Hermeneutics of “Revealed Morality” in the Document of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, “The Bible and Morality: Biblical Roots of Christian Conduct”

The purpose of this paper is the critical analysis of the document of Pontifical Biblical Commission (PBC): Bible and Morality. Biblical Roots of Christian conduct (2008) and specifically the hermeneutical reflection on the “revealed morality”. The nature of consideration on the dokument is especially hermeneutical, beginning with the key concept, namely “revealed morality”. The article is divided into two parts and preceded by a brief contextualization. In Part I is present the analysis of the document, highlighting the most important points for the biblical and moral reflection. In Part II we shall focus on the hermeneutics of the document and the developments that these indications can offer us today, in order to clarify the roles of the two disciplines and thereby contribute to a fruitful interdisciplinary dialogue.Hermeneutyka “Moralności objawionej” w dokumencie Papieskiej Komisji Biblijnej “Biblia a moralność. Biblijne korzenie postępowania moralnego”Celem niniejszego artykułu jest krytyczna analiza dokumentu Papieskiej Komisji Biblijnej: „Biblia a moralność. Biblijne korzenie postepowania moralnego” i w szczególności hermeneutyczna refleksja nad „moralnością objawioną”. Natura rozważań nad dokumentem jest przede wszytskim heremeneutyczna, poczynając od kluczowego konceptu, nazwanego „moralnością objawieniową”. Artkuł jest podzielony na dwie częsci, poprzedzony krótką kontekstualizacją. W części pierwszej jest zaprezentowana anliaza dokumentu, a w sposób szczególny najważaniejsze punkty nad biblijną i moralną refleksją. Część druga konecntruje się na hermeneutyce dokumentu i rozwoju tezy, że przesłanie dokumentu może ofiarować wkład w dialog między biblistyką i teologią moralną

Photometric redshift estimation based on data mining with PhotoRApToR

Photometric redshifts (photo-z) are crucial to the scientific exploitation of modern panchromatic digital surveys. In this paper we present PhotoRApToR (Photometric Research Application To Redshift): a Java/C++ based desktop application capable to solve non-linear regression and multi-variate classification problems, in particular specialized for photo-z estimation. It embeds a machine learning algorithm, namely a multilayer neural network trained by the Quasi Newton learning rule, and special tools dedicated to pre- and postprocessing data. PhotoRApToR has been successfully tested on several scientific cases. The application is available for free download from the DAME Program web site.Comment: To appear on Experimental Astronomy, Springer, 20 pages, 15 figure

PhotoRaptor - Photometric Research Application To Redshifts

Due to the necessity to evaluate photo-z for a variety of huge sky survey data sets, it seemed important to provide the astronomical community with an instrument able to fill this gap. Besides the problem of moving massive data sets over the network, another critical point is that a great part of astronomical data is stored in private archives that are not fully accessible on line. So, in order to evaluate photo-z it is needed a desktop application that can be downloaded and used by everyone locally, i.e. on his own personal computer or more in general within the local intranet hosted by a data center. The name chosen for the application is PhotoRApToR, i.e. Photometric Research Application To Redshift (Cavuoti et al. 2015, 2014; Brescia 2014b). It embeds a machine learning algorithm and special tools dedicated to preand post-processing data. The ML model is the MLPQNA (Multi Layer Perceptron trained by the Quasi Newton Algorithm), which has been revealed particularly powerful for the photo-z calculation on the base of a spectroscopic sample (Cavuoti et al. 2012; Brescia et al. 2013, 2014a; Biviano et al. 2013). The PhotoRApToR program package is available, for different platforms, at the official website (http://dame.dsf.unina.it/dame_photoz.html#photoraptor).Comment: User Manual of the PhotoRaptor tool, 54 pages. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1501.0650

Hermeneutics of "Revealed Morality" in the Document of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, "The Bible and Morality: Biblical Roots of Christian Conduct"

The purpose of this paper is the critical analysis of the document of Pontifical Biblical Commission (PBC): Bible and Morality. Biblical Roots of Christian conduct (2008) and specifically the hermeneutical reflection on the "revealed morality". The nature of consideration on the dokument is especially hermeneutical, beginning with the key concept, namely "revealed morality". The article is divided into two parts and preceded by a brief contextualization. In Part I is present the analysis of the document, highlighting the most important points for the biblical and moral reflection. In Part II we shall focus on the hermeneutics of the document and the developments that these indications can offer us today, in order to clarify the roles of the two disciplines and thereby contribute to a fruitful interdisciplinary dialogue

Palabra de Dios y vocación. El icono joánico del «discípulo amado». Contribución a la reflexión sinodal

This article analyzes the biblical-theological theme of vocation by proposing a vocational reading of the Johannine figure of the «Beloved Disciple» in the context of the preparatory document of the XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment (January 1, 2017). This article is composed of three chapters: (1) the relevance of vocation in Benedict XVI’s Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini; (2) the importance of the «stories of calling» in the Bible; (3) the «Beloved Disciple» as a young icon of vocational discernment. This study shows that a profound reflection on the reality of vocation allows one to better interpret the relationship between God and man. In the course of the Fourth Gospel, the figure of the «Beloved Disciple» particularly assumes an interesting revelatory and pedagogical role in relation to the youths’ life decisions and to vocational discernment.El artículo analiza el tema bíblico-teológico de la vocación, proponiendo una lectura vocacional de la figura joánica del «discípulo amado» en relación al documento del Sínodo de los Obispos, XV Asmable General Ordinaria, Los jóvenes, la fe y el discernimiento vocacional. Documento preparatorio (17-I-2017). El estudio se articula en tres epígrafes: 1. La relevancia vocacional en la exhortación apostólica post-sinodal de Benedicto XVI, Verbum Domini; 2. La importancia de los «relatos de llamada» en la Biblia; 3. El «discípulo amado», icono juvenil del discernimiento vocacional. El estudio hace emerger cómo la realidad de la vocación adecuadamente profundizada representa una importante clave interpretativa de la relación Dios-hombre. En particular, la figura del «discípulo amado» asume, en el desarrollo del Cuarto Evangelio, una interesante función reveladora y pedagógica en relación a las elecciones de vida de los jóvenes y al discernimiento vocacional

Characteristics of somatic tinnitus patients with and without hyperacusis

Objective: Determine if somatic tinnitus patients with hyperacusis have different characteristics from those without hyperacusis. Patients and methods: 172 somatic tinnitus patients with (n = 82) and without (n = 90) hyperacusis referred to the Tinnitus Unit of Sapienza University of Rome between June 2012 and June 2016 were compared for demographic characteristics, tinnitus features, self-administered questionnaire scores, nature of somatic modulation and history. Results: Compared to those without hyperacusis, patients with somatic tinnitus and hyperacusis: (a) were older (43.38 vs 39.12 years, p = 0.05), (b) were more likely to have bilateral tinnitus (67.08% vs 55.56%, p = 0.04), (c) had a higher prevalence of somatic modulation of tinnitus (53.65% vs 36.66%, p = 0.02) and (d) scored significantly worse on tinnitus annoyance (39.34 vs 22.81, p<0.001) and subjective hearing level (8.04 vs 1.83, p<0.001). Conclusion: Our study shows significantly higher tinnitus modulation and worse self-rating of tinnitus and hearing ability in somatic tinnitus patients with hyperacusis versus somatic tinnitus patients without hyperacusis. These differences could prove useful in developing a better understanding of the pathophysiology and establishing a course of treatment for these two groups of patients

An atypical case of hepatic cavernous hemangioma

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

Ultrasonographic Study of Gallbladder Wall Thickness and Emptying in Cirrhotic Patients without Gallstones

Background and Aim. Gallbladder wall thickening and impaired contractility are currently reported in cirrhotic patients and often related to portal hypertension and hepatic failure. The purpose of this work was to evaluate, by ultrasonographic method, gallbladder wall thickness and gallbladder emptying after a standard meal in normal subjects and in patients with compensated liver cirrhosis without gallstones. Methods. Twenty-three patients with Child-Pugh class A liver cirrhosis and twenty healthy controls were studied. Gallbladder wall thickness (GWT), gallbladder fasting volume (FV), residual volume (RV), and maximum percentage of emptying (%E) were calculated. Measurements of mean portal velocity, portal vein flow, and serum albumin were performed too. Statistical analysis was assessed by Student's “t test” for unpaired data. Results. GWT was 0.60 ± 0.22 cm in cirrhotic patients and 0.21 ± 0.06 cm in controls (P < .0001). FV and RV were, respectively, 37.8 ± 3.7 cm3 and 21.8 ± 3 cm3 in cirrhotic patients, 21.9 ± 4.2 cm3 and 4.6 ± 2.2 cm3 in healthy volunteers (P < .0001). %E was smaller in cirrhotics (42.6 ± 7.8) as compared to controls (80.3 ± 7.2; P < .0001). Conclusions. In patients with compensated liver cirrhosis without gallstones gallbladder wall thickness is increased whereas its contractility is reduced. These early structural and functional alterations could play a role in gallstone formation in more advanced stages of the disease

SiO2 nanoparticles biocompatibility and their potential for gene delivery and silencing

Despite the extensive use of silica nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) in many fields, the results about their potential toxicity are still controversial. In this work, we have performed a systematic in vitro study to assess the biological impact of SiO2NPs, by investigating 3 different sizes (25, 60 and 115 nm) and 2 surface charges (positive and negative) of the nanoparticles in 5 cell lines (3 in adherence and 2 in suspension). We analyzed the cellular uptake and distribution of the NPs along with their possible effects on cell viability, membrane integrity and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Experimental results show that all the investigated SiO2NPs do not induce detectable cytotoxic effects (up to 2.5 nM concentration) in all cell lines, and that cellular uptake is mediated by an endocytic process strongly dependent on the particle size and independent of its original surface charge, due to protein corona effects. Once having assessed the biocompatibility of SiO2NPs, we have evaluated their potential in gene delivery, showing their ability to silence specific protein expression. The results of this work indicate that monodisperse and stable SiO2NPs are not toxic, revealing their promising potential in various biomedical applications

Toxicity of citrate-capped AuNPs: an in vitro and in vivo assessment

In this study, we show that 15 nm citrate-capped AuNPs exert a remarkable toxicity in living systems. The assessment was performed by using well-characterized AuNPs, the combination of in vitro and in vivo models (namely two different cell lines and Drosophila melanogaster), exposure to low dosages of nanoparticles (in the sub-nanomolar concentration range), along with the application of several biological assays to monitor different aspects of the toxic effects, such as viability, genotoxicity, and molecular biomarkers