bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Philippians 4:1-9 from a rhetorical perspective
Authors: Snyman AH
Published: November 2012

The aim of this article is to analyse Philippians 4:1-9 from a rhetorical perspective that differs from the typical approach of researchers, who tend to force ancient rhetorical categories on the letter . Using a text-centred approach, it is argued that the dominant rhetorical strategy in this section could be described as: “Urging the Philippians to live the gospel”. The section is divided into three phases, namely 4:1 (commanding the Philippians to stand firm for the sake of the gospel); 4:2-3 (calling on certain individuals to be united in their work for the  gospel); and 4:1-9 (commanding the Philippians to practise certain key characteristics of the Christian life). The section and its phases are demarcated by rhetorical considerations.    In analysing the rhetorical strategies and techniques in 4:1-9 the focus is on the way Paul argues, on the type of arguments he uses and on the rhetorical techniques that could enhance the impact of his communication.  All these strategies and techniques serve to persuade the Philippians to live the gospel, in response to a situation where they were experiencing serious problems and were tempted to abandon their struggle.
Geloofsverskille: waar kom hulle vandaan en wat maak ons met hulle?
Authors: Jordaan WJ
Published: November 2012

In this article about the origin of differences in faith and how we can/should deal with them, the article explores the extent to which language may guide or misguide our reflections about God as mystery, and how differences in faith become embedded in the nature and dynamics of religious discourse; both external and internal. Such discourses are then linked to four phases of faith which emerge in various permutations and combinations; are recursively linked; and together attest to faith as a journey and not as a fixed destination. These phases are: blind gullibility and stultification; conflict and doubt; outsidership; and a sense of wonder/fundamental trust. Focussing  on the latter faith “position” the author then explores how our talk about God can be guided by what the philosopher Paul van Buren calls the “edges of language” – where the word God serves as the final speech act when one wants deperately to say the most that is possible. Various examples from literature, the arts and Scripture are supplied to elucidate the edges of language and how these may retain connections with traditional/convential religious language utterances and the various phases of faith. Finally, the article explores the deeper meaning of commitment and which would allow the respectful accommodation of all such commitments.
The etho-poietic of the parable of the good Samaritan (Lk 10:25-37). The ethics of seeing in a culture of looking the other way
Authors: Zimmermann R
Published: November 2012

Within a culture of “Looking the Other way” there are not only empirically ascertainable reasons why help is not given in acute emergency situations, there is also a “Theory of Not-Helping” that attempts to demonstrate argumentatively why it may even be better not to help. According to the article, the parable of the “good Samaritan” invites us, however, to “look closely”. Four invitations of the text are developed, each with an emphasis on ethics: 1) The narrated Samaritan (The appeal structure of ethics); 2) The touched Samaritan (Ethics in the Context of Love); 3) The partisan Samaritan (Universal ethos of helping – or: Ethics of open partisanship); 4) The charitable Samaritan (Social ethics instead of ethics of conscience).
Confessional and ecumenical? Revisiting Edmund Schlink on the hermeneutics of doctrine
Authors: Smit D J
Published: November 2012

Confessional and ecumenical? Revisiting Edmund Schlink on the hermeneutics of doctrineConrad Wethmar has always been interested in questions concerning the hermeneutics of doctrine, often concentrating on methodological issues regarding the role of confessions and the challenges of ecumenical theology. For this purpose, he consistently engaged with German-speaking Lutheran theologians. In this essay, the important views and contributions of Edmund Schlink regarding confessional and ecumenical theology are called to mind, as one further potential dialogue partner for South African theologians like Wethmar. A first section reminds readers of Wethmar’s contributions. The second section recalls Schlink’s theological journey and the role of confessions – both Lutheran confessions and the Confessing Church with Barmen – as well as the ecumenical church – several real dialogues between major confessional traditions, including his role during the Second Vatican Council – before the third sections draws some of his major methodological insights and contributions together. A brief final section points to some potential similarities between Schlink’s work and Wethmar’s interests.
Rain rituals and hybridity in Southern Africa
Authors: M R
Published: November 2012

This article discusses the persistence and transformation of rain rituals in contemporary African Christianity. It argues that the concept ‘hybridity’ might be a useful addition to the vocabulary of scholars studying contemporary global Christianity. The use of hybridity could replace ideologically loaded terms, such as syncretism, while still describing the interaction between different religious traditions on the phenomenological level. In Africa, as elsewhere, there are ongoing internal dialogues between the often divergent traditions represented in the worldviews of contemporary Christians. Under the concept hybridity, this internal inter-religious dialogue might be well described using non-pejorative, empirical language.
A biblical death-wish: Paul celebrating dying in Phil 1:21
Authors: Punt J.
Published: November 2012

Death features as an important concept in the Pauline writings in the New Testament for a number of reasons. However, the intriguing way in which the apostle at times addressed death as positive notion in itself, was traditionally related to Paul�s theological convictions and his understanding of the death of Christ in particular. The remarkably pointed way in which Paul positively celebrated death in Philippians 1:21 borders on invoking a martyrological paradigm, and raises questions about his convictions regarding life, and bodily existence in particular. Interesting analogies emerge when Paul�s celebration of death is compared in a concluding section with contemporary, popular instances where death is � even if for different reasons � presented as �gain�.
Molecular Diagnosis of Subcutaneous Spirometra erinaceieuropaei Sparganosis in a Japanese Immigrant
Authors: Tappe Dennis , Berger Luise , Haeupler Alexandra , Muntau Birgit , Racz Paul , Harder Yves , Specht Katja , Prazeres da Costa Clarissa , Poppert Sven
Published: November 2012

We report a case of subcutaneous sparganosis in a 68-year-old female Japanese immigrant in Germany. The patient complained of a painless erythema caudal of the umbilicus with a palpable subcutaneous cherry-sized lump. Polymerase chain reaction on formalin-fixed parasite tissue identified Spirometra erinaceieuropaei as the causative agent; the proliferative form of sparganosis, which is caused by the branching and disseminating Sparganum proliferum, could, thus, be excluded. From the excised sparganum, an immunofluorescence test was established and revealed an antibody response directed against the parasite's tegument. Histological key features of the plerocercoid that facilitate diagnosis with different stains are presented.
Seasonal Differences in Retinopathy-Negative versus Retinopathy-Positive Cerebral Malaria
Authors: Postels Douglas G. , Birbeck Gretchen L. , Valim Clarissa , Mannor Kara M. , Taylor Terrie E.
Published: November 2012

Children with traditionally defined cerebral malaria (CM) can be subcategorized by the presence or absence of malaria retinopathy. We retrospectively reviewed the seasonal pattern of retinopathy status in patients admitted with CM in Blantyre, Malawi from 1997 to 2010. The proportion of children with CM who were retinopathy-positive was significantly greater during the peak seasonal rains when the community incidence of uncomplicated malaria is higher. This finding supports the hypothesis that retinopathy-negative and retinopathy-positive CM categories have different underlying etiologies.
Pollution transport towards the Arctic during summer 2008
Authors: Thomas J. L. , Raut J.-C. , Law K. S. , Marelle L. , Ancellet G. , Ravetta F. , Fast J. D. , Pfister G. , Emmons L. K. , Diskin G. S. , Weinheimer A. , Roiger A. , Schlager H.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. Ozone pollution transported to the Arctic is a significant concern because of the rapid, enhanced warming in high northern latitudes, which is caused, in part, by short-lived climate forcers, such as ozone. Long-range transport of pollution contributes to background and episodic ozone levels in the Arctic. However, the extent to which plumes are photochemically active during transport, particularly during the summer, is still uncertain. In this study, regional chemical transport model simulations are used to examine photochemical production of ozone in air masses originating from boreal fire and anthropogenic emissions over North America and during their transport toward the Arctic during early July 2008. Model results are evaluated using POLARCAT aircraft data collected over boreal fire source regions in Canada (ARCTAS-B) and several days downwind over Greenland (POLARCAT-France and POLARCAT-GRACE) during the study period. Model results are generally in good agreement with the observations, except for certain trace gas species over boreal fire regions, in some cases indicating that the fire emissions are too low. Anthropogenic and biomass burning pollution (BB) from North America was rapidly uplifted during transport east and north to Greenland where pollution plumes were observed in the mid- and upper-troposphere during POLARCAT. A model sensitivity study shows that CO levels are in better agreement with POLARCAT measurements (fresh and aged fire plumes) upon doubling CO emissions from fires. Analysis of model results, using ΔO3/ΔCO enhancement ratios, shows that pollution plumes formed ozone during transport towards the Arctic. Fresh anthropogenic plumes have average ΔO3/ΔCO enhancement ratios of 0.28 increasing to 0.99 for aged anthropogenic plumes, indicating additional ozone production during aging. Fresh fire plumes are only slightly enhanced in ozone ( ΔO3/ΔCO=0.11), but form ozone downwind with ΔO3/ΔCO of 0.50 for aged BB plumes. We estimate that aged anthropogenic and BB pollution together made an important contribution to ozone levels with an average contribution for latitudes >55° N of up to 6.5ppbv (18%) from anthropogenic pollution and 3 ppbv (5.2%) from fire pollution in the model domain in summer 2008.
Strato-mesospheric ClO observations by SMILES: error analysis and diurnal variation
Authors: Sato T. O. , Sagawa H. , Kreyling D. , Manabe T. , Ochiai S. , Kikuchi K. , Baron P. , Mendrok J. , Urban J. , Murtagh D. , Yasui M. , Kasai Y.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. Chlorine monoxide (ClO) is the key species for anthropogenic ozone losses in the middle atmosphere. We observed ClO diurnal variations using the Superconducting Submillimeter-Wave Limb-Emission Sounder (SMILES) on the International Space Station, which has a non-sun-synchronous orbit. This includes the first global observations of the ClO diurnal variation from the stratosphere up to the mesosphere. The observation of mesospheric ClO was possible due to 10–20 times better signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of the spectra than those of past or ongoing microwave/submillimeter-wave limb-emission sounders. We performed a quantitative error analysis for the strato- and mesospheric ClO from the Level-2 research (L2r) product version 2.1.5 taking into account all possible contributions of errors, i.e. errors due to spectrum noise, smoothing, and uncertainties in radiative transfer model and instrument functions. The SMILES L2r v2.1.5 ClO data are useful over the range from 0.01 and 100 hPa with a total error estimate of 10–30 pptv (about 10%) with averaging 100 profiles. The SMILES ClO vertical resolution is 3–5 km and 5–8 km for the stratosphere and mesosphere, respectively. The SMILES observations reproduced the diurnal variation of stratospheric ClO, with peak values at midday, observed previously by the Microwave Limb Sounder on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS/MLS). Mesospheric ClO demonstrated an opposite diurnal behavior, with nighttime values being larger than daytime values. A ClO enhancement of about 100 pptv was observed at 0.02 to 0.01 hPa (about 70–80 km) for 50° N–65° N from January–February 2010. The performance of SMILES ClO observations opens up new opportunities to investigate ClO up to the mesopause.
Six years of mesospheric CO estimated from ground-based frequency-switched microwave radiometry at 57° N compared with satellite instruments
Authors: Forkman P. , Christensen O. M. , Eriksson P. , Urban J. , Funke B.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. Measurements of mesospheric carbon monoxide, CO, provide important information about the dynamics in the mesosphere region since CO has a long lifetime at these altitudes. Ground-based measurements of mesospheric CO made at the Onsala Space Observatory, OSO, (57° N, 12° E) are presented. The dataset covers the period 2002–2008 and is hence uniquely long for ground-based observations. The simple and stable 115 GHz frequency-switched radiometer, calibration method, retrieval procedure and error characterization are described. A comparison between our measurements and co-located CO measurements from the satellite sensors ACE-FTS on Scisat (v2.2), MLS on Aura (v3-3), MIPAS on Envisat (V3O_CO_12 + 13 and V4O_CO_200) and SMR on Odin (v225 and v021) is carried out. Our instrument, OSO, and the four satellite instruments show the same general variation of the vertical distribution of mesospheric CO in both the annual cycle and in shorter time period events, with high CO mixing ratios during winter and very low amounts during summer in the observed 55–100 km altitude range. During 2004–2008 the agreement of the OSO instrument and the satellite sensors ACE-FTS, MLS and MIPAS (200) is good in the altitude range 55–70 km. Above 70 km, OSO shows up to 25% higher CO column values compared to both ACE and MLS. For the time period 2002–2004, CO from MIPAS (12 + 13) is up to 50% lower than OSO between 55 and 70 km. Mesospheric CO from the two versions of SMR deviates up to ±65% when compared to OSO, but the analysis is based on only a few co-locations.
Factors challenging our ability to detect long-term trends in ocean chlorophyll
Authors: Beaulieu C. , Henson S. A. , Sarmiento J. L. , Dunne J. P. , Doney S. C. , Rykaczewski R. R. , Bopp L.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. Global climate change is expected to affect the ocean's biological productivity. The most comprehensive information available about the global distribution of contemporary ocean primary productivity is derived from satellite data. Large spatial patchiness and interannual to multidecadal variability in chlorophyll a concentration challenges efforts to distinguish a global, secular trend given satellite records which are limited in duration and continuity. The longest ocean color satellite record comes from the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS), which failed in December 2010. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) ocean color sensors are beyond their originally planned operational lifetime. Successful retrieval of a quality signal from the current Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument, or successful launch of the Ocean Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) in 2013 will hopefully extend the ocean color time series and increase the potential for detecting trends in ocean productivity in the future. Alternatively, a potential discontinuity in the time series of ocean chlorophyll a, introduced by a change of instrument without overlap and opportunity for cross-calibration, would make trend detection even more challenging. In this paper, we demonstrate that there are a few regions with statistically significant trends over the ten years of SeaWiFS data, but at a global scale the trend is not large enough to be distinguished from noise. We quantify the degree to which red noise (autocorrelation) especially challenges trend detection in these observational time series. We further demonstrate how discontinuities in the time series at various points would affect our ability to detect trends in ocean chlorophyll a. We highlight the importance of maintaining continuous, climate-quality satellite data records for climate-change detection and attribution studies.
The real limits to marine life: a further critique of the Respiration Index
Authors: Seibel B. A. , Childress J. J.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. The recently proposed "Respiration Index" (RI = log[PO2]/[PCO2]) suggests that aerobic metabolism is limited by the ratio of reactants (R, oxygen) and products (P, carbon dioxide) according to the thermodynamics of cellular respiration. Here we demonstrate that, because of the large standard free energy change for organic carbon oxidation (ΔG° = −686 kcal mol−1), carbon dioxide can never reach concentrations that would limit the thermodynamics of this reaction. A PCO2 to PO2 ratio of 10503 would be required to reach equilibrium (equilibrium constant, Keq = 10503), where ΔG = 0. Thus a respiration index of −503 would be the real thermodynamic limit to aerobic life. Such a Respiration Index is never reached either in the cell or in the environment. Moreover cellular respiration and oxygen provision are kinetically controlled such that, within limits, environmental oxygen and CO2 concentrations have little to do with intracellular concentrations. The RI is fundamentally different from the aragonite saturation state, a thermodynamic index used to quantify the potential effect of CO2 on calcification rates, because of its failure to incorporate the equilibrium constant of the reaction. Not only is the RI invalid, its use leads to incorrect and dangerous predictions of the threat of changing oxygen and carbon dioxide to marine life. We provide a physiological model that identifies oxygen thresholds, and allows for synergistic effects of ocean acidification and global warming.
The magnesium isotope record of cave carbonate archives
Authors: Riechelmann S. , Buhl D. , Schröder-Ritzrau A. , Riechelmann D. F. C. , Richter D. K. , Vonhof H. B. , Wassenburg J. A. , Geske A. , Spötl C. , Immenhauser A.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. Here we explore the potential of magnesium (δ26Mg) isotope time-series data as continental climate proxies in speleothem calcite archives. For this purpose, a total of six Pleistocene and Holocene stalagmites from caves in Germany, Morocco and Peru and two flowstones from a cave in Austria were investigated. These caves represent the semi-arid to arid (Morocco), the warm-temperate (Germany), the equatorial-humid (Peru) and the cold-humid (Austria) climate zones. Changes in the calcite magnesium isotope signature with time are compared against carbon and oxygen isotope records from these speleothems. Similar to other proxies, the non-trivial interaction of a number of environmental, equilibrium and disequilibrium processes governs the δ26Mg fractionation in continental settings. These include the different sources of magnesium isotopes such as rainwater or snow as well as soil and host rock, soil zone biogenic activity, shifts in silicate versus carbonate weathering ratios and residence time of water in the soil and karst zone. Pleistocene stalagmites from Morocco show the lowest mean δ26Mg values (GDA: −4.26 ± 0.07‰ and HK3: −4.17 ± 0.15‰), and the data are well explained in terms of changes in aridity over time. The Pleistocene to Holocene stalagmites from Peru show the highest mean value of all stalagmites (NC-A and NC-B δ26Mg: −3.96 ± 0.04‰) but only minor variations in Mg-isotope composition, which is consistent with the rather stable equatorial climate at this site. Holocene stalagmites from Germany (AH-1 mean δ26Mg: −4.01 ± 0.07‰; BU 4 mean δ26Mg: −4.20 ± 0.10‰) suggest changes in outside air temperature was the principal driver rather than rainfall amount. The alpine Pleistocene flowstones from Austria (SPA 52: −3.00 ± 0.73‰; SPA 59: −3.70 ± 0.43‰) are affected by glacial versus interglacial climate change with outside air temperature affecting soil zone activity and weathering balance. Several δ26Mg values of the Austrian and two δ26Mg values of the German speleothems are shifted to higher values due to sampling in detrital layers (Mg-bearing clay minerals) of the speleothems. The data and their interpretation shown here highlight the potential but also the limitations of the magnesium isotope proxy applied in continental climate research. An obvious potential lies in its sensitivity for even subtle changes in soil-zone parameters, a hitherto rather poorly understood but extremely important component in cave archive research. Limitations are most obvious in the low resolution and high sample amount needed for analysis. Future research should focus on experimental and conceptual aspects including quantitative and well-calibrated leaching and precipitation experiments.
Characterizing interactions between surface water and groundwater in the Jialu River basin using major ion chemistry and stable isotopes
Authors: Yang L. , Song X. , Zhang Y. , Han D. , Zhang B. , Long D.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. The Jialu River, a secondary tributary of the Huaihe River, has been severely contaminated from major contaminant sources, such as a number of untreated or lightly treated sewage waste in some cities. Groundwater along the river is not an isolated component of the hydrologic system, but is instead connected with the surface water. This study aims to investigate temporal and spatial variations in water chemistry affected by humans and to characterize the relationships between surface water (e.g. reservoirs, lakes and rivers) and groundwater near the river in the shallow Quaternary aquifer. Concentration of Cl− in north Zhengzhou City increased prominently due to the discharge of a large amount of domestic water. Nitrate and potassium show maximum concentrations in groundwater in Fugou County. These high levels can be attributed to the use of a large quantity of fertilizer over this region. Most surface water appeared to be continuously recharged from the surrounding groundwater (regional wells) based on comparison surface water with groundwater levels, stable-isotopes and major ion signatures. However, the groundwater of a transitional well (location SY3) seemed to be recharged by river water via bank infiltration in September 2010. Fractional contributions of river water to the groundwater were calculated based on isotopic and chemical data using a mass-balance approach. Results show that the groundwater was approximately composed of 60–70% river water. These findings should be useful for a better understanding of hydrogeological processes at the river-aquifer interface and ultimately benefit water management in the future.
Calibration of aerodynamic roughness over the Tibetan Plateau with Ensemble Kalman Filter analysed heat flux
Authors: Lee J. H. , Timmermans J. , Su Z. , Mancini M.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. Aerodynamic roughness height (Zom) is a key parameter required in several land surface hydrological models, since errors in heat flux estimation are largely dependent on optimization of this input. Despite its significance, it remains an uncertain parameter which is not readily determined. This is mostly because of non-linear relationship in Monin-Obukhov similarity (MOS) equations and uncertainty of vertical characteristic of vegetation in a large scale. Previous studies often determined aerodynamic roughness using a minimization of cost function over MOS relationship or linear regression over it, traditional wind profile method, or remotely sensed vegetation index. However, these are complicated procedures that require a high accuracy for several other related parameters embedded in serveral equations including MOS. In order to simplify this procedure and reduce the number of parameters in need, this study suggests a new approach to extract aerodynamic roughness parameter from single or two heat flux measurements analyzed via Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF) that affords non-linearity. So far, to our knowledge, no previous study has applied EnKF to aerodynamic roughness estimation, while the majority of data assimilation study have paid attention to updates of other land surface state variables such as soil moisture or land surface temperature. The approach of this study was applied to grassland in semi-arid Tibetan Plateau and maize on moderately wet condition in Italy. It was demonstrated that aerodynamic roughness parameter can be inversely tracked from heat flux EnKF final analysis. The aerodynamic roughness height estimated in this approach was consistent with eddy covariance method and literature value. Through a calibration of this parameter, this adjusted the sensible heat previously overestimated and latent heat flux previously underestimated by the original Surface Energy Balance System (SEBS) model. It was considered that this improved heat flux estimation especially during the summer Monsoon period, based upon a comparison with precipitation and soil moisture field measurement. For an advantage of this approach over other previous methodologies, this approach is useful even when eddy covariance data are absent at a large scale and is time-variant over vegetation growth, as well as is not directly affected by saturation problem of remotely sensed vegetation index.
Relationship between E-recruitment Adoption and Good Governance Practices in Nigerian Public Sector: An Empirical Study
Authors: Sanusi Ahmad , Mohamed Ahmad Martadha
Published: November 2012

The universal quest for good governance forces different countries to adopt e-recruitment as recruiting strategy in hiring their teeming workforce in line with global best practices. As part of public service reform Nigerian government encourage public sector organisations to jettison conventional recruitment method in favour of electronic recruitment for transparency, accessibility and efficiency in recruitment exercises. This study empirically investigates the relationship between e-recruitment adoption and good governance practices in Nigerian public service. The study Modified Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to analyse the response generated from 326 survey respondents. The findings indicated that e-recruitment adoption is yet to provide good governance. In the overall, this study offer important insight and recommended that government agencies involved should put effective machinery in motion in order to enrich and improve good governance practices in e-recruitment in Nigerian public sector.
Decentralization: Catalyst for Welfare Service Delivery by Local Government Administration
Authors: Abdulwaheed Salihu , Samihah Khalil
Published: November 2012

The paper aims to look at the transferring of authorities, resources and responsibilities from one tier of government (central government) to other tiers of government (state and local governments) in order to deliver efficient and effective welfare service. This transfer serves two basic purposes, namely accountability for resource management and effective welfare service delivery. This can only be possible if the system of co-responsibility between institutions of governance at the central, states and local governments is decentralized effectively. Similarly, the paper intends to critically examine local governments’ budget and budgeting system in order to deliver primary education and healthcare service to the public. Therefore, the paper studies the main source of revenue of local governments, and determines how the resources are utilized in providing primary education and healthcare services. The study designs information data sheet to elicit information from at least four local governments in Nigeria. Statutory allocation disbursed to four local governments under consideration for the fiscal year 2008 is considered. Approved annual budget of the local governments is analyzed to determine the differential (%) in terms of what is budgeted and what is the budget outcomes. The findings reveal average differential of 65.78% between approved and actual estimates for primary education, and 37.57% for primary healthcare service in the local government under consideration. This shows that local governments under consideration are not delivering primary education and healthcare services optimally.
Evolution of Signaling Information Transmission
Authors: Baraković Husić Jasmina , Bajrić Himzo , Baraković Sabina
Published: November 2012

Next Generation Network (NGN) faces the challenge of the rapidly increasing amount of signaling. The growing amount of signaling is a consequence of several reasons arising from the fact that signaling is the main source of network intelligence, analysis, and user behavior monitoring. With the increase in signaling load and complexity, the network management becomes a challenging issue that can impact overall Quality of Service (QoS). To confront this issue, there is a need for reliable and forehand signaling transmission in NGN. As there is much confusion about the interpretation of this concept, this paper aims to provide an overview of the evolution of signaling transmission. Migration towards NGN is analyzed from the signaling perspective. The NGN signaling protocols and related transmission requirements are identified. Through the discussion of standard approaches, the paper considers our previously published approach to signaling transmission along with the current issues and emerging opportunities.
L'Intendant Bigot de Marmette
Authors: Le Moine Roger
Published: November 2012

Les auteurs de romans historiques québécois du XIXe siècle qui situent leur intrigue au XVIIIe ont rarement reconstitué le contexte de la période. L’étude de la production montre assez bien que seuls s’y essaient ceux qui, comme le Marmette de L'Intendant Bigot, contestent leur propre milieu. Tandis que ceux qui l’agréent ne tiennent pas à s’en dégager ; ils tentent plutôt de l’imposer avec ses valeurs.
Le goupillon, le maillet et la censure du théâtre lyrique à Montréal (1840-1914)
Authors: Barrière Mireille
Published: November 2012

Au XIXe siècle et au début du siècle suivant, le clergé québécois combat le théâtre dans son ensemble. Pour ce qui concerne le théâtre lyrique, que ce soit le genre sérieux comme l’opéra ou le répertoire plus populaire comme l’opérette, il subit lui aussi les foudres des évêques de Montréal. D’une condamnation générale à l’époque de Mgr Ignace Bourget, la répression épiscopale évoluera vers la mise au ban d’oeuvres bien précises sous Mgr Paul Bruchési. Impuissante à détourner les fidèles des théâtres, en dépit de fréquentes et énergiques dénonciations, l’Église agira plus efficacement sur les décideurs et les pouvoirs publics, ce qui lui permettra d’enregistrer quelques victoires intéressantes. Cependant, l’unanimité autour de l’Église catholique a du plomb dans l’aile, puisque les fidèles, et même une certaine portion du clergé, bravent ses interdits.
Engagement and retention in care of patients diagnosed with HIV infection and enrolled in the Modena HIV Surveillance Cohort
Authors: Lazzaretti C , Borghi V , Franceschini E , Guaraldi G , Mussini C
Published: November 2012

Engagment and retention in care is one of the main aspects not only for the prognosis of the single patient, but also for the treatment as prevention strategy. American data showed a percentage of engagement in care ranging between 50 and 59%. Aim of our study was to evaluate the engagement in care after diagnosis and the percentage of viral load suppression in an Italian Public Health System. A retrospective study was conducted in the Modena HIV Surveillance Cohort, which includes all HIV test performed at the Laboratory of Virology of Modena. All new HIV infections diagnosed in subjects older than 17 years and resident in the province of Modena between January 1996 and December 2011 were included. Subjects were classified as currently in care (IC) if followed until June 2011, and lost to follow‐up (LF) if their last visit was recorded more than one year before June 2011. 962 subjects, 638 males (66.3%), had an HIV diagnosis during the study period. 71 (7.4%) were not linked to care, 891 were linked to care (92.6%) and 96 (10.8) of them died during the study period. In the 15 years, 625 out of 795 prevalent patients (excluding dead) (78.6%) were IC and 170 (21.4%) were LF. As June 2011, 570 patients were on antiretroviral treatment and 516 (90.5%) of them had an undetectable HIV RNA. At univariate analysis LF were younger than IC (median 32 vs 36 years; p<0.001); more frequently had a foreign origin (49.4% vs 30.6%; p<0.001) and were drug users (17.1% vs 7.0%; P<0.001). Determinants to be a LF, by using a multivariate model, were: age (OR 0.97; 95% CI 0.94‐0.99; p≤0.001), foreign origin (OR 3.45; 95% CI 2.24–5.33; p<0.001); while, being MSM vs drug user (p=0.001), heterosexual vs drug users (p<0.001) and having received an HIV diagnosis in more recent years, i.e. 2006–2011 vs 1996–2000 (p<0.001) were good predictors to be a IC. Considering the all prevalence, 962 subjects, the percentage of subject receiving antiretroviral treatment was 71.7% and that of those with an undetectable HIV RNA was 64.9%.

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In conclusion, in a public health system setting, the percentage of patients not engaged in care or lost to follow‐up could be lower than in other situations as the American one. Nevertheless, if we consider the strategy of treatment as prevention, there is still a lot to do, especially following the patients for a long period.
Patterns of retention in clinical care among HIV‐positive men in the UK CHIC Study
Authors: Sethi G , Edwards S , Anderson J , Sabin C ,   UK Collaborative HIV Cohort (CHIC) Study
Published: November 2012

We examined disparities in engagement and retention‐in‐care among men in the UK Collaborative HIV Cohort (CHIC) Study according to ethnic group and mode of HIV infection. All male subjects in UK CHIC from 1996–2011 were included. We considered factors associated with both initial engagement (follow‐up>1 day) and consistent retention in care (no interval between consecutive CD4/viral load (VL) measures>6 months). Logistic regression was used to identify associations with ethnic group and mode of HIV infection after adjusting for covariates at study entry (age, year, use of antiretrovirals (ART), AIDS). Analyses of retention also adjusted for VL/CD4 at entry and clinic. The 33210 men had a median (interquartile range) age of 36 (30,42) years at study entry, ethnic group was white (21851, 65.8%), black African (4374, 13.2%), black other (1539, 4.6%), Asian (967, 2.9%), other (2337, 7.0%) and unknown (2142, 6.5%). Mode of infection was sex between men (MSM) (22260, 67.0%), heterosexual sex (HET) (6286, 18.9%), other (1556, 4.7%) and unknown (3108, 9.4%). 32045 (96.5%) men were initially engaged in care, with no major differences by ethnic group after adjustment. Compared to MSM, initial engagement was less likely in those with heterosexual (adjusted odds ratio 0.77 [95% confidence interval 0.63–0.95]) or other (0.43 [0.33–0.56]) modes of infection. Other factors associated with initial engagement were older age, receipt of ART and having AIDS at entry; those entering UK CHIC in 2008–2011 were less likely to engage due to the shorter follow‐up time. Of the men initially engaged in care, 12644 (44.0%) were consistently retained with no interval between consecutive CD4/VL>6 months. Consistent retention was more likely in MSM than in those with other modes of infection (HET: 0.76 [0.68–0.84]; other 0.54 [0.46–0.62]). Ethnic group again did not impact greatly on subsequent retention. Other independent predictors of retention were older age, receipt of ART and AIDS at entry. Those entering UK CHIC in later years were more likely to exhibit consistent retention as were those with higher VL and lower CD4 at entry. Our study demonstrates high rates of initial engagement in care. Those infected with HIV through heterosexual sex and younger men are less likely to engage in care and, once engaged, are less likely to attend consistently. The reasons behind these differences need to be explored further to ensure equitable health care delivery.
Quantifying Industry Spending on Promotional Events Using Open Payments Data
Authors: Grundy Quinn , Held Fabian , MacIsaac Meghan , Baugh Christine M. , Campbell Eric G. , Bero Lisa
Published: June 2024

Importance

Sponsorship of promotional events for health professionals is a key facet of marketing campaigns for pharmaceuticals and medical devices; however, there appears to be limited transparency regarding the scope and scale of this spending.

Objective

To develop a novel method for describing the scope and quantifying the spending by US pharmaceutical and medical companies on industry-sponsored promotional events for particular products.

Design and Setting

This was a cross-sectional study using records from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid’s Open Payments database on payments made to prescribing clinicians from January 1 to December 21, 2022.

Main Outcomes and Measures

An event-centric approach was used to define sponsored events as groupings of payment records with matching variables. Events were characterized by value (coffee, lunch, dinner, or banquet) and number of attendees (small vs large). To test the method, the number of and total spending for each type of event across professional groups were calculated and used to identify the top 10 products related to dinner events. To validate the method, we extracted all event details advertised on the websites of 4 state-level nurse practitioner associations that regularly hosted industry-sponsored dinner events during 2022 and compared these with events identified in the Open Payments database.

Results

A total of 1 154 806 events sponsored by pharmaceutical and medical device companies were identified for 2022. Of these, 1 151 351 (99.7%) had fewer than 20 attendees, and 922 214 (80.0%) were considered to be a lunch ($10-$30 per person). Seven companies sponsored 16 031 dinners for the top 10 products. Of the 227 sponsored in-person dinner events hosted by the 4 state-level nurse practitioner associations, 168 (74.0%) matched events constructed from the Open Payments dataset.

Conclusions and Relevance

These findings indicate that an event-centric analysis of Open Payments data is a valid method to understand the scope and quantify spending by pharmaceutical and medical device companies on industry-sponsored promotional events attended by prescribers. Expanding and enforcing the reporting requirements to cover all payments to all registered health professionals would improve the accuracy of estimates of the true extent of all sponsored events and their impact on clinical practice.
Prospective Validation of a Prediction Model for the Diagnosis of Acute Pancreatitis
Authors: Jin David X. , Lacson Ronilda , Eskian Mahsa , McNabb-Baltar Julia , Banks Peter A. , Kayden Stephanie R. , Raja Ali S. , Khorasani Ramin
Published: June 2024

Importance

While most patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) fulfill diagnostic criteria with characteristic abdominal pain and serum lipase levels of at least 3 times the upper limit of normal (reference range) at presentation, early imaging is often used for confirmation. A prior prediction model and corresponding point-based score were developed using nonimaging parameters to diagnose AP in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED).

Objective

To evaluate the performance of the prediction model to diagnose AP in a prospective patient cohort.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This prospective diagnostic study included consecutive adult patients presenting to the ED between January 1, 2020, and March 9, 2021, at 2 large academic medical centers in the northeastern US with serum lipase levels at least 3 times the upper limit of normal. Patients transferred from outside institutions or with malignant disease and established intra-abdominal metastases, acute trauma, or altered mentation were excluded. Data were analyzed from October 15 to October 23, 2023.

Exposures

Participants were assigned scores for initial serum lipase level, number of prior AP episodes, prior cholelithiasis, abdominal surgery within 2 months, presence of epigastric pain, pain of worsening severity, duration from pain onset to presentation, and pain level at ED presentation.

Main Outcome and Measures

A final diagnosis of AP, established by expert review of hospitalization records.

Results

Prospective scores in 349 participants (mean [SD] age, 53.0 [18.8] years; 184 women [52.7%]; 66 Black [18.9%]; 199 White [57.0%]) demonstrated an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve of 0.91. A score of at least 6 points achieved highest accuracy (F score, 82.0), corresponding to a sensitivity of 81.5%, specificity of 85.9%, positive predictive value of 82.6%, and negative predictive value of 85.1% for AP diagnosis. Early computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging was performed more often in participants predicted to have AP (116 of 155 [74.8%] with a score ≥6 vs 111 of 194 [57.2%] with a score <6; P < .001). Early imaging revealed an alternative diagnosis in 8 of 116 participants (6.9%) with scores of at least 6 points, 1 of 93 (1.1%) with scores of at least 7 points, and 1 of 73 (1.4%) with scores of at least 8 points.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this multicenter diagnostic study, the prediction model demonstrated excellent AP diagnostic accuracy. Its application may be used to avoid unnecessary confirmatory imaging.
Heritability of Body Mass Index Among Familial Generations
Authors: Chodick Gabriel , Simchoni Maya , Jensen Britt Wang , Derazne Estela , Pinhas-Hamiel Orit , Landau Regev , Abramovich Alon , Afek Arnon , Baker Jennifer Lyn , Twig Gilad
Published: June 2024

Importance

Studies on the familial effects of body mass index (BMI) status have yielded a wide range of data on its heritability.

Objective

To assess the heritability of obesity by measuring the association between the BMIs of fathers, mothers, and their offspring at the same age.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study used data from population-wide mandatory medical screening before compulsory military service in Israel. The study included participants examined between January 1, 1986, and December 31, 2018, whose both parents had their BMI measurement taken at their own prerecruitment evaluation in the past. Data analysis was performed from May to December 2023.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated for offsprings’ BMI and their mothers’, fathers’, and midparental BMI percentile (the mean of the mothers’ and fathers’ BMI cohort- and sex-specific BMI percentile) to estimate heritability. Logistic regression models were applied to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs of obesity compared with healthy BMI, according to parental BMI status.

Results

A total of 447 883 offspring (235 105 male [52.5%]; mean [SD] age, 17.09 [0.34] years) with both parents enrolled and measured for BMI at 17 years of age were enrolled in the study, yielding a total study population of 1 343 649 individuals. Overall, the correlation between midparental BMI percentile at 17 years of age and the offspring’s BMI at 17 years of age was moderate (ρ = 0.386). Among female offspring, maternal-offspring BMI correlation (ρ = 0.329) was somewhat higher than the paternal-offspring BMI correlation (ρ = 0.266). Among trios in which both parents had a healthy BMI, the prevalence of overweight or obesity in offspring was 15.4%; this proportion increased to 76.6% when both parents had obesity and decreased to 3.3% when both parents had severe underweight. Compared with healthy weight, maternal (OR, 4.96; 95% CI, 4.63-5.32), paternal (OR, 4.48; 95% CI, 4.26-4.72), and parental (OR, 6.44; 95% CI, 6.22-6.67) obesity (midparent BMI in the ≥95th percentile) at 17 years of age were associated with increased odds of obesity among offspring.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study of military enrollees whose parents also underwent prerecruitment evaluations, the observed correlation between midparental and offspring BMI, coupled with a calculated narrow-sense heritability of 39%, suggested a substantive contribution of genetic factors to BMI variation at 17 years of age.
Euphrates and Tigris
Authors: Warburton David A.
Published: June 2024

The two rivers in Mesopotamia played very different roles.
Peisistratos (Pisistratus)
Authors: Lavelle Brian M.
Published: June 2024

Peisistratos (ca. 605/600
bce
– 528/527
bce
) was tyrant at Athens continuously from 547/46
bce
until his death. His rule quietened the chronic
stasis
that plagued Athens and further stimulated an economic and cultural flourishing that continued under his sons Hipparchos and Hippias. Although the Athenians of the fifth century
bce
regarded the tyranny negatively and that negativity impacted the record of the regime in our sources, positive memories of Peisistratos and his sons survived to suggest that the Athenians regarded the Peisistratid era with some ambiguity.
Philomelos (Philomelus)
Authors: Pascual José
Published: June 2024

Philomelos was a Phokian leader who represented the majority sentiment of the Phokians who opposed the Thebans. In 356
bce
he was elected a general with full powers by the Phokian Federal Assembly. He recruited a mercenary army and occupied the Sanctuary of Delphi, thus provoking the outbreak of the Third Sacred War. He employed the sacred treasures of Delphi to boost the number of mercenaries in his army, effectively defeating the Hesperian Lokrians and the Thessalians, but was defeated in the year 355 by the Boiotians at the Battle of Neon‐Tithorea, which is where he died.
Brasidas
Authors: Powell Anton , Sears Matthew A.
Published: June 2024

Brasidas was one of the most influential and important Spartan commanders in the Peloponnesian War. He changed the course of the war by capturing and holding the city of Amphipolis, and is given special treatment by the war's historian, Thucydides. His death in battle and the posthumous honors he received stand out among the figures of Classical Greece.
Hieronymos of Kardia (Hieronymus of Cardia)
Authors: Meeus Alexander
Published: June 2024

Hieronymos of Kardia was a friend of Eumenes and the first Antigonids, whom he served as a diplomat, commander, and governor. He wrote a history of the Wars of the Successors that has not survived but seems to have been one of the sources behind the preserved tradition.
Sympoliteia
Authors: Pascual José
Published: June 2024

Sympoliteia
, which refers to those who share the same citizenship, can take different forms: it can refer to co‐citizenship, the citizens of the same city‐state or
polis
, or the establishment of a political community made up of more than one city‐state, a federal state, which can be independent or included in another
sympoliteia
or form part of a monarchy. The term can also refer to the unification of one state with another, without the former being entirely absorbed by the latter. Ultimately, a
sympoliteia
establishes or modifies citizenship rights.
Diatheke
(Will)
Authors: Harris Edward M.
Published: June 2024

Wills in Athenian law were used to adopt a son to serve as heir, to provide instructions to heirs and guardians about how to manage property, to provide dowries for widows and daughters, and to free slaves. In the Hellenistic period, wills could be used to create charitable endowments.
Models, Funerary, Pharaonic Egypt
Authors: Orel Sara E.
Published: June 2024

Tomb models are one of the most common objects in private tombs from the late Old Kingdom through to the latter part of the 12th Dynasty. These objects provide tomb owners with what will be needed in the afterlife; most common are boats, offering bearers, and servants preparing food.