its significant contributions to the socio-cultural and religous activities of Indonesian Muslims in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands and Germany. Therefore, this article aims to fill the gap in academic research, dealing with its creation and  development up till the present. To deal with this subject, a historical method emphasizing a chronological approach is applied. In addition to historical evidence, oral sources were primarily used due to the scarcity of written documents.