bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immune Escape and Survival Mechanisms in Circulating Tumor Cells of Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Steinert Gunnar , Schölch Sebastian , Niemietz Thomas , Iwata Naoki , García Sebastián A. , Behrens Bianca , Voigt Anita , Kloor Matthias , Benner Axel , Bork Ulrich , Rahbari Nuh N. , Büchler Markus W. , Stoecklein Nikolas H. , Weitz Jürgen , Koch Moritz
Published: March 2014

The prognosis of colorectal cancer is closely linked to the occurrence of distant metastases. Systemic dissemination is most likely caused by circulating tumor cells (CTC). Despite the fundamental role of CTC within the metastatic cascade, technical obstacles have so far prevented detailed genomic and, in particular, phenotypic analyses of CTC, which may provide molecular targets to delay or prevent distant metastases. We show here a detailed genomic analysis of single colorectal cancer–derived CTC by array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), mutational profiling, and microsatellite instability (MSI) analysis. Furthermore, we report the first gene expression analysis of manually selected colorectal cancer–derived CTC by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) to investigate transcriptional changes, enabling CTC to survive in circulation and form distant metastases. aCGH confirmed the tumor cell identity of CellSearch-isolated colorectal cancer–derived CTC. Mutational and MSI analyses revealed mutational profiles of CTC to be similar, but not identical to the corresponding tumor tissue. Several CTC exhibited mutations in key genes such as KRAS or TP53 that could not be detected in the tumor. Gene expression analyses revealed both a pronounced upregulation of CD47 as a potential immune-escape mechanism and a significant downregulation of several other pathways, suggesting a dormant state of viable CTC. Our results suggest mutational heterogeneity between tumor tissue and CTC that should be considered in future trials on targeted therapy and monitoring of response. The finding of upregulated immune-escape pathways, which may be responsible for survival of CTC in circulation, could provide a promising target to disrupt the metastatic cascade in colorectal cancer. Cancer Res; 74(6); 1694–704. ©2014 AACR.
Age-Related Changes of Stratum Corneum Functions of Skin on the Trunk and the Limbs
Authors: Sato N. , Kitahara T. , Fujimura T.
Published: March 2014

Background/Aims: Despite our understanding that the care of back and buttock skin is important for elderly nursing patients, the stratum corneum (SC) functions of the skin on the trunk of elderly patients have not been well investigated. Methods: Overall, 41 elderly subjects (average age: 75.9 years, 20 male and 21 female) and 20 middle-aged subjects (average age: 41.3 years, 10 male and 10 female) residing in Tokyo were recruited. Hydration of the SC, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin surface pH, total bacteria and inflammatory cytokines in the SC of skin on the buttocks, back, lower leg and inner forearm were measured. Results and Conclusion: The hydration of the SC decreased only on the lower leg with age. TEWL showed no change with age at any site. The pH was significantly higher in elderly skin than in middle-aged skin at all sites. The number of total bacteria on the forearm and back increased with age. The ratio of interleukin-1α (IL-1α) and IL-1α receptor antagonist was only higher on the middle-aged forearm compared to the elderly. No remarkable gender difference was found in these parameters without pH values. We clarified that most of the SC functional parameters change with age on both the trunk and the limbs in a similar manner, suggesting that the limbs are acceptable sites to estimate the SC functions of the trunk of elderly patients. Our study may be useful as basic data for future work to maintain the SC function of elderly patients.
Sex Determination in Insects: Variations on a Common Theme
Authors: Bopp D. , Saccone G. , Beye M.
Published: March 2014

Recent studies in a representative selection of holometabolous insects suggest that, despite diversity at the instructive level, the signal-relaying part of the sex-determining pathway is remarkably well conserved. In principle, it is composed of the transformer gene (tra), which acts as a common binary switch that transduces the selected sexual fate, female when ON, male when OFF, to the downstream effector doublesex(dsx) that controls overt sexual differentiation. An interesting recurrent feature is that tra is switched ON in the early zygote by maternally provisioned tra activity. Different male-determining signals evolved, which prevent maternal activation of zygotic tra to allow for male development. In some species, where lack of maternal activation leaves tra in the OFF state, novel female-determining signals were deployed to activate zygotic tra. It appears that both the instructive end of the pathway upstream of tra as well as the executive end downstream of dsx are primary targets of evolutionary divergence, while the transduction part seems less prone to changes. We propose that this is a feature shared with many other signaling cascades that regulate developmental fates.
Passenger Lymphocyte Syndrome: A Case Report Involving Non-ABO Antibodies
Authors: Squires Jerry E.
Published: March 2014

Background: Passenger lymphocyte syndrome (PLS) is most often a result of an ABO minor mismatch between stem cell or solid organ donor and recipient. Relatively few cases of PLS have been reported resulting from non-ABO red cell antibodies. Case Report: A blood group O/Rh-positive patient received a stem cell transplant from an A/Rh-negative donor who had an identifiable anti-D. Even though the plasma of the stem cell product was reduced and replaced with an electrolyte solution, the recipient developed a positive antibody screen, positive direct antiglobulin test, and significant hemolysis 8 days after transplantation. Conclusion: PLS can result from non-ABO antibodies and can be associated with a significant degree of hemolysis.
Are Newly Discovered Drivers of Immune-Mediated Skin Disorders Expressed in Normal Skin Regenerating from Standardized Surface Injury?
Authors: Hendriks Anke G.M. , Keijsers Romy R.M.C. , Seyger Marieke M.B. , van Erp Piet E.J. , van de Kerkhof Peter C.M.
Published: March 2014

Background: In healthy skin, tape stripping induces a transient wave of histological changes resembling immune-mediated skin diseases, such as psoriasis. The response to surface trauma may harbor mechanisms which are also relevant to the development of Koebner-positive skin disorders. However, studies on newly discovered drivers of inflammation in regenerative skin are lacking. Methods: The course of epidermal proliferation and keratinization as well as key representatives of innate and acquired immunity were studied during the first 72 h after tape stripping. Results: Epidermal rupture rapidly activates various epidermal processes, which remain upregulated for 72 h. Elastase+ and IL-17+ cells dominate the acute phase and their numbers decrease rapidly thereafter. The number of T-Bet+ cells increases more gradually, reaching maximum levels several hours later when the other cell types decrease. Conclusions: This model permits investigations on the sequence of crucial inflammatory processes set off by cutaneous injury, which are presumed to play a role within the pathogenesis of immune-mediated skin diseases exhibiting the Koebner phenomenon.
Going Beyond Paradiplomacy? Adding Historical Institutionalism to Account for Regional Foreign Policy Competences
Authors: Bursens Peter , Deforche Jana
Published: March 2014

This article argues that the literature on paradiplomacy has been very successful in conceptualizing the external activities of regions and in making descriptive inventories of paradiplomatic activities and instruments. However, we also claim that it has not yet delivered satisfactory explanations for the development of regional foreign activities. The article offers a theoretical contribution to the paradiplomacy literature, suggesting that complementing paradiplomacy concepts with institutionalist theory can account for variation in the development of foreign policy powers of sub-national entities. The argument is empirically elaborated by a historical institutionalist narrative of the development of regional foreign policy powers of the Belgian sub-national entities. The article argues that the combination of the paradiplomacy agenda with historical institutional theory delivers explanatory insights into the evolution of regional foreign relations competences.
Early and delayed offers to under-represented university students
Authors: Harvey Andrew
Published: March 2014

This paper examines the relative merits of early and delayed offer schemes in attracting under-represented students to university. Following the introduction of a demand-driven system and the establishment of national growth and equity targets, Australian universities have increased the number of offers made to students before the release of Australian Tertiary Admission Ranks. The majority of public universities now operate an early offer scheme, often explicitly to increase their proportions of traditionally under-represented students. By contrast, the University of Melbourne and the University of Western Australia have developed delayed offer schemes, whereby entry to professional courses depends primarily on achievement within a generalist undergraduate degree. Under both models, institutions seek to reduce their reliance on Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, which has been shown to be correlated with socio-economic status. The paper considers both models with respect to their transparency, efficiency, predictive validity and equity.
Why sanctions against Iran are counterproductive: Conflict resolution and state–society relations
Authors: Fathollah-Nejad Ali
Published: March 2014

This article critically examines the ramifications of the international sanctions regime against Iran on two fronts: the conflict pitting Iran against the West, and the impact of the sanctions on state–society relations. On both accounts, it finds the dominant narrative, according to which sanctions would facilitate conflict resolution while weakening the authoritarian state, to be misleading. Instead, it demonstrates, on the one hand, how sanctions have hardened the opposing fronts and therefore prolonged the conflict between Iran and the West, and on the other, how they have cemented the domestic power structure in the Islamic Republic and weakened Iran’s civil society.
Paradox as a Metatheoretical Perspective
Authors: Lewis Marianne W. , Smith Wendy K.
Published: March 2014

Organizations are rife with tensions—flexibility versus control, exploration versus exploitation, autocracy versus democracy, social versus financial, global versus local. Researchers have long responded using contingency theory, asking “Under what conditions should managers emphasize either A or B?” Yet increasingly studies apply a paradox perspective, shifting the question to “How can we engage both A and B simultaneously?” Despite accumulating exemplars, commonalities across paradox studies remain unclear, and ties unifying this research community weak. To energize further uses of a paradox perspective, we build from past reviews to explicate its role as a metatheory. Contrasting this lens to contingency theory, we illustrate its metatheoretical nature. We then dive deeper to sharpen the focus and widen the scope of a paradox perspective. Identifying core elements viewed from a paradox perspective—underlying assumptions, central concepts, nature of interrelationships and boundary conditions—offers a guide, informing the practice of paradox research. Next, we illustrate diverse uses of this lens. We conclude by exploring implications and next steps, stressing the rising need for paradox research, as complexity, change, and ambiguity intensify demands for both/and approaches in theory and practice.
Estimation of residual flexural strength of unidirectional glass fiber reinforced plastic composite laminates under repeated impact load
Authors: Balan R , Arumugam V , Rauf K Abdul , Sidharth A Adhithya Plato , Santulli C
Published: March 2014

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of low-velocity multiple impacts at ambient (35℃) and elevated temperature (65℃ and 85℃) on unidirectional glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) composites. Low-velocity repeated impact tests were conducted using a falling weight tower at a constant velocity of 1.5 m/s. The dominant parameters such as energy, contact force, and deflection were recorded during multiple impacts. The residual strength of laminates following repeated impact was evaluated by conducting three-point bending tests with acoustic emission (AE) real time monitoring. The temperature was revealed to play a key role in the impact response of composite materials, especially due to the progressive softening of the epoxy matrix. The nature and extent of damage during multiple impacts at ambient and elevated temperatures was investigated using real time AE monitoring: this analysis indicated delamination as a predominant failure mode, whose extent and criticality depended on temperature and number of impact events.
Have You Considered My Servant Job?
Authors: Balentine Samuel E.
Published: March 2014

It happens that I am going through a period of great unhappiness and loss just now. All my life I've heard people speak of finding themselves in acute pain, bankrupt in spirit and body, but I've never understood what they meant. To lose. To have lost. I believed these visitations of darkness lasted only a few minutes or hours and that these saddened people, in between bouts, were occupied, as we all were, with the useful monotony of happiness. But happiness is not what I thought. Happiness is the lucky pane of glass you carry in your head. It takes all your cunning just to hang on to it, and once it's smashed you have to move into a different sort of life.
Greatest of All the People in the East: Venturing East of Uz
Authors: Edwards Clifford W.
Published: March 2014

This essay places the Book of Job among the most powerful yet mysterious moments in that “terrifying” collection we call the “Bible.” The Book of Job begins with an ironic wish-fulfillment allowing humans to overhear the conversations in heaven. These conversations reveal God as of two minds regarding human nature, just as the conversations of Job and his friends on earth reveal that humans are of two minds regarding the nature of the divine. The “God-Speeches” that finally respond to Job's questioning are then compared to Zen Buddhist “koan” strategies where questions are deflected by seemingly unrelated responses, often responses reflecting on nature. Special emphasis in the God-Speeches on birthing and parenting is noted, and related to the Buddhist sense of liberation through a realization of our shared community with all of nature. Both the revealing pattern of questions and responses, and the alternation of silence and speech, are viewed as shared strategies in the wisdom of Job and the Eastern Wisdom tradition located in Buddhist literature.
The Ministry of Preaching in an Interim Setting
Authors: Carter Terry G.
Published: March 2014

Preaching is vital to the life of the church at all times. Carter states that in some ways preaching is especially important in the interim period. For many church members preaching is the primary point of encounter with the interim pastor. The interim pastor needs to know the congregation as well as possible to be able better to communicate biblical truth to them. The preaching during the interim will lead the congregation to prepare for its new phase of ministry. Carter emphasizes the importance of preaching crafted to the needs and unique situation of the particular congregation.
The Authority of the Community (of All the Saints): Toward a Postmodern Baptist Hermeneutic of Tradition
Authors: Harmon Steven R.
Published: March 2014

As the traditional Baptist aversion to tradition has its roots in the modern milieu in which Baptists flourished, the reconstruction of Baptist life after the collapse of modernity may require the formulation of a new hermeneutic of tradition that is both postmodern and distinctively Baptist. After reevaluating the Baptist tendency to reject tradition as a source of authority, I survey several non-Baptist theologians and theological movements that have made constructive use of tradition and consider the contributions they may make to a postmodern Baptist hermeneutic of tradition. Finally, the article proposes a hermeneutic of tradition that (1) has its locus in the universal Church, the larger community under the Lordship of Christ to which local churches and denominations belong; (2) focuses on the narrative that is shared by the churches and rehearsed in their worship; and (3) requires constructive dissent for the health of the tradition.
The Book of Jeremiah and the Visions of Amos
Authors: Schart Aaron
Published: March 2014

The focus of research on the prophets currently is on the prophetic book rather than on the prophet whose name it bears. It is apparent from careful reading of these literary traditions that prophetic traditions interact with one another. The use of the visions of Amos in the book of Jeremiah illustrates this phenomenon. The phenomenon is most obvious in the visions of Jeremiah (Jer. 1:11–12; 1:13–19; 24:1–10), where the third and fourth visions of Amos (Amos 7:7–8; 8:1–2) provide the pattern followed in Jeremiah. In addition, so many words and syntactical structures are shared that a direct literary dependence is indicated. Once the oldest literary layers of Jeremiah's visions are reconstructed, a comparison with the visions of Amos is especially useful. The depiction of what is seen in the vision, the interaction between God and prophet, and the explanation of what is seen are the key elements in the comparison. Allusions to the Amos visions are also evident in non-visionary texts of Jeremiah. It is probable that the historical Jeremiah had the written form of the Amos visions before him. References to earlier prophets may even have contributed to the survival of the book itself. The established authority of earlier prophetic words provided Jeremiah with needed legitimacy. Jeremiah learned from his predecessors and this helped him to develop a means to look more deeply into his society, to experience God in a more direct way, and communicate what he wanted to say with a sharper profile. It would be well if the religions that count Jeremiah among their heritage would learn from him how to reapply their prophetic tradition to our own difficult time.
Commentaries on Hebrews for Pastors and Teachers
Authors: Benjamin David E.
Published: March 2014

Hebrews provides a significant challenge to the pastor or teacher. There is first the task of properly understanding the structurally and theologically complex letter. Then the communicator must find ways to help the modern audience connect with the ancient message. This article surveys seven commentaries which may assist in this process, focusing on three significant exegetical commentaries: William Lane's two volume contribution to the Word Biblical Commentary series, Paul Ellingworth's commentary in the New International Greek Testament Commentary series, and Harold Attridge's volume in the Hermenia series. Four additional works are examined: Edgar McKnight's recently released work in the Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary series, David deSilva's socio-rhetorical commentary, George contribution in the NIV Application Commentary series, and Thomas Long's work in the Interpretation commentary series. The article concludes that pastors and teachers should consult at least one of the three major commentaries and then select from the others to assist in application.
Societal Regression and the Clergy
Authors: Gilbert Roberta M.
Published: March 2014

Factual evidence indicates that contemporary society is in a period of rapid change, perhaps a crisis. Bowen Family Systems Theory contains within it a concept that describes, broadly, periods of regression in society. Many factors may have contributed to this situation. The theory also suggests ways for leaders to think about the regression and their own functioning at all times but especially in times of increased anxiety. It is important for the clergy to understand this theory since it clarifies what is meant by high level leadership that is based on and guided by principles. Examples of such leaders in times of societal regression are provided by John Wesley and Increase Mather.
“Prisoners of Hope”: Jews, Christians, and the Defining Issues of Dialogue
Authors: Rudin A. James
Published: March 2014

Jews and Christians are still only at the beginning of a long overdue process of examining their troubled relationship and replacing it with one built upon mutual respect, understanding, and knowledge. This article reviews four defining issues that remain front and center in Jewish-Christian dialogue as that process of examination continues to unfold: The religious roots of anti-Semitism, the impact of modern Israel and Jerusalem upon Jews and Christians, being faithful Jews and Christians after the Holocaust, and the meanings of mission, witness, and “ teshuvah” (Hebrew for “turning” or “repentance”). Though the treatment of these issues in this article is, of necessity, brief and presented in generalities, that does not diminish their central importance in the current Christian-Jewish encounter. I believe there is a dedicated group of Christians and Jews who have gained the trust of one another and who remain what the prophet Zechariah calls “prisoners of hope” in building constructive relations between their two communities.
Helping Christian Children to Learn about Islam: Teaching about Islam through Qur'anic Stories
Authors: Margaret O. , Thomas Kenneth J.
Published: March 2014

In order that Christians responsibly discern Jesus' words, “You shall love your neighbor,” Christian education today should include learning about Muslims. And, particularly since the religious life of Muslims is at the root of their otherness, Christian children should learn more than the customs of Muslims' daily living. One educational method, for those who do not have natural contacts with Muslims, is an approach familiar to American Christian children - story-telling based on scripture, looking at characters in the Qur'an who are also in the Bible. Islam must be understood as a religion that emphasizes orthopraxis, right living through following God's will. Thus, Christian children can use the stories to talk appreciatively about both Islamic beliefs and practices. In the process, they can reflect on their own.

The stories of Noah, Abraham, Joseph, and Moses and the Qur'anic material about God as Creator are appropriate to use. The storyteller needs to develop some specific purpose for each story-telling that will enable it to be a vehicle for learning about Islam. In the example of the story of Moses, the Islamic practice of saying “God willing” and “in God's name” can be related to the idea that it is God who guides human life. The Islamic parallel between Moses, who received God's law, and Muhammad, whose message is about how God wants people to live, can be explored.
Reconciliation: Pastoral Reflections and Resources
Authors: Hollon D. Leslie
Published: March 2014

Reconciliation carries the force to heal a wounded past if in the present reality a courageous people begin to act in ways contrary to what caused the past failures. Then a better future is born. Then ancient hatreds find a resting place by being buried, not in the hearts of people, but in the graveyard of gehenna. This article reflects a pastor's journey in learning how to connect the local-global work of reconciliation ministry.
Ambassadors of Reconciliation: Paul's Genius in Applying the Gospel in a Multi-Cultural World: 2 Corinthians 5:14–21
Authors: Gloer W. Hulitt
Published: March 2014

This article examines the Apostle Paul's pastoral theology of reconciliation in his cornerstone passage of 2 Cor 5:14–21. In this passage, Paul sets forth Christ's crucifixion as the atoning bridge by which the multi-cultural barriers that characterized the Roman Empire could be overcome.
Committed to the Ministry of Reconciliation: Moving beyond Conflict in the Balkans
Authors: Earl Arville , Earl Sheila
Published: March 2014

When Arville and Sheila Earl moved to Macedonia in 1998, they did not expect to become involved in a ministry of reconciliation. But when refugees from Kosovo began pouring into Macedonia as tensions in the neighboring Serbian province of Kosovo exploded into a major crisis, the Earls were ushered into a new arena of life and relationship that they say has forever changed the course of their ministries. In this article, the Earls give a brief history of how they began their reconciliation ministry and recount their progress to date. They also include their philosophy of reconciliation as well as stories of people whose lives have been touched by the ministry.
Persistence in Prayer: Luke 18:1–8
Authors: Penny Donald
Published: March 2014

The Parable of the Persistent Widow, Luke 18:1–8, gives us a reason to keep on trusting and praying, “Thy kingdom come,” even as we wait in a world where the “already” of God's victory at the cross has not fully supplanted the “not yet” that we see in a world of evil around us. The parable does not tell us that we must badger God; rather it shows us that, if even an evil judge will provide justice for a helpless widow, how much more will our loving Father bring in his Kingdom. The parable encourages us to tackle difficult issues with confidence; it cautions us not to expect difficult results; it assures us that God's justice will prevail in the end. In the midst of uncertain times, we must keep praying in the confidence that at the right time God will answer us suddenly, swiftly, and fully.
Sacred Hospitality: Christian Youth on Pilgrimage in a Muslim Land
Authors: Peters Lanny
Published: March 2014

In June 2006, a group of high school youth from Oakhurst Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia went on an interfaith spiritual pilgrimage to Morocco, a country whose population is over 99% Muslim. This is their story.
Saturday in New Orleans: Rethinking the Holy Spirit in the Aftermath of Trauma
Authors: Rambo Shelly
Published: March 2014

How do we witness, theologically, to trauma and its aftermath? Beginning with the stories of ministers rebuilding their communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, I introduce Holy Saturday as a theological site from which to think about the tenuous “middle” experience of living on in the aftermath of death without having the assurance of life ahead. Drawing on insights in trauma theory, I examine the final passages in the Gospel of John and suggest that looking through the lens of the “middle” unearths a unique theology of the Spirit that speaks powerfully to the realities of trauma and its aftermath.
Bernard of Clairvaux's Sermons on the Song of Songs: Why They Matter
Authors: Allen Wm. Loyd
Published: March 2014

Bernard of Clairvaux, a twelfth-century French monk, wrote eighty-six sermons on the first two chapters of Song of Songs. What drew him to the text of Song of Songs? How did interpreters of the Middle Ages understand the text? Bernard was drawn to the Song of Songs because of its very human imagery, imagery which he tied to the humanity and passion of Christ. Bernard maintained that Christ understands and embraces our humanness and loves us for who we are in all of our humanity, and in the end, love—as an experiential relationship between God and humanity—is the grand theme of Benard's sermons on Song of Songs.
Awakening Desire before it is Season: Reading Biblical Texts in Response to the Sexual Exploitation of Children
Authors: Garber David G. , Stallings Daniel
Published: March 2014

On international, national, and local levels, the crime of sex trafficking has grown to epic proportions. While several non-profit organizations have begun to tackle the issue, the Christian church's actions have remained minimal. This paper proposes a three-fold strategy to help local congregations struggle with this phenomenon. First, churches must be willing to face statistical data that indicts our culture for the sexual exploitation of children. Second, congregations must be willing to talk openly about human sexuality without retreating into a simplistic pseudo-morality that simply categorizes certain sexual behaviors as right and others as wrong. The primary resources for this discussion are the oft-neglected passages of Scripture that speak explicitly of sexual matters. Third, as a result of this conversation, churches can finally claim the victims of sex trafficking as their sons and daughters, embodying true love to these children in a world that has abandoned them.
Evangelism in the African American Context
Authors: McIntyre Lavonia
Published: March 2014

Evangelism is one of those ministries that is misunderstood, yet is needed for church growth. The church must continue to develop and evolve as our congregations change and restructure. It is important to have a clear definition of evangelism, seek guidance from God, provide training, and develop the message. This article utilizes several models of evangelism from an African-American perspective to develop a specific evangelistic style for the congregation.
Sing Them over Again to Me: Scripture and Hymns
Authors: Richardson Paul A.
Published: March 2014

Thoughtfully selected hymns can help worshipers engage scripture. This article surveys relationships between scripture and hymns, and suggests ways in which preaching and liturgy that make use of these connections can promote congregational understanding and discipleship.
A Little Reverse Missions: In Search of a Global Perspective in Worship
Authors: Hawn C. Michael
Published: March 2014

Throughout history the church has often been slow to recognize developments in the sciences and reorder its thinking about God's creation accordingly. The church in the northern world is now facing the reality that Christians in the southern hemisphere outnumber them two to one. The seeds of the gospel planted during the great mission movements of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries have taken hold and Christianity is flourishing in many places in the south. Are Christians in the northern hemisphere ready to receive the gifts of worshiping communities through song and prayer from their southern sisters and brothers? Given the patterns of immigration to the United States, this is not an academic proposal but a reality of the twenty-first century. Congregations in the current century will need a global perspective in local communities. We dare not be as slow to respond to this reality as the church has been to scientific discoveries in the past. This article offers strategies for reciprocal mission mindedness in our worship.
The Date Formulae in the Book of Zechariah: An Important Key for Interpreting Zechariah
Authors: Moseman R. David
Published: March 2014

This article pursues two goals in an effort to clarify the relationship between the two major sections in the book of Zechariah, chapters 1–8 and 9–14. The first is to further the author's already published argument that the key to understanding Zechariah as a whole lies in understanding the dialogue established by the differences between its two parts. The second involves an assessment of the phenomenon of “inner-biblical exegesis,” as described by Michael Fishbane, as evidenced in and between the parts of Zechariah. Attention to the dating formulas in Zechariah 1:1, 7 and 7:1, which function to divide Zechariah 1–8 into three parts and, more importantly, to place the first section of the book in the context of the rebuilding of the temple. Most significantly, however, these formulas participate in a program of “inner-biblical exegesis” involving Jeremiah's period of seventy years and Ezekiel's vision of restoration. The reader's resultant expectation that Zechariah 1–8 moves toward an announcement of the glorious future shatters, however, at the sudden, drastic change of tone in Zechariah 9–14, a series of “burdens” (9:1; 12:1). Because of Israel's faithlessness, the prophecies of Zechariah 1–8 have gone unfulfilled. The book of Zechariah contrasts what might have been (chaps. 1–8) and what, alas, actually transpired (chaps. 9–14). This reading of Zechariah confirms the utility of attending to the phenomenon of “inner-biblical exegesis,” but it also highlights certain inadequacies in Fishbane's analysis of the phenomenon.
The Traditional Model: Teaching the Bible as Religious Instruction
Authors: Prevost Ronnie
Published: March 2014

This article will begin with an overview of the historical development of pedagogical methods, especially as they relate to approaches referred to as “information-processing” and to religious instruction. The next step will be to briefly explore how the nature of Biblical content has shaped (and still shapes) pedagogy. Finally, contemporary pedagogical options will be briefly considered with a focus on the reasons, approaches, and applications for and by which the most essential goal is transmission of information about the Biblical text.
Naming the Dog: Another Asian Reading of Mark 7:24–30
Authors: Sun Poling
Published: March 2014

The difficult episode involving the Syrophoenician woman (Mark 7:24–30; par. Matt 15:21–28) presents an image of Jesus that is not only unwelcoming, but also offensive. After a survey of traditional interpretations designed to defend Jesus from charges of bias and an examination of the contributions of newer Asian, post-colonialist, and feminist approaches, this article suggests that neither the woman's gender nor race provide the hermeneutical key to understanding this passage. Instead, the incident represents Jesus' encounter with oppressive Gentile economic power.
James' Theocentric Christianity: An Opportunity for Christian-Muslim Conversation?
Authors: Church Christopher
Published: March 2014

This limited exercise in comparative theology begins with examination for descriptive commonalities between James' conception of God and that of three Islamic texts (a Koranic sura, a prayer from Rabi'a, a female Sufi, and an excerpt from Ameer Ali's The Spirit of Islam). James identifies God not in proto-Trinitarian language but with the commonplaces of Abrahamic monotheism. James does not identify Jesus in unambiguously proto-Trinitarian language, nor does it make clear reference to Jesus' passion and resurrection. James draws heavily upon the sayings of Jesus and commends actions consistent with those seen in Jesus earthly ministry. That James found a place within the canon demonstrates that conversations about the nature of the Christian life do not have to begin with ‘high’ Christology. In a shrinking world of heightened religious tensions, James reminds readers of what the Abrahamic traditions share and provide an opportunity for conversation with Islam about the nature of God/Allah. Similarities in descriptions of God illustrate a common reservoir of theological beliefs, and James' and Islam's shared emphasis on actions consistent with such faith.
The Ethics of Tourism
Authors: Duncan Deonie
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT

Tourism makes an important contribution to the economy of many nations. What estimate may Christians offer of the real value of tourism to national development? This paper explores the relation of tourism and environmental degradation, unfair employment practices, and the preservation of host cultures?
Ministering to the People of Oklahoma
Authors: Thomas T.
Published: March 2014

The Cooperating Baptist Fellowship of Oklahoma came into existence in 1992. This essay offers a brief overview of how this new organization has tried to relate to the various ethnic groups in our state.
Prosperity Gospel and African American Prophetic Preaching
Authors: Mumford Debra J.
Published: March 2014

Prophetic preaching has been part of the African American preaching legacy since Africans were brought to North America during the West African-North American slave trade. Prosperity preaching is a relatively new preaching genre that emerged in the United States in the late 1970s. In this article, Debra Mumford briefly surveys the origins and central tenants of both prosperity and African American prophetic preaching in her efforts to determine which form of preaching can best meet the social and spiritual challenges facing African Americans in the twenty-first century.
Womanists as Prophetic Preachers
Authors: Allen Donna E.
Published: March 2014

This article explores the sermon event from a womanist orientation for prophetic preaching. A womanist orientation in prophetic preaching refers to sermons that address social justice issues, critiques the ethical practices of the tradition in which the preaching is performed, and includes a paradigm for listeners to critique the emancipatory praxis in the sermon. This particular orientation for preaching is a critical hermeneutic and homiletic framework broadening the conversation about preaching beyond the sermon content to include the audience and the context. A womanist orientation in prophetic preaching takes seriously the language used in the sermon, the ethical implications of the language of the text, and the application of the text in the faith community. This approach builds on Katie Cannon's womanist analysis of Black preaching that examines oppressive language in Black sacred rhetoric and extends the critique to include an examination of logos, heterosexism, theological language, and emancipatory praxis.
Already but Not Yet: The Status of Women Baptist Pastors
Authors: Hartman Tracy
Published: March 2014

Even though the percentage of Baptist churches with women pastors is low, it is an increase over the numbers in years past. In 2012, more churches called women as pastors than ever before. The status of Baptist women pastors and co-pastors, however, is about far more than statistics. Behind the numbers are stories of women who have been called by God to serve and stories of the churches who have called them. This article chronicles the different ways churches and their pastors experienced the call process, where they experienced resistance in their journeys, and where the women find support for their ministries. Nineteen women pastors and co-pastors were interviewed as well as members of five pastoral search committees. The pastors represented a wide spectrum of age and experience from just out of seminary and serving a first call to seasoned ministers with over thirty years of experience.
The Bonds of Capital and the Freedom of a Christian
Authors: Bell Daniel M.
Published: March 2014

This essay is a reflection on freedom that begins from two very different claims about what freedom is. On the one hand, there is capitalist freedom—the freedom of individuals to choose in the hope of maximizing their interests in accord with the dictates of an insatiable desire. On the other hand, there is freedom in Christ to give oneself in unceasing generosity in love and service to others. It concludes that capitalism is not realistic in its acquiescence to sin, but nihilistic—denying God's sanctifying presence here and now—and that human relations need not be a matter of commercial war, of struggle and conflict (barely) managed by the capitalist market. Rather, in Christ we have an opportunity to live in peace. In Christ, humanity is invited to participate in the divine gift economy where we are redeemed from the agony of sin and human relations are renewed in a Christological pattern of offering, sharing, gift giving, cooperation, and ceaseless generosity.
Learning to Preach in Varied Pastoral Settings
Authors: Jones Peter Rhea
Published: March 2014

This introductory essay by the issue editor recounts a personal narrative of someone who did not go into the family business. In this article, the minister/professor reports briefly from service in a wide variety of church settings. The contexts include rural settings in Tennessee and Kentucky, a small town in Tennessee, urban Manhattan, a suburb in Kentucky, and finally a county seat church in a large metropolitan area in Georgia. This minster went from hayfields in Kentucky to skyscrapers in New York. It became imperative to learn new cultural languages in very different sociological settings requiring growth and change. The author shares insights about preaching, sometimes learned the hard way. The article includes anecdotes, some mildly embarrassing and candid, accounts of beneficial interaction with good classes in homiletics along the way, as well as evidence of the influence of exemplary preaching models.
Christianity’s shift from the Global North to the Global South
Authors: Hickman Albert W.
Published: March 2014

The most significant trend within global Christianity over the last century has been its profound demographic shift from the Global North to the Global South. Although the percentage of Christians in the world population has remained fairly constant since 1900, where those Christians are found has changed dramatically. In 1900 more than 80% lived in the Global North, but by 2010 that figure had fallen to less than 40%. Despite Christianity’s inherent linguistic and cultural translatability, however, Southern Christianity was formed with and still retains many Northern trappings, so that it often appears foreign to non-Christians (and even, at times, to Southern Christians). In addition, Southern Christians have yet to assume the leadership (in areas as diverse as international Christian organizations and articulating theology) that their global numbers would seem to suggest. Southern Christians also hold a disproportionately small share of global Christian income and wealth, which can inhibit their ability to fund ministry where Christianity is growing most rapidly. Christianity’s shift to the South is not without opportunity, however. In many ways, Southern Christians’ cultures and ways of thinking resemble those of the biblical era more closely than do Northerners’, creating the potential for vibrant new theologies and ways of being the Church. Pentecostal and Charismatic spirituality also energizes many Southern Christians, although this is not without controversy. Finally, Southern Christians tend to live in closer proximity to adherents of other religions than do Northern Christians, opening doors for dialog and mission that the North often resists or avoids.
Inaugural Cerebral Sinovenous Thrombosis Revealing Homocystinuria in a 2-Year-Old Boy
Authors: Saboul Cécile , Darteyre Stéphane , Ged Cécile , Fichtner Christine , Gay Claire , Stephan Jean-Louis
Published: March 2014

Cerebral sinovenous thrombosis is unusual during childhood and requires early and accurate management because of its detrimental consequences. We report on the case of a 2-year-old boy with mild psychomotor delay, who presented with nonfebrile acute ataxia. A brain computed tomographic (CT) scan showed complete thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus, confirmed by magnetic resonance angiography and associated with a right frontal hemorrhagic infarction. Systematic screening for thrombophilia revealed homocystinuria linked to cystathionine β-synthase deficiency with underlying compound heterozygosity. The evolution was favorable after anticoagulant therapy, specific diet, and vitamin supplementation. This case is of interest because of the unusual clinical presentation as a pediatric cerebral sinovenous thrombosis. Furthermore, homocystinuria is rarely revealed by cerebral sinovenous thrombosis at the onset of the disease and should systematically be ruled out in pediatric stroke.
Factors associated with caretaker’s readiness for disclosure of HIV diagnosis to HIV-infected children in Bangkok, Thailand
Authors: Punpanich W , Lolekha R , Chokephaibulkit K , Naiwatanakul T , Leowsrisook P , Boon-yasidhi V
Published: March 2014

Summary

To determine factors associated with caretaker’s readiness to disclose an HIV diagnosis to their child, a prospective study was conducted among caretakers of HIV-infected children aged seven to 16 years who were receiving care at two paediatric HIV treatment centres in Bangkok. Caretakers were offered readiness preparation counselling and their perceptions on disclosure were assessed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Among caretakers who had participated in the readiness preparation process for at least one year, 71% (195/273) were ready for disclosure. Using logistic regression analysis, we found that child’s age of nine years or older, child’s severe immunosuppression, caretakers having prior discussion with their child about the illness, caretaker’s perception that their child had the ability to understand the HIV diagnosis and to keep it secret, and caretaker’s opinion that the proper age for disclosure is between seven and 12 years old were associated with caretaker’s readiness for disclosure. These determinants may be useful for guiding disclosure readiness preparation counselling.
Climate and land-use change during the late Holocene at Lake Ledro (southern Alps, Italy)
Authors: Joannin Sébastien , Magny Michel , Peyron Odile , Vannière Boris , Galop Didier
Published: March 2014

This paper investigates the relative influences of climatic and anthropogenic factors in explaining environmental and societal changes in the southern Alps, Italy. We investigate a deep sediment core (LL081) from Lake Ledro (652 m a.s.l.). Environmental changes are reconstructed through multiproxy analysis, that is, pollen-based vegetation and climate reconstruction, magnetic susceptibility (MS), lake level, and flood frequency, and the paper focuses on the climate and land-use changes which occurred during the late Holocene. For this time interval, Lake Ledro records high mean water table, increasing amount of pollen-based precipitation, and more erosive conditions. Therefore, while a more humid late Holocene in the southern Alps has the potential to reinforce the forest presence, pollen evidence suggests that anthropogenic activities changed the impact of this regional scenario. Land-use activity (forest clearance for pastoralism, farming, and arboriculture) opened up the large vegetated slopes in the catchment of Lake Ledro, which in turn magnified the erosion related to the change in the precipitation pattern. The record of an almost continuous human occupation for the last 4100 cal. BP is divided into several land-use phases. On the one hand, forest redevelopments on abandoned or less cultivated areas appear to be climatically induced as they occurred in relation with well-known events such as the 2.8-kyr cold event and the ‘Little Ice Age’. On the other hand, climatically independent changes in land use or habitat modes are observed, such as the late-Bronze-Age lake-dwellings abandonment, the human population migration at c. 1600 cal. BP, and the period of the Black Death and famines at 600 cal. BP.
Book Review: How Stella Saved the Farm: A Tale about Making Innovation Happen
Authors: Madan Anishya O.
Published: March 2014

Vijay Govindarajan and Chris Trimble, How Stella Saved the Farm: A Tale about Making Innovation Happen. Pan MacMillan. 2013, 160 pp., ₹399. First Published in 2012 in USA: St Martin Press. ISBN: 978-0-230-76136-0