bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of a terbinafine–florfenicol–betamethasone acetate otic gel on the quality of life of dogs with acute otitis externa and their owners
Authors: Noli Chiara , Sartori Roberta , Cena Tiziana
Published: March 2017

Background

Treatment of canine otitis externa with owner‐administered products can be difficult.

Objectives

To evaluate otic treatment administered by a veterinarian on quality of life (QoL) of dogs with otitis externa and their owners, and on clinical and cytology parameters of otitis; compared to an owner‐administered treatment.

Animals

Fifty client‐owned dogs randomly randomized into two groups and treated for 2 weeks.

Methods

Veterinarians treated Group A dogs with a veterinary licensed otic gel on two occasions at a 1 week interval; owners treated Group B dogs once daily with a veterinary licensed otic drop based product along with twice weekly cleaning. Veterinarians evaluated otitis with theOTI‐3 scale and semi‐quantitative cytological examination on days 0, 7, 14 and 28. At each visit, owners assessed QoL with a validated questionnaire and pruritus with a Visual Analog Scale. Scores before and after treatment of each group, and differences between groups were analysed statistically.

Results

In both groups, all parameters improved significantly. There was a significantly higher improvement of QoL scores, for dogs and owners, in Group A, compared to Group B at all time points (P< 0.05), except for owner QoL on Day 28. There was no difference in improvement ofOTI‐3 between groups at any time point, whereas Group A cytology scores and pruritus improved significantly more by Day 7 (P= 0.0026 andP= 0.0294, respectively).

Conclusion

A veterinarian‐administered otic gel provided equivalent efficacy and higher QoL to dogs with otitis externa and their owners, compared to an owner‐administered topical otic therapy.
Run-to-Run Optimization Control Within Exact Inverse Framework for Scan Tracking
Authors: Yeoh Ivan L. , Reinhall Per G. , Berg Martin C. , Chizeck Howard J. , Seibel Eric J.
Published: March 2017

A run-to-run optimization controller uses a reduced set of measurement parameters, in comparison to more general feedback controllers, to converge to the best control point for a repetitive process. A new run-to-run optimization controller is presented for the scanning fiber device used for image acquisition and display. This controller utilizes very sparse measurements to estimate a system energy measure and updates the input parameterizations iteratively within a feedforward with exact-inversion framework. Analysis, simulation, and experimental investigations on the scanning fiber device demonstrate improved scan accuracy over previous methods and automatic controller adaptation to changing operating temperature. A specific application example and quantitative error analyses are provided of a scanning fiber endoscope that maintains high image quality continuously across a 20 °C temperature rise without interruption of the 56 Hz video.
Mimicry of an HIV broadly neutralizing antibody epitope with a synthetic glycopeptide
Authors: Alam S. Munir , Aussedat Baptiste , Vohra Yusuf , Meyerhoff R. Ryan , Cale Evan M. , Walkowicz William E. , Radakovich Nathan A. , Anasti Kara , Armand Lawrence , Parks Robert , Sutherland Laura , Scearce Richard , Joyce M. Gordon , Pancera Marie , Druz Aliaksandr , Georgiev Ivelin S. , Von Holle Tarra , Eaton Amanda , Fox Christopher , Reed Steven G. , Louder Mark , Bailer Robert T. , Morris Lynn , Abdool-Karim Salim S. , Cohen Myron , Liao Hua-Xin , Montefiori David C. , Park Peter K. , Fernández-Tejada Alberto , Wiehe Kevin , Santra Sampa , Kepler Thomas B. , Saunders Kevin O. , Sodroski Joseph , Kwong Peter D. , Mascola John R. , Bonsignori Mattia , Moody M. Anthony , Danishefsky Samuel , Haynes Barton F.
Published: March 2017

A synthetic glycopeptide mimics a key neutralizing epitope on the HIV-1 envelope and can be used to isolate HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibodies.
Purulent pericarditis as a complication of bacteraemicEnterococcus faecalisurinary tract infection
Authors: Nehme Fredy , Gitau Jane , Liu Jing
Published: March 2017

Purulent pericarditis is a rare clinical entity in the modern antibiotic era. The most common portal of entry is thought to be direct extension from a primary lung source and is usually caused byStaphylococcus aureus,Streptococcus pneumoniaeorHaemophilus influenzae. We report the case of a man aged 69 years who presented with purulent pericarditis due toEnterococcus faecalislikely caused by haematogenous spread from a urinary tract source. Urgent pericardiocentesis was vital and restored his haemodynamic stability. He was treated for a total duration of 4 weeks with susceptible antibiotics. Echocardiography 3 weeks later showed persistent resolution of the pericardial effusion. This case shows that prompt diagnosis and drainage of the pericardial effusion are vital to achieve a positive outcome in purulent pericarditis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of purulent pericarditis caused byE. faecalisfrom a urinary tract source.
Towards a Compiler for Reals
Authors: Darulova Eva , Kuncak Viktor
Published: March 2017

Numerical software, common in scientific computing or embedded systems, inevitably uses a finite-precision approximation of the real arithmetic in which most algorithms are designed. In many applications, the roundoff errors introduced by finite-precision arithmetic are not the only source of inaccuracy, and measurement and other input errors further increase the uncertainty of the computed results. Adequate tools are needed to help users select suitable data types and evaluate the provided accuracy, especially for safety-critical applications.

We present a source-to-source compiler called Rosa that takes as input a real-valued program with error specifications and synthesizes code over an appropriate floating-point or fixed-point data type. The main challenge of such a compiler is a fully automated, sound, and yet accurate-enough numerical error estimation. We introduce a unified technique for bounding roundoff errors from floating-point and fixed-point arithmetic of various precisions. The technique can handle nonlinear arithmetic, determine closed-form symbolic invariants for unbounded loops, and quantify the effects of discontinuities on numerical errors. We evaluate Rosa on a number of benchmarks from scientific computing and embedded systems and, comparing it to the state of the art in automated error estimation, show that it presents an interesting tradeoff between accuracy and performance.
Strength Assessment of Broken Rock Postgrouting Reinforcement Based on Initial Broken Rock Quality and Grouting Quality
Authors: Xu Hongfa , Geng Hansheng , Chen Feng , Chen Xiao , Qi Liangliang
Published: March 2017

To estimate postgrouting rock mass strength growth is important for engineering design. In this paper, using self‐developed indoor pressure‐grouting devices, 19 groups of test cubic blocks were made of the different water cement ratio grouting into the broken rock of three kinds of particle sizes. The shear strength parameters of each group under different conditions were tested. Then this paper presents a quantitative calculation method for predicting the strength growth of grouted broken rock. Relational equations were developed to investigate the relationship between the growth rates of uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), absolute value of uniaxial tensile strength (AUTS), internal friction angle, and cohesion for post‐ to pregrouting broken rock based on Mohr‐Coulomb strength criterion. From previous test data, the empirical equation between the growth rate of UCS and the ratio of the initial rock mass UCS to the grout concretion UCS has been determined. The equations of the growth rates of the internal friction coefficient and UCS for grouting broken rock with rock mass rating (RMR) and its increment have been established. The calculated results are consistent with the experimental results. These observations are important for engineered design of grouting reinforcement for broken rock mass.
Effect of Oxygen and Initiator Solubility on Admicellar Polymerization of Styrene on Silica Surfaces
Authors: Cheah Pohlee , Bhikha Caitlin N. , O’Haver John H. , Smith Adam E.
Published: March 2017

Although admicellar polymerization has been termed the surface analog of emulsion polymerization, previous reports utilizing free radical-initiated admicellar polymerization relied on high levels of the free radical initiator when compared to emulsion polymerization, likely due to the presence of oxygen in the reported admicellar polymerization systems. Admicellar polymerizations of styrene on the surface of precipitated silica initiated by either a water-soluble or a water-insoluble initiator were studied to determine the effect of dissolved oxygen and free radical initiator solubility on the kinetics, yield, and molecular weight of the polymer formed. Results show that the presence of oxygen reduces the polymer yield and limits molecular weight. The solubility of the initiator also affected the polymer formed in the admicellar polymerization of styrene. While monomer conversions and polymer yield were similar, the molecular weights of polymerizations initiated by a water-soluble initiator were higher than comparable polymerizations initiated by a water-insoluble initiator.
Expression of Somatostatin Receptor 2 in Somatotropinoma Correlated with the Short-Term Efficacy of Somatostatin Analogues
Authors: Liu Wenjuan , Xie Lina , He Min , Shen Ming , Zhu Jingjing , Yang Yeping , Wang Meng , Hu Ji , Ye Hongying , Li Yiming , Zhao Yao , Zhang Zhaoyun
Published: March 2017

The expression of somatostatin receptor subtypes (SSTRs) in pituitary growth hormone- (GH-) secreting adenomas may predict the response to somatostatin analogues (SSA). Our aim was to evaluate the value of the immunohistochemical (IHC) scores of 2 subtypes, SSTR2 and SSTR5, in predicting the short-term efficacy of SSA therapy in patients with active acromegaly. Ninety-three newly diagnosed acromegalic patients were included in our study. These patients were categorized into either a SSA-pretreated group (SA, n=63) or a direct-surgery group (DS, n=30), depending on whether or not presurgical SSA treatment was received. IHC analysis, using a 12-grade scoring system, with rabbit monoclonal antibodies against SSTR2 and SSTR5, was performed on all adenoma tissues. The reduction of GH, IGF-1, and tumor size after treatment with SSA for 3 months was measured. Compared with that in the DS group, SSTR2 expression was lower in the SA group. Additionally, in the SA group, SSTR2 expression was positively correlated with the reduction of IGF-1 and tumor volume. However, there was no correlation between the SSTR5 score and the efficacy of SSA. In conclusion, the protein expression of SSTR2, but not of SSTR5, is a valuable indicator in predicting biochemical and tumor size response to short-term SSA treatment in acromegalic patients.
Analysis of the Spatial Variation of Soil Salinity and Its Causal Factors in China’s Minqin Oasis
Authors: Qian Tana , Tsunekawa Atsushi , Masunaga Tsugiyuki , Wang Tao
Published: March 2017

Land salinization and water resource deterioration negatively affect irrigated agriculture in arid and semiarid areas by limiting the area of arable land and reducing crop yields. The spatial variation of soil salinity is affected by many factors, and their interactions are complex. In this study, we utilized grey relational analysis to evaluate the factors that affect soil salinity in China’s Minqin Oasis and the interactions among them and then ranked the significance of their impacts on soil salinity for different land use and cover types. The data used in this study include data obtained from soil chemical analyses based on field sampling in 2015 and hydrological data obtained from local government agencies. We found that the main factors that affect soil salinity in the region’s sparse grassland are groundwater salinity and vegetation cover; the least important factor was the distance to the nearest irrigation canal. For cropland, the most important factors were the distance to irrigation canals and hydrological factors. By accounting for these factors, it should be possible to manage the region’s limited natural water and soil resources more efficiently, while allowing remediation of existing salinized land and helping to maintain sustainable agriculture in this arid land.
The Association of the C-Reactive Protein Inflammatory Biomarker with Breast Cancer Incidence and Mortality in the Women's Health Initiative
Authors: Nelson Sandahl H. , Brasky Theodore M. , Patterson Ruth E. , Laughlin Gail A. , Kritz-Silverstein Donna , Edwards Beatrice J. , Lane Dorothy , Rohan Thomas E. , Ho Gloria Y.F. , Manson JoAnn E. , LaCroix Andrea Z.
Published: March 2017

Purpose: To examine associations of prediagnosis high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) with breast cancer incidence and postdiagnosis survival and to assess whether associations are modified by body mass index (BMI).

Methods: A prospective analysis of the Women's Health Initiative was conducted among 17,841 cancer-free postmenopausal women with baseline hsCRP measurements. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine associations between hsCRP concentrations and (i) breast cancer risk (n cases = 1,114) and (ii) all-cause mortality after breast cancer diagnosis. HRs are per 1 SD in log hsCRP.

Results: hsCRP was not associated with breast cancer risk overall [HR = 1.05; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.98–1.12]; however, an interaction between BMI and hsCRP was observed (Pinteraction = 0.02). A 1 SD increase in log hsCRP was associated with 17% increased breast cancer risk (HR = 1.17; 95% CI, 1.03–1.33) among lean women (BMI < 25), whereas no association was observed among overweight/obese (BMI ≥ 25) women. Prediagnosis hsCRP was not associated with overall mortality (HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.88–1.21) after breast cancer diagnosis; however, an increased mortality risk was apparent among leaner women with higher hsCRP levels (HR, 1.39, 95% CI, 1.03–1.88).

Conclusions: Prediagnosis hsCRP levels are not associated with postmenopausal breast cancer incidence or survival overall; however, increased risks are suggested among leaner women. The observed effect modification is in the opposite direction of a previous case–control study finding and warrants further investigation.

Impact: Associations of higher CRP levels with incident breast cancer and survival after breast cancer may depend on BMI. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(7); 1100–6. ©2017 AACR.
Successful Aging from the Viewpoint of Older Adults: Development of a Brief Successful Aging Inventory (SAI)
Authors: Lee Jeong Eun , Kahana Boaz , Kahana Eva
Published: March 2017

Objective: Researcher-defined criteria for successful aging (SA) have been criticized for their limited perspective and failure to acknowledge subjective perceptions of older individuals. We assessed the extent to which older individuals consider specific factors, which they had suggested, to be important in defining SA. The present study had 2 objectives: (a) to develop a brief multidimensional questionnaire for assessing SA and to evaluate its psychometric properties; and (b) to examine age associations with each dimension of SA. Methods: A survey was conducted with 550 participants in a panel study of older adult residents of an elderly retirement community and with community-dwelling older adults, regarding factors that they considered to be important for SA. The psychometric evaluation involved exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, reliability and validity analyses, and measurement invariance testing. Partial correlations were used to examine the association of age with SA. Results: The 4-factor solution provided a satisfactory fit to the data: proactive engagement, wellness resources, positive spirit, and valued relationships. Metric measurement invariance for this factor structure was confirmed across 2 age groups. The findings also suggest that the Successful Aging Inventory (SAI) scale might be a useful predictor of SA. Discussion: Our findings highlight the value of considering more comprehensive models of SA that include social relationships and proactive engagement.
Diffuse-Type Hepatoma: A Grave Prognostic Marker
Authors: Siriwardana Rohan C. , Liyanage Chandika A.H. , Gunetilleke Bhagya , Niriella Madunil A. , de Silva Janaka , Dassanayake Anuradha S. , Jayatunge Subani P.
Published: March 2017

Background: Data on diffuse-type hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are rare. HCC in Sri Lanka is rising, and the majority is related to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. This study was planned to compare nodular- and diffuse-type HCC in this cohort. Methods: CT scans of 227 patients with HCC negative for infective hepatitis were analyzed and grouped as nodular and diffuse from July 2011 to July 2014. Diffuse-type cancer was defined as a tumor without convex/distinct margin, diffusely infiltrating the hepatic parenchyma. There were 45 (20%) cases. The baseline liver functions, etiology, treatment, and the outcome were compared with nodular-type cancers. Stage III diffuse cancers were matched with 2 stage III nodular cancers looking at the T stage and background liver. Results: There was no difference in the age (63 vs. 62 years, p = 0.937) and gender. Diffuse cancers had a low BMI (24 vs. 22, p = 0.009), a higher alpha fetoprotein (AFP) level (p < 0.001), a higher incidence of major vascular invasion (14 vs. 80%, p < 0.001), and a history of significant alcohol consumption (39 vs. 67%, p = 0.001). The baseline liver functions were similar in diffuse and nodular cancers. A large proportion (27 vs.77%, p < 0.001) of diffuse cancers were not candidates for active treatment. Overall survival was poor in the diffuse type (4.7 vs. 25 months, p < 0.001). Diffuse-type stage III cancers had a poor survival compared to matched nodular cancers (2.5 vs. 15.8 months, p = 0.001). Conclusion: HCC without a background of infective hepatitis were common in our cohort. These tumors are associated with high AFP levels, major vascular invasion, and a poor prognosis.
Value of Microperimetry in Detecting Early Retinal Toxicity of Hydroxychloroquine in Children with Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Youssef Maha M. , El-Fayoumi Dina , Sidky Mohamed Karim , Hegazy Ahmed I. , Marzouk Huda , Eltanamly Rasha M.
Published: March 2017

Purpose: To evaluate retinal sensitivity in children who are on hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for systemic lupus erythematosus using microperimetry and compare the results with those of the Humphrey visual field (HVF) 10-2 and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Procedure: A case-control cross-sectional study including 19 patients (less than 18 years old) on HCQ for at least 5 years. Controls were 21 normal children. Participants underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, then were investigated using HVF 10-2, SD-OCT, and microperimetry. Results: Ocular examination revealed no abnormalities. The overall mean microperimetry sensitivity of the patients (15.75 dB) was not significantly different from that of the controls (16.35 dB). The HVF 10-2 showed a significant difference in the mean deviation of the patients. Conclusions and Message: Microperimetry was not more revealing than HVF 10-2 and SD-OCT. Larger studies are required to compare the diagnostic accuracy of screening modalities of retinal toxicity in children on HCQ.
Social Media Success for Knowledge Sharing: Instrument Content Validation
Authors: Assegaff Setiawan , Kurniabudi Kurniabudi , Hendri Hendri
Published: March 2017

Knowledge sharing is important activity for create a new knowledge. Information technology today brings big oppurtubity for people in conduct knowledge sharing. This media provides effective and competitive technology tool for knowledge sharing. The aimed of this study is to report the on process research that investigates the success of social media for sharing knowledge among scholars in Indonesia. This study focus to discuss the instrument development stages from the research especially discuss how content validity conduct for in instrument validation progress. Method for content validation progress was adopting from Beck and Gale approach in nursing area. This study resulted in a validated instrument from content validation approach.
Sliding-Mode Controller Based on Fractional Order Calculus for a Class of Nonlinear Systems
Authors: Bouarroudj Noureddine , Boukhetala Djamel , Boudjema Fares
Published: March 2017

This  paper  presents  a  new  approach  of  fractional  order  sliding  mode
controllers  (FOSMC)  for  a  class  of  nonlinear  systems  which  have  a  single input and two outputs (SITO). Firstly, two fractional order sliding surfaces S1 and S2 were proposed with an intermediate variable z transferred from S2 to S1 in order to hierarchy the two sliding surfaces. Secondly, a control law was determined  in  order  to  control  the  two  outputs.  A  sliding  control  stability condition  was  obtained  by  using  the  properties  of  the  fractional  order calculus.  Finally,  the  effectiveness  and  robustness  of  the  proposed  approach  were demonstrated by comparing its performance with the one of the conventional sliding mode controller (SMC), which is based on integer order derivatives. Simulation results were provided for the cases of controlling a ball-beam and inverted pendulum systems.
Adaptive Adjustment of PSO Coefficients Taking the Notion from the Bee Behavior in Collecting Nectar
Authors: Fadavi Abbas , Faez Karim , Famili Zeinab
Published: March 2017

In particle swarm optimization, a set of particles move towards the global optimum point according to their experience and experience of other particles. Parameters such as particle rate, particle best experience, the best experience of all the particles and particle current position are used to determine the next position of each particle. Certain relationships received the input parameters and determined the next position of each particle. In this article, the relationships are accurately assessed and the amount of the effect of input parameters is horizontally set. To set coefficients adaptively, the notion is taken from bee behavior in collecting nectar. This method was implemented on software and examined in the standard search environments. The obtained results indicate the efficiency of this method in increasing the rate of convergence of particles towards the global optimum.
User Analysis Mechanisms based Mobile Fitness System
Authors: Lee Jong Won , Kim Han Kil , Jung Hoe Kyung
Published: March 2017

Modern men have health problems caused by lack of exercise than in the past. But most modern people do not know what to do exercise. Mobile systems for fitness to solve this problem have been developed. In this paper, by analyzing the user's BMI (Body Mass Index) Index and BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) value, the data is made available. The processed data is provided to the user which proposes the right exercise and the appropriate level of exercise intensity, for exercise machines. This is different from detecting the movement, like the existing system, and a fitness value showing the calorie consumption caused. Thus the user is considered to be able to efficiently proceed to a movement based on the provided data.
Faunula permo - Carbonífera Marinha de Capivarí (Estado de São Paulo)
Authors: Mendes Josué Camargo
Published: March 2017

Descreve-se a faunula marinha antracolitica de Capivari, E stado de São Paulo, descoberta por O. Barbosa, F de Almeida e S. Petri em 1947. baseando-se a descrição em coleções organizadas por ésses geólogos e por S. Mezzalira, do Instituto Geográfico e Geológico de São Paulo. A posição estratigrãfica é a do meio pacote permo-carbonifero pré-Iratí, ocorrendo o horizonte fossilifero marinho entre sedimentos glaciais. C hega -se às seguintes identificações: braquiopodes Crurithyris aff. planoconvexa (Shum.), Rhynchopora grossopunctata sp. n.; lamelibranquios Aviculopecten capivariensis sp. n., Nuculana? sp. ind. e lamelibrânquio indeterminado. A idade inferivel é a do Carbonífero Superior-Permiano. Nenhuma correlação segura póde ser aventada ao presente com outras faunulas déssa idade, seja do Brasil ou da America do Sul.
Vessel Patency at 24 Hours and Its Relationship With Clinical Outcomes and Infarct Volume in REVASCAT Trial (Randomized Trial of Revascularization With Solitaire FR Device Versus Best Medical Therapy in the Treatment of Acute Stroke Due to Anterior Circulation Large Vessel Occlusion Presenting Within Eight Hours of Symptom Onset)
Authors: Millán Mònica , Remollo Sebastià , Quesada Helena , Renú Arturo , Tomasello Alejandro , Minhas Priyanka , Pérez de la Ossa Natalia , Rubiera Marta , Llull Laura , Cardona Pedro , Al-Ajlan Fahad , Hernández María , Assis Zarina , Demchuk Andrew M. , Jovin Tudor , Dávalos Antoni
Published: March 2017

Background and Purpose—

Higher rates of target vessel patency at 24 hours were noted in the thrombectomy group compared with control group in recent randomized trials. As a prespecified secondary end point, we aimed to assess 24-hour revascularization rates by treatment groups and occlusion site as they related to clinical outcome and 24-hour infarct volume in REVASCAT (Randomized Trial of Revascularization With Solitaire FR Device Versus Best Medical Therapy in the Treatment of Acute Stroke Due to Anterior Circulation Large Vessel Occlusion Presenting Within Eight Hours of Symptom Onset).

Methods—

Independent core laboratory adjudicated vessel status according to modified arterial occlusive lesion classification at 24 hours on computed tomographic/magnetic resonance (94.2%/5.8%) angiography and 24-hour infarct volume on computed tomography were studied (95/103 patients in the thrombectomy group versus 94/103 in the control group, respectively). Complete revascularization was defined as modified arterial occlusive lesion grade 3. Its effect on clinical outcome was analyzed by ordinal logistic regression.

Results—

Complete revascularization was achieved in 70.5% of the solitaire group and in 22.3% of the control group (
P
<0.001). Significant differences in complete revascularization rates were found for terminus internal carotid artery, M1, and tandem occlusions (all
P
<0.001) but not for M2 occlusions. In the thrombectomy group, 2 out of 63 patients (3.1%) with modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 2b/3 after thrombectomy showed arterial reocclusion (modified arterial occlusive lesion grade 0/1) at 24 hours. Complete revascularization was associated with improved outcome in both thrombectomy (adjusted odds ratio, 4.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.9–10.9) and control groups (adjusted odds ratio, 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.0–6.7). Revascularization (modified arterial occlusive lesion grade 2/3) was associated with smaller infarct volumes in either treatment arm.

Conclusions—

Complete revascularization at 24 hours is a powerful predictor of favorable clinical outcome, whereas revascularization of any type results in reduced infarct volume in both thrombectomy and control groups.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01692379.
Where Is the Beat? The Neural Correlates of Lexical Stress and Rhythmical Well-formedness in Auditory Story Comprehension
Authors: Kandylaki Katerina D. , Henrich Karen , Nagels Arne , Kircher Tilo , Domahs Ulrike , Schlesewsky Matthias , Bornkessel-Schlesewsky Ina , Wiese Richard
Published: March 2017

While listening to continuous speech, humans process beat information to correctly identify word boundaries. The beats of language are stress patterns that are created by combining lexical (word-specific) stress patterns and the rhythm of a specific language. Sometimes, the lexical stress pattern needs to be altered to obey the rhythm of the language. This study investigated the interplay of lexical stress patterns and rhythmical well-formedness in natural speech with fMRI. Previous electrophysiological studies on cases in which a regular lexical stress pattern may be altered to obtain rhythmical well-formedness showed that even subtle rhythmic deviations are detected by the brain if attention is directed toward prosody. Here, we present a new approach to this phenomenon by having participants listen to contextually rich stories in the absence of a task targeting the manipulation. For the interaction of lexical stress and rhythmical well-formedness, we found one suprathreshold cluster localized between the cerebellum and the brain stem. For the main effect of lexical stress, we found higher BOLD responses to the retained lexical stress pattern in the bilateral SMA, bilateral postcentral gyrus, bilateral middle fontal gyrus, bilateral inferior and right superior parietal lobule, and right precuneus. These results support the view that lexical stress is processed as part of a sensorimotor network of speech comprehension. Moreover, our results connect beat processing in language to domain-independent timing perception.
The “Quietude of Conscience” and the Magnetism of Sound: Listening to Nathaniel Hawthorne'sThe House of the Seven Gables
Authors: Bechtold Rebeccah
Published: March 2017

In The House of the Seven Gables Nathaniel Hawthorne employs a soundscape particularly attuned to the modern dissonances and spiritual soundings of antebellum America. His novel interrogates the impact of these auditory-acoustic structures on constructions of the self, ultimately revealing the politics of audibility emerging in the nineteenth century.
The Use of Memory in the Old Testament Quotations in John’s Gospel
Authors: Montanaro Andrew
Published: March 2017

The variances of the Old Testament quotations in John’s gospel from their source texts have been explained as John’s theological re-appropriation of these sources. However, this paper identifies within these variations what David Carr calls “memory variants,” ultimately showing that John was recalling the ot from memory. Furthermore, the verbatim quotations are usually taken from Psalms, which contain poetic constraints that enhance memory recall. These observations correspond strongly to the fact that the gospel of John, like other ancient documents, was produced in a culture that was predominately oral, wherein the handing on of tradition depended primarily on memorization.
The Production and Trade of Fish as Source of Economic Growth in the First Century ce Galilee
Authors: Hakola Raimo
Published: March 2017

The article challenges the model of economic oppression in Galilee and argues that the development of Galilean fishing industry and trade gave an economic boost to the local economy. There has emerged a significant interest in ancient fishing technologies and fish production in recent classical scholarship. The article uses these discussions, together with recent archaeological findings in Galilee, especially in Magdala, to reconstruct a more accurate and nuanced portrait of the fishing economy in the region. It is argued that the expansion of the Galilean fishing economy opened up new economic possibilities not only for the elite but also for the members of local fishing collectives.
Deborah’s New Song: The Historical Résumé in lab 32:1-11 in Context
Authors: Livneh Atar
Published: March 2017

An extra-biblical historical résumé, Deborah’s “new” song in lab 32:1-11 demonstrates both the continued use of the conventions of its biblical antecedents and the development of this literary form during the Second Temple period. It commences its review with Abraham, draws a number of devices from biblical résumés to unite the various episodes, alludes to various biblical reviews, and exhibits various thematic affinities with biblical literary models. While its incorporation of episodes into its retelling of Israelite history that do not appear in any of the biblical summaries and use of the scenaric style of the biblical story rather than the third-person brief report typical of biblical historical summaries are typical of Second Temple résumés, the full sequence of lab 32:1-11 has no parallel in Second Temple Jewish or Christian writings, thereby revealing the author’s guiding tenet—namely, that God fulfils the covenant by aiding His people throughout history.
Wisdom and Law in the Hebrew Bible and at Qumran
Authors: Hempel Charlotte
Published: March 2017

This article begins by noting the paucity of engagement between scholarship on the Dead Sea Scrolls (dss) and a number of significant studies on the relationship of wisdom and law in the Hebrew Bible. A substantial case study on Proverbs 1-9 and the Community Rule from Qumran is put in conversation with the seminal work of, especially, Moshe Weinfeld on Deuteronomy and its refinement by subsequent research to trace a dynamic interaction between wisdom and law in the Second Temple period. The article ends with critical reflections on the wide-spread model of segmenting ancient Jewish literature and those responsible for it into neat categories such as wisdom and law. It is argued that such a model presupposes a degree of specialization that is not borne out by the range of literature that found its way into the Hebrew Bible or the caves in the vicinity of Khirbet Qumran.
From Swagger to Serious: Managing Young Masculinities between Faiths at a Young Men’s Christian Association Centre in The Gambia
Authors: Wignall Ross
Published: March 2017

A renewed focus on studies of masculinity in Africa has so far failed to account for the growing importance of nonproselytizing Faith-Based Organisations (fbos) in the gendering process. This article seeks to address this issue through a case study of the Gambian branch of the Young Men’s Christian Association (ymca).ymcaleaders generate a culture of dynamic leadership that equates to a form of ‘hegemonic masculinity’ based on love, self-sacrifice, and obligation. This article shows how this process is implicated in a series of tensions between the young men and their peers, families, elders, and leaders. While many young men want to ‘have swagger’, they are called ‘stubborn’ and urged to ‘get serious’. Through an ethnographic portrait, the author uses these tensions to explore howymcaideals of manhood may be superimposing forms of Euro-American, Christian masculinity onto Muslim Gambian men, replicating colonial modes of control, inequality, and oppression.
A Note on the Nachleben of Sedulius carm. pasch. 5.215-16
Authors: De Gianni Donato
Published: March 2017

The article takes a closer look at the simile of the goat and the vine in Sedulius’ Carmen paschale 5.215-16, an allegory representing the robber who harasses Christ on the cross with his insults. The verse is imitated by the Medieval theologian Honorius Augustodunensis (12th c.) in the prologue of his cosmological treatise De imagine mundi, where it is directed, in an allusive way, against the detractors of that work. This imitation, until now not recognised by scholars, offers a new insight into the fortune of Sedulius’ work in the Middle Ages.

L’article approfondit la similitude du bouc et de la vigne utilisée par Sedulius aux vv. 215-16 du cinquième livre du Carmen Paschale pour représenter allégoriquement le voleur qui harcèle avec ses offenses le Christ crucifié. Le locus poétique est imité par le théologien médiéval Honorius Augustodunensis (xiie siècle) dans le prologue du traité cosmologique De imagine mundi avec une claire intention allusive aux détracteurs de l’oeuvre. Une telle imitation, jusqu’alors jamais relevé par les savants, offre une nouvelle contribution à la fortune du poète chrétien à l’époque médiévale.

This article is in English.
Reforming the United Nations Security Council: Feasibility or Utopia?
Authors: Schaefer Kai
Published: March 2017

Reforming the United Nations Security Council has been on the agenda of the General Assembly for over two decades. However, structural reform of the Council remains elusive. This article explains why after so many years nearly all 193 states within theunremain actively seized on the matter of reform, despite no immediate outcome being in sight. In order to analyze Security Council reform efforts and the various obstacles along the way, this article emphasizes states’ motivations during the reform process. With the help of new institutionalist theory, an argument is formed that highlights how certain states are driven by strategic calculations and self-interest, while others are more normatively motivated. Furthermore, the article highlights that despite only lukewarm support for reform from certain states, not a single state can publicly denounce Council reform, because the reform issue itself has become an ingrained norm.
Letter from James to the General Assembly in Seoul of the International Association for Mission Studies
Authors: Tamez Elsa , Brown Sary
Published: March 2017

In this essay, the author uses tools of biblical studies to re-read the Letter of James from the mission perspective. She takes as point of departure the violent and corrupt situation of the globalized world and the global warming. With that background in mind, she focuses on the missionad intrain the Letter of James. It is a letter addressed to migrants (‘the twelve tribes in the Dispersion’) living in different parts of the world. While suffering discrimination from Roman society because of their Jewish culture and their faith, these migrants should act wisely, remember the values of the gospel of solidarity and perseverance, and above all, show coherence between what they believe and say and what they do. The recipients need to distinguish between authentic faith and false faith. Through this study, the author adds a new biblical paradigm of mission to the mission paradigms of David J. Bosch.

在这篇文章里，作者从宣教的角度用圣经研究的工具重读雅各书。她以全球暴力腐败及暖化的状况为出发点，以此为背景，集中探讨雅各书中ad intra的宣教。这是封写给住在世界各地的移民（‘散住十二个支派’）的书信。他们虽然因着自己信奉的犹太文化与信仰，遭受着来自罗马社会歧视的苦难，这些移民们应凭智慧行事，记住福音团结与坚韧的价值，最重要的是表现出他们所信的和说的，与他们所做的保持一致，收信者应分辨真假信仰。透过这个研究，作者在 David, J. Bosch 的宣教范式之上又加添了新的圣经宣教范式。

En este trabajo la autora hace una relectura de la carta de Santiago desde la perspectiva de la misión. Ella toma como punto de partida la realidad violenta y corrupta del mundo globalizado y el calentamiento global. Con ese trasfondo en mente, ella concentra su enfoque en una misión ad-intra. Se trata, entonces de una carta dirigida a inmigrantes (doce tribus de la dispersión) de distintas partes del mundo que, a pesar de que sufren discriminación en su sociedad romana por ser judíos y creyentes necesitan que se les recuerde los valores del evangelio, como la solidaridad, la perseverancia, el control de las palabras y sobre todo la práctica de la coherencia entre el creer y el actuar. Los destinatarios necesitan distinguir entre la fe auténtica y la fe falsa. Con este ensayo bíblico la autora añade un paradigma de misión más a los propuestos por David J. Boch.

This article is in English.
Convergence or Divergence in Theology of Religions?
Authors: Kjøde Rolf
Published: March 2017

If there is an ongoing convergence in understanding of mission between the two traditions of the global church named as conciliar and evangelical, can we trace this in the theology of religions? This study investigates this question by studying two recent and comprehensive mission documents,Together towards Life(ttl) and theCape Town Commitment(ctc). Theology of religions is a topic fundamental and decisive for understanding the nature of Christian mission. The article concludes that the World Council of Churches (wcc) seemed to come closest to the evangelical theology of religions in the years leading up to 1989. Throughttl, thewccofficially seems to confirm an inclusivism with a wider opening towards pluralist aspects. The evangelical emphasis on proclamation, truth and uniqueness of Christ inctcis not compatible with this development. A shift of direction in theology of religions since 1989 is detectable inttl, while evangelical theology of religions is relatively stable in its fundamental thinking.

如果在协会派与福音派这两种普世教会的传统中，对宣教的认识有融合的话，那么我们能否在它们的宗教神学中追溯到些什么呢？本文就此对Together towards Life(ttl) 和Cape Town Commitment(ctc) 两份复杂的宣教文献进行研究考查。宗教神学是对基督教宣教本质的理解最基本也是最根本的课题。本文得出的结论是。普世协会 (wcc) 似乎在1989年前的几年，与福音派的宗教神学最贴近。透过ttl，wcc正式确认了其对多元主义完全敞开的包容主义，而福音派着重的宣告，真理及基督的独一性是与此发展互不兼容的。自 1989 年以来， 可以找到ttl里宗教神学的改变，而福音派的宗教神学其基本思想却是相对稳定的。

Si existe en realidad un proceso de convergencia en la comprensión de la misión entre las dos tradiciones de la iglesia mundial: la conciliar y la evangélica; ¿podemos descubrirlo en la teología de las religiones? Para responder a esta pregunta, este estudio analiza dos documentos exhaustivos y recientes sobre la misión: Juntos por la vida (ttl, siglas en inglés) y el Compromiso de Ciudad del Cabo (ctc, siglas en inglés). La teología de las religiones es un tema fundamental y decisivo para comprender la naturaleza de la misión cristiana.

El artículo concluye que el Consejo Mundial de Iglesias (wcc, siglas en inglés) parece acercarse más a la teología evangélica de las religiones perteneciente a los años anteriores a 1989. A través dettl, elwccparece confirmar oficialmente un inclusivismo con una apertura más amplia hacia aspectos pluralistas. El énfasis evangélico sobre la proclamación, la verdad y la singularidad de Cristo enctcno parece compatible con este proceso. Se detecta enttlun cambio de orientación en la teología de las religiones desde 1989, mientras que la teología evangélica de las religiones es relativamente invariable en su pensamiento fundamental.

This article is in English.
Risky Killing
Authors: Lazar Seth
Published: March 2017

I argue that riskier killings of innocent people are, other things equal, objectively worse than less risky killings. I ground these views in considerations of disrespect and security. Killing someone more riskily shows greater disrespect for him by more grievously undervaluing his standing and interests, and more seriously undermines his security by exposing a disposition to harm him across all counterfactual scenarios in which the probability of killing an innocent person is that high or less. I argue that the salient probabilities are the agent’s sincere, sane, subjective probabilities, and that this thesis is relevant whether your risk-taking pertains to the probability of killing a person or to the probability that the person you kill is not liable to be killed. I then defend the view’s relevance to intentional killing; show how it differs from an account of blameworthiness; and explain its significance for all-things-considered justification and justification under uncertainty.
The Awka Civil War (1902–1904) and the Legal Basis for Its Resolution
Authors: Nwanna Clifford Ezekwe
Published: March 2017

Most Western legal philosophers did not have Africa in mind when institutionalzing the meaning of law; hence, they consider African customary law as obscure and undesirable. This Western notion of the African judicial system is misleading—there was no record of breakdown of law and order in pre-colonial Africa, where only customary laws operated. This essay examines the consequences of the imposition of the Western legal system on Africa using the Awka civil war (1900–1904) as an example. The study reveals that the African traditional legal system was broadly accepted by the people as a means of providing stability, certainty, and social change. It represents the indigenous and authentic law of the people.
Ethnic Conflict in Burundi
Authors: Toyi Marie-Thérèse
Published: March 2017

In spite of the laudable political and humanitarian efforts to tackle the cyclical ethnic-related conflicts in Burundi, the impact of the refugee and returnee phenomena on the culture, education, and economy of the country and beyond has not yet received its full due attention. This study aims at increasing awareness on this issue. It first identifies the refugee- and returnee-related new linguistic trends in Burundi, together with their subsequent impact on education. How many Burundians learned Kiswahili in exile in Tanzania or in the Democratic Republic of Congo, not only for educational or professional purposes but also for survival, but who, back in Burundi, saw their language of exile become an obstacle to the pursuit of a standard education? Why has their plight not attracted as much attention as did that of war orphans, widows, and former child soldiers? This study also surveys the cultural exchanges between Burundian refugees and returnees with their host country and their motherland.
Dynamic Continuity of a Sacred Place: Transformation of Pilgrims’ Experiences of Letnica in Kosovo
Authors: Sikimić Biljana
Published: March 2017

The article traces the transformation of a Catholic cult site in Kosovo (Letnica in county of Vitina/Viti) in transition from the 20th to the 21st century over a period of twenty years: first, its slow decline during the wars of the 1990s, the sudden interruption of pilgrimages in 1999, followed by a gradual revitalization when a local cult was turned into a regional or even global one, by presentation on the internet.
Horse Theft, Law, and Punishment in Xinjiang during the Qianlong Reign
Authors: Jia Jianfei
Published: March 2017

There are a large number of criminal cases in the Manchu archives, which occurred in Mongolia and Xinjiang and were reported to the Qing emperors. These criminal cases can be roughly divided into two groups: homicide cases and horse theft cases. Based on the records of the Manchu archives, this paper will focus upon horse theft cases in Xinjiang during the Qianlong reign. Xinjiang was a place populated by many ethnic groups under the Qing rule. In the Qing records, we found that almost all of the ethnic groups were involved in horse theft cases. The questions at issue are: why did such horse theft cases matter in the Qing dynasty, especially to the extent they even had to be reported to the central government and the Qing emperors? Based on what law were the criminals of different peoples punished in the judicial trials?

My arguments are as follows: based on the Qing records, one can learn that the legislation in Xinjiang had been less mature than that in China proper, and there had not been specific regulations or laws on criminal cases including horse theft being enacted by the Qing court in Xinjiang; the law was subject to variation based on the emperors’ own will, which largely reflects the limitations and challenges that the Manchu rulers were facing during their reign in such a newly-conquered multi-cultural territory. What is certain is: first, in general, the ethnicities of horse theft criminals and owners of the stolen horses were considered by the Qing magistrates, and the criminals were punished on the basis of their and the owners’ ethnicities, thus, a diversified statutory base appeared to be applied in these trials. Second, the punishment for criminals in horse theft in Xinjiang at the time was more severe than that in other parts of the Qing Empire, and the penalties were generally borrowed from that inDaqing lüli, which, to some extent, could reflect the strong influences of Chinese and Manchu legislation.