bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prenatal infection, maternal immune activation, and risk for schizophrenia
Authors: Canetta Sarah , Brown Alan
Published: November 2012

A body of epidemiological literature has suggested an association between prenatal infection, subsequent maternal immune activation (MIA), and later risk of schizophrenia. These epidemiological studies have inspired preclinical research using rodent and primate models of prenatal infection and MIA. The findings from these preclinical studies indicate that severe infection and immune activation during pregnancy can negatively impact offspring brain development and impair adult behavior. This review aims to summarize the major epidemiological and preclinical findings addressing the connection between prenatal infection and immune activation and later risk of developing schizophrenia, as well as the more limited literature addressing the mechanisms by which this gestational insult might affect offspring neurodevelopment. Finally, directions for future research will be discussed.
Autophagosomes and multivesicular bodies in neuronal development and degeneration
Authors: Diana Andrea
Published: November 2012

A growing body of research deals with the relationship between the endosomal and autophagic/lysosomal pathways during developmental stages of the central nervous system. This includes their possible influence regarding the onset and progression of specific neurodegenerative disorders. In this review we focus our attention on major alterations affecting two organelles: autophagosomes and multivesicular bodies, both of which are located at the intersection point of their respective pathways.
Immaterial and industrial labor
Authors: Yanagisako Sylvia
Published: November 2012

At the core of Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri's thesis that a new global form of sovereignty has replaced a previous imperialist geography is their claim that the capitalist mode of production has undergone a shift from a modern era in which “industrial labor“ was hegemonic to a postmodern era in which “immaterial labor“ has become hegemonic. In this article, I argue that capitalism in Europe (let alone other areas of the world) does not conform to this model. I draw on the history of Italian manufacturing and on my ethnographic research on the silk industry of northern Italy to question the analytic usefulness of their distinction between “industrial“ and “immaterial“ labor and to show that the latter has always been crucial to industrial production. I conclude that Hardt and Negri's attempt to expand the definition of productive labor to include the “multitude“ unwittingly parallels an emerging discourse that serves to legitimate transnational hierarchies of labor.
Response
Authors: Hardt Michael
Published: November 2012

I am grateful to the authors of these articles for
their critical engagements with my and Toni
Negri’s books. A friend once told me that you
can judge the worth of a book by the quality of
the critical responses it elicits: that is how productive
debate proceeds. These articles are excellent
examples of such productive intellectual
exchanges, and I am proud to have these authors
as critics and interlocutors. I am also grateful
for their generosity. When reading work from
disciplinary perspectives other than our own, it
is not uncommon to experience not only bewilderment
but also irritation. I recognize it as an
act of generosity, then, that these anthropologists
engage the kind of political theorizing that
Toni and I practice on its own terms, and then
relate it to the way they see the issues we treat
from an anthropological perspective.
"Who wants to marry a farmer?"
Authors: Majumder Sarasij
Published: November 2012

This article seeks to understand why both anti-land acquisition protests and proindustrial rhetoric of provincial governments in India are fodder for populist politics. To understand this, the article explores the meanings that land and development have for the rural communities in West Bengal, India, who are trying to straddle the multiple worlds of farm ownership and nonfarm employment. Based on five years of ethnographic fieldwork in various parts of rural West Bengal, this article argues that resistances to corporate globalization, taken to be unambiguously anti-industrial or anticapitalist, reflect complex intentions. Protesting villagers are ambivalent toward corporate capital, but their support for industries and protests against corporations are grounded in local moral worlds that see both nonfarm work and landownership as markers of critical social distinction.
Cell Type-Associated Differences in Migration, Survival, and Immunogenicity following Grafting in CNS Tissue
Authors: Praet Jelle , Reekmans Kristien , Lin Dan , De Vocht Nathalie , Bergwerf Irene , Tambuyzer Bart , Daans Jasmijn , Hens Niel , Goossens Herman , Pauwels Patrick , Berneman Zwi , Van Der Linden Annemie , Ponsaerts Peter
Published: November 2012

Cell transplantation has been suggested to display several neuroprotective and/or neuroregenerative effects in animal models of central nervous system (CNS) trauma. However, while most studies report on clinical observations, currently little is known regarding the actual fate of the cell populations grafted and whether or how the brain's innate immune system, mainly directed by activated microglia and astrocytes, interacts with autologous cellular implants. In this study, we grafted well-characterized neural stem cell, mouse embryonic fibroblast, dendritic cell, bone marrow mononuclear cell, and splenocyte populations, all isolated or cultured from C57BL/6-eGFP transgenic mice, below the capsula externa (CE) of healthy C57BL/6 mice and below the inflamed/demyelinated CE of cuprizone-treated C57BL/6 mice. Two weeks postgrafting, an extensive quantitative multicolor histological analysis was performed in order (i) to quantify cell graft localization, migration, survival, and toxicity and (ii) to characterize endogenous CNS immune responses against the different cell grafts. Obtained results indicate dependence on the cell type grafted: (i) a different degree of cell graft migration, survival, and toxicity and (ii) a different organization of the endogenous immune response. Based on these observations, we warrant that further research should be undertaken to understand—and eventually control—cell graft-induced tissue damage and activation of the brain's innate immune system. The latter will be inevitable before cell grafting in the CNS can be performed safely and successfully in clinical settings.
Ex Vivo Alloanergization with Belatacept: A Strategy to Selectively Modulate Alloresponses after Transplantation
Authors: Davies Jeff K. , Barbon Christine M. , Voskertchian Annie , Nadler Lee M. , Guinan Eva C.
Published: November 2012

Ex vivo alloanergization of human immune cells, via allostimulation in the presence of costimulatory blockade with either a combination of anti-B7.1 and anti-B7.2 antibodies or first-generation cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4-immunoglobulin (CTLA4-Ig), induces alloantigen-specific hyporesponsiveness and expands alloantigen-specific regulatory T cells (Treg). We have successfully used this approach in the clinical setting of haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Recently, the in vivo use of a new second-generation CTLA4-Ig, belatacept, has shown promise in controlling alloresponses after transplantation of both human kidneys and islet cells. We therefore compared the efficiency of first- and second-generation CTLA4-Ig in alloanergizing human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and investigated whether ex vivo alloanergization with belatacept could be used to engineer an alloantigen-specific immunoregulatory population of autologous cells suitable for administration to recipients of cellular or solid organ transplant recipients. Alloanergization of HLA-mismatched human PBMCs with belatacept resulted in a greater reduction in subsequent alloresponses than alloanergization with first generation CTLA4-Ig. Moreover, subsequent ex vivo re-exposure of alloanergized cells to alloantigen in the absence of belatacept resulted in a significant expansion of Tregs with enhanced alloantigen-specific suppressive function. Alloanergized PBMCs retained functional Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific T-cell responses, and expanded Tregs did not suppress EBV-specific proliferation of autologous cells. These results suggest that ex vivo alloanergization with belatacept provides a platform to engineer populations of recipient Treg with specificity for donor alloantigens but without nonspecific suppressive capacity. The potential advantages of such cells for solid organ transplantation include ( 1 ) reduction of the need for nonspecific immunosuppression, ( 2 ) retention of pathogen-specific immunity, and ( 3 ) control of graft rejection, if used as an intervention.
Alginate Scaffolds for Mesenchymal Stem Cell Cardiac Therapy: Influence of Alginate Composition
Authors: Ceccaldi Caroline , Fullana Sophie Girod , Alfarano Chiara , Lairez Olivier , Calise Denis , Cussac Daniel , Parini Angelo , Sallerin Brigitte
Published: November 2012

Despite the success of alginate scaffolds and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) therapy in cardiac failure treatment, the impact of the physicochemical environment provided by alginate matrices on cell behavior has never been investigated. The purpose of this work was double: to determine the alginate composition influence on ( 1 ) encapsulated rat MSC viability, paracrine activity, and phenotype in vitro and ( 2 ) cardiac implantability and in vivo biocompatibility of patch shape scaffolds. Two alginates, differing in composition and thus presenting different mechanical properties when hydrogels, were characterized. In both cases, encapsulated MSC viability was maintained at around 75%, and their secretion characteristics were retained 28 days postencapsulation. In vivo study revealed a high cardiac compatibility of the tested alginates: cardiac parameters were maintained, and rats did not present any sign of infection. Moreover, explanted hydrogels appeared surrounded by a vascularized tissue. However, scaffold implantability was highly dependent on alginate composition. G-type alginate patches, presenting higher elastic and Young moduli than M-type alginate patches, showed a better implantation easiness and were the only ones that maintained their shape and morphology in vivo. As a consequence of alginate chemical composition and resulting hydrogel structuration, G-type alginate hydrogels appear to be more adapted for cardiac implantation.
Effects of Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Labeling on Human Endothelial Cells
Authors: Yang Fu-Yuan , Yu Ming-Xi , Zhou Quan , Chen Wen-Li , Gao Peng , Huang Zheng
Published: November 2012

Iron oxide nanoparticles (INOPS) are a potential contrast agent for magnetic resonance (MR) tracking of transplanted endothelial cells. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of INOPS labeling on endothelial cells. The mixture of INOPS and poly-l-lysine (PLL) was used to label human endothelial cells. Labeling efficiency was examined by Prussian blue staining, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic absorption spectrometry. The effect of iron oxide concentration on cell viability and proliferation were determined. The correlation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis was also examined. In vitro MRI scanning was carried out using a 1.5T MR system. INOPS-PLL could be readily taken up by endothelial cells and subsequently induce MRI signal intensity changes. However, higher labeling concentration (>50 μg/ml) and longer incubation (48 h) can affect cell viability and proliferation. Mitochondrial damage, apoptosis, and autolysosmes were observed under high INOPS-PLL concentrations, which were correlated to ROS production. INOPS-PLL nanoparticles can be used to label transplanted endothelial cells. However, high concentration of INOPS can impair cell viability, possibly through ROS-mediated apoptosis and autophagy.
How Do Weather Conditions Influence Leisure Traffic? Evidence from Michigan and Implications for Climate Change
Authors: Shih Charles , Nicholls Sarah
Published: November 2012

Understanding of the nature of the relationship between weather conditions and participation in outdoor recreation and tourism remains relatively limited, despite the need to better comprehend these dynamics in order to prepare for the implications of projected increases in climate
variability and climate change. This study addressed this gap through quantification of the relationships between daily weather conditions and leisure traffic activity throughout the US state of Michigan. Using a double-log model, daily leisure traffic counts were regressed against three sets
of independent variables—weather conditions, economic conditions, and the availability of leisure time—across the four seasons. Daily maximum temperature had a statistically significant, positive effect on tourism traffic in spring, summer, and fall, with a slightly less pronounced
impact in winter. Precipitation, in contrast, had a minimal impact on leisure traffic in spring, summer, and fall, but a negative impact in winter. These findings have implications not only for the current management and marketing of Michigan outdoor recreation and tourism providers, but also
for the potential adaptation strategies they might consider adopting under conditions of climate change. In order to best capitalize on the opportunities presented by the changing climate, providers are advised to consider factors such as changing season length and diversification into additional,
year-round activities and facilities. For winter sports providers, the ability to make snow will become increasingly critical.
INVESTIGATION OF THE PHYSICAL-MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF TIMBER USING ULTRASOUND EXAMINATION
Authors: Teder Marko , Pilt Kalle , Miljan Matis , Pallav Vello , Miljan Jaan
Published: November 2012

This research uses a non-destructive method – ultrasound – to examine timber, combining the results of measurement with the properties of strength and stiffness. The purpose of this work is to explore the possibilities of grading wood structure in situ using ultrasound measurements, specifically, the moisture content and density of the timber. The timber used in these experiments was taken from existing buildings of different ages. The potential of replacing direct measurements with indirect measurements by ultrasound was also investigated. The physical-mechanical properties of wood were determined in laboratory conditions according to standard practices, and the method of non-destructive measurements was based on a commercial test device based on 54 kHz compressional wave 50 mm diameter ultrasound transducers. Direct measurements were performed in the longitudinal and radial material directions. Indirect measurements were performed with transducers positioned on the same lateral surface of the sample. A weak correlation was found with-in the different measurements. Longitudinal measurements characterise bending strength with R2 = 0.18 and modulus of elasticity with R2 = 0.37. In multiple regression analysis, stronger correlations were found; prediction equations of bending strength and modulus of elasticity were found with R2 = 0.40 and R2 = 0.81, respectively.
Les agences de notation
Authors: Collard Fabienne
Published: November 2012

Il y a quelques années encore, les agences de notation financière étaient inconnues du grand public. Les trois plus importantes d’entre elles, les anglo-saxonnes Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s et Fitch Ratings, existent pourtant depuis plus d’un siècle. Ce sont les récentes crises économiques et financières, dont celle des subprimes aux États-Unis et celle de la dette dans l’Union européenne, qui les ont placées sur le devant de la scène. Aujourd’hui, les agences de notation sont la cible de multiples critiques, qui les accusent notamment d’imposer leurs diktats aux marchés et aux États. Certains médias et dirigeants politiques leur imputent une part de responsabilité dans les maux qui frappent l’économie mondiale. Pour leur part, les agences se défendent en se présentant comme de simples « thermomètres » de la conjoncture, et en affirmant avoir pour seule ambition de fournir des avis, que les investisseurs sont libres de suivre ou non. L’objectif du présent Courrier hebdomadaire est de distinguer légendes et réalités, et en particulier de cerner le véritable pouvoir des agences de notation. Pour cela, il présente les rouages de ces institutions : fonctionnement interne, activités, mode de financement, réglementations, configuration du secteur, projets pour l’avenir… Sur les décisions politiques, l’influence des agences s’avère ténue, même si certains dirigeants instrumentalisent les notations afin de servir leurs intérêts. Sur les marchés en revanche, l’impact des agences est bien réel, le recours aux notes étant depuis longtemps devenu une pratique incontournable. Un nombre croissant d’acteurs jugeant cette situation problématique, Fabienne Collard rappelle quelles alternatives sont actuellement en chantier.
Short-Term Generation Scheduling Solved with a Particle Swarm Optimizer
Authors: Mateus Víctor Hugo Hinojosa , Rojas Cristhoper Leyton
Published: November 2012

In this chapter, a particle swarm optimizer is applied to solve the problem of short-term Hydrothermal Generation Scheduling Problem – one day to one week in advance. The optimization problems have been formulated taking into account binary and real variables (water discharge rates and thermal states of the units). This proposal is based on a strategy to generate and keep the decision variables on feasible space through the correction operators, which were applied to each constraint. Such operators not only improve the quality of the final solutions, but also significantly improve the convergence of the search process due to the use of feasible solutions. The results and effectiveness of the proposed technique are compared to those previously discussed in the literature such as PSO, GA, and DP, among others.
Building an Expert-System for Maritime Container Security Risk Management
Authors: Boukachour Jaouad , Fredouet Charles-Henri , Gningue Mame Bigué
Published: November 2012

Until lately, transportation risk management has mostly dealt with natural or man-made accidental disasters. The September 11th tragedy has made transportation operators, as well as shippers and public authorities, aware of a new type of risk, man-made and intentional. Securing global transportation networks has become an important concern for governments, practitioners and academics. In the current time-based competition context, securing transportation operations should not be sought at the expense of time effectiveness in physical and informational flow processing. In this paper, the authors describe a project for the design of an expert-system dedicated to maritime container security risk management, present a literature review on decision-support systems dedicated to transportation risk management, and discuss the various steps of expertise modeling in a transportation risk management context.
IT-Based Classification for Supply Chain Coordination Mechanisms
Authors: Ghahremani Fereshteh , Tarokh Mohammad Jafar
Published: November 2012

Managing dependencies via coordination is an effective solution for the problems that arise from these interdependencies in supply chains. This can be practical via a set of methods called coordination mechanisms. Numerous coordination mechanisms have been discussed before in literature. This paper develops a new classification of these mechanisms on the basis of information technology (IT) impact on them. This classification proves the important role of IT in better coordinating supply chains and help managers distinguish between coordination mechanisms that are created and improved by information technology and thus lead them to have the best choice based on their infrastructures and organization type.
Configuration of Mike21 for the simulation of nearshore storm waves, currents and sediment transport: Brackley Bight, Prince Edward Island
Authors: Manson G K
Published: November 2012

The North Shore of Prince Edward Island (PEI) is a sandy, multi-barred coast with limited fetch in most directions but open to the Gulf of St. Lawrence for several hundred kilometres to the north. In the fall and winter, storms tracking northwards across PEI and
into the Gulf can bring sustained storm waves which generate currents capable of transporting sand in both the along- and across-shore directions. Mike21 is a commercially available combined wave, hydrodynamic and sand transport model that may be utilised to improve understanding of contemporary
sand transport and possible implications of changing climate in the Brackley Bight area of the North Shore. This manuscript describes the development of a Mike21 model domain and optimal configurations of the Mike21 Spectral Wave, Hydrodynamic and Sand Transport modules appropriate to the study
area. The sensitivities of several parameters in each module are tested. The Spectral Wave and Hydrodynamic modules are sensitive to estimates of bed roughness with optimal values considerably lower than published semi-empirical estimates. The Sand Transport module is sensitive to the input sediment
transport tables and estimates of the maximum amount of vertical bed level change per day. Simulation of a 4-day moderate northeasterly storm is conducted and the results are compared to currents, waves, and tides measured by S4 current meters and the instrumented seabed lander RALPH during a
sediment transport experiment in 1999. The model successfully simulates storm waves and currents and provides reasonable estimates of the amount and patterns of sediment transport.
Foraging and feeding by bat-eared foxes Otocyon megalotis in the southwestern Kalahari
Authors: Nel J.A.J.
Published: November 2012

Bat-eared foxes Otocyon megalotis feed in pairs or groups of three when utilizing clumped prey in patches, e.g. termites, and cover 0,87-1,28 km/h. When feeding on dispersed prey, e.g. insect larvae, they are widely spaced and cover 0,56-0,83 km/h. Food patches are never re-utilized on the same day. Patch size diameter varied from 6-30 m, and patches were 10 to > 100 m apart, while from 1,17 min to 15 min were spent in patches. There were no significant correlations between patch size and distance moved to next patch, or time spent in a patch and distance moved to next patch, or time spent in a patch and patch size. Patches were seldom (1,6 ) returned to immediately. A male and a female had similar numbers of feeding bouts per sampling period during winter or summer, but when accompanied by cubs the male fed less frequently. The male had significantly longer feeding bouts than the female in winter, with the reverse applying in summer. Within-sex comparisons show that the number of feeding bouts of the male did not vary significantly between winter and summer. Conversely the female showed significant differences in the number but not the duration of feeding bouts in winter and summer. Optimal foraging in this species probably relates to prey profitability, i.e. highest ingestion rate.
Kerkvereniging en Kerkreg: Geskiedenis, beginsel en praktyk
Authors: Hofmeyr J.W.
Published: November 2012

Church unity and church polity: History, principle and practice In  this  article  the  need for  a  clearer focus  on  the  history,  principles  and practice  of  church  polity  in  the  process  of  church  re-unijication  is addressed.  This  is  specijically focused on  the process  currently under way in  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church  family.  After  an  extensive  discussion  of issues  pertaining  to  the  history, principl~s and practice  of church  polity within  this  church family,  it is  concluded that the process of  re-unijication need to be implemented with the necessary urgency, but also with patience.
Die stil van my verlange na God: Oor Johann Wihelm Herrmann se verstaan van die ervaring van God
Authors: Veldsman D.P.
Published: November 2012

Quenching  my  thirst  for  God:  On  Johann  Wilhelm  Herrmann's understanding of  the experience of God This  article,  which  is divided into  two parts, focusses on  the concept of  the "experience  of God"  as  understood by  the  German  systematic  theologian Wilhelm  Herrmann  (1846  - 1922)  of Marburg  in  his  "Der  Verkehr  des Christen  mit  Gott"  (1886).  The  first  part  of  the  article  explains  the historical and theological context of Herrmann's  "Der Verkehr  ... n  as well as  the  theological  frontiers  over  against  which  he  responded  in  his understanding  of the  experience  of God.  For  Herrmann,  this  experience can  not  be  justified  by  means  of historical  investigation.  Neither  is  this experience a  "holding for true" of  doctrines nor has  it its origin  in humans themselves,  but  is  rather  a  "search-find-experience"  of  the  overwhelming "image  of  Jesus"  in  God's  revelatory  engagement with  humanity.  If,  and only  if,  we search for the  gracious God wholeheartedly,  can he himself  be found and not one or other doctrine  or gift of God.  The  second part of  the article  elaborates  on  this  "search-find-experience"  by  humans  of God as understood by Herrmann,  and indicates the  influence it had on Herrmann's two greatest pupils,  namely Karl Barth  and Rudolf Bultmann.  It  is argued that  Herrmann's  understanding  of the  experience  of God  makes  up  the kernel of  their  theological  vantage points,  and in  this  respect,  is  critically evaluated.
The Ideal of Brevitas et Facilitas: The Theological Hermeneutics of John Calvin
Authors: Ahn M.J.
Published: November 2012

Calvin presented his own distinctive method of the hermeneutics of Scripture in his Commentary on the Epistle of Paul, the Apostle, to the Romans. It is called the ideal of brevitas et facilitas. Calvin was not satisfied with both Malanchthon's loci method and Bucer's prolixity commentary. He took a via media approach. Calvin's method was influenced by rhetoric of Aristotle, Cicero, Quintilian and Chrysostom. Calvin, however, confirmed that his own principle came from Scripture itself. I deal with Calvin's view that the clarity of Scripture was related to the ideal of brevitas et facilitas. After analyzing Calvin's writing, I discovered ten component elements of the method of brevitas et facilitas.
Postmodernism and the hermeneutical challenge: some theological reflections
Authors: Pillay G.J.
Published: November 2012

How can one achieve the critical tension between contextual relevance in a post-modem world and "responsibility before history"? What is the justification for theological method as critical reflection within a tradition? What is the relation between ground texts that have historical authority (Scripture), the infonning tradition of interpretation of these texts (Church History), and the interpretive communities that read them (context)? Raising these questions, the article argues that for all its useful insights, postmodemism fundamentally challenges theological (and historical) reflection. Theology has always contextualised itself ever since its origins. What is different in this encounter is that we are dealing with an intractable ideology that not only undercuts the fundamentals but disallows the "long view" (the infonning and continually renewing tradition) and the communicativeness of theology (proclamation).
Ou Testamentiese literatuur uit die Noordryk (Israel) - Die neerslag van noordelike tradisies in die Ou Testament
Authors: Boshoff W.S.
Published: November 2012

Old Testament literature from the Northern Kingdom (Israel): The presence of northern traditions in the Old Testament The literature originating from the Northern Kingdom of Israel conveys an important message in terms of the theological themes in the Old Testament. Several of the earliest prophetic characters, such as Elijah, Elisha, Amos and Hosea, were all active in the Northern Kingdom. The political and religious situation of the Northern Kingdom created the context for these prophets, and other authors who shaped the thinking about God in old Israel. There writings can be found in the Pentateuch, Deuteronomy and the Deuteronomistic History, as well as in the books of Amos, Hosea and Deutero-Micha.
Liggaamsimbolisering in Psalm 38
Authors: Coetzee J.H.
Published: November 2012

Symbolism of the human body in Psalm 38 Symbolization of a sick body in an ancient Israelite cultic prayer is the focus of this investigation. This rhetorical strategy aims at creating viable circumstances for survival of the "person" involved in the rhetorical situation. The social and religious environment in which the rhetor experiences his body is one of hostility. The supplicant, deprived of his status in society, symbolizes numerous parts of his body in an extremely negative manner, creating a "dys-appearing" depiction of his body which relates to his negative perceptions and symbolization of society and of God (social and religious bodies). The relevance of this prayer for today lies in the fact that body symbolism provides a means of identification to any- "body" in a similar or related situation to the one described in the psalm.
Vernuwing in Historiese Jesus-Navorsing
Authors: Craffert P.F.
Published: November 2012

The approaches of the Jesus Seminar and the Third Quest to the study of the historical Jesus are compared. Three different aspects are considered: Why is it done?; What is it about? and How is it done? Despite differences, it is shown that on a philosophical and world-view level, they share a similar positivistic historiography and modernist worldview. The main distinction is that theTthird Questers supplement the latter with a supernatural element. Further, it is argued that progress in historical Jesus research cannot be achieved by providing new answers to old questions or by means of mere adjustments to any of these approaches. What is needed is an approach that asks different questions and goes in totally new directions. The outlines of such an approach is sketched.
The ancient Mediterranean values of honour and shame as a hermeneutical procedure: A social-scientific criticism in an African perspective
Authors: Mahlangu E.
Published: November 2012

The life of modern people evolves around economics and all that goes with it, such as labour, production, consumption and possessions. These things do not only motivate many peoples' behaviour, but claim most of their energy and time. Therefore, the organising principle of life of people today is instrumental mastery - the individual's ability to control his or her environment, personal and impersonal, to attain a qualityorientated success: wealth, ownership, "good looks" proper grades, and all countable indications of success. But, in the first century Mediterranean world, economics was not the be-all and end-all. People worked primarily to conserve their status and not to gather possessions. Thus, the pivotal values of the first century Mediterranean world was honour and shame. This article looks at how social-scientific critics have attempted to show how the understanding of these values would lead to an understanding and interpretation of the New Testament. In this article the author approaches this paradigm from an African perspective. It is shown that the African interacts and transacts with the New Testament with his/her own value system in which these values are also encountered. This, therefore, makes the reading of the Bible in an African context possible.
Ervaringsgeoriënteerde geloofsoordrag: geloofwaardige waarheid
Authors: Kloppers W C
Published: November 2012

The central question in a theological  communication  theory is the mediation between tradition and experience. How can the reality of God and the reality of human beings be connected on the level of experience? The  transmission of the Christian faith is about the mediation of a symbolic reality, meant to bring about spiritual experience and experience of meaning. Not only the cognitive dimension, but  the affective, emotive, conative, aesthetic and social dimensions have to play an active role. The communication of faith on all levels of experience is thus a sine qua non for theologians and educators of religion. The challenge for theology is to recognize ways  in which experience-driven religious education can be practised.
Publieke pastorale leiers 1: Roeping, werwing, keuring, opleiding, ordening
Authors: Nel Malan
Published: November 2012

In ecclecial circles it is a commonplace to say that the profession of the pastor  is under pressure. Pastors know that and congregations know that. Knowing it in itself does  not change much. However change starts with coming to understanding. In this sense change is in itself a hermeneutical  function. This article is the first of two in which I will explore a way to change the way local churches should assist in the discernment of a call by a member to become officially involved in public ministry within a congregation and, if it exists, a denomination. In this article the background of this  research, the corporate nature of ‘calling’, and ministerial perspectives on calling, recruitment and reviewing will be explored. The second article will explore the implications for theological education as it relates to the teleological core of theological education and recruitment, reviewing (screening), and training respectively.
Jung, the Pentateuch and ethics
Authors: Scheffler Eben
Published: November 2012

This article reflects on the contribution  that can  be made to the interpretation of the Bible by employing the analytical psychology of Carl Jung. After some relevant biographical considerations on Jung, his view of religion and the Bible is briefly considered, followed by a look into Genesis 1-3 in terms of his distinction of archetypes. It is suggested in the conclusion that Jungian psychological Biblical criticism can lead to a changed, but fresh view on the ‘authority’ or influence of the Bible in the lives of (post)modern human beings and their (ethical) behaviour.
Word volgelinge van sommige hedendaagse “profete” mislei en van hulle regte ontneem onder die dekmantel van profesie?
Authors: Pretorius S P
Published: November 2012

Prophets and their prophecies seem to form an integral part of the spirituality of some believers.  A small group of believers in Hertzogville are clinging wholeheartedly to the prediction uttered by their ‘prophet’, a certain David Francis. According to Francis, God gave him a message on 1 July 2004 that the deceased, Paul Meintjies, should not be buried because he would rise from the dead. Francis gave no specific date for the resurrection — God will speak to him when the time is right.  Although Francis could give no specific date, rumours amongst the people in Hertzogville had it that the resurrection would take place on 29 July 2004. This date was later changed to 5 and then to 8 August 2004. Nothing happened on any of these dates. In spite of everything, the followers of Francis still believe that Meintjies will rise from the dead.   In this article the claim of modern day ‘prophet’  and their so-called godly messages are evaluated.  This is done in light of the Biblical prophets. Judging by the actions of his followers, it seems that Francis has gained some sort of control over them, affecting their whole lives.  The prophecy appears to be instrumental in the control he has over his followers. How this ‘control’  over his followers affect their whole lives and in particular their rights is also investigated   The conclusion is that modern ‘prophets’  of the like of Francis gain an unethical control over their followers’  lives through so-called ‘prophecy’. Prophecy interpreted by his followers as ‘God’ s Word’  acts as a powerful instrument in achieving this control. In the process the followers are also denied certain rights according to the country’ s Constitution under the banner of freedom of religion.
Behoort Praktische Theologie tot de Cultural Studies?
Authors: Barnard M
Published: November 2012

In this article the author looks at the relation between Practical Theology and Cultural Studies.  After an introductory section in which it is demonstrated how theology could be seen as an inextricable part of what we call culture itself, the main discussion focuses on a number of fundamental theological remarks regarding the ways and borders between culture, faith and theology. Secondly, a closer look is taken at just what exactly culture is supposed to be. Finally, the place of Practical  Theology amidst other scientfic disciplines is considered.
YHWH and the God of philosophical theology
Authors: Gericke J W
Published: November 2012

In popular orthodox Christian philosophical theology, it is often taken for granted that the divine philosophised about is none other than the Hebrew deity YHWH himself. Moreover , it is often assumed that the Old  Testament depicts YHWH as being, inter alia, single, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and eternal. Now while it is to be admitted that there are indeed depictions of YHWH in the Old Testament in which his profile might be thought of as corresponding more or less to the popular philosophical ideal, it is also true that there are many representations that contradict it. In this article, the author looks at how the popular profile of  YHWH in the Old Testament as reconstructed by some philosophical theologians claiming to be ‘biblical’  is deconstructed when it is juxtaposed with alternative renderings of the divine in the same texts.
Die lyf se troos
Authors: Le Roux JH
Published: November 2012

This article focuses on the body as an ‘instrument’  to console and comfort others. In the early church so much attention was given to the soul and its salvation that the body was neglected. According to the Manichaeans the soul was related to God and separated from the body.  The body on the other hand was so despicable that sensual pleasures could not even defile it more. Augustine integrated soul and body and allowed for sexual enjoyment in marriage but viewed the desire negatively. The rest of the article stresses the point that in times of distress the body of the other can console and relieve one from much stress. Especially in misery and in the daily experience of life’ s meaningless the advice of Ecclesiastes to enjoy ‘life with the wife whom you love’  (9:9) is taken seriously.
Identiteit en seksualiteit in die Nuwe Testament
Authors: Steyn GJ
Published: November 2012

This contribution wants to provide a broad overview of sexuality in the New Testament. It provides broad thematic stripes, picturing the early Christians as sexual beings with a new identity in Christ. Sexuality is a given in the New Testament, but due to their new identity, Christians’ sexuality displays particular features: it expresses its freedom responsibly; is driven by divine love; surrenders sacrificially to the other as Christ did; treats its partner as an equal and not as an object of self satisfaction; distinguishes itself from different cultural practices with an identity of its own; acknowledges the fact that it is part of an incomplete world; respects the identity of the other and despises all kinds of sexual malpractices; believes in forgiveness; and finds its climax ultimately and always in the presence of God.
The structure of John 17
Authors: Wong CH
Published: November 2012

This article proposes a structure for John 17. In paragraph A (1-5), Jesus prays for the glorification/revelation of the Father and the Son, so that Jesus’ followers may have eternal life. This objective is achieved in Paragraph B (6-10) through the giving of God’s words, resulting in the manifestation of Jesus’ glory in them. Paragraphs 3, 4, and 5 contain three petitions: “Keep them in your name” (11-13), “keep them from the evil one” (14-16), and  “sanctify them in the truth” (17-19). The goal of these petitions is that they may be one with God, as the Father and the Son are one (11e, 21a). This request for oneness is repeated in Paragraph 6 (20-23), but here the petition is for all believers. Jesus’ revelation of the Father’s name has brought about oneness, since God’s love and Jesus himself have come to dwell in believers (Paragraph 7 [24-26]).
Die huwelik as ‘instelling van God’ (met implikasies vir gay huwelike)
Authors: De Villiers G
Published: November 2012

This article focuses on marriage. It appears that marriage is in the first place a social cultural institution with legal implications, and not religious by nature. Concepts and practices regarding marriage change along with social and cultural movements. Regarding the twenty first century, a marked shift from patriarchy towards equality has been observed. Marriage practices have changed: the man is no longer sole breadwinner and head of the household, the woman no longer only the pleasing wife and mother to his children. Simultaneously gay relationships are becoming part of social reality. Gay couples express a wish for their relationships to be acknowledged by religious institutions. What does the Bible say? Marriage as ‘ordained’  by God has no biblical foundation, especially not according to the traditionally quoted Genesis 2:18. In the twenty first century the concepts ‘marriage, relationship, sin, sexuality and sex’  need to be revised in order to comply with the biblical demand of love.
Schoonheid als theologisch begrip: Urs von Balthasar’s en Van der Leeuw’s esthetiek kritisch beschouwd
Authors: Stoker W
Published: November 2012

This article will demonstrate why beauty is an important value for the Christian faith. This is done by investigating how beauty has been developed as a theological concept by Hans Urs von Balthasar and Gerardus van der Leeuw. Beauty is an indispensable value because the holy encompasses the beautiful. Beauty belongs to the joy of shalom, to the joy of  the coming Kingdom of God. The argument for beauty deals further with three questions: the relationship between the secular  and the religious experience of beauty; the place of the ugly as a contrast to the beautiful and the question of whether art is only  a matter of contemplating the beautiful or whether art is primarily an instrument and object of action.
Hybrid Identity. Exploring a Dutch Protestant community of faith
Authors: Brouwer R
Published: November 2012

Communities of faith develop their identity in dialogue with changing social and cultural contexts. This article presents a single case of identity formation in a local congregation of the Protestants Church in the Netherlands, in a changing environment. Out of one specific congregational practice, namely the liturgical (non)-affirmation of same-sex marriages, the complexity of identity construction in a plural and diverse congregation is shown. From a qualitative empirical research perspective, the details of a congregational practice are unfolded in an ethnographic, thick description of the identity. All the different aspects and voices with regard to the congregational practice together give shape to an identity gestalt. The outcome of this detailed research into one practice of a community of faith is that identity is under construction. Unambiguous and uniform congregational identities are rare. In this particular case the identity is even diffuse. The church council and the congregation members find it difficult to state their identity in a positive way and to find agreement on that. The ‘hybridisation’ of identity is presented as a concept that can shed some light on the nature of identity formation. In a global world, integrated contexts and integrated cultures and identities no longer exist. Contextualisation is a never-ending process. Hybrid identities are construed out of different fragments. Identity construction results from a process of negotiation. This asks for transparant communication and a constructive dealing with differences. As a community of difference, the church as koinonia receives its identity in dialogue with all who are involved. The outcome of this dialogue should be beneficial to not only the congregation but also to its social and cultural environment.
Ethics and Christology - Rediscovering Jesus in Evolutionary History
Authors: Van Huyssteen J W
Published: November 2012

Ethics and Christology - Rediscovering Jesus in Evolutionary HistoryThe rather perplexing issue of whether and how Christology should relate to Ethics can, for me at least, only be resolved by first asking how exactly, in the case of Jesus, God’s revelation is located not just in history, but specifically in evolutionary history itself. The evolutionary history of our species, as well as those characteristics that we normally see as defining the distinctiveness of Homo sapiens (consciousness, imagination, moral awareness, religious propensities, etc.) should not only directly impact notions of our own embodied personhood, but also what it would mean to understand Jesus’ embodied mind, his consciousness and self-awareness, as defining his personhood. In this sense a focus on the identity of Jesus will shape the ethical relevance of who He was, what He did, what He said, and why we today might feel compelled to follow that example.
A multi-instrument comparison of integrated water vapour measurements at a high latitude site
Authors: Buehler S. A. , Östman S. , Melsheimer C. , Holl G. , Eliasson S. , John V. O. , Blumenstock T. , Hase F. , Elgered G. , Raffalski U. , Nasuno T. , Satoh M. , Milz M. , Mendrok J.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. We compare measurements of integrated water vapour (IWV) over a subarctic site (Kiruna, Northern Sweden) from five different sensors and retrieval methods: Radiosondes, Global Positioning System (GPS), ground-based Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, ground-based microwave radiometer, and satellite-based microwave radiometer (AMSU-B). Additionally, we compare also to ERA-Interim model reanalysis data. GPS-based IWV data have the highest temporal coverage and resolution and are chosen as reference data set. All datasets agree reasonably well, but the ground-based microwave instrument only if the data are cloud-filtered. We also address two issues that are general for such intercomparison studies, the impact of different lower altitude limits for the IWV integration, and the impact of representativeness error. We develop methods for correcting for the former, and estimating the random error contribution of the latter. A literature survey reveals that reported systematic differences between different techniques are study-dependent and show no overall consistent pattern. Further improving the absolute accuracy of IWV measurements and providing climate-quality time series therefore remain challenging problems.