bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Intraoperative Pathology Consultation by Imprint and Scrape Cytology in Soft Tissue Tumors and Tumor-Like Lesions
Authors: Gautam Rupali , Mohan Harsh , Handa Uma , Bisht Bhumika
Published: October 2021

Intraoperative pathologic consultation plays an essential role in therapeutic decision making, possibly avoiding under or overtreatment of the patient. Common indications for intraoperative consultation include obtaining a diagnosis in an unknown pathology, ruling out malignancy, confirming a provisional diagnosis, and assessing margin status. Fifty patients undergoing surgery for soft tissue tumors or tumor-like lesions were included in the present prospective study to evaluate the role of intraoperative pathologic consultation by imprint and scrape cytology. Careful and quick gross examination of the specimen was performed, followed by processing for imprint and scrape smears. The prepared smears were evaluated by three pathologists and the cytological diagnosis compared subsequently with final histopathological diagnosis. Intraoperative consultation was primarily requested to make or confirm preoperative diagnosis. In 44.0% cases, no previous tissue/cytological diagnosis was available. In 56.0% cases, previous pathological diagnosis was available, but the reports were inconclusive or were reported from outside our institute. The diagnostic yield of imprint smears was 24% (5 malignant, 6 benign, and 1 inconclusive), and scrape smears was 100% (10 malignant, 38 benign, and 2 inconclusive). Paraffin-embedded sections yielded diagnosis in 100% cases (11 malignant, 38 benign, and 1 nonneoplastic). Imprint smears alone were not of much help in intraoperative diagnosis. Scrape smears were found to be superior to imprint smears in terms of diagnostic yield and accuracy. Combined imprint and scrape smear cytology did not provide any advantage in intraoperative provisional tissue diagnosis in soft tissue tumors.
Human Glioma Cells Therapy Using ATRA-Induced Differentiation Method to Promote the Inhibitive Effect of TMZ and CCDP
Authors: Li Xinning , Zou Zheng , Ma Enlong , Feng Sizhe , Han Song
Published: October 2021

The glioma stem cells (GSCs) performed the self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation characteristics; their drug resistance has become the main reason for glioma clinical treatment failure. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is an important inducer of cell differentiation, applied in the treatment of hematologic diseases and other solid tumors. ATRA is a fat-soluble compound, which can easily go through the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, in this study, ATRA was used to induce the differentiation of glioma cells and glioma stem cells, reducing the degree of malignancy and improving its chemotherapy resistance. Methods and Treatment. The results of IF and PCR showed that the expression of CD133 was significantly lower than those of undifferentiated cells. Furthermore, temozolomide (TMZ) and cisplatin (CDDP), the first-line drugs, were used for the treatment of GCs and GSCs. The MTT assay results showed that the effect of the combination of the two drugs was significantly stronger than that of one of them alone. Results. Moreover, the MTT assay also demonstrated that TMZ single, CDDP single, and the combination of TMZ and CDDP can inhibit the proliferation of GCs, ATRA-GCs, GSCs, and ATRA-GSCs in a dose- and time-dependent manner; and ATRA-induced differentiation could promote those drugs inhibition effect and increased the chemotherapy sensitivity. Conclusion. Therefore, we successfully purified the suspension spherical glioma stem cells. Moreover, ATRA was demonstrated to induce the differentiation of GCs and GSCs. Furthermore, ATRA-induced differentiation promotes the inhibitive effect of TMZ and CCDP treatment on the proliferation of primary human glioma cells and glioma stem cells, suggesting that ATRA could increase the chemotherapy sensitivity of TMZ and CCDP through inducing cell differentiation. The combination of TMZ and CCDP performed a synergistic role in inhibiting the proliferation of GCs and GSCs.
Validity and Reliability of Intraoral Camera with Fluorescent Aids for Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders Screening in Teledentistry
Authors: Vetchaporn Sirikanlaya , Rangsri Wetchayan , Ittichaicharoen Jitjiroj , Rungsiyakull Pimduen
Published: October 2021

There is limited documentation of using fluorescence images in oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and oral cancer screening through the field of teledentistry. This study aims to develop and evaluate the validity and reliability of the intraoral camera with the combination method of autofluorescence and LED white light used for OPMDs and oral cancer screening in teledentistry. The intraoral camera with fluorescent aids, which uses a combined method of both autofluorescence and LED white light, was developed before the device was evaluated for validity and reliability as a OPMDs screening tool for teledentistry. All lesions of thirty-four OPMD patients underwent biopsy for definitive diagnosis and were examined by an oral medicine specialist. Both images under autofluorescent and LED white light mode captured from the device were sent online and interpreted for the initial diagnosis and dysplastic features in addition to being compared to the direct clinical examination and histopathological findings. The combination method was also compared with autofluorescence method alone. The device provided good image quality, which was enough for initial diagnosis. Using the combination method, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of the device via teledentistry were 87.5%, 84.6%, 63.6%, and 95.7%, respectively, which were higher than autofluorescence method alone in every parameter. The concordance of dysplastic lesion was 85.29% and 79.41% for category of lesion. The validity and reliability results of the combination method for the screening of dysplasia in OPMDs were higher than autofluorescent method alone. The intraoral camera with fluorescent aids for the OPMDs screening can be utilized for screening via teledentistry.
Investigation on the Correlation between Serum Immune Factor Levels and Allergic Constitution in Children with Infectious Mononucleosis
Authors: Sun Hong , Wang Weiqun , Lin Chenglei , Chen Min
Published: October 2021

Objective. To investigate the correlation between serum immune factor levels and allergic constitution in children with infectious mononucleosis. Methods. A total of 120 children who visited our hospital from March, 2019, to December, 2020, were selected as the research objects, and 40 children who came to our hospital for physical examination were included in the control group (CG). 40 children with IM were classified into the IM group (IG), and 40 IM children with allergic rhinitis, allergic dermatitis, asthma, and other allergic diseases were classified into the IM allergy group (AG). On the second day of admission, 5 ml of fasting venous blood was collected from all children in the early morning to observe the serum IgE level, the level of lymphocyte subsets, and the level of immunoglobulin of the patient. Results. The serum CD3, CD4, and CD8 levels of children in AG were significantly higher than those in IG and CG (

P
<
0.05

). The serum IgE, IgA, IgM, and IgG levels of children in AG were significantly higher than those of IG and CG (

P
<
0.05

). The serum IgE levels of children in AG were positively correlated with the serum CD3, CD4, and CD8 levels (

P
<
0.05

). There was a positive correlation between the serum IgE level and serum IgA, IgM, and IgG levels in children with AG (

P
<
0.05

). Conclusion. The results of this study showed that there may be a certain relationship between allergic constitution and the incidence, clinical manifestations, and prognosis of infectious mononucleosis. IgE level can be used as a reference index for the early severity of IM clinical symptoms.
Starlikeness of Analytic Functions with Subordinate Ratios
Authors: Ali Rosihan M. , Ravichandran Vaithiyanathan , Sharma Kanika
Published: October 2021

Let

h

be a nonvanishing analytic function in the open unit disc with

h

0

=
1

. Consider the class consisting of normalized analytic functions

f

whose ratios

f

z

/

g

z

,

g

z

/

z
p

z

, and

p

z

are each subordinate to

h

for some analytic functions

g

and

p

. The radius of starlikeness of order

α

is obtained for this class when

h

is chosen to be either

h

z

=

1
+
z

or

h

z

=

e

z

. Further, starlikeness radii are also obtained for each of these two classes, which include the radius of Janowski starlikeness, and the radius of parabolic starlikeness.
Effects of Chengqi Decoction on Complications and Prognosis of Patients with Pneumonia-Derived Sepsis: Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Huang Zhipeng , Cai Xiaoxin , Lin Yao , Zheng Bojun , Jian Li , Yi Yu , Guang Yang
Published: October 2021

Purpose. A specific and efficacious method for treatment of pneumonia-derived sepsis is lacking. Chengqi decoction has been used for treatment of pneumonia-derived sepsis, but a clinical trial on patients with pneumonia-derived sepsis is lacking, a gap in the literature that we sought to fill. Patients and Methods. 282 patients with pneumonia-derived sepsis admitted to the intensive care unit of our hospital were selected. They were divided into the treatment group (141 cases) and control group (141 cases). Both groups underwent conventional treatment, but Chengqi decoction (in the form of enema) was given to the treatment group. Mortality, morbidity (abdominal distension and gastrointestinal bleeding), duration of antibiotic use, and use of vasoactive agents were documented 28 days after the drug was used. Results. The treatment group reduced mortality and morbidity (abdominal distension) (

P
<
0.05

). After adjustment for significant covariates, 28-day survival was similar for the whole group (hazard ratio (HR): 0.48; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.23–0.97;

P
=
0.037

), for the subgroup (n = 120) with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score ≥25 (HR: 0.180; 95% CI: 0.032–0.332;

P
=
0.039

) and for the subgroup (n = 66) with N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide <1800 (0.059, 0.004–0.979, and 0.019). There was no difference between the two groups for the duration of antibiotic use, major bleeding, or use of vasoactive drugs. Conclusions. Chengqi decoction improved 28-day survival and reduced the prevalence of abdominal distension in patients with pneumonia-derived sepsis.
Folic Acid-Conjugated Silica-Modified TbPO4·H2O Nanorods for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Vinh Le Thi , Huong Tran Thu , Phuong Ha Thi , Khuyen Hoang Thi , Hung Nguyen Manh , Thao Do Thi , Minh Le Quoc
Published: October 2021

We report on the synthesis and characterization of folic acid-conjugated silica-modified TbPO4·H2O nanorods for biomedical applications. The uniform shape TbPO4·H2O nanorods with a hexagonal phase were successfully synthesized by wet chemical methods. A novel TbPO4·H2O@silica-NH2 nanocomplex was then formed by functionalizing these nanorods with silica and conjugating with biological agents. The field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, and X-ray diffraction reveal the morphology and structure of the nanorods, with their controllable sizes (500-800 nm in length and 50-80 nm in diameter). The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was employed to identify chemical substances or functional groups of the TbPO4·H2O@silica-NH2 nanocomplex. The photoluminescence spectra show the four emission lines of TbPO4·H2O@silica-NH2 in folic acid at 488, 540, 585, and 621 nm under 355 nm laser excitation, which could be attributed to the 5D4-7

F

j

(

J
=
6
,
5
,
4
,
3

) transitions of Tb3+. The TbPO4·H2O@silica-NH2 nanorods were conjugated with folic acid for the detection of MCF7 breast cancer cells. The obtained results show a promising possibility for the recognition of living cells that is of crucial importance in biolabeling.
Quantitative Identification of Pulse‐Like Ground Motions Based on Hilbert–Huang Transform
Authors: Liu Zhen
Published: October 2021

Aiming to address the problem of pulse‐like ground motions being difficult to identify, this paper refines the Baker’s wavelet‐based pulse‐like ground motions identification method, followed by a new pulse‐like ground motion identification method based on Hilbert–Huang Transform (HHT) being proposed. In this method, HHT is used to decompose ground motions instead of wavelet. HHT can overcome the dependence of wavelet analysis on the selection of mother wave, and thus more complex velocity pulses can be identified. In order to compare the effects of two pulse‐like ground motion identification methods, HHT‐based method and wavelet‐based method, respectively, are used to identify ground motions in Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER). After identifying the 3066 groups of ground motions selected from PEER, it is found that the HHT‐based method can identify 229 pulse‐like ground motions, and the wavelet‐based method can identify 150 pulse‐like ground motions. More complex shapes of near‐fault velocity pulses can be extracted by the HHT‐based method. By analyzing the seismic response, fault distance, and cumulative squared velocity (CSV) of these pulse‐like ground motions, it is found that the pulse‐like ground motions identified by the HHT‐based method have strong near‐fault characteristics. If a high recognition quality can be guaranteed, the proposed HHT‐based method can identify many kinds of near‐fault velocity pulses and thus provide more pulse‐like ground motions for seismic researches.
The “Target Sign” in a 46-Year-Old Patient with COVID-19 Pneumonia
Authors: Pérez Alexandra Pérez , Lazarus Rahul , Dubey Anju
Published: October 2021

COVID-19 has various imaging manifestations, most commonly peripheral ground-glass opacities with a basilar posterior predominance. Less common imaging manifestations include consolidations, findings typical of organizing pneumonia, such as “halo” or a “reverse halo” sign, and vascular enlargement. Our case describes a “target sign” on CT, which is uncommon but is increasingly being recognized. The target sign consists of a central nodular opacity with surrounding ground-glass opacity, then a surrounding relatively lucent ring, and a more peripheral ring of consolidation or ground-glass opacification. This may be the sequela of focal vascular enlargement, endothelial injury, microangiopathy, and perivascular inflammation. The case described involves a 46-year-old male who presented with subjective fevers, nonproductive cough, and hypoxia, subsequently diagnosed with COVID-19. CT imaging performed as part of initial work-up revealed multifocal ground-glass opacities scattered throughout the lung parenchyma, as well as multiple target sign lesions. Although it is a rare finding, the target sign, when present, may suggest the diagnosis of COVID-19.
Monitoring Sea Ice in Liaodong Bay of Bohai Sea during the Freezing Period of 2017/2018 Using Sentinel-2 Remote Sensing Data
Authors: Wang Zhiyong , Sun Peilei , Wang Lihua , Zhang Mengyue , Wang Zihao
Published: October 2021

It is of great significance to monitor sea ice for relieving and preventing sea ice disasters. In this paper, the growth and development of sea ice in Liaodong Bay of Bohai Sea in China were monitored using Sentinel-2 remote sensing data during the freezing period from January to March in 2018. Based on the comprehensive analysis of the spectral characteristics of seawater and sea ice in visible bands, supplemented by the Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), we proposed a new method based on decision tree classification for extracting sea ice types in Liaodong Bay of Bohai Sea. Using the remote sensing data of eight satellite overpasses acquired from Sentinel-2A/B satellites, the distribution and area of the different sea ice types in Liaodong Bay during the freezing period of 2017/2018 were obtained. Compared with the maximum likelihood (ML) classification method and the support vector machine (SVM) classification method, the proposed method has higher accuracy when discriminating the sea ice types, which proved the new method proposed in this paper is suitable for extracting sea ice types from Sentinel-2 optical remote sensing data in Liaodong Bay. And its classification accuracy reaches 88.05%. The whole process of evolution such as the growth and development of sea ice in Liaodong Bay during the freezing period from January to March in 2018 was monitored. The maximum area of sea ice was detected on 27 January 2018, about 10,187 km2. At last, the quantitative relationship model between the sea ice area and the mean near-surface temperature derived by MODIS data in Liaodong Bay was established. Through research, we found that the mean near-surface temperature was the most important factor for affecting the formation and melt of sea ice in Liaodong Bay.
Fueling T-cell Antitumor Immunity: Amino Acid Metabolism Revisited
Authors: Han Chenfeng , Ge Minmin , Ho Ping-Chih , Zhang Lianjun
Published: October 2021

T cells are the key players in eliminating malignant tumors. Adoptive transfer of tumor antigen-specific T cells and immune checkpoint blockade has yielded durable antitumor responses in the clinic, but not all patients respond initially and some that do respond eventually have tumor progression. Thus, new approaches to enhance the utility of immunotherapy are needed. T-cell activation and differentiation status are tightly controlled at the transcriptional, epigenetic, and metabolic levels. Amino acids are involved in multiple steps of T-cell antitumor immunity, including T-cell activation, proliferation, effector function, memory formation as well as functional exhaustion. In this review, we briefly discuss how amino acid metabolism is linked to T-cell fate decisions and summarize how amino acid deprivation or accumulation of certain amino acid metabolites within the tumor microenvironment diminishes T-cell functionality. Furthermore, we discuss potential strategies for immunotherapy via modulating amino acid metabolism either in T cells intrinsically or extrinsically to achieve therapeutic efficacy.
Os diários de Franz Kafka: uma introdução
Authors: Russo Sâmella Freitas
Published: October 2021

Franz Kafka manteve doze cadernos in-quarto ao longo de quatorze anos e fez neles o registro da sua peculiar existência. Conhecidos como seus diários íntimos, esses cadernos servem de valiosa fonte para a compreensão não apenas da vida do escritor como também – e especialmente – do seu legado literário. Não obstante, pouca atenção ainda é dada pela crítica e pela academia a esses textos como objeto exclusivo de investigação, ora pelo constrangimento exercido pelos resquícios das abordagens pós-estruturalistas, ora pela recepção e pela tradução a que se sujeitaram. Este artigo tem o propósito de apresentar um panorama desses doze cadernos, abrangendo sua origem, sua recepção, sua tradução, suas particularidades, sua estrutura e seu conteúdo. Por ser a crítica em nosso país tanto a respeito do gênero diário quanto dos cadernos in-quarto de Kafka escassa, essa apresentação pode auxiliar potenciais leitores e interessados nesses diários a contextualizá-los e consequentemente permitir o desenvolvimento de pesquisas mais aprofundadas acerca dessas notas.
Lifetime Risk of Heart Failure and Trends in Incidence Rates Among Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes Between 1995 and 2018
Authors: Schwartz Brian , Pierce Colin , Vasan Ramachandran S. , Schou Morten , Ibrahim Michel , Monahan Kevin , Lyass Asya , Malmborg Morten , Gislason Gunnar H. , Køber Lars , Torp‐Pedersen Christian , Andersson Charlotte
Published: October 2021

Background

There are limited data on the lifetime risk of heart failure (HF) in people with type 2 diabetes and how incidence has changed over time. We estimated the cumulative incidence and incidence rates of HF among Danish adults with type 2 diabetes between 1995 and 2018 using nationwide data.

Methods and Results

In total, 398 422 patients (49% women) with type 2 diabetes were identified. During follow‐up, 36 400 (9%) were diagnosed with HF and 121 459 (30%) were censored due to death. Using the Aalen‐Johansen estimators, accounting for the risk of death, the estimated residual lifetime risk of HF at age 50 years was calculated as 24% (95% CI 22%–27%) in women and 27% (25%–28%) in men. During the observational period, the proportion of patients treated with statins, angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers, and metformin increased from <30% to >60%. Similarly, the annual incidence rates of HF decreased significantly, with declines being greater in older versus younger individuals (5% versus 2% in age >50 versus ≤50 years, respectively;
P
<0.0001) and in women versus men (5% versus 4%,
P
=0.02), but similar in patients with and without IHD (4% versus 4%,
P
=0.53).

Conclusions

The current lifetime risk of HF in type 2 diabetes approximates 1 in 4 for men and women. Paralleled by an increase in use of evidence‐based pharmacotherapy over the past decades, the risk of developing HF has declined across several subgroups and regardless of underlying IHD, suggesting that optimal diabetes treatment can mitigate HF risk.
Ethics, Subjectivity, and Alterity in King Lear
Authors: Bidgoli Mehrdad
Published: October 2021

Cordelia’s defiance during the first scene of King Lear is among the thorniest issues in Lear criticism. There are also questions about her defiance in the first act and her sacrificial return in the fourth. Generally, critics either interpret her defiance negatively and condemn her (the question of her sacrifice remains equivocal), or they lay the blame on Lear’s absurdity and justify Cordelia’s silence (thus somehow explaining her sacrificial return). I will turn to the recent ethical approach to Lear in which critics usually treat Cordelia as an excess that both foregrounds the ethical themes of the play and resists our understanding. She is said to be like a trace, an evasive Other who can hardly be grasped or explicated. Her defiance and sacrifice thus mark her incomprehensibility and divinity. There are, however, problems and shortcomings with this view that I will enumerate and try to resolve here. I will mainly study Cordelia’s role and discuss her subjectivity with a closer attention. Drawing upon Emmanuel Levinas’s philosophy, I suggest that Cordelia’s defiance/sacrifice is not simply a choice; she (dis)embodies a logic of heteronomy and absolute openness to and receptivity of the other, a passivity which is beyond any onto-political sense of passivity and activity. Her silence and sacrifice can be discussed as pre-voluntary, nonintentional sensibility. We can connect the dots to explain her defiant behavior in the first act and her sacrificial return in the last acts. Her uncanny ethicality will finally bridge the current gap and explain her alterity as the other as well. Hence she is both a responsive self and an uncanny other in a peculiar combination of qualities.
Companions in the Study
Authors: Gibson Richard Hughes , Beitler James Edward
Published: October 2021

This essay considers John Ruskin’s “reading” of the stonework of fifteenth-century Venice for its lesson in virtues and then adapts his technique for reflection on scenes of St. Jerome in his study. The authors argue that these artifacts have more than art historical interest. They have spiritual interest. By looking backward to previous generations’ ways of imagining scholarship, we can gain a fresh view of our own scenes of reading and writing, not just for the objects strewn about within in them but also for their animating spirits.
Minority Cultural Rights and Bullfighting in a Portuguese Context
Authors: Cordeiro-Rodrigues Luis
Published: October 2021

A topic in contemporary political philosophy that has received substantial attention recently is whether minorities have the right to mistreat nonhuman animals. Mostly the debate is focused on minority practices in the West, such as Muslim religious slaughtering. However, other minority contexts, especially Iberian ones, have been largely ignored. In this article, I place the Portuguese case study at the center of political philosophy debates and assess whether this cultural practice ought to be banned. I do this by looking at four arguments routinely used in these debates. These arguments are that Portuguese bullfighting ought to be allowed because it has an economic role in the community, it helps address social prejudice, it promotes friendship and, and allowing it is a way to be legally consistent. I reject the four arguments and defend that bullfighting, in the Portuguese case, should be banned.
Keepers Report Application of Delayed and Not Necessarily Effective Corrections to Undesired Behaviors of Dogs
Authors: Rossi Alexandre P. , Maia Caroline M.
Published: October 2021

This study investigated how keepers report correcting their dogs’ undesired behaviors by using what they consider to be aversive to them. Over 60,000 dog keepers responded to an online questionnaire addressing this issue. The questionnaire included the frequencies of delayed corrections of perceived signs of previously occurring undesired behaviors, the type of aversive actions applied (independently of correction timing), and the frequencies of specific canine behaviors that the keepers sought to correct. Based on results, correcting undesired behaviors of dogs that occurred some time ago is frequently reported, and the most common corrections are not necessarily effective in reducing these undesired behaviors. Moreover, keepers commonly use aversive actions to correct dogs’ urination/defecation in inappropriate places or destruction of objects, but they do not commonly do so for excessive barking or incorrectly responding to a cue.
Must Animals Die? Genesis 3:21, Enūma Eliš IV, and the Power of Divine Creation
Authors: Strawn Brent A.
Published: October 2021

Yhwh-God’s provision of clothing for the first humans in Gen 3:21 is often understood as a gracious act that nevertheless involves animal slaughter so as to produce the “garments of skin.” The present essay uncouples these two elements—the beneficence of the divine provision of clothing and the possible death of animals that may be implied—reexamining the latter in light of a neglected parallel found in Enūma Eliš, which demonstrates (perhaps with a cognate to the Hebrew verb used in Genesis) that the gods can summon things into existence, especially by speech. The power of divine creation, especially through utterance, is well attested in other ancient Near Eastern texts and so Yhwh-God’s making (עשׂה) clothes need not indicate the destruction of animals. In the end, therefore, if Gen 3:21 is used in wider theological-ethical discussions, its significance lies with a theology of creation not one of sacrifice or atonement.
A Macedonian in the Persian Court: Addition E of Esther and the Vetus Latina
Authors: Thambyrajah Jonathan
Published: October 2021

This paper proposes that the identification of Haman as Macedonian can best be explained as originating in the Greek Vorlage to the Vetus Latina. It has been previously suggested, although it is a matter of controversy, that the non-canonical sections of Esther derive from the Greek Vorlage to the Vetus Latina. This article offers additional evidence in favour of this proposal.
Genesis 49:4—The Route of Facile Textual Emendation vs. Appreciation for Literary Brilliance
Authors: Rendsburg Gary A.
Published: October 2021

This article responds to M. J. Albanese, “What the Holy Seed Defiled: The Textual Problem of Genesis 49:4,” VT 69 (2019): 1‒18. Instead of proposing textual emendation to solve the so-called “problem” in Gen 49:4, the present article uses a literary-stylistic approach to argue in favour of the Masoretic Text (MT).
Nebuchadnezzar and Narrative Repair in the Court Tales of Daniel
Authors: Chike Julian C.
Published: October 2021

During the second half of the first millennium BCE, innovative portrayals of Nebuchadnezzar began to emerge within Jewish circles that reshaped and reimagined his role in their history. Such reconstruals were part and parcel of the lively negotiations among Babylonian and Hellenistic scribes over the representation of bygone Mesopotamian monarchs. In this essay, I examine the reimagination of Nebuchadnezzar in the court tales of Dan 2–6 as a unique example of how scribes sought to reshape the haunting memory of Nebuchadnezzar. By comparing Nebuchadnezzar’s narrative portrait with various texts from Jewish prophetic traditions, I argue that the redactor of the court tales constructed a counter-memory of Nebuchadnezzar in which the traumatic experience of Judah’s humiliation, deportation, and restoration was creatively mapped onto Nebuchadnezzar. In order to construct this counter-memory, the redactor drew upon and repurposed specific language, imagery, and motifs borrowed from these textual traditions.
Folk Beliefs about Soul and Mind: Cross-Cultural Comparison of Folk Intuitions about the Ontology of the Person
Authors: Gut Arkadiusz , Lambert Andrew , Gorbaniuk Oleg , Mirski Robert
Published: October 2021

The present study addressed two related problems: The status of the concept of the soul in folk psychological conceptualizations across cultures, and the nature of mind-body dualism within Chinese folk psychology. We compared folk intuitions about three concepts – mind, body, and soul – among adults from China (N=257) and Poland (N=225). The questionnaire study comprised of questions about the functional and ontological nature of the three entities. The results show that the mind and soul are conceptualized differently in the two countries: The Chinese appear to think of the soul similarly to how they view the mind (importantly, they still seem to see it as separate from the body), while Poles differentiate it both in ontological and functional respects. The study provides important insights into cross-cultural differences in conceptualizing the soul as well as into the nature of Chinese mind-body dualism.
Let Praise of Aššur Not Be Forgotten: Temple Heterarchies and the Limits of Royal Patronage in the Neo-Assyrian Empire
Authors: Zaia Shana
Published: October 2021

Understanding how the numerous temples in the Neo-Assyrian Empire situated themselves within the imperial network is challenging, largely because of a bias in the official sources towards a few temples, especially that of Aššur. Revealing the relationships between the less-attested temples necessitates not only moving beyond the top of the hierarchy but also doing away with hierarchies almost entirely, as they both limit the possible connections and are impossible to build for the majority of known temples. Because there are myriad ways of organizing temples relative to one another, this paper proposes heterarchies as a more effective framework for understanding the changing dynamics of cultic landscapes. This study uses royal patronage (or its absence) as its barometer, establishing a typology that ranges from temples operating entirely independently of imperial support to those that actively seek it, and demonstrating how heterarchies can expose different perspectives of power, status, and affinities amongst institutions. Ultimately, a heterarchical approach shows that the relationships established by royal patronage were not straightforward, homogenous, or stable, and that the ways in which temple and state interacted with one another affected both “vertical” and “horizontal” positioning of temples within the cultic landscape of the empire.
Appropriate Divine Laughter
Authors: Abrahamse Jan Martijn
Published: October 2021

This article is concerned with the theological implications of God’s laughter as pictured in Psalm 2:4 in view of sketching a basic comic theology proper. Since laughter is conceived by some as an overwhelming human emotion, divine laughter can be problematic. To make its case for a comic theology proper, the biblical scholarship with regard to Psalm 2 is first explored in order to establish the psalm’s content, then the current debate on im/passibility is explored to determine what is at stake in attributing emotions to God. Subsequently, the reading strategies of both analytic and narrative theology are followed to assess the theological implications of divine laughter in Psalm 2. It is concluded that divine laughter can be proper to God as an affectionate act to bring justice and reconciliation on earth.
The Easter Ban in the Merovingian Kingdoms: Ideal and Reality
Authors: Halfond Gregory I.
Published: October 2021

In mid-sixth-century Gaul, two episcopal councils issued canons, in 538 and 581/3, respectively, attempting to prohibit interaction between Jews and Christians between Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday. The canons suggested that Jews, through their obstinate impiety, posed a threat to their Christian neighbors, particularly during that festal season associated with proselytization. While there is not corroborating evidence that the Merovingian-era Easter ban ever was put into effect, it should be understood not simply as an expression of Christian triumphalism, but rather as a sincere effort by the Gallo-Frankish bishops to protect their flocks from the “unbelieving Jews.” In an unintended consequence, the ban assigned far greater power and influence to Gallic Jews than they actually enjoyed.
Sivan Baskin: Multilingual Israeli Poet in the Age of Globalization
Authors: Yemini Bat-Zion
Published: October 2021

Sivan Baskin, a poet and literary translator, started writing on the Internet in the early years of the millennium on the “New Stage” site and has published three books of poetry. Baskin’s writing is characterized by multilingualism, inserting words from various languages, written in their own alphabet, within a poem in Hebrew. Although these words or phrases are few and far between, they are conspicuous by their presence and foreignness, representing multiculturalism. Baskin is the first Hebrew poet in multicultural Israel to do this. This article cites four poems that reflect Baskin’s unique writing, which is derived from the combination of her two mother-countries in her life: Lithuania as a Jewish exile, her first homeland, and Israel as the Jewish State into which Jews from around the world were gathered. As an introduction to Baskin’s poetry, this article presents Israel as a multicultural and multilingual country.
Quid facit cum psalterio Horatius? (Hier. ep. 22,29,7)
Authors: Feichtinger Barbara
Published: October 2021

Using the example of Epistula 3 Jerome’s citation technique is analyzed in detail. For this purpose, a comprehensive classification grid of intertextual references is introduced for the first time, which allows a systematization of the narrative examination of citations and allusions. Thus, not only differences in the use of Bible verses and quotations of classics can be highlighted transparently but also a (radical) syntactic, structural, and semantic incorporation of biblical and classic pre-texts by Jerome’s text can be substantiated. In stark contrast to former, rather negative verdicts on Jerome’s “cento style” and semantic incoherences in his writing, this approach is capable of showing a high functionality and authority in Jerome’s strategy of referencing, which shapes the narrative of the friendship letter not only aesthetically but also significantly helps to constitute its semantics.
The So-Called Stratiotics and Phibionites
Authors: Litwa M. David
Published: October 2021

The following study of Epiphanius, Panarion 26 is divided into three parts. The first part argues that Epiphanius used a macro heresiological category, “Gnostics,” to combine what were in fact several different social formations in different areas with recognizably different practices. If we pay attention to practices, we can plausibly identify at least two groups in Egypt: the “Stratiotics” (with their distinctive agape ritual) and the “Phibionites” (with their distinctive ascent-descent ritual of 730 sex acts). The second part contends that, since Epiphanius shed light on several different social formations, we cannot assume they were all in one place, namely Alexandria. The third part, finally, offers an “annotated bibliography” of the texts used by “Stratiotics” and “Phibionites,” among others. It argues that the “Stratiotics” in particular used the Greater and Lesser Questions of Mary, which they may have in fact composed. In turn, “Phibionites” used the Birth of Mary and their own Gospel of Philip, though these works probably had a pre-“Phibionite” history. “Stratiotics” may also have modified received works such as Noria. Not all of these books said the same things, supported the same rites, and upheld the same ideology. The literature was diverse, making it difficult to fit “Stratiotic” and “Phibionite” theology neatly into any modern scholarly category (e.g., Sethian, Valentinian, or Ophite).
Preserving Scriptural Harmony
Authors: Moore Nicholas J.
Published: October 2021

Only one allusion to the phrase “the faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) survives from the early church, in Book 10 of Origen’s Commentary on John. This article establishes that Origen is offering a close paraphrase of this saying, and suggests that it appears as a slogan, possibly reflecting use by other Christians, in favour of overriding the implications of the spiritual reading of John 2.20–22. It shows how Origen’s interpretative procedures – distinguishing literal and spiritual senses, and invoking the key principle of Scripture’s internal harmony – interact and combine to resist this deployment of Jude 3. Although this requires Origen to admit some kind of “change of good things once given to the saints”, it constitutes an application and further elucidation of his careful exegetical method which, ultimately, “preserves the harmony of the narrative of the Scriptures”.
The Trinitarian Doctrine of Isidore of Pelusium
Authors: Celia Francesco
Published: October 2021

The correspondence of Isidore of Pelusium (360–435/440?), which consists of approximately two thousand letters, deals to a considerable extent with spiritual teachings and biblical exegesis and to a lesser degree with theological subjects. This article focuses specifically on Isidore’s Trinitarian doctrine and aims to bring to light its sources. The examination of the predominant anti-Arian and anti-Neo-Arian arguments and of the biblical passages Isidore deployed to support his doctrinal points illustrates two aspects of interest: on the one hand, it reveals Isidore as a derivative representative of Neo-Nicene orthodoxy acquainted with different anti-Anomoean works; on the other hand, it confirms the well-established view that Isidore was a resourceful and cultivated exegete.
The United States and Human Rights Marginalization at the International Court of Justice, 1945–1950
Authors: Barsalou Olivier
Published: October 2021

Using the 1950 International Court of Justice (ICJ) Paris Peace Treaties advisory opinions as a vantage point, this articles explores the changing attitude of the American government towards the emerging United Nations human rights regime and the latter became entangled in Cold War politics. The first part situates the contribution of this article within the postwar human rights historiography. The second part explores how US legal advisors constructed arguments destined to insulate the American domestic legal system from the alleged domestic disruptive effects of the new human rights. The final section delves into the cases of Cardinal Mindszenty of Budapest and Archbishop Stepinac of Zagreb, and how they reverberated at the ICJ. It argues that US legal advisors sought to turn the human rights violations that triggered the judicial proceedings into violations of treaty provisions. In the process, the ICJ validated this transformation and, thus contributed, to marginalizing the emerging United Nations human rights regime.
The Competing Mediations in the Post-Qaddafi Libyan Political Crisis
Authors: Apuuli Kasaija Phillip
Published: October 2021

Since the end of the revolution that toppled the rule of Muammar Qaddafi in October 2011, Libya has never known peace. The country descended into civil war with different factions contending for control. In this milieu, the United Nations attempted to mediate an end to the crisis but its efforts have failed to gain traction partly as a result of other mediation initiatives undertaken by several European actors. Sub-regional and continental organizations, including the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) and the African Union (AU) respectively, that should have taken the lead in the mediation have been absent. Meanwhile, continued fighting has hampered a mediated settlement, and terrorist groups such as the Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda have taken advantage of the situation to establish a presence in the country. In the end, rather than ending the crisis, Libya has provided the ground for competing mediation processes which have prolonged the crisis.
The UN in 21st Century Cyprus: Meditration, Mediation-Lite and Beyond
Authors: McGarry John , Loizides Neophytos
Published: October 2021

For decades, the UN has failed to mediate a settlement in Cyprus because of a general and profound weakness: it is unable, outside of unity and resolve in the Security Council, to offer direct incentives to parties in conflict that would shape their calculus towards conflict resolution, or to control the actions of third parties in a way that would incentivize conflict resolution or prevent disincentives. In the resulting vacuum, the prospects for peace settlements come to rest largely on domestic politics within the contesting camps and, sometimes relatedly, on the balance of power between them. In the case of Cyprus, the article claims that these weaknesses on the part of the UN were clearly on display during the negotiation process surrounding the Annan Plan (2001–04) and the resumed process that began in 2008 and ended at Crans-Montana in 2017.
Integrating Sustainable Development into the Adoption of Emergency Orders for the Protection of the Common Heritage of Mankind and the Marine Environment
Authors: Preller-Bórquez Sebastián
Published: October 2021

Subjacent to the concept of sustainable development lies a narrative of prevention or mitigation of damages that can constitute a useful argumentative mechanism. In particular, this narrative provides coherence to the motivation behind emergency orders issued by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), which are aimed at the protection of the common heritage of mankind and the marine environment. Adopting a strong legal discourse from the beginning would subsequently strengthen the position of the Authority before the Seabed Disputes Chamber should a contractor decide to challenge the emergency order. This is especially true in instances where a contractor seeks to determine the liability of the ISA, as well as compensation for any economic losses the emergency order may have caused to its investment.
The Possibility of Introducing Conscientious Exemption from Mandatory Vaccination in Poland
Authors: Mirocha Łukasz
Published: October 2021

Considerations comprised in the article concern the problem of mandatory vaccination in Poland. Particular attention is paid to the issue of conscientious exemption from the vaccine obligation. The article presents the problem of social support for vaccination in Poland, the arguments issued by vaccination opponents, the current legal status of vaccination in Poland, and finally – the legal analysis regarding the introduction of a conscientious exemption from mandatory vaccination in Poland. The article focuses on judicial opportunities of introducing conscientious exemption in the field of mandatory vaccination; it presents possibilities and obstacles to establishing institution under discussion. The thesis that public health reasons should prevail over conscientious or moral demands is advocated in the article.
An Exploratory Study of the Impact of the Medico-Legal Environment on Surgical Practice in Ireland
Authors: Tumelty Mary-Elizabeth , Cinnamond Kaitlyn , Hannigan Ailish , Tierney Sean , Spain Eimear
Published: October 2021

Defensive medicine describes behaviours engaged in by physicians, for the purposes of averting the threat of medical negligence litigation and/or complaints. Defensive practice typically encompasses ‘assurance’ or ‘avoidance’ behaviours, or ‘positive’ or ‘negative’ defensive medicine. Assurance behaviours include, for example, meticulous notetaking and ordering further clinically unnecessary tests, whereas avoidance behaviours encompass actions such as refusing to engage with a patient perceived to be high-risk. Whilst such practices may be understandable, defensive medicine is problematic for a number of reasons: it may result in a lower standard of patient care, where for example, a patient is exposed to unnecessary risk(s); and it can increase healthcare costs, which in turn limits resources. Drawing on the findings of a survey of surgeons in Ireland, this study investigates the existence of defensive practices, and explores the impact of the civil and regulatory responses to patient safety incidents on surgical practice. Given the increasing emphasis on patient safety and cultivating a “no-blame” culture both nationally and internationally, the findings of this research illustrate the tension between the current medico-legal and regulatory environment and medical practice, with implications for quality and safety.
The Methodology of Formal Interpretations of Judicial Decisions by the International Court of Justice
Authors: Helmersen Sondre Torp
Published: October 2021

This article examines the International Court of Justice’s methodology in cases where it interprets its own decisions under the procedure in Article 60 of the Statute. The Court is constrained by respect for the res judicata of the previous decision. When interpreting the decision the Court and its judges strive to find the intention behind a decision, and emphasise elements that include wording, context, and object and purpose. A comparison with how the Court interprets treaties, resolutions from the United Nations Security Council, and unilateral declarations by States show that the instruments have important different but that their interpretation nonetheless have some basic similarities. On this basis it may be possible to formulate general principles of interpretation in international law.
The ms Estonia Shipwreck Revisited: New Developments in the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage in the Northern Baltic Sea
Authors: Lott Alexander
Published: October 2021

It is widely believed that international law does not enable to protect effectively the wreck of the ms Estonia against looting. The protection regime established under the 1995 ms Estonia Treaty is binding and violations against it can be effectively sanctioned in respect of only the nationals of its few States Parties, resulting in numerous jurisdictional gaps.

This study argues that the law of the sea and administrative law provide the means for safeguarding the ms Estonia wreck against pilferers. Estonia has repeatedly designated tiny buffer zones around relatively modern shipwrecks outside its territorial sea. Finland can follow this practice in relation to the ms Estonia wreck that lies less than 19 nm from its baselines. In effect, Finland would be entitled to regulate and authorize activities directed at the shipwreck with the right to exercise its enforcement jurisdiction against persons that disturb the peace of the mass grave.