bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
'A MIGHTY OBSTACLE TO THE GOSPEL': BASEL MISSIONARIES, KROBO WOMEN, AND CONFLICTING IDEAS OF GENDER AND SEXUALITY
Authors: Steegstra Marijke 
Published: September 2002

AbstractTo this day, the Krobo people in highly Christianised Southern Ghana celebrate their annual girls' initiation rites (dipo). However, the rites have been a much contested matter ever since the arrival of the Basel missionaries, who strongly objected to dipo. In this paper, I investigate the 19th-century encounter between the Basel missionaries and the Krobo by focusing on dipo. An ethno-historical analysis of dipo provides a valuable entry point into investigating the interaction of the mission with Krobo people, and issues of mission, gender, and identity. The striking intersection between 'traditional' Krobo and the Basel missionaries' concerns was women's sexuality and morality. Their conflicting ideas about gender and sexuality are the key to answering the question why one of the most lingering conflicts originating from missionary attempts to redefine the life-patterns of the Krobo revolves around the dipo rites.
'POGMINGA'—THE 'PROPER DAGARA WOMAN': AN ENCOUNTER BETWEEN CHRISTIAN THOUGHT AND DAGARA CONCEPTS
Authors: Behrends Andrea 
Published: September 2002

AbstractTo retain respect among members of their own society, urban professional women originating from northern Ghana maintain a rural concept of proper women. This article explores how, historically, both Catholic missionaries and the Dagara people changed this concept. To the women, the ability to speak their minds and be self-confident, attributes accorded to the concept mainly by the Catholic women's orders, help them in their professional careers. In meetings with their own people, they still know how to revert to the quiet, reserved and humble person that a woman from their home area is supposed to be, at least in public.
DEVELOPING FAITH: THEOLOGIES OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN ZIMBABWE
Authors: Bornstein Erica 
Published: September 2002

AbstractThis paper analyzes the role of religious faith in the work of two Christian NGOs involved in economic development in Zimbabwe, World Vision and Christian Care. While economic development is rarely analyzed in terms of religious ideas, this essay explores the religious aspects of development for employees of Christian NGOs and recipients of their development assistance. Uniting development and evangelism, employees of Christian NGOs articulate faith through concepts of 'holism', 'lifestyle evangelism', and prayer. These ideas and practices permeate institutional directives, the experiences of NGO workers, and the communities they serve. The essay compares what faith means to communities being 'developed' at project sites in rural Zimbabwe with faith as it is exercised alongside administrative power in NGO offices. It demonstrates how faith structures the initiatives and interpretation of economic development, and traces what is religious about development for NGO employees and for the rural communities they assist.
THE 'INVISIBLE' NGO: US EVANGELICAL MISSIONS IN KENYA
Authors: Hearn Julie 
Published: September 2002

AbstractThis article argues that the beginning of the new millennium marks not the end of the missionary era but its high point. Critical changes have taken place in international development policy, resulting in a smaller role for the state and a greater role for non-state agencies, including NGOs. In Kenya, American evangelical missions constitute one of the most important of these groups, but their significance is overlooked, hence they are described as 'invisible'. The article examines the role of missions as implementers of the New Policy Agenda in Kenya, focusing on five organisations and their involvement in such matters as health care, AIDS, family planning and food security. It enriches our understanding of the contemporary role of mission-related Christianity in Africa, and explores the relationship between American evangelical missions and the international aid regime.
AN AMBIGUOUS ADVENTURE: MUSLIM ORGANISATIONS AND THE DISCOURSE OF 'DEVELOPMENT' IN SENEGAL
Authors: Renders Marleen 
Published: September 2002

AbstractThe article explores how the process of appropriating the discourse of 'development' by Muslim organisations and 'NGOs' might be a factor in the construction of new forms/contexts of Muslim political participation in Senegal. By promoting 'Islamic development', Muslim organisations have moved into a discursive field that was previously the fief of the secular state. It is shown how the discourse of 'development' and 'Islam' and the interplay between them are functional in the context of competition and negotiation amongst political actors in Senegal. The result observed is very complex and multifaceted. By claiming 'Islamic development' and playing with the content of these two concepts according to the powerpolitical context, 'Muslim' organisations and personalities claim political space from the 'secular' state as well as from each other.
REORGANISING SOCIAL WELFARE AMONG MUSLIMS: ISLAMIC VOLUNTARISM AND OTHER FORMS OF COMMUNAL SUPPORT IN NORTHERN GHANA
Authors: Weiss Holger 
Published: September 2002

AbstractDuring the second half of the twentieth century the contribution of Muslim NGOs in providing basic social welfare became a significant feature in Ghana. However, none of the Muslim NGOs are able to finance their projects themselves but rely on foreign financial assistance. On the other hand, Ghanaian Muslim scholars have argued for the need to develop zakāt, the locally collected obligatory alms, into a fully-fledged welfare system. At the moment, this is not the case. On the other hand, there exists a local tradition of mutual support and tributary relations in Ghana, which is at least by some Muslims identified as being as efficient in providing social welfare. This article discusses the link between communal support and the provision of social welfare through Muslim NGOs and especially zak t in today's Northern Ghana.
CONVERSION TO HISTORY: NEGATING EXILE AND MESSIANISM IN AL-SAMAW'AL AL-MAGHRIBĪ'S POLEMIC AGAINST JUDAISM
Authors: Husain Adnan 
Published: September 2002

AbstractThis article examines the autobiographical narrative and polemical treatise of a twelfth century Jewish convert to Islam. Samaw'al al-Maghribī's writings contend with the problems of reconciling exilic Jewish identity during the diaspora with the dominant Muslim high culture in which Jews participated. In particular, his autobiography reveals the profound importance for his conversion of his identitification with Muslim history as represented in historical literature that promoted an ideological vision of the past. Similarly, his polemic articulates a critique of Judaism and Jewish religious identity in remarkably historicist terms that associate the integrity of religious culture with an independent political power. Educated in Islamicate scientific and philosophical culture, Samaw'al privileges a culturally defined conception of "reason" over genealogical links and identifies with the political success of Islamic civilization. His writings exemplify the dynamic tension within Jewish exilic identity between conversion and messianism as resolutions to the conflicts of minority status. In choosing conversion, he denied the endless wait for the Messiah as an irrational failure to recognize the judgments of history.
VIRTUAL SACRALITY: MAKING MUSLIM SYRIA SACRED BEFORE THE CRUSADES
Authors: Cobb Paul 
Published: September 2002

AbstractThis study uses the Kitāb fadā'il al-shām wa-dimashq (The Book of the Virtues of Syria and Damascus) of 'Alīibn Muhammad al-Raba'ī (d. 1052) as an archive of Muslim traditions about Syria's sacred status that were circulated throughout the early Islamic period (seventh to eleventh centuries). In order to make the claims in these traditions believable, the early Muslim scholars who circulated them invoked both explicit textual authorities and implicit rhetorical techniques. The methods by which these early Muslims claimed Syria as sacred space are briefly compared to strategies used in medieval Europe.
BETWEEN NATIONALISM AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES: AN EXAMINATION OF MODERN SCHOLARSHIP ON THE 'ABBĀSID CIVIL WAR AND THE REIGN OF AL-MA'MŪN
Authors: Yucesoy Hayrettin 
Published: September 2002

AbstractThis article attempts to examine the modern historical constructions of the 'Abbāsid Civil War, and the reign of the caliph al-Ma'mūn in the early ninth century C.E. This article argues that concepts such as nationalism, sectarianism, historical positivism, center-periphery relations, realpolitik and political pragmatism have created questionable categories into which this era is molded. However, such categories which draw their legitimacy from orientalist, nationalist and social-scientistic discourses reflect, despite their contributions to our knowledge and understanding, more accurately current models than the early Islamic era's own issues. This article hopes then to address the thorny issues of methodological consciousness and identity of the observer.
TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES: JUAN DE SEGOVIA ON ISLAM AND CONCILIARISM
Authors: Mann Jesse 
Published: September 2002

AbstractThe fifteenth-century Spanish theologian Juan de Segovia is known primarily as a leading proponent of late medieval conciliarism and, to a lesser degree, as an advocate of peaceful resolution to Christian-Muslim conflict. Scholars who have studied Segovia's Islamicism have generally emphasized his originality and his progressive approach. As a corrective to this justifiable view, the present article outlines the traditional elements in Segovia's portrayal of Islam, because these elements constitute rather an obstacle to Segovia's own pacifistic approach. In addition, this article suggests a connection between Segovia's Islamicism and his conciliarism that hinges on the notion of truth. It is argued that Segovia's university background provides the crucial context for his understanding of truth, and thus for his views on ecclesiological as well as inter-religious conflict.
Are immunoglobulin E levels associated with early wheezing? A prospective study in Brazilian infants
Authors: Lopez N. , de Barros-Mazon S. , Marluce dos Santos Vilela M. , Condino Neto A. , Ribeiro J.D. 
Published: September 2002

The relationship between wheezing or asthma and serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E levels in early life is unclear. The aim of this study was to follow-up the IgE immune response in infants that did, or did not, develop recurrent wheezing during their first year of life.One-hundred and two randomised term neonates were included, in which IgE levels were quantified in cord blood samples, at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age. Specific IgE levels for food and inhalant allergens and the skin-prick test for inhalant allergens were also assessed at 6 and 12 months.During clinical follow-up, 32 (31%) infants presented with two or more wheezing episodes, while 70 (69%) had no wheezing. Total IgE levels were significantly higher up to 12 months in wheezing infants when compared to nonwheezing group. At 12 months, the specific IgE levels to cow's milk, egg white and mites were higher in infants with recurrent wheezing. There was no influence of family history for atopy on IgE levels. The skin-prick tests were positive in 14% and 23% in wheezing infants at 6 and 12 months, respectively.These results indicate an early allergic sensitisation in wheezing infants, suggesting an altered immunoregulatory T-cell role in immunoglobulin E production.
Effects of controlled inspiratory muscle training in patients with COPD: a meta-analysis
Authors: Lötters F. , van Tol B. , Kwakkel G. , Gosselink R. 
Published: September 2002

The purpose of this meta-analysis is to review studies investigating the efficacy of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and to find out whether patient characteristics influence the efficacy of IMT.A systematic literature search was performed using the Medline and Embase databases. On the basis of a methodological framework, a critical review was performed and summary effect-sizes were calculated by applying fixed and random effects models.Both IMT alone and IMT as adjunct to general exercise reconditioning significantly increased inspiratory muscle strength and endurance. A significant effect was found for dyspnoea at rest and during exercise. Improved functional exercise capacity tended to be an additional effect of IMT alone and as an adjunct to general exercise reconditioning, but this trend did not reach statistical significance. No significant correlations were found for training effects with patient characteristics. However, subgroup analysis in IMT plus exercise training revealed that patients with inspiratory muscle weakness improved significantly more compared to patients without inspiratory muscle weakness.From this review it is concluded that inspiratory muscle training is an important addition to a pulmonary rehabilitation programme directed at chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with inspiratory muscle weakness. The effect on exercise performance is still to be determined.
A randomised clinical trial of nebulised tobramycin or colistin in cystic fibrosis
Authors: Hodson M.E. , Gallagher C.G. , Govan J.R.W. 
Published: September 2002

Chronic infection withPseudomonas aeruginosais associated with progressive deterioration in lung function in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The purpose of this trial was to assess the efficacy and safety of tobramycin nebuliser solution (TNS) and nebulised colistin in CF patients chronically infected withP. aeruginosa.One-hundred and fifteen patients, aged ≥6 yrs, were randomised to receive either TNS or colistin, twice daily for 4 weeks. The primary end point was an evaluation of the relative change in lung function from baseline, as measured by forced expiratory volume in one second % predicted. Secondary end points included changes in sputumP. aeruginosadensity, tobramycin/colistin minimum inhibitory concentrations and safety assessments.TNS produced a mean 6.7% improvement in lung function (p=0.006), whilst there was no significant improvement in the colistin-treated patients (mean change 0.37%). Both nebulised antibiotic regimens produced a significant decrease in the sputumP. aeruginosadensity, and there was no development of highly resistant strains over the course of the study. The safety profile for both nebulised antibiotics was good.Tobramycin nebuliser solution significantly improved lung function of patients with cystic fibrosis chronically infected withPseudomonas aeruginosa, but colistin did not, in this study of 1-month's duration. Both treatments reduced the bacterial load.
Inspiratory neural drive response to hypoxia adequately estimates peripheral chemosensitivity in OSAHS patients
Authors: García-Río F. , Pino J.M. , Ramirez T. , Alvaro D. , Alonso A. , Villasante C. , Villamor J. 
Published: September 2002

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationships between the responses to progressive isocapnic hypoxia and hypoxic withdrawal test in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) and to analyse the determinants of carotid body sensitivity in OSAHS.Nineteen consecutive OSAHS patients and 13 healthy subjects were selected. Ventilatory (ΔV′I/Sa,O2/BSA) and inspiratory neural drive (ΔP0.1/Sa,O2) responses to progressive isocapnic hypoxia were determined. Peripheral chemosensitivity was evaluated by the hypoxic withdrawal test, which measures the decrease in ventilation caused by two breaths of 100% oxygen (%ΔV′I).Withdrawal response and ventilatory and inspiratory neural drive responses to hypoxia were lower in OSAHS patients than in control subjects. In patients with OSAHS, %ΔV′Icorrelated significantly with ΔV′I/Sa,O2/BSA and with ΔP0.1/Sa,O2. On stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, a strong correlation between %ΔV′Iand ΔP0.1/Sa,O2was found. Moreover, %ΔV′I, ΔV′I/Sa,O2/BSA and ΔP0.1/Sa,O2were significantly correlated with minimum arterial oxygen saturation and with arousal index.Obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome patients have a strong relationship between peripheral chemosensitivity and respiratory response to hypoxia, suggesting that hypoxic stimulation of central chemoreceptors is minimally relevant in obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome. Moreover, sensitivity of the carotid body in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome is related to sleep disruption and to nocturnal hypoxia.
Arousability in sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome patients
Authors: Dingli K. , Fietze I. , Assimakopoulos T. , Quispe-Bravo S. , Witt C. , Douglas N.J. 
Published: September 2002

Sleep disruption and daytime sleepiness in obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) patients result from recurrent apnoeas/hypopnoeas and arousals from sleep. Around 30% of apnoeas/hypopnoeas are not terminated by visible cortical arousals. The current authors tested the hypotheses that arousal induction is linked to sleep stage, oxygen desaturation, event type, event duration and time of occurrence during the night.Fifteen patients with OSAHS of varying severity were studied and all their apnoeas/hypopnoeas were evaluated.Eight of 15 patients had apnoeas/hypopnoeas in all sleep stages, and all their 610 apnoeas/hypopnoeas were analysed in the between stages comparison; data from all 15 patients were included in other comparisons. Thirty-four per cent of apnoeas/hypopnoeas during slow wave sleep (SWS) were associated with arousal, significantly less than the 77% during nonrapid eye movement (NREM) 1 and 2 and 62% during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Arousal induction was not affected by oxygen desaturation, event type, duration or time of the night. The apnoea/hypopnoea index was 39·h−1in NREM 1 and 2, significantly higher compared to 17·h−1in REM or to 11·h−1in SWS sleep.In conclusion, apnoeas/hypopnoeas in slow wave sleep are associated with fewer cortically apparent, visually detected arousals.
Asthma in children exposed to nitrogen dioxide in ice arenas
Authors: Thunqvist P. , Lilja G. , Wickman M. , Pershagen G. 
Published: September 2002

Very high concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) have been measured in arenas using combustion engine-powered resurfacing machines. This study was performed to compare the occurrence of asthma in children playing ice hockey in arenas using propane-powered machines and in children attending arenas using electric machines.Children regularly playing hockey in the arenas (nine propane, six electric) were sent a questionnaire, including questions on allergic disease and risk factors. Measurements of NO2were performed with passive diffusion samplers during 3 consecutive days.The mean NO2concentration in the propane arenas was 276 µg·m−3(range 28–1015 µg·m−3) and 11 µg·m−3(2–30) in the electric arenas. Questionnaires were answered by 1,536 children (78%), with an overall prevalence of asthma of 16%. The odds ratio (OR) for asthma was 0.9 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7–1.2) comparing propane arenas to electric. However, children in propane arenas with higher than median concentration of NO2reported more wheezing (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0–1.9) and nasal symptoms (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.3–2.3) than children in propane arenas with lower concentrations.In conclusion, children playing ice hockey in indoor arenas have a high prevalence of asthma, but it appears unlikely that increased exposure to combustion products, including nitrogen dioxide, is a major contributor to this excess risk.
Increased expression of nuclear factor-κB in bronchial biopsies from smokers and patients with COPD
Authors: Di Stefano A. , Caramori G. , Oates T. , Capelli A. , Lusuardi M. , Gnemmi I. , Ioli F. , Chung K.F. , Donner C.F. , Barnes P.J. , Adcock I.M. 
Published: September 2002

The expression of nuclear factor (NF)-κB is an indicator of cellular activation and of inflammatory mediator production. The aim of the present study was to characterise the expression and localisation of p65, the major subunit of NF-κB, in the bronchial mucosa of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to examine the relationship between p65 expression and disease status.Bronchial biopsies were obtained from 14 smokers with COPD, 17 smokers with normal lung function and 12 nonsmokers with normal lung function. The number of p65 positive (+) cells was quantified by immunohistochemistry and the expression of p65 in bronchial biopsies from the three groups was examined by Western blotting (WB).Smokers with normal lung function and patients with COPD had increased numbers of p65+ cells in the epithelium and increased p65 nuclear expression. In COPD patients the number of epithelial p65+ cells correlated with the degree of airflow limitation. WB analysis showed an increase in p65 in smokers with normal lung function and COPD patients (p<0.05).Bronchial biopsies in smokers with normal lung function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients show increased expression of p65 protein, predominantly in the bronchial epithelium. Disease severity is associated with an increased epithelial expression of nuclear factor-κB.
iNOS depletion completely diminishes reactive nitrogen-species formation after an allergic response
Authors: Koarai A. , Ichinose M. , Sugiura H. , Tomaki M. , Watanabe M. , Yamagata S. , Komaki Y. , Shirato K. , Hattori T. 
Published: September 2002

Nitric oxide (NO) shows proinflammatory actions mainlyviareactive nitrogen species (RNS) formation through superoxide- and peroxidase-dependent mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in RNS production, airway hyperresponsiveness, and inflammation after allergen challenge.Ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitised, iNOS-deficient and wild-type mice were used. RNS production was assessed by nitrotyrosine (NT) immunoreactivity in the airways. Airway inflammation and responsiveness were evaluated by eosinophil accumulation and methacholine (i.v.) challenge, respectively.In wild-type mice, OVA-inhalation challenge increased iNOS immunoreactivity in airway epithelial cells as well as iNOS protein measured by Western blotting. The total amounts of nitrite and nitrate in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were increased, and NT immunoreactivity was also observed abundantly in airway inflammatory cells. In iNOS-deficient mice, both iNOS expression and NT formation were completely abolished, and the total amounts of nitrite and nitrate in BAL fluid were significantly decreased. In contrast, OVA-induced airway eosinophil recruitment and hyperresponsiveness were observed almost equally in wild-type and iNOS-deficient mice.These data suggest that reactive nitrogen species production after allergic reaction occurs totallyviainducible nitric oxide synthase-dependent pathways. Allergen-mediated airway eosinophil recruitment and hyperresponsiveness appear to be independent of reactive nitrogen species production.