bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A model of integration of illness and self‐management in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Hörnsten Åsa , Jutterström Lena , Audulv Åsa , Lundman Berit
Published: February 2011

hörnsten å, jutterström L, Audulv Å & Lundman B (2011) Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness 3, 41–51 A model of integration of illness and self‐management in type 2 diabetes

Aim.  To describe the process of illness integration and self‐management among people with type 2 diabetes.

Background.  Integration of illness is a developmental process referring to the emotional and existential aspects of being ill. It is an overarching concept that describes the process that a person undergoes in living with a chronic disease, from prediagnosis to adaptation to illness as a natural part of life. Despite the common use of terms such as illness integration and self‐management, there exists little research that investigates how these concepts relate to one another.

Methods.  A narrative interview study applying qualitative content analysis was conducted with people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The study focused on their personal understandings of illness, and particularly, the relationship of the participants’ illness integration to self‐management of the disease. Data were collected in 2002.

Results.  In the trajectory from prediagnosis to adaptation, there is a turning point when people seem to integrate the illness emotionally and existentially, and in relation to their self‐management practice. The trajectory includes the phases of suspecting illness/being diagnosed, understanding and explaining the illness, and negotiating illness and taking stands about self‐management. These phases in turn are influenced by perceptions of the seriousness and threat of the disease; the intensity and nature of the ill person’s emotional response to the disease and its management; goals and expectations for living with the disease and for living in general; and lastly, perceptions of the outcomes and impacts of self‐management.

Conclusion.  Illness integration and self‐management processes develop simultaneously. In some cases, a turning point occurs that causes the person to view self‐management as both necessary and feasible.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Nurses may influence the illness integration trajectory and assist people with type 2 diabetes to integrate the disease and its management more readily.
Therapeutic effect of glass‐ionomers: an overview of evidence
Authors: Mickenautsch S , Mount G , Yengopal V
Published: February 2011

The requirements for an ideal restorative material include adhesion to tooth structure (enamel and dentine) and an ability to withstand the traumas of occlusion. However, some level of an anticaries effect is also desirable. After a long history of glass‐ionomer cement (GIC) development, an evidence base in support of the therapeutic effect of GIC, particularly with regard to its anticaries effect, is emerging. This evidence is increasingly presented through systematic reviews of clinical GIC application and, to a certain extent, relates to a caries‐preventive effect of the material itself. However, the strength of evidence supporting other aspects of GIC, such as a higher remineralizing effect, fluoride uptake in hard tooth tissue and fluoride release of GIC, is limited. Nevertheless, the results of these in situ and laboratory trials provide valuable insights into factors that facilitate understanding of the clinical efficacy of GIC.
Professionalism: what is it, why should we have it and how can we achieve it?
Authors: Fricker JP , Kiley M , Townsend G , Trevitt C
Published: February 2011

In this paper we argue that the terms ‘profession’, ‘professional’ and ‘professionalism’ provide us with important insights into the practice of dentistry and the priorities for the continuing development of dentistry as a profession. More significantly, we suggest that this understanding can assist us in designing continuing professional development (CPD) programmes aimed at maintaining the professionalism of dentists throughout their working lives.

A CPD framework is required to support both the new graduate to develop from novice to expert as well as support experienced practitioners to maintain their expertise within a rapidly changing environment. Rather than an onerous task, CPD should be a positive and enjoyable experience, self‐motivated to improve job satisfaction and self‐confidence. Research is currently being undertaken to determine what is good CPD for the practising dentist with a view to recommending strategies based on sound educational theory.
The Political Economy of Stabilisation Funds: Measuring their Success in Resource‐Dependent Countries
Authors: Bagattini Gustavo Yudi
Published: February 2011

This paper seeks to make a meaningful contribution to the literature on the use of stabilisation funds in resource‐dependent countries, by proposing a new manner by which to measure their effectiveness. Since the 1950s, over 30 countries have used these instruments to stabilise resource revenues into their budgets to avoid the resource curse and Dutch disease and/or to save income from non‐renewables. As has been documented by case studies, these countries have had a mixed record in attaining their goals.

This paper is novel in that it aggregates quantitative results of fund performance through the compilation of a new database of detailed fiscal indicators for, put together through the extraction of data from hundreds of IMF documents containing official government data. The cross‐country analysis of fiscal performance provides a new direction for the measurement of the effectiveness of stabilisation funds and the underlying political economy reasons for their success or failure.

Because these funds serve a purpose of both stabilisation and savings, it is argued that their effectiveness should be measured by a success variable which is an indicator of sustainable fiscal performance. This is defined by its impact along three dimensions: fiscal revenues, fiscal expenditures and savings. By looking at the underlying economic and political conditions, as well as the attributes of stabilisation funds which drive success, some interesting conclusions are reached.

First, stabilisation funds matter. Although there is no a priori economic reason to create one, their presence leads to better fiscal outcomes.

Second, the governance of stabilisation funds is the most important factor in determining their success. An independent civil service is positive for success, while open and regulated political systems are actually found to be detrimental, contrary to what the literature assumed.

Finally, the rules of the stabilisation fund are also crucial. Discretion over resources is negative for success, while earmarking is positive. This means that these funds work best when they are relatively rigid and less susceptible to capture by politicians.
POWERS OF REGULAR LANGUAGES
Authors: FAZEKAS SZILÁRD ZSOLT
Published: February 2011

In this paper we prove that it is decidable whether the set pow (L), which we get by taking all the powers of all the words in some regular language L, is regular or not. The problem was originally posed by Calbrix and Nivat in 1995. Partial solutions have been given by Cachat for unary languages and by Horváth et al. for various kinds of exponent sets for the powers and regular languages which have primitive roots satisfying certain properties. We show that the regular languages which have a regular power are the ones which are 'almost' equal to their Kleene-closure.
WORD EQUATIONS WITH ONE UNKNOWN
Authors: LAINE MARKKU , PLANDOWSKI WOJCIECH
Published: February 2011

We consider properties of the solution set of a word equation with one unknown. We prove that the solution set of a word equation possessing infinite number of solutions is of the form (pq)*p where pq is primitive. Next, we prove that a word equation with at most four occurrences of the unknown possesses either infinitely many solutions or at most two solutions. We show that there are equations with at most four occurrences of the unknown possessing exactly two solutions. Finally, we prove that a word equation with at most 2k occurrences of the unknown possesses either infinitely many solutions or at most 8 log k + O(1) solutions. Hence, if we consider a class εk of equations with at most 2k occurrences of the unknown, then each equation in this class possesses either infinitely many solutions or O( log k) number of solutions. Our considerations allow to construct the first alphabet independent linear time algorithm for computing the solution set of an equation in a nontrivial class of equations.
SIMULATIONS BY TIME-BOUNDED COUNTER MACHINES
Authors: PETERSEN HOLGER
Published: February 2011

We investigate the efficiency of simulations of storages by several counters. A simulation of a pushdown store is described which is optimal in the sense that reducing the number of counters of a simulator leads to an increase in time complexity. The lower bound also establishes a tight counter hierarchy in exponential time.

Then we turn to simulations of a set of counters by a different number of counters. We improve and generalize a known simulation in polynomial time. Greibach has shown that adding s + 1 counters increases the power of machines working in time ns. Using a new family of languages we show here a tight hierarchy result for machines with the same polynomial time-bound. We also prove hierarchies for machines with a fixed number of counters and with growing polynomial time-bounds.

For machines with one counter and an additional "store zero" instruction we establish the equivalence of real-time and linear time. If at least two counters are available, the classes of languages accepted in real-time and linear time can be separated.
ALGEBRAIC LINEAR ORDERINGS
Authors: BLOOM S. L. , ÉSIK Z.
Published: February 2011

An algebraic linear ordering is a component of the initial solution of a first-order recursion scheme over the continuous categorical algebra of countable linear orderings equipped with the sum operation and the constant 1. Due to a general Mezei-Wright type result, algebraic linear orderings are exactly those isomorphic to the linear ordering of the leaves of an algebraic tree. Using Courcelle's characterization of algebraic trees, we obtain the fact that a linear ordering is algebraic if and only if it can be represented as the lexicographic ordering of a deterministic context-free language. When the algebraic linear ordering is a well-ordering, its order type is an algebraic ordinal. We prove that the Hausdorff rank of any scattered algebraic linear ordering is less than ωω. It follows that the algebraic ordinals are exactly those less than ωωω.
Q-BALLS WITH SCALAR CHARGE
Authors: LEVIN A. , RUBAKOV V.
Published: February 2011

We consider Friedberg–Lee–Sirlin Q-balls in a (3+1)-dimensional model with vanishing scalar potential of one of the fields. We show that, unlike in (2+1) and (1+1) dimensions, the Q-ball is stabilized by the gradient energy of this field and carries scalar charge, over and beyond the global charge. The latter property is also inherent in a model with the scalar potential that does not vanish in a finite field region near the origin.
Holista CollTech: Directions for Focused Growth
Authors: Rizal Adriana Mohd. , Adham Khairul Akmaliah , Said Mohd. Fuaad
Published: February 2011

In December 2009, Holista CollTech Ltd. was established as a biotechnology company and its core business was the production of ovine collagen and Kacip Fatimah extracts. The ovine collagen was used mainly in a broad range of food, health supplements, cosmetics, and medical products, while Kacip Fatimah extracts were ingredients for food and supplements products. Holista CollTech's corporate vision was to be a global player in the multi-billion dollar collagen and herb extract markets. However, it faced fierce competition in the collagen market which was already dominated by a number of large multinational firms, and in the herb extract market in which competition was becoming increasingly intense due to the rising number of imitators. This was a challenging situation for Holista CollTech Ltd. since these competitions could prevent the company from achieving its objective to increase its control in these two markets. This case provides the opportunity to discuss Holista's competitive environment and internal elements. The case analyst will recommend appropriate strategies to the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer.
Self-Aligned Metal Double-Gate Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Silicon Thin-Film Transistors on Glass Substrate Using Back-Surface Exposure
Authors: Hara Akito , Sato Tadashi , Kondo Kenji , Hirose Kenta , Kitahara Kuninori
Published: February 2011

Improving the device structure and quality of polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) films is essential for enhancing the performance of poly-Si thin-film transistors (TFTs). A multigate structure can potentially be used to realize ideal poly-Si TFTs. We combined a self-aligned metal double-gate structure (i.e., a structure with metal top and bottom gates) with a large-grained poly-Si film. Then, we fabricated high-performance n-channel (n-ch) and p-channel (p-ch) low-temperature poly-Si TFTs on a glass substrate at 550 °C. The nominal field-effect mobilities of the n-ch and p-ch TFTs were 638 and 156 cm2 V-1 s-1, respectively, and the s-values of both the TFTs were nearly 130 mV/dec.
Effect of the Polyimide Concentration on the Memory Stability of the Silica-Nanoparticle-Doped Hybrid Aligned Nematic Cell
Authors: Huang Chi-Yen , Chen Jian-Hong , Hsieh Chia-Ting , Song Heng-Cheng , Wang Yu-Wu , Horng Lance , Shih Yu-Tai , Hwang Shug-June
Published: February 2011

We investigate the stability of the memory state of the silica-nanoparticle-doped hybrid aligned nematic (SN-HAN) cell. The memory stability of the cell is attributed to the employed planar substrate, which is coated with a homogeneous polyimide (H-PI) film. A H-PI film with a low H-PI solid concentration gives the cell high memory stability. This is because the low H-PI solid concentration causes the film to have a high polar surface energy, trapping polar silica nanoparticles on the planar substrate tightly. The low H-PI solid concentration also gives the substrate a bumpy surface, which has a large surface area for trapping silica nanoparticles.
Efficiency Improvement of Organic Solar Cells by Slow Growth and Changing Spin-Coating Parameters for Active Layers
Authors: Tsai Yu-Sheng , Chu Wei-Ping , Juang Fuh-Shyung , Tang Rong-Ming , Chang Ming-Hua , Hsieh Tsung-Eong , Liu Mark O.
Published: February 2011

The derivatives of C60, [6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), and 3-hexylthiophene (P3HT) were dissolved in o-dichlorobenzene (DCB) solvent, and then spin-coated as an active layer for polymer solar cells. The experimental parameters including the spin-coating speed and drying conditions for the active layer, were studied carefully to obtain the optimum power conversion efficiency (PCE). In the active layer drying procedure, the DCB solvent saturated/unsaturated vapor pressure was adjusted by controlling the amount of solvent at a half-open capacity. The DCB solution was used to enhance the self-organization of the active layer of P3HT and to reduce the number of pure PCBM clusters. In the DCB optimum solution, the PCE of a polymer solar cell can be increased from 1.36 to 1.79%. The structure corresponds to a nano-to-micron scale ordering in the unsaturation-treatment films. In the optimum unsaturation procedure, the PCE of a polymer solar cell can be increased from 1.79 to 2.53%. Using two steps with optimum rotation speeds in the active layer spin-coating, the surface uniformity can be improved, with the PCE increased from 2.53 to 3.13%.
Effect of Series Resistance on Field-Effect Mobility at Varying Channel Lengths and Investigation into the Enhancement of Source/Drain Metallized Thin-Film Transistor Characteristics
Authors: Duy Nguyen Van , Baek Kyunghyun , Son Dang Ngoc , Lee Wonbaek , Kim Kwangryul , Choi Byoungdeog , Chung Hokyun , Yi Junsin
Published: February 2011

The degradation in device performance due to parasitic resistance along the source and drain electrodes is a serious problem in thin-film transistor fabrication. The effect of this series resistance on the field-effect mobility has been discussed and solutions for the reduction of this unexpected resistance were studied in this work. From the derivation of the drain current, it was shown that the additional resistance had a greater influence on short-channel devices. The ratio of the series resistance to the channel resistance determined the amount of degradation to the field-effect mobility. A thin-film transistor using an aluminum-metallized source/drain was suggested; it showed an improvement in comparison with the conventional doped source/drain device, with a maximum mobility of 105 cm2 V-1 s-1. However, significant degradation of the mobility in the short-channel cases exposed the limitations of the structure. By employing doping for the source/drain metallized structure the maximum mobility reached a value of 150 cm2 V-1 s-1. The decrease in the mobility caused by the channel length decrease was also improved. This study clearly explained the problem of additional resistance on the field-effect mobility of thin-film transistors and the achievements of a device using a self-aligned fabrication process with metallized electrodes.
Design Considerations of Nanoscale Schottky Barrier Flash Memory with Source-Side Injection Programming
Authors: Shih Chun-Hsing , Luo Yan-Xiang , Yeh Sheng Pin
Published: February 2011

This work numerically elucidates the considerations and optimizations of nanoscale Schottky barrier Flash cells with source-side injection programming. Due to the unique Schottky barrier junction and particular source-side injection programming, the considerations of device parameters in Schottky barriers Flash cells are dissimilar from those in traditional drain-side channel hot-electron cells. Dependences of design parameters, such as Schottky barrier height, tunnel-oxide thickness, substrate concentration, junction depth, and channel length, on the source-side injection programming are clarified to optimize nanoscale Schottky barrier Flash memory. A feasible design of 50 nm Schottky barrier cell is illustrated to have high injection efficiency at low programming voltage.
Size Reduction and Phosphorus Doping of Silicon Nanocrystals Prepared by a Very High Frequency Plasma Deposition System
Authors: Nakamine Yoshifumi , Inaba Naoki , Kodera Tetsuo , Uchida Ken , Pereira Rui N. , Stegner Andre R. , Brandt Martin S. , Stutzman Martin , Oda Shunri
Published: February 2011

In this paper, we describe the size reduction and phosphorus doping of silicon nanocrystals (SiNCs) fabricated using a very high frequency (VHF) plasma deposition system. The size reduction of SiNCs is achieved by changing the VHF plasma power. The size of SiNCs changes from 10 to 5 nm. We discuss the relationship between VHF plasma power and the size of SiNCs in terms of radicals in the VHF plasma, such as SiH3, SiH2, SiH, and H. On the other hand, we have fabricated phosphorus-doped SiNCs by adding PH3 gas diluted with Ar gas. To confirm where phosphorus atoms are located, electrically detected magnetic resonance (EDMR) measurements are conducted. We have observed a hyperfine interaction between unpaired electrons and phosphorus atoms and enhanced hyperfine splitting owing to a quantum size effect. As a result, we can conclude that phosphorus atoms exist at substitutional sites of SiNCs and they act as donors.
Sublattice Rotation of GaP Grown on 2°-Misoriented Si Substrate Using Metalorganic Vapor Phase Epitaxy
Authors: Takano Yasushi , Misaki Tatsuru , Takagi Tatsuya , Yamada Hiroki , Fuke Shunro
Published: February 2011

GaP was grown on 2°- or 4°-misoriented Si substrates at 800 or 830 °C using metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. Single-domain GaP layers were obtained on the 4°-misoriented substrates at both temperatures. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed that the GaP surface feature was perpendicular to the misorientation direction. A single-domain GaP layer was achieved on the 2°-misoriented substrate only at 800 °C. The GaP surface feature on the 2°-misoriented substrate rotated 90° with respect to that on the 4°-misoriented substrate, which indicates sublattice rotation. AFM revealed that domains elongating along the misorientation direction were found more in the initial growth stage on the 2°-misoriented substrate at 800 °C than on the 4°-misoriented substrate. The Si surface with double domains is responsible for the sublattice rotation. Transmission electron microscopy observation showed neither stacking faults nor threading dislocations in the GaP layer grown on the 2°-misoriented substrate at 800 °C.
Improvement in Discharge Delay Time by Accumulating Positive Wall Charges on Cathode MgO Protective Layer Surface in Alternating-Current Plasma Display Panels
Authors: Yoshino Kyohei , Nagatomi Takaharu , Morita Yukihiro , Oue Toshiyasu , Kosugi Naoki , Nishitani Mikihiko , Kitagawa Masatoshi , Takai Yoshizo
Published: February 2011

The improvement in discharge delay time by accumulating positive wall charges on a cathode MgO protective layer surface in plasma display panels (PDPs) was investigated. The number of exoelectrons emitted from the cathode MgO surface, which trigger the discharge, increases with the accumulation of positive wall charges on the cathode MgO surface, thereby reducing both the statistical and formative delay times,tsandtf, respectively, of the address discharge. The correlations between exoelectron emission andtsandtfwere investigated, revealing that the address discharge is triggered by multiple exoelectrons. In addition, it is found that exoelectron emission plays an important role in wall charge leakage during the address period. The present results confirmed that the accumulation of positive wall charges on the cathode MgO protective layer surface is effective for improving the discharge delay timestsandtfin not only PDPs but also common dielectric barrier discharge.
Structural Property of Pentacene Film Prepared by Hydrogen Chemical Transport Deposition
Authors: Heya Akira , Hasegawa Hiroshi , Matsuo Naoto
Published: February 2011

A novel deposition method for large crystal grains was proposed, called hydrogen chemical transport deposition (HCTD). The effects of H2 flow rate on the structural properties of pentacene films prepared by HCTD were investigated. The useful efficiency was about 80% and large grains (2.6 µm) with a high bulk-phase ratio were obtained by controlling H2 flow rate. It is considered that structural properties are related to the H2 effect on the growth surface.
Stability of a Two‐Strain Tuberculosis Model with General Contact Rate
Authors: Huo Hai-Feng , Dang Shuai-Jun , Li Yu-Ning
Published: February 2011

A two‐strain tuberculosis model with general contact rate which allows tuberculosis patients with the drug‐sensitive Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain to be treated is presented.
The model includes both drug‐sensitive and drug‐resistant strains. A detailed qualitative
analysis about positivity, boundedness, existence, uniqueness and global stability of the equilibria of this model is carried out. Analytical results of the model show that the quantities
R1 and R2, which represent the basic reproduction numbers of the sensitive and resistant
strains, respectively, provide the threshold conditions which determine the competitive outcomes of the two strains. Numerical simulations are also conducted to confirm and extend
the analytic results.
A New Fuel Design for Two Different HW Type Reactors
Authors: Brasnarof Daniel O. , Marino Armando C. , Bergallo Juan E. , Juanicó Luis E.
Published: February 2011

A new fuel element (called CARA) designed for two different heavy water reactors (HWRs) is presented. CARA could match fuel requirements of both (one CANDU and one unique Siemens′s design) Argentine HW reactors. It keeps the heavier fuel mass density and hydraulic flow restriction in both reactors together with improving both thermomechanic and thermalhydraulic, safety margins of present fuels. In addition, the CARA design could be considered as another design line for the next generation of CANDU fuels intended for higher burnup.
Efficient and Effective Total Variation Image Super‐Resolution: A Preconditioned Operator Splitting Approach
Authors: Huang Li-Li , Xiao Liang , Wei Zhi-Hui
Published: February 2011

Super‐resolution is a fusion process for reconstructing a high‐resolution image from a
set of low‐resolution images. This paper proposes a novel approach to image super‐resolution based
on total variation (TV) regularization. We applied the Douglas‐Rachford splitting technique to the
constrained TV‐based variational SR model which is separated into three subproblems that are easy
to solve. Then, we derive an efficient and effective iterative scheme, which includes a fast iterative
shrinkage/thresholding algorithm for denoising problem, a very simple noniterative algorithm for
fusion part, and linear equation systems for deblurring process. Moreover, to speed up convergence,
we provide an accelerated scheme based on precondition design of initial guess and forward‐backward
splitting technique which yields linear systems of equations with a nice structure. The proposed
algorithm shares a remarkable simplicity together with a proven global rate of convergence which is
significantly better than currently known lagged diffusivity fixed point iteration algorithm and fast
decoupling algorithm by exploiting the alternating minimizing approach. Experimental results are
presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck
Authors: Gurudutt Vivek V. , Genden Eric M.
Published: February 2011

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is an epidemic that reaches all parts of the world. Making the diagnosis relies on the acumen of the clinician and pathologist. Various pathologic subtypes exist and differ in histology and prognosis. High-risk tumors need aggressive treatment and vigilant surveillance to monitor for recurrence. Large tumors, deep tissue invasion, perineural involvement, recurrence, location in high-risk areas, and immunosuppression are implicated in worsening prognosis. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment with adjuvant radiation therapy as needed for aggressive tumors; however, other modalities are potentially useful for low-risk lesions. The use of Mohs surgery has become increasingly useful and has shown high success rates. Involvement of parotid and neck lymph nodes significantly affects outcomes and the physician should be comfortable with management of this complex disease. This paper examines the diagnosis, pathology, clinical course, and treatment options for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
Smart Magnetically Responsive Hydrogel Nanoparticles Prepared by a Novel Aerosol-Assisted Method for Biomedical and Drug Delivery Applications
Authors: El-Sherbiny Ibrahim M. , Smyth Hugh D. C.
Published: February 2011

We have developed a novel spray gelation-based method to synthesize a new series of magnetically responsive hydrogel nanoparticles for biomedical and drug delivery applications. The method is based on the production of hydrogel nanoparticles from sprayed polymeric microdroplets obtained by an air-jet nebulization process that is immediately followed by gelation in a crosslinking fluid. Oligoguluronate (G-blocks) was prepared through the partial acid hydrolysis of sodium alginate. PEG-grafted chitosan was also synthesized and characterized (FTIR, EA, and DSC). Then, magnetically responsive hydrogel nanoparticles based on alginate and alginate/G-blocks were synthesized via aerosolization followed by either ionotropic gelation or both ionotropic and polyelectrolyte complexation using CaCl2or PEG-g-chitosan/CaCl2as crosslinking agents, respectively. Particle size and dynamic swelling were determined using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and microscopy. Surface morphology of the nanoparticles was examined using SEM. The distribution of magnetic cores within the hydrogels nanoparticles was also examined using TEM. In addition, the iron and calcium contents of the particles were estimated using EDS. Spherical magnetic hydrogel nanoparticles with average particle size of 811 ± 162 to 941 ± 2 nm were obtained. This study showed that the developed method is promising for the manufacture of hydrogel nanoparticles, and it represents a relatively simple and potential low-cost system.
Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy with 90Y-DOTATOC and 177Lu-DOTATOC in Advanced Neuroendocrine Tumors: Results from a Danish Cohort Treated in Switzerland
Authors: Pfeifer Andreas Klaus , Gregersen Tine , Grønbæk Henning , Hansen Carsten Palnæs , Müller-Brand Jan , Herskind Bruun Karin , Krogh Klaus , Kjær Andreas , Knigge Ulrich
Published: February 2011

Aim: Limited therapeutic options have highlighted the demand for new treatment modalities for patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors (NET). Promising results of initial studies have warranted the implementation of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) in clinical practice. However, this treatment option still needs clinical evaluation. Methods: In this study, we evaluated the PRRT treatment response of 69 Danish patients with NET mainly originating from the gastroenteropancreatic system. Fifty-six patients (81%) were referred for PRRT to the Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland, between 2004 and 2008 due to progression assessed by the referring physicians. However, when retrospectively evaluated, only 42 of the 69 patients (61%) had progression according to RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors). Most patients were treated with 90Y-DOTATOC. Results: Based on RECIST, a complete response was observed in 5 patients (7.4%), a partial response in 11 patients (16.2%) and stable disease in 42 patients (61.8%). Progressive disease after completed therapy was observed in 10 patients (14.7%). The median progression-free survival was 29 months (95% CI: 22–36 months). Pancreatic NET seemed to respond better to PRRT than small intestinal carcinoid tumors (p = 0.03). The overall frequency of serious adverse events was low. Conclusion: Implementation of PRRT in clinical routine has provided a valuable new therapeutic option for the treatment of advanced NET. We suggest that PRRT may advance from second- or third-line to first- or second-line therapy in inoperable/unresectable NET patients.
Cultural Values and the Well-Being of Future Generations: A Cross-National Study
Authors: Kasser Tim
Published: February 2011

Cultural values may influence the extent to which nations care about the well-being of current and future generations of children. The author used archival data to examine this possibility in a sample of 20 wealthy nations. As predicted, after controlling for national wealth, a general pattern was evident such that the more a nation prioritized Egalitarianism versus Hierarchy values and Harmony versus Mastery values, (a) the higher was children’s well-being in the nation, (b) the more generous were national laws regarding maternal leave, (c) the less advertising was directed at children, and (d) the less CO2 the nation emitted. Potential causal pathways and future research directions are discussed.
Values and Upward Influence Strategies in Transition: Evidence From the Czech Republic
Authors: Danis Wade M. , Liu Leigh Anne , Vacek Jiri
Published: February 2011

The authors examine the impact of rapid socioeconomic and political transition on generational differences in values and behavioral preferences via a survey of 416 Czech managers, professionals, and business students. As predicted, the pre-transition generation favored individually beneficial upward influence strategies and values oriented toward conservation and self-enhancement; the post-transition generation favored organizationally beneficial upward influence strategies and values oriented toward openness to change and self-transcendence. Generational preferences for certain upward influence strategies are mediated by underlying differences in value orientations, which reflect historically idiosyncratic institutional conditions. These findings extend and integrate work on values and influence behaviors in the relatively unexplored context of transitional economies and have implications for those who wish to appreciate better how diverse value frameworks can be understood and managed in the context of global business.
Beyond Traditionalism and Progressivism, or against Hardening of the Categories
Authors: Elshtain Jean Bethke
Published: February 2011

The categories of progressive versus traditional no longer serve a purpose other than to label thinkers and thought, engage in ideological combat, and deflect attention from the truly important and vexing issues of the day. Any nuanced thinker must take account of the past and what it has deeded to the present. So the question is: How and in what ways do we interpret, reflect upon, and bring forward received doctrine, wisdom, and lived example if we are to avoid the twin pitfalls of rigid traditionalism or arrogant “presentism”? Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Vaclav Havel have grappled intelligently with such matters and help us, in subtle ways, to be faithful and brave. The essay concludes with meditations on the theme of freedom, our current distorted understanding of this powerful term, and why a “sentimental humanism” does not serve decent and complex human purposes.
How Will We Manage Diversity?
Authors: Shriver Donald W.
Published: February 2011

In basic agreement with Elshtain's suspicion of a rationalist basis for defining human nature and ethics, this response underscores the importance of story, history, and collective experience for our achieving of such definitions. At stake in the debate are two vital anthropological questions: (1) Who are we that we should value each other and ascribe rights to each other? The “thin” rationalist answer to this question is that we just believe in the value of humanity, simpliciter. The Christian answer, that God created and loves us, seems much more solid, especially in face of the propensities of twentieth-century humans for killing each other. (2) In an increasingly global human society, how do we Christians negotiate with our neighbors concerning our different answers to the first question? We do it by speaking about our histories to each other; and, on the grounds of our own faith, we never desert the global conversation.
Justification Through New Creation
Authors: Macchia Frank D.
Published: February 2011

Despite significant ecumenical discussion on justification, what is still needed is a trinitarian understanding of the doctrine that is filled out by the Holy Spirit's work to bring about justice through new creation. This view seeks to move beyond the preoccupation with meritorious works indicative of the forensic model of justification and to concentrate instead on the life-transforming righteousness of the kingdom of God. Both Luther and Paul support the idea of justification as achieved through the Spirit's work in the death and resurrection of Christ to deliver the oppressed and to make all things new, thus fulfilling redemptive justice for all of creation and between creation and God. Such righteousness is reckoned to us in faith as bearers of the Spirit of new life and is lived out in the here and now as the church seeks to be agents of new life in the world.
The Arts in Protestant Worship
Authors: Jensen Robin M.
Published: February 2011

In spite of a history of iconoclasm and theological reservations about the place of arts (especially the visual arts) in Protestant worship, we have witnessed in recent years an increasing interest in and even demand for the incorporation of art in liturgy. However, since congregational leaders and worship planners need to do more than respond to needs or (worse yet) current trends, this article offers theological reflection on the positive role and function of the arts within a Protestant theological framework, but also counsels caution. The addition of art forms to worship can be renewing and inspiring, but without careful theological reflection and attention to both tradition and history, we risk misunderstandings or regrettable mistakes. By proceeding thoughtfully and faithfully, the worship life of congregations can be deeply enhanced by inclusion of the arts, since worship itself is a form of art that should be approached with great care and love.
Sinful Asyndeton?
Authors: Bates J. Barrington
Published: February 2011

Syntax characterized by the absence of explicit conjunctions (asyndeton) has favor in contemporary English-language liturgical texts, including the supplemental liturgical materials published as Enriching Our Worship for the Episcopal Church. Following Catherine Pickstock, this essay demonstrates asyndetic syntax in Eucharistic Prayer 2 of this volume and argues that the authors have incorporated contemporary linguistic and epistemological structures into it. By not taking into account the cultural assumptions lying implicit within such texts, liturgical reformers may have engaged in a sinister act.
Technologies of Desire
Authors: McKenny Gerald P.
Published: February 2011

There are several different levels on which technology poses theological and ethical problems. At the first level, technology consists of devices and techniques. At the second level, technology involves the transformations that it effects in various areas of our lives. At the third level, technology expresses an entire kind of action or a basic attitude human beings take to the world and to themselves. Theologians typically address technology at the third level, while moral philosophers and policy experts remain at the first level. This division of labor often leaves theology on the margins of debates over particular technologies, while crucial issues at the second level remain unaddressed. This essay examines the growth of biomedical enhancement technologies in order to argue for a theological engagement of technology at the second level.
“Peace, Peace … Cross, Cross”
Authors: Wengert Timothy J.
Published: February 2011

This article explores Luther's theology of the cross, based on his often overlooked comments in Explanations of the Disputes concerning the Power of Indulgences from 1518, Luther's defense of the Ninety-Five Theses. The article dismisses approaches that reduce this topic to one theology among many or claim more for it than theology can deliver. In explaining Thesis 15, Luther grounds theology of the cross in human experience of suffering and abandonment. In Thesis 58, he derives this theology from God's alien and proper work and contrasts it to the “illusory theology” of Aristotelian scholastics. The theology of the cross does not bless suffering but proclaims the God who declares the nothingness of suffering and death to be life and grace. The Christian lives and prays under suffering and cross and yet possesses ears filled with promises of resurrection in Christ.
Reclaiming Professional Jurisdiction
Authors: Rendle Gilbert R.
Published: February 2011

There is much concern and debate over the state of professional ministry and the quality of leadership available to religious communities. A deeper understanding of the current situation requires an investigation of the profession of ministry as it relates to the larger, changing matrix of other professions. Ministry historically has lost its professional jurisdiction (area of expertise and authority) to newer professions that brought greater expertise and more effective solutions to human questions and problems. However, the growing postmodern recognition of the inherent inability of natural science to interpret (not explain) human experience now opens up the opportunity for ministers to assume a new professional role as public interpreters of meaning.
Bound and Free
Authors: Hall Douglas John
Published: February 2011

Christian theologians, because they work within specific traditions, have a paradoxical kind of freedom: they must listen to the past, yet be responsible to both the past and future. Each theologian is trained in a specific “school”, yet ultimately must have the courage to transcend the borders of that school and respond to the specific issues of the contemporary place and time—remaining “bound” to the past and future, yet “free” to respond to the needs of the present.
Animals and Innocents
Authors: Wall John
Published: February 2011

This article develops a Christian ethics of child-rearing that addresses the plight of children in the United States today. It seeks greater clarity on what Christians should view as child-rearing's larger meaning and purpose, as well as the responsibilities this meaning and purpose impose on parents, communities, churches, and the state. The article first explores three major but quite distinct models of child-rearing ethics in the Christian tradition—those of Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin, and Friedrich Schleiermacher—and then proposes a new “critical covenant” that appropriates these traditions, in conjunction with feminist and liberationist critiques, into a publicly meaningful Christian ethics of child-rearing for today.
Myth, Gospel, and John Updike's centaur
Authors: McTavish John
Published: February 2011

The Centaur is one of John Updike's most gospel-imbued novels. However, the explicit symbolism, drawn mainly from Greek mythology, often poses a barrier. This article shows how the symbolism works in The Centaur, how Updike constantly charges his realistic stories with mythical overtones, and how no myth looms larger for the author than the Christian story of the God who literally became human in order to suffer with us and for us. George Caldwell, the hero of The Centaur, turns out to be not only an embodiment of the Greek god Chiron, but a modern-day image of the Christ who shelters the world with God's own self-sacrificing love.
Saints and Writers
Authors: Lane Belden C.
Published: February 2011

This article is a personal reflection on the relationship between spirituality and the writing process. It deals with the dilemma faced by saints and writers alike in “getting out of the way” of their work, keeping the self-consciousness of the ego from distorting the simplicity of what they do. An aspiration to sainthood can ruin the spiritual life. Just as the desire to be published often keeps a would-be author from ever writing. The article probes the parallels in these two experiences, asking how starting and hiding are joined in the spiritual life and the creative process.
Christological Transformation in The Mirror of Souls, by Marguerite Porete
Authors: Babinsky Ellen L.
Published: February 2011

This essay explores Marguerite Porete's Mirror of Simple Souls, which offers a powerful portrayal of the soul's transformation into her exemplar, Jesus Christ. First, it outlines Porete's portrayal of the trinitarian relation of the faculties of the soul. Next, it explores the contours of the christological themes of the transformation of the soul. Finally, it shows that the goal of the text itself is the reader's transformation. Porete's designation of Jesus Christ as exemplar highlights the energy that drives the soul's transformation and constitutes the transforming nature of the text.
Catherine of Siena, Justly Doctor of the Church?
Authors: Noffke Suzanne
Published: February 2011

Catherine of Siena was declared doctor of the universal church in 1970 for reasons documented in the record of the canonical process for that declaration. Primary among these reasons were her defense of the papacy and her orthodox fidelity to the magisterium, with emphasis on supernatural inspiration rather than human giftedness as the foundation of her teaching. Beginning from Catherine's own comments on doctors of the church, this essay proposes that a more cogent reason for naming Catherine doctor of the church rests in her pastoral genius grounded in a discipleship that seeks ultimate truth only in the truth that is God. That pastoral genius expresses itself in writings that are at once theologically sound, faithful, and humanly sensitive.
The Company of Medieval Women Theologians
Authors: Rorem Paul
Published: February 2011

The company of medieval women theologians is much larger than anyone (including Christine de Pizan) ever thought before the current surge of editing and translating began to bring these neglected women to light. These theologians, furthermore, were not concerned with personal spirituality in the modern sense of individual introspection. They were reformers and activists who worked to improve conditions around them in church and society. Unifying the traditions of Mary and Martha of Bethany, these medieval women were contemplatives who went into action.
Pedophilia among the Catholic Clergy
Authors: Sloyan Gerard S.
Published: February 2011

This article summarizes major elements of the recent scandal of sexual misconduct by Roman Catholic priests and brothers: the phenomenon of child and adolescent abuse as engaged in by the Catholic clergy; whether the promise of lifetime celibacy is at the root of the problem; the adequacy of seminary education about sexuality and its exercise; and the vigilance of seminary faculties in identifying and dismissing unworthy candidates. The article also examines certain bishops' repeated assignments of offenders to parish duties (whether or not based on ignorance of the deep-seatedness of the pedophiliac tendency), their failure to respond properly to molestation charges by victims' families or victims themselves, lawsuits for adequate compensation brought by abused persons, and diocesan responses through legal counsel. Finally, it reports actions by the U.S. bishops and Roman See, new Catholic lay organizations offering administrative assistance to bishops, and other remedies apart from the alteration of church structures.
Eschatological Justice and the Cross
Authors: Boersma Hans
Published: February 2011

Recent objections to penal substitutionary views of the atonement argue that they valorize violence. This essay argues that, to the contrary, penal substitution may be viewed as a warrant of eschatological justice that offers hope both to victims and perpetrators of violence. A rejection of all penal justice would contribute to the cycle of violence. Penal justice is a last resort for the sake of God's future eschatological justice. Christ's voluntary self-sacrifice also entails that God takes the punishment for sin upon himself, thus offering the hope of eschatological justice to all.
The Faith at Work Movement
Authors: Miller David W.
Published: February 2011

This article describes a burgeoning movement of believers in business who have tired of “the Sunday-Monday gap” and seek to integrate faith and work. The Faith at Work movement is comprised of businesspeople, professionals, and workers of all types who are gathering in significant numbers outside the church to discuss questions of meaning, purpose, calling, ethics, character, spiritual identity, and expression in the workplace. Abandoned by the church and influenced by various historical, theological, and social factors, the movement is largely lay-founded and lay-led, appealing to liberals and conservatives alike. The article concludes with prescriptive proposals, offering a new language and framework to facilitate theological reflection, practical application, and constructive discourse about faith and work.
Protestant Churches and Business in Gilded-Age America
Authors: Smith Gary Scott
Published: February 2011

During the last three decades of the nineteenth century, numerous Protestant pastors, professors, and editors discussed how scriptural teaching applied to the world of business and commerce. They criticized traditional economic theory and many practices of entrepreneurs, corporations, and trusts. They challenged both employers and employees to follow biblical principles, strove to improve relations between the two groups, and helped inspire some businessmen to base their enterprises on scriptural norms. Some of these Protestant leaders also supported various strategies workers used to improve their situation: unions, strikes, arbitration, profit-sharing, and industrial partnership.