bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human parvovirus B19 associated dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Jain Parul , Jain Amita , Khan Danish Nasar , Kumar Mala
Published: August 2013

We describe two children presenting with acute left ventricular dysfunction. Both cases had evidence of dilated cardiomyopathy, requiring inotropic support and were tested for cardiotropic viruses by conventional or real-time polymerase chain reaction using specific primers for enteroviruses, human parvovirus B19, Adenoviruses, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 (HSV), human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). IgG and IgM antibodies against parvovirus B19, EBV, HSV and CMV were also tested by ELISA. One case tested positive for parvovirus B19 infection and recovered completely within 6 months in absence of any specific therapy. The other case tested positive for parvovirus B19 infection in association with hypocalcaemia and was cured following standard heart failure therapy along with calcium and vitamin D supplementation. Sequence analysis of DNA products from both patients revealed genotype 3. To best of our knowledge this is first report of circulating genotype 3 from India.
Asymptomatic anomalous left anterior descending artery arising from the right coronary artery with a rare anterior course
Authors: Nascimento Francisco O , Kviatkovsky Milla J , Larrauri-Reyes Maiteder , Beohar Nirat
Published: August 2013

The presence of a malignant course on the coronary circulation is the second leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young adults. One type of malignant conformation is an anomalous left anterior descending artery (LAD) arising from the right coronary artery (RCA). In a study examining 70 850 patients undergoing coronary angiography, the prevalence of this anomaly was noted in 0.006% of total patients and in 2.3% of congenital coronary anomaly cases. Of the four patients presenting with this anomaly, only one was noted to have an interarterial course of the LAD between the aorta and pulmonary artery. We describe the case of a patient who was incidentally found to have a malignant anomalous LAD arising from the RCA when he presented with a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction due to a ruptured plaque in an obtuse marginal branch. This patient survived for 57 years with no symptoms.
Managing a patient with excessive belching
Authors: Disney Benjamin , Trudgill Nigel
Published: August 2013

A 50-year-old man with end-stage renal failure was referred by his general practitioner with dyspeptic symptoms. On further questioning the patient complained of a 10-year history of frequent belching. This was noticeably worse after meals and during times of stress. He did not have nocturnal belching and episodes of belching were less frequent when the patient was talking or distracted. There was no history of gastro-oesophageal reflux, vomiting, dysphagia, loss of appetite or weight loss. He was diagnosed with excessive, probably supragastric, belching. Further investigation was not deemed necessary. His symptoms have since settled with simple reassurance and explanation of their origin provided during the clinic visit.
Second-generation surveillance for HIV/AIDS in Pakistan: results from the 4th round of Integrated Behavior and Biological Survey 2011–2012
Authors: Emmanuel Faran , Salim Momina , Akhtar Naeem , Arshad Salwa , Reza Tahira Ezra
Published: August 2013

Objectives

In an effort to fully analyse and understand the HIV situation and its epidemiology in Pakistan, a bilateral collaboration between the National AIDS Control Program and the Canadian International Development Agency resulted in the establishment of an effective second-generation surveillance (SGS) system for HIV/AIDS between 2004 and 2012 in accordance with the published guidelines. This paper presents findings from the 4th round of SGS.

Methods

A mapping exercise was initially conducted for size estimations of the key vulnerable populations: people who inject drugs (PWIDs), male sex workers (MSWs),hijrasex workers (HSWs), and female sex workers (FSWs), followed by an Integrated Behavioral and Biological Surveillance in 20 selected cities across Pakistan.

Results

The estimated sizes of the four key populations mapped in the 20 cities were 89 178 FSWs, 46 351 PWIDs, 23 317 HSWs and 19 119 MSWs. The HIV sero-prevalence among PWIDs was the highest among all key populations surveyed at 37.8% (CI 37.3 to 38.3) nationally, followed by a prevalence of 7.2% (CI 6.8 to 7.5) among HSWs, 3.1% (CI 2.8 to 3.4) among MSWs and 0.8% (CI 0.4 to 1.0) for FSWs. Various key risk behaviours, that is, sharing of syringes by PWIDs and inconsistent use of condoms by sex workers, were documented.

Conclusions

Pakistan's HIV epidemic that once was characterised primarily by transmission among PWIDs is now increasingly characterised by significant sexual transmission, and all types of sex workers (male,hijraand female) exhibit epidemiological proportions of infection. There is a need to develop concrete strategic plans for each vulnerable subpopulation, initially focusing prevention resources on those with a higher risk or vulnerability.
Effects of column and superstructure stiffness on the seismic response of bridges in the transverse direction
Authors: Tehrani Payam , Mitchell Denis
Published: August 2013

The transverse seismic responses of continuous 4-span bridges designed based on the 2006 Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code were studied using inelastic time history analyses. A total of 648 bridge configurations were considered in which the column heights, column diameters, superstructure stiffness and mass as well as abutment restraint conditions were studied. The maximum ductility demands obtained using elastic and inelastic analyses were compared to study the influence of the degree of irregularity. The effects of column stiffness ratios and superstructure to substructure stiffness ratios on the maximum ductility demands and concentration of ductility demands were investigated. A number of different regularity indices were compared to determine the suitability of these different indices in predicting the influence of irregularity. This study demonstrates the conservative nature of the 2006 Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code and provides some guidance on factors for determining the degree of irregularity and suitable regularity indices when carrying out nonlinear dynamic analyses of bridges.
NORMAL SUBGROUPS, CENTER AND INNER AUTOMORPHISMS OF COMPACT QUANTUM GROUPS
Authors: PATRI ISSAN
Published: August 2013

We introduce a class of automorphisms of compact quantum groups (CQGs) which may be thought of as inner automorphisms and explore the behavior of normal subgroups of CQGs under these automorphisms. We also define the notion of center of a CQG and compute the center for several examples. We briefly touch upon the commutator subgroup of a CQG and discuss how its relation with the center can be different from the classical case.
ON TWISTS OF THE FERMAT CUBIC x3 + y3 = 2
Authors: JEDRZEJAK TOMASZ
Published: August 2013

We consider the Fermat elliptic curve E2 : x3 + y3 = 2 and prove (using descent methods) that its quadratic twists have rank zero for a positive proportion of squarefree integers with fixed number of prime divisors. We also prove similar result for rank zero cubic twists of this curve. Then we present detailed description of rank zero quadratic and cubic twists of E2 by primes and by products of two primes. We also consider twists of Jacobians of Fermat curves x5 + y5 = m and distribution of their root numbers.
EVALUATION OF THE CONVOLUTION SUMS ∑i+3j=nσ(i)σ3(j) AND ∑3i+j=nσ(i)σ3(j)
Authors: YAO OLIVIA X. M. , XIA ERNEST X. W.
Published: August 2013

In this paper, the convolution sums ∑i+3j=nσ(i)σ3(j) and ∑3i+j=nσ(i)σ3(j) are evaluated for all n ∈ ℕ, which answers an open problem given by Huard, Ou, Spearman and Williams. As an application, the number of representations of a positive integer n by the form [Formula: see text] is determined.
ELECTRONIC AND TRANSPORT PROPERTIES OF THERMOELECTRIC Ru2Si3
Authors: SINGH DAVID J. , PARKER DAVID
Published: August 2013

We report calculations of the doping and temperature dependent thermopower of Ru 2 Si 3 based on Boltzmann transport theory and the first principles electronic structure. We find that the performance reported to date can be significantly improved by optimization of the doping level and that ultimately n-type should have higher ZT than p-type.
SPINMOTIVE FORCE IN MAGNETIC NANOSTRUCTURES
Authors: IEDA JUN'ICHI , YAMANE YUTA , MAEKAWA SADAMICHI
Published: August 2013

The mutual interaction between spin current and magnetization is a key phenomenon in spintronics. This interaction leads to a spinmotive force, a mechanism of energy-transfer from magnetization into conduction electrons. In this paper, the basic concepts and recent developments of the spinmotive force are introduced.
Centrality of Host Cell Death in Plant-Microbe Interactions
Authors: Dickman Martin B. , Fluhr Robert
Published: August 2013

Programmed cell death (PCD) is essential for proper growth, development, and cellular homeostasis in all eukaryotes. The regulation of PCD is of central importance in plant-microbe interactions; notably, PCD and features associated with PCD are observed in many host resistance responses. Conversely, pathogen induction of inappropriate cell death in the host results in a susceptible phenotype and disease. Thus, the party in control of PCD has a distinct advantage in these battles. PCD processes appear to be of ancient origin, as indicated by the fact that many features of cell death strategy are conserved between animals and plants; however, some of the details of death execution differ. Mammalian core PCD genes, such as caspases, are not present in plant genomes. Similarly, pro- and antiapoptotic mammalian regulatory elements are absent in plants, but, remarkably, when expressed in plants, successfully impact plant PCD. Thus, subtle structural similarities independent of sequence homology appear to sustain operational equivalence. The vacuole is emerging as a key organelle in the modulation of plant PCD. Under different signals for cell death, the vacuole either fuses with the plasmalemma membrane or disintegrates. Moreover, the vacuole appears to play a key role in autophagy; evidence suggests a prosurvival function for autophagy, but other studies propose a prodeath phenotype. Here, we describe and discuss what we know and what we do not know about various PCD pathways and how the host integrates signals to activate salicylic acid and reactive oxygen pathways that orchestrate cell death. We suggest that it is not cell death as such but rather the processes leading to cell death that contribute to the outcome of a given plant-pathogen interaction.
Cardiomyocyte-specific p65 NF-κB deletion protects the injured heart by preservation of calcium handling
Authors: Zhang Xiu Q. , Tang Ruhang , Li Ling , Szucsik Amanda , Javan Hadi , Saegusa Noriko , Spitzer Ken W. , Selzman Craig H.
Published: August 2013

NF-κB is a well-known transcription factor that is intimately involved with inflammation and immunity. We have previously shown that NF-κB promotes inflammatory events and mediates adverse cardiac remodeling following ischemia reperfusion (I/R). Conversely, others have pointed to the beneficial influence of NF-κB in I/R injury related to its anti-apoptotic effects. Understanding the seemingly disparate influence of manipulating NF-κB is hindered, in part, by current approaches that only indirectly interfere with the function of its most transcriptionally active unit, p65 NF-κB. Mice were generated with cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of p65 NF-κB. Phenotypically, these mice and their hearts appeared normal. Basal and stimulated p65 expression were significantly reduced in whole hearts and completely ablated in isolated cardiomyocytes. When compared with wild-type mice, transgenic animals were protected from both global I/R by Langendorff as well as regional I/R by coronary ligation and release. The protected, transgenic hearts had less cytokine activity and decreased apoptosis. Furthermore, p65 ablation was associated with enhanced calcium reuptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum. This influence on calcium handling was related to increased expression of phosphorylated phospholamban in conditional p65 null mice. In conclusion, cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of the most active, canonical NF-κB subunit affords cardioprotection to both global and regional I/R injury. The beneficial effects of NF-κB inhibition are related, in part, to modulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis.
Endogenous ACh tonically stimulates ANP secretion in rat atria
Authors: Kim Hye Yoom , Cho Kyung Woo , Xu Dong Yuan , Kang Dae Gill , Lee Ho Sub
Published: August 2013

Exogenous acetylcholine (ACh) is known to stimulate atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) secretion concomitantly with a decrease in atrial pulse pressure. However, the role of intrinsic ACh in the regulation of ANP secretion remains unknown. Recently, it was shown that nonneuronal and neuronal ACh is present in the cardiac atria. From this finding we hypothesize that endogenously released ACh is involved in the regulation of ANP secretion in an autocrine or paracrine manner in the atria. Experiments were performed in isolated beating rat atria. ANP was measured using radioimmunoassay. To increase the availability of the ACh in the extracellular space of the atrium, its degradation was inhibited with an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase. Acetylcholinesterase inhibition with physostigmine increased ANP secretion concomitantly with a decrease in atrial dynamics in a concentration-dependent manner. Inhibitors of M2 muscarinic ACh receptor (mAChR), methoctramine, and ACh-activated K+ (KACh+) channels, tertiapin-Q, abolished the physostigmine-induced changes. The effects were not observed in the atria from rats treated with pertussis toxin. Furthermore, the physostigmine-induced effects were attenuated by an inhibitor of high-affinity choline transporter, hemicholinium-3, which is a rate-limiting step of ACh synthesis. Inhibitors of the mAChR signaling pathway and ACh synthesis also attenuated the basal levels of ANP secretion and accentuated atrial dynamics. These findings suggest that endogenously released ACh tonically stimulates ANP secretion from atrial cardiomyocytes via activation of M2 mAChR-Gi/o-KACh+ channel signaling. It is also suggested that the ACh-ANP signaling is implicated in cardiac physiology and pathophysiology.
Investigation of Cure Reaction, Rheology, Volume Shrinkage and Thermomechanical Properties of Nano-TiO2 Filled Epoxy/DDS Composites
Authors: Parameswaranpillai Jyotishkumar , George Abhilash , Pionteck Jürgen , Thomas Sabu
Published: August 2013

The cure reaction, rheology, volume shrinkage, and thermomechanical behavior of epoxy-TiO2 nanocomposites based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A cured with 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone have been investigated. The FTIR results show that, at the initial curing stage, TiO2 acts as a catalyst and facilitates the curing. The catalytic effect of TiO2 was further confirmed by the decrease in maximum exothermal peak temperature (DSC results); however, it was also found that the addition of TiO2 decreases the overall degree of cure, as evidenced by lower total heat of reaction of the cured composites compared to neat epoxy. The importance of cure rheology in the microstructure formation during curing was explored by using rheometry. From the PVT studies, it was found that TiO2 decreases the volume shrinkage behavior of the epoxy matrix. The mechanical properties of the cured epoxy composites, such as tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, impact strength, and fracture toughness of the polymer composites, were examined. The nanocomposites exhibited good improvement in dimensional, thermal, and mechanical properties with respect to neat cross-linked epoxy system. FESEM micrographs of fractured surfaces were examined to understand the toughening mechanism.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalysis of ZnO and Er‐Doped ZnO
Authors: Yu Kai-sheng , Shi Jian-ying , Zhang Zai-li , Liang Yong-mei , Liu Wei
Published: August 2013

ZnO and Er‐doped ZnO with different molar ratios of Er/Zn were prepared using the homogeneous precipitation method. The photocatalysts prepared were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), UV‐vis spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The results showed that the Er‐doped ZnO displayed characteristic wurtzite‐type peaks in the XRD spectra. The Er‐doped ZnO absorbed much more light than ZnO in the ultraviolet region. And the doping of Er into ZnO enhanced the intensity of the fluorescence emission. The degradation of methylene blue (MB) solution demonstrated that the photocatalytic activity of ZnO was significantly improved with Er doping.
Prostate Cancer in a Male with Holt-Oram Syndrome: First Clinical Association of theTBX5Mutation
Authors: Aherne Noel J. , Rangaswamy Guhan , Thirion Pierre
Published: August 2013

Holt-Oram syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder which is caused by mutations ofTBX5and is characterised by cardiac and skeletal abnormalities.TBX5is part of the T-box gene family and is thought to upregulate tumour cell proliferation and metastasis when mutated. We report the first clinical case of prostate cancer in an individual with Holt Oram syndrome.
Machinability Study of Hybrid Nanoclay-Glass Fibre Reinforced Polyester Composites
Authors: Prabhu P. , Jawahar P. , Balasubramanian M. , Mohan T. P.
Published: August 2013

Glass fibre reinforced polyester composites (GRP) and hybrid nanoclay and glass fibre reinforced polyester nanocomposites (CGRP) are fabricated by vacuum assisted resin infusion technique. The optimum mechanical properties are obtained for CGRP with 3 wt.% nanoclay. Three types of drills (carbide twist drill D 5407060, HSS twist drill BS-328, and HSS end mill (4 flutes “N”-type end mill RH-helical flute)) of 6 mm diameters are used to drill holes on GRP and CGRP. Three different speeds (600, 852, and 1260 rpm) and two different feeds (0.045, 0.1 mm/rev) are selected as process parameters. The effect of process parameter on thrust force and delamination during drilling CGRP is analyzed for optimizing the machining parameters. The delamination factor is low for the optimum process parameter (feed = 0.1 mm/rev and speed 852 rpm). Microstructural analysis confirms that at higher feeds, delamination is low for CGRP drilled with carbide tools. In order to analyze the effect of nanoclay in CGRP on tool wear, 200 holes were drilled on CGRP samples with 3 wt.% nanoclay, and the tool wear is analyzed under optimized parametric condition. Tool wear is high in HSS twist drill compared with carbide drill. The presence of nanoclay also accelerates the tool wear.
Note on a Binomial Schedule for an MX/G/1 Queueing System with an Unreliable Server
Authors: Mezghiche Abdelhak , Tadj Lotfi
Published: August 2013

We consider in this paper a batch arrival queueing system with an unreliable server. If the queue is empty at a service completion, then the server becomes inactive and begins an idle period. However, if the queue is not empty, then the server will take at most vacation before serving the next customer. A linear cost structure is developed for the system and the optimal value of is obtained.
Sensitive Spectrophotometric Determinations of Paracetamol and Protriptyline HCl Using 3-Chloro-7-hydroxy-4-methyl-2H-chromen-2-one
Authors: Divya Kumble , Narayana Badiadka , Sapnakumari Majal
Published: August 2013

A new spectrophotometric method is developed for the determination of Paracetamol (PCT) and protriptyline HCl (PTP) in pure forms and in pharmaceutical formulations. The experiment involves the use of 3-chloro-7-hydroxy-4-methyl-2H-chromen-2-one as a novel chromogenic reagent for the determination of PCT and PTP. The method is based on the formation of charge transfer complex between the drugs and chromogenic reagent. Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration ranges 10.00–60.00 µg mL−1 for PCT at 545 nm and 40.00–160.00 µg mL−1 for PTP at 468 nm. The molar absorptivity, Sandell, sensitivity, and limit of detection and quantification are also calculated. The method has been successfully applied for the determination of both PCT and PTP in pharmaceutical samples with acceptable results.
TDP1 and PARP1 Deficiency Are Cytotoxic to Rhabdomyosarcoma Cells
Authors: Fam Hok Khim , Walton Cheryl , Mitra Sheetal A. , Chowdhury Miraj , Osborne Nichola , Choi Kunho , Sun Guobin , Wong Patrick C.W. , O'Sullivan Maureen J. , Turashvili Gulisa , Aparicio Samuel , Triche Timothy J. , Bond Mason , Pallen Catherine J. , Boerkoel Cornelius F.
Published: August 2013

Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. Metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma in children has a 5-year event-free survival rate of <30%, and a recent clinical trial with irinotecan, a topoisomerase I inhibitor, failed to improve outcome. Therefore, it was surmised that failure of irinotecan may be the result of overexpression of the DNA repair enzyme tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase (TDP1), which processes topoisomerase I-DNA complexes resulting from topoisomerase I inhibitor treatment. Using human tissue microarrays and gene expression arrays, a marked overexpression of TDP1 protein and mRNA in RMS tumors was observed. Critically, knockdown of TDP1 or inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1), an enzyme in the same complex as TDP1, sensitized rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines to analogues of irinotecan. Interestingly, BRCA1/2 mutations or altered expression was not detectable in rhabdomyosarcoma cells; however, TDP1 knockdown and PARP-1 inhibition alone were cytotoxic to a subset of rhabdomyosarcoma cells, suggesting that they harbor genetic lesions in DNA repair components that have synthetic lethal interactions with loss of TDP1 or PARP1 function. Furthermore, culturing embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma cells in serum/nutrient—restricted medium increased cellular cytotoxicity upon PARP-1 inhibition and was intrinsically cytotoxic to alveolar, though not embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma cells. The results of these studies suggest a compensatory role for TDP1 in rhabdomyosarcoma after topoisomerase-I based therapy and further demonstrate that TDP1 knockdown, PARP-1 inhibition, and dietary restriction have therapeutic validity.

Implications: Selective targeting of TDP1 and/or PARP-1 in rhabdomyosarcoma induces cytotoxicity and sensitizes to DNA damaging agents. Mol Cancer Res; 11(10); 1179–92. ©2013 AACR.
Ipilimumab Treatment Results in an Early Decrease in the Frequency of Circulating Granulocytic Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells as well as Their Arginase1 Production
Authors: de Coaña Yago Pico , Poschke Isabel , Gentilcore Giusy , Mao Yumeng , Nyström Maria , Hansson Johan , Masucci Giuseppe V. , Kiessling Rolf
Published: August 2013

Blocking the immune checkpoint molecule CTL antigen-4 (CTLA-4) with ipilimumab has proven to induce long-lasting clinical responses in patients with metastatic melanoma. To study the early response that takes place after CTLA-4 blockade, peripheral blood immune monitoring was conducted in five patients undergoing ipilimumab treatment at baseline, three and nine weeks after administration of the first dose. Along with T-cell population analysis, this work was primarily focused on an in-depth study of the myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) populations. Ipilimumab treatment resulted in lower frequencies of regulatory T cells along with reduced expression levels of PD-1 at the nine-week time point. Three weeks after the initial ipilimumab dose, the frequency of granulocytic MDSCs was significantly reduced and was followed by a reduction in the frequency of arginase1-producing CD3− cells, indicating an indirect in trans effect that should be taken into account for future evaluations of ipilimumab mechanisms of action. Cancer Immunol Res; 1(3); 158–62. ©2013 AACR.
Eut Bacterial Microcompartments: Insights into Their Function, Structure, and Bioengineering Applications
Authors: Held Mark , Quin Maureen B. , Schmidt-Dannert Claudia
Published: August 2013

Bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) are protein-based polyhedral organelles which serve to encapsulate and organize enzymes involved in key metabolic pathways. The sequestration of these pathways not only improves the overall reaction efficiency; it can also harbor toxic or volatile pathway intermediates, which would otherwise be detrimental to the cell. Genomic and phylogenetic analyses reveal the presence of these unique organelles in a diverse range of bacterial species, highlighting their evolutionary importance and the essential role that they play in bacterial cell survival. Functional and structural analyses of BMCs involved in ethanolamine utilization are developing our understanding of the self-assembly and encapsulation mechanisms employed by these protein supercomplexes. This knowledge will open up exciting new avenues of research with a range of potential engineering and biotechnological applications.
Cellulosome Complexes: Natural Biocatalysts as Arming Microcompartments of Enzymes
Authors: Bae Jungu , Morisaka Hironobu , Kuroda Kouichi , Ueda Mitsuyoshi
Published: August 2013

Cellulose, a primary component of lignocellulosic biomass, is the most abundant carbohydrate polymer in nature. Only a limited number of microorganisms are known to degrade cellulose, which is highly recalcitrant due to its crystal structure. Anaerobic bacteria efficiently degrade cellulose by producing cellulosomes, which are complexes of cellulases bound to scaffoldins. The underlying mechanisms that are responsible for the assembly and efficiency of cellulosomes are not yet fully understood. The cohesin-dockerin specificity has been extensively studied to understand cellulosome assembly. Moreover, the recent progress in proteomics has enabled integral analyses of the growth-substrate-dependent variations in cellulosomal systems. Furthermore, the proximity and targeting effects of cellulosomal synergistic actions have been investigated using designed minicellulosomes. The recent findings about cellulosome assembly, strategies for optimal cellulosome production, and beneficial features of cellulosomes as an arming microcompartment on the microbial cell surface are summarized here.
The Emergence of Semantic Meaning in the Ventral Temporal Pathway
Authors: Carlson Thomas A. , Simmons Ryan A. , Kriegeskorte Nikolaus , Slevc L. Robert
Published: August 2013

In the ventral visual pathway, early visual areas encode light patterns on the retina in terms of image properties, for example, edges and color, whereas higher areas encode visual information in terms of objects and categories. At what point does semantic knowledge, as instantiated in human language, emerge? We examined this question by studying whether semantic similarity in language relates to the brain's organization of object representations in inferior temporal cortex (ITC), an area of the brain at the crux of several proposals describing how the brain might represent conceptual knowledge. Semantic relationships among words can be viewed as a geometrical structure with some pairs of words close in their meaning (e.g., man and boy) and other pairs more distant (e.g., man and tomato). ITC's representation of objects similarly can be viewed as a complex structure with some pairs of stimuli evoking similar patterns of activation (e.g., man and boy) and other pairs evoking very different patterns (e.g., man and tomato). In this study, we examined whether the geometry of visual object representations in ITC bears a correspondence to the geometry of semantic relationships between word labels used to describe the objects. We compared ITC's representation to semantic structure, evaluated by explicit ratings of semantic similarity and by five computational measures of semantic similarity. We show that the representational geometry of ITC—but not of earlier visual areas (V1)—is reflected both in explicit behavioral ratings of semantic similarity and also in measures of semantic similarity derived from word usage patterns in natural language. Our findings show that patterns of brain activity in ITC not only reflect the organization of visual information into objects but also represent objects in a format compatible with conceptual thought and language.
Moltmann’s Crucified God
Authors: Mostert Christiaan
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Forty years ago Jürgen Moltmann published The Crucified God, which set the cat among a few theological pigeons. In the face of the history of suffering in the world, Moltmann argued that we must speak of God ‘within earshot of the dying Jesus’. In the process he argues against the understanding of God, the immanent Trinity, as impassible. Having been sympathetic to Moltmann’s view, the author now raises some questions against it. Apart from the lack of a clear agreed meaning of impassibility (apatheia), the protagonists on each side of the question disagree fundamentally on the meaning of God’s transcendence and the abundance of God’s eternal ‘life’.
Simply Impossible: A Case against Divine Simplicity
Authors: Mullins R. T.
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Within contemporary philosophical theology the doctrine of divine simplicity has regained attention.1 The pertinent literature has increased by several new defenses of the doctrine.2 One of the more surprising, and troubling, aspects of the contemporary defenses amongst Christian philosophers and theologians is a seeming lack of understanding about how radical the doctrine of divine simplicity truly is. As such, I wish to do a few things in this paper. First, systematically articulate the doctrine of divine simplicity. Second, argue that divine simplicity is not a possible perfection. Third, offer some concluding remarks and highlight remaining issues that will need to be sorted out for the debate over simplicity to meaningfully continue.
Evangelicalism and Racial Exclusivism in Afrikaner History: An Ambiguous Relationship
Authors: Muller Retief
Published: August 2013

Abstract

What was the relationship in South Africa between evangelicalism and policies of segregation and apartheid in Afrikaner reformed Christianity? This article critically engages this question in reference to the claim by David Bosch that the first internal voices of protest against apartheid came from the side of evangelicals who had been involved in crosscultural mission. This considers the background of the theory, some historical representatives of evangelicalism in South Africa, and the hybridization of evangelicalism in the lives of certain dissident Afrikaner theologians. The conclusion assesses possible ways in which the Bosch thesis may, or may not, pertain to evangelicalism more generally.
Indigenous Religion(s) as an Analytical Category
Authors: Tafjord Bjørn Ola
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Today the most common uses of “indigenous religion(s)” as an analytical category and as a class in the study of religions are intimately linked to discourses on “indigenous peoples.” The article argues that this often creates problems for critical scholarship. It contributes to the reproduction of stereotypes about particular kinds of religions among particular kinds of peoples; it nurtures ideas about religious similarities across vast spans of time and space; and it blurs boundaries between scholarship and politics and religionising. A different analytical use of “indigenous religion(s)” that sometimes proves more rewarding is identified in some historical and anthropological case studies, where the category is employed contextually as a relational concept, as the opposite of “foreign religion(s),” and not restricted to indigenous peoples. To counter the biases produced by the current primacy of one taxonomic scheme, it is necessary to engage a greater variety of ways and orders of classification.
Time to Address the Problem of Post-Mortem Procurement of Organs for Transplantation Occurring without Proper Pre-mortem Consent
Authors: Garwood-Gowers Austen
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Current cadaveric organ transplant systems allow individuals to be classified as donors after death where they registered wishes in favour of this prior to death. However, systems for registering wishes pertaining to donation fall woefully short of securing proper consent. Furthermore, even jurisdictions which technically require consent to be obtained in order to treat an individual as a donor, allow that consent to be given by next of kin after death in circumstances where there is no evidence of the individual having refused prior to death. This article explores these and related issues with current systems from the perspectives of health law norms, ethics and human rights. It concludes that proper pre-mortem consent ought to be a pre-requisite for post-mortem organ transplantation.
The Proposed EU-regulation on Clinical Trials on Medicinal Products: An Unethical Proposal?
Authors: Heringa Jilles , Dute Joseph
Published: August 2013

Abstract

The Commission has proposed a regulation ‘on clinical trials on medicinal products for human use’ to introduce one regulatory framework for clinical trials in the European Union. This regulation should replace the current clinical trials directive (2001/20/EC). In this article we describe and critically review the main provisions of the proposed regulation. We assess the consequences for a sound authorisation procedure of clinical trials and the level of protection for human subjects. We note that the proposed regulation is inconsistent with applicable international legal documents, such as the Biomedicine Convention and the Declaration of Helsinki. We conclude that the proposed regulation does not ensure a “high level of human health protection” — required by its legal basis in the TFEU — because it may force Member States concerned to accept a reporting Member States’ approval of — in their estimation — an unethical clinical trial.
Reforming the EU Clinical Trials Directive: Streamlining Processes or a Radical “New” Agenda?
Authors: McHale Jean V.
Published: August 2013

Abstract

From its conception the EU Clinical Trials Directive met with controversy. Some saw it as an unnecessary inhibitor to scientific research, introducing bureaucracy which was unduly expensive, slowing down the clinical trial approval system. The Directive however also enshrined respect for fundamental rights in relation to clinical trials decision-making and impacted upon the domestic law of member states facilitating the alignment of trial review processes. Nearly a decade after its implementation the EU is moving towards implementation of further reform in this area, from a Directive to a Regulation, from a system placing the research ethics system at the heart of the clinical trials approval committee to one which does not and which represents a see change in international and domestic approaches to research ethics. This article critically examines the proposed reform of the regulation of clinical trials on medicinal product through the introduction of a new EU Regulation and asks whether this can be seen as a natural streamlining of processes or a radical new agenda in EU health law and regulation.
The European Court of Human Rights and Standards of Proof in Religion Cases
Authors: Ambrus Mónika
Published: August 2013

Abstract

In terms of evidence law, it can be argued that the degree of discretion allocated to the state party by the European Court of Human Rights also assigns the extent to which the allegations have to be proven by the state in order to be accepted, which can be translated as the applicable standard of proof. With the help of this procedural approach the article aims to explore the standards of proof narrated and actually applied in the case law in religion cases, that is cases under Article 9 ECHR, Article 14 in combination with Article 9 ECHR and Article 2 of Protocol I when interpreted in the light of Article 9 ECHR.
Crafting a Book: The Sequel to The Plum in the Golden Vase
Authors: Ling Xiaoqiao
Published: August 2013

Abstract

This paper examines the book form of the original woodblock edition (ca. 1660) of Xu jin ping mei 續金瓶梅 (The sequel to Jin ping mei), a sequel to the acclaimed yet controversial sixteenth-century vernacular novel Jin ping mei 金瓶梅 (Plum in a golden vase). Critics tend to hold Xu jin ping mei in low regard because the sequel’s extensive citations from religious texts and morality books disrupt the flow of the narrative. As this paper shows, such ‘weakness’ is part of the sequel writer’s conscious exploration of the productive gap between the text and the book as an object—cover page, the front matter, illustration and fiction commentary all contribute to the totality of the bound text as an object of connoisseurship. Another indicator of the author-editor’s effort at creating the sequel’s own social reception is a list of cited books that captures the full spectrum of textual production in the seventeenth century, thereby inscribing Xu jin ping mei in a cultural matrix that accommodates multiple modes of reading with a sense of hierarchy. To situate Xu jin ping mei in the context of the burgeoning print industry will help us go beyond the textual level to assess the sequel as an important cultural phenomenon. It is exactly the desire to cash in on the popularity of the original masterworks that pushes author, editor, and publisher to craft the book as a referential field in which the implied author engages anticipated readers of different dispositions to comment on, extend, and improve the original work.
The Tastiest Dish in Edo: Print, Performance and Culinary Entertainment in Early-Modern Japan
Authors: Rath Eric C.
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Japanese television has turned cooking into a competition, as exemplified by the show Iron Chef and its imitators. Readers in the early modern period could enjoy similar contests between famous restaurants and popular dishes as presented on one-page broadsheets called ‘topical fight cards’ (mitate banzuke). Tracing the history of mitate banzuke as they developed from kabuki and sumo banzuke, this article offers a close reading of one culinary banzuke published in the 1830s, examining how it borrowed the format and graphic presentation of sumo banzuke to turn a listing of ordinary seafood and vegetable side dishes into an entertaining culinary contest. Sushi, sashimi, and tempura, which are the modern hallmarks of traditional Japanese cuisine, scarcely appear on the culinary banzuke examined here, which spotlights the more frugal fare and dietary preferences of urban commoners and illuminates the ways that popular print culture made fun with food.
Acute and transient psychotic disorder in a developing country
Authors: Esan Oluyomi , Fawole Olufunmilayo I
Published: August 2013

Background:

Acute and transient psychotic disorders (ATPDs) are relatively under-researched. There is therefore a dearth of information on the disorders especially in developing countries, where they have been shown to be relatively common.

Aim:

To describe the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with ATPD, as well as to examine the factors that are associated with early recovery in patients with ATPD in a developing country.

Methods:

A review of 124 cases of untreated first episode of ATPD that presented at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria over a five-year period.

Results:

Of the new cases that presented at the psychiatry department of the hospital, 10.1% were ATPDs. There was no significant difference between the proportions of males and females presenting at the hospital (50.8% vs 49.2%). Mean age at presentation was 29.5 (SD = 9.6) years, while the mean duration of illness before presentation was 7.3 (SD = 6.1) days. Female gender was significantly associated with earlier recovery ( p = .047).

Conclusion:

ATPDs are common in developing countries. The epidemiology in developing countries is probably different from that of the developed countries.
Expressed emotion among relatives of chronic pain patients, the interaction between relatives’ behaviours and patients’ pain experience
Authors: Ballús-Creus Carles , Rangel M Virginia , Peñarroya Alba , Pérez Jordi , Leff Julian
Published: August 2013

Background:

Chronic pain is a sensory and emotional experience that causes significant disturbances to a patient’s life as well as to their family. Whether the family environment is affected by chronic pain and, in turn, affects the patients’ pain experience has yet to be investigated. The interaction between patients and spouses has been assessed using the expressed emotion (EE) construct, a tool previously described in the field of mental health. For schizophrenia and other psychiatric illnesses, a correlation exists between family EE and patients’ outcomes.

Aims:

The main objective of this study was to observe the presence of EE among relatives of chronic spinal pain patients and to evaluate its correlation with their symptoms.

Methods:

A prospective observational study was conducted on 54 patients and their spouses currently seen at the Chronic Pain Unit of Hospital Clinic of Barcelona. The following variables were recorded: age, gender, pain score, quality of life and EE.

Results:

Data showed that a considerable proportion of spouses were rated as high EE. There was an association between EE and patients’ quality of life, and the level of EE predicted some other variables of patients’ quality of life.

Conclusion:

The EE level of spouses of chronic pain patients affects the patients’ quality of life and thus the way that they experience their pain.
It Should Not Only Be about Nationalism: China’s Pluralistic National Identity and Its Implications for Chinese Foreign Relations
Authors: Carlson Allen
Published: August 2013

Over the course of the last decade, students of Chinese foreign relations have engaged in an extended, and often rather breathless, debate over the meaning of China’s changing international profile. The question for all those with an interest in Asian security, and the wider international order, has become: what does China want to do with its new-found power? This article rests upon the conviction that national identity, rather than nationalism alone, stands at the centre of such issues. The latter of these two has attracted more attention. However, it tends to lead analysts to only see a narrow bandwidth of identity formation within a country, whereas the former is more inclusive of the potential variety of collective constructs that are in play in a given location. From within such a framework, it is then possible to both examine the production of Chinese collective imaginings and explore the role that they play in framing China’s interaction with the rest of the international system.
Finland’s Self-Defence Strategies
Authors: V.K. Vinayaraj
Published: August 2013

The essay examines the threats and challenges that Finland has perceived first from imperial Russia, then from the Soviet Russia and now from the Russian Federation. Apart from studying the dynamics of Finland–Russia relations, it looks specifically at the Finnish responses for ensuring its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity in general and the self-defence strategies adopted by Finland in dealing with potential threats from Russia in particular. This is done in the context of Paul Schroeder’s categorization of self-defence strategies.
Is Unipolarity Peaceful?
Authors: Terhalle Maximilian
Published: August 2013

Unipolarity is more peaceful than what theorists predict. In causal terms, its dynamics might be less unidirectional than what is often assumed. First, contrary to Monteiro’s assumption, the character of today’s aggregation mechanisms is not adversarial. This is because the nature of polarity has changed over time. Second, in contrast to domestic alliance aspects, Monteiro’s structural inclinations lead him to overlook the importance of domestic politics when analyzing the targets of the unipole’s ‘temptation to re-engineer the system’. Third, since Monteiro believes that wars against smaller states are very likely, he seems to assume a deterministic stance, thereby leaving no room for US diplomacy to reject such determinism at opportune moments. Finally, neglecting economic aspects, Monteiro does not recognize the socio-political effects of the security-economics nexus on smaller states.
Neighbourhood Diversity and Social Trust: An Empirical Analysis of Interethnic Contact and Group-specific Effects
Authors: Gundelach Birte , Freitag Markus
Published: August 2013

To date, neighbourhood studies on ethnic diversity and social trust have revealed inconclusive findings. In this paper, three innovations are proposed in order to systemise the knowledge about neighbourhood ethnic diversity and the development of social trust. First, it is proposed to use a valid trust measure that is sensitive to the local neighbourhood context. Second, the paper argues for a conception of organically evolved neighbourhoods, rather than using local administrative units as readily available proxies for neighbourhood divisions. Thirdly, referring to intergroup contact theory and group-specific effects of diversity, the paper challenges the notion that ethnic diversity has overwhelmingly negative effects on social trust.
The Meaning of the missio Dei: Reflections on Lesslie Newbigin’s Proposal That Mission Is of the Essence of the Church
Authors: Sarisky Darren
Published: August 2013

The article is an exposition and critique of Lesslie Newbigin’s view of the church and its mission, according to which the church’s mission is compared with and taken up into the sending of the Spirit and the Son by the Father. The conclusion is that Newbigin’s ecclesiology has great merit in that it challenges the Christian community to realize that it is not even truly a church unless it is active in missions. But, at the same time, the essay argues that there are aspects of God’s missional work that Newbigin’s view does not fully integrate.
Theology of Religions and the Intuitive Dimension: How Do We Construct and Perceive God’s Fairness?
Authors: Lee Michael Hakmin
Published: August 2013

With pluralism increasingly becoming the dominant explanatory paradigm for religious diversity in Europe and North America, Christians must contend with the reality that their fundamental conviction of salvation being mediated uniquely and exclusively through Jesus Christ is widely perceived as being parochial, intolerant, or even unconscionable. This article explores and challenges what appears to be a common and significant, but not often examined, assumption underlying protests against claims of Christian particularity—an unfairness intuition. Considerations include recent research on culture and notions of fairness/justice and biblical-theological reflections on fairness/justice.
They own this: Mother tongue instruction for indigenous Kuku Children in Southern Sudan
Authors: Laguarda Ana Isabel , Woodward Walter Pierce
Published: August 2013

This article details a pilot program of mother tongue instruction in five primary schools for classes one through three, in Kajokeji County, Central Equatoria State, South Sudan. The program was launched by teachers and volunteers with the support of the Jesuit Refugee Service, an international non-governmental organization. The research examines how mother tongue education impacted teaching and learning during one academic term. The article discusses the reasons for mother tongue education in Kajokeji, the implementation methods, the results of the pilot effort, and implications for educational personnel working with indigenous populations in Kajokeji, in South Sudan, and across the World.