Theodicy and Execution for Expiation in 2 Samuel 21:1-14

Problem The execution of Saul’s descendants in 2 Sam 21:1-14 has long been interpreted as resulting from David’s succession motives, and may appear to be posthumous ruler punishment, expiation on Saul’s behalf, or an error in judgment on David’s part in whom to turn to in order to know what to do in this case. In addition, the delay in justice until David’s reign for something that Saul had done is puzzling. Method Analysis of the Hebrew text, comparison between ANE and biblical homicide law, examination of the sociological structure of the ANE family, examination of the characters of Saul and David, and intertextual analysis of Scripture contribute to a clearer understanding of the roles of the characters and how justice was achieved. Conclusions Close examination of the text and its cultural background reveals that Saul’s descendants died for inheritable corporate culpability that polluted the land as a result of his mass murder that violated an oath taken in YHWH’s name. The narrative begins with a famine and ends with the phrase God “was moved by prayer for the land,” which appears to give approval to the actions that precede it. This narrative demonstrates that restoration of justice is necessary for healing of the land. By delaying the famine until the reign of David, who enjoyed a positive relationship with God himself, God facilitated the limitation of retributive justice to a few responsible individuals

The Institute of Archaeology & Siegfried H. Horn Museum Newsletter Volume 28.3

Jalul 2007, Randall W. Younker Ibrahim Lecture, Carrie Rhodes Ortiz Lecture, Carrie Rhodes Random Surveyhttps://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/iaham-news/1031/thumbnail.jp

The Institute of Archaeology & Siegfried H. Horn Museum Newsletter Volume 28.2

Institute/Museum Update, Paul J. Ray, Jr. Clark Lecture, Carrie Rhodes Research, Paul J. Ray, Jr. Random Surveyhttps://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/iaham-news/1030/thumbnail.jp

The Institute of Archaeology & Siegfried H. Horn Museum Newsletter Volume 27.4

Spring Study Tour, Paul J. Ray, Jr. Tappy Lecture, Carrie Rhodes Drehem Archive, Paola Paoletti Random Surveyhttps://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/iaham-news/1028/thumbnail.jp

The Institute of Archaeology & Siegfried H. Horn Museum Newsletter Volume 28.4

Jordan Conference in Washington, Paul J. Ray, Jr. Wolff Lecture, Carrie Rhodes Barkay Lecture, Owen Chesnuthttps://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/iaham-news/1032/thumbnail.jp

The Institute of Archaeology & Siegfried H. Horn Museum Newsletter Volume 27.3

Tent Dinner and Art Auction, Jennifer L. Green Younker Lecture, Carrie Rhodes Global Moments, Paul J. Ray, Jr. Al-Maktába: The Bookstore Random Surveyhttps://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/iaham-news/1027/thumbnail.jp

Variation of Laminar Depth in Normal Eyes With Age and Race

PURPOSE. To determine if laminar depth (LD) and prelaminar tissue volume (PTV) are associated with age and race in healthy human eyes. METHODS. Optic nerve head images from enhanced depth imaging spectral-domain optical coherence tomography of 166 normal eyes from 84 subjects of African descent (AD) and European descent (ED) were manually delineated to identify the principal surfaces: internal limiting membrane, Bruch's membrane (BM), anterior sclera (AS), and anterior surface of the lamina cribrosa. These four surfaces defined the LD and PTV using Bruch's membrane opening (BMO) and AS for reference structures. Generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate whether the effect of age on each outcome was differential by race. RESULTS. When age was analyzed as a continuous variable, the interaction term between age and race was statistically significant for mean LD BMO (P ¼ 0.015) and mean LD AS (P ¼ 0.0062) after adjusting for axial length and BMO area. For every 1-year increase in age, the LD AS was greater on average by 1.78 lm in AD subjects and less by 1.71 lm in ED subjects. Mean PTV was lower in the older subjects (1248 3 10 6 lm 3 AD, 881 3 10 6 lm 3 ED) compared to the younger subjects (1316 3 10 6 lm 3 AD, 1102 3 10 6 lm 3 ED) in both groups. CONCLUSIONS. With increasing age, the LD changes differently across racial groups in normal subjects. The LD in ED subjects showed a significantly decreasing slope suggesting that the lamina moves anteriorly with age in this group. Keywords: lamina cribrosa, laminar depth, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography I ndividuals of African descent (AD) have a higher prevalence of primary open-angle glaucoma with worse visual outcomes from the disease compared to those of European descent (ED). 1-5 Investigation into the many possible causes of this disparity reveals racial and ethnic differences in the anatomy of the optic nerve head (ONH). 3,6-14 Variation in ONH parameters, such as larger optic discs, deeper cups, and thicker overall retinal nerve fiber layer thicknesses in AD individuals

Chemically modified, non-anticoagulant heparin derivatives are potent galectin-3 binding inhibitors and inhibit circulating galectin-3-promoted metastasis

Concentrations of circulating galectin-3, a metastasis promoter, are greatly increased in cancer patients. Here we show that 2- or 6-de-O-sulfated, N-acetylated heparin derivatives are galectin-3 binding inhibitors. These chemically modified heparin derivatives inhibited galectin-3-ligand binding and abolished galectin-3-mediated cancer cell-endothelial adhesion and angiogenesis. Unlike standard heparin, these modified heparin derivatives and their ultra-low molecular weight sub-fractions had neither anticoagulant activity nor effects on E-, L- or P-selectin binding to their ligands nor detectable cytotoxicity. Intravenous injection of such heparin derivatives (with cancer cells pre-treated with galectin-3 followed by 3 subcutaneous injections of the derivatives) abolished the circulating galectin-3-mediated increase in lung metastasis of human melanoma and colon cancer cells in nude mice. Structural analysis using nuclear magnetic resonance and synchrotron radiation circular dichroism spectroscopies showed that the modified heparin derivatives bind to the galectin-3 carbohydrate-recognition domain. Thus, these chemically modified, non-anticoagulant, low-sulfated heparin derivatives are potent galectin-3 binding inhibitors with substantial potential as anti-metastasis/cancer drugs

Soluble non-starch polysaccharides from plantain (Musa x paradisiaca L.) diminish epithelial impact of clostridioides difficile

© 2021 The Authors. Published by Frontiers Media. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.766293Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. Adhesion of this Gram-positive pathogen to the intestinal epithelium is a crucial step in CDI, with recurrence and relapse of disease dependent on epithelial interaction of its endospores. Close proximity, or adhesion of, hypervirulent strains to the intestinal mucosa are also likely to be necessary for the release of C. difficile toxins, which when internalized, result in intestinal epithelial cell rounding, damage, inflammation, loss of barrier function and diarrhoea. Interrupting these C. difficile-epithelium interactions could therefore represent a promising therapeutic strategy to prevent and treat CDI. Intake of dietary fibre is widely recognised as being beneficial for intestinal health, and we have previously shown that soluble non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) from plantain banana (Musa spp.), can block epithelial adhesion and invasion of a number of gut pathogens, such as E. coli and Salmonellae. Here, we assessed the action of plantain NSP, and a range of alternative soluble plant fibres, for inhibitory action on epithelial interactions of C. difficile clinical isolates, purified endospore preparations and toxins. We found that plantain NSP possessed ability to disrupt epithelial adhesion of C. difficile vegetative cells and spores, with inhibitory activity against C. difficile found within the acidic (pectin-rich) polysaccharide component, through interaction with the intestinal epithelium. Similar activity was found with NSP purified from broccoli and leek, although seen to be less potent than NSP from plantain. Whilst plantain NSP could not block the interaction and intracellular action of purified C. difficile toxins, it significantly diminished the epithelial impact of C. difficile, reducing both bacteria and toxin induced inflammation, activation of caspase 3/7 and cytotoxicity in human intestinal cell-line and murine intestinal organoid cultures. Dietary supplementation with soluble NSP from plantain may therefore confer a protective effect in CDI patients by preventing adhesion of C. difficile to the mucosa, i.e. a “contrabiotic” effect, and diminishing its epithelial impact. This suggests that plantain soluble dietary fibre may be a therapeutically effective nutritional product for use in the prevention or treatment of CDI and antibiotic-associated diarrhoea.HS was supported by a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Industrial CASE studentship to BC and JR (BB/I016783/1) investigating the role of soluble dietary plant fibre in maintenance of intestinal health and prevention of diarrheal disease. CR was supported by a University of Liverpool Reach Out Growth Fund award (ROGF-N0306).Published onlin